SI iuxta allegoriam , Ecclesias Vineas , Vulpes Haereses , vel potius Haereticos ipsos intelligamus , planus est sensus , vt Haeretici capiantur &c. Capiantur dico , non Armis , sed Argumentis , quibus refellantur Errores eorum : ipsi verò , fi fieri potest , reconcilientur Catholicae , reuocentur ad veram Fidem . Haec est enim voluntas eius , qui vult omnes saluos fieri , & ad agnitionem Veritatis venire &c. Quod si reuerti noluerint , non propterea se nihil egisse putet , qui Haereticum vicit & conuicit ; Haereses confutauit ; Verisimilia à Vero clarè aperteque distinxit ; praua dogmata planâ & irrefragabili ratione praua esse monstrauit &c. Cepit , qui talia operatus est , Vulpem , etsi non ad salutem illi : & cepit eam Sponso , & Sponsae , quamuis aliter . Nam etsi Haereticus non surrexit de faece , Ecclesia tamen confirmatur in Fide : & quidem de profectibus Sponsae , Sponsus sine dubio gratulatur .

WITHOVT endangering the least suspition of Complement , I belieue I may craue your pardon for this Dedication : And as others vse in modesty , of necessity I must suspect my Boldnes . But Truth which I here vindicate from Imposture , disdaines to shadow it selfe in Ceremony , most resplendent in its naked lustre . And forced by that , I addresse this Worke to you , who haue hitherto with so much art endeauored to clowd it . I know the pride of human iudgment slights all the threatnings of hereafter punishment , when confession of mistake is required : And often by the opiniated , Obstinacy in error is esteemed Resolution : which makes me in some degree despaire that fruite , these labors otherwise might haue hereafter gathered . Moreouer your Lo. ● is so glorious in your Challenge , and your Grand Imposture proclaimes it selfe so inuincible , that iealous of my owne inhability , I feared I might repent my courage , if I entertained the Combat . But from my Weaknes I drew Confidence , and called to memory , how small an arme confounded the proud boast of the huge Philistian ; and by how childish a weapon he was hurled downe to what he built on , earth ; and forc't to acknowledge himselfe dust , and vanity .

Take not therfore your owne height by the Eminency of that Title you beare , or Reputation of your much learning , which is your Guilt , not Ornament . Nor measure me by my humble Vocation , for I haue vowed to be ambitious of no higher ; or by the obscurity of my Name , since I can easily forgiue the present Age , if it know me not ; and Posterity , if it forget , I was . Neither had I now entred into this publike Quarrell , had not your bold defiance to all of my profession prouoked me to disconer how little integrity there is , where it is most vaunted . At first , a pious Curiosity laboured only my owne Satisfaction : That it now appeares abroad , is the Charity I owe my Countrey : And that it swells to this Volume , is the fault of your many , and I feare , too wilfull mistakes .

Consider , my Lord , how many soules are imbarked with yours ; for whose wrack at the last day you must stand accomptant . And though a pleasing gale hath blowne gently on you , yet no wind but driues you on towards Iudgment . There the sincerity of action , not the fallacy of language shal preuaile : there no enforced Argument , false Citation , or cunning Distinction shal be able to iustify Vntruth . There heresy shall stand confounded , and they who maintained it ( rackt by their owne Consciences ) cry out ; Behold where the Saints are enthroned in glory , raised thither by Humility , & Obedience to the authority of that Church , which if Truth it selfe speake truth , is Infallible ; by resignation of theirs to the diuine will , and cooperating to the merits of the great Mediator : But we mad men made a mockery of their wisdome ; & to take the blemish from our loose behauiour , discredited the value of good works : We presumptuous in the vanity of Wit , opposed the diuine Truth ; and to destroy the Monarchy of S. Peter & his Successors , proclaimed liberty to euery Rebellious Doctrine : We listened to the suggestions of a priuat Spirit ; and seduced by that , contemned a long receaued , and vniuersall Verity : and therfore iustly now is our portion darknesse , and our inheritance eternal fire .

I doubt not but the holy Spirit often whispers these thoughts into your soule : but Pride keeps the gate of the hart fast shut . Moreouer if we looke not streight on heauen , without squinting on temporall respects ; considering your fat reuenue , and your Lordship , I may well be thought to inuite you to your losse . But who , that hath regard to Safety , despiseth not the flatteries of Wealth , and Honour , when he meditates on the Treasures of the Eternall ? And why shold I vtterly despaire , though you haue erred willfully , that the Almighty Mercy may reclaime you ; if ignorantly , that when you heere find how much your iudgment hath betraied you , you will penitently submit , and make much satisfaction by your great example ?

