The Conclusion. THUS I have traced him in this history, and hope I have said much more than was necessary to prove him a writer of no credit, and that his book ought to have no authority; since he was not only a stranger to the public transactions, printed statutes, and the other authentic registers of that time, but was a bold and impudent asserter of the grossest and most malicious lies that ever were contrived. I have not examined all the errors of his chronology, for there is scarce any thing told in its right order, and due place; nor have I insisted on all the passages he tells, without any proof, or appearance of truth: for as I could only deny these without any other evidence but what was negative, so there are so many of them, that I must have transcribed the greatest part of his book, if I had considered them all. I have therefore only singled out those passages, which I had in the former History demonstrated to be false: and these are both so many and so important, that I am sure enough is said to destroy the credit of that Author, and of his book, which has 'too long deceived the world. And what is performed in this first part, will I hope dispossess the reader of any ill impressions the following parts of that work have made on him, concerning the succeeding reigns, of which an account shall be given, as soon as it possibly can be made ready. I shall esteem my time to have been well employed, and my pains rightly placed, if my endeavours have so good an effect, as to take off the unjust prejudices which some may have conceived at the changes that were then made in religion, or at the beginnings of them; which being represented by this Author, and upon his testimony by many other writers, in such odious characters to the world, are generally so ill looked on. The work itself was so good, done upon so much reason, managed with such care, directed by such wisdom, and tempered with so great moderation, that those who intended to blast it, did very wisely to load it with some such prejudices: for if without these, the thing itself be examined by men of a candid temper and solid judgment, the opposers of it know well where the truth lies; and on whose side both the Scriptures, and the best ages of the primitive church have declared. But it was not fit to put a question of such importance on so doubtful and so dangerous an issue: therefore it was well considered by them, that some popular and easily understood calumnies, to disgrace the beginnings of it, and the persons that were most employed in it, were to be fastened on them and if these could be once generally received, then men might be alienated from it by a shorter way, than could be done by the dull and unsuccessful methods of reason. Therefore as the cause of our Church hath been often vindicated, by the learned books that have been published in it; and never with more success, and a clearer victory, than of late, in the elaborate writings (which are never to be mentioned but with honour) of the renowned Dr. Stillingfleet; so I judged it might not be an unuseful and unacceptable work (which though it be of a lower form, and so most suitable to my genius, yet will be of general use) to employ the leisure I enjoy, and the small talent committed to me, in examining and opening the transactions of those times and if those who read it are dispossessed of their prejudices, and inclined to consider things, as they are now set before them, in a truer light, I have gained my end in it. The truths of religion need no support from the father of lies. A religion made up of falsehoods and impostures, must be maintained by means suitable to itself: so Sanders's book might well serve the ends of that church, which has all along raised its greatness by public cheats and forgeries; such as the donation of Constantine, and the book of the Decretals; besides the vast number of miracles and visions that were for many ages made use of by them; of which even the most disingenuous of their own writers begin to be now ashamed. But the reformation of religion was a work of light, and needs none of the arts of darkness to justify it by. A full and distinct narrative of what was then done will be its apology, as well as its history. There is no need of artifice, but only of industry and sincerity, to gather together all the remains of that time, and put them in good order. I am now beginning to look towards the next, and indeed the best part of this work: where, in the first reign, we shall observe the active endeavours of those restorers of religion. The next reign affords a sadder prospect of that work laid in ruins, and the authors of it in ashes; but the fires that consumed them did rather spread than extinguish that light which they had kindled. And what is fabled of the phenix will be found true of our Church, that she rose new out of these ashes, into which she seemed consumed. Towards the perfecting this History, I hope all that love the subject of it will contribute their endeavours, and furnish every thing that is in their power, which may make it fuller or clearer: so I end with that desire which I made in the Preface, that any who have in their hands any papers relating to these times will be pleased to communicate them; and whatever assistance they give to it, shall be most thankfully owned and acknowledged. The end of the Appendix. |