WHosoever desires this totall change of our present Government , desires it either out of a conceit that is unlawfull , or inconvenient . To both these , I shall say something . To the first , being able to make no such arguments to prove it so my self , as I conceive likely to be made within the walls of so wise a House , I can make no answer to them , till I hear them from some other ; which then ( if they perswade me not ) by the liberty of a Committee , I shall do . But this in generall . In the mean time , I shall say , that the ground of this government of Episcopacy , being so ancient , and so generall , so uncontradicted in the first and best times , that our most laborious Antiquaries can find no Nation , no City , no Church , nor Houses under any other ; that our first Ecclesiasticall Authors tell us , that the Apostles not onely allow'd but founded Bishops ( so that the tradition for some Books of Scripture , which we receive as Canonicall , is both lesse ancient , lesse generall , and lesse uncontradicted , ) I must ask leave to say , that though the Mysterie of iniquity began suddenly to work , yet it did not instantly prevail ; it could not ayme at the end of the race , as soon as it was started ; nor could Antichristianism in so short a time have become so Catholique .

To the second , this I say , that in this Government there is no inconvenience which might not be sufficiently remedied without destroying the whole ; and though we had not par'd their Nails , or rather their Tongues , ( I mean the High-Commission , ) though we should neither give them the direction of strict rules , nor the addition of choyce Assisters ( both which we may do , and suddenly I hope we shall ; ) yet the fear sunk into them of this Parliament , and the expectation of a Trienniall one , would be such banks to these rivers , that we need fear their inundations no more .

Next I say , that if some inconvenience did appear in this , yet since it may also appear , that the change will breed greater , I desire those who are led to change by inconveniences onely , that they will suspend their opinions , till they see what is to be laid in the other ballance , which I will endeavour .

The inconveniences of the change are double , some that it should be yet done , others , that it should be at all done . The first again , double , 1. Because we have not done what we should do first ; and 2. Because others have not done what they should do first ; That which we should do first , is , to agree of a succeeding Form of Government , that every man , when he gives his Vote to the destruction of this , may be sure that he destroys not that , which he likes better than that which shall succeed it . I conceive no man will at this time give this Vote , who doth not believe this Government to be the worst that can possibly be devised ; and for mypart , if this be thus proposterously done , and we left in this blind uncertainty ( what shall become of us ! ) I shall not onely doubt all the inconveniences , which any Government ment hath , but which any Government may have . This I insist on the rather , because if we should find cause to wish for this back again , we could not have it , the means being disperst . To restore it again would be a miracle in State , like that of the resurrection to Nature .

That which others should do first , is , to be gone . For if you will do this , yet things standing as they do , no great cause appearing for so great a change , I fear a great Army may be thought to be the cause . And I therefore desire ( to be sure that Newcastle may not be suspected to have any influence upon London , ) that this may not be done , till our Brethren be returned to their Patrimony .

We are now past the inconveniences in poynt of Time ; I now proceed . And my first inconvenience of this change , is , the inconvenience of change it self , which is so great an inconvenience , when the Change is great and suddain , that in such cases , when it is not necessary to change , it is necessary not to change . To a person formerly intemperate , I have known the first prescription of an excellent Physitian , to forbear too good a diet for a good while . We have lived long happily , and gloriously , under this Form of Government ; Episcopacy hath very well agreed with the constitution of our Laws , with the disposition of our People : how any other will do , I the lesse know , because I know not of any other , of which so much as any other Monarchy hath had any experience ; they all having ( as I conceive ) at least Superintendents for life : and the meer word Bishop , I suppose , is no man's aime to destroy , nor no man's aim to defend .

Next , Sir , I am of opinion , that most men desire * * See the Collection of Petitions for Episcopacy ; printed for Will . Shears . not this change , or else I am certain there hath been very suddenly a great change in men . Severall Petitions indeed desire it , but knowing how concern'd and how united that party is , how few would be wanting to so good a work , even those hands which value their number to others , are an argument of their paucity to me . The numberlesse number of those of a different sense , appear not so publiquekly and cry not so loud , being persons more quiet , as secure in the goodnesse of their Lawes , and the wisdom of their Law-makers ; And because men petition for what they have not , and not for what they have , perhaps that the Bishops may not know how many friends their Order hath , lest they be incouraged to abuse their authority , if they knew it to be so generally approved . Now , Sir , though we are trusted by those that sent us , in cases wherein their opinions were unknown ; yet truly if I knew the opinion of the major part of my Town , I doubt whether it were the intention of those that trusted me , that I should follow my own opinion against theirs . At least , let us stay till the next Session , and consult more particularly with them about it .

