A DIALOGUE BETWEEN Simeon and Levi. Upon this TOPICK, WHETHER Flying from Suffering, in a Day of Persecution; Or, Complying with the Terms of the Persecuting Party, for a little Ease, be the more Honourable.  
With Allowance.  Levi, 
WEll met, Brother Simeon, after so great a Storm. The Blasts of Boreas have blown fierce upon us. The Elements have been black over, us; and nothing but the hideous noise of Thunderclaps have been heard among us. But now, through the Clemency of our Gracious Sovereign, there is a great allay. The Clouds are scattered, the fury of the Wind is over; the Air is calm and serene, and we being so happily met under a shadowing Tree, in this pleasant bright day, pray let us sit down and talk a little.  Simeon, 
With all my heart.  Levi, 
Then, how has it been with you all this time? how have you secured yourself from the terrible sufferings that have been every where? I see you look pretty brisk and bonny, which makes me conjecture you have not felt much of it.  Sim. 
Why, truly, no Brother; I have not; for in its first appearance (which was so ghastly, it made me tremble) I finding my strength to decay, betook me to the Country; where I lived, private, and in quiet, from the noise and clamours of all such things.  Levi, 
But had you not a Pastoral charge of a Flock?  Sim. 
I had so.  Levi, 
How then could you leave them?  Sim. 
I wisely foresaw, the rage of the Storm growing so great, that every one would be forced to shift for himself; and I was willing to save one betimes.  Levi, 
Methinks you have not acted like a good, but bad Shepherd, whose proper Charector is, when he sees the Wolf coming, to fly away, and leave his Sheep to be devoured.  Sim. 
I confess that looks a little awry upon me; but I have a plain Text to bear me out in what I have done.  Levi, 
Pray tell it me.  Sim. 
Why, if they Persecute you in this City, flee into another.  Levi, 
Without the help of Joseph's Cup, I divined what your Scripture would be. But you cannot surely think this any warrant at all for your practice: For beside that, this was spoken to Apostles, who had no care of any particular people: So it is meant of a flying only from suffering (which may be innocent) but not from work, which is your case; you (Jonah like) fled from your Pastoral Employment, to live Solitary in the Woods, to keep your skin whole.  Sim. 
Well, I will not stand in it, but I have done amiss; but of two Evils, I thought 'twas prudent to choose the lesser; if I had stayed, I might have gone to Prison and died (oh! terrible) as some other did, and so have been of no use now: Whereas I was ready, upon the first news of his Majesty's Indulgence (and as soon as I heard the Coast was clear of Informers) to pack up my Auls, and away to London, with as much speed as ever I tripped from it, (which was such, as I assure you secured me from the fate of Lot's Wife) and to repairing my wasted Synagogue I went; raised up the Galleries, jumbled together the Pews, and sold them too, as fast as I could toll in Customers; (for I had a panic fit of Zeal fresh come upon me to do my Master's work) and am now as hard at it as ever, and thump it about, as in the days of yore, and mean to continue so till— But pray, now you have examined me; give me leave to demand, where you have sanctuaried yourself; for you look as though you had born as little of the brunt as I?  Levi, 
Why, truly when I first saw the Clouds a gathering, I buckled on my Helmet, advanced my Voice, and standing is the high Place of the Tabernacle, I solemnly warned my People, with stretched forth Lungs, to prepare for the approaching Storm, and to be sure to stand to their Tackling, and not basely desert the Cause, as they would avoid another day the forever odious name of Renogadoes; and this I continued with much violence to do, till I was unhappily seized, and cast into Bondage.  Sim. 
Oh! sad (Horrisco audience)  Levi, 
But I tell you (for the encouragement of all that dare try it a little while: for I am not for long Imprisonment) I had a great deal of comfort, and refreshment in the time of my Captivity.  Sim. 
As how I pray?  Levi, 
Many sweet doses of glittering Guineas for a Cordial in a morning; sundry pretty Angels ministering to my necessities on high noon, when Colon began to grumble; and several Noble treatments attended my acceptance at night.  Sim. 
