The Memoir which composes the first part of the present volume was drawn up by the late Rev. John Venn, with the intention of its being prefixed to a new edition of his father's works. He had also written the following paragraph, as the commencement of a Preface.

“The Compiler of this Memoir deeply feels the impropriety of troubling the public with the lives of those who have little claim to public notice. But he trusts that every person, who feels the influence of filial piety, will justify his breaking through this rule, when he is told that a Life of his honoured and excellent Father has been already given to the public, full of misrepresentations, and calculated to produce a most injurious impression respecting his character and principles; and that this Life has been extensively circulated, inserted into biographical histories, and even prefixed to an edition of his principal work, without any public denial or indignant refutation.

“In the Memoir which follows, which exhibits the real character of one, by whose writings the Church has been edified, and by whose example many have been animated, the author can truly say, that he has endeavoured to free himself entirely from partiality.”

The Memoir, which the preceding fragment was intended to introduce, was also itself left in an unfinished state. It had been commenced by Mr. John Venn many years before his own death; but, after a few of the first pages had been written, its completion was delayed till his last illness; so that the greater part of it was dictated by him from his death-bed.