YOU desire, All your Dissen­ting Brethren to Consider, and then Answer.

[...] have Consider'd, but I cannot tell [...]ther you suppose all Dissenters are [...] Brethren, or that all are your [...]hren who dissent from you. If first, It seems probable to me, you have been either Educated in [...]ange Soyl, or have forgotten [...] Brothers Dialect; so that I can­ [...] discern, that you are any other­ [...] a Baptist then only in Masquerade, therefore am shy of owning the [...]tion: But if all that dissent [...] you, must therefore be reckon'd [...] Brethren, then I am in that [...]ber, and because I think Mr Penn not have so much leisure as my at present to attend upon your [...]es, I intend to be in the first Rank your Respondents.

I consider also that though you have proposed but Three Considerations, yet you have bolted out a Mulitude of Questions, which administer an occasion for as many more to be re­torted.

To your first Question, Then; What Validity or Security can any preten­ded or designed future New Law or Char­ter have, when we see so many of the present Laws we already have, may be, and are by the Dispensing Power Dispensed with?

So many of the present Laws— The Grievance then with you may lie rather in the Number, than in the Dispensing Power. His Majesty might with your leave perhaps have dispen­sed with some Persons, and some Pe­nalties too, but not with so many al­together.

One would think by that you would not have Quarrel'd at the [Page 4]Dispensing Fower, tho the Act for levying Twelve Pence a Week had ne­ver been Prosecuted, so as the Twen­ty Pound a Month had been Levied, nor if the Conventicle Act had been Dispensed with, so as the Thirty fifth of Queen Elizabeth had been rigo­rously Executed.

I cannot tell how many, but all the Laws that are Dispensed with, are Penal Laws of a like nature for mat­ters Ecclesiastical: Uniformity, Sa­craments, Oaths and Tests are the Subject of them all. If this be your Grief, you must be either a Conform­ing Baptist, or such a strange sort of a Baptist, as in my Forty Years Con­versation among them I have never met with.

But to come more close to your Question, What Validity can a New Law have, seeing so many of these we have alrea­dy are Dispensed with?

I Answer with a like Interrogation, I grant that the King may do what his Royal Pleasure is with his own, Does it thereupon follow, that He may do so likewise with what is mine? If I acckowledge and thankfully ac­cept His Dispensing with a Penalty, to which I am Obnoxious, because I take a Liberty in matters of meer Re­ligion, which I am not allowed by Statute Laws, Is it of necessry conse­quence that I therein acknowledge He may also impose a Fine upon me for lawfully using a Liberty when gran­ted to me by Law?

Its hoped the designed New Charter for Repeal of such Penal Laws as are inconsistant with the Doctrines of Christianity, will according to His Majesties Declaration, both maintain the National Religion, as it is now [...] stablished by Law, and provides [...] such a Christian Liberty as may s [...] Ease and Secure the Consciences, P [...] sons and Properties of all that [...] Live Soberly, Righteously and God in this present Age, whether they [...] Conformists or Non-conformists [...] the National Religion. And a G [...] remains valid, tho a Penalty may [...] dispensed with.

But what if the New Law [...] have no more Validity or Sec [...] then these Old Ones that are D [...] sed with? The Dissenters will [...] be in so much a better Case by a New Law, as that they will then be Se [...] by Law, whereas till that be done, [...] are always subject to be Ruin'd [...] colour of Law. But why are you Querulous at the Dispensing Po [...] in this particular case wherein it Exercised? The King declares his Opinion, That Conscience ought not [...] constrained, nor People forced in m [...] of meer Religion. This Principle the ground of his Dispensation. H [...] you not lately observed, T [...]t d [...] Gentlemen, who being in Comm [...] would not Execute these [...]r [...] L [...] and were therefore for a s [...]as [...] [...] aside, are now returned again [...] their former Stations, with R [...] on, and the Love of their [...] bours? Have you not Re [...] the Ap [...] logy for the Church of England [...] relation to the Spirit of Pers [...] for which she is accused? How [...] former Errors are ext [...]ed by [...] stances, pag. 4. That [...]ho t [...] [...] Parliament) of the Church of [...] did not perform what [...] mised by some Leading M [...] [Page 5] [...]ters (in procuring them a Bill of yet there was little or nothing against them for about Nine [...]; but they had their Meetings al­ [...] as publickly & as regularly as the [...]h of England had their Churches. [...]ou not remember a Vote of the [...] of Commons in 1680. whereby it Resolved, That the Prosecution of [...]stant Dissenters upon the Penal [...] was at that time Grievous to the [...]ct.

