An answer to the vindication of Doctor Hamond against the exceptions of Eutactus Philodemius vvherein is endeavored to be cleared what power man hath ... / the author E.P.

To the READER.

Reader,

LIfe, for which a man wil give All that he hath, and Liberty, which is the Genus Generalissimum of that All, into how many parts soever it be bran∣ched out, are the two dearest properties of man, essentially and necessarily annexed to his Being, and yet even these have been invaded in a high manner, and received most dangerous assaults of late Times, by the hands of a Rebellious and Trayterous crew of profane and deceitful men, whom God suffered to proceed to kill, destroy, and plunder, and to teach to do so, without any other Authority, then the meer will of a Tyranical Magistrate; Amongst the late Invadors of our Liberties, there is none (I dare say) more peccant then Dr. Hamond, in his way, this man having more advantage to deceive then others, because of his less profaneness, and greater abilities then the generality of the late Kings adherents, and the more ingenious part thereof, taking up what he delivered with very little examination, upon the account of his parts. This is one of the men that would make the late Kings Will the Rule of Goodness, when he himself intended it no other then the measure of his Greatness; this is he that would have erected a Pambasilia for the late King, though his professions were onely for a regulated Monarchy: what wounds this man hath given to our Liberties, thou wilt see in the following

Leaves; and though he had not power to compel the silly vul∣gar * 1.1 to be of his party, yet (I fear) his principles have deceived too many of them, that took up his advisoes without examining, he being known to be leprous in his opinion, and to have Laesa Principia, in Polity as well as Religion, and to have needed to be put into a Lazaret till he were cured of both. I shall not desire thee to swear compliance and credulity to what thou wilt finde herein, onely try and hold fast the good, and give it thy Countenance; the evil of it shall be beneath the Authors Con∣nivance when he knows it to be so.

Thy Servant in the Lord, E. P.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Plebs ma∣vult decipi quam cogi.