REMARKES' UPON A PAMPHLET Styled, A Letter to a Dissenter, etc.  
In another Letter to the same Dissenter.  
SIR,  
AN highly applauded Pamphlet fell into my hand, at that instant when I was sealing my last Letter to you, relating to the Penal Laws and ●ests, I then purposed to tell you my thoughts thereof in a Postscript, but being diverted till the Post was gone, and yours of the 8th Instant mentioning the thing, this comes to tell you, that I have slightly run it over, and do perceive the Wordy Author designs thereby to allure the Dissenters to a Contempt and Rejection of the King's benign Purpose to them. It's Title, and another Circumstance, your early notice of it, inclines me to conclude that it was wrote to you; whether so or not; I shall briefly Remark upon it. The great Man sets out floridly; As a Modish Person, he accosts the poor Dissenter by way of Address. The Courtship seems to me sudden and surprising, and I suspect the Design, for I take it to be something judas-like, for one of the Epistlers Figure and Spirit, to approach a Mechanic, and a Schismatic to boot, in the humble way of Hat and Knee.  
But he doubts not of kind reception, provided that his Dissenter will take his Word, when he affirms, that he is neither a Coward, nor a designing or freetfull Man. I wish he had put his Name to his Letter, because some will have it, that the Author is a Person so transcendently Haughty and Ambitious, that he little regards what, or whom he Sacrifices, may he but become head of a party. But,  
If he gains not the Point, by the glorious Character which he ascribes to himself, his reasons must undoubtedly (as he conceits) win him the Day; his friendship commanding you to allow them to pass Muster, for he pledges his Word, that the time of day, disposes him to Charity, therefore in this nick of time, you are neither to call into Question his Wisdom, Honesty, or Affection; a most lucky period.  
In confidence that I have at least an equal title to your Friendship, his being but newly contracted, and ours what Storms hath tried; I shall, in my old plaindealing way with you, observe, that the Gentleman's stock both of Charity and Truth is very suddenly exhausted, for he instantly charges to his Dissenters account both the Exclusion and Rebellion: Were the Fact so, and the Brat laid at the right Door; Why should this high Pretender to Loyalty, check in any Delinquent, a graetful Resentment of his Majesty's Forgiveness? But,  
Should the Fanatic (to avoid wrangling with the Church of England) agree to make an equal Partition with her, of the mentioned Crimes, and their deserved shame? The half would far exceed his due share: Then will it be consistent, with her breeding, and superlative Virtue, to yield him the honour of all the Repentance and Confession.  
In the next place your Friend craves audience, and passing the Compliment, that he yet hopes you in your Wits, he bids you beware of New Friends (a very pertinent caution, your Friendship with him being yet in the blossom) and  
He bespeaks you to be a prudent Christian, and not to hazard the public Safety, by the desire of Ease or Revenge. Good again.  
To enforce the first (viz.) that you are to suspect new Friends, he insinuates, that you are not to be carried over, by smooth Language now put on to engage you, by the way, the expression intending to insinuate a cheating Design, had been as well worded (Words (with abundance of spite) being mainly what fills the Paper now before me) had it said, putting off of smooth Language, or making what is Gilded over, to pass as Current Coin; but whether off or on be best, in this place; in the next, the Gentleman doffing his Clothes, personates an enraged slighted Mistress (or Rival) and tells you, that she (for to follow our Amorous Author, we must for a time change the Sex) had the the first offer, and you have only the coy Lady's leave. It is then evident (and shall be anon further made out) that she held a parl; with your new Lover, ay, but if you will credit her, she saw his Deformity, and therefore rejected him. I doubt you will get little by enquiring of the Sqeamish Dame, whether punctilioes of Honour, hopes of higher Terms, or the Devil's Pride and Envy, did not occasion her rash refusal, and whether she doth not too late repent it? for Questions of this kind do rarely receive direct and honest Answers. I shall therefore according to my wont freedom, exhort you to stand upon your Guard, that she may not play you a trick, and then reproach you. He now (for the Aggressor in Love, must be concluded to wear Breeches) makes court to you, examine carefully, I beseech you, whether you are his Choice, and not his Refuge, if the last, it will be your wisdom to make sure terms with him, and allowing the Gentleman to mean as he would be taken, you have his own advice, that you are not to yield over hastily to new Friends upon their bespeaking you fairly. He tells you, that you cannot reasonably flatter yourself that there is (with your Lover) any inclination to you: I incline to think as he doth, if he takes it, that beding together is to be the next thing in the case, (then 'tis probable that no Love is lost) but I have heard, that a Person disappointed in his first Amour, is ever after cold, and indifferent, in Affection; and therefore since the Church of England affirms, that she refused to strike up a Bargain, I will believe, that a chaste Dissenter, may live in the same Kingdom, with the Romanist, without the hazard of a Rape.  
