Numb.IV. 4 PP E ND I X 93 be taken for granted yeti cannot vindicate yourfelf. If you attempt it and fhould not do it to the Satisfa&ion of Impartial Men, the latter Art would be thought ' worfe than the ñrft, unlefs you lhould do it only by way of Apology, !hewing ' by what you were induced fo to write, as inyour Key you have done. But my thought is you had better never attempt it than not to carry it clearly ; and if you do that, I confefs it will be more than Idid expeá. ` And on the other hand, whether your Confutationbe full or faint, when it comes abroad, it will provoke both the Principal and his Adherents, many of ' whom are honeft Independants andAnabaptifts, prizing him upon a Civil Ac- count (at leaft in great part) for his great Accomplifhments for Civil Affairs, and ' fo indifpofe them to confider and receive your many worthy Propofals and Di- ' re&iogs, tending to gather fuch as were too much fcattered. And how far you may by filch a thing exafperate him and his Confederates againft not only you, ` but other Godly Minifters for yourfake (the thing you mention) is confiderable. ` But then again if it fluff be fuppofed that he is thatway difpofed and in Refolu- ' lution ingaged to the length of his aim already, and whether he be or no I can- ` not fay, I would hope otherwife) then it will be confiderable whether it will not be a good piece ofService to weaken his Inrereft fofar as relateth to his Counfels 'about Church Affairs, by difcovering his weaknefs and unfoundnefs in things of ' that Nature. And how far your intermedling this way (I mean in relation to his ` unfoundnefs) in your own Vindication, may draw on you a Sufpiciunof, Uncha. ritablenefs (if you fhoulddo it) is hard to fay. He is now in place of Power ` (whether upon better Terms thanNero or thofe trader him will not be theQue- ' Rion;) but how far it would have befeemed a Minifter of theGofpel, and pub- ' lickly to have difcovered the then Rulers Unfoundnefs, would be a Quellion. I ' do acknowledge alto that a great deal of Care and Tendernefs of due belongs to the Reputationof your Perlin and Name inrelation to your placeand Office in ` the Church, as well ask does toanother in refpeet of his place in the Common- `. wealth. So that if you could heal theWound which the Author of the Vindicati- ' on path endeavoured to make, without wounding the Name, or touching the ` publick Authority now veiled in him (Sir H. V.) 1 think the ode would be clear. ' But then this I think would be without difpute,. that if you find carafe to print, that then you carry things with all Chriffian Sweetnefs, evidencing your Tender- ' nefs to theNames of Men fo far as may poflìbly confift withyour Faithfulnefs to a greater and better Intereft. And I have heard the Author of the Vindication blamed by feveral of Sir H. V. his Friends, for his Edge and Birrernefs. The `lets of thatappeared, the more is gained in any Perfonal Conseils : I !hall pray 'the Lord to dire& your Thoughts, but do not think my felf wife enough to be ` pofitive in thisAdvice. . As for that which concerns the Anabaptifts Offence, I ' incline much to think the fafett will be not to meddle In it for the prefent: And '-if you think good to Communicate your Knowledge ofthe Churches of the Ana- '-baptifts ; their petitioning for Juflice to bedoneupon the late King, I Ihall as I 'haveOpportunity, acquaint them what you have in readinefs to make good your quarrelledAffertion, but that tendernefs to them, and Chriftian Peace, hath for 'the prefent bound your Hands. Asfor the Author of the Sober Word, whole Name is Mr. yobs fackfan, for- '-merly:Grand Treafurer for the Excite, I think from thebeginning of it to the '-Change of Government, and now in Commifionfor bringing in all Arrears of `Excite, 6.c. you will not need, I think to do any thing publickly, I meeting ' him lull Night at the Militia (where he and Ihad occafion to be) I thought good 'to acquaint him with fo much of your Letter as concerned him : And in return ' hebath promifedme a piece of his, which he will delire me to fend to you for ` your furtherSatisfaátïon touching him as to be no Jefuitical Defigner : I think it's madeagainftthe Quakers. For that which concerns Mr. Tombes hisName, I had heardof it more partial- ' laxly than you exprefs ; and am troubled that fo little bath been done by himfelf '.towards his own Vindication, unlefs more bath been done than bathcome to my 'Ear. I queflion whether he will make it known foas to be communicated toyou ' to be hisdelire that you lhouldwrite an Epifile, Óv. If he fhould, a Workof that 'nature mayreceive your Countenance andAtteltation,if it deferve ir,without con- ' cerning your felf in his Morals. You have (if my Intelligencebe right) in your ` County, and in the County ofGlofefler, armed Defignes brought almoll to the ` Birth, and are like to put you fuddenly into Trouble, ifnot made Abortive. `Endeavours are on foot for Prevention: fome Referee of Horfe and new Arms have
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