ber of those they call Quakers, who
seems to admonish me out of pure zeal and goodwill. But as there is no
character so unjust as that of talking in party upon all occasions,
without respect to merit or worth on the contrary side, so there is no
part we can act so justifiable as to speak our mind when we see things
urged to extremity, against all that is praiseworthy or valuable in
life, upon general and groundless suggestions. But if I have talked too
frankly upon such reflections, my correspondent has laid before me,
after his way, the error of it in a manner that makes me indeed
thankful for his kindness, but the more inclinable to repeat the
imprudence from the necessity of the circumstance:

"The 23rd of the 6th month,
which is the month _June_.
"FRIEND ISAAC,

"Forasmuch as I love thee, I cannot any longer refrain declaring my
mind unto thee concerning some things. Thou didst thyself indite
the epistle inserted in one of thy late Lucubrations, as thou
wouldst have us call them: for verily thy friend of stone,[328] and
I speak according to knowledge, hath no fingers; and though he hath
a mouth, yet speaketh he not therewith; nor yet did that epistle at
all come unto thee from the mansion-house of the Scarlet Whore. It
is plain therefore, that the truth is not in thee: but since thou
wouldst lie, couldst thou not lie with more discretion? Wherefore
shouldst thou insult over the afflicted, or add sorrow unto the
heavy of heart? Truly this gall proceedeth not from the spirit of
meekness. I tell thee moreover, the people of this land be
marvellously given to change; insomuch that it may likely come to
pass, that before thou art many years nearer to thy dissolution,
thou mayest behold him sitting on a high place whom thou now
laughest to scorn: and then how wilt thou be glad to humble thyself
to the ground, and lick the dust of his feet, that thou mayest find
favour in his sight? If thou didst meditate as much upon the Word
as thou dost upon the profane scribblings of the wise ones of this
generation, thou wouldst have remembered what happened unto Shimei,
the son of Gera the Benjamite, who cursed the good man David in his
distress.[329] David pardoned his transgression, yet was he
afterwards taken as in a snare by th