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verf. 16, 17, 18, 19, 20. What Ordinances? The Ordinances, fay I, of the World, that were never Inftituted by Chrift. But, faith W. W. Are they forbidden? Yes, fay I, if Chrift ordained them not, Touch not, tafte not, handle not: Here's forbidding enough, if we had no more; For they are all to perish with the ufing: What are to perifh? All the Ordinances on Traditions of Men, and Rudiments of the World, which are after the Commandments of Men, and not after Chrift.

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Be filent, William, henceforward, and charge us no more, with that thou loveft and ftriveft to make us guilty of, viz. Difobedience, as thou call' it, to what Chrift has not forbidden: For if thou canft bring no Command from him for thy Law of Tithes, it must then neceffarily follow, that 'tis but a Rudiment of the World, and a Command of Men, and not after Christ. So then it's clear, we are forbidden to Touch, Tafte, or Handle of any fuch things; neither dare we prefume to do it, whatsoever we fuffer.

Yet this I fay, That did you bound your Laws and Ways of Maintenance for your Priests and Clergy, fo as to content your felves with what they that Hear you, and Receive you, and are of your Faith, and only they, do either give freely, or pay in fubmiffion to the Laws made by themfelves; and let us alone, that are neither of your Church, fo called, nor can hear or own you, then you would' fhew fome Moderation. For we are not at all to

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be forced and conftrained to receive and follow you against our Faith, over which no Man hath Power, or ought to compel us againft it: For what is not of Faith, is Sin; and no Man ought to force another Man to fin, or else to fuffer: Confider of it, and do as thou wouldst be done by; for that is the Law and the Prophets, faith Chrift, who is more than all; being Purity, Righteoufnefs, and Truth it felf, and admits of nothing contrary there

unto.

'Tis true, he bad his Difciples, when he fent them forth to Preach, Mat. 10. 14. to shake off the Duft of their Feet, for a Teftimony against thofe that would not receive them; and fo may you, if you please: But you ought not to tread us under your Feet, and trample upon us, and fling us into finking Holes and Jayls, as if we were no better than Dogs, because we receive you not. Thus the Innocent is clear'd, and thou art weigh'd in the Ballance, and found wanting.

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But one word more concerning G. K. because thou prayeft me to explain a Paffage about him I tell thee, One of the Magiftrates that was in America inform'd me how it was, viz. That he was put into the hands of an Officer a little while, and ordered not to be put into the Prifon; and when the Court return'd to the Bench, was foon after fet at liberty, and all in one day: So here was a Prifoner, but not put into the Prifon-Houfe; although he voluntarily went into the Entry thereof, to colour the Signing of his Book from the Prison,

Prifon, as I have head it; fee S. F's State of the Cafe and that was my Meaning. But, Crocodile-like, thou watchest to catch, and in thy Envy and Malice laboureft to render me more like a Devil than a Man.

Thy next is answered already in part; and I fay further, That neither the Snake nor thou canft prove, that ever Ed. Burroughs was a Fighter, or for the Encouraging of any to Fight with Carnal Weapons; nor was there ever any Plot by Quakers in Lancashire, or any where elfe. Thefe, and many fuch-like Stories, are the false Accufations, Lyes and Slanders of our Adverfaries.

And as for Penn, if thou meanest William Penn; I fay, I wish thou waft as good a Man as he is; for I know him to be one that Loves and Fears God, and hath Good-Will to all Men, and is ready to his ability do them good: Yet he is far fhort of his Lord and Master Chrift Jefus, who was above all Mankind, and is ftill, bleffed be his Name for ever; yet he was falfly Accufed, Belyed, and Mif reprefented by his Enemies; and if they did fo to the Green Tree, what will they do to the Dry?

As to Bromfield, he was long fince difown'd by us But thou askeft me, May a Quaker make use of this Law for the compelling the Payment of Tithes? Saying, If be may, bow filly art thou in urging the Saying of the Jews? If he may not, why doft thou permit any of thy Friends to meddle with a Revenue that implies a difowning that Chrift is come.

To

To all this I answer, First, That I know of none fuch amongst us, that do meddle with any Revenue of Tithes; nor do I believe that any do, that are owned by us, as fincere Profeffors of our Faith: But if there fhould be any, which make an outward Profellion only among us, that do, I cannot help it; nor doth Truth permit it: But I mult Leave fuch to God, and his Witness in their own Hearts. I take it to be very filly in thee, and to favour of an ill Mind, to ask me fuch a Question, Why I permit any of my Friends, &c? 'Tis as if I fhould retortingly ask thee, Why doft thou permit any of thine to Curfe, Swear, Blafpheme, Be Drunk, Commit Adultery, or the like?

Thy next is fufficiently answered; and yet I tell thee, That there is a great difference betwixt going to Law to defend my Natural, Just Rights and Properties, and having no Right at all, but what the Law of the Land only gives me. And to all thy long Pleas for Law, Law, Law, and Obedience to Law, by which I perceive thou meanest Active Obedience, I have faid enough.

As for Magiftracy, we own it to be an Ordinance of God, and that Magistrates are bis Minifters, who bear not the Sword in vain; and do declare it to be our Faith and Duty to yield Quiet, Peaceable Subjection to the Queen, and all in Authority under her, and to all her Laws, either by Doing or Suffering;

and

and that not for Wrath, but Confciencefake.

Thou proceedeft, That what I argue from the Principle of Love, might do us great fervice, if we could perfwade all Men, that it obliges them to quit their Eftates to us; adding, Teach T. S. and the rest of your Brethren, to try if they can cajole their Landlords.

William, this is not the firft drolling and fcoffing ftrain I have had from thee; but what is this to thy Matter? Is not God himfelf Love? And do we ever fhew any Practife, or ever preach any Doctrine, that gives juft occafion for fuch Pounces as thefe? Have we not been as Good Payers of our Rents to our Landlords, as any Men whatfoever in the Nation? But is this the best Answer I mu have? It seems thou dareft not venture thy felf upon the Principle of Love, in thy Cafe of Maintenance; no, that would not be great enough, therefore thou art for Law: But let me tell thee, They that are truly fent of God, never wanted, neither Love, nor Food and Raiment amongst their Brethren, to this Day; though they have many times fuffer'd deeply, by fome Covetous Priefts and Impropriators, both by Imprisonments, and Spoiling of Goods, as many that are yet alive can testifie: And therefore we esteem the present Toleration, which God hath beftowed upon us, à Great Mercy; and we are thankful to Him and the Government, for the Favours we enjoy, and Liberty we have allowed us. But, William

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