A Brief Discourse Between a Sober Tory and a Moderate WHIG.  Tory. 
TRuly Neighbour Whig, I have always had a very good Esteem of you, and I think in my Conscience a great many of you called Whigs, are very honest wellmeaning People, but that you are so thoughtful and uneasy in matters of Government: which in my opinion very ill becomes a good man, or a true Christian.  Whig. 
I thank you Neighbour Tory, for your kindness. But what mean you by saying that we are uneasy in matters of Government; you know that I have always been as well satified with and as much admired our Government; both in Church and State, as any man whatsoever: and were I to have my wish. I would only desire that the Ecclesiastical Courts might be a little better Regulated and the Dessenters (whether Scrupulous, or Stubborn) a little more mildly dealt with; and the many good Laws we have, more strictly put in execution against the Papists, that so we might be effectually secured from the cruel designs and villainous practices of those Bloodsucking Monsters.  Tory 
Why Neighbour, you cannot forbear discovering your discontent immediately, you are now for conniving at the fanatics, and abating the Rigour of the Law against them, and for Prosecuting the Papists with the greatest extremity: whereas you see that some of our admired Ministers of Justice Act quite contrary.  Whig. 
Whatever the Ministers of Justice do, you know it was the Opinion of the four last Parliaments, after their most deliberate Consideration, that the Dissenters should not be so Violently prosecuted on the Penal Laws: And they were for repealing some of the most harsh Laws against them because they were not willing it should be in the Power of every malicious, troublesome fellow, to prosecute them thereupon, to their utter Ruin; as we have seen it in many parts of the Nation. Besides they thought that the Prosecuting them so furiously at this Juncture. was a means of giving the Papists the greater Opportunities of Effecting their Villainous Disigns. And of escaping the Punishment which the Laws most Justly pronounce against them.  Tory. 
Oh Neighbour will you be so great a Whig as to Rely upon the Actions, and Opinions of the late Parliaments, The Extravigancy and unreasonableness of whose Intentions, his Majesty hath sufficiently made known to the world in his Declaration. And the Nation in general by their Addresses, and Abhorrencyes have fully Declared their detestation of their Proceeding.  Whig. 
Neighbour, the Parliament being Composed (or should be) a number of men, Generally of the Estates, and greatest Prudence, and discretion in their several Countries; whilst their Actions tend to the Conservation of our Laws, and the Maintenance of the King's Royal Authority, and our Established Religion, I know not on whom I may better Rely. And if they did Vote any thing that may seem extraordinary, I think we ought to impute it to the Exigency of the Times, and Necessity of affairs as they then stood; for they (I suppose) well enough saw that whilst the Popish, and Arbitrary Counsels were so prevalent, they were only Deluded, and should not be suffered to do any thing that might effectually secure the Nation against the Papists and their Designs. And for the Addresses, and those kind of things you speak of, we believe in most Towns they were Proposed, and carried on either by Persons Popishlike affected, or else by those who by their interest were bound and obliged to such; and they procured some, of the same Inclinations with them, and some of the Ignorant Vulgar, to subscribe them; and then called it an Address from such a Town, or County whereas we believe there were very few Subscribers of Quality, and Sobriety amongst them. Not but that all good men will be ready to Address, or do any just thing, that may be acceptable to his Majesty; but they thought they could not justly endeavour to Reflect, or cast an Odium, upon the late Parliaments, who were so Solicitous and concerned for his Majesties and Nations good. But let us return to our Dissenters and I protest Neighbour did they preach such abominable and Hellish Doctrines, or Patronise and Justify those Horrid Villainies, Butcheries, and Murders, that the Papists (as is manifestly known to all the world) to, I should then be altegether as Zealous for prosecuting them, as I am now for Prosecuting the Papists.  Tory. 
Have you them forgot that Bloody War, that was begun by them, even in our memory, and that most abominable Nefarious deed, the Murdering the late King. Sure when you look back on what was then done by them you will have very little to say in their excuse.  Whig. 