Next , Sir , it will be the destruction of many estates , in which many , who may be very innocent persons , are legally vested , and of many persons who undoubtedly are innocent , whose dependances are upon those estates . The Apostle faith , he that provides not for his family , is worse then an Infidel , This belongs in some analogy to us ; and truly , Sir , we provide ill for our Family ( the Common-wealth ) if we suffer a considerable part of it to be turned out of doors . So that , for any care is taken by this Bill for new dwelling , ( and I will never consent they shall play an after-game , for all they have ) either we must see them starve in the streets before us , or ( to avoid that ) we must ship them some-whither away , like the Moors out of Spain .

From the hurt of the Learned I come to that of Learning ; and desire you to consider , whether , when all considerable maintenance shall be reduced to cure of Souls , all studies , will not be reduced to those which are in order to Preaching ; the Arts and Languages , and even eminent skill in Controversies ( to which great leasure and great means is required ) much neglected , and ( to the joy and gain of our common Adversary , ) Syntagms , Postills , Catechisms , Commentators , and Concordances , almost onely bought , and the rest of Libraries remain rather as of ornament , then as of use . I do not deny but for all this want , the wit of some hath attempted both , and the parts of some few have served to discharge both , as those of Calvin , to advise about , and dispatch more Temporall businesse into the bargain , than all our Privy-Councell ; yet such abilities are extreamly rare , and very few will ever p each mice a Sunday , and be any match for Bellarmine . Nay I fear , Sir , that this will make us to have fewer able even in Preaching it self , as it is separated from generall Learning , for I fear many whose parts , friends , and means , might make them hope for better advancements in other courses , when these shall be taken away from this , will be less ready to imbrace it ; and though it were to be wisht , that all men should onely undertake those Embassages , with reference to His Honour Whose Embassadors they are ; yet I doubt not but many , who have entred into the Church by the Door , ( or rather by the Window , ) have done it ( after ) great and sincere service ; and better reasons have made them labour in the vineyard , than brought them thither at first : and though the meer love of God ought to make us good , though there were no reward or punishment , yet it would be very inconvenient to piety , that hope of Heaven and fear of Hell were taken away .

The next inconvenience , I fear , is this ; that if we should take away a Government which hath as much testimony of the first antiquity to have been founded by the Apostles , as can be brought for some parts of Scripture to have been written by them , lest this may avert some of our Church from us , and rivet some of the Roman Church to her ; and ( as I remember ) the Apostle commands us to be carefull , not to give scandall even to those that are without . Sir , It hath been said , that we have a better way to know Scripture than by Tradition ; I dispute not this , Sir , but I know that Tradition is the onely argument to prove Scripture to another , and the first to every mans self , being compared to the Samaritan Woman's report , which made many first believe in Christ , though they after believed him for himself . And I therefore would not have this so far weakned to us , as to take away Episcopacy as unlawfull , which is so far by Tradition proved to be lawfull .

The next inconvenience that I fear , is this : having observed those generally who are against Bishops ( I will not now speak of such as are among us , who by being selected from the rest , are to be hoped to be freer then ordinary , from vulgar passions ) to have somewhat more animosity against those who are for them , then vice versâ ; lest when they shall have prevaild against the Bishops , they be so far encouraged against their partakers , and will so have discouraged their adversaries , as in time to induce a necessity upon others , at least of the Clergy , to believe them as unlawfull as they themselves do , and to assent to other of their opinions yet left at large . Which will be a way to deprive us , I think , of not our worst , I am sure of our most learned Ministers ; and to send a greater Colonie to New England , then it hath been said this Bill will recall from thence .

