THough my Lot be fallen in a Scribling Contentious Age, which makes many things of weight and substance slighted, (which was ready to deter me from writing) yet I find it my Duty, according to my capacity, to detect Falshoods and Slanders covered with a profession of Truth, of which sort, the Book of Certificates published by John Pennington, is plentifully stored. But 'tis not my intent to make Reply to the particular Accusations the said Penington brings against G. K. he being more capable to answer himself, if he thinks it worth his while to 〈◊〉 Ink & Paper about it; for truly I think the man would have wanted matter to make up his Book, i • he had not repeated the same things over & over again, and his being so hard put to his 〈◊〉 to revile G. K. (not daring to accuse 〈◊〉 Doctrine, tho' there lies the main 〈◊〉 the chief part of what he writes against G. K. 〈◊〉 takes 〈◊〉 of S. Jenings Book, who is G K's adversary, concluding (I conceive) that because his Brother S. Jenings alledges this, that and t'other thing against G. K. that therefore it must needs be infallibly true, and that must be a sufficient proof against G. K. in time of need; and while he blames G. K. for unfair managing Controversie, he cannot see how unfair himself is in this, and in several other things; both falsly asserting and misrepresenting G. K's words: But the morning of the great discovering Day is dawned wherein all shall be laid open, and no man shal hinder it.

But to the Certificates my intent is to speak, & chiefly to that sent from a Monthly Meeting at Burlington the 6t. 6 m. 1694. which comprehends most of the rest, I shall first show how it was obtained (as I had it as well from some that signed it, as from others which refused to sign it) and next, I shall sh • w how it is stuft full of Lyes and Slanders, that the impartial Reader may see how they • ly to Lyes for a Refuge, and to Slanders for Revenge.

When News came from England that S. Jenings was beset in London, by reason of his & his Brethrens Actions at Philadelphia coming out in print, Ann, the Wife of S. J. made application 〈◊〉 to some Members of Chesterfield Meeting, & obtained a Certificate to relieve her Husband in that distress, for which I blame her not. Then J. Wilsford and Fr. Devonport, two of that Meeting, came to the Meeting at Burlington, to propogate the business there. And having framed a Certificate, it was read in the Meeting, and some readily signed it, but some others, (more willing to see with their own Eyes) made some scruple; and one or two, it seems, questioned the truth of what was written about D. Leeds, which scruple Fr. Devonport took off, by saying, 〈◊〉 he had heard D. Leeds say, That he hath not 〈◊〉 Unity with the Quakers since he came into the 〈◊〉 [which is a Lye, as shall be shewn anon] Others refused wholly to set hand to it▪ and shewed their Reasons, which I could 〈◊〉 , bu • for brevity's sake omit; at last it appeared one third of the Meeting did not sign to it, which look't a little odd to those that had signed it; whereupon they resolved upon this Expedient, viz. to write it over again, and for one man to • ign it in the Name of the Meeting, and so bring in all those to be guilty of signing, that had refused [A notable way to force a Unity] and for this purpose they made use of James Marshall, that it might look with a fairer face, and laid aside their Clerk (for that time) because (as J. Wilsford said) he was given to drinking and Company keeping. But the Certificate being compleated, F. Devonport hasted with it next morning down the River, to send it for England, where being printed, and returned hither again, is now come under consideration; which before they endeavoured to prevent me and others of: For, I having an account, as aforesaid, went to their next Monthly Meeting for a Copy of the Judgment they had drawn up against me, and sent to England, wherein (I told them) I understood I was defamed. They answered, They had not defamed me, nor wrote any untruth of me. To which I replyed, If you have not wronged me, I hope you will be the more willing to do me justice, in granting me a Copy; I'll pay for the writing of i • , &c. These and many more words passed, but at last the result was [having none of their Ministers there] That I could have no answer till next Meeting. I went again next Meeting, but no Copy▪ could I obtain, & J. Wilsford gave me an answer in these words, viz. G. Keith, and a Company of you have printed and exprosed us so shamefully to the World, until you condemn that, thou shalt have no Copy by my Consent. To which I replyed, People, behold your Preacher! he preaches, Revenge is his Christian Doctrine, he will not do Justice, because others have done unjustly, as he alledges. With that, two of the Meeting rose up, and faced me with a fierce Countenance, mixt part with Revenge, and part with Scorn, uttering bitter words, and one of them I remember rendered me a Jesuite. And this was all the Justice I could obtain from them.

