TO THE PRINCESS ROYAL OF ENGLAND. MADAM, THE HE great honour done me by Our moft gracious Queen, your Royal Mother, in permitting me to prefix your illuftrious Name to the following Effays, is not to be regarded as a proof of their merit, but of her Majefty's condescending goodness; who is willing to encourage the meaneft of her fex in laudable attempts, and those especially which may promote Religion, to the profeffion of which, fhe herself is fo bright an ornament. It is a high blessing to the fubjects of this realm, that they can look up to the throne for examples of virtues and excellencies, which not only adorn human nature, but dignify even royalty itself.A fplendid theme on which to expatiate, did it not rife fuperior to any language of mine, and throw the panegyric of fo mean a writer, to an awful distance! THE Difcourfes now humbly offered to your Royal Highnefs, were compofed by a perfon of obfcure and undiftinguifhed rank, who yet hath not relinquished the proper duties of her station for the fake of literary purfuits. They are not fruits of learning or genius: They are not fo much effufions of the head, as of the heart. In order to have rendered them a more worthy offering to the Princefs Royal, and more worthy the fubjects on which they are formed, I wish the Author could have equalled the many ladies who have proved by their immortal writings, t 3 A writings, that though the Salique Law in some countries prevails with regard to political government, it nowhere extends to intellectual endowments.. But I am well convinced, MADAM, that the little book now laid at your feet, though it may be despised by the votaries of pleasure and the patrons of infidelity, as containing none but moral and religious themes; will yet, on that very account, be regarded by your Royal Highness with the greater indulgence. SUCH is the education with which your Highness is bleffed, and fuch the examples perpetually fhining before your eyes! You are happily taught to believe, that internal greatness is infinitely fuperior to all outward pageantry ; and that the character to which a Princefs fhould eminently afpire, is that which a Royal Sage hath finely exprest: "The KING'S DAUGHTER is all-glorious "within." Begging leave to offer unfeigned A 3 |