Dr. Burnet's LETTER To his Friend in LONDON. Being an Answer to a late Scurrilous Pamphlet Entitled HIS FAREWELL.  
SIR,  
MY acquaintance with you, which happily commenced at our meeting in Scotland, and those many friendly caresses wherewith you have vouchsafed to salute me, are the daily remembrancers of that great respect and veneration I owe you, and seem to imply that I have leave to address myself to you as to an Asylum, a place of refuge and security. I know Sir, you are, so great a friend to truth and honesty, that you always appear vigorous in the defence of Innocency, you comfort the Dejected, relieve the Oppressed, and to speak the sense of all that know you, your Charity is universal, and extends itself to the several exigences of those that become your Petitioners.  
My circumstances at present enforce me Sir (without any Introductions, or circumlocutions) to Solicit your favour for the prevention of that mischief that so loudly threatens me. I am sensible that the lashes, and persecutions of malevolent Tongues, are more intolerable than the severest of human inflictions, and to my great▪ dissatisfaction ay find, since my departure, I am too too grossly scandalised, and reproached▪ what the consequence of such popular licence may prove, such a discerning person as yourself may easily foresee: To you therefore Sir, and to all other Gentlemen of the like integrity▪ and veracity, I apply myself, that by your undaunted Vindication of me, you may put a check to that impetuous torrent of Scandal that seems to overwhelm me.  
I am lately Sir, exposed, and insufferably abused not only by the perverse Tongues of inveterate Men, whose Passions are as irregular as their Morals; But by the wider and more licentious Mouth of the Press: The scurrilous Pamphlet has circulated the Town, and by this time I presume it is seen by you. How full of Spleen and Malice it is, is easily discernible to any unprejudiced person. The Spirit of malediction is so notoriously visible through every line, that one would think, people should not be so credulous as to take for granted, what is so slily insinuated by the mercenary-Scribler. I shall therefore unravel all the Vanity, Folly, and inconsistency of that sheet that bears so hard upon my Reputation. Wherein you must understand he First gives me the Title of a Confessor, yes and Confessor to the Late King of Poland, too. A great promotion to which this insignificant Pamphleteer advances me: Certainly if ever impudence be reckoned a virtue▪ 'twill be now, for never did shame, and imposture prevail so much upon a people as at this Instant,  
The next Compliment he affords me is no less than deep died Rebel, and makes me leap from Poland into Hungary in a moment, and to show himself a man of judgement he pretends a substantial reason for so doing▪ which is ●●d likeness▪ 〈◊〉 (his hard word) Congeniality to the Cause here. Profound pieces of Scandal! I would fain know whether this mighty Man of Parallels, values himself upon such a production; if he does, I must tell him, that any Billingsgate Oyster Woman can easily arrive at the like excellence. For Scandal, and Reproach is the talon of the Rabble, and Porters, and Carmen can challenge as great a share as our Scribbler. But however Sir, this is my comfort, that men of that sobriety and seriousness of life with yourself, cannot easily entertain any vile, or mean thought of me. Now 〈…〉 this clutter about Hungarian Rebels his Tapsky's- Perkinaski's, his ridiculous chiming with Routs and Riots, Confusion, and Faction; His profane intermixing Sacred History with his excrementitious stuff, his ridiculous discourse of the Acts of the Diet, his foolish story of Milk and Mackrel; What is it the Gentleman fixes upon me? Why Sir, 'tis some Enormous Crime, some grande nefas, & morte piandum, no less than Misprision at least. Now where's the proof of what is so heavily laid to my charge? Not a word of seriousness, argument, or any thing like to be found.  
I shall therefore to satisfy you Sir (and all whose curiosity leads 'em to peruse those Pamphlets that are daily vended) open myself with all ingenuous freedom and plainenss, for the confirmation of that good opinion you have conceived of me. The general outcry against me is in reference to that Gentleman, my late Lord Russel, of my advising him to conceal and palliate those things, which he seemed to confess of his own inclination; The report is so current and so universally received, that it is not without great difficulty to remove their prejudices. But those that will credit truth when, as delivered with such asseverations, can distinguish 'twixt credulity, and mistaken zeal, and I suppose will vouchsafe to believe me upon those Protestations.  
