Agreement betwixt the present and the former government, or, A discourse of this monarchy, whether elective or hereditary? also of abdication, vacancy, interregnum, present possession of the crown, and the reputation of the Church of England ; with an answer to objections thence arising, against taking the new Oath of Allegiance, for the satisfaction of the scrupulous / by a divine of the Church of England, the author of a little tract entituled, Obedience due to the present King, nothwithstanding our oaths to the former.

TO THE READER.

SCruple is an Ague of the Mind, it sometimes shakes it, and sometimes heats and disturbs the Brain: If the Matter be unknown to the Patient and to Doctors, we are not certain of the Cure; and the less, if the Stomach be untoward, and the Appetite averse to Medicine: in such a Case, various Me∣thods used to be tried, and Remedies pre∣scribed; but through Ignorance of the Cause, or some latent Obstruction, Skill it self, a long time is thrown away; at length perhaps a vulgar Medicine, given at a venture, hits the Distemper, and works the Cure. After many learned Doctors charitable Endeavours to deob∣struct

and ease some good Mens Minds, that are shaken with Scruples about the new Oath of Allegiance, hitherto in vain, (if it be yet in vain); though I cannot boast of my Skill, I make bold to trie a new Practice upon them. And I hope my good Reader hath the like Reverence and Value, for the worthy Persons that yet labour under (may I call it) the Dis∣ease, and the same Zeal and Affection for the Health and Quiet of the Body Politick, that I my self have, and doth join with me, while I do heartily (that which I fear Physicians seldom do) pray over my Patients for a Blessing from the Great Physician.