They (the Papists, saith the Letter) never pretended to allow you any Quarter, but to usher in Liberty to themselves, under that shelter. Well then, you are out of danger of being put to the Sword, you may have Quarter, a Grace refused you by the Church of England. Ay, may you say, but what are the terms? why, such as are very equal, and highly reasonable, both Parties have been long and sorely galled by the Canon of the Church of England. The Papists will now help to dismount them, and they call for your aid; I pray what harm in all this, and why so much noise against it?  
And it proceeds; Nay, at this very hour they can hardly forbear in the height of their Courtship, to let fall hard words of you, so little is nature to be restrained. The Gentleman may well say, 
Pudet haec opprobria nobis,  
Et dici potuisse, & non potuisse refelli.   
You and I do know, at this very hour, and so doth he, the names of dignified Sons of the Church of England, who declare, that the Devil will have both Papist and Dissenter. This I'm sure is none of the softest Language.  
But you are told in the next Paragraph, That Liberty and Infallibility are the two most contrary things in the World. I affirm, that it is beyond contradiction true, that our errable Church of England has run to the Arguments of that Church, which claims Infallibility; to justify herself, in her attempts, to extirpate Dissenters; and (right or wrong) they had been Ruined, had not the present King's Clemency rescued them.  
But the Principles of the Roman Church allow not Liberty to Heretics. Nor do those of the English Church to Schismatics; such she esteems her Dissenters, and as such, she (when in Power) constantly treats, and labours to destroy them.  
If so, the argument of present hugging, in order to the better squeezing hereafter, vanishes; and the setting up Bills, and offering Plasters for tender Consciences; may deserve as great regard from the Romish, as from the Lambeth Church, and in our present conjuncture much more.  
The Gentleman goes on to tell you. The other day you were Sons of Belial, now you are Angels of Light. And he asserts, that to come so quick, from one extreme to another, is such unnatural a motion, that you are to look to yourself. Pray do so, and in doing it, remember, that in the word of a King there is Power; and that the Church of England, which now hath none, to hurt or save (till her present exigence extorted a Compliment) styled you a Child of Darkness.  
In the next place the Men of Taunton and Tiverton (for sound or Jingle sake, no doubt) are hooked in, and their Loyalty ridiculed: notwithstanding in this our Churchman's opinion, that renders them vile, it would not offend a good Subject, to see others imitate them, and though H. (at this day) non est litera; methinks Hull and Hallifax o a Northern-man, should chime every whit as well as T. and T. of the West; wherefore, pray prevail with your new Friend (who will not break with you in trifles) to write a second Letter Northward, and if your Intrigue with him continues till the return of the general Post, (for we are admonished to have a very tender regard to Horses) I doubt not but he will be obliged to tell you that the worthy Inhabitants of those Places, have the courage to ure Loraliy with any of his Majesty's Subjects. If I mistake them, Libera me.  
