We hope it may not be too late to militate for Truth against the dark Suggestions of Papal Superstition: Nor can we think that it should be esteem'd Hetrodox, for a dissenting Protestant (whilst almost gasping for his own Liberty) to vindicate that of Reformations, from the quaintest Strategems, and most unwearied endeavours of Romish Emissaries, to put both it and us into their Inquisition.
We know they have so far master'd their ancient fierceness, and mask'd their sanguine looks, with those more modest and familiar; that though we need not more reason then before, we need more skill and caution, or else we may too fatally experience the force of that vulgar Proverb: Laugh in thy face, and cut thy Throat.
They are grown so Complisant, as none seem more exasperated at Persecution then themselves, (whilst the very Fathers of it) decrying the fierceness of some Countries (whose Incendiaries they were, and still are) and imputing all the Blood of poor Protestants to some unwarrantable civil score (therein abusing the Civil Magistrate with the Execution of their own Conspiracies) nay, for all their venerable esteem of the Popes infallibility, they have not stuck to Censure his roaring Bulls (though procur'ss by their own means) and all that might express their new tenderness; that many unacquainted with their Practices, are ready to believe them what they say themselves to be, whose moral is to have two strings to their Bow, to be ambo-dexter, and furnish'd with meanings to suit the compass of all occasions.
In short, I premise three things: First that I cordially believe a great number of Romanists may be abused Zealots, through the idle voluminous Traditions of their Church, whom I rather pity then dare to wrong.
Secondly, That I Design nothing less then incensing of the Civil Magistrate against them (were such a thing possible) for I profess myself a Friend to an universal Tolleration of Faith and Worship.
Thirdly, That the Pamphlet answered, being but one Sheet, I confine my Examination to a narrow compass: and the rather, because a more considerable discourse is under my present inquiry; which, if Providence so order it, may speedily be made publique.
However, let this go for Preface, to that larger Tract, in which the Romanists may see both their ignorance in the marks of a true Church, and their little share or Interest in those they attribute to her as such.