But the Certificate being printed in England, as aforesaid, and returned to America having missed the hands of S. Jenings, so that he could not keep them up from the Persons concerned, as he did his own Lying Book, called, The state of the Case, &c.) one of these Books of Certificates is come to my hands. And the first thing I note is, They alledge Peter Boss makes a great Noise with his Queries & Witnesses to prove them. To which I say, The Noise was so little, before S. Jenings arrested him (& so made the Noise himself that very sew of that Meeting heard it, much less in other parts; and although they resent it so 〈◊〉 a Crime in P. Boss for querying with S. J. whether those Reports were true, or not, yet we see the twelve men of the • ury (th • ' 〈◊〉 of them • is own 〈…〉 could not 〈◊〉 it so much • S a Slander, so little was the wrong done by P. B. & had it not been for a Law made by a pattern from New-England (as V V. Byles told me) that makes it finable to speak slightingly of Magistrates, the Jury must have cleared P. Boss in the case. And then what become, of this heinous Crime of murthering a mans Reputation, as S. J. calls it?

2dly, They accuse P. Boss of prejudice against S. J. ever since the Meeting gave Judgment against him in the case of a difference between him and his Neighbour.

A • s. As to the Meeting giving Judgment against P. B. I know to be false, being present at the Meeting when the thing was debated; but if his Enemies since have got a Judgment into the Meeting Book about that difference, be it to them that did it.

3dly, They alledge, he flattered, perswaded & queried with People, to make up those bundles of stuff, meaning the Queries. But I believe this is not true, for these Reasons, 1st. P. Boss is known to all that know him, to be no flatterer, but a man plain and blunt, and truly for this reason I find my self the more concerned in his Vindication, beceuse I even hated flattery. 2dly, There was no need of his flattering or perswading; for 'tis known to all the Meetings, and all hereabouts, that most of those Reports concerning S. Jenings were frequent about the Country long before P. B. queried concerning the truth of them.

4ly, They accuse P. B. of being rude, wicked and cruel to his Maid-servant, because he could not obtain his Will. This must needs be a base Slander at least; for, 1st, they insinuate hereby, as if he would have lain with her; which tho' 'twas 〈◊〉 , she had reported some such thing, yet being examined, news was brought that she denyed it: And I remember that I then took it as the general sence of the Meeting, that she endeavoured to make her Master weary of her, 〈◊〉 set▪ free, or change her service; a thing very desirable to most that come Servants from England to these parts. 2dly, They do not in the least declare wherein he was rude, wicked 〈◊〉 , as they ought to have done, if they had been just to him: They say in their Chesterfield 〈◊〉 , That their well-beloved Brother S J. was 〈◊〉 to all men; Why then are they not just to P. Boss, and 〈◊〉 wherein he was rude, wicked & cruel, and yet S. Jenings 〈◊〉 just to all, though it appears by 〈…〉 Certificates to clear him, That 〈…〉 till he brok • a • ant, and 〈…〉 Servant in her Bed, see p. 32 & 42 〈…〉 thi • • e just in S. Jenings, as they say, 〈◊〉 as just to all, p. 19. and yet be 〈…〉 P. Boston 〈◊〉 b • ating his Maid, if he did 〈◊〉 Reader, pray consider from what 〈◊〉 this Burlington Certificate sprung. Well 〈◊〉 third part of the Meeting refuse to sign 〈◊〉 .

