The fall of Babylon, or, Seasonable reflections on the novelties of Rome with the rise, growth, and final overthrow of Antichrist now at hand, occasioned by the preface to a treatise called Nubes testium, or, A collection of primitive fathers giving testimony to the faith once delivered to the saints, being (as the author stileth it) a full discovery of the sentiments of the ancient fathers in the chief points of controversy at present under debate : written upon the first coming forth of the said treatise (but not permitted to be then made publick) for the benefit of all who abominate the corruptions of the great whore and would not be partakers of her sins of plagues / by B.W.

For the Reverend D. W.

L. Mart. 7. 1686.

Reverend Sir,

I Return you many Thanks not only for the Honour, but the benefit of perusing your Learned Tract, and am sorry I must make so unsuitable a Requital, as to trouble you with my Excuse for not Licensing it: However, I hope when you have considered it, you will allow it to be reasonable. I will not alledge, (though I might do it) that I have all along de∣clined medling with Discourses of this Nature, which have been offered me by those, I had great reason to esteem. But the Truth in short is, that a large Book on this Subject, and a very accurate one, as I am told, was lately, not for the per∣formance, but the Matters sake, sent back from hence without an Imprimatur. I believe you have hinted the reason out of St. Chrysostome, where he says that St. Paul would not plainly say, what the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 [that which withhold∣eth] was, that was to be taken away, lest he should incurr unnecessary Enmity, and unprofitable Danger. The pre∣dicting the Fall of the Roman Church now, may be as un∣grateful those, to whose Interests are ingaged in it, as the fore∣telling the Ruin of the Roman Empire could be then, and the Cases being so like, it may perhaps be thought seasona∣ble to observe the same Rule that St. Paul then did. Sir, I hope you will take this freedom in good part from one, who to the utmost of his Power is desirous to approve himself

Reverend Sir,

Your most faithful and Humble Servant.