LETTER I. 



Dr. Sanderson to iV. iV., respecting the relative 

 Merits of the Preshijterians and the Independents. 



1 0th April, 1649. 



Sir, 



I THANK you for the loan of your book 

 (Robert Baillie's Dissuasive from Error). The 

 author is not the same man I thought, but another 

 of the same name, and a strong Presbyterian: 

 who, as he hath sufficiently discovered the absur- 

 dity of some of the Independent opinions consi- 

 dered apart, and by themselves ; so I cannot but 

 admire (but that I see by every day's experience 

 how grossly, out of affection to their preconceived 

 fancies, men, otherwise understanding enough, are 

 blinded with prejudices) how the author could 

 choose but see, that most of the assertions both 

 of Brownists and Independents, are but the na- 

 tural conclusions and results of their own pre- 

 mises. These kind of writings do exceedingly 

 confirm me in my old opinions ; scilicet, that, the 

 grounds of our busy reformers supposed true, 

 either of these ways is infinitely more rational, 

 and defensible, and more consentaneous to the 

 principles whereon the endeavours of reformation 

 are built, than the Presbyterian way is. This, 

 methinks, I durst adventure to make clear to the 

 understanding of any rational man, in very many 



F F 4 



