The Healing Paper, Title page – To the reader
THE Healing Paper: OR, A Catholick Receipt for UNION Between the Moderate Biſhop & Sober Non-conformiſt, Maugre all the Averſation of the Unpeaceable.
By a Follower of Peace, and Lover of Sincerity.
For we muſt needs Dye, and are as Water ſpilt upon the Ground, which cannot be gathered up again: Neither doth God reſpect any Perſon, yet doth he deviſe Means that his Baniſhed be not expelled from him.
2 Sam. 14.14.
LONDON, Printed for B. T. and T. M. 1678.
THE Epiſtle Dedicatory.
SEeing Dedications are become Cuſtomary, I will chooſe me a Patron for this Book, as a Papiſt chooſes his Saint. He fancies ſuch a one will be Propitious to his Affairs, and addreſſes himſelf to him in his Prayers, but knows not whether he hears him or no. The Perſon whom I chooſe to make this Dedication to, ſhall be the Honourable Mr. Speaker of the Houſe of Commons, whom I know not, nor he me in the leaſt. If he did, this would be Flattery, which now is Adventure; and might be but a Blurr, which now is Honour. I do fancy that Perſon to be an impartial perſpicacious Gentleman, and that he will therefore like the Honeſty and Innocency of theſe Sheets. I do Fancy, that as it is hard to find a Parallel to him in ſufficiency for his Province, ſo it is not eaſy (in the circumſtances Speakers are) to have a Man in the Chair of more Integrity (or natural Byaſs) to the Publick Good; and ſo far as I know, to the Proteſtant Cauſe. I do fancy that he will not therefore in good earneſt turn off any ſeaſonable well-digeſted Motion (if any be tendred in the Houſe) for Moderation in the buſineſs of Religion. I do think him verily a man Unconcern'd for the Nonconformiſts, but not Malicious to Good People; and though Portly, not ſo High as to be Offended at a Mean mans good Conceit of him. I am perſwaded, that in my ſphear, I cannot put a greater Dignity upon him (if he ſerves our End) than by the peculiarity of ſuch a Dedication. If he deceives me, and proves one that deſignes any thing Evil, and not the beſt things for the Church of God, let him anſwer it to the Almighty: He ſhall be no longer my Patron on Earth, nor Saint in Heaven.
The Author.
To the Reader.
THE Deſigne of this Paper is to chalk out the Way for the Parliament (if they ſhall kindly pleaſe) to Open the Door of the Church for us: but if they will not, to Draw the Latch, and come in our ſelves. And it ſhall yet come to paſs, that there ſhall come a People, and the Inhabitants of many Cities, and go to one another, ſaying, Let us go ſpeedily to pray before the Lord, and to ſeek the Lord of Hoſts; I will go alſo.