I come now from the incoveniences of taking away this Government , to the inconveniences of that which shall succeed it : and to this I can speak but by guesse , and groping , because I have no light given me what that shall be ; onely I hope I shall be excused for shooting at random , since you will set me up no Butt to shoot at . The first , I fear the Scotch Government will either presently be taken ; or if any other succeed for a while , yet the unity and industry of those of that opinion in this Nation , assisted by the cōnsell and friendship of that , will shortly bring it in , if any lesse opposite Government to it be here placed than that of Episcopacy . And indeed Sir , since any other Government than theirs will by no means give any satisfaction to their desire of uniformity ; since all they who see not the dishonour and ill consequences of it , will be unwilling to deny their Brethren what they esteem indifferent ; since our own Government being destroyed , we shall in all I kelyhood be aptest to receive that which is both next at hand and ready made : For these reasons I look upon it as probable ; and for the following ones , as inconvenient .

When some Bishops pretended to Jure divino ( though nothing so likely to be believed by the People , as those would be , nor consequently to hurt us by that pretence ) this was cry'd out upon as destructive to His Majestie 's Supremacy , who was to be confessed to be the Fountain of Jurisdiction in this Kingdom . Yet to Jure divino the Scotch Ecclesiasticall government pretends , To meet when they please , to treat of what they please , to excommunicate whom they please , even Parliaments themselves ; so far are they from receiving either rules or punishments from them . And for us to bring in any unlimited , any Independent authority , the first is against the Liberty of the Subject , the second against the Right and Priviledge of Parliament ; and both against the Protestation .

If it be said , that this unlimitednesse and independence is onely in Spirituall things ; I answer first , that arbitrary Government being the worst of Governments , and our Bodies being worse than our Souls , it will be strange to set up that over the second , of which we were so impatient over the first . Secondly , that M. Sollicitor speaking about the Power of the Clergy , to make Canons to bind , did excellently inform us , what a mighty influence Spiritual power hath upon Temporal affairs . So that if our Clergy had the one , they had inclusively almost all the other . And to this I may adde , ( what all men may see , ) the vast Temporall power of the Pope allow'd him by such who allow it him onely in ordine ad Spiritualia : for the Fable will tell you , if you make the Lyon ( and the Clergy , assisted by the people , is Lyon enough ) it was a wise fear of the Foxe's , lest he might call a knubb a horn . And sure , Sir , they will in this case be Judges , not onely of that which is Spiritual , but of what it is that is so : and the people receiving instruction from no other , will take the most Temporal matter to be Spiritual , if they tell them it is so .

SECT. 1. IF we abstract from Episcopal Government all accidentals , and consider onely what is essential and necessary to it ; we shall find in it no more but this . An appointment of one man of eminent sanctity and sufficiency to have the care of all the Churches , within a certain Precinct or Diocesse ; and furnishing him with authority ( not absolute or arbitrary , but regulated and bounded by Laws , and moderated by joyning to him a convenient number of assistants ) to the intent that all the Churches under him may be provided of good and able Pastors : and that both of Pastours and people , conformity to Laws , and performance of their duties may be required , under penalties , not left to discretion , but by Law appointed .

SECT. 2. To this kind of Government I am not by any particular interest so devoted , as to think it ought to be maintained , either in opposition to Apostolick Institution ; or to the much desired reformation of mens lives , and restauration of Primitive discipline ; or to any Law or Precept of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ : for that were to maintain a means contrary to the end ; for obedience to our Saviour , is the end for which Church-Government is appointed . But if it may be demonstrated ( or made much more probable than the contrary ) as I verily think it may : I. That it is not repugnant to the government setled in and for the Church by the Apostles . II. That it is as complyable with the reformation of any evill which we desire to reform either in Church or State , or the introduction of any good . which we desire to introduce , as any other kind of Government : And III. That there is no Law , no Record of our Saviour against it : then I hope it will not be thought an unreasonable motion , if we humbly desire those that are in authority , especially the High Court of Parliament , that in may not be sacrificed to clamour , or over-borne by violence : and though ( which God forbid ) the greater part of the multitude should cry , Crucifie , Crucifie ; yet our Governours would be so full of Justice and courage , as not to give it up , untill they perfectly understand concerning Episcopacy it self , Quid mali fecit .