Now our Valiant Author (the West being vanquished) points Southward, and picks a Quarrel with the poor Quakers. This may well surprise you, I'm sure it did me at first sight; for you and I believe they will not draw the Sword, much less encounter a Goliath; therefore you may say, certainly no fear of them to a fearless Man; ay, but the Gentleman now handling them, resolves to spoil an English Proverb, and to his courage would monopolise Wit, and the Quaker he says has learned to speak sense, and which is worse, he becomes mannerly, to such a degree, that this your new Friend (who grumbles for a place at Court) begins to suspect himself in some danger of being postposed; for the Quaker having given the King decent thanks for his Protection, may, for aught he knows, become Courtier. (Sir) you are now to believe the Gentleman has spit his Poison, for he tells you, that no sharpness is to be mingled where healing only is intended; and he promises hereafter to say nothing to expose particular M●n, how strong soever the temptation may be, or how clear the proofs to make it out; he might as well have said, Now Gentlemen Dissenters look to your hits, we have been Complicens, provoke me not to detect our Rogueries; please me or all shall out, (but begging his Pardon) he shall speak for himself, and see what follows; 'tis in friendship this; for Arguments sake, and to promote the proposed healing, the honest well-meaning Man, (not willing to tell tales) bearly whispers you, poor deluded Dissenter, in the Ear; that to his knowledge there is Death in the Pot, your Minister is a Knave, you are Sold, the Money is Paid, and you are most certainly Betrayed.  
Is not this said like a Church of England Worthy, not tied or confined to this or that subdivision of Protestants, like one estranged from sharpness, and who affects and intends healing? Can Hell itself furnish a more inveterate and malicious Insinuation?  
We remember the time, when some Men talked of Pensioners in Parliament; they obliged the World with a List of those who were reputed such, and if I mistake not, with the Name of him, who they said, hired and paid them.  
The Dissenter now addressed to, for his own safety, aught to challenge this his new Suitor, for the Names of such Ministers as have made the bargain and sale suggested, and methinks his Charity, and the warmth of his Affection, should dispose him to gratify such a modest and necessary Request; if it be refused I must conclude my Friend so far gone in his Passion, that he has wholly lost his Understanding, should this Gentleman's Courtship, any longer impress, or influence him.  
Now our Author falls with down right Blows upon the Addressers, and bestows bitter Invectives upon them, and upon the Government to boot; that part of his Libel deserves and probably will be reckoned for in Westminster Hall, therefore I shall shun the danger of becoming his Accessary by transcribing him.  
Then he betakes himself to Flattery, and tells you, that if you had to do with those riged Prelates who made it a matter of Conscience to give you the least Indulgence, but kept you at an uncharitable distance, and even to your more reasonable scruples continued stiff an inexorable, the argument might be fairer on your side.  
I conclude then, that your Argument to accept of Liberty from the King, is no way enervated: Is here any sort of proof, that Prelacy has changed its thoughts, and put on tenderness to you; you may not trust this undertaker in a thing so valuable as is that, now discussed, the Church of England cannot intend well, or use you so, (without incurring the guilt of Perjury as I have heard her say) till she gives up her Laws of force, and you see that her Zeal to uphold them occasions this great concussion in the Kingdom, wherefore, I doubt she is not right; and your only sure way of dealing with her, seems to me to be, to disarm her by Act of Parliament, of every Weapon which the Gospel did not put into her hand, then I'm sure She can do no Mischief.  
