the chearing rays of the sun, and the fair face of nature, and make what excursions he will, and in what manner he will, to distant places, as health, convenience, or pleasure may require; provided such indulgence will be best for him, for those whom he visits, and for those with whom he condescends to correspond: but if I think Dr. Priestley has not hitherto made the best use of his liberty, either in England, or in America, in so thinking, I am a necessarian. Should the Dr. say, that he has always made the best use of that kind of liberty which his own principles will permit him to enjoy, I beg leave to add, I wish he may live not only to renounce what is erroneous in his own principles, but to renounce also what seems to be one of his favourite sentiments, (a sentiment by which so many have been ensnared) I mean, the supposed innocence of error. The period in which I publish the following pages is serious, and makes a great part of this publication seasonable. It has been said, "In no country, of equal extent with France, was there ever so much real misery produced by any of the Roman emperors, as was occasioned by Lewis the Fourteenth:" but that infidels can produce as much misery, and propagate as much delusion as catholic princes, of the most superstitious cast, is now too evident to be denied, and too alarming to be thought of with levity and unconcern. Whatever may be the mixture of our cup, let us us take care lest at any time, or in any respect, we suffer as evil doers. Let us not suffer as too many carnal protestants formerly did in France, by being the dupes of different factions in the State, and by struggling for property and power under many specious, but inglorious pretences. Certainly, the apostles of Christ and their genuine disciples, behaved in a very different manner, under their most tremendous trials. In things pertaining to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who had called them to glory and virtue, they were undaunted. To the rulers of this world, they said, Whether it be right in the sight of God, to hearken to you more than unto God, judge ye; for we cannot but speak the things we have heard and seen. But, at the same time, they made it manifest, that neither avarice nor ambition, dishonesty nor disorder, was connected with their proceedings. silver, or gold, or apparel; but took joyfully the spoiling of their goods; knowing in themselves, that they had in heaven, a better and an enduring substance. For Christ's sake, they were killed all the day long; they were accounted as sheep, and not as wolves, for the slaughter; they endured hardness, as good soldiers of Jesus Christ, and rejoiced they were accounted worthy to suffer shame for his name. They coveted no man's Such were the men, whose faith we are exhorted to follow, considering the end of their conversa• tion tion. Such also, in a good degree, was Marolles, Le Fevre, and many more protestants, who suffered severely, and with christian fortitude and patience, under the intolerant temper of Lewis the fourteenth. But, with a sneer at such fortitude and patience, it is often said, If we suffer patiently what corrupt magistrates are disposed to inflict, from whom can we expect deliverance? I answer, from him who delivered Israel from the house of bondage; from him who delivered the three children from the fiery furnace; from him who delivered Daniel out of the lions den; from him who has, in all ages, delivered them that trusted in him, and who yet knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to make all things work together for good to them that love him, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Nevertheless, when the son of man cometh, shall he find [sUCH] faith on the earth? As a mean of raising such confidence in God, and to shew the excellence and advantage of being strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might, I have been induced to publish a second edition of the following Essay on Providence. It would have made its appearance much sooner, had I published nothing more than what is contained in the former edition. But having conceived, that a concise account of the persecutions of the protestants in France, from Francis the first, to Francis the fourteenth, teenth, might be both acceptable and serviceable to the serious reader, I resolved to make that addition. In this part of the work, some books not common have been consulted, and some facts but little known are exhibited, in a more impartial manner, than is commonly observed in such memoirs: If by so doing, the ingenuous reader should reap any benefit, and be more fully convinced that the real kingdom of Christ is not of this world, but above it; and yet, in its very nature, a blessing to every earthly kingdom that receives it, I shall have reason to reflect on this undertaking with satisfaction. debted to me fos But whatever pleasure, or advantage, the reader may derive from this publication, he is but little inthat indulgence; since the far greater part of what is either pleasing or profitable in it, is not my own, but collected from other authors. Besides, in this sort of labor I delight: and, having taken my leave of leisure, it is probable, that to instruct and gratify myself, as well as to instruct and gratify some of my friends, I shall again be thus employed. CONTENTS. DEDICATION, page, iii.Preface, vii. xxv.→→→ Concise memoirs of Francis the first, page 1.-Of Henry the second, 5.-Of Francis the second, 13. -Of Charles the ninth, 21.-Of Henry the third, Of the sufferings of Mr. de Marolles, 69.-His birth, family, and, residence, 69.-Arrested near Strasbourg, and visited by persons of distinction, 73. -Removed to Chalons, and visited by the bishop, 75.-Copy of his sentence, 76.-Conveyed to Paris, 77.-His condemnation confirmed; sent to La Tournelles, 78.-Writes to his family and friends, 78.-His conflict, lapse, and recovery, 80.-New temptations surmounted, 81.-Letter to his sister- in-law, 82.-Letter to Mr. Jurieu, 84.-Visited by the procurator-general and others, 84.--Letter of |