c. The which if not both Perfidious and Disloyal for my part I know not what it is And if this not it what shall we say of his thus so perfidiously and evilly surmising of her viz. as if unless he had an Eye of Care and Watchfulness over her in the case of the Legacies he is as he says in trust for for the Children that there was a doubtfulness or danger of their being deprived or wronged of them In his so jealously suspecting her as before of Treachery that was so honest upright and true shall therefore only refer the Reader for his better satisfaction concerning her and the truth of it viz her Fidelity to the account of an Antient Friend of those parts sent me in a Letter in the Year 1696. though I could say a great deal as to my own sense and knowledge of her as an honest and sincere Woman which is as followeth viz. I have not seen saith the aforesaid Oliver Samson's Book but hear that as to the passage about John Samsom's Widow he says that what he had done was to have Justice done to the Children which implies as if she had not done justly by them which is such a base Insinuation that it is well known that her Motherly care tenderness and affection was such that she exceeded most own Mothers and this is so well known not only to her own Relations but Friends Neighbours and Acquaintance can testifie the same I could say something of his viz. O. S's corrupt and false dealing about our former Concerns here at Newberry which would be a great Blow to him but for several Causes and Reasons I am willing at present to forbear And then proceeding saith I have now gone through his Book so as to Answer whatsoever seems to have any appearance of weight in it and I hope to the Reader 's satisfaction Answ But if so it must be supposed to be only him and such that hath not had the oppertunity or cares not or regards not to examine it And further saith he As to his confused Clamours with which his Book abounds especially the latter part of it vented in a stile of Billingsgate Rhetorick I do not think it worth my while to trouble my self or my Reader any further about it Answ Although so far beyond it in himself and that throughout his whole Work or either the Order or Rules of Christianity or Humanity And yet would fain thus wipe his Mouth at last as if so modest and demure that there 's neither ground nor reason to be jealous of or suspect him as guilty of any such thing But again saith he I shall subjoin a Testimony from the Friends of the Monthly-Meeting of Farrington and their-away which might of it self I suppose have been sufficient to have cleared my Reputation in the judgment of the impartial from the Muck and Dirt he has endeavoured to cast upon it c. And then come to a Conclusion Answ But whatever he concludes or believes of the matter yet I am nevertheless of the mind that when examin'd that instead of being sufficient or to the clearing of his Reputation and cleansing from the Dirt already cast upon him that it will rather create more scruples bestain in the first and give a greater cause of further casting of his deserved Dirt upon him in the last And now as to his Farrington or Charlow Certificate as in pag. 45. That he has thus gotten and procured and doubts not but it will do his Business and be sufficient to clear his Reputation and cleanse him from his Dirt too in the judgment of the Impartial c. Pray Note that it 's no more nor no other than a meer and plain piece of Craft and a no Sociation Pardonership or Faction belonging to him c. held kept up and maintained amongst them and that meerly or only as if on purpose to serve and answer their Ends and Intrest as often as shall have need and occasion for it Or is it to be so much as supposed or in the least question'd or suspected but that O. S. hath both Power and Interest and that sufficient and enough to procure as many of them viz. such Certificates as their are Months in the Year if need be or occasion for them and yet for all that for them to so go for or under the Name Guise and Notion of a Monthly Meeting I say tho' so Sign'd but with four yea and all and every one of them to his Kindred and Relations and further than this that if the Question might be but truly answered I have cause to believe that the aforesaid Certificate was written to by no other than himself as was the foregoing that Counsellor Mallot transcribed in order for his better Vindication as in p. 40. O the depth of such hidden and gross Hypocrisie and Deceit what shall I say Muck Mire and Dirt which was there ever the like committed by any a thing to be both abhorr'd and condemn'd in all the Courts that bare but so much as the Name of Judicature when as instead of twelve of a Man's equals which the Law of the Land allows to be thus only Try'd by four of the Kindred and near Relations of the Person accused And are not near Relations prohibited by the Laws so just are they therein as not to be allowed as Evidence or Witness thus one for another Again and was there not as many his Relations excepted or more that appeared for me and denyed the Signing of vour said Paper of Association than appeared for it And did not Francis Clark of Childred in particular and who was one of their near Neighbours too that both denyed and refused to Sign it and the reason that he gave for it for that he had not heard of any one that could charge or alledge any thing justly against me as with respect to my Life Conversation or otherways but that I walked according unto or as become the Profession of Truth or words to this effect though he did not so of O. S. But no more as to that at present and were you not angry and much offended with him for it And further observe how implicit and dark both in their Sense as well as Certificate through their said Interest Partnership Consanguinity c. as to so and thus ignorantly infer and conclude viz. that what I had done as before in order to the discovery of such their Wickedness and Deceit c. tended to the dishonour of the Name of the Lord and the defaming of Antient Friends implying thereby no less then as if both the Name of the Lord and the repute of Antient Friends stood in the connivance at hiding and concealing of such Corrupt Gross and Notorious Evil whereas in realty and truth both the Honour of God and the repute of true and upright hearted Friends both Antient and others then stood I mean Antiently and every sence in the judging and keeping down and under
own Book and manner of Behaviour like unto it both in his open and publick Testimonies amongst us and other ways and in order thereunto shall begin with the first and second pages of it in which amongst the rest he counteth me yea and that more particularly too as an Instrument in the Devil's hand to cast Calumnies Reproach and False Accusations against the Faithful Followers and Ministers of Christ whom I right dearly and truly esteem and love tho' cannot account so of him them or any else that walk in the like crooked and perverse ways And further as one that broke the Peace of the Church stir'd up Discontents Divisions Enmity c. a Backslider and an Apostate from the Way of Truth and at length into open opposition a yea that even to both write print and publish Books stuft with Falshood and Defamation And again and to the same import Amongst the too many that Satan hath beguiled corrupted and hardned to that degree saith he Abraham Bonifield of Reading is one But for what cause unless speaking the Truth and testifying against their Hypocrisie and Deceit is left to the Reader to judge seeing there 's nothing but his Say-so for it And to the second part of his and their evil and inconsiderate management of matters as fore-hinted as with respect to his and their open and publick Testimonies wheâ— he and others of them have happen'd or chanced to come amongst us yea and that too when the Meeting-House Doors were shut up against us and when we kept our Meeting in the open Court was it not I say after a most harsh and barbarous manner I say again when so exposed by the aforesaid for him and them on the other hand to so come out and thunder forth such their Sentences against us as they did as of Black Devils and White Devils as in pag. 6. of my Epistle to the Cry c. and more than that too for one or such that had cast off the Cross of Christ fallen from and denyed our Testimony gone into the Liberty of the Flesh c. And all this for and upon no other score or account then our barely and alone being for the removing of the said Meeting from thence viz. the Court though notwithstanding afterwards done by G. W. and J. P. and that in pursuant to the Order Appointment Consent and Agreement of a Meeting of Ancient Friends held at London on purpose about it at the time of the then Yearly Meeting and who as said appeared for and was one with us therein and gave it too in in our case and therefore what at all to be mattered or notice taken of these and such Mens pretended Sense and Receivings in their Waitings c. whose Sense is their Will and Receivings Resolution to prosecute it as elsewhere more at large of as bad or far worse by T. G. W. S. and J.L. c. And therefore I pray and intreat