WHen I first set forth my Analysis or Resolution of the Covenant ( so far as it might any way seem reconcilable , and ought to have been consistent , as with Law and Justice , so with the Apostolick and Catholick Government , of this and all ancient , Churches , in the way of Episcopal order and authority ( That is least Mr. Crafton should again mistake my meaning , the prefidency of one chief Presbyter or Bishop among many , and above all lesser Bishops or subordinate Presbyters in his Diocess , according to the ancient custom , Dr. Gaudens de●●●n in his Analysis . and Laws Ecclesiastical and civil ) my aim was onely to absolve those soberer or simpler minded Covenanters from those superstitious and injurious snares , by which the artifice of some men ( most what interessed in purchases of Crown and Church Lands ) sought under the specious name of the Covenant , to captivate consciences to themselves , and oblige well-meaning men to everlasting antipathies against that most primitiv● , prudent , and only legal goverment of Episcopacy , meerly through popular mistakes , and sinister prejudices against it ; ( of which no Oath , Covenant or Vow taken in Judgement , Truth , and Righteousness can be guilty . ) It was far from my thoughts by such sober and true , though to some men s●a●t expressions , as I then used in a matter of so great concern , to add any spark or fewel to those sad combustions in Church and State , which had so long exhausted the best blood and spirits of this Nation ; And which were not thereby quenched until the soft dew● of heaven , and the liberal , but gentle showres of the Divine goodness , distilled upon this scorched Church and State , in miraculous mercies , no less unexpected then undeserved , by a foolish people , and sinful nation ; in which too many people being guilty of Rebellions and Regicides , of sacrilegious and scandalous Apostacies , must needs behold our blessed change , with as much envy , terror and regret at our happiness , as they have little remorse or shame for their former impietie , or present impenitency .

§ . Mean while all religious hearts were greatly refreshed , filled and overflowing with joy and thanks for those gracious and wonderful dispensations of God , not onely to the King and his Kingdoms , but to the distressed , despised , and almost destroyed Church of England ; when they saw on the sudden the person and majesty of the King , so long banished and contemned by men of blood and sons of Belial , The late happy restauratio● of Eng●and . ubt passionately desired , honored and loved by all honest Subjects and good Christians , restored to his Kingdoms in peace ; when they beheld the princely branches of that royal stock and family replanted in their native soyl , the honor , fulness and freedom of Parliaments in Lords and Commons restored ; the captive , and almost desolate Church of England ; which Foxes and Bores had wasted in a way to be redeemed ; the oppressed Bishops and other learned Churchmen , revived and in some sort repaired ; the just rigor of the long-baffled Laws recovered ; the black and bloody scandals of our Christian and reformed Religion , begun to be removed ; all things civil and sacred to put on a new face , and ( as after squaller of the flood ) to begin to flourish to the exceeding joy of all true English spirits , that had any regard to their reformed Church , and true religion so long flourishing in it .

§ . After this blessed change of beauty for ashes , of the wine of joy for the water of affliction , of order for confusion ; of Monarchy and Episcopacy , for Democracy and Anarchy , for Presbytery and Independency . Dr. Gauden thought it not amiss to endeavour , as occasion was given , with all meekness of wisdom in truth and charity , fairly to remove any thing which he saw either in the nature of the things , or in peoples misconceits , might any way hinder the happy progress , and constant growth of our common peace and prosperity , both in C●urch and State ; which as no presumptuous sins or insolent usurpations of any men ought any longer to pervert ; so nor ought any private passions , or personal prejudices , or illegal engagements , or groundless superstitions , or partial Vows and Covenants any way hinder or diminish ; esp●●ially upon any such account as hath no pr●●ise command , or particular institution in the Word of God , The 〈…〉 . nor yet any foundation or injunction in the Laws and customs of this Church and Kingdom ; to neither of which the Covenant could pretend , in any plea of publick duty , right and necessity ; either as to its matter , method , manner or authority ; Nor doth either the Malipart Anatomist , or the modester Anal●ptist prove any of them ; by which to give the Covenant any precedent validity of Religion or Law , as enjoyned by God or the King , apart from which its subsequent pressure or bond upon the souls of the takers , cannot be further considerable , then its general matter was morally lawful , pious , just and chearful , unless they think that must be made a maxime in morality and piety , ●ieri non debuit factum vala● ; which holds only good in some State policies , or cases of civil exigency and necessity , where the change or remedy of things may be more dangerous , then the error and inconvenience which is happened .