Reverend Mr Baxter's expectation was raised about twenty six years since, by the same pretence, as now yours is to be, but after the than Prelacy (which I am confident the present will not disown) had long triffled with him and his worthy Brethren, about healing, in the Savoy Conferences; they found themselves disappointed and shamed: If the Church be as skilful in Chirurgery as our Author would persuade, she was the more to blame to hold the Patient so long in hand, as than she did, and in fine to leave or make the Wound worse than she found it. (honesty I do find is absolutely necessary to a good Chirurgeon) The same Spirit still lives in our Churchmen, or it may in time to come return again, and possess them; you have then no other way to conjure down the evil Spirit of Persecution, but by a Repeal of the Penal Laws, that only can assure you, that a rigid Prelacy shall not hereafter destroy you; and you have reason to take the Alarm at your Wooers next harangue, (Nescit nox missa reverti). She or He (no matter which) has enchantment in her Face, and can instantly put your Nose out of joint with your new Friend, nay look you Dead; for you are told, that at this very hour and in the heat and glare of your present Sunshine, the Church of England can in a moment bring Clouds again, and turn the royal Thunder upon your Heads, blow you off the Stage with a breath; if she would give but a smile or a kind word, the least glimpse of her compliance would throw you back into the state of Suffering and draw upon you all the arrears of Severity which have accrued during the time of this kindness to you.  
This is in truth (my good Friend) plain dealing, look to yourself therefore, and make your peace with her, or you perish, (if you believe her) for Clouds, Thunder and Tempests a wait, (and as she saith) are at her command; She can at pleasure take you into her Power, add to your Yoke, and chastise you with Scorpions, and that's not all; She can bring you to an Aster-Reckoning, lash you for playing Truant, and exact what you have run in Arrear (this last discovery will undoubtedly porcure the Gentleman an Address of Thanks from Doctor's Commons, for the City Dissenters are near two years' Reut run, there) Nay, and to complete your misery (after all the Reckonings paid) She can by her Excommunication, throw you, with a quick hand to Satan.  
You may demand, what shall poor I do in this my great Strait? Why, as you love your Life keep out of her Clutches, defy her, and atone our English jupiter, That he may not entrust his Thunderbolts in this mad Hand.  
Be true, I beseech you, to your Interest, and deport yourself so to the King, that your new conciliated Friendship, which she upbraids, and envies, may not be endangered.  
I shall now give you a Reason or two, why you may justly suspect this Gentleman, now making Love to you in the Name of the Church. I find his Letter stuffed with malicious and false Infinuations against dissenting Ministers (amongst whom I never found a Knave) I will therefore hope that my telling you Truth, tho' to his Disparagement, will not be taken as a Breach of the Rules of good Manners.  
If the Church of England's Commissioners in the present Treaty with you, have been tampering with those of the Roman Communion, and offering Terms for the Life of their dearly beloved Penal Laws: If they, to come a little closer, have proposed, That if the Roman Catholics will not join with you, for the Repeal of those Laws, they shall be secured against any imaginary Danger from the Test-Penalties, in a succeeding Reign, by a Mortgage of the Honours and Estates also, of some great Men driving that Bargain. I say, should this be true, there's certainly Mischief in her Heart, and she will revenge your running her into this Encumbrance, by teaching you hereafter, (as Gideon did the Men of Succoth) with Briers and Thorns.  
If She hath her Ambassadors at this very Hour, treating an Alliance with the Papists, and proposing to yield them Liberty by Act of Parliament, with Exception of the Fanatic.  
If these, or any others, should at this time, prate and bu●, Fears and jealousies in your Ears, you are obliged to be deaf; upon pain of all the Mischief they intent you. The Church seems to tremble the bloody Tyrant, and seeing her Power reduced, she would be content for a time, to turn Pedagogue, and whip-Boys, to keep her Hand in●ure.  
