THE PERSECUTED DISSENTERS ANSWERED.  
Being the Substance of a Discourse with one of them.  
In a Letter to a Gentleman of Grays-Inn.  
LONDON, Printed for the Author, and are to be Sold by E. Whitlock, near Stationers-hall. 1697.   

THE Persecuted Dissenter ANSWERED.  
SIR,  
BEing very late last night before I returned to my Lodgings, as I passed by the Groomporters, the Chair-men asked me, if I would not have a Chair? I told them, I could not afford it. A Gentleman that was passing by took occasion to say, I might have a Chair for a small matter; I asked him how much? He said, they never took less than a Shilling, though it was but to the next door, and yet I might be carried from thenee to Whitehall for the same Money: But continuing to say that I could not afford to pay for a Chair, he took the liberty to express himself very much against the Times and the Government, saying, that all true Christians were oppressed, and under a severe Persecution. I asked him how this could be, since the Government did allow Liberty of Conscience to all Religions and Persuasions? And though I could not by this time but give a shrewd guess what Judgement and Persuasion he was of, yet that I might be sure not to be mistaken, nor to seem too sensible of his meaning, I seemed ignorant, and instanced in the chief, and most known Dissenters, the Quakers, Anabaptists, Independants, and Presbyterians; saying that Liberty of Conscience was allowed to these and all others, and how then could any complain of Persecution? True, says he, Liberty of Conscience is granted to these and all others who do own the Authority of the present Government, but there is none allowed to those who are persuaded in their Consciences that King James is the Lawful King, and that this Government is no other than an Usurpation. Why, said I, would you have the Government tolerate its own Enemies? and pray is not King William's Title to this Government, as good as Caesar's was to that of the Jews, when our Saviour determined, upon the sight of his Coin, that Tribute should be paid to him? And I further added, if we may pay Caesar Tribute, we may Obey him, and if Obey him why not Pray for him? No, says he, our case and that of the Jews is very different; by the Word Caesar can be understood no more than the King, and so, if in our Common-Prayer Books there had been no express mention of King William, in exclusion of King James, we could have prayed for the King. I answered, if by Caesar our Saviour did understand the Person of that Caesar who was then the Supreme Governor of the Jews, as appears from the Nature, and Force of his argument, taken from the sight of his Image, and Superscription upon his Coin, as also from his willingness to suffer under Pontius Pilate his Deputy, and his owning his Power and Authority to come from God, than it is manifest that the case is the same. And that he might not have the least apprehension of Caesar's having a better Title to the Jewish, than his present Majesty to this Government, I told him that notwithstanding that Determination so much in Caesar's Favour, it was elsewhere evident that our Saviour did work a Miracle to pay Tribute to that Power, and Authority, which Caesar had put out of possession; for did he not command Peter to cast a Hook into the Sea, and to give that Money to the Tributarians of the Temple, which he should find in the Fish's mouth? And in as much as this Tribute was not paid to Caesar, but to the Temple, we may, with good reason conclude, that it had not Caesar's but the Temple's Image and Superscription upon it. Being able to make no Reply to this Argument, I took occasion thus to explain myself concerning paying Tribute and Obedience to King William, saying, by the same rule any one shall think it a sin to do, or say any thing that is an Acknowledgement of his Authority, he ought not to Receive, pay, or trade with any of his Coin, that shall have his Image and Superscription upon it, and that whoever does do it ought to own his Authority, and in effect does acknowledge it. I urged this consideration so far, as to say, you ought not with his Money so much as to buy a piece of Bread, if you deny his Authority. Why then, says he, we must starve; yes, said I, you must, and aught to starve, rather than do any thing that is contrary to what you are persuaded in your Minds to be the Truth, or is inconsistent with that Persuasion. But then, I added, this cannot happen to any that are willing to do as Christ and his Apostles did, who by their Virtues and Graces so recommended themselves to the Charity and Good will of others, that they did not want Food and Raiment convenient for them. Nor ought you to doubt but God, if your Cause and