the clamours and ill-will, of all reaſonable men.—How far ſuch an attempt is prudent or politick, is quite another queſtion, and nothing to the preſent purpoſe, unleſs we are to admit, (what, I hope, will not be deſired) that the world is compoſed of nothing but juggle, grimace, and legerdemain; and that the before mentioned principles of truth, reaſon, and equity are only baits to inſnare the vulgar, and captivate thoſe, whoſe ignorance makes them an eaſy prey.
Upon this iſſue, therefore, I deſire that my Performance my be tried. If it can be proved that I have, in general, miſrepreſented matters of fact, that my objections have no force, that I have calumniated the univerſity without any reaſon, and oppoſed the intereſt of ſound learning, I ſhall be contented to bear all that load of infamy, which ſuch practices truly deſerve. But if nothing of this nature can be fixed upon me, I deſire that the odium which hath been unjuſtly caſt upon me, for expoſing theſe corruptions, may be transferr'd to Thoſe who are guilty of them. I ſpeak in general; for it is impoſſible, in a work of this nature, to avoid miſtakes in every trivial circumſtance, and minute particular. What I have myſelf been able to diſcover of that ſort, I have corrected in this edition; and if I am informed of any others, they ſhall alſo be amended in the next; but for the reſt which hitherto remains, or ſhall remain unconfuted, I am
