To the Reader.

(As Paul says in the Acts of the Apostles) he serves his God according to the sect which they call Heresy. original Latin: "servit Deo suo secundum sectam quam vocant Hæresin." See Acts 24:14. Lastly, he was altogether in favor of the written word, preferring it to human laws and constitutions; this is contrary to the Papist A historical, often derogatory term for a Roman Catholic., who will not allow the Bible to be the final judge of controversies. This is the man, and these were his qualifications at home, regardless of how the world has represented him abroad.

Now, as for his more mysterious principles, you have the main substance of them in this Discourse. If you can understand them, I know you will describe him in particular—just as Trismegistus Hermes Trismegistus, a legendary Hellenistic figure associated with wisdom and hermetic philosophy. describes Mankind in general—as a visible God original Greek: "Θεὸν ὁρατὸν". Or, you might describe him as Panaetius A Stoic philosopher. did his Plato: as a Divine man, most holy, most wise, and the Homer of Philosophers. original Latin: "Hominem Divinum, Sanctissimum, sapientissimum & Homerum Philosophorum."

But this messy, hurried writing does not suit his memory, and these thoughts fall from me now as mere sparks or flashes, not as formal compositions. I shall say nothing more,