A debate on the justice and piety of the present constitution under K. William in two parts, the first relating to the state, the second to the church : between Eucheres, a conformist, and Dyscheres, a recusant / by Samuel Hill ...

TO THE READER

I Here present thee with a Book, which ei∣ther Destiny or Calumny will drag out into the Public, whether I will, or no. The pretended University-man in his Remarks upon my Defence of the Fathers, having descen∣ded to the humble Glory of traducing it, and me, in his Post-script to Mr. Chiswell, by ill Characters and false Histories, has enforced this involuntary Publication. The Character he gives of it, is, that it is a Trifle, which he presumes of it of his own Sagacity, without ever seeing it; that he is told by a good Hand, that it falls on Mr. Dod—ll's Principle with great Fury, and treats the Ja∣cobites very brutally; The Design herein is to preclude my Interest with the Jacobites, to whom he says I am relapsed. His histori∣cal Account is, that it was written, and sent up to a Bishop for Publication to divert a Storm expected on the Vindication &c. by engaging my Lord of Canterbury, and all the Bishops against my Adversary, that however finding the Trifle slighted, I earnestly desired that Bi∣shop

that it might not be printed, that so if I could get it again into my Hands, I might deny the Writing thereof to the Jacobites, as I begin to deny the other. The Intention of this is to represent me to all the Powers as an Apostate against the Government, Fool and Knave all over, that so I may have no Coun∣tenance in it, but be abandoned by all Man∣kind.

Before therefore I offer my own true Ac∣count and Apology against this Slander, it is easily observable, that his Passion has marred his Art of Detraction in giving Marks of its apparent Falshood. For what Clergy-man can presume to put a servile Office on a Bishop, or what Bishop can be imagined so unresenting as to admit it, or after Admission to endure a Countermand from the vain Presumer? Be∣sides, if it were rejected as a Trifle, the Bi∣shop cannot be supposed to promote its Publi∣cation without Disgrace and Reproach, which none of them have reason to incur for any of their Clergy, especially against the Sense of the whole College Episcopal. And if so, then how could I earnestly desire the Bishop that it might not be printed, when it had been be∣fore rejected to me as a Trifle? He seems as vain also in hopong that that Bishop, would keep it from me to refute my supposed deni∣al thereof, as if a Trifle were worth a Bi∣shop's keeping, or, as if any Bishop can be so un∣just as to detain from any Man what has been for a while entrusted with him. I think this is rather an unhandsome and rude Usage of

that Prelate than of me, to whom I leave him to make satisfaction.

The truth is, this Book was first written about Whitsuntide, Anno 93. before the ve∣ry Oral Discourse of Warminster it self, and while the Heat of its first Conception (ani∣mated by the Advices of Learned Friends) lasted, was designed then for the Press. But that Ardor being soon cooled, I designed to re∣view it, and procure a Friend by it (if I could) among the Fathers, not by its Publication, but by private Oblation. Accordingly after some Deliberation, I resolved not to present it any Bishop introduced into a deprived Diocese, lest at the same time I should seem to flatter, and abuse him with a pretence of bringing succour to their Cause, as if it needed any Advocateship, especially such as mine. For truly they that write honestly for a public Con∣stitution, must not pretend a service to Au∣thority, but the Benefit only of those that are under it. So I resolved to seek a Patron a∣mong the other unconcerned Bishops, with whom I could hope my Principles would find favour, and so adventured it into the Hands of a Prelate, whose universal merits are su∣perior to his Character; by him it was re∣commended to my own Right Reverend Dioce∣san, and he by Letters from London acquaints me with his desire of seeing it, and as my Duty was to obey herein, I sent it him. Up∣on the reading of it, he greatly inclined me to the Publication; yet withal forewarning me, that it would stir up Adversaries, he would

not press me against my own Judgment. Du∣ring this intercourse the other Book was in the Press, and almost finished, and as yet my Diocesan knew nothing of it. Whereupon I Wrote to his Lordship, that I was engaged for the Faith, for which I expected much trouble, and I knew not what would become of me; but his Lordship not knowing any thing more par∣ticularly in the matter, supposed my fears (as he reputed them) causeless. Upon which I conceded to what his Lordship pleased to do, or have done. He thereupon puts it under the judgment of other learned Men, and it being by them well liked, designed (with some little variations offered me) that it should be Prin∣ted. In the mean while the storm pursued me with∣out any hopes or intermission, and it was loudly gi∣ven out that it was intended by the agreement of the Bishops, that I should be suspended by my Bishop, and Prosecuted upon the ruining Sta∣tute, except I would prevent it by Humilia∣tion, &c. The good Offices of Friendship that were really done me among several of my Lords the Bishops were concealed from me, and so I expected nothing else but an Excommuni∣cation, or such a Persecution for the Faith, as must have forced me from the present Commu∣nion, Whereupon I had many causes to stop the Publication of this Book; for having but bad Eyes to engage in long Studies, and against many Adversaries, and under such prospects of Expulsion cut of this Church, I thought it not only imprudent to draw on me more quar∣rels

