An epistle to the several congregations of the non-conformists by Cap. Robert Everard, now by Gods Grace a member of the Holy Catholick Church of Christ, shewing the reasons of his conversion and submission to the said Catholick Church.

POSTSCRIPT.

I apprehend that it is not impossible but that some of you will be at∣tempting to answer this Letter, and endeavouring to shake these Principles, which have by Gods Grace proved of strength to win me to the Holy Catholick Faith. To such I shall only give these cautions. First that they will be pleased in their Answer, to set down my own words as they lye intirely and without maiming them: If they shall please to answer by Paragraphs, and to set down each of my Para∣graphs wholly and sincerely before their Answer to the same Para∣graph, I shall own their Candor and Iustice; But if they Answer by setting up a Puppit of their own, pretended to be mine, they will not make mine, but their own Arguments ridiculous; and will not de∣serve a Reply from me, or to be regarded by any one. Secondly, that they will forbear all Reproaches and Slanders, against the Catholick Church, or Catholicks in general or in perticular, this is a fault to which Protestants are too much addicted in general; but most Perti∣cularly those of the Presbiterian and Independent perswasions, they have alwaies used to deal with Catholicks; as they did with His late Majesty of glorious memory, and with our most dread Soveraign that now is, and their party, viz. to impute crimes to them without end, and errors innumerable; without taking care to examine whe∣ther what they charged them with was true or false: So if they can throw Dirt enough upon the Catholicks, and impute Opinions unto them sufficiently monstrous, all is well, they know the major part of the Nation to be byassed with interest, and ready enough to beleive what ever is suggested against those whom they call the Common Enemy, and that thousands will admit a thing for truth if they find it in Print, rather then take the pains to examine whether it be true or not, and therefore have no difficulty to cast forth untruths, with as much confidence as if themselves were satisfied, that all they publish is dictated by the Holy Ghost: As for those who are and shall be guilty of these crimes, I only wish them the like Repentance which St. Augustine had for the like errors committed by himself whilst he was a Manichaean, of which he makes this mention, St. Aug. the 6. book of his Confes. c. 3. towards the end. I blush even full of Joy in re∣gard that I found my self thereby not to have barked against the

Catholick Faith, but against the Fancies and Fictions of carnal thoughts. But yet I have been rash and impious in that I had said those things accusingly which I ought to have learnt inqui∣tingly. Nor do not (I beseech you) take a liberty to upbraid me as if I had some private ends in my present Change; but be pleased to consider, that I am now united to a Communion whose portion in this Kingdome is to suffer, to be poor and scorned, to want preferments and suffer affronts from every hand who shall please to give them. Whilst I was at the head of a Troop of Horse in the Rebellious Army (a sin which I hope my dearest Saviour hath forgiven me, I having heartily asked pardon of my God as I here do of my Soveraign for the same) I was in a condition to rise, and thrive, and glut my sences with what this world called good and pleasing; But I thank my Saviour I am now brought home to that Church of His, which teacheth me to suffer and be humble, to give Obedience to Authorities for Conscience sake, to become a servant and a learner, not a master or a Teacher, to hear those that are lawfully sent to take care of my Soul, and not to usurps the Office of the Priests, or proudly to intrude my self into that Sacred Function. I must for ever hereafter cease to be contentious, and let my Prince or those who are in Authority under him deter∣mine what they please in relation to my body or Estate, I hope I shall at all times hereafter follow the blessed Precepts of God, which I re∣ceive from the mouth of his Church, and from the Holy Scriptures, namely To make Supplications, and Prayers, and Intercessions, and giving of thanks for all men, for Kings and all that are in Au∣thority, that I may lead a quiet life in all godliness and honesty, 1 Tim. 2. v. 1. 2. And to those who shall be otherwise minded I shall only say, We have no such custome amongst us in the Church of God.

FINIS.