Historical applications and occasional meditations upon several subjects written by a person of honour.

To the Lady HARMONIA.

MADAM,

YOur Ladyship was pleased to incourage me to write Religious Meditations, & there∣fore to you I dedicate the First-fruits of my obe∣dience to your Commands in this particular. Your Ladyship can experimen∣tally

say what high ad∣vantages pious Contem∣plations afford: Some of which are a just Di∣vertisement from both worldly and sinful Im∣ployments, a great Com∣placency and Delight in the present Composure, besides the satisfaction to our Consciences, the Improvement of the Di∣vine Graces in us, and a rendring our Souls al∣waies in an Harmonious

sweet temper, (in which your Ladyship does so e∣minently excell) being alwaies in a praying ca∣pacity, having a willing∣ness to resign our Wills to God's in all things, whether in Life or Death. If this way of applying all our Discour∣ses and Conceptions to a Religious sense were made more generally pra∣ctical, the Power of God∣liness, as well as the

Form, would so govern us in all our actions, that in this present Age nei∣ther the Speculative nor the Practicall Atheists would dare with so much impudence to shew their faces, nor maintain their detestable Principles so horridly and dis-ingenu∣ously as now they do; the Age would then be reformed, and we should be good Company to our selves; for when we con∣verse

with God, we are never less alone then when alone. Next to pi∣ous Meditations, Godly Friends are to be made choice of for our Con∣versation, such as is your Ladyship, who (without the least suspicion of Flattery, I dare affirm it) may justly be styled the Beauty of Soci∣ety, and Harmony of Friendship; your Ci∣vility being so great,

and Carriage so gaining, that you are able to con∣vert a Barbarian into good manners, and make a man of a reprobate nature become a good Christian. Your Example I confess is easier to be admired then imitated; Your Precepts adequate and proportionable to so great a Pattern, and those delivered to your Friends and Servants with such winning mild∣ness

and Concern, as if it were your duty to be more ingaged for the welfare of our Souls and good Names then we ought to be our selves. Madam, I need say no more, but pray for you, that God would multiply upon you (who are both Good and Great) and upon yours all Temporal and Eternal Blessings, & increase the number of such Excellent Saints as

is your Ladyship: Then we should injoy a part of Heaven out of Heaven, while we had our beings upon the Earth. I had taken the freedome to have named you by a Title, you are more known by, but that I feared your so nice and scrupulous Modesty would have reprehended me, disowning my cele∣bration of this just Cha∣racter: And should I

have given an account of my own Name, it would not be difficult for very many to con∣jecture to whom I pre∣sumed to make this Ad∣dress. I am,

Madam,

Your greatest Honourer and most obedient Ser∣vant, who, as an admi∣rer of your Vertues, am ambitious to de∣serve of your Ladyship the Appellation of CONSTANS.