must be regretted, that this collection is not drawn out with
more advantage to the cause of Christ, and the interest of religion in
commending the mighty acts of the Lord done for and by these worthy
servants or his, in a way suitable to the merit and dignity of such a
subject. But in this case it is the greater pity, "That those who have a
goodwill to such a piece of service cannot do it, while those who should
and can do it will not do it."--But in this I shall make no other
apology, than what our Saviour (in another case) said to the woman,
_She hath done what she could._

All that I shall observe anent the form or method used in the following
lives, is, that they are all, except one, ranged in order, according to
the time of their exit, and not according to their birth; and that in
general, the historical account of their birth, parentage, and memorable
transactions is first inserted; and with as few repetitions as possible:
Yea, sometimes to save a repetition, a fact is related of one Worthy in
the life of another, which is not in his own life. Then follows their
characteristic part, which oftimes is just one's testimony successively
of another; and last of all, their works[24].--That which is given in
their own words, mostly stands in commas.

I know it is usual, when relating matters of fact, to make remarks or
reflections, yet as this oftimes brings authors under suspicion of party
zeal or partiality, they are designedly waved in the body of the
book.--Any thing of this kind is placed among other things in the
marginal notes, where the reader is at a little more freedom to chuse or
refuse as he pleases, only with this proviso, That truth be always
regarded.

The last thing to be observed is, That as the credit due to this
collection depends so much upon the authors from whom it was extracted,
their names should have been inserted. However, the reader will find the
most part of them mentioned in the notes; so that if any doubt of the
veracity of any thing here related, they may have recourse to the
original authors, some of whom, though enemies to reformation
principles, nevertheless serve to illustrate the facts narrated in these
memoirs, as nothing serves more to confirmation of either truth or
historical facts, than the testimony of its opposers.

But to conclude; May the Lord arise and plead his own cause in putting a
final stop to all manner of prevailing wickedness; and hasten that day
when the gloriou