I had room to insert it:
For I could heartily wish, that these lives were in whole re-printed; in
the mean time, I cannot help thinking, that such reflections are or
would be but a very slender or ungenteel requital for my past pains and
labour.

ADVERTISEMENT to the Public, concerning this Edition.

That, after what I formerly observed on the subject in the foregoing
pages, it were needless to add any thing farther here, than to notice to
the Reader, that besides a number of small corrections, there are four
lives added, and upwards of fifty other additions or short
improvements;--only as Mr. Vetch's life and practice, especially since
the Revolution, was not so consonant to the rest as could have been
wished, it was desired by some friends to be deleted; but others
alledging that he was a sufferer, and that his life being once
providentially cast into this number, it might be accounted an injury,
if not to the book, yet to the purchasers of this edition, therefore I
have abridged it as concisely as possible, and placed it in its own
proper place, in the end; which is no more nor no less freedom used with
his memory, than what has been done with others as deserving, might I
say, as faithful as he: besides his life in full still stands entire in
the first edition, which may be either consulted or printed again at
pleasure.

I am further to acquaint the reader, that I have been sometimes
solicited by acquaintance to write another volume of the wicked lives
and characters of some of the late wicked persecutors; but not finding
proper materials for all that should have had a place in this catalogue,
I have presumed to add, by way of appendix unto this edition, a short
sketch or historical account of the wicked lives and miserable deaths of
some of the most notable apostate church-men and violent persecutors,
from the Reformation to the Revolution, which it is hoped will be no
ways unapt unto the subject, and, through a divine blessing, may not
want its own proper use; for while we are made to behold the Lord's
admirable goodness and mercy, yea miracles of mercy, extended towards
his church and people, we, at the same time, have a view of his
displeasure and the severity of his judgments inflicted upon his and
their enemies, according to his own promise, _I will punish them that
afflict thee_, and even in this life; which must be an eminent
accomplishment, display and illustration of divine revelation, in
oppos