and Soul, that Purity of Life and Conversation, which the Christian Religion most exprefly recommends, and by which it is best recommended, had been more becoming a Man, that calls himself a Minifter of the Gofpel, than to revive old Controverfies, tending to whet Men's Minds one against another, and to excite a Fierce Zeal for Rites and Geremonies of Human Invention; which, where it most prevails, is observ'd to prey on the Vitals of Religion, to destroy Love, the Characteristick of Chriftianity, and to be one of the worst Neighbours to Truth and Virtue.

THIS Observation is verified by the prefent State of fome Countries, where the leaft Appearance of Truth is too often immediately crusht by Power in the Hands of those whose Interest 'tis to suppress it: And, even in this Nation, within the Memory of many yet living, Truth could not appear unlicenc'd without Danger.

4

BUT

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 just Freedom: The Effect of which has been such an Improvement of Christian 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 self in a loving and familiar, rather than a polemick or controverfial Manner; but when mistaken Men do publickly oppose her, a just Defence is necessary, to shew them their Error, and prevent the spreading it.

THIS, we think, a sufficient Reason for publishing the following Answer, to an Adversary who professes to write with Temper, without any Railing and Reviling, or bitter virulent Expressions, and personal Reflections; a Rule, 'tis hop'd, we have closely kept to,

and

:

and which we wish himself had not transgress'd.

As his Work is principally a Revival of old Charges, we apprehend no Defence more rational, than such as is taken from the Writings of those he has accus'd; their own Words being the best 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 Usage, than he has thought fit to give them.

We freely submit what we have written to the Confideration of every impartial Reader, who will form his own Judgment, without Respect of Persons, by the Merits of the Caufe.

The

The Vicar having prefixed to his Book the
Names of the Quaker Authors, by bim cited,
we have thought proper also to enter the fame,
and refer our Readers to the Pages of this An-
fwer, where they may fee that he has either
miscited, or perverted, every one of them, and
Some of 'em often.

ERRAТА.

PAGE 13. line 6. for 11. 5. read 2. 1. p. 23. 1. 17. for 23. read 13. p. 39. 1. 19. for Cor. read 1 Cor. p. 140. 1. 5. for were read where. p. 147. 1. 26. for out read our. p. 181. 1. 27. for part read past. p. 185.1.13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18. dele the Comma's. p. 186. 1. 23. for 1 Fobnread John. p. 188. in the Margin, for lanecâ read lancea. p. 206.1.13. for then read when. p. 221. 1. 17. dele not. p. 224, 1. 27. for be read are to be. p. 228. 1. 32. for Hamon read Haman. p. 250. 1. 15. for Hour read Hours. p. 260. 1. 3. for Merits read Mercies. ibid. 1. 25. for the Period put a Semicolon. p. 282. 1. 17. for Occafion read Omiffion. p. 286. 1. 7. for 15. read xvi. 15. p. 290.1. 16. for xx. read 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. 1. 11. dele the Comma after testify. p. 372. 1. 14. for away read a Way.

Such other Typographical Errors as may occur, the Reader is defired to correct with his Pen,