cept a few admirable pieces lately handed about; in some of which, my name stands conspicuous as an Heretic. I have reasons with me very sufficient, why I take no notice of those important spirits, so as to answer them in form.

First, Respecting such that I have seen, their performances evidence beyond all controversy, that they did not understand the matter which they wrote against; and therefore treated that with contempt which was above them, being not afraid to speak evil of dignities. I would always, (unprovoked by their petulancy) answer those with silence, as being beneath my attention. I would harden my ear against the roarings of ignorance, and be utterly insensible to their invectives:

It being ridiculous to fret at the barkings of a Cur, when it is the nature of the animal to be noisy. Moreover, my wise, and powerful antagonists, are generally positive without candour; yea even infallible in their own conceit: With such it

is unlawful to reason. To see what important airs those little masters give themselves, strikes one at once with laughter and contempt; and constrains the serious mind to commiserate the abject state of Man, which nothing more fully discovers, than the egregious vanity, and insolence, of absolute determinations without reason. For my part, after having abjured the Pope of Rome, I can never submit to any infallible chair of an inferior Sort: Therefore their positions hath no weight with me, where they produce not their reasons, and such reasons as immediately relate to the matter in hand, and take in its meaning.

Until then, they may think as high as they please of themselves, (as vain conceit seems necessary to keep up their spirits) I must of necessity respect them, so, as to take no notice of their Anathemas, but boldly confess that after the way which they call Heresy, so worship I the God of my Fathers.

Another reason, why I do not choose to answer (in form) those Antagonists who have as yet appeared in public against me, is, that personal pique, disappointments, self-interest, &c. was not the least powerful motive with them in their opposition; and where those considerations influence the mind, it is an easy matter to find fault, Yea prejudice is dexterous at making faults, where there are none. I would not answer such as these, lest, by inflaming them, I should drive them to an utter renunciation of Christianity: Lest they should cast off, and reject that measure of Truth which at present they may have, only because, (from personal enmity) they may be in all things my opposites. For, where a spirit of resentment and selfseeking takes the Lead, it is not strange to see men change their Maxims, lest they should be thought to agree in any particular with the objects of their envy; it is a pity the Evidence that some of my opponents are already too guilty of this Charge: is so full.

Besides, there were many other stimulating considerations, well nigh as powerful as that of personal enmity, and revenge, which made them opponents to me, and my doctrine: such as making their peace with the World, at the expense of the persons and matter, trampled on, They were well aware, of its being a very likely method to gain the favour of mankind, in the general, especially of the pious Populace; the light, in which things stand at present, administering them abundant opportunity for so doing, it being shrewdly foreseen, that prejudice against the Person, and Matter exploded, would not permit the world to inquire impartially, into the merits of the Cause. They could not but be greatly encouraged, being assured of victory, before they came to the trial. It might reasonably be expected from hence, that their exclamations, and invectives, would have a large run in the world; to the great advantage of the Authors: this thought had a sweet feel

ing in it. But, I believe, there has been a disappointment here; it should have been considered, that the Person, and Doctrine, which they bespatter, are not sufficiently popular and formidable, to raise a general Call for their confutations, and preservatives.-The deliverance, is always proportionable to the Danger, nor can the latter be great, from what is only the object of hatred, and contempt, and not of fear: Had this been considered, their expectations had not been so sanguine. I might, by appealing to Human Nature, prove, that those my reasons, for not taking any farther notice of my antagonists, are not mere surmise; which may possibly be false: But I decline this, and declare myself well assured of what I have said, from circumstances sufficiently convincing: however, I shall bid them all farewel in the words of the Poet,

If want provoke, or Madness makes them priat.
I wage no war, with Bedlam, nor the Mint.

It is not my aim in this Treatise, to de