[...]all the Justices that did not Exe­ [...] these Laws gain Esteem by it? the Church of England excuse her from the charge of Severity by not Executing these Laws for [...] Years together? Shall the Com­ [...] in Parliament Vote the Execution [...]em a Grievance? And may not King extend his Compassion to­ [...]ds his Dissenting Subjects, and say shall not be Executed? To make a signal Act of Grace the ground groundless Jealousie, and cause Contention, to say no worse of it) [...]ghly Disingenuous, and discovers [...]ry froward and perverse Dispo­ [...]n: But let us consider your next [...] of Questions.

Have we, or can we have any higher [...]er here in England then King, [...]ds and Commons in Parliament As­ [...]led? The Laws that are now Dispen­ [...] with, and rendred useless, were they made by that Power? Can your New [...]rter be made by any higher or other [...]er? Do you think there is any Tempo­ [...] Spiritual Power here in England a­ [...] the Dispensing Power? And can you [...] it appear to us? To these Questi­ [...] you desire Mr Penn would let his Brethren and you know his Mind honestly.

In his stead I Answer, We have no Law Makers, but King, Lords and Commons in Parliament Assembled, but yet we are in England, as well as in o­ther parts of the World, under a Law to God, and thereby each Man is obli­ged to preserve within his own Breast the Answer of a good Conscience, from which no Law of King, Lords and Commons can absolve him; and hence it is that we have many Fundamental Maximes of Law grounded upon the Law of God, and common Reason of Man­kind, as well respecting the Soveraigns Prerogative, as the Right of the Subject, not written in Acts of Parliament, but in their Nature so invariable, That (as our Lawyers tell us) Acts of Par­liament made against them are void in themselves. And if this Opinion be true, these Fundamental Maximes of Law, whether in Spirituals or Tem­porals, tho they may be for a season by a particular Act of Parliament in­terrupted, they are not thereby vaca­ted, but still retained, and will at one time or other again discover their Vi­gor. Acts not contradictory to these Fundamental Laws may be useful for a season, but not having that innate Stabi­lity as Fundamental Maximes have, may afterwards become useless, impro­per and grievous to be put in Executi­on; hence those common distinctions between Malum in se, & malum prohi­bitum. And subsequent thereto, in many cases a power or no power of Dispensing, That which is unlawful in it self to be done, as Murther, Th [...]ft, Trespass, and the like, cannot be made [Page 4] [...] [Page 5] [...] [Page 6]lawful by any Law or Dispensation whatsoever. That which is lawful in it self, but becomes unlawful, because prohibited by a particular Statute, may be Dispensed with, so as no particular Person be Damnified by that Dispen­sation, and not otherwise. Among the many Vicissitudes of Succession to the Crown, between the two Houses of York and Lancaster, Do you think there were no Laws in being, made in the Raign of a King of one of these Branches (in Fact) dispens'd with by his Successor of the other Branch, till they came to be Repealed in Parlia­ment? Were the Oathes of Fidelity and Obedience made to the Line Inter­rupted, required to be taken by all Judges, Justices, Sheriffs, and other Officers Commissionated by the other Line which succeeded, until they were Repealed in Parliament? In the va­rious changes of the National Religion, between the Reigns of King Henry the the Eighth and Queen Elizabeth, were all Penalties imposed by Laws respect­ing Religion, exacted without any Relax or Suspension, till those Laws were Abrogated in Parliament. In the first Year of King Henry the Fourth a whole Parliament held in the Twen­ty first of Richard the Second was Re­pealed: In one of which Laws then made, divers Pains of Treason were ordained, whereby, as the Act of Repeal says, No Man did know how he ought to behave himself to Do, Speak or Say for doubt of such Pain; and if that Law had been Religiously observed till the moment of its Repeal It could never have been repealed. In the Se­cond Year of Richard the Third, a Statute made in the First of the said King was Dis­pensed with by Proclama­tion. Vaugh [...] [...] pag. 353▪ Now I would gladly hear wh [...] cause my pretended Brother Bap [...] has to Quarrel at his present Maje [...] gracious Dispensing with Laws in [...] ­ing Temporal Penalties for Ecclesiati­cal Matters, and rendring then use [...] less for the present, in that respe [...] only, till they can be Repealed Par­liament. And wherein the exceed of this Dispensing Power has exce [...] ­ed what has been in Fact done by [...] Royal Predecessors, and admitted may be lawfully done by our greatest Law­yers. But to proceed,