As for the Original of that Unnatural War, we cannot lay the blame of it only on the Dissenters: if you examine the true History of those Times, you may find that there were great Distempers growing in the State many Years before the breaking out of that War. And perhaps many that were no Dissenters from our Church, may as justly been tilled to the Original of it as the presbiterians themselves: and for that most execrable, and most horrid deed, the Murder of his late Majesty; we believe it was perpretated by a number of men, that after a most bloody. War had gotten the sole power of affairs into their own hands; and thought it Impossible for themselves to be safe, without committing that abhorred Villainy for which we have seen most of those of them that were taken Receive their most just demerits, and we know that many of the Dissenters were as much Concerned for the commission of that Fact, and Declared as great an abhorrency of it, as any. And I think they of late have Sufficiently Demonstrated to the World, that they have no Inclination to Rebellion, or disloyalty when as they being supposed in many places the Superior Number, have taken so patiently, those Notorious abuses from their Inveterate Enemies; & have plaineough understood their Malicious Design of Rendering all those you call Whigs, Odious to the World. How have Papists and their Secret Friends, continually endeavoured to throw of the Gild of their accursed Plot, from themselves upon many of his Majesty's good Subjects, whom no indifferent Person upon du con ideation can possibly believe guilty of those things whereof they are accused they have so impudently, and incessantly followed these Methods, that amongst most of those you call Loyal, and well Effected to the Crown the Popish Plot is almost exploded, and Laughed at; and some of the Witnesses (whom never could Disprove, I think in any one thing they Testified) Vilified, and reproached as the Worst of men; to the great Scandal and Disgrace (in my Opinion) of the Government.  Tory. 
Come Neighbour, do not be over cofident of any man's Innocency: Time you know is the Mother of Truth, and she may perhaps shortly produce those things that may satisfy you of the Gild of some persons; which you cannot I perceive get credit, Notwithstanding those notorious things that have been by so many Witnesses testified agrinst them.  Whig. 
Were there any Circumstances Concurring with their Evidence, I should not be so unbelieving: but since after so long a Time of Preparation, they could make the matter appear no better on their parts than it did; I cannot do any person that wrong as to believe him Guilty of such abominable and impracticable Designs, in the mean time that any Man's Life, Honour, Estate, and the Good of his Posterity, should upon false or frivolous Suggestions, be brought into that apparent hazard of being Forfieted, and Lost, I think is nor one of the least of injuries.  Tory. 
Prithee Neighbour Whig, since you and I differ so much in our Judgements about these things, let us not talk more of it. But I am of Opinion, that if you, and others of your Inclination, did but give more heed, and credit to some of our Learned, Divines you would not so solicitously trouble your heads about Popery. for they most piously tell us, that we ought to commit the Event of those things to the Almighty, who will undoubtedly take care of his own Truth That Prayers and Tears to God, are the only Lawful means we have to Defend us from Popery, and that if it pleases God, as a Punishment for our sins, to suffer it to be Established over us, all our Endeavours against it shall be Ineffectual: and that if a false Worship should be set over us, we ought to show our Faith and Love to the Truth, in suffering for it under their Power, but not in Resisting, or Endeavouring Forcibly to maintain the Truth.  Whig. 
Methinks they might allow us to petition and, sue to our earthly Prince also, as well as to God Almighty, to be delivered from that Intolerable Bondage of Popery, and other dangers that threaten us. But therein they think we are too presumptuous and though they find none but such mild ways, Opposeing Popery, they have other Weapons than Prayers, and Tears, (viz) severe Laws, to use against the Dissenting Protestants: and should they ever engage in half the Villainy the Papists do; (which God forbidden, and I hope there's no fear they should) they would find Axes, and Halters enough to use against them and they inveigh against them, and Revile them so bitterly, as if they already thought the use of those Impliments too long forborn; altho' our Laws Provide no such Punishment against thein; but against all those that acknowledge a foreign Jurisdiction, or take orders from the Sea of Rome, they do. And I protest Neighbour no thing in the World is to me a greater Mystery, than to fee and consider, how strangely many of our Divines (whom I ought in Charity to believe far enough from Popery) behave themselves in this Point.  Tory. 