SECT. 3. I shall speak at this time onely of the first of these three points : That Episcopacy is not repugnant to the government setled in the Church for perpetuity by the Apostles . Whereof I conceive this which follows is as clear a demonstration , as any thing of this nature is capable of .

That this Government was received universally in the Church , either in the Apostles time , or presently after , is so evident and unquestionable , that the most learned adversaries of this Government do themselves confesse it .

SECT. 4. Petrus Molinaeus in his Book De munere pastorali , purposely written in defence of the Presbyterial-government , acknowledgeth : That presently after the Apostles times , or even in their time ( as Ecclesiastical story witnesseth ) it was ordained , That in every City one of the presbytery should be called a Bishop , who should have per-eminence over his Colleagues ; to avoid confusion which oft times ariseth out of equality . And truely , this form of Government all Chuches every where received .

SECT. 5. Theodorus Beza in his Tract , De triplici Episcopatus genere , confesseth in effect the same thing . For having distinguished Episcopacy into three kinds , Divine , Humane , and Satanical , and attributing to the second ( which he calls Humane , but we maintain and conceive to be Apostolical ) not onely a priority of order , but a superiority of power , and authority over other Presbyters , bounded yet by Laws and Canons provided against Tyranny : he clearely professeth that of this kind of Episcopacy , is to be understood whatsoever we read concerning the authority of Bishops ( or Presidents , as Justin Martyr callsthem ) in Ignatius , and other more ancient Writers .

SECT. 6. Certainly from * * To whom two others also from Geneva may be added : Daniel Chamierus ( in Panstratia , tom. 2. lib. 10. cap. 6. §. 24. ) and Nicol. Vedelius ( Exercitat . 3. in epist. Ignatii ad Philadelph . cap. 14. & Exercit. 8. in epist. ad Mariam , cap. 3. ) which is fully also demonstated in D. Hammonds dissertations against Blondel ( which never were answerd , & never will ) by the testimonies of those who wrote in the very next Age after the Apo stles . these two great defenders of the Presbytery , we should never have had this free acknowledgement , ( so prejudicial to their own pretence , and so advantagious to their adversaries purpose ) had not the evidence of clear and undeniable truth enforced them to it . It will not therefore be necessary , to spend any time in confuting that uningenuous assertion of the anonymous Author of the Catalogue of Testimonies , for the equality of Bishops and Presbyters , who affirms , That their disparity began long after the Apostles times : But we may safely take for granted that which these two learned Adversaries have confessed ; and see , whether upon this foundation layd by them , we may not by unanswerable reason raise this superstructure ;

SECT. 7. For so great a change , as between Presbyterial Government and Episcopal , could not possibly have prevailed all the world over in a little time . Had Episcopal Government been an aberration from ( or a corruption of ) the Government left in the Churches by the Apostles , it had been very strange , that it should have been received in any one Church so suddainly , or that it should have prevailed in all for many Ages after . Variâsse debuer at error Ecclesiarum : quod autem apud omnes unum est , non est erratum , sed traditum . Had the Churches err'd , they would have varied : What therefore is one and the same amongst all , came not sure by error , but tradition . Thus Tertullian argues very probably , from the consent of the Churches of his time , not long after the Apostles , and that in matter of opinion much more subject to unobserv'd alteration . But that in the frame and substance of the necessary Government of the Church , a thing alwayes in use and practice , there should be so suddain a change as presently after the Apostles times ; and so universal , as received in all the Churches ; this is clearly impossible .

SECT. 8. For what universal cause can be assigned or faigned of this universal Apostasie ? you will not imagine that the Apostles , all or any of them , made any decree for this change , when they were living ; or left order for it in any Will or Testament , when they were dying . This were to grant the question ; To wit , that the Apostles , being to leave the Government of the Churches themselves , and either seeing by experience , or fore-seeing by the Spirit of God , the distractions and disorders , which would arise from a multitude of equals , substituted Episcopal Government instead of their own . General Councells to make a Law for a generall change , for many ages there was none . There was no Christian Emperour , no coercive power over the Church to enforce it . Or if there had been any , we know no force was equal to the courage of the Christians of those times . Their lives were then at command ( for they had not then learnt to fight for Christ ) but their obedience to any thing against his Law was not to be commanded ( for they had perfectly learn't to dye for him . ) Therefore there was no power then to command this change ; or if there had been any , it had been in vain .

