Vol 02 - THE READER.

THE READER
AFTER the venerable remains of Ignatius and Polycarp, closed' with the artless, yet lively discourses of Macarius, and John Arndt's nervous account of True Christianity, worthy of the earliest ages; I believed nothing could be more acceptable to the serious reader, than to see this Christianity reduced to practice. I was, therefore, easily determined to subjoin to these, The Acts and Monuments of the Christian Martyrs. Here we see that pure and amiable religion, evidently set forth before our eyes: assaulted indeed by all the powers of earth and hell, but more than conqueror over all.
2. In abridging this vast work, I have purposely omitted not only all the secular history; but likewise those accounts, writings, and examinations of the Martyrs, which contained nothing particularly affecting or instructive.
3. Whoever attends to the power of GOD, which was so eminently shown both in the lives and deaths of these big saints, will easily excuse that manner of expression, which might give disgust to a curious reader. Near two hundred years cannot but make a very considerable change in a living language: so that many phrases which were then both clear and beautiful, have now lost both their elegance and perspicuity. I had not leisure to alter the language much: only, to change some obsolete expressions, for such as are now in common use; and, therefore, more intelligible to ordinary readers.
4. May we all learn from these worthies, to be not almost only, but altogether Christians! To reckon all things but dung and dross for the excellency of the experimental knowledge of JESUS CHRIST! And not to count our lives dear unto ourselves, so we may finish our course with joy!