〈…〉 . § . Neither the Anatomist nor the Analeptist ( whom Dr. Gauden doth not joyn now , or at any time together , as to any exact parallel of their minds and manners ( which may differ as much as white and black , sobriety and scurrility , sanctity and sacriledge , simplicity and Hypocrisie ; but only as to those common notions and fancies of the Covenant , in which they seem to concur . I know there is as much difference between an open and ingenuous Writer , and a malicious sculking Libeller , as between the Letters of Z.G. and C B. or the name of Zachary Crafton , and Cornelius Burges ) neither of them I say can be ignorant , that those Covenants , Leagues , Oathes , Vows , and Ingagements , which sometime prevailed upon the Nation , in broken and bleeding times ( as Simeon and Levi did against the Sichemites , when they were circumcised and sore ) did arise rather from the violent pumpings of humane power and policy ( according to the jealousies , fears , animosities , Th● rise of the ●e● Covenants , and Lea●ue , and Vows in E●gland . and interests of divided and prevailing parties ) then from the clear fountains of Gods word , and Christs blessed Gospel , which are pure and peaceable ; nor yet did they flow from the springs of National Justice , our Laws civil or ecclesiastical .

§ . No , they were all foreign and exotick plants , which neither grew among the Scriptural Lillies , nor the English Roses ; but were slips or inoculations , inlays or off-sets taken from the Scotish thistle , or from the Guisian Garden , or from the last Bohemian bitter root , which by way of covenant too engaged that Kingdom and all Germany in so long and dreadful a war , or from the Guenses in the Neatherlands , who sped not much better with their first covenanting : and how holy soever some men may yet esteem any of those covenanting patterns , yet we are sure never any of them hath made any access of holiness , or honor , or peace and happiness , either to the Religion or Laws , the Doctrine or manne●s of any other much less of this Church and Nation of England , which were and are in themselves the best constituted , and most deservedly to be admired of any Church or Kingdom in all the world .

§ . When first I had a cursory view of that infamous Libel ( the An●●t●ry or rather Cacotomy as I must call it , Dr. Ga●●●●s 〈…〉 of t●e Libel 〈…〉 which sought to give it self some credit by Dr. Gaudens name ; I thought it too great a loss of time to consider it , or the quiver out of which that venomous , but harmless arrow came ; I saw the Libeller under pretended zeal for the Covenant , was highly concerned in three things ; first , To calumniate and reproach , if he could , Dr. Gauden ; next to conceal his wretched self : Lastly , To contend for the forlorn Dr. Burges , and revenge his quarrel ; a client worthy of such a patron ; the proverb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; And T●rdus sibi malum caca● , but it s beyond conjecture , what black bird laid so spotted an egg ; but since he was justly ashamed of his self , I thought it needless to scare the world by bringing to light this caca● , this hidden work of darkness : Nor is it worthy of Dr. Gauden to mind all those scurrilous and putrid effusions , which the Libeller makes of his own froth , filth and folly ; It being below any ●●n of honest employment , to scuffle with umbra's , to sight with ghosts , or to pursue such Cretian beasts , as are easily like rats , discoverable by their excrements .

§ . Indeed , I justly for some time disdained to take any exact view of the Libel , or make any reply to such a pittiful Pamphleter , who hiding his head , or having indeed neither face or forehead ( as a meer Acephalist ) shewed onely the marks of his fowl hands and feet , sordid with sacriledge , besmeared with blood , and filthy with all that turpitude which rustick or petulant malice is wont to suggest , to people of impotent passions , unbridled lusts , of ulcero●● conscie●●es , and of infamous names , I judged it best not to touch such an Incubus , such a Borborites , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; who frustrates the most resolute encounters , and vanisheth with a stink or evil savour unseen , as unclean spirits are said to do .

Yea rather I thought it my part , The be●t revenge upon uch Libeller● being fortified with Gods grace and my own integrity to summon and muster up all those holy charms , those sober graces , and serious considerations , which best became me as a man , a Christian , and a Minister of Jesus Christ ; lest I should seem too sensible of the Libellers petulancy , or provoked to answer such a Fanto or Incognito according to his folly ; since first his own minde and manners will most severely punish him . Next there was nothing that this Scribler could with any truth or probability reflect upon Dr. Gauden that deserves to infect him with any discomposure , or the least discountenance ; no more then the foam and rage of waves can foil or shake that rock , against which they dash themselves . Nor did Dr. Gauden fear any evil or sinister impressions to be made upon any Judicious or ingenuous Reader , who either knew his conversation or reputation , which ( blessed be God ) never yet used or needed any compurgators for his credit , nor any pleas for his Sacriledge , nor any Apologies for his covetousness and contentiousness , unbecoming a man of common honesty : Nor could he be blemished , much less battered by the scurrilous stroaks of so trivial a pen , or the cholerick barkings of so rabid a Libeller ; whom to rebuke , or seek to reduce to any thing modest , sober , just , and ingenuous , is to wash a Blackmore , to change the spots of a Leopard , and fix the variations of Putens or a Polypus , or a Camelion : I found the Libeller had more malice , and the other as little reason .

