BUT, blessed be God, the Cafe here is alter'd: The general Liberty of Confcience we now enjoy, under a mild and prudent Administration, gives her a juft Freedom: The Effect of which has been such an Improvement of Chriftian Love and Charity among us, as hath in a great Measure allay'd Religious Heats for differing Opinions, which al·ways increase in Proportion to the Oppofition they meet with. Truth delights in Peace, and to spread her felf in a loving and familiar, rather than a polemick or controverfial Manner; but when mistaken Men do publickly oppose her, a juft Defence is neceffary, to shew them their Error, and prevent the spreading it. THIS, we think, a fufficient Reafon for publishing the following Answer, to an Adverfary who profeffes to write with Temper, without any Railing and Reviling, or bitter virulent Expreffions, and personal Reflections; a Rule, 'tis hop'd, we have closely kept to, and and which we wish himself had not tranf gress'd. As his Work is principally a Revival of old Charges, we apprehend no Defence more rational, than fuch as is taken from the Writings of those he has accus'd; their own Words being the beft Evidences of his perverting them. THE End we propose, is the right Information of himself and others, concerning a People found in all the Doctrines of Chriftianity, Lovers of Sobriety and Virtue, and deferving better Ufage, than he has thought fit to give them. WE freely fubmit what we have written to the Confideration of every impartial Reader, who will form his own Judgment, without Refpect of Perfons, by the Merits of the Caufe. The The Vicar having prefixed to his Book the 127. Ifaac Pennington, 154, William Dewsberry, ERRAT A. PAGE 13. line 6. for 11. 5. read 2. 1. p. 23. l. 17. for 23. read 13. p. 39. 1. 19. for Cor. read Cor. p. 140. 1. 5. for were read where. p. 147. 1. 26. for out read our. p. 181. 1. 27. for part read paft. p. 185. 1. 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18. dele the Comma's. p. 186. 1. 23. for fohn read fobn. p. 188. in the Margin, for lanecâ read lancea. p. 2c6.1.13. for then read when. p. 221. l. 17. dele not. p. 224, 1. 27. for be read are to be. p. 228. 1. 32. for Hamon read Haman. p. 250. l. 15. for Hour read Hours. p. 260. l. 3. for Merits read Mercies. ibid. 1. 25. for the Period put a Semicolon. p. 282. 1. 17. for Occafion read Omiffion. p. 286. l. 7. for 15. read xvi. 15. p. 290. 1. 16. for xx. vead xxviii. p. 331. 1.3. for include read conclude. p. 368.1. 29, 30. for their read his. ibid. 1. 29, 30, 31. dele the Comma's. p. 370. l. 11. dele the Comma after teftify. p. 372. l. 14. for away read a Way. Such other Typographical Errors as may occur, the Rea der is defired to correct with his Pen. A Defence of Quakerifm, Or an ANSWER to Patrick Smith's Book. The INTRODUCTIO N. I N his Title-Page, he calls the Quakers, a Complication of Deifm, Enthusiasm, and divers other ancient and modern Errors and Herefies: Whence 'tis evident, that he is not clear of that Bitterness and Virulence of Expreffion, which himself says, (a) Can never serve to clear up a Controverfy, nor be consistent with a Chriftian Spirit.' Harfh Terms, by raifing terrible Ideas in the Imagination, may probably prepoffefs weak Readers in Favour of one Side, and are too often us'd for that Purpose, as is obferv'd by John Hales of Eaton, who says, (b) Herefy and Schifm, as they are in common Ufe, are two Theological Mopus or Scarecrows, which they who uphold a Party in Religion B use (4) Pref. p. 9. (b) Tract concerning Schifm, p. 191. I |