Sayfadaki görseller
PDF
ePub
[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors]

ICH DIEN

To Her ROYAL HIGHNESS

The Princefs of WALES.

MADAM,

MOST thankfully acknowledge the Condefcenfion of Your Royal Highnefs, in allowing me the Honour of laying this Work at Your Feet, and committing it to fo August a Protection; and humbly beg Your favourable Acceptance of it, as a moft fincere, tho' inconfiderable Expreffion of the profoundest Duty, and moft cordial Efteem. COULD

a 2

DEDICATION

COULD I lay open to Your Royal Highness all the fecret Sentiments of my Heart, You would read there the most affectionate Senfe of that gracious Providence, which conducted You hither, to inftruct and adorn Great Britain by fo amiable an Example, as well. as to blefs it with a Race of Princes, defcended from the Illuftrious Houfes of BRUNSWICK and SAXEGOTHA in fo happy an Union! Joyfully have I, long fince, taken my Part with Thoufands, in congratulating my Country and Your Royal Highnefs on this Occafion, and acknowledging that wife and paternal Care HIS MAJESTY hath therein expreffed for the Happinefs of fucceeding Generations: But permit me, MADA M, freely to add, that with Regard to Yourself, I rejoice not fo much in this Acceffion to Your Grandeur, as in the Perfuafion I have, that You are poffeffed of a Mind fo fuperior to it, as to render it in all its remotest Confequences, what Greatness is not always to its Poffeffors, fafe, honourable, and advantageous. Universal Report leaves me no Room to doubt, that even in this blocming Age, You are tenderly fenfible of the shining Dangers infeparable from so high a Rank; and that it appears to Your Princely Wif dom chiefly defirable, on Account of those distinguished Advantages, which it may give, of approving Yourfelf the faithful Servant of GOD, and the generous Friend of the Publick.

AMONG the principal of thefe Advantages, Your Royal Highness will undoubtedly number the Opportunity, which this exalted Station of Life affords You,

of

DEDICATIO N..

of forming to early Sentiments of Religion and Virtue, the opening Minds of Your Royal Offspring; those dear Pledges of the Liberty and Happiness of Ages yet to come, on whofe Temper and Character, fo much of publick Glory to our Nation, so much of private Felicity to yet unformed Families, will depend. We adore the great Difpofer of all Events, who hath lodged this important Truft in fo wife, and fo pious a Hand; and it muft argue a very irreligious, or a very careless Temper, if any neglect earneftly to pray, that He who hath fo gracioufly affigned it to You, may direct and profper You in it. While You, MADAM, during the tender Years, which moft naturally fall under the Care of a Mother, are endeavouring to bless these lovely Infants with an Education, like that which You received from the excellent Princes Your Parents, may Your Royal Highness, in a Success like Theirs, receive the Joys You have given! May They arise and fhine on the whole Proteftant World, in the Luftre of every Royal Virtue and every Christian Grace, which can render them dear to GOD, and to their Country, and, to fay all in a Word, worthy their Relation to the PRINCE and PRINCESS of WALES, and to all the glorious Line of remoter Ancestors from which they fpring!

I SHOULD efteem it one of the greatest Bleffings of my Life, and fhould be able to relish the Thought in the nearest Views of Death itfelf, if this humble Prefent, which I here offer to Your Royal Highness, might give. You any Affiftance in these pious Cares If the Kings of Ifrael were required, not only to

read

DEDICATION

read the Law of Mofes all the Days of their Lives, but to write out a Copy of it with their own Hand; it may reasonably be expected, that Chriftian Princes fhould make the far more glorious Gofpel of the Son of GOD their daily Study, that it may be their conftant Guide. And I perfuade myself, MADAM, that none of the fashionable Amusements of the Age will feem to You in any Degree comparable to that rational and elevated Pleasure, which You will find in pointing out to Your happy Charge, as they grow capable of fuch Inftructions, the refplendent Example of JESUS, the Prince of Heaven, and the King of Glory; in tracing the marvellous and edifying Circumstances of his Life, as here defcribed; and im urging their humble and dutiful Regards to that Divine, yet condefcending Redeemer; to whom Your Royal Highness, with all thofe amiable Virtues which render You the Delight and Boaft of our Nation, will thankfully afcribe Your own Hopes of being finally accepted by GoD, and fharing the Joys of his eternak Prefence.

THESE Hopes, MADAM, are the grand Supports of the Human Mind in thofe Views, from which Royalty and Empire cannot fhelter it. An awful Providence, which we must all long lament, did early write. thefe Admonitions to Your Royal Highness in the Duft of or one of the best of Queens. The Attention with which her late Majefty ftudied the Sacred Oracles, and the Evidences of our holy Religion, for which even in her departing Moments She expreffed fo firm a Regard, will I hope never be forgotten by any

« ÖncekiDevam »