§ . In this just neg●ect of them both , I enjoyed my self for some weeks , after I had seen both those Replie● against my Analysis , while my attendance on better persons and implo●ments gave the little leisure to ●ind ▪ what either this vild Libeller , or the other mod●●ter Writer replyed upon my Analysis , which is fixed upon their undoubted and eternal Principles of Justice and true Religion . 〈…〉 . ( 1. ) That as no man can lawfully covenant , swear ▪ vow and engage himself , contrary to that duty which he ows to God , the King , the Church , the Laws of the Land , and the good of his Country : or contrary to that particular justice and charity which he ows to himself or other men . So ( 2. ) if any man be surprised and ●amp●red by any such covenanting words , and vowing forms , as may seem to involve him in such , not only abs●●dities , and irregularities , but injustices and immorali●ies , either he must finde out and keep to , such a commodious and honest sense of the words , in the fulfilling and executing of his Vow , Oath and Covenant , as may consist with Justice and true Religion , with known Laws , and former Oaths , binding indispensably to the morality of duties . Or ( 3. ) If this cannot fairly be done , he must speedily retract his Vow and Covenant , so far as he sees it unlawful either in the susception or execution of it : yea he must repent of his rashness , rectifie his inconsiderateness , and take an holy revenge of himself , by being , as more cautious of such covenanting , so more zealous to do his duty quite contrary to those snares and surprises which he now discovers in his Covenant , then ever he was to take it ; so far unadvisedly , as it proves unlawful for him to perform it : so far unadvisedly ●s it proves unlawful for him to perform it ; and onely lawful for him in th●se respects to break it , however in other things just and honest he may keep it , by vertue of another and higher obligation , morally lying upon his conscience .

§ . But at length having a little leisure , and considering that the popular emptiness of the Analeptist , and the levity or contemptibleness of the Libeller , were made up by the seeming weight of some objections , and the impudence of some calumnies , that as St. Jerom says in case of Heresie , so in that of perjury and blasphemy ; No man ought to have such a silence or patience as may so cut stupid or neglective of his and religious honor : Th● Libell●●● 〈…〉 . I thought it a right due to my self and to all honest men , tant● bla●eronis ineptius acrius coercere ; First , To let such a vile Libeller see his ugly form in a true glass ( if he dares to steal a sight of himself in those secret corners and disguises ) where this deaf Adder lurks ; and whence it may be , I shall by some potent inchantments drive him to a more publique view , to own himself and his name .

§ . After this to let Mr. Crofton understand , how little there is of pious perswasion in his credulous facility , and popular presumption .

§ . To which purpose I see it is necessary for me to abase my ordinary stile and language , 〈◊〉 t●e Re● 〈…〉 , orato●y . which it seems the paper spoilers cannot indure any more then Spiders or Toads can sage or fasting spittle , because it savours of something which the one calls Oratory the other condemns for Rhetorick and luxuriancy of l●ng●●g● ; yet both sometimes vapor in words like I●em●●l●● ●s wh●● pag. 6. the Libeller speaks of 8 E. ● . 〈◊〉 one already arrived at such herds of good words , and stocks of figures , rare and florid strains of burnbast stuff , as fulsom as false ; being indeed both of them as far from the true strength and politure of acute or elegant writing , as the musick of a Jews-trump is from the melody of a Lute : But despairing like the Satyr in the fable to sing or play well , they seek to break all musical Instruments in pieces which they can lay their paws upon .

§ . Therefore to suit this Libellers grosser genius , and the vulgar capacity of the Analeptist , I will endeavor to entertain them both , with as flat and downright expressions , as I can descend to : For I see they are better at plain cudgel-play , then at any way of finer fencing . For the first , you shall see him in his native colours and cloaths ( like country fellows with their flail , and leather doublets ) when he appears triumphing and strutting in his Rhodomontado titles of defiance , in his prodigious raylings , in his sarcastical Ironies ; in his fallacious Sophisms , in his dull argumentations , in his specious pretentions of zeal , and clamors for Reformation , which he loves as much as the Devil doth holy water ; with these glozings doth he fawn upon any faction , that is probable to renew our troubles , and releive his and his dear D. Bs despaire : With those incongruous agitations doth he sometimes strike at the person of Dr. Gauden , his well known and true assertions , and at his useful variations as to places and imployments for some time , at his silence to D. B. his paradox of Sacriledge ; other while he flies to the refuge of his sacred Covenant , of which he is more zealous th●● Iacob was of his gods being taken from him , least it be either reconciled to Episcopacy , or made Nehustan ; for then farewel to all sacrilegious purchases .

