The History of the Life and Sufferings of the Reverend and Learned _John Wickliff_, D. D. Warden of _Canterbury_ Hall, and Publick Professor of Divinity in _Oxford_, and Rector of _Lutterworth_ in _Leicestershire_, in the Reign of King _Edward_ III. and _Richard_ the II.; together with a Collection of Papers relating to the said History, never before Printed. By _John Lewis_, M. A. Minister of _Margate_ in _Kent_. The Church Catechism explained for the Use of the Diocese of St. _Asaph_. By the Right Reverend Father in God _Will. Beveridge_, D. D. late Bishop of St. _Asaph_. Sixth Edition. The Faith and Practice of the Church of _England-Man_. The Ninth Edition. Price 4d. Principles of the _Cyprianic_ Age, with Regard to Episcopal Power and Jurisdiction, asserted and recommended from the genuine Writings of St. _Cyprian_ himself, and his Contemporaries. [Illustration] SOME REFLECTIONS UPON MARRIAGE. Curiosity, which is sometimes an Occasion of Good, but more frequently of Mischief, by disturbing our own or our Neighbours Repose, having induc’d me to read the Account of an unhappy Marriage, I thought an Afternoon would not be quite thrown away in pursuing such _Reflections_ as it occasion’d. I am far from designing a Satire upon Marriage, as some pretend, either unkindly or ignorantly, through want of _Reflection_ in that Sense wherein I use the Word. One wou’d have thought that Cardinal _Mazarine_, whose Dignity, Power and Riches, render’d him so considerable in the Eyes of all _Europe_; and who, like most great Ministers, aim’d at nothing so much as the aggrandizing himself and his Family, and who wanted no Opportunities of doing it, should have taken his Measures so justly as not to be disappointed: At least, that a Fabrick rais’d with as much Art and Cost, founded in the Oppression, and cemented with the Blood of the People, should not so quickly have tumbled into the Dust after him. But so it is, _Providence_, whether we think of it or no, overrules our Actions and baffles our best-concerted Projects: So that unless we wilfully shut our Eyes, we cannot but discern, that when _Men in_ Power and _Honour_ leave _GOD_ out of their Schemes, they _have no Understanding_, though their natural Genius be ever so bright, _but are_ justly _compared to the Beasts that perish_. The _Ignorant_ and _Foolish_ succeed quite as well as the _Worldly-wise_, who _carry nothing away with them when they_ die, neither will their Riches and Glory descend as they intended. It is only by generous and worthy Actions that we are rescued from Oblivion, or from what is worse, being remembred with Contempt and Execrations: So little Reason is there to envy any Man’s Wealth and Greatness, but much to emulate their Wisdom and Vertue whose Views extend to a more durable Felicity.