thee O Christian and Impartial Reader to consider what treament my self and others have met with all along from them considering our Crime which was only for being as before of the same mind and for the same thing and no other then our aforesaid Friends were for and which indeed was the main and principal occasion of all the future and succeeding Differences And if O. S. and the rest he undertakes for accounts my Conscientious and sincere concern herein in Love to God and Holy Zeal for his Precious Truth for Billingsgate-Rhetorick what may or can any think or account of his or their's though as floutingly charged their wits like mine should be of the least or smallest size and this may serve in answer to his Fraudilent and â—alacious Title and also to that part of the first and second Page of his before repeated in all which there 's as much and no more of Truth than of Proof and that is nothing at all and what I have written or charg'd upon him I mean as to the major or principal part of it he knows to be so and the truth and neither Revilings nor Scandal and therefore no occasion for his Rebuke And then goes on and tells his Reader that this viz. his said Book which may and ought of right to be counted a peice of Craft or Artifice then either Religion or Piety was written by himself but yet so covert and clandestine as not to tell him in Truth and Plainness who he or they were that were the Original or Authors of it for several that have seen it are of opinion that it s none of his own nor like his Stile but however he is worthy and deserves to bear both the blame and shame of it seeing that he hath so far appeared for it and not to tell of any other Father And further to his so common and frequently charging me as being a Troubler one of an unruly Spirit a breaker of the Churches Peace it 's to be remember'd and observed that the truely Tender and Conscious were ever so accounted of by such as he and they that were so for Rule and Preheminence I say by such both in former times and ever since who truly and sincerely lov'd and fear'd the Lord and hated and testified against False-heartedness Oppression and Deceit and as then so now neither could nor can by any means be prevail'd upon by any such their Rules calls them Lines of Truth Balance of the Sanctuary or what you will that were not in Truth according to Truth and Truth in themselves and therefore were so used then Persecuted and abused ever since by such that lived and acted in the like evil and envious mind viz. the Flesh first Birth and Nature and at which door the Apostacy in Spirit crept in at first and which likewise hath proved the Misery and Calamity of this present Age and Day And then goeth on and tells his Reader that for the aforesaid Causes viz. of my being a Troubler of an unquiet Spirit c. I was reproved and testified against by the Quarterly Meteing whereas its apparent as in Page the 8th of the Cry that W. L. J. B. W. S. and others were the cause and trouble-makers through such their insulting Arrogance and Pride unless such things are good and to be justified and the Detectors of them for reproof and to be testified against and besides if true these were not the cause but the effects of the aforesaid Cause or Causes and the Meetings Reproof if it had been true when groundless of as little weight as the rest but enough and sufficient in the foregoing concerning their testifying against Sentence Judgment and the wickedness and unjustness of it And then goes on and tells him again of my leaving the Meeting of Friends to which I used before to resort observe not belong'd too and of joyning my self with them that some Years ago separated from Friends c. forgetting else not so impartial to insert that his Friends if must call them so first
evade and falsifie their Judgment in it and by his snearing Insinuations to suggest and impose upon his Reader as if J. K. and J. O. were both wiser honester than to make such or any Remarks upon W. L's Person Qualification c. And an account too not much unlike to this of his was likewise given me by Guely Penn viz. of his franticklike Carriage when he was with or lived with her Father Isaac Pennington and that in the presence and hearing of her Husband W. P. when they sojourn'd with William Simmons at Hammersmith and I could be more particular from all which it may be observed and seen that there were others besides J. K. and J. O. that were both so honest and wise as to place observation both upon the aforesaid Person and Qualification and as to the other part relating to J. O. take the Testimony as by Letter under his own Hand sent and given concerning him and that in order to stop and prevent their said mistating and false explanation upon it which was thus or to this effect viz. That there were several Articles drawn up and in charge against W. L. Note the which he neither said was either false or made appear to them as such somuch as in any one particular of them but further that there was none alledged or exhibited in charge against A. B so it's plain and aparent to be seen as before that there were both Remarks and Observations made and they that knew him knew that his Words us'd to be short but authentick And then again But if said O. S. by the aforesaid he means himself and his pretended several others concerned with him it shows what a cavilling Spirit he and they were of c. and thus again how it may be observ'd as I hinted before that its hard for him or them to be accounted Wise or Honest that oppose or run not with him and them and no doubt had O.S. so much as thought that J.K. and J.O. had been and were realy so concern'd as they were or placed their Observations so as they did but he would bave been more modest and sparing than to have thus conclusively accounted them for Cavillers or Men of so quarrelsome Qualifications And then again saith he But A.B. I think might very well have let W. L's Person and Qualifications alone notwithstanding the big Words and empty Flourishes that A.B. hath used to set forth the greatness of the Capital Difference as he calls it seeing that the Difference says he was but slenderly grounded against W.L. if it wanted to be made out by Remarks upon his Person and Qualification To which I do return as before that the aforesaid were both so Wise and Honest that they thought it not altogether so slender though O.S. has counted it so and there were Charges too as well as Remarks as specified by the aforesaid J.O. and as also so expressed and that in particular in Page the 6th of the Cry viz. their Remarks upon his Charges Person Qualification though O.S. hath been thus Treacherous and Perfidious as to pass by and give the slip unto it though the main part and principal Head and Branch thereof and the like hath frequently done as I shall observe when in Course and is this a doing O.S. as thou wouldst be done unto or according to that Truth thou pretends to be so concern'd for and to vindicate but if so and of thy Truth yet am sure that it 's not according to the real and sincere Truth which is plain innocent and void of the beguiling Crafts of Men and shall leave it to the Impartial to judge whether Charges Person and Qualification be a good or a slender ground for wise and honest Men to place their Remarks and Observations upon though so slenderly accounted of by O.S. as also how unfit O.S. is or would be or such as he to make either a just Jury man or Judge that accounteth the aforesaid as so slender and groundless And again as in Page the 4th and further in Page the 6th Who but one of a restless and unquiet Mind and evil and contentious Spirit sayeth he would have renewed and revived the remembrance of an old ended Difference c. and then to his work of Scoffing again saying And by this the Reader may see some of A. B.'s Qualifications and by this guess at the rest To the first do answer it 's granted and allowed so to be in the Person that did it but O. S. has widely mist the matter a thing too frequent and common with him in that he did not propose and state this Question to W. L. the Person him and him alone that renewed and revived it and who could not be quiet or contented that the matter should stand and remain as ended and left by the aforesaid but he must needs place such his new and untrue imaginary Explanations and Perversions upon it whereby and by which only and alone the former ended and which ought to have been forgotten Difference was again reviv'd and renew'd amongst us and to use his own Words as in Page the 4th of his Reviler and whereby the Reader may see and observe what a quarrelsome Man he has been as also that all the aforesaid Severities and Reflections of O. S. is found true and due unto and upon W. L. and himself and by which to use O. S's phrase may I not safely say if he had any true regard for the honour of Truth and the Reputation of that Christian Society he professes himself to be a Member of it would no doubt have stopped and prevented him from doing it as likewise much to the same by endeavouring to invalidate and undervalue the Labours and Endeavours of S. C. G. W. W. P. and several others of the Antient Friends of the Nation that approved of appeared and were for the removing of the Meeting from the Court or before the old Meeting-House Doors and I do not and cannot forget the Remarks that G. W. and that at his own House and before his Wife placed upon the churlish and ill deportment that he met withal from him and some of them when he and J. P. came down by the appointment of the aforesaid in order thereunto viz. as if endeavouring thereby to draw them from their Faith and Testimony as likewise to be farther noted how they accounted that it was such a Temptation that had befallen them when G.W. c. had prevail'd with the others to open the Doors again and advised to meet altogether therein c. as that the like had never met with happen'd or befallen them before by all which the Reader may see the end and what a kind or manner of concern and from whence it came that hath induced O. S. to thus applaud as well as approve of this his such and other the like evil and contentious Work which is doubtless but to hide and cover it if there were not as there need not
