TO THE Christian Reader.

CHristian Reader, this short Treatise was not intended, or sent to the Presse, as a compleat Refutation of all Mr. Hobs his errours in Theology and Policy: but onely as an Appendix to my Castigations of his Animad∣versions, to let him see the vanity of his petulant scoffes and empty brags, and how open he doth lye to the lash, whensoever any one will vouchsafe to take him in hand to purpose.

Page  [unnumbered] But some of my good friends have prevailed with me to alter my design, and to make this smal Trea∣tise independent upon the other. He who clasheth ordinarily with all the Churches in the World, about the common principles of Religion: He who swerveth so often, so affectedly, from the appro∣ved rules, and healthful constituti∣ons of all orderly Common-wealths: He who doth not onely disturb, but destroy all humane society, and all relations between man and man: He who cannot preserve unity with himself; but ever and anon is inferring, and trip∣ping up his own heels by his con∣tradictions, needeth no just con∣futation, or single, or other Adver∣sary Page  [unnumbered] than God, and himself, and all mankind.

If he did ground his opinions up∣on any other authority than his own dreams; If he did interpret Scripture according to the perpe∣tual tradition of the Catholick Church, and not according to his private distemperd phantasies: If his discourse were as full of deep reasons as it is of supercilious con∣fidence, so that a man might gain either knowledge or reputation by him, a great volume would be well bestowed upon him, Digna res esset ubi quis nervos intenderet suos. But to what purpose is it to draw the coard of contention with such a man, in such a cause, where it is impiety to doubt, much more to dispute?

For mine own part, as long as God shall furnish me with ability and opportunity, I will endeavour to bestow my vacant hours upon a better subject, conducing more to the advancement of primitive Piety, and the re-union of Christen∣dome, by disabusing the hood∣winked World, then this doth tend to the increase of Atheisme and de∣struction of ancient truth; unlesse the importunity of T. H. or some other divert me to look to my own defence. I desire thy Christian prayers, that God who hath put Page  [unnumbered] this good desire into my mind, by his preventing grace, will help me by his assisting grace, to bring the same to good effect.