PREFACE.

A PREFACE to a book, is not always a mere

formality it is fometimes a neceffary preliminary, to give the Reader a general view, both of the defign and the execution of the whole work.

Of the design of this flender effort to do good to mankind, I can fpeak not only with confidence, but with boldness alfo. For many years I have been extremely pained in my mind, to fee the multiform and compleated evils, brought upon almoft all the human race, by the devilifh practice of WAR: and, I have been the more troubled, because I knew that thefe "wars and fightings" were not so much the difpenfations of heaven, (like Peftilence and Famine) as the effect of men's "own lufts:" the " luftings" of Ambition Avarice and Revenge. By thefe three “lufts,” the offspring of Hell, the world has, almost from its foundation, been a Bedlam, an Hofpital and a Charnel house.

I can truly say, that I have "groaned in the fpirit" over the miferies of mankind, occafioned by the horrors of war; and, I have long wifhed to fee fome laudable effort made by an able hand, towards throwing War and Warriors into that disgrace and

abhorrence

!

abhorrence which they fo juftly de ferve. But, tho' rmany good things have been faid against this bad practice, as appears by the felections in this book, yet thefe good things have been defultory and fugitive, and fo enwrapped with other matter, as to render them almost nugatory: they are like a difperfed fire which lofes its heat for want of concentration. They were too fmall to be published feperately, and too diffufe and remote to be dilcovered where they are refpectively, by one perfon in ten thousand. This therefore, is an humble attempt, to fupply the lack of fervice due to the world from abler hands.

With regard to the execution of this public effort, I must speak with caution, in order to avoid the imputation of effrontery; but, tho' I may not boast, yet I think I have a right to explain.

The Book contains two parts; Selections and an Appendix. The selections are, nearly all of them, from eminent men, Divines, Hiftorians, Efayifts and Poets; and, every Article, has its authority atitatched to it; the author's name flands at the head, and the work from which it is taken, at the foot; except in one instance, Page 149, There is a ferap of Poetry given in the ftate it was found, Anonymous. The Appendix is my own, and thofe who wish to know its merit, may read it, if they pleafe.

Perhaps, it will be enquired, why the matter of

the

j

the book was not arranged under the proper heads of
Caufes of war, Nature of war, and Effects of war?
To this, I reply, that it was at the outfet defigned
to do fo; but, finding, (as the Reader may find alfo)
that many of the felections, individually participa-
ting of Caufe, Nature and Effect, made a divifion
impracticable, without expofing the book to ridicule.
All, therefore, that could be done in the Contents, was,
to give the pieces in the order in which they stand,
annexing the number of the page, which I have done
in due order.

P

To fome, it may appear an easy matter to make
up a book of Selections and Extracts.
But, I
have not found it quite fo eafy in practice, as I fup-
pofe, it will appear to others in speculation. It has
really coft me much fatigue of mind to ruminate o
ver various volumes, to recollect what I had read,
and to enquire of literary friends for books which I
did not poffefs. Befides, I have derived fome affis-
tance in my felections, from an intelligent friend

I cannot conclude without noticing the conduct
of Biographers, Hiftorians and Poets, refpecting He
ras, whom they too frequently, at the expence of
humanity, to fay nothing of chriftianity, emblazon
and extol. Dr. Doddridge was a very good many
but I think he would have been ftill better, if he
had written the Life of Colonel Gardiner in a differ-

ent

ent manner from what he has done. So far as the
Colonel's converfion is detailed, and his experience
as a chriftian, the book is praifeworthy; but the
chriftian and the hero together, is a compound fhock-
ing to the feelings of every child of peace, and calcu-
lated to do much harm by being exposed to the
world. The Dr. has alfo got the following motto
for his hero, from an Heathen Poet,-Virgil.

-

་

Juftior alter

Nec Pietate fuit, neç Bello major et Armis.”
It were to be wished that all fuch mottos as this
might either remain in the Latin Language, or be
put into it again, even when they have got out.
The idea of a man being excellent both in piety and
fighting, fhould not be proclaimed in chriftendom,
nor recorded in any nation where the Prince of Peace
is acknowledged!

I now launch my little Bark forth into a wicked
warring world, without feeling much folicitude re-
fpecting the opinions of men concerning it. I nei-
ther fear the malignity of tongues nor the violence
of power. The Warrior's Looking Glass has truth
for its bafis, and the happiness of mankind and the
glory of God for its end; and, therefore, I fhall
neither be ashamed to live with it, nor afraid to die
by it.

G. B.

Rev. Jonathan Swift, D. D.

91

M de la Motte Fenelon, Abp. of Cambray

94

Rev. John Wesley, M. A.

99

Samuel Johnson, L. L. D.

101