Shall your New Charter have a Pe [...] ­ty inserted to be inflicted on the Infringe [...] or Breakers of it or no? If not, W [...] will your New Charter signifie? N [...] three skips of a Lowse: And if it [...] a Penalty, Cannot any King by his Prero­gative and Authority Royal Dispence [...] the Penalty? And what will it sign [...] then?

This pretended Baptist's Resolution of the first of these Questions is [...] Weak as it is Idle, and both that an [...] the others, may receive a satisfactory Answer.

Such a New Charta as is desired, i [...] no Penalty be annex'd, may be very significant in many respects, (1) [...] may be materially good and oblig [...], to Obedience by its innate Vertue, o [...] pain of Condemnation by the Divin [...] Law; and in that respect of greater signification, and much more desirable then such Laws as are materially [...]d, and cannot be obeyed without Brea [...] of a Law of God. (2) This Ne [...] [...]ter [Page 7]may, without annexing any [...]lties, Repeal all those Penalties, [...] which Persons are compelled to [...]rm Acts of Divine Worship, [...]ary to their Understanding, [...], and a Good Conscience, and put [...] of the Power of any Dispensa­ [...] [...]o revive those Laws, or to im­ [...] Penalties of the like kind. (3) [...] a New Law may without any Pe­ [...]s by its simple Declarations put [...]e to that, which is now unrea­ [...]ly made the ground of all our [...]ests, and confirm to us all those [...] by which our Liberties and [...]rties are preserved.

[...] presuming it may also have Pe­ [...] inserted to be inflicted on the [...]gers or Breakers of it, These [...]e so qualified as not to be Dis­ [...] with; (if under the colour [...]f evil minded Men do not prac­ [...]on the Soveraign Power: For [...] a case, if the Soveraign Power [...] Dispence with the Penalty of a [...] Laws, it may be divested of such [...] as are necessary for its own Pre­ [...]on, (but in any ordinary case, if [...]rson or Body Corporate receive [...]lar Damage by the breach of New Law, He or They may if the [...]tors please, be Intitled to a [...]lar Action by the same Law, and recover Damages against the Breakers of it, [...] Rep. [...], 342. at the Kings Suit, by [...]ent, or Presentment, or by a [...] Action, with which the King [...] Dispence.

[...] Instance you give, to put us [...]f Doubt, in Mr Langhornes [...], touching the Kings Right in Dispensing with Penal Laws, I shall not Repeat, but only observe, That the Opinion you cite (however you may do it in scorn) carries such an Evidence in it for a Dispensing Power (not in ordinary Cases, as that Author has well observed) but upon extraor­dinary Occasions, when the King in his Wisdom shall find it necessary, as calls for more Cunning then I yet per­ceive in you, to raise any material Ob­jection against it.

Qu. Now where is the assurance then of Mr Penn's New Charter?

Ans. Our Assurance will lie not on­ly in the Authority of the Legislators, equal to any other Law, but also in the Authority of the Matter, which will command an Assent in every Mans Conscience assoon as he reads it, Not to do that to another, which he would not have done to himself. Our Assurance will be in our Love and Affection One towards Another, as Neighbours con­cern'd to promote the common Inte­rest of the Realm. In the Watch­fulness of all Parties against any one particular Faction, if any such should rise up, and attempt to in thrall the Consciences of all the rest, in our thankful and dutiful Behaviour to­wards our Soveraign for breaking off those intolerable Yoaks we could not bear, and setting us upon such a last­ing Foundation, both for our Civil and Religious Liberties, as with a discreet. Care and Managemant of them may remain firm to Perpetuity.

