Page:Terræ-filius- or, the Secret History of the University of Oxford.djvu/45

 believe them, as they are criten'd, by the name of myteries.

In the ame manner corrupt tatemen, when they are projecting detructive chemes againt their country, conceal their deigns under plauible colours and a popular outide; well knowing, that if hould come to light, their actions will not tand the tet of examination, and that the ruin, which they were plotting against the publick, will fall heavy upon themelves.

For this reaon, both priets and politicians, who under thoe characters are detroying the religion and liberties of their country, make it their buines, as it is their interest, to sicountenance honet and incere men, the impartial enquirers after truth, the avowed enemies of falhood and deluion.

In defiance of all thee decouragements, I, a free-thinker, and a free-peaker, highly incens'd againt all knavery and impoture, and not thinking uch a terrible enemy to religion and good order, as it has been repreented, do hereby declare war againt all cheats and deluders, howoever dignified, or whereoever reiding; the fear of obloquy and ill uage hall not deter me from this undertaking, nor hall any coniderations rob me of the liberty of my own thoughts and my own toungue.

In the puruit of this deign, I hall not confine my elf to any particular method; but hall be grave or whimical, erious or ludicrous, proaical or poetical, philoophical or atyrical, argue or tell tories, weep over my ubject, or laugh over it, be in humour, or out of humour, according to whatever paion is uppermot in my breat; whilt I am writing.