apparently unjust wicked and manifestly contrary unto both God and his Truth Honour c. And in which as apparent you have only sought and served your selves but have neither regarded him the Truth his Name or Honour let thy and your fluent and lavish Tongue and Tongues say or pretend what you will or can to the contrary for that tryed you are seen and known by your Fruits for Words and Pretences will not serve for the Day is broken forth that hath and will yet more and more make manifest and discover you your Works and Evil Deeds And further After this manner and accordingly saith he on the 7th Month 1690. we met at Reading and being gathered together waiting upon the Lord c. we desired A. B. who was present amongst us to bring forth what he had to offer to our Consideration whereupon he stood up and made a Speech telling us he was dissatisfy'd with the proceedings of the Quarterly Meeting because they refused to let him read his Paper and instead of giving us his Charges against W. L. and J. B. he read to us a Writing containing something which he called Reasons why he was not satisfy'd to bring his Case before us c. Answ And that they were Reasons and just and weighty ones too I think that neither he nor any of the rest can refute or are so hardy as to deny as in pag. 5. of the Cry too tedious to so over and over again to take up time and swell my Book and if dissatisfy'd why so in haste impatient as not to give me time of further Consideration seeing I have told you that I was in truth and reality dissatisfy'd and so free as to tell and acknowledge before you that I was sorry that I had placed such a disappointment upon you as also that I was willing to pay you for your loss of Time and Charges and what could I have said or done more without wrong and abuse to my self Which shall leave to the Impartial to judge And as to the other part as in pag. 10. wherein he accuseth me with reflecting foully upon the Quarterly Meeting he hath wrong'd and abus'd me therein for that all that I said or did alledge was only thus or to this effect viz. Forasmuch as I conceive that the Meeting was oversway'd by Personal Affection in some particulars towards the Party complain'd against to act so directly contrary to both common Justice and Charity by their refusing the publick reading or hearing of the Petition as in pag. 5. of the aforesaid and is a conceiving a thing a matter of such crime or so immodest an expression or reflecting foully upon the whole as he has thus insinuated If I had affirmed or charged it on them all he might have said something And again in the forecited what is here written relating to the Quarterly Meeting is not in the least intended by way of reflection upon the same c. notwithstanding the great noise and clutter that he makes about it to fill the Ears of his Reader withal And a word or two more and that is Is it likely do you think or any in their right sences that the Quarterly Meeting did would or could refer to them the said Seven they knew not what though I cannot and dare not deny but that O.S. and others in party might do it in and with a mental reserve to themselves viz. as the Hand the Head and the Eyes to the rest for that as in pag. 3. of the Cry The Meeting was held and wholly kept in the dark And as to the other part of his pag. 11 12. wherein he giveth a further relation of my refusing the committing the hearing of the said Difference unto them the which I have given my Grounds and Reasons for before as also refer'd the Reader to those pages and places where he may see and read them not intending as I said to fill my Book with such over and over should I every where follow and trace him and that if they had such power and so large allow'd or given them as to call and appoint Meetings at their pleasure the which I much questioned as well as think that they are not at all able to either demonstrate or prove however that they might have had the conduct of more and longer patience and forbearance if as they pretend were so weighty and sensible in their Meeting of the fear and presence of God as to have waited in the sense thereof for a longer time than so upon the hast especially in a case where the party was Conscientiously scrupulous than to so soon after a disappointment in the Morning to immediately appoint another to the same end and purpose in the Afternoon and as in respect to the Constitution and Qualification of it I refer the Reader to pag. 3. as before as also do yet and still affirm that as acted by them they were contrary to all Methods Orders Practices or Presidents in the case and as he has not so neither he nor they are able to refute it or give evidence or proof to the contrary neither yet had you any such power either given or allow'd you to so convene it being a method so manifestly contrary to Peace the end proposed or to ask or demand any such Matter or Question of them And seeing as you say that their Judgment was that A. B. was the occasion of those Disturbances and breach of the Peace though never looking so high as to the Cause but accounted the Effect for it or as if you wanted others to give the sence you pretend to have received in your Waitings c. Why were you not I say as zealously circumspect as to ask of them how and wherein it appear'd I was so I mean as with respect to either Words or Actions originally in themselves but you had gain'd the point and your end and that was enough and sufficient and then there had been no need to have written such a Paper in order to be quiet that was never yet proved to be either Cause or Occasion of Trouble unless for meeting amongst you and using my Christian Priviledge And as to that of Smiting c. I do challenge all and every individual of you to show and prove where when or that ever any Unchristian or unseemly Word or Expression came out of my Mouth tho' have largely and apparently shown as in pag. 20. of the Cry and elsewhere such harsh Bitterness or Words of Cruelty as would even astonish one to hear as well to the shame and defiling the Mouth that spoke and uttered them And yet for all this they do go on notwithstanding and continue their feignedness after their old manner in their Paper or Letter sent me as in pag. 13. A Reviler c. and dated Reading the 24th of the 7th Month 1690. with their Hands to it and Edmund Orpwood's to it too though I have not observed it to be any where else
heard or Justice done him in his Case therefore let me further say as in pag. 13. of the Cry c. I pray God break the Bands of all such Oppression and deliver every honest Man c. from having need or coming under their Hands in expectation of either Justice or Relief And than again saith he It s worth the Reader 's noting how falsly he dealt with the Monthly Meeting c. But in what or wherein he is short and sparing for want of Ground for his Charge and which after a great round about the chief Ground of the accusation from no other Cause but only because that I did not immediately or at the next Quarterly Meeting at Ore bring forth my Charges against W. L. J. B. yet did the Paper of Complaint containing the grievances of several others beside myself as most proper to be first though no Limitation given or time set me by them nor either set or propos'd by my self therefore better worth the Reader 's noting how strange and at what a venture rate this Man acts and runs in his Stigmatizing and Calumniating for how could I deal falsly by them or any when under neither Promise or Obligation as in the foresighted And then goeth on and makes as if that the only alone Cause and Reason of Friends refusing to record their said Paper of wicked and unjust Judgment at the ensuing Quarterly Meeting held at Newbery was partly or only because of my troublesome Behaviour there and partly because some Friends were willing to try what might be done as with respect to my Repentance and Recovery As to the first I was it may be a trouble and a troubler unto him for so asserting and undauntedly constant to the Truth and my Principles and could not by any means be prevail'd