The Nonconformists Advocate, Title page – Errata
THE Nonconformiſts ADVOCATE: Or, A farther ACCOUNT Of their JUDGMENT IN Certain things in which they are miſunderſtood. Written Principally in Vindication of A LETTER from a Miniſter to a Perſon of Quality, ſhewing ſome Reaſons for his Nonconformity, Modeſtly anſwering the Exceptions of two violent Oppoſers of the ſaid REASONS.
LONDON, Printed for Thomas Simmons, at the Prince's Arms in Ludgate-Street, MDCLXXX.
THE EPISTLE TO THE READER
Courteous Reader,
SOme years ſince I was called upon by a Perſon of Quality, to acquaint her Ladyſhip with the reaſons of my Non-conformity: for it had been ſuggeſted to her Ladyſhip, that I had none; but only was ſwayed by the Example of ſome others, much reverenced by me, to tread in their ſteps, at all adventures. As if I had been one of thoſe mentioned by Origen in his firſt Book againſt Celſus, who choſe foreign to be of this Sect and Party, not out of any ſound mind and judgment, foreign but by a certain illogical hurry of determination without all deliberation. Ʋpon this I was neceſſitated, to put pen to paper, and give her Ladyſhip ſuch an haſty account, as the time would permit: which was under the limit of five or ſix days. I could not therefore ſearch into all things affording matter of ſcruple, they being too large and numerous; but only ſingled out thoſe mentioned in my letter, as being next at hand, and moreover obvious, and eaſie to be underſtood by her Ladyſhip, at the firſt reading of them. A Copy of this letter, ſuch as it was, without adding, diminiſhing, or the leaſt alteration, was appointed to be printed about three months ſince: but printed it was not a long time after; at leaſt I ſuppoſed ſo. But when I deemed no ſuch matter, my Copy was brought unto me printed, together with a printed Confutation of it at the ſame time in Quarto. This ſeemed ſtrange to me, but I being in that inſtant oppreſſed with bitter grief, by the death of a darling-Child, was not in a condition to read it over, much leſs to juſtifie my ſelf againſt it. And now within leſs than a week after, another ſecond Confutation was directed to me, upon which I thought I had a loud call, notwithſtanding my great indiſpoſition, to undertake mine opponents, and make good my reaſons againſt all their gainſayings. With what evidence of truth, I muſt leave you and others to judge, my ſheets are now ready for the Preſs, but when that will give them a more publique Paſsport, I know not. Farewell.
October, 27. 1679.
ERRATA.
PAge, 8. The four laſt lines muſt not be read. p. 15. l. 3. quae tales, r. quâ tales, p. 51. l. 13. after the word likewiſe the word is muſt be put in, p. 53. l. 20. after the word condition the word of muſt be put in, p. 61. l. 33. Aucupare r. aucupari. Several other faults about the ſtops left to be corrected by the reader.