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To the Christian Reader.
IN the yeare 1643. there came forth a Treatise a∣gainst Independency, under the name of my Re∣verend and learned Brother Mr. Charles Herle, the Pastor of Winwick in Lancashire. This Trea∣tise, because it seemed to bee written with such a Candid and peaceable spirit as might witnesse for its Author that the thing he aymed at therein was meerly the disquisition of the Truth; and because the Author thereof was many yeares agoe of my Reverend brother Mr. Tompsons acquain∣tance and mine; therefore we thought it might not be in vaine if we should lovingly communicate to the learned Author such apprehensi∣ons of ours, whereby wee were detained from concurring with his judgement in the principall Question disputed in the said Treatise. And therefore in the latter end of the same yeare, there came forth a small Script under our Name in way of a brotherly Answer to that his loving and learned Treatise. Against this Answer Mr. Samuell Ru∣therford a learned writer of the Church of Scotland, hath alledged and published many Objections. Exceptions, and Answers, in his Booke entituled The due right of Presbyteries: I may call them many, because in that Treatise of his there are no lesse then 24 or 25 severall places, wherein he bring up by name the said Answer, disputing against sun∣dry passages therein as if they were not sound; which passages if they be indeed erronious and unsound, are a great many to bee contained and found in so small a Work the whole Booke as it is now printed containing in it 30. leaves: So that the leaves in the Booke are not much more then the places therein which this learned Writer doth ob∣ject against; which being considered, I thought it therefore needfull to peruse and weigh as the Lord should helpe, the severall places of his fore-mentioned Treatise, wherein he deales against the said Answer: