I have heretofore made solemn Professions of my Belief of Christianity, and most seriously declared in the plainest Terms, that my Design was not to do Service to Infidelity, but to make way for the Proof of Christ's Religion and Messiahship; but my Word was not taken, being look'd upon as a Dissembler, an Hypocrite, and Prevaricator, for all that. And should I now ever so gravely repeat the like Asseverations of the Integrity and Sincerity of my Heart, that my Objections against the Letter of _Jesus_'s Miracles are none against his Religion, but only intended to turn Mens Heads to the mystical Interpretations of them; I question much whether I should be believed, and whether _Bishop Smalbroke_[364] would not say again, _that this is too thin a Disguise of what seems to be my great and worse Design_. What then in Prudence must I do in this Case? Why, I must let _This Head_, which reasonably should precede, rest for a while; and by treating on the _Second_, tho' out of Place, I must first effectually convince my Adversaries, that I am no _Infidel_ of wicked Designs to subvert Christianity, but only the _Ministry of the Letter_; and then, I conceive, I may safely resume the Consideration of this _First Head_, and without the Imputations of Infidelity and Blasphemy, write as _merrily_ or _gravely_ as I please against the Letter. Should any say, that this pretended Reason for waving this _First Head_ for the present, is nothing but Cowardice and Inability to write more on it, I can't help it. _Ictus Piscator sapit_; I have already suffer'd much for the ludicrous Treatment of the _Letter_, and it is Wisdom to keep, if I can, out of the like Danger; neither will I do any thing, that in Conscience I can forbear, to incur the Displeasure of the Civil Magistrate. But however, if the _Bishop_ of _London_ would ensure me against, what the _Bishop_ of _St. David_'s calls, the[365] _Nominal_ Persecutions of _Protestants_, which I am more afraid of, than of the _real_ Persecutions of _Papists_, I will soon enter upon this Head; otherwise for Self-Preservation against the _nominal_ Sufferings of Fines and Imprisonment, _&c._ I will forbear, promising my Readers, that in due Time, and on a more proper Occasion, I will resume the _merry Subject_ of the _Letter_, and handle it to their entire Satisfaction.