A practical exposition of the X. Commandments with a resolution of several momentous questions…A practical exposition of the X. Commandements with a resolution of several momentous questions…

Now Madam, being fully persuaded that this savoury, sound, solid, soul-searching, and soul-settling Treatise, will be acceptable to, and improved by your Ladyship, for furtherance of this your spiritual good and advantage, beyond what it will be to, and by most others: I find no need of any long consultation with my self, To whom to address its Dedication, you having in my poor esteem on many accounts, the deserved preference of many (to say no more) Ladies of Honour now living; and since withal I nothing doubt, had the precious, and now perfected Author been alive, and minded the publication of it with a Dedication to any Noble Lady, Your Self would have been the Person, of whom, I know, he had a high esteem, having himself, before his Death, signified his purpose of Dedicating his piece on the Canticles to your Ladyships Noble and much noted Sister in Law, my Lady Vice-Countess of Kenmure. It needs no Epistles of commendation to you, who was so thoroughly acquainted with its Author; the reading of it will abundantly commend it self, and as a piece, though posthumous, of his work, commend him in the Gates. I shall only now say, which will much endear it to you, and to all the honest-hearted Students of Holiness, that it is for most part, very practical (and what is polemic in it (at that time much called for) is by a true information of the judgment directly levelled at a suitable practise) and your Ladyship knoweth that the power, yea, the very soul and life of Religion lieth in the due practise of it; and indeed we know no more in God's account than we do through Grace, singly and seriously design and endeavour to practise; they all, and ⟨image 7⟩they only having a good understanding, that do his Commandments, and to do, and keep them, being his Peoples Wisdom and Understanding in the sight of the Nations who hear of these Statutes, and are constrained to say, surely this is a Wise and Understanding People; The greatest measure of merely apprehensive and speculative knowledge of the Truths and Will of God, doth not make truly Wise, because not Wise to Salvation, nor evidenceth the Persons that have it to be really Happy, the Lord not having pronounced them to be such that only know, but who knowing these things do them;

Now Madam, being fully perswaded that this savoury, sound, solid, soul-searching, and soul-setling Treatise, will be acceptable to, and improved by your Ladyship, for furtherance of this your spiritual good and advantage, beyond what it will be to, and by most others: I find no need of any long consultation with my self, To whom to address its Dedication, you having in my poor esteem on many accounts, the deserved preference of many (to say no more) Ladys of Honour now living; and since withall I nothing doubt, had the precious, and now perfected Author been alive, and minded the publication of it with a Dedication to any Noble Lady, Your Self would have been the Person, of whom, I know, he had a high esteem, having himself, before his Death, signified his purpose of Dedicating his piece on the Canticles to your Ladyships Noble and much noted Sister in Law, my Lady Vice-Countess of Kenmure. It needs no Epistles of commendation to you, who was so thoroughly acquainted with its Author; the reading of it will abundantly commend it self, and as a piece, though posthumous, of his work, commend him in the Gates. I shall only now say, which will much indear it to you, and to all the honest-hearted Students of Holiness, that it is for most part, very practical (and what is polemick in it (at that time much called for) is by a true information of the judgment directly levelled at a sutable practise) and your Ladyship knoweth that the power, yea, the very soul and life of Religion lyeth in the due practise of it; and indeed we know no more in God's account than we do through Grace, singly and seriously design and endeavour to practise; they all, and