1. I declare that I had no other design in visiting my Lord in his unhappy circumstances, than to give him Spiritual instructions and advice for the benefit of his Immortal Soul. Let the malice of men suggest what it pleases, the dictates of my own conscience tell me, that I have done nothing but what a Christian might Honourably justify before the face of the whole World. And in that capacity of a Divine, I reckoned it my duty (considering my acquaintance with his Lordship) to interpose with my Prayers and Spiritual assistances. But for having that influence over his Lordship, as people would fain represent, is a mistake as groundless as ridiculous▪ Besides, they little imagine how much they reflect upon his Lordship's judgement, to be biased according to the insinuations of any near him. 'Tis certain my Lord fell not under the Character of so injudicious a Person amongst the knowing part of mankind, as to be so easy, and credulous as to be modelled according to any one's fancy.  
But for myself I must declare that I had no interest in paying him those frequent visits, but the real promotion of his Souls Eternal welfare.  
2. As for my disaffection to the present Established Government or my lukewarmness, or damned neutrality (as they call it) 'tis as Groundless as the former objection against me. I am, I presume, so well known, that I need not make any great Apology for this calumny against me. Those that have had the opportunity of my Conversation and the advantage of my Ministry, cannot find by any of my discourses any thing tending to the derogation of the Government.  
However this abusive Pamphleteer takes great Freedom with me, and 'tis no wonder, for it must be an elevated piece of Impudence that does the thing when nothing of reality appears in the Accusation.  
3. Be pleased to observe the scurrility of his language; he says I have nothing but a Religious cant to recommend me to the Observation of any judicious person. I have no mind to take notice of the obloquy, since I am not fond of my Credit in that particular. There is no man has more humble thoughts of himself than I have▪ and for his envious reflections that I was taken notice of before any of the Reverend Prelates of the Land, by the Members of Parliament, I have nothing to say at present, but that my designs were Honourable, without any affectation of popularity.  
I must be bold to say that I have a great veneration for that August Assembly, and what I have delivered from the Pulpit, has been honestly designed, and meant.  
4. As for those Doctrines which he would needs insinuate that I approve; I utterly deny it. Assistance and taking up Arms against Lawful Authority, is a Doctrine I never believed, neither did I ever teach, or encourage it. My conversation has been always peaceable, free from extremes, and if my strictness of Life, and strongly inculcating of it to others is become a Crime, I wonder to what a pitch of impiety the World will come. As I have been a Son of the Church of England, I endeavoured (in that Sphere I was) to keep up its Credit and reputation against the wild Opinions of some hot Brained people. But I find let a man be never so Orthodox, some people (who make it their business to disparage our reformed Religion) will find somewhat whereby to calumniate and reproach him. I wish this licentious Spirit of malediction may be stopped, otherwise I cannot find but the very foundations of our Church and Religion will totter, and come to Ruins▪ I am sure some would be glad to see her in the Dust.  
Lastly for the other inconsistent fopperies his imputation of Lechery and Treachery, to pass it over in silence would be the greatest piece of prudence. The great sceptic's of the Age know no more compendious way to affront Religion, than by casting dirt in Face of its Professors; And in their most remarkable abuses they are sure something will stick close, that afterwards may reflect upon a man's reputation, fortiter calumniare, aliquid haerebit.  
Now after all Sir, I must beg your pardon for this Freedom in molesting you with such ungrateful repetitions; However my design is to satisfy a too credulous World, that those common popular reflections upon me, are the inventions of Malice and revenge. I find other people that make considerable Figures in the Church, cannot be exempted from unwarrantable reproaches, what with their Queries etc. No serious person can be secure without being Stigmatised.  
To you therefore I apply myself that by your influence over your acquaintance you may stop that Torrent that seems to carry all before it. This you may please to let the World know that the Dr. (for reasons best known to himself) though at present retired will appear again to the confusion and confutation of such pedantic Calumniators as our insignificant Pamphleteer. I am with all respect and submission,  
Your Humble Servant, G. B.   

London, Printed by G. C. for A. Gad, 1683.