ΤΟ ΤΗE
READER.
PERHAPS it may be thought ſomewhat ſtrange? how a ſermon of that great and good man, Mr James Guthrie, once miniſter of Stirling, ſhould come abroad about 77 years after his death, he having been crowned with martyrdom in the year 1661. The occaſion of its ſeeing the light it as follows: January this ſame year, I had occaſion to be in company with my worthy and dear father and colleague, Mr Alexander Hamilton, in the menſe of Stirling, a few days before his departure to glory. And having heard that the ſermon was in his hand, I took occaſion to enquire at him about it. He told me that it was not at preſent in his cuſtody, having lent it out to a Chriſtian friend about eighteen miles diſtance; but allowed me to ſend for it; adding that he would be well pleaſed it were publiſhed. I aſked him further, of the way he came by it? To which he replied, that for what he knew, it had lien in the cloſet of the room where he and I were fitting, ſince Mr Guthrie's inumbency, until one day he fell upon it, as he was turning over ſome old papers, which had lien there he knew not how long.
Some days after Mr Hamilton's death, I wrote for it accordingly. And that ſame authentic copy writ, as I was told by Mr Guthrie's own hand, goes to the preſs. The only reaſon of its lying ſo long in obſcurity beſide me, is the throng of other
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