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of which further mention will be made. In the year 1675 he published at Rotterdam a piece in Latin against Nicolas Arnold, professor in the university of Franequer, in Friesland, one of the United Provinces, who had controverted his Theses. This piece is entitled, ** Christianæ quædam animadversiones in Nicolaï Arnoldi (qui S. S. theologiæ Doctor et Proffes. se prædicat) exercitationem theologicam de Quakerismo, ejusque brevis refutatio.** It is addressed as follows, Omnibus totius Belgii, et presertim Academiæ Franequærane, doctoribus, professoribus, et studiosis, ROBERTUS BARCLAIUS Divini Spiritûs illuminationem uberiorem ad intelligentiam veritatis, animumque ad eam amplectandam proclivem exoptat. †

Some Christian remarks on the Theological Exercitation on 'Quakerism of Nicolas Arnold, (who styles himself doctor and professor of divinity) and a short refutation of it.

+ To all the doctors, professors, and students, in the Netherlands, more especially to those of the university of Franequer, Robert Barclay wisheth a fuller illumination of the Divine Spirit, for the understanding of the Truth, and a mind disposed to embrace it.

The same year he gave to the public, A true and faithful account of the most material 'passages of a dispute betwixt some students

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of divinity (so called) of the university of Aberdeen, and the people called Quakers.' The issue of this dispute has been already mentioned (p. 28). The disputing students had also published an account of it, in a piece entitled Quakerism canvassed;' which occasioned a reply from BARCLAY and his friends, under the title of Quakerism confirmed' in two parts, both dated 1676. To the latter are subjoined three certificates, from four persons present at the dispute, who, it also appears, were the same that were convinced by means of the impressions then made on their minds. The character, therefore, of these latter publications of BARCLAY may be learned from the students' certificates: which are as follows.

• We the underscribers, late students of phi losophy in the university of Aberdeen, being

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present at the dispute, do faithfully declare, that the students have grossly belied the Quakers in their account, making them to 'speak that which they spake not; and also forging arguments and answers not mentioned

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upon the place. And though we had no in⚫tention at that time to own the people called Quakers, yet we dare not but declare that

their answer and behaviour had no small in'fluence upon us, to make us in love with their

way, and to search after it more diligently: < as also the students' arguments and lightness ⚫ did not a little tend to make us disgust them and their principles. And albeit that inward

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peace and satisfaction of mind, which we enjoy in the truth we now profess with that despised and injured people, doth make us bless the day in which it pleased God to bring us among them; yet we are not a little confirmed in the belief of this reproached testimony and witnesses, that we find the strongest arguments their adversaries have

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against them are lies and calumnies. And this we testify for the Truth, whom the Truth hath taught not to lie.

ROBERT SANDILANDS.

'JAMES ALEXANDER.'

And I also declare, who (being a student at that time in the Old Town College) was

present at the dispute, and heard the same ' with attention, that the students have grossly belied the Quakers in many things in their And although that since it hath

❝ account.

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pleased God to join me unto that people, yet

at that time I had no mind to be of their

way. However when I saw their account I did approve it as ingenuous, as now I also do, and disapprove the students as false in many things.

ALEXANDER SEATON,"

* And I likewise (being a student in the New Town College) at that time was pre

sent at the dispute, and do declare that the 'students' folly and lightness had no small • influence upon me to search more narrowly ' into the way of that people; which it pleased 'the Lord to bless unto me, so that the eyes of my understanding came to be opened, and I came fully to be convinced of the truth of their principles and way; to which now by ⚫ the mercy of the Lord I am joined; and do

find by comparing the two accounts together, 'that the students have wronged the people called Quakers in divers things, as the

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students' self contradictions do sufficiently • show.

'ALEXANDER PATERSON.'

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This appears to have been a busy time with ROBERT BARCLAY; for in the same year were published his Anarchy of the Ranters,' and his Apology.' The latter was as yet only submitted to the learned world, being printed in Latin at Amsterdam. Let us therefore

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