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it put her under the neceffity of fending each chapter to the prefs as foon as written; by which the work was deprived of the advantage of being revised and corrected all together previous to its publication.

The only plea fhe has to offer for her prefumption is, the motive which caused it; and for which, if fhe finds credit, fhe has no doubt of the indulgence of the public. She will therefore briefly flate what firft induced her to commit her obfervations to paper, and now encourages her to fend them to the press.

Having much leisure, and wishing to employ it as usefully as poffible, she fome years ago took upon herself the fuperintendance of one of those private charitable establishments, which have been inftituted in various parts of the kingdom, for the increase of religion and encouragement of industry amongst the children of the poor; and that she might perform this voluntary duty fo as to make a lafting impreffion the minds of her pupils, fhe deter

upon

mined attentively to perufe the facred Scriptures, with the several excellent commentaries, and to intersperse fuch obfervations of her own mind as might enable her to fulfil that pleasing duty.

Such being her object, her readers will not, fhe trufts, be disappointed, fhould they find the present work rather a selection from the voluminous performances of others, than an original.

To the publications of Poole, Stanhope, Sherlock, and various other learned divines and commentators, fhe confeffes herfelf indebted for the best part of what she

now offers to the public.

These works fhe would now earnestly recommend to thofe whofe circumstances will enable them to procure fuch valuable compofitions but as the lower class of people could neither obtain them, nor afford time for fuch enlarged ftudies without neglecting the neceffary duties of the ftation in which it has pleafed God to place them, it appeared to the author that the present work might prove useful

to

to their uninformed minds, until one more perfect shall be brought forward.

Such was the origin of this performance; and her partial, perhaps too partial friends, have encouraged her to believe that others, particularly amongst the younger part of mankind, and also amongst those who undertake fimilar employments, may derive fome benefit from her labor: as, in the pursuit of knowledge for others, she has acquired fome edification herself.

Flattered with the idea of contributing, though in ever fo flight a degree, to the increase of religious knowledge amongst her fellow-Christians, she humbly submits the following pages to the candor of the public; trufting, that should they find but little to commend, they will, in confide, ration of her motive, forbear cenfure,

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