Pansebeia, or, A view of all religions in the world with the severall church-governments from the creation, to these times : also, a discovery of all known heresies in all ages and places, and choice observations and reflections throughout the whole / by Alexander Ross.

The Booksellers Advertisement to the Reader.

IT is the greatest justice in the world to be just to the dead, since they, if injured, cannot be their own Compurgators, and that is it hath obliged me to use that tendernesse to this great Author, who, to the regret of all learned, hath so suddenly left this world. His great pains in the dilatation of this Book, are ea∣sily seen by the bulk of it, nor had the Epistle and Preface escaped his second thoughts, had not the lease of his life expired so soon as it did. And therefore I have not (which is the arrogancy of too many) presu∣med to make any diversion, or alterations in either, but rather have thought it just to let them passe in this, as they did in the first Edition, that is to say, in his own words.

For had I been unjust to the Author in this respect, I had withal been guilty of as great an injury to the worthy Gentleman (though not of my acquain∣tance) to whom he was, when alive, pleased to dedicate it; since I cannot but hope that he will con∣tinue the same tendernesse & indulgence towards the Orphan, as he was pleased to express when he first re∣ceived it an infant. I shal further ad, that it wil render it self to the Reader much more acceptable, not only for its Additions, but also, that the Author had tho∣roughly revised the same; and that the care and su∣pervising of the Presse rested so much upon me, (not onely out of an ordinary care, but singular respect to the deseased Author) as that I think it needlesse to prefix an Errata, there having nothing passed, but what an ordinary capacity may easily correct. As for the Book, I shall adventure it the Test of the most censorious Mome; and for the Author, in his life time; there was not found the mouth or pen so black, that durst asperse his name, or parts; but since his death, One (so much a Hobbist, that I wish he turn not Atheist) hath in print given him a snarling chara∣cter,

whom leaving to his folly, I shall only desire that this short sentence, de mo••tuis nil nise bonum; may be his remembrancer for the future.

Besides the Authors endeavours in his 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, It is hoped ere long, that thou mayest see a Volume of his Sermons in print, such as will convince the world of the calumny of that Cynick, but continue his own memory while there shal be found either lo∣vers of learning, or the learned.

The Reader may likewise take notice of an Appen∣dix, wherein he is entertained with a strange Trage∣dy of modern, and some ancient Hereticks, acting their parts in their own proper persons, as neer as the skil of the Graver could represent them. And what could more properly have been annexed? for now ha∣ving seen their Foundations or Principles, behold also their Ends: and take Christs own counsel, Matth. 7. 15. to beware of false Prophets, &c. with our Saviours direction also, verse 20. by their fruits ye shal know them. All which are tendered to the serious perusal of the Reader: whereof that he may make his temporal and eternal advantages, shall be the constant prayer of

I. S.