upon to submit or truckle under his and other the Seven such wicked and corrupt Designs and crying against their Oppression and telling of my appealing to the Yearly Meeting in case I could not have Justice there which its most probable did so startle and awaken him that he even he himself did then and there and at that very time offer for another Meeting and proposed both the Method and Manner of it and mention'd the Names of some of them he thought most fitting and capable to be assistant in it as occasionally is elsewhere hinted though left wholly out in his Narrative and which makes good and fixeth the Truth of my Title upon him The Treacherous taken in his Treachery c. And as to the other part of some being disatisfy'd with the Reading of the aforesaid and the whole against the Recording of it is nothing but the Truth and truely and really so and if not seeing he is such an Artist at it why did he not procure a Certificate from the Friends of the said Meeting to testifie to the contrary as was procured by him from them of Charlow of which you may hear more hereafter and yet for all this he goes on and tells the Reader That he had given a plain and true Account c. So hardy and void of Shame is he that although he pretends to tell of A. B's shifting Tricks yet in the mean thus apparently laying open and discovering his own And yet after all this to so confidently outface and deny it viz. As being the Proposer of the said Appeal and what value hath such a one of his Credit that 's so void of Truth with his Tongue And this further what if through his subtilty and craft the Writer to the Meeting was so prevailed upon as not to Record it he being one of the Seven also which whether as he hath said remains still as a Question seeing he can so say and unsay to serve himself and ends and the which he useth as a trick to invalid the force and truth of my Narration yet if not Recorded and should grant it so there 's a Record of the Truth and Verity of it in his own Heart and Conscience that will not be blotted nor never can be razed out neither in Time nor Eternity except he be humbled and repent how short soever he doth or may pretend as with respect to his Memory but treacherous and false as in one so in all for neither was Stephen Crisp or George Whitehead either mentioned or proposed by me or any one else but wholly and alone by himself as can and do appeal to the Friends that were there for my Witness And what if by my Letter afterward I mention'd a necessity to appeal doth it at all invalid the Truth of what I have asserted as with respect to the proposing of it at the Quarterly Meeting at Newberry surely no and but an Insinuation and Imposing upon his Reader and whether as my words were if he had honestly cited them viz. necessitated as it were to appeal from time to time both plain and apparent that the Appeal was not new but old and depending Again He hath saith he represented things in his Book for otherways than in truth they were but he is hobled in the doing it that from his own Book his falshood appears c. Answ But shows not either how or wherein and further makes the ground of my refusing to stand Tryal before the said Seven whom the Quarterly Meeting upon my Complaint had refer'd it to because my Complaint was not openly read c. To the first part O S. is still as always besides the matter to so tell talk of Tryal Trying c. for I was no Criminal then no need of tryal but the Plantiff or Accuser nor a Prisoner for Sentence Judgment but the matter as rightly stated is truly and only thus viz. Two or three Friends are at a difference and they chuse Arbitrators of their Neighbours to make up the Breach and set them at Friendship again in the which case as thus truly stated there 's no need of either Judge or Judges Jury or Tryal but Wisdom and Honesty in the Persons so chosen for to both do and answer the end of their Choice viz. to set the Offended at one again which had the same been found and that in the least degree in you the said Seven the matter had been no doubt made up and the Difference between us ended long ago but O. S. and the rest are so much for Oyer in their own Case and more for Terminer in anothers that they have mist the Point and lost the Case again And as to the other a word more you being only such viz. Arbitrators or Peace-makers why may not a Person so concern'd especially when can give a good and sufficient Reason for it as in pag. 45. of the Cry and part of which is also cited by him viz. If dissatisfaction with the first Choice the said Seven be permitted the priviledge of a Second before a great number And is it not common and frequent among Men both to allow and do it and yet what a
good Conscience and sound Reason And as for my offering such a free and Voluntary Forgiveness to them as in pag. 18 of the Cry and p. 22 of his A Reviler if their were nothing else to be said for it yet the Prudence of them they have seemed to have their works in such esteem might be Satisfaction who that after they had Lanched so far as to account some no less then Devils in flesh yet have in process of time and on further consideration moved and endeavoured for a free and Voluntary passing by But enough of this seeing I have to do with such as are accounted Christians and what if after this they slighting and refusing my True and Christian offer and begin to examine and Catechize me c. when I came to pass by and forgive if Conscious of it then for as there is no room so as little Reason I mean without a change to either tender or offer it any farther And therefore if Rightly considered whether it stood me not upon to secure my Conscience by continuing my Testimony for who is he or the Man that would not keep a reserve in respect to the safety of a good Conscience I think none that ever knew the Testimony of one and their Testimony continued if they had any to bear and rather the more in this case seeing that W. L. did not only continue but renew and make addition to his Pride the ground-cause of my bearing it against him c. And how can the Effects cease until the Cause be removed notwithstanding I endeavour Reconciliation yet again after the Meeting at London had prevailed upon me to sign their said Paper in order to it and yet and still refused by them and it may be also further observed the small esteem that O. S. hath to either Conscience or Testimony that makes such a remark to both upon my reserve to keep and preserve them but I bless God that my Conscience is not placed upon the reward of Man or from Man nor my Testimony to get me interest amongst them and it were well if O.S. could say so too if in truth but his Actions shews to the contrary to all that have not their Consciences in these as large as his own notwithstanding his pretended concern c. to thus stand by and abet such things that are both a shame to Men and Christians as first by his proposing for an Appeal and afterwards denying it by his offering of me Peace Forgiveness freely yea I say and to so desire and intreat to it too as before after that my Book was published and a great part of them dispers'd abroad who but a little before they accounted me as little other than a Reprobate Oh the depth of Darkness deep Hypocrisie and Deceit But more of this hereafter and yet for all this to tell another of Babylon In and Out Confused Shattered c. But to return to make good my second and fresh Charge against W. L. as with respect both for continuing and renewing his Pride doaffirm and alledge by and in his so assuming such an absolute prerogative and passing such an imperious and controuling Sentence and Repremand upon the Action and doing of the aforesaid Antient Friends at their said Meeting c. and who were the most of them accounted as the Principal Friends in the Nation G. W. A. R. and J. S. viz. with divers and several others and that by and in his saying That what they had done at the aforesaid relating to this matter signified nothing But this not so strange neither when we consider his frequent Practices in these and the like Case as particularly in refusing to be assistant to Friends in the indeavouring the getting open of the Old Meeting house Doors as he stood a Trustee on this behalf but on the contrary stirring up and raising of Scruples and Dissatisfactions in the minds of others in order to their Discouragment notwithstanding that the Friends for the County had written and advised for it yea and further expressed themselves after this manner viz. And we do not see how W. L. can be clear without using his utmost indeavours to give Friends relief in that case as more at large in pag. 6. of my Book intituled Hidden things revealed c. And at another time when the aforesaid Friends had upon occasion advised us here as with respect to choice of Burgesses to set in Parliament viz. that we would endeavour and take care to Chuse or Vote for such as might be hoped to be fit Persons for that Service do good in their place But W. L. instead of promoting of it as desired did wholly and with all his Interest and Power oppose and withstand it all which if O. Sampson accounteth of it but as small as with respect