S. Augustine thought it no dishonour to his Iudgment , to be ouercome by Truth , and rather then loose a Soule , forsooke an Heresy ; which , as all others , had an age to florish in . Nor is his Humility , a scandall to his Learning , or was his Change , Inconstancy : whose Volumes carry that reputation , that euen Sectaries , who want his vertue for Obedience , endeauour to wrest his doctrine , for Defence . Here may your Lo ? learne instruction : whom to accompany in an humble Conuersion , will be more safety and glory , then to perseuer obstinate in a proud mistake . If the cunning , and art of your many Writings enamour you , throw away the vnhappy dotage , though in them Hope flatters you , that your memory may hereafter liue . Safer far , to haue no Name with the succeeding Age , then to preserue it in the infamy of a spurious Issue . And belieue it , when the Soule wilfully imbraceth Errour , it commits the worst Adultery ; what-euer is ingendred by such conceptions , being both illegitimate , and monstruous .

Looke vpon the opinions of them , who liue seuered ( if they can be said to liue who are dead to grace ) from the Vnity of the Church ; and confesse , how little constant Errour is to it selfe . That Innocency from Lust , which so many of your Writers affirme impossible to preserue , your owne single , and ( I hope ) incorrupt life hath approued possible : for vnlesse you will endanger your selfe to a Censure in the high Commission , you must acknowledge , flesh and bloud may be kept in order , by the spirit . But what discouers the bodies of all Churches , which oppose the Catholike , most misshapen is the diuision among your selues ; now and euer so apparent , that I dare confidently auerre , were there a Councell called of all those you reckon yours , his Holinesse might suspend his Censure , each one of you prepar'd to pronounce the other , Heretike . And for your Lo.p , though reputed most Orthodoxall , vnlesse you quit that most reuerend Title , which is your honor to make good , I suspect , you would by the Maior voyce be condemned , without the guilt of any other crime : though Truth and all Antiquity teach vs , that Episcopall dignity hath euer bene most eminent , and necessary in the Church , and ought to be held in veneration , where lawfully conferred , not vsurped .

But I feare , I keep no good time , when I strike on this harsh string : I will not therfore further afflict your eare . Let me only intreat , and if possible , preuaile with your Lo.p , to cast vp the accompt of those many yeares you haue numbred heere on earth . And if you haue prouided a Marble hereafter to inclose your dust , looke not on the flattering Epitaph , which betrayes the Reader : but listen to the silent sad Oratory , in which it pleads to you your condition . It tells you , that euery path of life , how crooked soeuer in mans purposes , leads streight to death : That all the pompe of wealth , and honour ( for acquisition of which he doubts not often to stake a Soule ) is but an euening shadow , soone to be lost in an euerlasting darknesse : That youth doth oftentimes breake promise , when it proposeth length of life ; but that age is frantick , if it hope long to hold out against the assault of death .

It therfore imports your Lo.p , who opprest with yeares bow downward to the graue , seriously to looke inward , & turne your sight from those vanities which haue hitherto bewicht you . For pardon me , if to pride & vanity I ascribe a long continuance in error : and that I want credulity to thinke , an able Scholler can belieue Vntruth , though for the designes of his owne Ambition , he obtrude it to the world . May your Lop. take , courage , and gaine an entire Conquest ouer Sense , by subscribing to that Church , in which only is safty , and which your many vnlucky Labors haue slaundered , not iniured . So signall a Conuersion will add● ioy , and triumph to the Angells ; and make me , who haue bene hitherto your Aduersary , not Enemy , hereafter ,

The Author of the Grand Imposture , in his first Epistle dedicated to his Maiesty , sets only forth in generall the heads of that doctrine he afterwards endeauors ( though vnluckily ) to make good . But Error without apparence of proofe , confutes it selfe : And it would anticipate the designe of my study , if here I should labor thy satisfaction ; since the whole ensuing Treatise discouers euery of his mistakes in particuler , which at the first entrance to his Booke , he affirmes in grosse . Yet could I wish , that only truth should dare to approach the throne of Maiesty ; and that a conscience guilty of deceipt , should not be able to pretend the confidence of the innocent : for the falsest doctrine may easily winne beliefe vpon the Laity , whom either much busines diuerts from the search of truth , or an vnwillingnesse to be disturbed , encourageth to follow that easy path , they from their infancy haue beaten ; especially when it appeares in publike asseuered by them who haue their large stipend , and high honor , only on condition to be sincere in what they teach . But howeuer he may flatter himselfe that hs Reader will neuer arriue to patience inough , to trauaile beyond his Epistles , or that his authority will be sufficient , though his proofes are defectiue ; I hope he will find his comfort to haue betrayd him : for the businesse which here we controuert , being of value far beyond the whole world beside , I meane the soule of man , and the Church , in which only that can expect safety ; I doubt not ( good Reader ) but thou wilt be so charitable to thy selfe , as to reade , distinguish , and then reiect error , how plausible soeuer it may appeare to sense : Nor , though his reputation may haue gained heretofore much vpon thee , wilt thou belieue , that Truth is by couenant bound to christen all the abortiues of his Opinion .

