INTRODUCTION. THE original manuscript, from which the following Memoirs are printed, was communicated to me, some time ago, by the Rev. Richard Frost of Dunmow, in Essex, a lineal descendant of Mr Kiffin. I was requested to examine it with care, and if I deemed it worthy of publicity, to print it; with such notes and additions as I might be able to communicate, in farther illustration of the character of Kiffin, or of the interesting period in which he lived. The task I readily undertook, and ought to have executed it at least a year ago. The chief circumstance which delayed the publication, was my discovering that, though the entire manuscript had not been printed before, considerable use had been made of it, by Noble, in his Memoirs of the Protectorate House of Cromwell-by Wilson, in his History of the Dissenting Churches of London, and by Ivimey, in his History of the Baptists. Still, as these works, from their extent or peculiar nature, are limited in their circulation, I thought the worthy Non-conformist ought to appear by himself, and to be allowed to tell his story in his own way. The appearance of "Peveril of the Peak," con firmed my determination to publish. The attentive reader of that work, who may deign to cast his eye over the following pages, must be struck with various points of resemblance between its puritanical hero Major Bridgenorth, and the honest and venerable William Kiffin. Both belonged to the same class of religious professors-both made considerable fortunes during the period of civil dudgeon-both exercised their talents in the field, and their gifts in the church-and both were the subjects of heavy domestic misfortunes-involved in religious persecu tion, or in the calamities of political intrigue. Here, however, I must stop. Bridgenorth is a caricature, the creature of fiction, and designed to ridicule either the profession, or the weaknesses of religious perKiffin is a real character; possessing, it is true, a few peculiarities; but embodying the substantial excellences of Christianity, which the author of the Scottish Novels seems little capable of esti mating. sons. In this last production, indeed, there is a greater. tone of moderation in regard to religion, than in some of his former works. There is an admission, that "his Puritan is faintly traced to his Camero nian"-a poor apology for his unrighteous treatment of the patriotic and persecuted covenanters. There is little generosity or justice, in merely misrepresenting the persons of one religious profession, in a smaller degree than those of another. An honest man who is called a knave, will not be satisfied by hearing his friend called a fool. The author of Peveril still considers "hypocrisy and enthusiasm" (terms in the vocabulary of the world for the religion of the bible,) as fit food for ridicule and satire. "Yet," he says, "I am sensible of the difficulty of holding fanaticism up to laughter or abhorrence, without using colouring which may give offence to the sincerely worthy and religious. Many things are lawful which we are taught are not convenient; and there are many tones of feeling which are too respectable to be insulted, though we do not altogether sympathize with them." If this be not a testimony of homage to truth, it is at least a deference to public feeling: and every step in the return to right thinking and acting ought to be acknowledged with approbation. It will not be supposed that I have published this small performance for the purpose of illustrating the Novel; or that I have the vanity to expect that it will, to any considerable degree, counteract the tendency of that clever, and, in many respects, mischievous work. It may, however, contribute a little to a better understanding of the times; and also to shew that, in the large body of persons baptized by the names of Bridgenorth, and Solsgrace, and Simon Canter, there was a greater portion of principle, of loyalty, and of common sense, than they have frequently been supposed to possess. There is some reason to believe, that an extensive change in the public opinion, respecting the nature of genuine religion, has been silently operating for a considerable time. All the talents are obviously not on the side of infidelity and irreligion. The faith of Christ is not entirely limited to the vulgar and the wretched. It has been adopted in all its peculiarities, and manifested in all its decision, by men of the highest order of intellect, and of the most brilliant parts. It is not so convenient as it once was, to decry seriousness as fanaticism, and religious zeal as madness. It is discovered, that a christian may be a gentleman; and that sourness and grimace have as little connexion with godli, ness as levity and profaneness. This change in the public mind appears, among other things, in the increased respect which is shewn to puritanical writings-puritanical characters-and, to what may be called, the puritanical age of English history. Even Oliver Cromwell has ceased to be regarded merely as a hypocrite and a villain; and has found historians and apologists, not only among Dissenters and Whigs, but among Church-men and Tories. The interesting memoirs of various individuals, who lived and acted through that age of turmoil and excitement, have dissipated much of the |