SECT. 9. What device then shall we study , or to what fountain shall we reduce this strange pretended alteration ? Can it enter into our hearts to think , that all the Presbyters and other Christians then , being the Apostles Schollers , could be generally ignorant of the Will of Christ , touching the necessity of a Presbyterial Government ? Or , dare we adventure to think them so strangely wicked all the World over , as against knowledge and conscience to conspire against it ? Imagine the spirit of Diotrephes had entered into some , or a great many of the Presbyters , and possessed them with an ambitious desire of a forbiddden superiority , was it possible they should attempt and atchieve it once without any opposition or contradiction ? and besides that , the contagion of this ambition , should spread it self and prevail without stop or controul , nay , without any noyse or notice taken of it , through all the Churches in the World ; all the watchmen in the mean time being so fast asleep , and all the dogs so dumb , that not so much as one should open his mouth against it ?

SECT. 10. But let us suppose ( though it be a horrible untruth ) that the Presbyters and people then , were not so good Christians as the Presbyterians are now ; that they were generally so negligent to retain the government of Christ's Church commanded by Christ , which we now are so zealous to restore : yet certainly we must not forget nor deny that they were men as we are . And if we look upon them but as meer naturall men , yet knowing by experience how hard a thing it is , even for policy arm'd with power by many attempts and contrivances , and in a long time , to gain upon the liberty of any one people ; undoubtedly we shall never entertain so wild an imagination , as that among all the Christian Presbyteries in the World , neither conscience of duty , nor love of liberty , nor aversenesse from pride and usurpation of others over them , should prevail so much with any one , as to oppose this pretended universal invasion of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ , and the liberty of Christians .

SECT. 11. When I shall see therefore all the Fables in the Metamorphosis acted and prove stories ; when I shall see all the Democracies and Aristocracies in the World lye down and sleep , and awake into Monarchies : then will I begin to believe that Presbyterial Government , having continued in the Church during the Apostles times , should presently after ( against the Apostles doctrine and the will of Christ ) be whirl'dabout like a scene in a masque , and transformed into Episcopacy . In the mean time , while these things remain thus incredible , and in humane reason impossible ; I hope I shall have leave to conclude thus :

Episcopal Government is acknowledged to have been universally received in the Church , presently after the Apostles times .

Between the Apostles times and this presently after , there was not time enough for , nor possibility of , so great an alteration .

And therefore there was no such alteration as is pretended . And therefore Episcopacy , being confessed to be so Ancient and Catholique , must be granted also to be Apostolique , Quod erat demonstrandum .

THe eminent abilities in the most noble Author of the ensuing learned Discourse , and learneder Reply , can scarcely be imagined unknown to any whom this language can reach : But if any such there be , I shall desire them to learne the perfections of that most excellent Person , rather from the Dedication , then this Preface ; the designe of which , is onely to give the Reader some satisfaction concerning the nature of this Controversie in it selfe , and of these Dissertations in particular .

The Romish Doctrine of their owne Infallibility , as it is the most generall Controversie betweene them , and all other Churches excluded by them from their Communion : So it is of such a comprehensive nature , that being proved and clearely demonstrated , it would without question draw all other Churches so excluded , to a most humble submission and acknowledgement , nay , to an earnest desire of a suddaine Reconciliation upon any Termes whatsoever . For howsoever they please to speak and write of our Hereticall and obstinate persistance in manifest Errors , yet I hope they cannot seriously thinke we would be so irrationall , as to contradict him whom we our selves think beyond a possibillity of erring , and to dispute perpetually with them , whom onely to heare were to be satisfied .