to me yet in respect to the aforesaid and more to Truth he might have counted them one would think as A. B. has done viz. not as such small but rather great and Capital ones and such as most plain and apparently manifest his self-will and conceitedness as well as his Emperiousness and Pride and the which three last Instances to any impartial Reader were enough one would think without any thing further though there may be so many more to both prove and affix upon him the Substance of all or the whole matter in Charge and alledged by me as with respect to his Arrogance and Pride and what I suggested as with respect to the loss of my Papers at London it is true and as I have said and as to the other part of the same Paragraph there was no Reason at all or in the least as before but that the Friends at the Meeting at London should and ought by the Rules of Equity and Reason as I conceive to have found themselves concerned c. and much more to have brought W. L. J. B. c. the Offenders to a Sense and acknowledgment of their Unchristian carriage and deportment yea and to have repented of it too As for A. B. to sign the Paper in Compliance to their advises and desires though I dare not say neither would give way so much as to think but that the aforesaid intended and designed well in what they did and as in order to the effecting and promoting of Love and Peace amongst us but yet on the other Hand as hinted cannot but must needs likewise conclude that their was a shortness somewhere and to provable to be on O. S. and their part in that their was no farther care taken or at least that ever I could find in the ordering and managing part for the true and hearty going on and through it in its due Method and Order and according to the way of Truth and those good Rules both owned acknowledged to and commended of amongst us yea and that a double Reason for it viz. so to think for that I had yeilded and condescended so far and so largely on my part but neither
pray What hearing and examining the matter on both sides and as fully as could be too when the Witness not there the Witness not heard the Witness not examined Oh how to the ruin of Justice and shame of Religion have these Men done and acted amongst you and that under the notion and pretention of Meeters and Meeting hearing examining and that on both sides and that as fully as you could Oh I say would not some we account as Heathens or Infidels both blush be ashamed and spit and wash their Mouths after it And further say they We understand that J. Veal brought forth this Charge by the Instigation of others And if so happily by such that had less Envy and more love to Truth and Justice then themselves it being evident they had little or none to either And as to the Certificate of E. S. following and annexed concerning her dear Husband the which she begins with a Lye by saying that A.B. in his Book printed 1695. hath charged W. S. her Husband with barbarous Severity towards his Wife and Children For that it 's not so nor none of A. B's Charge but the charge of one of their own Children as in p. 9. of the Cry and O. S. no doubt has seen it so only Ignorance with him in this as in the rest is to be the Mother of Devotion And yet for all this in the conclusion thus insinuates viz. Judge now Reader if A. B. be not a bad Man for thus publishing the aforesaid But before do return any farther in Answer to her I do query of W. L. and J. B. whether the said E. S. be a Woman of such credit with them and amongst her Neighbours as to have her Name inserted thus in publick to a Certificate or indeed to or in any thing else to thus pass as authentick amongst you one I say of so mean and ordinary manner of Life and Conversation for that as charged she is neither true nor just in her way of Trade manner of dealing at home nor much better when abroad For was it not told us as alledged by some of her Neighbours that she stole Corn out of the Cock or Sheaf when in the Field and a Leesing amongst them and the which was testifyed unto us as so and for Truth as you both know at a Meeting appointed as I remember on purpose for the Hearing of a Difference between E. H. and her self and therefore may I not return upon him that seeming serious Man W. L. in his own Language what he formerly had said of another in the like Case I believe less blameable in Life as well as nearer related which was that those the aforesaid pleaded for or belonged unto would not so much as touch the said party with a pair of Tongs W. L. knoweth who I mean but to serve their ends and interest by them But again if her Husband now so dear the worst that I wish them that it may continue for if true as her own Child have told and affirmed she was not so dear to him if she was the more unworthy Man he But to return by all what I have said the Reader may see what Tools and Instruments they are forc'd to make use of to sign Certificates when put to it and thus at a Streight c. And no doubt but there was several more of the like sort amongst her Husbands nameless One and Twenty he signs in the behalf of as in p. 14. of his A Reviler c. But more of this and such their Paper and Certificate signing when I come to that of Charlon given on the behalf of O.S. and signed by Relations only I could say much more of W. S. and his Wife and the Disorderliness of his Family as observed and taken notice of by his Neighbours and a great deal too but I think it not worth my while to spend time and foul my Fingers and Paper about it And one thing more about their Certificate signing as in p. 9. and the 14. of his A Reviler c. in the case of W. L. which intended to have spoke to afore how it may be also observ'd what a Work and a Bussel they made with what fencing and defence they beforehand prepared in order to the managing of the matter and carrying on their Clandestine and under-hand designs in order to bespeak his Innocency whom both Truth and Justice doth condemn for had it not been time and time enough for him and them if they had been void of beguiling Crafts to have given in their temporizing Testimony or sign'd Certificates on W. L's behalf when they saw that in Justice and according to Truth he deserv'd it 8. His Eighth Article saith he as in p. 31. against W. L. and J. B. is there setting up an open Standard of Opposition and Division in our publick Meetings by their sitting and keeping on their Hatts in time of Prayer and the which saith he in p. 19. of the Cry he calls an evil and irreverant Practice but doth herein condemn himself and strike at them through his own Sides for as Evil and Irreverant as he thinks it it was his own Practice formerly towards those Separates with whom he now joyns and therefore he should have published his own Recantation for that before he had fallen so foully upon others and they do not use to sit saith he or keep their Hats on when any is in Prayer whom they have Vnity with c. Answ Though shall undertake and prove and that in particular in the following that they did it to one and he none of the meanest that was out of unity with them notwithstanding their such feigned and pretended sence and discerning and that in the case when one John Anslow was here whom they numbred among the Seperates and a Ringleader too but it 's to be noted that it was before that they knew his Name so likewise to be observed that their discerning is more by Name than any sence of them otherways But of this more hereafter But to the first that it is an open and publick Standard of opposition is not denyed by him but what the occasion or for what that opposition no other Reason is assigned by the tendency of his Argument than as only being one out of Unity and I pray you for what so out of Unity except for testifying against that in him and them which is not only out of Unity with the Spirit of Truth but all honest and sincere Christians viz. their Pride Lording Over-ruling c. And that it is an irreverant Practice in all cases I mean as with respect to our publick and Christian Assemblies is apparent and he hath not offered any thing to the contrary and more especially in this case of mine being only for the Reason aforesaid for if they have any other ought or charge against me than only for testifying against the aforesaid gross and notorious Evils why do they not bring them forth
