over the delay, and sent me a letter begging me not to worry over the loss of the MS., that it had never been his intention to have it published during his lifetime, and so he was quite well satisfied that it was lost. But when, as it seemed, I had borne my disgrace long enough, the MS. was finally found, in a spot where my men and I had repeatedly looked for it searchingly without noticing it, after having been lost for more than a year. So I have been unwilling to make any further delay, and here I give it to you, dear reader, as the honest, benevolent author wrote it, for the good of all who may read and profit by it. I hope no harm has been done by its having lain so long, for perhaps those who would have read it then would have laid it by and forgotten it by this time, and in our day it is as important as then, or more so. For experience teaches, that as the end of time draws nigh, so carelessness toward the good increases, and mankind is in godly things so careless and so indifferent to profitable instructionas was scarcely the case in the time of Noe, of which it is said: “They heeded it not.” And we see that almost everywhere children are far more carefully instructed in the equality of the world and useless things than in useful duties that stimulate to godliness.
That this little work may serve the purpose for which it was first written and compiled by the author, and having been delayed so long may be received with the greater attention, is the sincere wish of your faithful friend who has at heart the welfare of all men.
Germantown, March 27, 1770.
