Candid Reader,

In these few Pages, I expose to thee openly and ingenuously, by what means I can learn the Deaf, (and because they were born so) the Dumb to speak articulately, and easily to understand others also when they are speaking, so as they may be able both to read, and to understand a Book, or Letter, and to discover their own Minds, either by Speach or Writing.

How important a Benefit is this?  How advantageous is the not hearing supplied by this Art?  If Envy, or the detestable greedy Desire of Gain_ could have prevailed with me, I had retained this Art, as lockt up in my own Breast.  But alass!  How miserable is the condition of the Deaf?  How lame and defective is that Speach, which is performed by Signs and Gestures?  How little are they capable to receive of those things which concern their eternal Salvation?  Who doth not commiserate this sort of Persons?  Who can refuse to help them by all means which are possible?  For my part, I, by the help of God’s Grace, will not only help them, but will make publick and vulgar what is best to be done therein, yea, and have done so already, that they can understand others speaking, even with the softest Voice, or rather whispering.

This Doctrin will seem new and incredible to most Men, yet is not plainly altogether unheard of; for, as I heard, there have been some, who engaged themselves in this cure; but what they effected therein, I must acknowledge is unknown to me; yea, I Religiously attest, that before I did excogitate this Matter, I met not with the least foot-step thereof in any Author.  Notwithstanding, some there be, who reject at first sight this Doctrin as fabulous; others, and those perhaps the same also; who when I shall have discovered to them the manner thereof, will cry, that they could do the same thing:  I, for my part; am not concerned at either of them, well knowing, that those who are just in their Estimation of things, will judge otherwise.

When thou, by reading shalt arrive thus far (good_ Reader) stop a little (I pray thee) and use the liberty granted to every one, and attentively revolve in thy Mind, what thou thy self would’st do, if such a case as this was committed to thy care.  If so be thou shaltst find out the right way, give God thanks, and let it suffice, that I have admonished thee; if not, go on to read what follows, where thou wilt find it, with very little trouble.  This very way is that, by which I taught Ehster Kolard, (a young Virgin of great Hopes, the only Daughter of Mr Peter Kolard, who was born Deaf) not only to read, but also to speak readily, yea, and to hold Discourse with others and in a short time she profited so much, as to remember a many Questions and Answers in the Catechism, yea, and as far as her young Years were capable, she understood the Sense of them also:  She rejoyced greatly when I told her, that I was willing to make this Method, by which she learned to speak, common to all.  Friendly_ Reader, use and accept well these things; and if thou knowest any things better, Candidly impart them, and make not thy self Ungrateful.  Farewell.