Tongues And is this any other than by the outward appearance or fruits The other Acts 5. and vers 3. is in the case of Ananias and Saphira his Wife which proves no more than the other unless he had also proved that the way whereby the Apostles knew that they had so kept back part of their Possessions was by the Spirit of discerning and not by outward Information The other Acts 8.21 far less than either of them it is in the case of Simon 's offering the Apostles Money in order to his purchasing the Gift of the Holy Ghost which was such evil Fruits and manifestly so even to the outward appearance which occasioned the Apostle in vers 23. to say I perceive Note Perceive thou art in the Gall of Bitterness and Bond of Iniquity c. The last is out of 1 Cor. 12.10 where the Apostle treating of those extraordinary gifts of the Spirit that they and they only were endowed withal that were the first publishers of the Gospel saith viz. To one is given the gift of working Miracles to another Prophecy to another discerning of Spirits to another divers kinds of Tongues now I do confess that if J. B. or O. S. can prove or demonstrate that either of those gifts viz either of working of Miracles speaking with divers Tongues or several Languages or the interpretation of Tongues or the gift of healing be proper or hath been practised by us or any in our days I shall and will readily both conclude and grant that he hath proved the thing designed viz. that God hath given a further or more secret way of discerning then by the outward appearance or Fruits And now having shewed the Reader both the impertinency of the Scriptures cited by O. S. and his Inference from them I intend in the next place to shew and prove and that in too plain and particular Cases and Instances whereby it is apparent that J. B. hath no such Spirit of discerning of the inside of the Heart or inward parts either and then shall indeavour to prove from plain and evident Scriptures that such a way and manner of discerning as he the said J. B. hath thus proudly taken and assumed to himself is only and alone proper due and peculiar unto God And therefore one of his Attributes And that the said J.B. by his so taking or assuming the same unto himself hath thereby committed no less than plain and apparent Blasphemy though before I was so modest as only to say which I look upon or conceived it to be such The first of which take as followeth some time ago and before the Old Meeting-house Doors were shut up there came a Friend thither to visit us whose Name was John Anslow as hinted before the which without any scruple the least doubt or mistrust concerning him that I could in the least perceive was received owned and allowed of also both by J. B. and the rest of them and if any it was but because they could not at first tell who he was and aforesaid accounted not only for a good Friend but one in Unity too in the Morning Meeting and his Testimony likewise approved of as both fresh and living both Hats off and standing up too at his Prayers But yet in the Afternoon when they had learned his Name then both their Seats and Hats on again as to all others when they know them to be such they accounteth for wrong or bad Spirits c. Then I pray where was now the Heart and Inward discerning Part of W.L. J.B. or any the rest of them a foolish idle ridiculous Imagination and Fable and yet O. S. you see and the Seven have near as much pretended to it in such their serious Waitings in the Light of Christ our Lord c. The other is in the ease I mentioned before concerning the Pride and Imperiousness of W. L. when the Friends for the County sent down by their Letter to the Friends here to Vote for such Men for our Burgesses in Parliament that we thought might be the most likely to do good in their places and the which said Letter being directed and sent to me I first told and imparted the matter to J. B. on the Night before and who seemed to be well pleas'd and approv'd of the same but in the Morning the next day after he had spoken and conferr'd with W. L. about it he was quite another Man and his Mind and discerning chang'd and became as much turn'd against it as W. L. could be and by the way let the Reader also observe what a Sence of Sight and discerning these Men do pretend unto insomuch that they can both see and discern more clearer and beyond the aforesaid though the most Ancient and Grave amongst Friends that shall undertake either to council or advise them And having thus plainly shewn you that J. B. is so far from the discerning of the Hearts and inward parts of others that he neither knows can nor is able to discern his own I shall in the next place cite those Scriptures that prove the aforesaid way of discerning viz. of the Heart and inward parts as only and alone proper and peculiar unto God and then I shall leave the Reader to judge whether J. B. hath not spoken both plain and apparent Blasphemy by assuming the aforesaid to himself though so light or trivial as O. S. accounts them that is truly and alone the peculiar attributes proper and due alone unto the immortal God himself as also shall appeal whether the matter be so light he floutingly counts I have made such a noise about The first from Jeremy 17. v. 10. I the Lord search the Heart I try the Reins note as an Appellation alone proper and due unto himself Psal 7. v. 9. Oh! let wickedness of the Wicked come to an end and so saith my Soul with his but establish the just for thou the righteous God tryest the Heart and Reins Prov. 17. v. 3. the fining pot is for Silver and the Furnace for Gold but the Lord tryeth the Heart from whence it may be observed that although by the cunning and curious Arts of Men both the Silver and the Gold may be tryed and the Dross separated from them yet that they by all their Art though never so secret or hidden can neither try nor discern the Heart of Man but Lord and he alone Acts 1. v. 24. and they prayed and said Thou Lord that knowest the Hearts of all Men shew whether of these Two thou hast chosen c. Observe thee which they need not to have been so earnest or so much concerned in the matter if they had been as sharp and as ready at Heart and inward parts discerning as J. B. pretended to Romans 8. v. 27. and he that searcheth the Heart knoweth what is the Mind of the Spirit viz. Christ because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God I could add more Proofs to the
truth of my Assertion but I do think what have cited are enough and sufficient let him account of them as in p. 32. for such wicked proud and presumptuous Words or what he will the matters deep he had need be aware And as to that other scoffing flout of his in p. 33. of his A Reviler c. cited out of p. 26. of the Cry viz. by insinuating that there appears so little Wit in me as to say that there seems but little substance in them viz. my Charges against W.L. and J. B. in the which I shall leave the truly conscious and impartial to judge when they have well consider'd of it as stated in the foresaid and besides he hath not dealt fairly nor Christianly by me by his so citing only a piece or part of my Words and letting alone and leaving out of the rest as if he did it on purpose to ridicule me by making them Nonsence and Confusion that so he may with the fairer gloss deceive and beguile his Readers and load me with such his frequent Scoffs and Jears by his so importing as if my Capacity of the smallest Size one of as little Wit as in p. 33. such a silly one c. as also in p. 37. of his A Reviler where reciting what I had mention'd in the case of Dorothy Hall relating to the incurable wound c. where he takes occasion to joak thus upon it viz. that the incurable wound that they speak of in their Heads and that it hath distemper'd both their Brains But as informed concerning the aforesaid D. K. and that by her own Sister that was with her in the time of her Weakness and untill her departure out of this World that from her Head it went lower and fixed nothing short of her Heart and that it proved no less then the occasion of her Death and that which she expressed to those that were about her but a little time before her Decease and it were better if O. S. were so truly serious as to turn his Flours into Tears for it prov'd not a jesting matter unto her But to return to what I said with respect to the littleness of the substance that was in their Charges it was but in the way of returning their own back upon themselves my words as truly cited being these as apparent in p. 26. of the Cry viz. whereas they say there appeareth but little of substance in them my Answer to it is and if so then the less to be blam'd but you have laid neither little nor any at all upon them And then in the next Paragraph in the same Page I come saith he to that part of his Book which is levelled more directly and particularly at me as in page 33 where he says seeing that O. S. one of the aforesaid unjust Judges hath taken a fresh occasion thus to run out against me through some Offence he hath taken at my late Book of Queries it hath come into my thoughts to further discover and manifest him and that in his Plain and naked Shape c. Answer As to my further discovering him as I promis'd I think I have done it and that sufficiently too but if in any thing I have been too short I intend to do it more fully before I have done with him and as to the Scripture cited out of p. 44. of the Cry viz. report and we will report it relates to false reports only and not to honest Friends as he would falsly insinuate but to himself and the rest and not to such as mine of him c. that were and are true ones and therefore as the Proverb is Truth may be blam'd but not sham'd so the Shame will and must unavoidably return upon himself which he seeks to affix on A. B. and as to his further frivilous and needless story about my former Friendship and Unity with him c. The which in the best and strictest Sence was but my mistake of him for as I told the