The naked truth, or, The true state of the primitive church by an humble moderator.

To the READER.

CHristian Reader, so I term you, hoping you have in some measure the Spirit of Christ, and desire it more, the spirit of meekness, humility, charity, not to censure my errors, and enveigh against them, but to pity and endeavour to re∣ctifie them, if you find any; and I assure you in the word of a Christian, I shall be far more ready to recant, than to vent an error: If you be not thus Christianly disposed, I earnestly beseech you read no furtner, for I am sure you will be dis∣pleas'd with it: and can you think it wisdom to run your self into displeasure? enjoy your present quiet, and let me rest. But if you be so Christianly disposed as I mentioned, then I as earnestly heg of you to proceed, to discover my errors and amend them. But perchance you will ask who I am, why did I not tell you, by putting my name to this Pamphlet? I will ingenuously confess the cause. I am a weak man, of great Passions, not able to bear Commendations or Reproach; my small ability puts me out of danger of the first, but in great fear of the later. Why then was I so forward to publish my weakness? to have it cured; yet truly I have not been very forward, for it is now above two years since I had these thoughts, in which time I have read and conferred all I could to discover if I were in an error, but for all I yet could meet with, do not find it so, but hope all I say is truth, and that it may he useful to the Publique, in this present con∣juncture of affairs. Therefore I proceed, and in the next place most humbly be∣seech all that read this, to lay aside all bias of interest or education, both are very great, I am sure I found it so very long before I could master them, and that of education most difficult; were it not so, there could not be that difference of o∣pinion in Christian Religion, all allowing the Bible for the Rule of Faith, the Papists themselves do not reject it, but add to it the authority of the Church. I verily believe there are thousands of Papists, Lutherans Calvinists, both Learn∣ed and Religious, who would lay down their lives for the truth they profess, and yet are divided in opinion meerly by education, having in their youth so imprint∣ed their own opinions in their mind, as you may sooner separate their body than their opinion from their Soul. Nay, I have heard that among the Turks there are many wise and moderate persons that are as zealous to maintain their ri∣diculous. Alcaron as we our Bible; which cannot proceed from any thing but the strong bias of education, which so wheels about and intoxicates their brain. And to say somewhat more particular of our own Nation here, Those that have been educated in that way as to sit at the Communion, and baptize their Chil∣dren without the Cross, had rather omit these Sacraments than use kneeling or the Cross; and those that have been educated in kneeling and crossing, though they acknowledg they are meer Ceremonies indifferent, yet had rather omit the Sacraments, than omit the Ceremonies just as if a man had rather starve than eat bread baked in a Pan, because he hath used bread baked in an Oven. So that Religion in many is really hut their humor, fancy passeth for reason, and

custome is more prevalent than any argument. This is the thing which makes me fear I shall meet with very few that will calmly and indifferently consider what I write, but will presently startle at it as new and cross to their Genius; or to their interest or their reputation, which they value above all, I mean the esteem and kindness of their best friends and acquaintance, whose taunts and re∣proach they cannot bear; but I humbly beseech them to pause a while, and lay it by till the passion be over, 'till they have mastered all these difficulties. I be∣seech them to set before their eyes the beauty, the honour, the stedfastness of Truth; the comfort, the delight, the everlasting felicity of a clear and rectified Consci∣ence; then resume it and consider again. But they cry Pish, 'tis not worth it, 'tis a ridiculous toy, and savours something of the Sectarian: I grant there are some things among the Sectarians I approve of, I will not reject and condemn any truth uttered, or any good action performed though said and done by the Devil. I consider the things, and if good, embrace them, whoever utters them, though I detest his errors in other things; You will say the same? then I heseech you do the same; consider what I say simply in it self, whether the Papists or Anabaptists say the same, it matters not; I hope you will not reject Christ because they both profefs him. But if after all your serious patient, unbiast considerati∣on you find it an erroneous contemptible Pamphlet, yet contemn not the person that wrote it in the sincerity of his heart, lest you receive the same measure again from Christ, who hath assured us, that shalt be his rule, to meet unto us the like. Christ died for the salvation of my poor soul as well as yours, contemn it not therefore, but endeavour to rectifie it; if God hath given you more know∣ledg and wisdome than me, be not high-minded but fear, and let him that stands take heed lest he fall. Thus I pray for you, do you the like for me, and however we differ in Opinion, let us accord in Charity, and in Christ Iesus the Redeemer of us all.

Amen.