HROUGH the good hand of God upon me I have at length
T compleated this poem, which I beg leave to prefent to you.
I first began to plan it out and write it on the 26th of February
1787, the day after I had preached a fermon from Zech. xiv. 9. I
found my heart fo warmed with the glorious fubject, the kingdom
of Chrift, on which I had been preaching, that I found an incli-
nation to write upon it; and I immediately took up my pen, and
wrote the plan of this poem as it now ftands. I had finished three
books, and written a confiderable part of the fourth, when we
came to England September 21, 1787.
About the beginning of the year 1788, I read the four first books
to a few friends in the Chapel, Chapel-court, Borough, and I re-
turn my fincere and hearty thanks to those who attended the read-
ing, for the support and encouragement which they gave me on
that occafion. About this time I planned out my Lectures on the
Prophecies, which I began to deliver the beginning of February
1788 in the fame place. Since which they have been delivered a
fecond time, and published in four volumes octavo.
When I first began this poem, I was ready to imagine it to be
the labour of fome years; but experience corrects our mistakes.
I am now convinced that the whole of it might have been easily
written in much less than a quarter of one year; and as a proof of
what I fay, I can aflure the Reader, that the whole of the ninth book
was written in the leisure hours of fix days, between Monday mor-
ning and Saturday evening, in one week laft winter. I have how-
ever great reafon to blefs God, that in the midst of many labours
and infirmities, and after many delays, he has enabled me to finish
it; and hath preferved my life to fee it published. I return my
thanks to the fubfcribers who have encouraged this publication,
and by whose favour it now fees the light. I truft in their friend-
ship and candour to excufe any defects they may fee in the execu-
cution, as I have never copied it off from the first draught, and
have made but a very few alterations fince it was first written.
Neither has it had the friendly affiftance of any other hand; fo
that I only am answerable for all its faults. The fubject is indeed
the grandeft and most extenfive that can be imagined; and the de-
light I have had in the labour has been great: but I must confefs
the execution is far beneath the defign. But fuch as it is, with all
its defects, I venture it into the world, and commit it to the bleffing
and protection of Providence, the candour of my friends, and the
generofity of the Public, and fubfcribe myself, a well wither to all
the human race.
ELHANAN WINCHESTER.
London, January 12, 1793t