And l • stly, To render him yet more Odious, if possible, they say, If Friends and 〈◊〉 People did but know how reproachful his Life 〈◊〉 C •• sation has been amongst us, &c.

Now I demand of these Enemies of P. Boss, to show wherein his Life and Conversation is so reproachful: Is he a Blasphemer, or Thief, or Knave, or Whoremonger, or Adulterer? Is he a Drunkard, an Extortioner, a Lascivious or a Proud Person? Nay, is he a quarrelsom or ill Neighbour? Next time you print pray be so just as to tell us, and the world wherein his Conversation is so reproachful. But herein you manifest (to the judicious) your Spirit of Prejudice and Revenge; for (it seems) 'tis sufficient for you to call a man wicked, and of a reproachful Life, and leave it to others to show wherein he is so. We are informed, and that by one of your own Friends of the Ministry, which came lately out of England, That S. J. when last 〈◊〉 England, made search and enquiry of P. B's Conversation while 〈◊〉 dwelt in England, and doubt not but if he had found any thing against him, it would freely have come forth in print. But finding not particular matters against him in England no • America, they' • venture to 〈◊〉 him for a Person of a reproachful Life: The Burlington Certificate say • it, and therefore it must be so. Now I would have none to think that I justifie P. Boss as a man free from failings no more than my self, S. Jenings, &c. for 〈…〉 have little cause, if rightly considered, 〈…〉 one against another, being all of one 〈◊〉 of Corruption, and the Grave will soon equal us all; but for a [pretended] whole Meeting to grate so upon a Man in print, endeavouring to destroy his Reputation, as a Man, without declaring matter of Fact, is so far short of common humanity, that it is intollerably abusive; and to do him the same justice they did me, in denying him a Copy when demanded.

The next thing in course is about S. J's riding a Horse-race with J. Slocum, and being drunk. Now, this I say, I do not believe S. J. will be drunk; for I know he has a stronger Head to 〈◊〉 drink, than to be diguised by it, unless by chance. And if S. J. be wronged in this case, who is to blame? not P. Boss, but W. Biddle, • un. for I know several Persons that I can 〈◊〉 credit to, that affirm, they had that report from W. L's 〈◊〉 Mouth; therefore let the saddle be laid upon the right Ho • se. But one thing by the way, I have been credibly informed, that some or one of S. J's Friends went with J. Slocum before a Magistrate in East-J • rsey, to get him declare the truth of the matter upon his Attestation, but the Magistrate refused to attest J. Slocum, alledging, it was probable he might be drunk also. Now if this be true, I account it great discretion in the Magistrate.

〈◊〉 dly, They say, the 〈◊〉 Query is proved a Lye, by a Certificate from the Person concerned, and this is my Neighbour John Antr • m, poor 〈◊〉 ! I am really sorry for him, because I think 〈◊〉 means no body harm; but to say, by what instruments or means he was so weak to be drawn by, to deny the truth, and give under his hand, that he had no right to Land there, I shall omit at this time; but this I must say, that all or most of his Neighbours know, that he then declared, that he had a right to the Land, and that S. J. had surveyed it from him, and was in an extream passion about it, as soon as he heard of it; and I having been the former Surveyor, he came to me to ease himself, expecting I could help him; knowing that I knew his right there, he having before told me of his intention about taking it up; but I 〈◊〉 him know it was out of my power to do any thing in that kind, being out of Office; but he exprest himself in great trouble about it, to me and my Wife, calling the Surveyor Knave, and • aid, I pray God keep me in my right Senses, S. Jenings has done right Taylor-like, that takes a piece of one mans Garment, and a piece of anothers, to make one for himself; for I hear (said he) he has surveyed Matthews' Meadow too; These were his words, with many more, not only to me and my Wife, but to several others at other times and places. So that the Reader, may very well see, that Peter Boss is not the Lyar or raiser of that Report. And if the rest of the Certificate signers have done like my Neighbour J. A • rum, they have made a poor hand on't, that 〈◊〉 so many years feeding upon Sermons from Meeting to Meeting, they at last are le • t so hungry 〈◊〉 their own words; but 'tis no wonder, for 〈◊〉 Ministers have done it also, to our certain knowledge. And tho' many People know not how to judge, or what to believe, as to these things, yet surely they are not hid from Almighty God, who will judge righteously.