Reader before that I was always doubtful that he was treacherous as since I found him and that in a double Sence as clear and apparently manifest by the foregoing matter and more to follow in its Course And further as to what I said relating to his Malice and Bitterness and of its being inherent to his Nature I need not I think say any more to it seeing as cited his Actions are Evidence and Proof sufficient to it and in the case and I think I have manifested him to be as charged though he seems so offended at it and that not only from his Mouth and Pen but the relation and account of others and as before wherein too short shall mend it in the following And then proceeding saith the occasion he here takes for his particular cavills at me is for my returning him a former Book of his he had sent me and which I had written something upon it was a Book of Queries and one part of the Title of it was Plain and Honest Dealing When I had read the Book saith he I found it to be so far from plain and honest that I struck out those two words and in their place wrought two others more agreeable to the matter and substance of the Book viz. False and Treacherous I writ also something on the Book and something on a Paper fixed to it c. And having so done sent the Book back to him again in all which I conceive I did him no wrong and it was at my choice either to keep or give it away Answer Pray observe what an ingenuous way he hath at Art and Tooling it for to make a bad cause seem better although in the best Sence both Treacherous and Fraudulent and that in the greatest and highest Degree especially as being in a case relating to Religion and Conscience and which if I were for the scaring with the threats of bodily punishment or Pillory I scarce know a thing that deserveth it more but again And it being at his choice as he says to do with it what he would you may see what he hath and that is as by his own Confession to blot out plain and honest dealing such an Eye sore and offence unto him that he neither loves nor cares to see in another nor to practice in himself And then goeth on and when I had read it and found it to be so saith he I struck out plain and and honest dealing c. Answer But if he had so found it why not also so fair as to shew it unto others before he had done it that they might also have known and seen his findings and whither so or no but to keep it so to himself and what more or other then as in his to me viz. Generals such generals that serve slanderers best to lurk under but it is to be noted that it was too nice and too critical a point for him to venture upon or any of the rest of them or
had I been there I should not have been permitted to have either heard or seen what was done or who blamed But if O. S. be no better at Accounts then in this it s a question whether instead of three c. it was heard so much as once or indeed by any at all For how to use his own Phrase this his confused nonsensical Noise and heap of words can in any Sence be true or hold together for my part I cannot tell where he says viz. that before I had published chose false Charges c. I knew they had been heard three times and then proceeding to the proof of it saith he first at a Monthly meeting and afterwards at a Quarterly meeting Answer and what doth a Monthly and a Quarterly-meeting make three yet observe any thing will serve with one that neither cares nor fears what he saith and therefore shall return upon himself in his own style as in pag. 4. of his Reviler viz. and wherein he stumbles falls and foils himself most shamefully as also in the foregoing where he also falls into three untruths and apparent errors all at once but if it should be alledged that he meant a hearing three times a piece at each meeting viz. Monthly and Quarterly which instead of mending would marr it the more and instead of his pretended three would make it apparent six though in pag. 38. he makes his three but two again And in the next as if I had incourag'd Hall in his clamours against him his proof for it cited out of pag. 36. of the Cry And because I there said that I had received near a dozen Letters from Hall c. but he doth not tell saith he how many I had sent unto them To the first if I had incourag'd Hall in his clamours how came it to pass that I moved for a hearing as own'd and acknowledg'd and to what end but to understand whether clamours or truths And as to the other about the said Letters to the best of my Memory I rather advised him to forbear them for that I thought I knew as much of O. S. as he could tell me and the which may likewise serve in answer to his Comparison of the foul humours in the Body gathering together since I took the best method according to Truth in order to disperse them And which also may shew O. S's mistake in supposing I had occasion to fish out of them as he chargeth in pag. 36. of his Reviler And in pag. 33. he seems to have done having given an Answer as would have it thought to all those Charges and Alligations of mine in particular against or relating unto W. L. J. B. c. though I have skipt over several both weighty and material ones but more of that hereafter Proceedings I now come saith he to that part of his Book which is level'd more directly and particularly at me beginning at pag. 33. of the Cry where he saith seeing that O. S. one of the seven unjust Judges hath taken a fresh occasion thus to run out against me through some offence he hath taken at my late Book of Queries it hath come into my thoughts further to discover and manifest him and that in his plain and naked shape not only from the evidence and proof from his own Mouth and Pen but also from the Allegation reports and accounts of others concerning him and in pag. 35. doth hint again at the cause or occasion thereof and that was for my altering with my Pen saith he the Title of his former Book from plain and honest Dealing to false and treacherous c. Answ To the first of manifesting him in his plain and naked Shape as I thought so to have done and have been as good as my Word and also do believe that nakeder was he never strip'd nor his nakedness made appear for why should his Sheeps Cloathing be a means to deceive or beguile the simple And as to the other part of proving him to be as charg'd and that from the Evidence of his Mouth and Pen. I think there 's no occasion to add further proof to the manifesting the Truth of it then what is spoken written contain'd and publish'd of him in this and my other two Books The first forecited by him viz. Hidden things reveal'd and brought to Light or plain and honest Dealing with W. L. and J. B. the other The Cry of the Oppressed in Sion and if I have been too remiss or short therein I intend to mend it in the next And as to the other part of it taken from the Allegations Reports and Accounts of others I have given him both my Authors and Evidence and neither of which hath he refuted that I observ'd or proved for a falshood or lye And as I told him before in an other case of the Scripture he Cites out of mine of the Cry viz. Report and we will report It chiefly relates to such and the like groundless Lyes and Falshoods too much in use with him and other of his Associates And a Word further that if it should be thought that I have not been so large as is Judg'd or thought proper and needful concerning the said Alligation s of N.H. c. I do give the Reader thus further to understand that N. H. doth follow the said O. S. and that from Meeting to Meeting up and down those parts of the County in order to make good his said Charge and to prove it to his Face and besides I do understand by a Letter I have seen of his dated no longer ago than the 12th of the 7th Month 1697. that he hath new and fresh Matters to alledge in charge against him and another also of a latter date and some of them for his wilfull and downright Lyes he hath put in Print meaning in his A Reviler c. and therefore what ever he hath further to say of or concerning the aforesaid unless it be in those Matters or Things that more immediately relate unto my self I think neither to Answer or take any further notice of them But to refer both the Reader and himself for their proof and truth that as said attends it and would be glad of the opportunity to do it And again saith he in pag. 37. speaking of me He beginneth his inquiry in a high and lofty Stile viz. First I shall demand of him to Answer for himself in the case of D. and N. H. in the Vale of White Horse c. and how well this becometh him saith he meaning by my being so bold c. Answ And had I not cause to begin my inquiery as I did in the case and cases alledged I having as said received near a dozen Letter from the aforesaid as in pag. 37. of the Cry and all of them cheifly and principally relating to O. S. Falsness Unjustice and Treacherous Dealing towards the aforesaid as he cited for Oppression with crys for Justice is the Tenor of the whole
