English wahr 3-19-36 31845 [ v ] THE PREFACE. THE HE Author's defign, in the following fheets, is to fhew what mighty evils have fallen upon Mankind by difputes amongst Churchmen about the use and meaning of certain words, hard to be understood and almoft impoffible to be explained, and thence to perfuade men, if he can, to be more moderate in the ufe of thefe uncertain terms, or, at least, not to be fo furious, as many have been, in compelling others to use them likewife. As it is evident that the Proteftant Religion, like Primitive Christianity, is founded upon the natural inherent right that every man has to judge for himfelf, he hopes that no Proteftant will think a man faulty because he may dif fer, in fome fentiments, from the Religion which happens to be established in the Country he lives in, if he modeftly affigns his reafons, and humbly propofes the means for reconciling all differences. We are continually forming fchemes for advancing the Proteftant Religion and depreffing Popery, because we are perfuaded that one promotes, and the other prevents, the happiness of Mankind. But we do not feem fufficiently confider wherein Proteftantifm itself confifts. All acknowledge, in general, that it confifts in renouncing the Errors of Popery and here they mention some particulars, particulars, as the Popes Supremacy, Tranfubftantiation, Purgatory, Indulgences, and others. But this is only striking at fome branches while the Root of all the Evil, the Spirit of impofing our own fenfe of things upon others, is fuffered to remain. But the true Proteftant Principle, of allowing Private Judgment, would effectually extirpate this bitter Root, would give Human Reason it's proper employment, and restore the Word of God to it's original dignity, by making it alone the Standard of Truth and Orthodoxy. PROTESTANTS now fee the follies they have been guilty of, for more than two hundred years paft, in difputing, with great acrimony, amongst themselves, concerning the Outfides of Religion, fuch as Kneelings, Bowings, Standings, Croffings, Rings, Surplices, Hoods, Cowls, Altars and fuch like Articles. We all now acknowledge that these things may be where true Religion is and that true Religion may be very wellwithout them. The great inconvenience of them is, that when they are once admitted, ignorant people look upon them as real parts of Religion, just as the foolish Indians looked upon the Cloaths of the Europeans, who first arrived in their Country, as real parts of their Bodies. Therefore the Author humbly thinks that the less of outward Ornaments there is in Religion, the less is it liable to be corrupted or misunderstood; and that true and acceptable worship to God fhould always be represented to the People as confifting intirely in Spirit and in Truth: And therefore that a plain Liturgy and Service. might be compofed, from the Holy Scriptures, in fuch general Terms, as few Chriftians could have any Objections against for it would feem, that what is defigned for general ufe fhould not be expreffed in the diftinguishing man ner |