But when they have propounded their Decisions to be beleeved , and imbraced by us as Infallibly true , and that because they propound them , who in their own opinion are Infallible ; if notwithstanding some of those Decisions seeme to us to be evidently false , because clearely contradictory to that which they themselves propound as infallibly true , that is the Word of God : surely we cannot be blamed , if we have desired their Infallibility to be most clearly demonstrated , at least to a higher degree of evidence then we have of the contradiction of their Decisions to the infallible Rule . Wherefore , The great Defenders of the Doctrine of the Church of England , have with more then ordinary diligence endeavoured to view the grounds of this Controversie , and have written by the advantage either of their learning accurately , or of their parts most strongly , or of the cause it selfe most convincingly , against that darling Infallibility . How clearely this Controversie hath been managed , with what evidence of truth discussed , what successe so much of reason hath had , cannot more plainly appeare then in this , that the very name of Infallibility before so much exalted , begins now to be very burthensome , even to the maintainers of it : Insomuch as one of their latest and ablest Proselytes , Hugh Paulin de Cressy , lately Dean of Laghlin , &c. in Ireland , and Prebendary of Windsor in England , in his Exomologesis , or faithfull Narration of the occasion and motives of his Conversion , hath dealt very clearly with the World , and told us , that this Infallibilitie is an unfortunate Word . That Mr. Chillingworth hath cumbated against it with too too great successe , so great , that he could wish the Word were forgotten , or at least layd by . That not onely Mr. Chillingworth , whom he still worthily admires ; but we the rest of the poore Protestants have in very deed , very much to say for our selves , when we are pressed unnecessarily with it . And therefore Mr. Cressy's advise to all the Romanists is this , that we may never be invited to combat the authority of the Church under that notion . Oh the strength of Reason rightly managed ! O the power of Truth clearly declared ! that it should force an emnient member of the Church of Rome ( whose great Principle is non = retractation ) to retract so necessary , so fundamentall a Doctrine , to desert all their Schooles , and contradict all their Controvertists . But indeed not without very good cause : For he professes withall , that no such word as Infallibility is to be found in any Councel : Neither did ever the Church enlarge her Authority to so vaste a widenesse : But doth rather deliver the victory into our hands when we urge her Decisions . In all which Confessions , although he may seeme onely to speak of the Word , yet that cannot be it which he is so wearie of , because we except not against the word at all , but confesse it rightly to signifie that which we impugne , neither do we ever bring any nominall Argument against it . But as when Cardinall Bellarmine sets downe the Doctrine of the Church in their positive tearmes . Summus Pontifex , cum totam Ecclesiam docet , in his , quae ad Fidem pertinent , nullo casu errare potest . We conceive he hath sufficiently expressed the sence of the word Infallibility , so that , Infallibilis est , & nullo casu errare potest , are to us the same thing . It cannot therefore be the Word alone , but the whole importance and sence of that word Infallibility , which Mr. Cressy so earnestly desires all his Catholicks ever hereafter to forsake , because the former Church did never acknowledge it , and the present Church will never be able to maintaine it . This is the great successe which the Reason , Parts , and Learning of the late Defendors of our Church have had in this maine Architectonicall Controversie .

And yet though the Church never maintained it , though the Protestants have had such advantage against it , though Mr. Cressy confessing both , hath wished all Catholicks to forsake it , yet will he not wholly forsake it himself , but undertakes most irrationally to answer for it . If the Church never asserted it , if the Catholicks be not at all concerned in it , to what end will Mr. Cressy the great mitigator of the rigor , and defendor of the latitude of the Churches Decisions , maintaine it ? If Mr. Chillingworth have had such good successe against it , why will his old Friend Mr. Cressy endeavour to answer his arguments ? especially , considering when he hath answered them all , he can onely from thence conclude that , Mr. Chillingworth was a very bad Disputant , who could bring no argument able to confute that , which in it selfe is not to be maintained .

So unreasonable it is and inconsistent with his Concessions , that he should give an answer at all , but the manner of his answer , which he gives , is farr more irrationall . For deserting the Infallibility , he answers onely the authority of the Church , and so makes this authority answer for that Infallibility : from whence these three manifest absurdities must necessarily follow .

First , When he hath answered all M. Chillingworth's arguments , in the same manner as he pretends to answer them , he must still acknowledge them unanswerable , as they were intended by him that made them . And no argument need to be thought good for any thing else , if he which made it knew what he said , as Mr. Chillingworth certainely did .