3dly, To the fourth Query, they say, That that Witness has for many Years been a prejudiced Person, and declared he hath not had unity with the Quakers since he came into the Country.

Now Observe, They do not in the least mention wherein the Evidence I have given may be suspected [its enough belike they say it] and yet to invalidate my Evidence, they insinuate to the world in print, That my evidence is not to be taken notice of, because (they say) I am prejudiced; which is an indirect declaring me 〈◊〉 , because what I there evidenced, was upon my solemn Attestation before Authority: I am apt to believe that if such a man as S. J. had the like thing as this against me, he might improve it to my cost. Does not such actions as these render their Meeting; rather Seditious than Religious, thus to meet together to defame men in point, by rendring them unfit to give Evidence, without having matter of Fact to charge them with, muchless to prove against them?

But as to the Charge it self, That I am prejudiced. I do not only hope it is not true, but have and do pray to God that it may not be 〈…〉 however, I believe my self to be at least as clear as those that affirm it of me. But that I have declared my self to have 〈◊〉 Unity with the Quakers since I came into the Country, I know to be a 〈◊〉 ; and in short I'll declare the matter from which Francis Devenport draws that Consequence, viz. after I had been four years in the Country, I was at a Monthly Meeting at the House of John Woolstone in Burlington, where the Meeting seemed in two parties, W. Peachy, W. Cooper, and others contending violently against T. Olive, &c. about the way or method of exhorting Offenders, & I perfectly remember T. Olive's words were these, If any one have it in their heart from the Lord to go to an Offender, let them go in Gods Name, I am one with them; but for the Meeting to send Persons, I am against: This passage I once told F. Devenport accidentally, and withal told him, I was one with T. O. in that thing, and am still of the same mind; and this thing F. Deve • port hath kept, it seems, as a Weapon under his smooth Coat, near ten Years, to strike me with at this opportunity. So here the Reader may see where their Unity stands. Yet as I know no Disunity I had with the Quakers 〈◊〉 then, so unless he can prove T. Olive, and those of his side then [ viz. D. W. J. W: and others] no Quakers, he cannot say but I had Unity th •• T. Olive was a man whom I always loved, and have oft said, That 'twas my belief no man had better kept his Integrity that came into these parts, than T. O. had done; and 〈◊〉 do believe the Quakers and he had Unity, notwithstanding his dissent from • ome in that point. And therefore F. Devenport ought not to have let prejudice so rule his Reason as to have witnessed to a Lye against me, upon this Consequence. But I suppose F. D's word will pass amongst more than mine; Solomon saith, Favour is not to men of Knowledge. and F. D. in one main point declares himself true to his Brethren, and therefore must needs merit their Unity, viz. to hide his Religion under a Bushel as long as he lives; for he has declared, That no man shall 〈◊〉 is Faith, but by his Works; so that the Pharisees of Old may stand in competition with him, for they were very just men, as to the outward. And thus he can at once kick the Command of the Apostle out at the Church Door, viz. 1 Pet. 3. 15. Sanctifie the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.

And as to S. Jenings surveying of R. Matthews Meadow, his answer to it, in Book, called, state of the case, &c. he has both abused me and his own knowledge, in calling what I evidenced, An idle story, and yet neither does not can say, the story is not true; and how can that which is true, be idle? for the substance of what I declare upon my Attestation, is, That he surveyed 〈…〉 (by Simon Charles) which is not 〈◊〉 , but owned by him; in short, the judicious Reader may easily see, that S. Jenings his Answer is only a crafty 〈◊〉 , even such as a plain honest Quaker would blush at; for I appea • to S. J. himself, That suppose the survey of his own Meadow (which lies off from his Plantation too) were by a mistake or neglect (in the Recorder) wrong or short recorded, whether he would not count it unjust in any that should take that advantage to take away his Meadow, and thereby ruin his Plantation? Here lies the plain honesty of the case.

