Truth and innocence vindicated in a survey of a discourse concerning ecclesiastical polity, and…

A SURVEY OF THE FIRST CHAPTER.

THE Author of this Discourse, seems in this First Chapter to design the stating of the Controversy, which he intendeth to pursue and handle, (as he expresseth himself pag. II.) as also to lay down the Main Foundations of his ensuing Superstructure. Nothing could be more regularly projected, nor more suited to the satisfaction of ingenious Inquirers into the matters under debate; For those, who have any design in reading, beyond a present divertisement of their Minds, or entertainment ⟨p. 84⟩of their Fancies, desire nothing more than to have the subject matter which they exercise their thoughts about, clearly and distinctly proposed, that a true judgement may be made concerning what men say, and whereof they do affirm. But I fear our Author hath fallen under the misadventure of a failure in these projections; at least as unto that certainty, clearness, and perspicuity in the declaration of his Conceptions, and expression of his Assertions and Principles; without which all other Ornaments of Speech in matters of moment, are of no use or consideration. His Language is good and proper, his Periods of Speech laboured, full, and even; his expressions poignant towards his Adversaries, and singly taken, appearing to be very significative and expressive of his mind. But I know not how it is come to pass, that what either through his own defect, as to a due comprehension of the notions whose management he hath undertaken, or out of a design to cloud and obscure his sentiments, and to take the advantage of loose declamatory expressions, it is very hard, if possible, to gather from what he hath written, either what is the true state of the Controversy proposed to discussion, or ⟨p. 85⟩what is the precise determinate sense of of those words wherein he proposeth the Principles that he proceeds upon. Thus in the Title of the Book he asserts the Power of the Magistrate over the Consciences of men; elsewhere confines the whole work and duty of Conscience to the inward thoughts and persuasions of the mind, over which the Magistrate hath no power at all. Conscience it self he sometimes says is every mans Opinion; sometimes he calls it an Imperious Faculty, which surely are not the same; sometimes he pleads for the uncontrollable power of Magistrates over Religion and the Consciences of men;