THE following Poem, whereof Mr. TOLAND is the Author, was handed about a good while in Ma­nuscript before I could get a sight of it; tho, by reason of the differing Characters and Iudgments it underwent, I left no stone unturn'd to procure it. And I must confess that after a Friend had at last oblig'd me with it, I could discover none of those monstrous, pernicious, most terrible, and intolerable things which some weak-sighted or envious people reported. But there's something so new and singular in the management of it that highly pleas'd me; and I verily believe that one or two of my acquaintance were frighted, not so much at the Contents, as at the Writer's poetical Liberty in his ranting and AL­MANZOR-like strain, as if they thought he would in good earnest buckle on his Armor, or fasten Wings to his shoulders, and go about to perform in person what he would gladly leave others the honour of atchieving at his persuasion, contenting himself with such a moderate part of the Action as might pro­bably fall to one man's share. But taking my leave of these Gentlemen, I think my self bound rather to offer my excuses to him for making this publication without his consent. I know Poetry is not his Business, how much soever it may be his Diversion; and that particularly this Scheme of his Studies was never intended to be communicated to the World. I am wholly ignorant what induc'd him first to write it, or why he did it in Verse, which is a Talent on which he was never heard to value himself beyond a Song or such slight performances. But this I learnt, that having given Copies of it to a few private Friends, and these (as it commonly happens) to their Friends, [Page iv] it came at last into the hands of more persons than were friend­ly, honest, or judicious, as I need not tell those who heard the strange representations that were made of it; tho I cannot see how it should be displeasing to any, but such as are angry at bottom that Liberty and Religion are prefer'd to Slavery and Superstition. At least there's nothing of it inconsistent with our own establish'd Government and Church, of both which we may without vanity affirm that they are the most excellent of their kinds: no National Religion being less interested, or more rational; and no other Commonwealth being now so free, or having so good a Foundation and Disposition to attain all the perfections of Government. Therefore, after I had fully assur'd my self that the Poem was of his composition, I knew no better way of doing him the office of a true Friend, than by letting every body see how little ground there was for the Com­plaints of his peevish Accusers. By CLITO is meant a certain eminent Man, who is no more suppos'd to have held this Dis­course, or to be of all these Opinions, than the principal persons in PLATO's or CICERO's Dialogues to have said what­ever we read of 'em there, tho introduc'd for the dignity of the Subject, and as a mark of the Author's esteem. Mr. TO­LAND himself is understood by ADEISIDAEMON, which signifies Unsuperstitious, and is a Name these same Lines de­monstrate to be very proper. Whether VICTORINA be only a Fiction, or the designation of a real Mistriss, good man­ners will not let us too curiously enquire: but be this as it will, such a Character was absolutely necessary to assuage that Divi­nity, which (as the Poets speak) inspir'd him with so much fury before. All the rest is plain enough, and consequently there needs no longer Preface to so short a Book.