And whereas S. J. tells Elias Far, in his Letter printed with the Certificates, That all the M • adow was not pretended to be for Matthews. But I say, that's a mistake, at least, in S. J. for there was no more Meadow in that place, but what was surveyed and recorded to Matthews seven years before, which Meadow terminated in a small run of water at the lower and, where grew some Bushes, and there's a markt Tree or two still to be seen, only the Bushes being burnt root and branch, it shews like Meadow further; but the number of Acres would have determined the matter, which was to be 25. our Law allowing so much to 500 Acres of Land. And this was all that was wanting in the wording the survey, which if that had been, (which it seems was by some means omitted) the survey had been perfect. And therefore if it be printed over never so often, Sam. Jenings 〈◊〉 to blame for medling with that Meadow, especially the Owner being absent, and also, inasmuch as I told him how the case stood, shewed him the Meadow, and also a Copy of the Record, when he was about to survey said Meadow, and would have disswaded him from it, as he knows. But to return to the matter.

In the Burlington Certificate they tell of a Warrant they have by them, insinuating as if J. Skeen took a course at Law with S. Jenings, for saying, Thou pitiful Whip jack, I despise thee; for that is the thing cited in the Book of the Tryals, pag. 30. which we say is false; and therefore if they look again, they 〈◊〉 find it their mistake, nay, a sly in •••• ation to make the World believe that J. S. took a course at Law S. • . for calling him Ill Names. We grant there was a Warrant written, but 'twas about their difference concerning the Road to Burlington, when they were stop • , and there had like to have been Mischief done; and I heard the Warrant was never executed; but this was for Actions and Threats, as being Unhorsed, and the like, and it was not J. Skeen, but his Wife that complained, being filled with fear of Mischief, S. Jenings having ordered his Son and Servants to stop any of J. Skeens family coming that way, (and that he himself would Unhorse them, if he met him, viz. J. S) and had endeavoured it with Forks, &c. and broke the Bottles of Rum that J. S's Son was carrying to the Reapers: & 'tis to be noted also, That some of that Meeting were greatly dissatisfied with S. Jenings behaviour in that affair, and resolved to bring it up in the Meeting, before S. • . removed to Philadelphia; but when the time came, his greatness was such as they had not courage to do it. But to say, their differences were quickly ended, is but daubing; for I know that at the next Monthly Meeting after J. S's Death some of S. J's Friends were for putting the matter on against the Widdow, and I well remember one in the Meeting answered, Let the Widdow alone, poor Women, she • ath Exercise enough for the loss of her husband; and so that matter was no more meddled with. And if they mean it was quickly ended, because it could be continued no longer, by▪ reason of J. S's Death, I suppose they are in the right.

And whereas they tell of Henry Beck and and J. Smith, two of the Evidences, getting young Women with Child, they ought also to have been just to these men, and let the world know that the Young Women were their espoused Wives, that they got with Child: They still are wa • ting in that excellent Virtue which they say S. Jenings hath, To be just to all men; for they have not been just to these two, but do, as much as in them lies, to defame well-meaning men, and render them Odious: what though they were overtaken with that Infirmity in their Youth, must they therefore be rendered to the World in print, as unfit for Evidences, when neither the Law of God nor Man does now condemn them: Surely if Sam. Jenings be j • st to all men, as they say, needs no such Rubbish to defend him.