Qu. But who can tell what King we [Page 8]may have after our present Soveraign whether so mercifull, or so just? Or what SheriffS the next King may chose, and what Returns of Parliament Men they may make? For you know the Forfeiture on the Sheriffs making a false Return is no great matter, and cannot a King par­don it by his Dispensing Power or Autho­rity Royal? What will, nay what can your n [...]w Charter then signifie, when it either is or may be, (according to your own Doctrin) Invalidated, Disannlled, or Annihilated in an instant.

Ans. If there should be raised by my Querest, or any other like him, such a perverse Spirit and behaviour in any Party of Men, as to prevent the Nations selted enjoyment of these Priviledges we now have as Men and Christians, by his Majesties Prudence, Justice and Clemency, who can tell (indeed) what the sad Conse­quences of it may be? But if Duty, Reason and common Interest prevail, here is nothing offer'd that should cause any Man to slack his utmost di­ligence and endeavours to arrive at the Settlement proposed by a New Charter. For what do these Queries tend to, or what of any weight do they con­tain? For,

First, Does William Penn, or any party of Dissenters propose any such Methods to be persued, as may ad­vance Prerogative to that degree, as to Invalidate, or Annihilate all our Laws?

Secondly, Is not the National Religion, as it is Stiled in [...] first place to be maintain [...] [...] as well secured, as any [...] new Law can make it with [...] a Liberty for consi [...]cion, D [...] ­ters from it in the worth [...] [...] (Expl [...]ing of all Li [...] ­ness) as may free th [...] [...] future inconveniency upon [...] of Religion.

Thirdly, Is any thing [...] that by a new Cha [...]ter, [...] power should be given to [...] for choosing of Sheriffs, tha [...] he has, or that the penalti [...] a Sheriffs making false [...] shall be less then now they [...] or any thing else to retur [...] Case worse then it is.

You take it for granted, I [...] which I do not know, nor you [...] neither, as I suppose, that the [...] Forfeiture, who shall make a [...] turn is no great matter, or that the King can pardon, or di [...] with. The Case of S [...] Sam [...] ­nardiston whe [...]ein he had a Ver [...] Eight Hundred Pounds damage against a Sheriff for a false Retur [...] inform you otherwise; and [...] ­ly a new Charter will not ma [...] Penal then now it is, but if it [...] ever happen, notwithstanding Charter, as it has heretofore [...]ap [...] notwithstanding our old Charter, [...] Knights and Burgesses should [...] duly chosen; the same Fa [...]e [...] ­tend such a Parliament, as di [...] of 38 H. 6.

[...]ow come to your second Con­ [...]on, wherein you pray Mr [...] to consider, What his New [...]ter can signifie, so long as there High Commission Court, or a high mission for Ecclesiastical Affairs [...]? Cannot those Commissioners [...] any of your and our Preachers, [...]hers, or Ministers to Task when [...]se? Cannot they, when they [...] a mind to it, suspend Mr Pen, [...]corge Whitehead, Mr Alsop, [...]obb, Mr Mead, or Mr Bowyer, [...] as the Bishop of London, &c. [...]ot the Court when they will; or [...] think fit, or be commanded, sus­ [...] silence or forbid any or all the [...]ing Ministers to Preach any [...] in their Meetings, if they will [...] Read any Declaration or Order [...] ever, that the King shall set forth require them to Read? Remember Magdalen Colledge Men; Re­ [...]ber also that Sawse for a Goose is [...]ay be Sawse for a Gander.

[...]s. The case of Magdalen Col­ [...] is published at large, you may [...]d it if you please, and Answer [...] you can, especially the para­ [...]ase in Edwards the Sixth time. [...] pray what is that to a New [...]ter? If wrong Judgment was [...]n by the Court (as you per­ [...]s suppose) in that case, do you [...]e no difference between Dis­ [...]ing with a Law, and wrong [...]gment given against a Law (if [...] such should be) in Westminster [...] or the Ecclesiastical Court.

