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A DISCOVRSE touching Choyce of RELIGION.

By Sr. RICHARD TEMPEST Baronet.

Antiquam exquirite matrem, Virgil.



Judge yee what I say, Acts Apostles.




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To the Lady TEMPEST.

Madam,
IT is my Duty to give you an account of spending my Houres, whose vertuous directions hath still enjoyned me the imployment of them in the best things: and there can be no endevour comparable to the Inquest after Truth. Happy are Mens early imbraces of that most worthy mistres of Mans soule; when the Son of their Judgement rises free from those Clouds and Mists, which otherwayes by long ascending, time, and endevour, they would be but hardly able to expell. I must acknowledge my weakenesses, and errors, knowing it is the Victory of Christianity, to conquer the Pride of a Mans owne understanding, and whose vigor is shewed in our lowest submissions. The World is like that Nymph, which still destroyed those, to whom she most seemed faire; And Men in
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the short course of life, heape up to themselves a sort of Opinions and Passions, and make them the faithlesse guides of their lives, of which though they highly esteeme, yet doe they but dwell under those barren Hills which are never without Clouds and Showres discending thence: And who would for the love of that, which in a moment perishes, refuse to professe that, which will bestow on him Eternity; and in a confusion of all humane things, will render him a felicity solid and durable? I shall shew you what Port my Thoughts have arrived at, to escape the stormes of Error, and from thence to despise the severall Winds of Doctrine with which Men are much tost, but never Saile; and through the diversity of Opinions, halfe of them Pray for those Winds, whereby the rest are Drowned. The name of Rome, but once Named, some Mens minds become surcharged with the apprehensions of Superstition, Conspiracy; and what evills throng not into
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their conquerd Imagination? whereas they being got out of the Magicke Circle of parties, (where their minds are Conjured with the Devill of Faction) they finde that to be the place, which did commend...

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