Eternity Men and Angels in the Face yet after all notwithstanding to be thus appeal'd and so struck into and under such a Dreadful fear and manifest Consternation at the very appearance and coming forth of my said Book into Print a peice that so openly discovereth and maketh manifest his own and the rest of his Faction and Associates Treachery Oppression Unjustice c. that rather then he will stand the Judgment so much as of a Man Men or the appearance of the Day he as manifest thinks it now more safe and far better for him to lay by such his scaring Threats of the punishing of Body and Ireful Judgments both on the right Hand and on the left poured forth and pronounced against me as contain'd in a Letter which he sent me but a little before and to Anvil out another way and to his Craft again if he can but as no doubt he will out-face Shame and what else relates to either Men or Conscience c. having reflected so much on A. B. though Innocent as by his own Inconsistency for how can A. B. or any other though their câ—pacity be of the smallest Size c. be Crafty Silly both and yet for all that to so now câ—me down stoop and appear so humble and so low as to thus desire and intreat and it shall be accepted be satisfaction and so for the Controversie to be ended And therefore Friendly and Christian Reader upon the whole matter and circumstances of it may I not break out in this astonishment open my Mouth and say O blush oh Heavens and be astonish'd oh Earth at these things And this further so that by all what hath been said written and apparently and plainly proved upon them viz. O. S. and the rest the true and conscious Reader may plainly see and discern as before how contrary both to themselves as well as unto the Truth I mean the real Truth of God these Men have acted in the premised by being thus false to God false to Men false to their own Consciences and false to what they have Signed and given under their own Hands and which stands will remain and will be in Witness against them until they acknowledge by Repentance for indeed how can that be according to God or consistent with his Will that is so vastly wide and altogether inconsistent with its self as in p. 14. and last Query of my Book of Queries And therefore saith my Soul Oh that the Lord for his Name for his Truth and for his Mercies sake would be pleased to both root out and to drive and chast away out of his Church and Camp all such evil and deceitful Work and Works and all such double-tongu'd and false-hearted ones and to cause it to exterminate and its Remembrance to End and cease amongst Men and especially all the Professors of his Holy Name and Truth And therefore his viz. this O. S's bad treacherous evil and deceitful Ways and Circumstances considered may I not further add and thus infer concerning him Oh Treacherous Heart Oh hard'ned Mind That can such Crafty Ways invent Without remorse or Wound of Soul Or any Token of Relent Where shall I seek Where can I find At all the like of thee Amongst all pretenders to the Faith And for the Vnitie For thou art him thou art known by Name The Hinge and Man of Strife That secretly doth persecute Oppress and wound the Life And as to those general Charges as with respect to the Wickedness on the Persons fore-mentioned that I intended no further or otherways to any O. S. and B. A. excepted than in respect only to those particular Charges alledged and not in the least as to the general or series of their Lives And now a few Lines more in Answer to his needless and unprofitable Postscript which chiefly relates to my placing as he saith some unnecessary or impertinent et setera's or more than happily convenient or proper the which I shall not so much dispute or stand the Test of the Controversie with him the whole aim end and bent of my Spirit being more for and with respect to Truth Justice Substance c. then to either Puctilio's or the Rules or Use of Grammatical Methods having neither pretended to either Skill or Scholarship in those and such things and wherein I have missed or been short in them or any I think that he silly and a witless'd me enough about them But in this I have rather rejoyced and have cause still to rejoyce and to both bless to magnifie and praise the Name of the Lord my God my Rock and my Stay in that he hath so far taught and learned me in the School of Christ his dear Son Truth Righteousness and in the Book of an innocent and a good Conscience so as that I could not nor cannot in the least abet close with cover or connive at any such wicked false deceitful and evil doings that is so too frequently and often found both in him and them he personates and undertakes for but as to the case of the Widow Bunce and her Son which he ciâ—â—s as his first Example I think necessary to annex these two or three Lines further And first as with respect to the Offence that the said John Bunce had taken it is to be noted that it was taken upon or through the occasion of O. S. and the rest refusing or denying his Mother a just and fair Hearing by her Neighbours that best understood the Nature and Circumstances of the case and which only related unto outward Concerns wherein she apprended as in the aforesaid That she had the due right of Claim c. and not that they had any thing otherways or further against him and therefore the case with the Circumstances depending rightly and duly considered whether it may not give both cause and room to conclude or at least to think that he went to the aforesaid viz. the Priest for something else than only for a Wife for that it appears not at all unreasonable but to both suppose and think that he might go to him for to learn Religion also yea and something else besides that too he seeing and finding such unfair and unjust dealings in the aforesaid towards his Mother that pretended to that degree of Sense Light and Spiritual Discerning above and beyond all others so that if no more impertinency in my overplentious c. then appears in this he places as the first of his Examples he might have staid out his time in the Country where he was if a doing of any good there then to a so hasted to a thus only showed his own Skill and Scholarship and if such a Fault in A. B. by a few overplus or impertinent c. though not so many as appears that he accounts of neither was it not an impertinency not short of it in O. S. for to send unto me such a Book viz. his A Reviler c. to one I say that he looked upon and accounted as his Enemy that had so many both false and confused Misplacings both troublesome to read and much more to Answer they being as followeth viz. after pag. 30. followeth p. 33. after p. 34. followeth 31. after p. 32. followeth p. 37. after p. 38. followeth p. 35. after p. 36. followeth p. 39. But these not altogether so material neither either on the one hand or on the other as his so hipping and skipping as I may say over Mountains and Hills and thus stumbling or rather quarrelling at meer Turfs or Mould-Hills my meaning being by his so skipping evading and giving the Go by to those more material and substantial parts of my aforesaid without either Notice taken or any answer or return at all as at large have mention'd and hinted in the foregoing But to God I shall leave both he and them that will reckon with them all for such their merciless Heard-heartedness Unchristian outrage against their Brethren and my self in particular and that for no other cause that I know of than standing up and being for the Holy Truth of God and witnessing against such their unholy open and apparent Works and Deeds of Darkness account or call them as you will or please And thus having somewhat eased my grieved Heart and wounded Spirit because of these things and enlarg'd therein beyond Intentions I do leave and commend them to the righteous Judge and true witness of God in every Conscience and remain a true Lover of all the honest and sincere in Heart Abraham Bonnifield Let this neither go nor be communicated to or amongst any but Professed or Reputed Friends THE END The ERRATA PAge the first of the Boâ—â— line 35. after the word Pounds add and. pag 4. line 14. after forth add c. line 21. for confesseth read counteth pag. 19. line 20. for account read accord line 31. after wiser add and. and instead of from the Remarks and Circumstances read from the Circumstances and Remarks pag. 22. line 14. for the read his a. pag. 26. line 11 for this read thus pag. 28. line 6. after approved add of pag. 38 line 39 for yet read that pag. 40. line 26. after Words add it pag. 41. line 14. after Bone add more pag. 42. line 31. after it add and me pag. 44. line 10. to add as pag. 53. line 17. after and add in and for Infirmly read Affinity and after Affinity add with pag. 58. line 30 for to read for line 35. after been add both pag. 59. line 14. for and read buy pag. 60. line 17. for so read too pag. 64. line 1. for those read these pag. 65. line 28. after and add the. pag. 67. line 21. after of add 〈◊〉 pag. 72. line 33. after and add I. pag. 75. line 5. before Proceeding add and. pag. 76. line 22. after for add of pag. 80. line 2â— after them add as line 32. before Meeting add a. pag. 87. line 1â— after farther add the. pag. 92. line 36. after A. B. add c. pag. 93. line 10. after then add as line 20. for yet read that pag. â—4 line 38. for the read an pag. 96. line 3. between he and silly add a.