"that teacheth to deny all ungodliness and worldly "lufts, and to live foberly, righteously, and godly in "this prefent world," I fay, without fubjection hereunto, there is no attaining to that holiness which will give thee an entrance into his prefence, in which is joy and pleasure for ever. And examine with thyfelf, how remote thou art from the guidings and inftructions of this fpirit of grace, who canft countenance this age in frequenting their wicked and vain fports, plays and entertainments, conforming thyself to ridiculous cuftoms, and making one at idle talking and vain jefting, wherefoever thou comeft, not confidering thou fhalt account with the dreadful God for every idle word. And let all thy frolick associates know, their day is haftening, in which they 'fhall not abide the prefence of him that fits upon < the throne. It fhall be a time of horror, amazement, and distress: then fhall they know there is a righteous holy judge of all. As for thee, with pity is 'thy condition often in my thoughts; and often is it my defire that thou mayeft do well: but whilft I fee thee in that fpirit which favours of this world's delights, eafe, plenty, and esteem, neglecting that one thing neceffary, I have but little hopes. However, I could not let this plain admonition pass me; and what place foever it may have in thy thoughts, I am fure it is in true love to that which fhall be happy or miferable to all eternity. I have not fought fine words, or chiming expreffions; the gravity, the concernment and nature of my fubject admits no fuch butter-flies. In fhort, be advised, my friend, to be ferious, and to ponder that which belongs to thy eternal peace. Retire from the noise and clatter of tempting visibles, to the beholding HIM who is invifible, that he may reign in thy foul, God over all, exalted and bleffed for ever! Farewel.

I am thy well-wifhing, real friend,

< W. P.'

This year was published the first of his printed works, under the title of "Truth Exalted;" which is retained in this Collection.

About this time, two of the hearers of one Thomas Vincent, a prefbyter in the Spittle-Yard, came over to the Quakers: their paftor thereat tranfported with fiery zeal, (a thing fertile of ill language) railing to his auditory, accufed the Quakers of holding most erroneous and damnable doctrines. This coming to our author's ears, he, together with George Whitehead, demanded of Vincent an opportunity to defend themfelves and friends: a conference was agreed to be held at his own meeting-house, at which feveral points of doctrine were started and debated, but nothing fairly determined from hence our author took occafion to write a little book, intituled, "The Sandy Foundation "fhaken," which gave great offence to fome then at the helm of the church, who prefently took the old method of reforming what they call error, by advancing at once their strongest argument, viz. · An

order for imprisoning him in the Tower of London.' There was he under clofe confinement, and even denied the visits of his friends: but yet his enemies attained not their purpofe; for when, after fome time, his fervant brought him word, that the bishop of London was refolved he fhould either publickly recant, or die a prifoner, he made this reply: All is well: I wish they had told me fo before, fince the expecting of a release put a stop to fome business. Thou mayest tell my father, who I know will afk thee, thefe words: that my prifon fhall be my grave, before I will budge a jot ; for I owe my confcience to no mortal man: I have no need to fear, God will make amends for all they are mistaken in me; I value not their threats and refolutions; for they fhall know I can weary out their malice and peevishness; and in me < fhall they all behold a refolution above fear; confcience above cruelty; and a baffle put to all their de

<

figns, by the fpirit of patience, the companion of all the tribulated flock of the bleffed JESUS, who is the author and finifher of the faith that overcomes the world, yea, death and hell tco: neither great nor good things were ever attained without lofs and hardfhips. He that would reap, and not labour, must faint with the wind, and perish in disappointments; but an hair of my head fhall not fall, without the pro'vidence of my Father that is over all.'

A fpirit warmed with the love of God, and devoted to his fervice, ever purfues its main purpofe: our author, reftrained from preaching, applied himself to writing feveral treatifes were the fruits of his folitude, particularly that excellent one, intituled, "No Cross, "No Crown;" a book which tending to promote the general defign of religion, was well accepted, and hath paffed fundry impreffions.

He alfo writ from the tower the following Letter to Lord Arlington.

I

To the Lord ARLINGTON.

