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RECOMMENDATION.

THE volume, entitled "Solitude Sweetened; or Miscellaneous Meditations," by JAMES MEIKLE, is a work which cannot fail to give much pleasure to the pious mind. The author discovers a very happy talent in deducing from the phænomena of nature, and from the ordinary occurrences of life, much religious instruction, which he conveys in an animated and pleasing style. We should be glad to see an American edition of this work; and are persuaded, that if its worth were known, such an edition would meet with general encouragement.

SAMUEL MILLER,

JOHN B. ROMEYN.

New-York, Dec. 18, 1809.

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PREFACE

TO THE

FIRST EDITION.

THE Meditations now offered to the public, appear in consequence of the very favourable manner in which the Author's "SELECT REMAINS" were received. They are written in the same style, and breathe the same spirit of ardent piety with the REMAINS; but they embrace a greater variety of subjects, are in general composed with greater care, and will, the Editor is persuaded, be found entitled to an equal, if not a superior degree of acceptance.

The greater part of them was written in the years 1757-1760, in the most unfavourable circumstances which can easily be conceived for study of any kind, and especially for religious meditation; not, like the "Monthly Memorial," and the "Secret Survey," amidst the quiet and comforts of home, in the retirement of the country, and during the intervals of leisure from the regu

lar duties of his profession; but at sea, amidst the noise, and bustle, and confusion. of a man of war. A book written during hostilities, on board a ship of war, may be considered as a literary curiosity; but this is perhaps the first book of devotion ever composed in such circumstances. It may justly excite surprise, how the good man could find opportunity, or command composure of mind, in the cock-pit of the Portland, for writing not only the greater part of the present volume, but another series of Meditations, entitled, The Traveller; and it must be particularly pleasing to pious minds, to observe his steadfastness in the faith unshaken, and the ardour of his devotion undiminished, during a period of several years spent in a state of exclusion from the ordinances of religion, and in the society of persons ignorant of God. How "his righteous soul was vexed from day to day, in seeing and hearing, with their unlawful deeds," and to what ridicule he was exposed from his ungodly companions, on account of his religion, are apparent from many expressions in his meditations; yet he persevered in his course, frequently seized, when other opportunities failed, the mid

night-hour for prayer and meditation, and "out of the belly of hell cried unto his God."

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Two manuscripts have been found of the meditations composed at sea, both written by the Author's own hand. The first, which is the original draught, and which, owing to the rolling of the ship, and other inconveniencies of his situation, is not very legible, is entitled by him, "A Mirror to the Sons of Affliction, by one who finds by experience, that it is better to go to the house of mourning than the house of mirth." The second, which has been chiefly followed in this edition, is a transcript of the former, but in a fairer hand, and with such corrections as occurred to the Author in his progress. This he appears to have begun in the year 1769, some time after his settlement in Carnwath; and having altered the title to that which the volume now bears, continued to add, during the remainder of his life, such meditations as appeared to him to correspond with the general title.

In a note prefixed to the manuscript, the Author says, " Fond of being at sea, he engaged to go in a ship that had a long voyage in view; but the scheme misgave, which gave him pain, and made him write

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