Well Whig; Prithee tell me now Ingeniously, what Methods thou wouldst have taken, to prevent Popery.  Whig 
I'll tell thee Tory, as well as I can, my full desires in it. And first of all, since the Papists after, all the Connivance, and favour that hath been shown them, 
* L. Scrogs Speech at Coalmans' Trial.  by a too merciful King, have so ungratefully, and monstrously, Plotted against the Government, and the Protestants of England, and continue still to do it; I would have the Laws put in severe Execution against them. I would have a time given them to quit the Realm, and if those that are by Law Guilty of Death, would not go, I would have them brought to Trial, and Execution. And if those severe Courses were for a while taken, we might hope to be rid of those Pestilent vermin, with whom we are now so much Troubled. And since we that are True Loyal Subjects by our Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy are Sowrn to defend and maintain the Protestant Religion, and to suppress Popery; I think it becomes all good men, in their several Stations, and capacities, what in them lies, to be Concurring with them to the same ends. And truly Neighbour Tory, I think we are Highly accountable to Almighty God, for our Neglect if we all do not colour utmost, to defend the Protestant Religion as it is now established in England, and to Oppose Popery, for how can we expect Pardon at the hands of God, if we tamely suffer his Truth to be rooted out from among us, and something introduced in the place of it, that shall bear the name of the Doctrine of of the Gospel of Christ, but patronise under that fair, and glorious name, the Worst of Villainies, and abominable crimes that either Pagans, or Mahometans, would blush to hear of. And though the Papists may impudently deny this, yet it's easy enough to prove it out of the W. N. things of many of their eminent men by their Cannons, Bulls, Decretals, etc. And, their Constant Practice. I am sorry to say this of them for there are many of them I know fine Gentlemen, and men of an extraordinary Sweetness, and pleasantness of humour. but if we look on these men in their Religious Capacity, and as they are set on by their Priests; though they are of so sweet amicable, and friendly Temper, yet would they cut mine, and a thousand Heretics Throats, to advance the Holy Roman Catholic Cause; so that they must Degenerate from being men and become Barbarous, savage, and Inhuman that so they may be True Christians.  Tory. 
You are very Violent Neighbour, against the Papists, and I hope you believe worse of them then indeed they are. But have a care of talking as you do of Opposeing popery, for if a Popish Prince Should ever come to Feign over us, can you believe he would Establish the Protestant Religion as it is now Enacted by Law, which is a Crime so black, and Odious, that every Papist that hath the least spark of Religion, or Honesty, will be very careful to Avoid.  Whig. 
I doubt not Neighbour, but that I have always behaved myself with as much I Loyalty, as you, or any other Tory in England; and have as deep a Sense of nay Allegiance, and Duty to my natural and Lawful Prince, as the Loyallest Subject of you all. I own it to be a thing most wicked, and Dishonest, to Oppose or Rebel against my Lawful Prince And I believe the Subjects ought by all Lawful ways, and means to look after the Conversation of their Laws and Privileges. And as for Popery; I protest Neighbour, I think you and I, and all True English men, aught to Oppose it to our utmost power, and to adventure our lives, and fortunes against it, at any time, whosoever they are that openly, and forciebly endeavour to introduce it upon us. For my part I declare, I had rather be cut in pieces in the Field if fight against it, that to be brought to the Stake at any Time, under its power. And I think I acquit my duty to God, and my Country best in so doing. But if it pleases God, after we have done what we can to prevent it, to suffer it to be Established over us, then is the time (I think) for us to show our faith, in suffering under it.  Tory 
Neighbour, I cannot be satisfied in my Judgement that I may Lawfully, Oppose Popery. For there is no crime. I would more Cautiously Eat than Rebellon. And since the Nation stands in so Hazardous condition, let us all pray that God will be pleased long to preserve his present Majesty to Reign over us, Dureing whose time we may expect Peace, and Tranquillity, to be continued amongst us.  Whig. 
I Hearty beseech God to grant him many and happy days, and that not only because our happiness and security Depends upon his Life, but because he is my natural and Lawful Prince, and as he is so we ought to pray for & endeavour, his happiness, & posterity cut of that natural Love and allegiance that we ought to bear to him. And of this mind are many thousands reproach fully called Whigs  Tory. 
In this we agree in our Love to our Prince though as some have ordered the matter, 'tis a very hard thing to believe you honest notwithstanding all your Oaths and protestations but of this Enough.  Whig. 
Time wall discover it, and so farewell Neighbour Tory.   

LONDON Printed for I Adam's