fl:ead of their unconfcionable, and yet unreformed cultome of back- . biting, they would tell me to my face of my offences by convincing evidence, and not temptthe hearers to thmk them enviOus : and 1. That what I da amifs, tiJey JVauld da better: and not be fuch as will neither labo– rioutly [erve the Church themfelves, nor fuffer others : and that they will not be guil_ty of Idlenefs themfelws, nor tempt me to ·be a flatlful fer' wnt, who have {o little time to fpend: For I dare not ltand before God under that guilt: And that they will not joyn with the enemies and refifl:ers of the publication of the Wor.d of God. . And to the Readers my requefl: is, 1. That what ever for ~amity , or Q!.ality in this Book is an impediment to their regular univerfal obe – dience, and to a truly holy life, they would negleCt: and calt away : 2. But that which is truly InftmEting and Helpft~l, they would diligently Di· 2,eft andPraEtice; And I encomage them by my tdl:imony, that by long experience I am affured, that this P rz(.A CT 1CA L rz(.E L I GI 0 N will afford both to (lmrch, State and [anfcience, more certain and more folid Peace, than contending Difputers, with all their pretences ofOrthodox– nefs and Zeal againlt Errors for the T rmh, will ever bring, or did ever attain to. I crave your pardon for this long Apology : It is an Age where the ObjeCI:ions are not feigned, and where our greatefl: and moll: coll:ly [ervices . of God, are charged on us as our greatefl: Gns ; and where at once I am 1 accu[ed of Confcience for doing no more , and of men for doing [o much: Being really A maft Wlwarthy Servant of Jo gaad a Mafter. RIcH A R D BA X T E- R·.' " THE
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