IN the first edition the preface was an eyesore, because of its length unproportionable to the book. But there was a greater fault than that, for many things in the preface did belong to the heads which were in the book; but coming to my knowledge after the book was printed, by my further perusal of the Quakers' writings, I put them into the pre face which was wrote last, whereby the proofs lie at a dis tance from one another, and lose much of their force; which I have mended in this second edition, and have melted the preface into the book, and digested the whole into a better order than it was before.
I have likewise made several additions, which will render this in a manner a new work; with some notice taken obiter of George Whitehead's Answer.
I know that an excuse is thought by some more incumbent for making any alterations or additions in a new edition; or, at least, for not putting all the additions by them selves, that those who have the first edition may supply them selves without buying the book anew. But this not being an addition to the building, but pulling down the whole, and rearing it in a new form, that could not be observed. And some may have the curiosity to compare both together, and pass their judgment upon the skill of the architect; for few models please all. However, in such thorny rugged ground as the Quaker writings, (whose sense it is harder to find out than to confute,) it may be excused, if upon the second revise I find some weeds that I had passed before. And it may be thought that I have learned the language a little more perfectly: for really to understand the Quaker cant is learning a new language; they take not words in the common meaning, but have a secret sense of their own, and a little time will not make a stranger master of it. Upon the whole, I have done as well as I can: and let the reader be as favourable as he can.
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