DEDICATION, BY MR. LE CLERC.

TO THE MOST REVEREND PRELATE,

THOMAS,

LORD ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY,

PRIMATE OF ALL ENGLAND AND METROPOLITAN, AND PRIVY COUNSELLOR TO HER MOST SERENE MAJESTY THE QUEEN OF GREAT BRITAIN.

UPON the reprinting this excellent piece of that great man Hugo Grotius, concerning the Truth of the Christian Religion, (whereunto I thought fit to add something of my own, and also some testimonies, from which the good opinion he had of the Church of England is evident), there was no other person, most reverend Prelate, to whom I thought it so proper for me to dedicate this edition, with the additions, as the Primate and Metropolitan of the whole Church of England. I therefore present it to you, as worthy your protection upon its own account, and as an instance of my respect and duty towards you. I will not attempt here either to praise or defend Grotius; his own virtue and distinguishing ivmerits in the commonwealth of Christians do sufficiently commend and justify him amongst all good and learned men. Neither will I say any thing of the Appendix which I have added; it is so short that it may be read over almost in an hour’s time. If it be beneath Grotius, nothing that I can say about it will vindicate me to the censorious; but if it be thought not beneath him, I need not give any reasons for joining it with a piece of his. Perhaps it might be expected, most illustrious Prelate, that I should, as usual, commend you and your Church; but I have more than once performed this part, and declared a thing known to all: wherefore, forbearing that, I conclude with wishing that both you and the reverend Prelates, and the rest of the Clergy of the Church of England, who are such brave defenders of the true Christian Religion, and whose conversations are answerable to it, may long prosper and flourish; which I earnestly desire of Almighty God.

JOHN LE CLERC.

Amsterdam,
the Calends of March,
MDCCIX.