[...]f the Dissenters you name, or you who pretend to be a Baptist, be of the Clergy of England in the Eye of the Law, and hold Ecclesiastical Affairs and Benefits, they or you may for Mis-behaviour be suspend­ed from them by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. But why do you fancy that a New Charter (by which it is expected that Penalties for matters of meer Religion will be repealed) should be made to signifie nothing, by the Ecclesiasti­cal Commissioners which now are; I can easily fore-see that a New Char­ter may make that Commission in the cases you mention to signifie nothing; but I cannot imagine how that Commission should make a New Charter insignificant. As to the silencing of Dissenting Mini­sters, its evident as the Law now is, their reading or not reading the Kings Declaration in their Meetings will not prevent it, if the King with­draw his Favour, nor is there any cause to give the Ecclesiastical Com­missioners any trouble about them; for as the Laws now are there are other Ecclesiastical Courts, which with the aid of the Justices at their Sessions are sufficiently impowred to Censure, Fine, Imprison, Banish or Hang them for their Non-con­formity to the Religion Established by Law.

You exhort us to see before we Leap, whether the Words in the Orders set forth in the Gazett, for contempt of his Majesties Authority will run no further then just Mr Penn will have it. And ask, Can he stop the Current of it [Page 10]when he pleases? and says, If he could, we are not sure he would; for formerly he had no great kindness (we know) for us Baptists and other Dissenters, and if he could and would we are not sure of his Life, how long; therefore it will be the greatest piece of Weakness and Folly in the World for us to Dance af­ter his and the Jesuits Pipe alone, con­trary both to all common Sence and Reason, and our own general Interest.

Ans. How do you make out your Inference, That to do as you say is the greatest piece of Weakness and Folly? I take it to be altogether as great folly to Dance after your Pipe in Company, contrary to common Sence, Reason and Interest, as af­ter Mr Penn and the Jesuites alone; surely in this you take the Dissenters to be very forgetful of what their Senses so lately testified, when un­der the feeling Prosecution of Pe­nal Laws, and to be unreasonably ignorant of their Interest in de­siring those Penal Laws may be Re­pealed in Parliament, and a due Liberty of Conscience Established in their room. But for what cause do you reflect upon Mr Penn? I take it as a certain Evidence, that all Pamphlets on this Subject, that are interlaced with personal Reflections asserted on Surmises, without proof, are designed to promote Factions Dissentions, rather then to Unite in one common Interest, and heal our uncharitable Divisions. I have known Mr Penn for many Years, and have been credibly informed by others, that from his Age of Seventeen Years he has been an [...] ­mate Associate with the most [...] ­nent of Dissenters, that when [...] was of Christ Church Colledge in Ox­ford, he was fined for his [...] from the Religious Ceremonies [...] the Colledge: He suffered [...] Hardships in his Fathers Family [...] that account, has been a con [...] Advocate these Twenty Years [...] the Liberty we enjoy and hope [...] to have confirm'd: I have [...] of many good Offices he has [...] at Court, both for Dissen [...] Conformists; & that he has imp [...] that Favour which has been [...] him by his Prince, both before [...] since his Ascending to the Th [...] for the Benefit and not to the [...] judice of others: I have not [...] of any rich Presents or Rew [...] that have been given or required any of his Services, or any [...] ­ployments he seeks or accepts [...] How his pleadings for Liberty Conscience has or can tend to [...] improvement of his Revenues, [...] cannot apprehend neither; th [...] ­fore if you will free your [...] from the suspition of an ill [...] sign, and a groundless Aspe [...] tho Mr Penn may be no Frien [...] such pretended Baptists and now Dissenters as you are; its incu [...] on you to shew wherein he has [...] ­nifested that he had formerly great Kindness for those that really such upon this account.

I pass by your trifling about enlarging or limiting Authority the power or will, length or [...] ­ness of Mr Penn's Life, and pro [...] [Page 11]Thirdly, To consider above all what [...]ity or Validity this New Charter [...]be of, when there is a standing Ar­ [...] kept on Foot? Whether Guns will [...] Reason, or Dragoons mind Char­t [...] or Arguments? your reference to [...] practice in France, if we are not [...]angely Infatuated and given up to [...]n and Destruction; your Query [...]ether their Carriage and Quartering [...]ll agree with a New Charter for [...]iberty, and if Mr Penn be a Friend [...] Liberty for Liberties sake, you de­ [...]e an honest, clear nnd satisfactory Answer to these Three Points.

