Author's Preface

The following pages were occasioned by the writer’s observing several persons of whom he had formerly entertained a favourable opinion, and with whom he had walked in christian fellowship, having fallen, either from the doctrine, or practice of pure religion. A view of their unhappy condition made a deep impression upon his mind. If he has been enabled to describe the case of a backslider to any good purpose, it has been chiefly owing to this circumstance. He hopes that, though it was written with a special eye to a few, it may yet be useful to many.