XXII PREFACE. 



Such is the external evidence. The internal evi 

 dence is either from the thought, or the mode in 

 which the thought is expressed. 



The reasons against the authenticity of the Pa 

 radoxes, from the nature of the thought, are 

 1st. If a spirit of piety (zr) pervades the Paradoxes, 



think this present edition is even more exact than what Dr. 

 Rawley himself published. Blackburn, Vol. I. p. 193. 



In page 458, of vol. iv. he says, &quot; I have added some fragments 

 from the quarto edition of the remains printed in 1648. That copy 

 has been deservedly treated with great indignation and contempt 

 being notoriously printed in a surreptitious and negligent 

 manner. However, I do not remember a single page in this 

 scandalous edition, excepting these fragments und the essay of 

 a king, which does not appear in a more correct dress in some 

 part or other of our noble author s works. This seems to give 

 them a little credit ; and Dr. Sancroft having corrected them 

 with so much diligence, as to distinguish where he has done it 

 from printed copies, I have some cause to apprehend that the 

 other copies were amended by unquestionable MSS. of our 

 noble author. The order they appear in is, 1. An Explanation 

 what manner of persons those should be, that are to execute 

 the power or ordinance of the king s prerogative, p. 3. This 

 is corrected in very many places, 2. Short notes for civil con 

 versation, p. 6. interlined in many places, with apt divisions, not 

 observed in the edition of 1648. 3. An Essay on Death, p. 7. 

 This is likewise corrected in very many places, and subdivided 

 as if done from MSS. and made a new work. 4. The Charac 

 ters of a believing Christian, in paradoxes and seeming contra 

 dictions. This in terms of abatement under the Archbishop s 

 own hand stands thus: Compared tcith the other copy, printed 

 Lond. anno, 1645. 5. A Prayer, corrected only in two places, 

 which I must confess does not appear to be cast in the same 

 mould with that printed above, p. 447. 



(if) In the year 1762, the third edition of a penny tract 