NOt long before the death of that incomparable person , your Lordships Mother , that great example of piety and humility , the Lady Viscountesse of Falkland , she was pleased to commit to my hand that , which she beleeved , next her Children , the dearest pledge of her dead Lord ; some excellent Monuments of his Reason , Wit , and Industry , in the search of that , which he would have as gladly found , as he hath rationally rejected , an Infallible Iudge here on Earth in all our Controversies in point of Religion , of which the labouring world seemeth at present to stand in so much need . I have considered often of that singular trust and friendship , in making me the depositarie of so rich a Jewell : And since she , from whose hands I received it , is gone thither , where she stands in no need of these discourses , I know no person living that hath more right to it then your Lordship , or indeed to whom I would more willingly offer it . For though your Lordship be now out of my immediate charge and Tuition , yet as long as it shall please God to make me able to do , or point at any thing that may , though never so little , helpe forward to perfect a good work in you , I shall never account my selfe disobliged . I must professe to all the World , that there is no Family now in being , to which I owe more true service , then to your Lordships : And shall to the utmost of my power , upon all occasions make it good . I have nothing left me but a poor thankfull heart , which hath been my onely sure Companion , when all things else have forsaken me : That still remaines 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being neither in the power of time nor persons to spoile me of that , which like a good Conscience to my self , must to my friends be the best feast I can make them .

My Lord , my design is not by this to ingage your Lordship in this Polemicall discourse , nor my self neither , having neither ability nor leasure for a business of that concern , and by reason of my busie imployment , I had not been able to have presented it thus to your Lordship , without the assistance of Judicious Friends , that honour the work for the Authors sake , and the Author for his owne .

But , My Lord , I hope I shall have my end in it however , an end which no good man will envy me , namely , an occasion hereby to reminde your Lordship of the Gallant Author , your Noble Father , that by proposing Him to you as your constant Coppy , you may do Him an honour beyond all his Friends : For while they praise , you may imitate him .

Indeed , it is one of the greatest comforts I have in this calamitous life , to remember , that I had the honour to be so neare Him : And a reproach , which I cannot clear my self of , to have been at the same time so neare , and so farr off ; so neare in Conversation , and yet so farr removed from him in those Excellencies , whereby he was the envy of this Age , and will be the wonder of the next .

His Religion , ( for that I should begin with ) was the more Eminent , because the more Early , at that age , when yong Gallants think least on it : When they , yong Candidates of Atheisme begin to dispute themselves out of a beleefe of a Deity , urging hard against that , which indeed is best for them that it should never be , a Iudgement to come ; then , I say , that salvation which these mention with a scoff or a Jeere , he began to work out with fear and trembling , and effectually to remember , that is , to honour and serve his Creator in the daies of his youth .

In the next place , I may not forget his vast naturall parts : Dixit ex tempore saith Pliny of Isoeus , sed tanquam diu scripserit , and I may truely apply it to him , his Answers were quick and suddain , but such , as might very well seem to have been meditated . In short , his abilities were such , as though he needed no supplies of industry , yet his industry such as though he had had no parts at all . How often have I heard him pitty those Hawking and Hunting Gentlemen , who if unseasonable weather for their sports had betrayed them to keep home , without a worse excercise within doores , could not have told how to have spent their time : And all because they were such strangers to such good Companions , with whom he was so familiar , such as neither cloy nor weary any , with whom they converse , such company as Erasmus , a person much esteemed by my Lord your Father , so much extolls in his 31 , and 35 , Epistle of his fourth Book : Not friends of the Cellar , or the Kitchin ; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 indeed their owne friends rather then his who entertaineth them : But such , as being bidden , are ready , uninvited intrude not , that bite no mans meat or reputation , silent , not spoken to , spoken to , speak as we please , what we please , how long and how much we please : Candidly communicating themselves to us without betraying our secrets committed to them ; that still tell us somewhat that may delight us for its Antiquitie , please us for its Novelty , or some way or other enrich our knowledge . While others studied the Heraldry of Horses , of Doggs , or at the best their owne : He , though not inferior to his Neighbours in Descent , and Honour , knowing well how much more glorious it is to be the first then the last of a Noble Family , ( Blood without Vertue making Vice but more conspicuous ) was so farr from relying upon that empty Title , that He seemed Ipse suos genuisse Parentes , to have begotten his Ancestors , and to have given them a more Illustrious life , then he recieved from them .