in the defense of a Communion from which I expected ejection, but ridiculous also, which I am resolved no terrors, nor Persecutions (by God's help) shall render me. But I must with Honour acknowledg, that all this Authors incentives have not been able to whet my Me∣tropolitan (nor any others that I know of) to that Spirit of Persecution which this Postscript has ascribed to him, so that I have no need of a Sanctuary among the Jacobites; tho' I here∣upon shall take occasion to let this Author know, that such as steer by their private Interest in their choice of Parties, and are as ready to change their Faith as their Allegiance, and dispose Men by the same Arts to follow them in Ecclesiastical as well as Civil Turns, do make more Jacobites by their Prevarications, and thereby become more injurious to the pub∣lic Peace and Powers by far than any the most important and importunate Remonstrants a∣gainst the Government.

I have but one thing more to add in a Apo∣logy for the Air and Structure of this Book. I hope there is no Man (no not the raging T. B. nor the more raging Postscriber) will be able henceforth to call the Style Brutal. I press indeed the Arguments between the Par∣ties and their principal Authors with the ut∣most Vigour, as without any Incivility, so with∣out any partiality to either side, and this not only as a Disputant but as a Casuist, which ought to drive on all considerations home thro' and thro' the Conscience. This Justice requires in a Dialogue between Parties, where not on∣ly

the reasons are to be stretched to the ut∣most, but the Zeal of them also personated. In this T. B. pretended Solomon and Abia∣thar to be defective and treacherous, which Accusation, tho' false and causeless, yet has made me to carry on their Person here with much more Acrimony against their Opponents than otherwise I should have done. This may indeed displease the Learned Men concerned herein against them for ought I know, but to convert the divided I thought it expedient to shew my self severely equal and indifferent in speaking for them in their own Spirit ra∣ther than my own, and freely owning their Truths as well as ours. And if this does not satisfy the great Men, whose Hypotheses are here necessarily dismissed, I hope they will consider however, that I have a Right to de∣fend my own Principles in Solomon and Abi∣athar with as much strength and ardour as they have asserted theirs. And they that have particularly and by name taxed that Pamphlet, who were never touched by me for any of their Writings before, must concede me a liberty to examin what they have said a∣gainst it and it's Principle. It is an unhap∣py Misfortune that two of the greatest Orna∣ments of the Nation should herein run so widely to the Extremes, the one so far as to overthrow the Right of the English Reforma∣tion, the other to the prostitution of the Pow∣ers Hirarchical to Rapine and Violence, by laying Principles, which yet both of them think necessary to the Churches Preservation.

I have gone the middle way between these ad∣mirable Men, (who are indeed above all the praises, that I can give them) and since I find that a new Disputation will be moved herein, I do most heartily beseech those two great Men calmly and candidly to treat of their Principles and their Consequences in private first, and equally endeavour to re∣move all Prejudices, and to quit whatsoever mistakes shall be joyntly discovered between them, and when that is done, shew such an example of mutual Charity and Self-denial, as may render them (if possible) more admira∣ble to the World than they already are, that so we may hasten with all possible earnestness to an happy Union, or at least that the fairest grounds may be laid for it. The Edition of this Book is indeed very uneasie to me, but since necessity is laid upon me to publish it, and that as it was Written, I shall be glad, if it may prevent a reen-flamed Controversie, which is threatned in Print by a Learned Jacobite, or may offer any such notices as may contribute to their exacter considerations. But for my own part I resolve never to appear in this Contro∣versie more, for as it may be easie for learned Men to refute and inform me, so I can bear instruction not only with ease, but with grati∣tude also. Whereupon I have nothing more to offer to all Authors of worth concerned, but that they will not think themselves wronged till they have throughly discussed the matters between us impartially, and if after that I shall appear to seem to have done amiss, I do

hereby proleptically beg their forgiveness, and upon the discovery thereof will particularly retract it, and never run such an hazard more God of his infinite mercy give us all a temper abstracted from all partial interests and preju∣dices, and a sincere Charity and Equity, that may fit us for a right understanding of the things that belong to our Peace, and Duty to∣ward God and Man. Amen.