Again, they say of J. Bainbridge, That he has 〈◊〉 a Drunkard, Fighter, Quarreller, Rude and Wicked. I say, I know not but the Man has been so; and if he • e mended now, does that offend them? pray which of us have not been wicked in one respect or other? but it seems their •• ness is not encourage men in turning from evil, but to render them Odious for the evil they have done: O! what a woful case are we in, if God should deal so by us! Now Jo. Bainbridge denys that ever he called his Mother Jezabel, as they affirm, and says, They cannot prove it, they have belyed him in that; and that his Mother left the Country, and went to England for such behaviour in him, is utterly false.

Then as what is said of James Silver, in the Certificate they declare, that he said, it was ext ••• ed from him, (meaning his Evidence in the Book of the Tryals) never thinking it should be put in print. Those last words, (never thinking it should be put in print, he owns he said, but says, the other is false, he never said it was extorted from him; for he says, That when they asked him concerning the Truth of what he declared, hi • answer was, Ay, it is all true, and a great deal more; but he 〈◊〉 not think when he spoke it, that it should have been printed, he was sorry for that. And that it is true that he gave them that answer, the best Friend of mine going by the House of • . G. in Burlington, heard him speak the same words to those that were interrogating him, who told i • to me the same day; and therefore I am fully perswaded of that being another 〈◊〉 ; also, I believe the man knew not the meaning of the word extort. And altho' Benj. Moore calls it a great Lye in that Ja. Silver says, hi • Master Jenings took him by the Throat, yet to my knowledge Benjamin himself has formerly declared such like words, as that his Master griped him by the Coll • r, and other Complaints he has made, which I have met with at Neighbours Houses. But one thing I observed, which in the defence of Ja. Silver I shall relate, viz. That on a time when S Jenings was going to England, the said B. M. came to his House to make up some Accounts with him, or the like, and I saw S J. give his old Servant Benjamin a very good Leather Garment or two, and 'tis observable, that B. Moore never after that hath been heard to give his Master a hard word, for which I do not blame him; but truly when men say and unsay, and so make mischief among their Neighbours, I judge them to blame for that; for I take it to be an argument of being void of Conscience.

Lastly, I find among the Certificates, That Benj. More, jun. charges Joh. Silver and J. Smith of stealing Oats, Powder, Shot, Wool, Eggs, and the like; but I leave them to answer for themselves, that are defamed, by it; for I judge it a Defamation, if true, because 'tis divulged many years out of time; and tho' it be like the bundles of stuff in the rest of the Certificates, yet I should be 〈◊〉 any man should have the like advantage against me, as they • ave against the said B. M. if he dare own it especially, unless I had potent partial Friends, but 'tis enough for me to have such Enemies.

By this time I hope my old Friends will no more judge others for making up bundles of stuff, and raking up Dirt; for 〈◊〉 they do, they certainly condemn themselves, as much as ever men did, as he that reads impartially must acknowledge. And I desire they would take notice of this, That I have not used that method against them [but what a Defender cannot avoid] to rake up what failings I could against them, 'tis, not my way, I scorn it; I know we are all subject to weaknesses of the flesh, so that I have not been curious (since I had the understanding of a man) about Tythe, Mint, A •• is & Cummin, o • the skirts of Religion, and therefore have been judged by some, a loose Person; but 'tis the weightier matters of Religion that I have been and am concerned for, and chiefly the Faith and Merits of our Lord Jesus of Nazareth, so that when I hear him denyed, slighted or undervalued, then a Zeal arises in me, and I cannot be silent▪ I mean, that Jesus for whom the holy Apostles and blessed Martyrs suffered; they did not suffer • for owning, or denying the Light within them (which yet is a Leader unto him) but they suffered for professing him that was born of the Virgin Mary to be Christ the Son of God, even that same Jesus whom the Jews • lew and hanged on a Tree (and they could not 〈…〉 the Light there) yea, the 〈…〉 that they • lew and hanged on a Tree, that God hath now exalted: it was he they suffered for, and ' 〈…〉 that I hope for Salvation by, and pray that he will enable me to obey his Precepts.