Neal - Houston-Packer Collection BX9333 .N4 1754 v1

xx P R E F A C E. mankind, by enabling them to avoid thofe rocks on which their forefathers have fplit. When I am convinced of any mi/lakes, or unfair reprefenta- tiens, I (hall not be afhamed to retrae them before the world but FACTS are /lubborn things, and will not bend to the humours and inclinations 'of artfuland angry men ; if thefe have been difguifedor nu/reported, let them be fit right in a decent manner, without the mean furmifes of plots and confederacies, and whoever does it, /hall have mine, as well as the thanks of the public. I have no controverfy with the prefent church of England, which has renounced, in a great meafure, the perfecuting principlesof former times ; for though I am not unacquainted with the nature and defetis of religious e tablifhments, yet neither my principles nor inclinations will allow me to give them the leaft d/urbane, any further than they impofe upon con- fcience, or intrench upon the rights of civil fociety. If the prefbyterians or independents have been guilty offuchpractices in their turns, I /hall Ibid. p. t2, freely bear my teflimony agasnfl them, and think Imay do it with a GOOD GRACE, fence I have always declared againflreftraints upon confcience, among all parties of chrißians; but if men will vindicate the ju/lice and, equity of oaths ex officio, and of exorbitant fines, imprifonment and ba -. nifhment, for things in their own nature indifferent; if they will call a relation of the illegal feverities of council tables, fiar chambers, and high commiffions, a SATYR AGAINST THE PRESENT ESTABLISH- MENT, they muli ufe their liberty, as I ¡hall mine, in appearingagainji eccleifaflical opprejion, fromwhat quarter foever it comes. I have freely cenfured the nu/lakes of the puritans in queen ELIZA- BETH's reign; nor will I be their advocate any longer than they have fcripture, realn, and fame' degree of good manners on their fade. If it ¡hall at any time appear, that the body of them lived in contempt of all lawful authority, or bid defiance to the laws-of their country, except in 'itch cafes wherein their confciences told them, it was their duty to obey God rather than man ; if they were guilty of rebellion, fedition, or of aban- doning the queen and the proteftant religion, when it was in danger, let them bear their own reproach; but as yet Imug be of opinion, that they were the bell friends of the con/litution and liberties of their country ; that they were neither unquiet or reftlefs, unlef again/t tyranny in the Rate, and oppreffion upon the confcience ; that they made ufe of no other weapons, during a courfi offourfcore years, but prayers to God, and pe- titions to the leg for redrefs of their grievances, it being an article of their belief, that abfolute fubmiflion was due to the fupreme magic trate in all things lawful, as will fuficiently appear by their ,protefiations in

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