A serious Letter to Dr. John own, Sent by a small Friend of his, relating to the intendments of Wallingford-house; Also a short friendly reply to a late Pamphlet of his concerning Tithes. SIR: IMmediately upon my arrival at this floating and giddy iceland, I thought it incumbent on me to inquire after the Men whose spirits began, and were led forth to the late revolutions in England; After I heard of those barbarous and Apocryphal names, of Fleetwood, that man of War; Lambert, that aspiring Commander; Desborough the Clown, and blind Hewson the Cobier, that accurate and dexterous translator of Government; the two former were represented to me as English Gentlemen, and so our Friends in the Netherlands imputed their actions to noble and generous designs, hammered on the Anvil of their profound Intellects; where note, that I account Fleetwood a grand politician, by a Figure the Learned call Irania, or if you will Synedoch, as Captain Allen, or Colonel Parker lately had it in one of their University Sermons; but to proceed, what these Rustical Plebeians Desborough and Hewson proposed to themselves, we admired, never conjecturing that this Meal-man would either Sift out a Government, or this Lord bring his Ends so together as to stitch it up, though a man that ever managed his All very well. From these Peasants I further inquired, what Clergy-men were famous, and notorious in these Usurpers account, presently a Friend of mine nominated Thankful own, late ambassador to Graves-end, and your Worship was cried up as high as Tyburn, as well known, and as little trusted; in my Travels Westward they called you Quaker, Northward Anabaptist, in Oxford a State Independent, in London a jesuit, beyond Seas a conscience-mender; I can scarce visit a Tavern, or Country Alchouse, but forth comes some of the Learned Works of John own, a Servant, &c. as if you were cut out to entertain all sorts of Guests; if I sand for Tobacco, your Books are the enclosure of it, and there I find your name stinking worse than that Indian Weed; the Cooks dare not venture it at the bottom of their pies, lest it should either spoil their sale, or stick as close to them as you do to Wallingford-house. Sir, I am unwilling( being the first time I ever Epistoliz'd to you) to divert you from your more weighty concernments, viz. The upholding of your deanery at Christ-Church, taking sanctuary at Amsterdam, should the Saints Kingdom be sovereign, or Dominion expire; If you ask, why I make so bold with you, as to inform you, how odious you are to all persons, who cannot so fordidly comply with every Government, pray and preach to every Faction, side with all Innovators; how you are by all serious men thought the scorn of Religion, a man either of a very wide or seared Conscience, this and much more I could tell you, but I presume you know them sufficiently: The slender acquaintance I have with you, and those small obligations, your deceitful promises, and contradictory practices to piety and honesty have imposed on me, may equally pled for my saying thus much, and no more Yours. SIR: SInce the writing of this, there is come to my hand a short reply to a Paper of yours, about Magistracy and Tithes, the man claims acquaintance and familiarity with you, being a Gifted Brother, and Quaker, as I guess by his style. Brother John own, I have a Message to thee, let not thy carnal mind cheat thee; Is Magistracy an Ordinance of God? then either in Capite, or Corpore, in a single Person, or Parliament, but in neither of these, ergo. 1 Does not the light within thee witness to thy wrinkled face, that thou John own wast instrumental, and by thy close juggling with a gathered Brood in Wallingford-house, didst countenance, promote, vigorously act to the downfall of timorous Richard, and dissolution of that famous Parliament? 2 As for Parliaments, didst not thou preach up, and down the Rump? After its resurrection thou calledst them dry Bones breathed into, and in a short time with Lambert, Desborough, &c. help rebury them, and preach their second Funeral Sermons. 1 Are Tithes due to those the world calls Ministers, and Parsons? then why did Christ rebuk those that Tithed Mint, Annis, and Cummin? and if these are forbidden, then sure greater matters. 2 Tithes is an Old Testament word, and( as a saddler in Oxford said of Christmas) then it was abolished at Christs coming. 3 The Tithes in Malachies prophesy were commanded to be carried into Gods Store-house, ergo not the Parsons Barn. 4 Suppose I have nine Hens, and they drop from their rumps but nine Eggs a year, Ile not give a turd for the Parsons tenth. When you have answered these Arguments, Ile peruse your Book, and i● there be any thing worthy a farther reply, you shall have it, with that sweetness and gravity as becomes your Person and cause. Vale. Tho. Truthsbye a Gifted Brother. Books lately printed. DOctor Owens Book against Beedle. 4o A picus Tract against the Lords Prayer, which hath much convinced Oxford scholars of the unlawfulness of its use. 4o Saints perseverance. fol. Sermons preached at the opening and shutting of the Parliament, and Wallingford-house. A●elaborate primer, with Sir Pointers observations in 18o. by the same Doctor. A Letter also which he sent to the Lord Monk, and Monks answer, not yet printed. All sold by Tho. Robinson Book-seller in Oxford. A Hue and Cry after Doctor own, by charles Fleetwood Esq; now in great distress for the loss of his Conscience, Generals place, and quondam comforter. A new Act, enjoining Dr. own to undertake to teach the confined Officers his primer, that so they may, when occasion serves, be allowed the benefit of the Clergy.