If I had known this, I would not have fled so fast from a Prison.  Levi, 
Ay, But Brother, you must know there was an ebbing tide in those Enjoyments (as there is in all created Comforts) the Springs of Consolation too soon (Ah, I tell you, too soon) abated of their Exuberancy; and then (ah then, my Strength fainted, and my Spirit no longer able to bear up) failed within me; then every thing in a Prison seemed dissatisfactory to me, and then it was I began to groan for Liberty; 'tis true, I had Friends in abundance came to visit me, but they were dry (therefore miserable) Comforters, Words flowed with a mighty torrent from their Mouths, but there was no dropping at their Finger's ends, from whence I always derived the most Satisfaction and Encouragement: I tell you Brother, one good well-mannaged Pocket-Argument ever had more prevalency with me to persevere, than an hundred airy Throat one's; for whilst I was boye● up by the former, I stoutly affirmed (with no want o● Confidence) the Ceremonies of the Church of England to be Abominable, the Frame of her Constitution wholly dis-agreeing to Gospel Light and Truth; but when those Supports shrunk from me, I soon altered my Opinion, I got a new pair of Spectacles, and read over the Comon-Prayer; and truly I could find nothing but good and sound matter in it; and so without further consideration, I resolved (rebus sic stantibus) to yield a profound Conformity to it, which I forthwith promised, and then with winged Celerity, I bid my Prison, my Keeper, my People, my Integrity an entire farewell.  Sim. 
Had you not better have gone into the Country as I did?  Levi, 
No, I thank you, I made a better Market of my short Imprisonment; I might have followed the Plough-tail long enough, before I should have met with those feeling Contentments I did there.  Sim. 
Which of us was the honester Man?  Levi, 
Nay, I can't tell that, but I think we have neither of us much to spare of that Commodity.  Sim. 
Which of us took the more honourable Way?  Levi, 
That must be left to the Judgement of some Learned Brethren, who are not altogether unacquainted with either of our ways.  Sim. 
What will the Men of the World say of us?  Levi, 
I know what they say of you.  Sim. 
What?  Levi, 
A Man may take a great deal of pains for God, in a fine cool day, when 'tis neither too hot, nor too cold; He may lay about him much, even to a mighty thumping the innocent Pulpit, making the Feathers lead a wearied life for want of a little rest; He may be very Industrious and Laborious; He may Preach much, Pray much, Catechise much, and yet when it comes to the pinch, and there be most need of his work Doelittle.  Sim. 
Say you so Brother; Ay, but do you know how the Carnal sort speak of you?  Levi, 
Deliver me out of pain, inform me quickly.  Sim. 
Why, they (that is, the Sons and Daughters of Men) say very peremptorily, A Man may Bluster and Thunder, lift up his Voice like a Trumpet, Roar like a Wide-mouthed Bull of Bashan, lay about him like a Tbrasher, Whine and Cry, Bawl and Yaul, Press and Persuade his Auditors to stand their Ground, and not comply in the least with sinful Traditions; and yet, when it comes to his own particular Case, to Buckle or Suffer, even such a one may show himself, (to his never to be forgotten shame) Non Vincens sed Victus.  Levi, 
We can't help it, I wish they have nothing more to say.  Sim. 
Do you think they will be tattling any thing else?  Levi, 
Yes, Yes, no doubt they will draw some outward Inferences from both our Practices: As 1st. True Zeal to God can't be measured by men's keeping a noise, when they have nothing to oppose them, till they come to the trial of a suffering Testimony. 2dly. They will be apt to conclude, that unless Jesus Christ hath some faithfuller Workmen, than you or I have appeared to be, his Work will certainly be left undone, when there is the most need of doing it. 3dly. I am afraid they will infer, that as our Saviour chose to ride upon a simple Ass, rather than a trapped Horse; so (according to the truth of the Mystery) he calls out poor low Men (that are little esteemed by the World) to bear the burden of his Service, in the day when he has most service to do. Lastly, 'Tis ten to one but those, who are not Followers of us, will be surmising, our present hotspur re-assumed Zeal, proceeds rather from a love to our dearly beloved selves, and our own Interest, than any true desire of advancing Christ's mediatory Kingdom.  Sim. 
These are base Inferences, and yet too natural. But Pray, let us meet suddenly again to discourse of our Friends of the Congregational way, to remark how they have carried it in the time of Persecution, whether like us or no?  Levi, 
I fear (upon examining the matter) we shall find a vast difference.   

Sold at the Three Kyes in Nags-Head-Court in Grace-Church-Street, over-against the Conduit, 1688.