In Mr Penn's stead give me leave [...]t present to return you an answer, [...]y asking you some Questions; Is the Western Rebellion, slipt out of your mind? Was there no occasi­on given for multiplying Dragoons? Is Soveraign Power so limited by our Laws, as that it cannot make use of such means as are of apparent and absolute necessity for its own preser­vation? Did you ever know of any Army wherein no dissorders were committed in their Marches, or Quarternings? Are our Dragoons without any discipline, for reform­ing or punishing abuses when they are complained of?

Do you, and such as follow your Examples, take a right course to avoid such mischiefs, being done in England by Dragoons, as are com­mitted in France? I am as far from defending any of their disorders, or desiring their continuance longer then needs must, as I am from belei­ving you to be a Baptist.

But sure I am, whatever you are, your Reasoning are very unfavory, and unsafe, tending to fasten us un­der that Bondage, you seemingly advise us to avoid; for to deal plainly and honestly with you, (as you desire Mr Penn to do) I see no way to escape the dissorders that are either felt or feared, but by gi­ving His Majesty full satisfacti­on, not only of our Fidelity, but of our Affection also to his Person and Government, in complying with what he shall propose, for maintenance of the National Religi­on, and all the possessions of the Clergy, as Established by Law, and abolishing all such Penalties for Non-conformity to the National Re­ligion, as may be found inconsistent with the common Right and Rea­son of Mankind, Doctrines of Chri­stianity and Interest of England.

I shall now consider your closing points (1) In the mean time it ap­pears to be highly the Duty of all Men as well Dissenters as others, who have Votes in choosing Parliament-Men, a­bove all to choose such Faithful Patriots as will take care of these things already hinted, and others that may be brought before them; that our Liberties, our Laws, and our Lives may be preser­ved from ill designing Men, and from fu­ture Quo Warranto's, and all the high Violaters and Infringers thereof called to accompt, and justly punished; this will well become them, and secure us, more then any titular Charter whatso­ever.

If you had only advised the choosing Faithful Patriots for Par­liament-Men, without cutting out their Work, your advice might have been sound; or if you had on­ly looked forwards that our Liber­ties, and our Lives might be pre­served from ill designing Men; and our Laws so settled, that all good Subjects may equally share in the benefit of them; your Advice might have been seasonable; for it is evident that our Circumstances require as wise and moderate Men, experienced in civil and Religious affairs, as every Parliament in Eng­land did; and if the Nation be bless'd with such a Choice in the next Par­liament, all sober persons, may by their wise Councels be out of fear of suffering Prejudice by future ac­cidents of State: But at this juncture to talk of calling to an Accompt, and punishing all such as you may reckon high Violaters and Infrin­gers of our Laws and Liberties is very unseasonable: Pray tell us since you undertake to Chalk out the way for a Parliament, and pro­pose the Work you would have done by them, how far they are to look back, and where and with what sort of Men you would have them begin; with such of the Cler­gy, or of the Lawyers, as were the first Advancers of Prerogative a­bove your measures; or with the Dissenters for thankfully accepting the Kings Indulgence, and making use of the Liberty he has been plea­ed to grant in their peaceable and Religious Assemblies? after so ma­ny Convulsions in the State, Pl [...] and Counter-plots as we have known in our Age. The same things to be liable to Penalties [...] one season, which at another time have been marks of the greatest Loyalty; sober Men cannot but think it is high time to adhere to, and persue those Royal Methods, that have been with good success begun, and are proposed to be [...] ­tled on terms of lasting security and Peace.

If the Case should be proposed to any Assembly (your self being in the company) in reference to any Man that you can mark out as it was by the Jewes, in reference to the Adulteress before our Saviour, That he who is without Fault should cast the first Stone, your supposed Criminal might escape by the As­semblys going out one by one, from the Eldest to the last convict in their own Consciences; and if you should have the confidence to stay behind the rest, it might be no good evidence of an awaken'd Conscience; but if Peace-makers have singular marks of favour al­ways attending them, certainly such worthy Patriots as at this sea­son shall be found in that Work, repairing our Breaches, healing our Divisions, setling our Civil and Religious concerns, that who­ever will conscientiously discharge his duty to God, his King and his Neighbour, may not only enjoy Peace and Truth in his Days, but leave it on like terms as a Blessing [Page 13] [...] his Posterity, will deserve the [...]est marks of favour from all [...]d Men, and may therein also [...]est a Blessing from Heaven.

