Thus much, Reader, I have thought fit to acquaint thee with, that thou mightest know what a jewel thou hast in thy hands, which thou must accordingly value, not by the bulk, but the preciousness. Thou hast here in a few sheets what might prove work enough for many thousand sermons and exercises; and more than the _catechisms_ and _confessions_ of a thousand _assemblies_ could furnish thee with: thou hast what will cast an eternal blemish on all the _cornered_ caps of _priests_ and _jesuits_, and all the _black and white_ caps of the _canting tribe_; to be short, thou art now acquainted with that man, who, in matters of so great importance as those of thy salvation, furnishes thee with better instructions, than any thou hast ever yet been acquainted with, what _profession_, _persuasion_, _opinion_, or _church_ soever thou art of; of whom and his works make the best use thou canst. Farewell. pm hrdbl TO THE LORD MARQUIS OF NEWCASTLE. ------- RIGHT HONOURABLE, I had once resolved to answer my Lord Bishop’s objections to my book DE CIVE in the first place, as that which concerns me most; and afterwards to examine his Discourse of LIBERTY and NECESSITY, which, because I had never uttered my opinion of it, concerned me the less. But seeing it was your Lordship’s and my Lord Bishop’s desire that I should begin with the _latter_, I was contented so to do, and here I present and submit it to your Lordship’s judgment. And first I assure your Lordship I find in it no new argument neither from _Scripture_ nor from _reason_, that I have not often heard before, which is as much as to say, I am not surprised.