Know none to whom this paper may fo properly be directed as thyfelf: for as thou art principal fecretary of ftate, the perfon to whom I furrendered myself, by whofe warrant I was committed, and who was pleafed to come to this place to take my examination about a note that was by fome fufpected to have dropt from me the day of my furrender; fo the great civility I found, and the candid promifes thou waft pleased to give me of thy affistance, as well there as here, are great encouragements not only to present thee with this brief remonftrance, which by the mouth of one of thy attendants may cafily be run over, but to expect an answer altogether fuitable.

< Truly were I as criminal as my adversaries have been pleased to reprefent me, it might become me to bear my prefent fufferings, without the leaft refentment of injuftice done; and to esteem a vindi

'cation

cation of my caufe, an aggravation of my guilt: but fince it is fo notorious that common fame hath maliciously belied me, and that, from invifible teftimonies, I stand not guilty of what mine adverfaries would have fo peremptorily faftened on me; confeffing that ETERNAL DEITY of CHRIST; what better interpretation can be given of their zeal, than meer peevifhnefs, and their great learning, than foul ignorance? Strange, that men efteemed Chriftians, fhould feem fo indefatigable in writing, preaching, and difcourfing down the reputation of an innocent man, by the most foul afperfions, black characters, and exafperating imputations, that fpirits moft incendiary could invent or collect; in a word, to banish me the world, forbid me heaven, and furiously denounce me fequeftered of all, with the referve of hell only, and there itself have intituled me to the laft and most dismal station! But what is more admirable, those very perfons have all this while mistaken the very queftion, and in reality have been accufing their own fhadows, making me fuffer their punishment, who leaft of all, fincerely, am concerned in their heat. Others there be, I know, who

Crimina Rafis

Librant in Antithetis

can infinuate their difpleasure under more plausible expreffions,

dotas pofuiffe figuras

Laudantur

and confequently more fecurely to themselves, though lefs to me, may obtain their ends: but to indulge those poor pretences, and give reception to those threadbare and hackney phrases of feditious fellow, erroneous perfon, factious, and troublefome to the ftate, under the counterfeit of illumination, &c. methinks needs not a jury of twelve to convict them of very great indifcretion; as well as I am perfuaded they have no room with thee. However, mine adverfaries ammunition hath been worfe beflowed than upon wool-facks, who have, alas, got to their old < whimfies

⚫ whimfies of fanfying enemies in the air, wherein they have been fo hotly fkirmiffing, that hard it is to perfuade them they only dream, and make reality of fictions: my common refidence is on a more folid bottom. But, as I am willing to believe, had my ⚫ innocency been well observed, my confinement should not have given fo great an approbation of their impostures; fo, on the other hand, fince they are unqueftionably manifefted to be fuch, and that the ⚫ more moderate of the authors have given their re⚫ tractations in publick converfation, expreffing their great trouble to have fo readily entertained and promoted fuch foul afperfions, to the incenfing of the ⚫ civil magiftrate againft me; the caufe, I fay, being thus removed, it is time the undeferved effect fhould cease, otherwife my liberty feems to be facrificed to the inordinate paffions of the most inveterate part ‹ of a faction, or ftrongly to confirm thofe in their conjectures and reports, who confidently have told it up and down, that my reftraint is not continued on any religious matter, but for fore points deeply concerning the fafety of the king, both moft unworthy the equity, greatnefs, and honour of authority. But alas! fhall thefe impudent forgeries, and malicious aggravations, longer prevail against a man that hath broke no law, defpifed no government, dethroned no deity, fubverted no faith, obedience, or good life; but, in words and actions, hath inceffantly endeavoured the effectual promotion of all.

What if I differ from fome religious apprehenfions? am I therefore incompatible with the being of human focieties? Shall it not be remembered with what fuccefs kingdoms and common wealths have lived under the balance of diverse parties? and if the politicks of the moft judicious and acute inquifitors after thefe affairs are of any worth, they are not at a stand in delivering their fenfe with great fharpness, "That it is the fecureft prop of all monarchical go"vernments.” Let it not be forgotten, that under the Jewish conftitution, the utmoft they required

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