Liberty, say you, is indeed a Fine [...]d, but Remember Brethren what Apostle Peter hath told us, That [...] there were, that while [...] promise them Liberty they [...]selves are the Servants of [...]ruption? And Observe what [...]ws; For of whom [a Man is [...] [...]ome, of the same he is [...]ght in Bondage, And then [...] ask (I suppose Mr. Penn or my [...] How Do You. How will you [...] that Word?

Answer, I like it as part of Holy [...], Teaching me (1) Not to [...]e that Liberty whereunto I am [...]ed by the Gospel, (2) To prize [...] Liberty in the Gospel which is [...]lged me by my Soveraign and [...]romote what in me lyes, the [...]blishing of it by a New Charter ( [...]) Not to hearken to you, or any, [...]th perhaps did never feel the [...] of this Liberty, and would guide me of it, by talking of Li­ [...]ies of another Sort which signi­ [...] nothing to me or any other Con­ [...]tious Dissenters, if we be depri­ [...] of this (4) as inducing me [...] the better understanding of the [...] you cite) to consider the Con­ [...] by which I am caution'd not [...]ken to any such, as promise Liberty, who are themselves [...] by, and in Bondage to their own Fleshly poluting Lusts, (5) as instructing me by certain Characters to discern what sort of Person [...] they are who (by enticing Words would beguile me of my Liberty: chiefly such as despise Government, are Presumptious, and not afraid to speak Evil of Dignities: And with this short Paraphrase, I may after your Example, ask, How do You; Or how will you like that word?

In this I agree with what you say, The Name of Liberty signifies nothing without the Substance. And that which the Dissenters desire and endeavour af­ter, is that such a Liberty may be ob­tained, and secured by a New Charter to Perpetuity as is substantial: But in this we may differ, if you think a present Liberty signifies nothing, for it is now, and will be at all times, so long as we can enjoy it, the present comfort of our Lives, and of so great value, that I think he that has felt the want of it, will not easily be enticed to make a For­feiture of his present Liberty, by taking any such course as you steer to Secure Penal Laws for Coertion of Conscience under the Name of Substantial and English Liberties, If these Penal Lawes be the Goose you advise us not to part with for stick­ing down a Feather; and t [...]e Bird in the Hand, I cannot Guess how you came to be a Baptist; sure I am you do not shew your selfe in the Colours of an English Anabaptist, for your course tends to the bind­ing of Heavy Burthens on their and other Dissenters Shoulders, which its most likely you never did, [Page 14]nor will touch with one of your Fingers.

You exhort us, To be of one mind as Brethren, to let Brotherly Love and Charity continue, and tell us, nothing will save us but Ʋnion. Pray take your part in the Exhortation let Brotherly Love have a beginning (for I fear that is not yet settled between us) and then I doubt not but the profitable Experience of the Exercise of it will give it a continuance; If you are for uni­ting, be content to part with those Offensive Weapons that have cau­sed our divisions, let our Civil Liber­ties as Men, and our Religious Li­berties as Christians be settled upon sure Foundations, let tem­poral penalties, for dissent in [...] ­rituals be set aside, and the [...] Names of Sedition, Felony Tru [...] be server'd from such things as [...] in no manner offensive to the [...] ­vil Government, but meer Opinio [...] and peaceable Exercises subsequ [...] in matters of Religion. Let [...] learn to be kindly affectionate [...] Compassionate as Men and [...] ­bours ought to be one to [...] whether True Believers, Mu [...] or Ʋnbelievers and then the [...] be no ground to fear that the [...] ­ruptions or projects of Rome, Ca [...] ­va, France, Holland, or any [...] else should ever dis-unite [...] be able to gain any advantage attempting to sow amongst [...] Seeds of Dissention.