And wheras in his second Epistle , directed to all Romish Priests , whether Iesuits or others , he seemes by a Rhethoricall figure , to heare them censuring his charging the Church of Rome with Imposture , the bold assumption , or rather impudent , and impious presumption of an Heretike ; I cannot but commend the iudgment he instructs them to pronounce : for how could the wit of Iustice inuent a more proper , or seuerer ? Or to speake more truly , how could Mercy vse a gentler ? And though in that single word , Heretike , all Impiety is comprehended ; yet how can he deserue any other sentence , who hath dared to defame thy innocency , O thou Immaculate Spouse of our great Redeemer ? Who hath termed thy doctrine , which threw downe the Statues of the Heathens , and rooted vp all false worship , Idolatrous , Sacrilegious ? Thy doctrine , which planted the fayth of Christ with the bloud of Martyrs , and tyed vp the common enemy of man , Satanicall , and Antichristian ? Thy doctrine , which is the only safety of the soule , Execrable , and Pernicious ? which teacheth the true adoration of God , Blasphemous & Impious ? which neuer varied in the least article from the truth , Schismaticall , and Hereticall ? But how farre vnable are these weake calumnies to wound thy strength , which hath triumpht ouer all the opposition of heresy , and hell ? Thou art built vpon a Rock of Diamond , which yields the brightest lustre , when impure slander raifeth the blackest night : A Rock , which neuer moued since Christ designed it , as a foundation for his greatest worke on earth : A rock , against which her many Aduersaries haue battered with continuall tempests , but still ended in froth , and noise .

But all these fowle aspersions might be interpreted the wild expressions of an extrauagant zeale , and perhaps challenge that pitty we throw away vpon the franticke . Neither can any man be enraged with such infamous language , who considers , it is that spirit , which possest the first professors of this pretended reformation ; who created a Religion in contempt of iurisdiction . And as euery where they derogated from the spirituall , so spared they not the temporall , where feare of punishment restraind not their tongues to modesty .

But what euen amazeth my Vnderstanding , is , that so well practis'd a man in controuersy , so iealous of honor , and such a pretender to integrity , should fall into that deceitfull , and , I may say , fatall crime of the writers of his Coate , false citation , and misinterpretation of Authors . What iniury hath he done the dead , whose soules are blessed in heauen , and whose ashes are reuerenced on earth , to make them defend a doctrine , in opposition to which they emptied euery veine in their most ( acred bodies ? What cruelty to the liuing , by a pretended obedience to the authority of the primitiue times , to inforce them to belieue the errors of the present ? Doth he hope , his Volumes shall fall only into the hands of the ignorant , or els of the negligent , so far , that any doctrine shall posse for currant , which his fancy hath bene pleased to coyne ? Did he intrust others to make scrutiny into Authors for his purpose , & so aduenture his reputation to the world , on an vncertaine , and perhaps vnfaythfull euidence ? Or did he belieue , according to the rule of the worst Statesmen , any allegation how iniurious soeuer , most iust , if it serued the aduancement of his designe ? For certainly he hath giuen the world an example of such a courage , that no good Writer will euer follow , in daring thus to be disproued by any Reader , who hath the benefit of a Library , and the patience to compare truth with falshood . For without giuing credit to the testimonies I here alleage , if any man will search into the Authors themselues , he shall find them mangled , as that (*) (*) Procrustes apud Plutarch , in Theseo . Tyrant did his ghests ( who with most barbarous torment shortned or lengthned their bodies , according to the proportion of his bed : ) No man writes short of his sense , but is extended on the rack : no man beyond , but is mutilated without mercy .

This discouery of his vnhappy practise I wish may beget his conuersion , not confusion . But should he be so enamoured on his error , as not to be remoued by the most forcible Arguments of Truth ; I hope ( Reader ) in thee to reape some fruit of my labor . The Almighty in distribution of his benefits , will not be directed by humane iudgment . Let his diuine wisdome therfore bestow the fruit of my study , where , & on whom he pleaseth : for to his glory I must consecrate that , with whatsoeuer I am .

Only ( Curious Reader ) I must beg thy pardon , that in endeauouring to write busines , I haue neglected language , which like that musick Poets ascribe to the Syrens , hath bene often treacherous to the hearer . Elegancy of speach is a gift , in which the wicked share equally with the good : and the most sacred tongue that euer spake , disdained to adulterate truth with any fallacy of an artificiall Phrase . The policy of some Republikes hath expeld their Orators , as subiects whom the power of eloquence rendred formidable ; the multitude being easy to receaue any impression through the eare ; and Oratory being a weapon as sharpe to destroy , as defend the State . Nor doe I value the cunning of language worthy the industry of the serious : It may be of consequence , where well directed ; but truth needs not borrow any ornament of language , to make it selfe more amiable . That which I aime at , is thy satisfaction ; and that the Church of God , which is on earth no other , but the Roman , may shine vnclouded in the sight of men , as it hath euer bene most pure in the eye of God . And that all mankind whom error hath misled , may re-vnite themselues into her fayth ; guided by which , the innocent can only hope for perseurance to glory , and the repentant a way to mercy .