The Church Plenipotentiary, towards the close of his Letter, points his Wrath towards the King and his Government: And with you, he seems to descend to calm (but very wickedly intended) Reasoning. It is with Regret that he beholds you disposed to quarrel the Church of England now she is upon the Brink of Suffering: 'Tis very unkind in you, for she never persecuted the Dissenters, but by Direction, and as she was set on: A bad Excuse, you know, is better than none. The Gentleman further insinuates (and you are to believe him if you will) That the taking away the Penal Laws and Tests (the Bane of Religion, and of Liberty) will put you under a Tyranny, and absolutely destroy you. In truth (Sir) were I in the East Indies, the sight of this lamentable Complaint would greatly move me, for I should doubt the Case of the Church of England to be very deplorable, but 'tis a great Blessing that all this is Misrepresentation, and soul Slander. The King's Promise secures her of Peace and Plenty, and that Act of Parliament which shall secure you out of her Paws, may give her further Security if she wants it. This her grim faced Representative, seems to take his short and angry Turns, like the Tower-Lyon, and ever and anon roars; but 'tis not want, but a ravenous Appetite to rend and tear, that occasions all this Wrath and Rage: Nature will be Nature. Therefore you may tell the Church in your Excuse (for a reason of your Doings ought something to appease her toward you) in the language of the Lepers: (My Distress is great.) If I still sit here, I die, if the Syrians save me alive I shall live; if they kill me I shall but die.  
To coke's and work you off, from getting Liberty of Conscience, from the only Hand which can dispense it: You are told that some of the Church of England were Trimmers for enduring you, and the Maxim was, It is impossible for a Dissenter, not to be a Rebel.  
This Gentleman certainly thinks that you have forgot, who gave those moderate Men that Name of Reproach, therefore you may tell him, That to your Knowledge the Church esteemed them but spurious Sons, and could not endure them, becaufe they gave you a good Look; you need not go to Gloucester to make this out; but if you should let me engage you to take Salisbury in your way, and inquire there how the Church treated a Protestant Reconciler. If you do so, pray use your Interest with her, and try whether in this height of her Caresses, she will demonstrate the sincerity of her Affection to you, by recomending it to that Doctor to recant his Recantation.  
As to the Maxim cited, It is impossible for a Dissenter not to be a Rebel. I am certain it was delivered from a Pulpit, nearer to Ludgate then that of Limestreet.  
So much for the Gentleman's angry and whedling part; Now I bring you to his Politics: and the Dissenters are mere Fools, if they trust not to his most wise Conduct, for he saith you (silly soul) act very unskilfully against your visible Interest; this were to purpose indeed, if made out, but the Mischief of it is, the powerful Argument of Interest turns against him; The Dissenters Liberty may nowbe certainly established, but, saith the Church, I see my halcyon Days at hand, put on a little Patience, and then you and I will treat about the Matter. Were you in the Extremity of the Stone, and sure of receiving present Ease by an infallible Chirurgeon, your next Neighbour, who tells you his Price, and ever made good his Word; how would you entertain that Friend's Counsel, who should say, let me advise you to wait a little, for I hear that Germans excel all others in this Case, and about Six Months hence I may bring you one from Vienna to try his Skill: But to be plain with you, when he comes, he will leave you as he finds you, if you break with him for Terms; but I do think he will not be unreasonable, for he hath a very good Character: I know you have an Answer at Hand, therefore (without leading you) I pray transmit it to this your Counsellor.  
A Word or two more, and I have done; He passes his Word, That the Church of England is convinced of its Error, in being Severe to you. I know not how this will pass with you, but being too much a Stranger to this Author, and to the nature of his Commission, I should be glad to see her put out her own Declaration of Repentance; for should this Person have Authority to speak for her (though of old, true Penitents spoke for themselves) he doth it so ukwardly in this Paper; that, to be plain, I suspect 'tis insincere; for he contends, and that with the height of Passion, to uphold her Penal Laws, and I have no other Quarrel with her, but about Thunderbolts.  
He proceeds, The Parliament, when ever it meeteth, is sure to be gentle to you: 'tis the first thing we agree in, and it grieves me that we could not hit upon it sooner; I do hope and believe, he is at length in the right, but that I may not be cheated; if you find him in good humour, when you see him; let him know from me, (with my service) that my suffrage shall never help him, or any of his Spirit and Principle into the House of Commons; He admonishes you not to misapply your anger, allow another Friend to exhort you, not to misplace your Voice, when the King shall please to call a Parliament, and you will oblige yourself and me.  
Setemb. 10 1687. Adieu, Yours Affectionately, T. W.  
FINIS.