Bibliotheca politica: or An enquiry into the ancient constitution of the English government both in respect to the just extent of regal power, and the rights and liberties of the subject. Wherein all the chief arguments, as well against, as for the late revolution, are impartially represented, and considered, in thirteen dialogues. Collected out of the best authors, as well antient as modern. To which is added an alphabetical index to the whole work.

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THE Author of these Discourses hopes you will be so cha∣ritable as to believe, that tho' he hath made one of his Disputants argue pretty stifly against the Divine Right of Monarchy, and Succession to Crowns, yet He is no Common-wealths-man, or one who hereby designs or desires Alterations in the Government of this Nation, either of Church, or State, since none can admire their Excellent Constitution more than himself; much less does he prefer an Elective, before an He∣reditary Succession to Crowns, since he justly esteems the latter, as being a most Excellent, if not (Only) Means to prevent all Disputes, and Civil Disturbances about Succession, and therefore is never to be departed from, unless when some Natural, or Moral Disability in the Person, or other unavoidable necessity renders it absolutely inconsistent with the Publick Peace, and Safety of the Kingdom.

Therefore as a Man may be said to be truly devout without Su∣perstition (which is but the Corruption, or Abuse of Religion;) so the Author likewise thinks that a Subject may be truly Loyal, and Obedient to his Prince, tho' he hath never heard of, or does not believe any Divine Right of Monarchy derived from Adam, and Noah, or of Succession from God's Promise that Cain should Rule over Abel: Nor hath the Author an Aversion to Abso∣lute Monarchy as such, could he be assured that Princes would be always as wise, and good as they ought to be; nay, he owns, that divers Nations have never been more happy than under the Go∣vernment of such Monarchs. As the Roman Empire (For in∣stance)

never arrived to a greater heighth of Riches, and Power, (if we may believe Historians) than under Nerva, Trajan, and the two Antonines: So that indeed the fault is not in Absolute Monarchy as such, but in the too general Corruption of Humane Nature, which rarely produces Persons of just Abilities, both as to Wisdom, and Goodness, fit for so great a Trust.

I confess Subjects may be sufficiently happy, and (if they please) contented under any Form of Government, where the Gover∣nours are of Equal Capacity and Honesty, and have a real hearty Love, and Concern for the Common Good of their People: But where these are wanting, it is not meer Forms, or empty Names can make them so; and therefore the Author very justly admires the Wisdom of the Antient German, and Gothick Nations, who preferred a Limited Monarchy to all other Forms of Government, as an Excellent Medium between the Mischiefs of Arbitrary Power, and those unhappy Inconveniences that attend Republicks, where either the Common People, or Nobility must govern.

But the Author farther hopes, that tho' he makes one of his Dis∣putants in this Dialogue to shew the absurdity, and fatal conse∣quences of Sir R. F's Principles; yet the Reader will not from thence infer, that he passes an absolute Iudgment against them; much less hath He done this out of any prejudice to Sir R's Person, which he never was acquainted with, since he hath rather an ho∣nour for his Memory, his Writings speaking him as a Person of Gentile Learning, and subtle Ingenuity: But whether his Tenets be destructive to the Fundamental Constitutions of this Govern∣ment, the Author submits to the Reader's considerate Iudg∣ment, which he hopes will be made without partiality, or any pre∣judicate Opinion proceeding from this, or that Party, or Faction, and will determine according to the Merits of the Cause; and therein observe the Apostles Rule, to try all things, and hold fast that which is good.

The Author lastly desires the Reader not to think the worse of this performance, tho' all the Latine Quotations are not Englisht; for since these Discourses are supposed to be between Gentlemen, and Scholars, and principally intended for such, it would be thought needless to translate them.