fo best deserve and exercise it over their Subjects :)

Yet having lived to see the wonderful and happy Restoration of your Majefty to your rightful kingdoms, and of this reformed Church to its juft Rights, primitive Order, and priftine Conftitution, by your Majesty's prudent care, and unparalleled bounty, I know not what to prefent more worthy of your Majefty's acceptance, and my duty, than these elaborate and feasonable Works of the famous and prudent Mr. Richard Hooker, now augmented, and I hope completed, with the Three laft Books, fo much defired, and fo long concealed.

The publishing of which Volume fo entire, and thus prefenting it to your Majefty, feems to be a blessing and honour referved by God's Providence, to add a further luftre to your Majesty's glorious name, and happy Reign, whofe transcendent favour, justice, merit, and munificence to the long-afflicted Church of England, is a fubject no lefs worthy of admiration than gratitude to all pofterity. And of all things (next God's grace) not to be abused or turned into wantonnefs by any of your Majesty's Clergy, who are highly obliged, beyond all other fubjects, to piety, loyalty, and industry.

I fhall need nothing more to ingratiate this

incomparable piece to your Majesty's acceptance, and all the English world's, than those high commendations it hath ever had, as from all prudent, peaceable, and impartial readers, fo especially from your Majesty's Royal Father, who, a few days before he was crowned with Martyrdom, commended to his dearest children, the diligent reading of Mr. Hooker's Ecclefiaftical Polity, even next the Bible; as an excellent means to fettle them in the truth of Religion, and in the peace of this Church, as much Chriftian, and as well Reformed as any under Heaven as if God had reserved this fignal bonour to be done by the best of Kings, and greatest fufferers for this Church, to him who was one of the best writers, and ableft defenders of it.

To this completed Edition, is added fuch particular accounts as could be got of the Author's perfon, education, temper, manners, fortunes, life, and death, which is now done with much exactness and proportion: that hereby your Majefty, and all the world, may fee what fort of men are fitteft for Church-work, (which, like the building of Solomon's Temple, is best carried on with moft evenness of judgment, and leaft noise of paffion.) Alfo what manner of man he was, to whom we all owe this noble work, and durable defence.

Which is indeed at once (as the tongues of eloquent Princes are to themselves and their fubjects) both a treasury and an armory, to enrich their friends, and defend them against the enemies of the Church of England: a rare compofition of unpaffionate Reafon, and unpartial Religion; the mature product of a judicious fcholar, a loyal fubject, an humble preacher, and a moft eloquent writer: the very abstract and quinteffence of Laws human and divine; a fummary of the grounds, rules, and proportions of true Polity in Church and State: upon which clear, folid, and fafe foundations, the good order, peace, and government of this Church was anciently fettled, and on which, while it ftands firm, it will be flourishing: all other popular and fpecious pretenfions being found by late fad experiences, to be as novel and unfit, fo factious and fallacious, yea, dangerous and deftructive to the peace and prof perity of this Church and Kingdom, whose infeparable happiness and interests are bound up in Monarchy and Epifcopacy.

The politic and vifible managing of both which, God hath now graciously restored and committed to your Majefty's fovereign wisdom and authority, after the many and long tragedies fuffered from those club-masters and tubminifters, who fought not fairly to obtain reformation of what might feem amifs, but violently

and

and wholly to overthrow the ancient and goodly fabric of this Church and Kingdom. For finding themselves not able in many years to answer this one Book, long ago written in defence of the truth, order, government, authority, and liberty (in things indifferent) of this reformed Church, agreeable to right Reason and true Religion, (which makes this well-tempered piece, a file capable to break the teeth of any that venture to bite it ;) they confpired at last to betake themselves to arms, to kindle those horrid fires of civil wars, which this wife Author forefaw, and foretold, in his admirable Preface, would follow thofe fparks and that Smoke which he faw rife in his days: fo that from impertinent difputes (feconded with fcurrilous pamphlets) they fled to tumults, fedition, rebellion, facrilege, parricide, yea, regicide; counfels, weapons, and practices, certainly no way becoming the hearts and hands of Chriftian fubjects, nor ever fanctified by Chrift for his fervice, or his Church's good.

What now remains, but your Majefty's perfecting and preferving that (in this Church) which you have with much prudence and tenderness fo happily begun and prosecuted, with more zeal than the establishment of your own throne. The still crazy Church of England, together with this Book, (its great and impregnable shield,) do further need, and humbly implore,

B 3

plore, your Majefty's royal protection under God: nor can your Majefty by any generous inftance and perfeverance (moft worthy of a Chriftian King) more exprefs that pious and grateful fenfe which God and all good men expect from your Majefty, as fome retribution for his many miraculous mercies to yourself, than in a wife, speedy, and happy fettling of our religious peace; with the least grievance, and moft fatisfaction to all your good subjects; facred order and uniformity being the centre and circumference of our civil tranquillity; Sedition naturally rifing out of Schifm, and Rebellion out of Faction: the only cure and antidote against both, are good Laws and Canons, first wifely made, with all Christian moderation, and feasonable charity; next, duly executed with justice and impartiality; which fober severity is indeed the greatest charity to the public. Whofe verity, unity, fanctity, and folemnity in religious concernments, being once duly established, must not be fhaken, or facrificed to any private varieties and extravagancies. Where the internals of doctrine, morality, myfteries, and evangelical duties, being (as they are in the Church of England) found and facred, the externals of decent forms, circumstances, rites and ceremonies, being fubordinate and fervient to the main, cannot be either evil or unfafe, neither offenfive to God nor good Chriftians.

For