A discourse concerning the pretended religious assembling in private conventicles wherein the unlawfullness and unreasonableness of it is fully evinced by several arguments / by John Norris ...

PUBLISHER To The READER.

THough there be no great need of a Preface to the following Papers, yet part∣ly to comply with custome, and partly out of a Reverential respect to the dear memory of the Au∣thour, my deceased Father, I thought it convenient to premise something by way of Apology to the Reader.

And that he may not be disap∣pointed in his after Entertain∣ment, 'twill be requisite for him in the entrance to understand, that he is not here to expect a Discourse recommended 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 by stroaks of Oratory,

neat turns of expression, and har∣monious Cadencies, this being no way 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (as Aristotle says in his Rhetorick) agreeable to the nature of the thing, which being a determination of a Ques∣tion, calls for no other ornaments than plainness, perspicuity and solidity.

And as such a Rhetorical mode of Writing suits not with the na∣ture of the work, so neither with the design of its Composition. For this Treatise was principally intended by the Authour, for the instruction of ordinary and un∣learned persons, and particularly those of his own Congregation, and accordingly he made it his business, to bring it to the level of their Capacities,

Of what advantage this work

may be to the learned World, it becomes not me to presage, onely thus much I believe I may say, that the Cause has not suffered under his hands, and that as Peace and Vnity was his aim, so Truth and Victory is his attain∣ment. and this is all the Apo∣logy I think needfull to make in behalf to the Authour.

Now, as to what concerns my Publication of this Posthumous Treatise, I am aware but of one objection that may be made against it, which is, that the World is well stockt with excellent discourses on this Subject already. This I acknowledge to be true, but no way available to the purpose for which it is alledged. For first, may not the same be said of al∣most all the Arguments that are?

And yet this is not thought suffi∣cient to barr all after-underta∣kings. And besides, there are different ways of managing the same Subject, and how stale so∣ever the latter be, yet the former may be always new. According to that of Seneca, Etsi omnia a ve∣teribus inventa essent; hoc ta∣men semper novum erit, usus & inventorum ab aliis scientia & dispositio. Besides, there is as much (if not more) in the advantageous proposal of an Ar∣gument, as in the Argument it self, and it often happens, that by the mere placing a thing in a new light conviction is wrought, when the very same consideration in another posture proved unsuccesfull.

These Considerations, together with the prospect of being benefi∣cial

to the publick, prevailed with me to concern my self in this Publication, and are (I hope) sufficient to justifie the underta∣king to others. For sure that per∣son would betray a very narrow and selfish spirit, who declines an opportunity of doing good with the fruits of another's labour, as his charity to the Poor must needs be very cold, that refuses to be the Steward of another's Boun∣ty. Farewell.

John Norris,

Allsouls College June the 1st. 1684