The harmony of the Old and New Testament and the obscure texts explained with a relation especially to the times that preceded Christ and how they meet in him, his genealogie and other mysteries preparatory to his first coming / written in French by John d'Espagne ... ; and published in English by his executor.

THE worth of the Author is so universally known, and so apparently vi∣sible in his Works, that it may well serve for an Apology of my silence on this subject, and to justifie the pains I have now taken to publish this last Peece of his, which is the Second Part of his Harmony of the Times.

Death, who snatch'd him away, and hindred the finishing thereof, hath ne∣vertheless caused a certain perfection to be seen, that may give admiration to some in this Age, and frustrate the hopes of others, of being able to come near the painting of such a Venus after such an Apelles.

His intention was to continue this Har∣mony to the close of the New Testament, but death seized on him when he came to that of Christ's, and hath left us the re∣gret, of losing, with him the rest of that incomparable Peece, which I could no

ways conceal the publishing, because so many Persons of quality, both here and beyond sea, and also of both our Univer∣sities, have so earnestly desired what frag∣ments soever I had of that most excellent man. Besides this, I thought my self obliged thereunto by the honor he did me, in making me the sole Executor of his last Will and Testament.

None can be ignorant, that during these late times of horror and confusion, both in our Church and State, how pre∣cious the Word of God was, and that in stead thereof, and the pure Admini∣stration of the Sacraments, we had no∣thing but extemporary prayers, with their Sermons stuff'd with Blasphemy, Here∣sie, and Sedition, where none could joyn with them without betraying his con∣science toward God, and his fidelity to his Prince; which obliged, or ra∣ther constrained me, first, to frequent the French Church, then assembled at Durham-house, to be a partaker of those excellent Sermons and Doctrines of our Author, who then was followed by many of the Nobility, and the best of the Gentry, who rendred both to God and Cae∣sar their due.

The respect I had from them of that Assembly, engaged me to abide with

them ever since, and to take a part with them in the trouble of providing them a place to assemble in, after the demolishing of Durham-house. Which makes me remember the prophetical words of our Author, for asking him then, What we should do now for a place to assemble in, made me the same answer Abraham made to Isaac, when he said to his father, * 1.1 Behold the fire and the wood, but where is the Lamb for the burnt-offering? who replyed, Deus providebit; which presently after fell out to be true: For it pleased God to touch the hearts of many of the No∣bility to procure us an Order of the House of Peers, to exercise our Devo∣tions at Somerset-house Chappel; which was the cause not onely of driving away the Anabaptists, Quakers, and other Sects that had got in there, but also hindred the pulling down of Somerset-house, there having been twice Order from the late usurped Powers for selling the said House; but we prevailed so, that still we got order to exempt the Chappel from being sold, which broke the de∣sign of those that had bought the said House, who thought, for their im∣provement, to have made a Street from the Garden, through the ground the Chappel now stands on, hand so up the

back-yard to the great street of the Strand, by pulling down the said Chappel; but it pleased God to provide so, that still there was order to preserve this Chappel, which consequently also preserved Somerset∣house.

These things being considered, none, I hope, will blame me to relate, what I have said of a man, who hath merited so much of the publick, and of me in particular, and to revive the memory of him in his works: And when hereafter the rest shall be all printed together, I shall not fail (God-willing) to contribute thereunto all the Reliques I have by me of this excellent Author.

And to conclude, seeing it hath pleased God, after so many confusions and dis∣orders, which happened as well in the Church as in the State, to re-establish again on the antient foundations both the one and the other, and to cause that the Church, as the floating Ark did, at last find a Mountain to rest on; or as the Dis∣ciples of Christ; who were the true Church, being on the Sea, and tossed by the tempest; but when Christ their beloved Master came in to them, then all was made calm again: So it hath pleased God, that not onely the Church in general hath had the effects of his goodness, but also in particular this French Church of West∣minster,

having always maintained the purity of its Doctrine amidst such horrible confusions, and at last by his mercy, and the especial favour of his Majesty, hath found a place of rest, and a nursing Father to have care of it; obliging all the Members thereof in general continually to pour out their prayers for the preservation of his Person, the encrease of his Greatness, and the felicity of his Reign; which in parti∣cular are the real and continual humble requests of His Majesty's

Most humble, most obedient,
and most faithful Servant
and Subject,
HENRY BROWNE.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Gen. 22.7, 8.