OF

WHAT PERSUASION SOEVER.

Tbeing a known principle of the people called quakers, at the gospel of Jesus Christ ought to be preached freeby his ministers; yet, notwithstanding, divers people, of vers persuasions, either for want of charity, or other prejlice, or wrong information, or all three, do say, or beve, that the quakers' ministers or teachers are paid for eir preaching; I do positively declare to the world, that is an utter falsehood and scandal upon the said people : r we cannot in good conscience make a trade of our holy lling, neither is the word of God to be bought or sold for itward gain; witness the apostle's answer to Simon Maus, Acts viii. 18. 20. And if we cannot pay our own, ray how can we pay others, and be clear of guilt, or rve the answer of a good conscience, we believing it be evil? And every body that knows the holy scriptre, knows that what is not of faith is sin; and yet our tversaries would have us commit this sin; and if we will ot do it willingly, they will force it from us by the power f the magistrates, although the holy scripture and reason re clearly against them, as is plainly manifested in the nsuing little tract.

And as for my part, I have travelled many thousands f miles, and preached the gospel among the said people any years, as thousands of them can witness, and never eceived any consideration therefor, neither directly nor ulirectly; neither do I reckon they are beholden to me or so doing, for a necessity is laid upon me, and wo is re if I preach not the gospel; neither do I boast, for I ave done but my duty, and in that sense am but an unrofitable servant, according as Christ taught, for all the

profit is of Christ. And if occasion were, there are many other ministers among the said people, could bear the like testimony.

Oh! but (say the people) your teachers are generally

rich.

Why should any begrudge us that which we have, since the Almighty blesseth our industry in our honest trades and callings, which other teachers, through the like industry and blessing, might obtain, if their dependence for a main. tenance were more upon God, than the people.

Yet notwithstanding those teachers receive so much money of the people, and the quaker preachers none at all (except they are poor and necessitous), they are full of complaints; whereas there is no complaining in all our

streets.

We should starve (cry they) if we had not a law to compel.

Christ's ministers of old, when he sent them forth, had no law, and yet they lacked nothing; is Christ or the men changed now-a-days? The men doubtless; for now they cry, more, more, more money. Let every true christian judge in this matter.

T. CHALKLEY,

REMARKS

ON

JOSEPH METCALFE'S PREFACE.

I SHALL first take notice of his preface, to one called a quaker, in which he says, "That he thinks there is sufficient matter of conviction in the texts and arguments improved."

Answer. But every sincere soul, when they come to see the texts themselves, will have cause to think to the contrary; for had they been fairly produced, they would have saved the labour of a further reply, they being far from countenancing any forced maintenance to Christ's ministers. And as for his arguments improved, they smell so strong of persecution, that I would charitably hope no sober christian or magistrate, who inclines to moderation (which ought to appear in all) will take any further notice of them, than to pity his ignorance.

Yet notwithstanding his mighty arguments and great improvements, he gives them this blow, "He has but little hopes. of his being convinced, (to whom he writes) because of the efficacy of error and delusion, &c."

He would have more reason to have written so, if he had first proved error and delusion upon him. And truly, he would have been greatly deluded, if he had believed that great untruth, that forcing a maintenance for a gospel minister was warrantable from the holy scriptures; if he be sober, and in his wits, one would believe that he cannot (when he seriously considers of it) but be convinced that he is mistaken.

And as for his prayers, the scripture says, "We know that God heareth not sinners:" and that he is a sinner, is plain, in wresting and perverting the scripture, as he has done, and as I shall show through the help of Christ, my Lord and Saviour.