Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n
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A67675
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An apology for the Discourse of humane reason, written by Ma. Clifford, esq. being a reply to Plain dealing, with the author's epitaph and character.
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Warren, Albertus.
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1680
(1680)
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Wing W950; ESTC R38948
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54,049
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168
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AN APOLOGY FOR THE DISCOURSE OF HUMANE REASON Written by MA. CLIFFORD Esq Being a REPLY to PLAIN DEALING With the Author's Epitaph and Character Frustra ei consilium datur qui per se non sapit Machiavel Princepâ—â— London Printed for Walter 〈◊〉 Amen Corner MDC 〈…〉 To the Right Honourable ANTHONY EARL OF SHAFTESBURY Baron Ashley of Wimbourne St. Giles and Lord Cooper of Pawlet SIR I Presume to lay this my Discourse tending to Peace humbly at your Feet because 't is well known You are a Courteous Generous Excellent and Impartial Judge and not so more from your long Experience in the highest Concerns of your Native Countrey than from the unequall'd choiceness of your Natural parts and besides all these which were not my least Inducements from my assurance of your Lordships Condescention in formerly obliging the now deceased Author of the Discourse about HUMANE REASON by a particular Favour and so significant then that there may be Reason to doubt whether if it had not been seasonably done we had ever seen the Publication of that Issue of his Brain for nothing has more often dampt the pregnancy of clear Understandings than the Iron hand of terrible Necessity which was Mr. Clifford's Case till by the Mediation and prevalent Influence of your Lordship his before narrow Salary as Master of Sutton's Hospital was inlarged and consequently by this my Apology for him I have happily gotten opportunity of presenting the best Sacrifice I could of Gratitude for him and my self If then what is here advanc'd shall happen to please your Lordship I may rationally conclude it will not displease the most Discerning and Virtuous part of the English Nation so worthy an Esteem it has of whatever Action does any way appear considerably good in your opinion because your Soul cannot own a mean thing nor unprofitable to the Publick Interest Pray therefore Honourable Sir be pleased to pardon this boldness of him whose Design is and has for many years been only to let you know he is and from a true sense of Duty Your Lordships Most devoted and most Humble Servant Albertus Warren London Octob. 1680. THE PREFACE DEdications and Prefaces to Books seldom if at all used by the Ancients though never so tempting or glorious like the Bushes of our Taverns which unless answering the Readers or the Guests expectation alwayes subject the Writers to Scorn or Ridicule the Book-sellers to Repentance and I the Vintners to Poverty aâ—er of which Effects no Age has been more fertile than the Modern every Apology supposing a tincture of Guilt and good Wine not needing a Garland Therefore all that I dare to say here is That I have advisedly done my utmost to justifie Mr. Clifford's Licens'd Papers in his Discourse of Humane Reason which is the Gift of God as well as Faith in opposition to that Gentleman who to confess the truth has as strongly and smartly as I think can be done endeavour'd to expose â—ur Author not only as a bold and weak man but as pernicious in the consequence of his Arguments to Men as Christians and Subjects which Charge if it had been true I that honour Truth would never have oppos'd but now whether that Gentleman who wrote the Answer or I who reply be in the wrong for we cannot both be in the right others must judge or whether which is possible we have divided Truth betwixt us 't is not very considerable if the standers by reap any profit by it which was my aim and I hope was his also However I am apt to flatter my self as Victorious from this Evidence which no man can properly gainsay that if Humane Reason were not experimentally found to be the supreme Arbiter in all Appeals and the true Allay to all the sensible priviledges of Beasts then Beasts for ought we know are more happy than men for they can think though not syllogize then I say bateing Reason which is our Light to judge of our Self-preservation by all Precepts impos'd by men in Power must be swallow'd though contrary to Peace all Exhortations to Obedience in order to Temporal or Eternal Happiness must be unexaminable and we had continued in a state of War for no other tye could have oblig'd us to keep Covenant when the Violation had appear'd more profitable and then the Laws which Necessity first begot might have been truly said to be in a great measure if they who made them did not pretend Reason rather traps to get money from honest men than design'd to continue Peace and though with me the Publick Reason shall alwayes be very Sacred yet I hope to wish for or propound the Rationability of either the Explanation or Correction of some Laws strainable and strain'd by het men and posibly ignorantly zealous or ill men for their private Interests beyond if not contrary to the intent of former Legislators in Times of other Complexions will never be by any true English-man and wise objected to me as Criminal especially at this time when some Tools made when the Times requir'd them have their Edges turn'd by accident against many quiet though probably misguided Dissenters to the pleasant humouring of that Classis of men amongst us whom both his Majesty and his Great Counsel have declar'd we have reason to suspect and prepare against as our Enemies though 't is plain that the Bigots on all sides and on our Dissenters also have made moderate Men and true Lovers of their King and Countrey uneasie which ugly Fever next malignant if the Reason of the Seat of Power cannot Remedy we shall be in great danger lest that Mischief may return which a Great Man not long since honestly deprecated in words to this Effect viz. It were strange if We should be twice undone by the same Method which God forbid and every good Subject by being quiet in his Station ought to endeavour to prevent In the mean time 't is better to examine and consult the Reason of things than by trusting to any Book not Sacred to be slily Cully'd into affected and unnecessary Zeal or foolish Atheism which will if it increase overmuch vainly project to invalidate not only the King 's but higher Evidence nor do I know a better Method of Cure relating to those Fears and Jealousies which perhaps are now less terrible to some good men than a close retirement to Reason nor better Advice for Individuals when they do go to Law than to consult that generally Learned and Old Serjeant who is reported wittily to have answered a Client lately That he thought his Case was good but could not be positive unless he knew the Judge which shrewd yet ingenious Opinion may stand for a celebrated Precedent and is as reasonable for us to admire as it was for the Worthy man to give and if it were truly ascrib'd to that prodigious Master of Law and consequently of Humane Reason it clearly shews 't is generally safer for a man to trust to his Natural