The PREFACE.

As the Welfare of every People depends in great Measure upon the good Tendency of the Actions of every particular Member; so the Detriment thereof arises from a contrary Conduct, and Behaviour of Men. Hence every Piece of Injustice, or Injury done to another, occasions a kind of Resentment in the Breast of every honest Man, and true Christian. Because, as he doubtless wills and wishes every Good to himself, and uses his best Endeavours to prevent, that any Mischief or Harm should be done him; so is be concerned for his Neighbour, that his Property in any Shape may not be ravished from him. And this Inclination is be affected with, not only out of that Respect be chooses to pay to that Golden Rule, as it is called, of willing, and doing to others, as he would they should do by himself; but because the Commands of his God are frequent to this Purpose in several Parts of his revealed Will.

On the other Hand, a Set of Men there are, as is too much experimentally found, who bound by no Obligations or Law of either Divine or Human Institution, led by no Promises to Virtue, and scared by no Threats from Vice, seem averse to all that is Good. These give a Loose to their own licentious Will, and suffer no Restraint in their evil Courses; they boggle at no Degree of Wickedness. Besides, as 'tis said, they train up, and as it were educate, and teach others a Sort of Emulation, who shall be forwardest in the Practice of every evil Work. A sad and melancholy Thought indeed, that there are such sad Instances for the Rigour, and Severity of Justice, and the Laws to be so frequently executed upon; a Calamity scarce sufficiently to be lamented, that so many Men should study, as it were, how to render themselves not only useless Members of Society, but obnoxious to all that Ignominy, Shame, and Disgrace, which are justly due to their atrocious Offences.

And notwithstanding the man fest Vigilance, and Care of the Worthy Magistrates, and Guardians of this great and famous Metropolis, to put a Stop, if possible, to the Growth of those Evils, and to bring Men to a proper Sense of the Laws of the Land, by which the whole, and every Part of the Community is to be protected in their Lives, their Rights, their Liberties, and their Properties; yet, we find, there are, who, deaf to all Invitations to Duty, untouch'd by any Examples of the Vengeance of the Laws, not only disturb the Peace and Order of this City; but by their daily Transgressions, by Robberies, Murders, and the like, seem to aim at breaking asunder the Ligaments of all Society. These Wickednesses, together with the blasphemous Impieties of the Age, are such, and so growing every Day, as to cry aloud for