Robert Boyle (1) (1627–1691)

SERAPHICK LOVE: SOME MOTIVES AND INCENTIVES TO THE LOVE OF GOD

To the Countess of Warwick

My Dear Sister,

I expect you should somewhat wonder, that after
having for above eleven years been careful to keep this
following letter from the public view, and that too
notwithstanding the solicitation (not to say importunity) of
diverse illustrious persons, and even your commands to
release it from its confinement; I should now at length
give way to its passing abroad into the World, and its
making you a public and solemn address. Wherefore
judging myself obliged to give you an account of a paper,
for which you have been long pleased to highly and so
obligingly to concern yourself, I must, to remove your
wonder, inform you, that I am reduced to this publication
in my own defense. For, whilst I was far from dreaming
of permitting this epistle to pass out of my closet, it
happened, that a broken copy ofit did (by Iknow not what
misfortune for me) fall into the hands of a necessitous
person, who would needs persuade himself, that by
printing it, he might relieve some of his present wants;
and thereupon proffered to sell the copy for a sum of
money. But, my good fortune leading him to a stationer,
to whom my name was not unknown, he very civilly sent
me forthwith notice of the proposition that was made him,
and after came himself to acquaint me, that the copy
about which he had been treated with, being but one of
two or three that were then abroad, some or other of them
would, questionless, soon find the way to the press. This… (meer)