Virtues be good and great, will Bless and reward you in this or the next World, in propotion to the goodness of your Cause, and the greatness of your Virtues, as he always does those who worship him in sincerity and truth, and do lay down their Lives for the faith. To these things he answered only in a General and confused manner, without any chain of reasoning, saying the Times the Times were not now like those in the Apostles days, and that as this Government had not, so nor could it maintain its Authority, by any Doctrines of Reason and Justice, and so it ought not to be acknowledged, and submitted to. By this time, after several haltings by the way, we were come as far as the Horse Guards, and now perceiving in the Gentleman no more of that evenness and calmness of temper, which had at first engaged me to hearken to his complaints, I told him I must bid him Good Night, for my Lodgings lay the other way in the Strand. When he perceived he had drawn me out of my way, he civilly asked my pardon, and so we parted. Coming to my Inn, and reflecting upon this Adventure, with all the calmness and sedateness that I could, I could not but chide myself, that I had not brought him to my Inn, or enquired of him his Habitation, that so I might at another opportunity, have given him further satisfaction in these things. For though, as I said, his temper at last seemed to be disturbed and uneasy, and such as did even make me suspicious, lest he should have some design to draw me into inconveniencies, yet I could not but remember, that about the middle of our Discourse (when I had pressed him with some, as I thought very plain and easy Arguments for a peaceable submission to the present Government) he seemed to be convinced, and told me in a very modest, and humble manner (without as I thought all Art and Disguise) he should be glad to wait upon me, if I would give him leave, at my Lodging, or where I should appoint, for further satisfaction in a case that had hitherto so much troubled his Mind. And truly, I think, I was not so sensible as I ought, or I had complied with his Desire. Nor could it be any thing but Weakness and Fear, that made me decline so affable a condescension, and acknowledgement. And possibly so unexpected a disappointment from one of my profession, (who upon all occasions ought to inform and strengthen the minds of the wavering and doubtful) did so trouble and discompose his spirits, that he could not afterwards maintain that sedateness, and temper, which before had been so inviting. Nor did these my weak and feeble jealousies fail to work the like effects in my own Breast; so that our discourse about another's Title to the Sovereignty of a Nation, was concluded in a mutual abdication of that Sovereignty of Reason and Virtue, which ought to banish all those servile fears, and slavish suspicions, which so much dissipate all the Obligations of a generous Love, and Charity, to Friends and Enemies, that we cannot do those things which Virtue and Religion would else oblige us to. Thus, Sir, for want of other employment, at this time, presuming upon the greatness and freedom of our friendship, I have thought fit for your Diversion, to lay before you this last Night's adventure. I know very well this way and method of Reasoning, with this sort of Men is not approved of by many that are right well affected to the present Government, for that they do conceive it is not built upon a good Foundation; and when I have sometimes urged them with the Authority of St. Matthew, concerning our Saviour's working a Miracle to pay Tribute to the Temple, as you may find it in the latter part of his 17th Chapter, and which I have here alluded to, saying, that the Precepts and Practice of our Saviour, cannot but be built upon a good Foundation, they have denied the interpretation I put upon that place: But knowing that I have the Authority of many Learned Men, and that the Text does naturally admit of this explication, and no other, I do not doubt but I shall be able to justify this method of Reasoning with our prosecuted Dissenters; and as by former experience I have observed it to shake the height of their Confidence and Assurance, so I doubt not but I shall do a good piece of service for the interest of Truth, and the Peace and Tranquillity of men's Consciences, if I can, as I believe I can, make it evident, that as no Government will be so witless as to tolerate their professed Enemies, and those that disown their Authority; so all true Christians ma● and aught to live quietly and peaceable under the present Government, and enter into such obligations for the performance of their Duty, as the Government shall require. I am,  
SIR, Your Humble Servant, W. B. I.