That the _Bishop_ himself admires his _Dedication_, and is pleas'd with it, I don't doubt. Like as _Bears_ are fond of their ill-favour'd _Cubbs_, so the Brats of some Men's Brains, as well as those of their Bodies, are pleasing to than; and however deform'd and irrational in themselves, are hugg'd by them as so many Wits and Beauties. But whether many, beside the _Bishop_ himself, will like his _Dedication_, is a great Question. I don't doubt, but there may be some for Persecution as well as the _Bishop_, and so far may approve of the _Dedication_: But whether there is any one that can think, he has not greatly injured _Infidels_, and made a false Representation of them, for being Enemies to our Civil Government, and to our present Establishment, can't surely be question'd. If he be not look'd upon here, by all Mankind, as a wilful and malicious Misrepresenter of them, I shall much wonder at it. But what's the _Dedication_ to the Book it self, will some here say? Tho' the _Bishop_ may have made some Slips in his _Dedication_ which betray Weakness and Ignorance; yet his following Performance may be Strenuous and Nervous, and a compleat Confutation of my _Discourses_. I answer, that such a Dedication bodes ill to the Book; and a Man may as well expect to find the inside of a House beautiful and richly adorn'd, when the Porch and Entrance into it is mean and nasty; as that an admirable Treatise for Wit, Reason, and Learning, should follow upon such a poor, simple, and insipid _Dedication_. Commonly Authors take more care in their _Dedications_, than in their following Treatise; that is, they see better to the Accuracy of their Expressions, the Exactness of their Stile, and Beauty of their Thoughts; and if they err at all in them, it is only in Flattery, and excess of Compliments on their Patrons. Such Care too, after the best manner he was able, has the _Bishop_ taken in his _Dedication_ above; and whatever his Readers and Admirers may think, the _Dedication_ is the best Part of the Book. The Exceptions I have taken at the _Dedication_ are but small, in Comparison of the Faults I shall find and expose in the _Book_ it self; which is such a Complication of Impertinence and Errors, of Rage and Confidence, and of Calumnies and Reproaches, as is not to be equall'd; and is so far from deserving the Character of a Confutation of my _Discourses_, that it has done them Service; and will be, after the Animadversions I shall make on it, a Confirmation of the Goodness, Usefulness, and Excellency of my Design in them. I have not here room to make a compleat Dissection of the _Bishop_'s Work, and to display its Insufficiency, in answer to my _Discourses_; neither was it my Design in this _first Part_ of my _Defence_ to do it. But however, I will spare a Place here for a short Character and Representation of his Performance, which take as follows.