FIRST , to describe Her , if I speak by guess only , and by the discourse of most : She is God knows what , an Individuum vagum ; no one that I have consulted can lay claim to her justly ; she 's like UTOPIA , pretended to by many , but such generally as intend to do nothing for her , but discourse ; she 's like an old Woman , whom few men value , but at the grave , or in some business wherein they may gain by her ; she 's thought to be a long Cloak , formerly worn for Formalities sake by John Presbyter ; and thus is she abused . But not to weary my self or the Reader ; according to common discourse and mistaken Opinion , she is not to be describ'd ( having been so long absent ) but by her Effects , and those are so strange and contrary , that she works upon every disposition according to it 's temper ; and thus mistaken for Religious Humour , that bastard Child of Religion dipt by the name of NON-CONFORMITY , her Zeal hath often imbrew'd the whole World in Bloud , and like a Fury praecipitated men of all sorts to the most desperate and unreasonable things . Rebellion hath often had it 's being from her , and seldom is able to move without her countenance ; and as she enrages some , she allayes the fury of others , and makes them patient and calm under the greatest injuries and oppressions : she is blind , and if well guided , of excellent use to the sillier sort , but for want of due management , like Phaeton's Chariot , she destroyes all before her . Now we have such a distracted account as most men give of her , let us consider what really she is : If I understand her , she was originally called INNOCENCE in Paradise , and when circumcis'd by the Jews , INTEGRITY ; which terme not pleasing the Church , she was Baptized GOOD-CONSCIENCE : so much for her Name . Her Originals are , Innocence , Truth , Fidelity and Charity . She is a perfect satisfaction to a mans self , of having done no hurt , nor suffering any to be done , when it was in her power to prevent it ; nor wilfully omitted any good which she had an opportunity to do . Now you have her positive , let 's know her negative definition . She 's no Truce-breaker , Rebel , or Traytor , nor can she converse with them , but to their Ruine , which she brings them at last , being their perfect Enemy . In fine , she leaves all such as are wilfully guilty of any disloyal , unjust , or ungrateful Action : upon these terms I fear there be few that have been lately acquainted with her . She 's an eternal Friend to those who enjoy her , and leaves no man , who hath her , in the greatest straits ; she is very resolute , and is not to be perswaded to any thing contrary to Truth for the greatest benefit ; she 's plain , and values no Riches but that of the Mind , and therefore seldom enriches her Proselytes , and that 's the reason she hath so few , and lies so obscure .

So many ( unable to make a right use of her , or such as only abuse her name to draw on their wicked designs , to cheat , undermine and abuse such as deal with them ) have falsly laid claim to her ; and so few made any right use of her , that she hath long since forsaken the publique , and is wandred into some obscure place , where she may find an innocent Retreat from the Abuses of the Age .

But that we may recover her once again , let us consider where she is , or as Scoggin un-til'd the house to find a Hare , let us first examine where she is not .

She was never in France since they denyed our King his Tribute . She was never in Holland since the English ( their too kind Protectors ) were deny'd their Cautionary Towns ; and for want of her , both France and Holland run on to more Wickedness and Ingratitude , to ripen their monstrous over-grown Sinnes .

She 's no Courtier , for three reasons ; she goes very plain , hath found no Protection for many years , and is an Enemy to Dissimulation .

She 's no Citizen , for she hath verily long since been banished Shops and Ware-houses , as an Enemy to Trade ; though in her absence her name is boldly abused in all Cheating bargains .

The Church is so much defil'd by the Impurity of the late times , and smells so rank of the Abuses of these , she seldom comes thither ; and she is never summoned to the Spiritual Court , because she hath no Money to pay Officers Fees .

She 's no Lawyer , for she takes no Fees , ( though she Pleads much ; ) and seldom appears in Chancery , but in forma Pauperis ; and then she finds small encouragement from the Clarks .

Now to guess where she is , let us consider her Condition .

She 's like an honest old Cavalier , she hath spent all in doing good , and finding her self sleighted at last , is retreated into some obscure place in the Countrey to hide her shame , and mitigate , by absence , her sorrow for the Ingratitude of the Age .

If any man can find her out , and perswade her to come to publique Conversation again , she may be a great Blessing to the World , and he cannot want a correspondent Reward .