Short strictures or animadversions on so much of Mr. Croftons Fastning St Peters bonds, as concern the reasons of the University of Oxford concerning the covenant by Tho. Tomkins ...

To the Reader.

READER,

I Very well foresee, that many (who are conscious to themselves, that such things are possible) will laugh and scorn at the Author of this Treatise, as one who meant to write the sense of the Times, ra∣ther then his own. In the begin∣ning therefore, I bar all who have been themselves guilty of what they only suppose to be, viz. Our late Complyers, whose conscien∣ces have been in this sense tender, that they might be bended any way. And now, I hope, I have prevented

my most numerous and severe Ac∣cusers. But, now I think on it, I will release them too; let them employ all their art and passion, in telling the World, how unwor∣thy such Proceedings (while they have been their own) are. For why should I hinder such men from laughing at themselves? The worst all those can say of me is, I am like them; and that were bad enough, if it were true.

This Account is civil enough for these men: I should gladly af∣ford them another, if I had any rea∣son to think so well of them, that their Principles would not fail them: if it should once happen, that they would consist with their duty; and that their beloved

Rule, Obey the present Power, whatever it be (Blasphemously cal∣led following Providence) had not this one, and that the only, Exception, Provided it be not the Lawful Power. And sure there is too much Reason so to guess, when those whose Consciences scru∣pled nothing under an Usurper; scruple indifferent things under their King: when Perjury, nay Covenant-Breaking, Sacriledge, and Treason, were easier in those dayes swallowed; then a Cere∣mony in these.

My own faults, in the Perfor∣mance, are so many, that I would not willingly be obliged to answer for any more then mine own; viz. The Ill-timing, &c. But

how to assure those men (I before spoke of) of the truth of any thing I shall assert, about my own in∣tentions in that, or any thing else; I profess I am utterly Ignorant: since they, out of their own expe∣rience of themselves, very well know, that the most Solemn Oaths and Imprecations, are not suffi∣cient Evidences of ones sincere meaning.

But there are others, who are capable of, and therefore deserve, a better account; who as they ab∣horred Time-serving in them∣selves, are loath to suspect it in another: it being very hard for him who doth no ill himself, to think, without great cause, Ill of another. To them I say thus:

Whoever thinks this time unsea∣sonable for a Treatise of this Na∣ture, my opinion is so perfectly the same with his, that, had it been in mine own choyce, I should not have needed to have told the World so. And this I insisted upon in seve∣ral Letters to one of that place and prudence (whose commands it was scarce manners for me to dispute) more pressingly then many others (perhaps the most censorious) would.

I urged that the Contest was a∣bout the Covenant, which had been already answered by the Parliament; The only way it de∣served to be considered. And to compose such a Treatise, would be but to produce evidence against

one who was executed the week before. But this Objection doth not, I confess, reach the case so ful∣ly as I apprehended it would, be∣fore I had exactly read over Mr. Cr. Book; because Mr. Cr. sometimes in pursuit of his Argument, oft∣ner in running away from it, doth insert Principles no way re∣lating to the Covenant, then as they may be subservient to the main (though disowned) end of the Composers of it, viz. Anar∣chy in Church and State, as se∣veral notions about the Kings Prerogative, Liberty, Propriety, the Original of Government, Sa∣criledge, Will-worship, the Pow∣er of the Church, Holy-dayes, Superstition, Scandal, &c. Which

according to his explication (who to say the truth, speaks out all) the Covenanters were more wary, then professedly to own. Now I sup∣pose, there is no Reason why Er∣rours, because they are, in a Book, wrote in defence of the Covenant should be priviledged from Con∣futation: this were to invest the Covenant in the Grave, with the same Power it exercised in the Throne.

There are two Reasons (Rea∣der) which I have prevented thee from using; which, had they seemed sufficient to One who is better able to judge then I, or possibly, thy self canst pretend to be, thou hadst missed of that sport, thou thinkest thy self to make with them.

Which yet I cannot deny, but that there is some ground of su∣spicion for; when I consider the practices of some in, and the opi∣nions (thence drawn) others have of, the Place I live in: For it may be thought first, That I write now against the Covenant, upon the same score in these times, upon which I would have wrote for it in others: Tenents as well as Cloths, changing with the Fa∣shion. As to this, I only say this: Of those few that do know me, many can witness me to be innocent in this particular, even when they dare not say themselves have been so.

But if not this, it may (per∣haps) be thought, that this is

a sage Contrivance of a sneaking Schollar, who being resolved to write against some body, chose one who durst not answer. I must confess this would have trou∣bled me, had this been my first at∣tempt: It is well known, I ap∣peared as to the civil part (and to the Covenant, as it referred to that) when the Presse was open enough, since which, all Mr. Cr. Books on that subject, have been writ.

There was one thing more which diswaded me from, and hindered me in, the finishing this; and that alone would have me have sup∣pressed, now it is done; which I to that end proposed to that Re∣verend Person who engaged me

in it, viz. A fear that it might displease the judicious Royalists, as being an occasion to multiply the number of (what is already too great) Seditious Pamphlets, it being not probable, that of those numerous Abettors of Mr. Cr. and his cause he brags of, not one should offer to assert either. But I do assure all those worthy per∣sons, I received a Negative as to this too, from one, in whose judg∣ment they would readily acqui∣esce; and desired me to go on, for that the Times did require (what sure this Book did not) an An∣swer to Mr. Cr. This Book, I must confess, comes out late against the Covenant; I wish some men had more honesty, or lesse coun∣tenance,

that this may be the last; or if not so, That there may never be need of other weapons, besides Pens against it. If thou wilt yet be satisfied (Reader) that I was only passive in the Publishing, I am glad; if not, I am resolved not to be sorry.