Mr. _Cummings_'s Sermons against the Doctrines themselves,
from the other.
_Englishmen_ thought it an intolerable Hardship, when (tho' by
an Act of their own Parliament) Thoughts, which should be free, were
fetter'd and confin'd, and an Officer was erected over the Nation,
call'd _a Licenser of the Press_, without whose Consent no Writing
could be publish'd. Care might indeed be taken in the Choice of this
Officer, that he should be a Man of great Understanding, profound
Learning, and extraordinary Piety; yet, as the greatest and best of
Men may have _some_ Errors, and have been often found averse to
_some_ Truths, it was justly esteem'd a National Grievance, that the
People should have Nothing to read but the Opinions, or what was
agreeable to the Opinions of _ONE MAN_. But should every petty
Printer (who, if he can read his Hornbook, may be thought to have
Learning enough to qualify him for his own Sphere) presume to erect
himself into an Officer of this kind, and arbitrarily decide what
ought and what ought not to be published, much more justly might the
World complain. 'Tis true, where Invectives are contain'd in any
Piece, there is no good-natur'd Printer but had much rather be
employ'd in Work of another kind: However, tho' many personal
Reflections be interwoven in the following Performance, yet as the
Author _(who has subscrib'd his Name)_ thought them necessary, to
vindicate his own Conduct and Character, it is therefore hoped, on
that Consideration, the Reader will excuse the Printer for publishing
them.
Pages:
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277