THE

PREFACE

To the REA DE R.

HE nation is in too high a ferment, for

TH

me to expect either fair war, or even fo much as fair quarter, from a reader of the oppofite party. All men are engaged either on this fide or that; and tho confcience is the common word, which is given by both, yet if a writer fall among enemies, and cannot give the marks of their confcience, he is knocked down before the reasons of his own are heard. A preface, therefore, which is but a befpeaking of favour, is altogether useless. What I defire the reader should know concerning me, he will find in the body of the poem, if he have but the patience to peruse it. Only this advertisement let him take before-hand, which relates to the merits of the cause. No general characters of parties (call them either fects or churches) can be fo fully and exactly drawn, as to comprehend all the feveral members of them; at least all fuch as are received under that denomination. For example; there are fome of the church by

law established, who envy not liberty of conscience to diffenters; as being well satisfied that, according to their own principles, they ought not to perfecute them. Yet thefe, by reafon of their fewness, I could not distinguish from the numbers of the rest, with whom they are embodied in one common name. On the other fide, there are many of our fects, and more indeed than I could reasonably have hoped, who have withdrawn themielves from the communion of the Panther, and embraced this gracious indulgence of his majesty in point of toleration. But neither to the one nor the other of thefe is this fatire any way intended it is aimed only at the refractory and difobedient on either fide. For thofe, who are come over to the royal party, are confequently fuppofed to be out of gun-shot. Our phyficians have obferved, that, in process of time fome diseases have abated of their virulence, and have in a manner worn out their malignity, fo as to be no longer mortal: and why may not I suppose the fame concerning fome of thofe, who have formerly been enemies to kingly government, as well as Catholic religion? I hope they have now another notion of both, as having found, by

comfortable experience, that the doctrine of perfecution is far from being an article of our faith.

It is not for any private man to cenfure the proceedings of a foreign prince: but, without fufpicion of flattery, I may praise our own, who has taken contrary measures, and thofe more fuitable to the spirit of Chriftianity. Some of the diffenters, in their addresses to his majesty, have said, "That he has reftored God to his empire over "confcience." I confefs, I dare not ftretch the figure to so great a boldness: but I may safely fay, that confcience is the royalty and prerogative of every private man: He is abfolute in his own breaft, and accountable to no earthly power, for that which paffes only betwixt God and him. Those who are driven into the fold are, generally speaking, rather made hypocrites than con

verts.

This indulgence being granted to all the sects, it ought in reafon to be expected, that they should both receive it, and receive it thankfully. For, at this time of day, to refufe the benefit, and adhere to those, whom they have esteemed their persecutors, what is it elfe, but publicly to own, that