Thus the frantick humor of the man sometimes heats the air , another while himself , while he lays at Dr. Gauden withal his might and malice , as the blind and enraged Cyclops did at Vlysses , shewing by his various freaks and inordinate digressions , as void of wit , oratory and method , as of truth and conscience , how touchy and galled he is , by the sore wounds which his former presumptuous sins , and now the laws of the Land do give him .

§ . The title of the ●ibel b●g with bl●sphem● . The first fanatick fit of this Libeller is to affix to his Pasquil a most true sent title ( the Anatomy of Dr. Gaudens Idolized nonsense and blasphemy . ) An Inscription fit for Goliah , or Rabsakeh , or Polypheusus , or Polypurgonices , or Damet●s , or such Thrasonick vaporers and Hectors , who fancy that a bold defit and and challenge is half the combate and conquest ; knowing that most spectators of Books look not much beyond the Title , loth to examine how it is made good in the Treatise , but presently they go away , as fully informed of the whole story , as they think they know by the Inscription what is in the Apothecaries pots or boxes .

§ . Though nothing is more usual then these popular acts of Impudent calumniators , Impud●nt aspersions of old upon nnoc●n●y . and desperate undertakers of a lost cause ; Shimei doubts not to brand David with the name of a man of blood , cursing as he went the Lords Anointed ; the Athenians call St. Paul a babler , others call him a pestilent fellow and seditious : Nay the Jewish malice and blaphemy first s●ek to crucifie the good name and credit of Christ ; sometimes counting him a Winebibber and a glutton , a friend of publicans and sinners ; yea they c●y o●t of him as a blasphemer ; and when dead , rep●te him a De ●●●er , Naboth is accused for blasphemy t●a● 〈…〉 stoned , and his vineyard possessed : what w●ll not ●a●●ilegious avarice brand with blasphemy , if they 〈◊〉 to question or shake the unjust titles of such pu●c●●●●rs . Poor Episcopacy , is nothing , and the sa●red Covenant is nothing , and real blasphemy is not m●●h to this Libeller ; but Bishops , and Deans , and Chapters lands are all in all ; The Covenant and E gagement too shall be sacred , if they will help to keep out Kings and Bishops , from recovering their rights : This is a better plea and title then any D. B. can bring in Westminster-hall for his houses and lan●● at Wells , for which this Libeller is so passionate and warm an Ad●ocate ; operculium pavilla dignissimum ; Ti● pitty the po● and its cover should be parted .

〈…〉 . § . But all this titular pomp and parades signifies nothing with sober and wise men , yea t is justly suspected , there is little manly truth there , where the pi●lo● and idol i● so full-stuffed with Goats-hair ; this is the wonted way for Quacks and Cha●ts to gull country lo●● : Nothing is more easie then to prefi● such Labels to the vilest Libels , as those paphleter● of the same barrel with this calumniator were in the last years wont to do ; when on every Booksellers stale were laid out , The Antichristianism of all Bishops , and Episcopal Ordination ; Th● downfal of ●aals Priests ; The vanity of Baby baptism ▪ So that necessity of Reformation ; The Divine right of Presbytery : Christ on his Throne ; A voyce out of the Temple , and the like . Some mens desperate malice is so impudent as to brand with black stigma's , and crown with thorns , the most innocent hands and foreheads ; also to adorn with Angelick vizards the most Hellish Devils ; as those cruel Saints did the late murthered and martyred King , when they thought to justifie the outrage of their own Villany , by calling him a Traytor , a Tyrant , and a Murtherer ; titles that this Libeller will not now dare to own in publique , not yet D. B. his great Confident , unless they could get again into Buff-coats , ride at the head of a Troop of Hors , and make good that new charge which D. B. lays upon that King of glorious memory , as if he were fela de se , upon the point guilty of his own death and ruine , by his obstinate forsaking the Parliament , ( when he could not safely , stay at Whitehal ; ) and by his following , as he prates , the counsel of some Bishops and Clergy-men , nay indeed , the dictates of his own conscience , according to the Word of God , the Laws of the Land , and his Oath taken at his Coronation , to pre●erve the Clergy as well as the Laity , in their rights and immunities .