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The Quaker Vindicated - 13

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all my heart; and think likewise that to talk against Quakers as such, is equally the effect either of malice and party-spirit or nonsense. To confine virtue or vice to any particular sect or set of men, shews little knowledge in human nature and a most uncharitable narrowness of spirit; human nature being all formed out of the same essence, and only dispersed in different degrees to different men; every Society, therefore, has its knaves and honest men; and that the Quakers have their Modicum of the later, with other Communities, I must in charity believe.

In the next paragraph we have an observation of the father of Constantine the Great, that, "they who were false to their God, would never be true to their Prince." Which he seems to insinuate is applicable to the Quakers; and that they are like "the Pagans, ready to embrace any religion indifferently", and of course should be "discarded," and, "the Christians", that is, Paxton people, "be employed, who firmly adhere to their profession." I would not invidiously pervert any man's meaning, but I can put no other sense on this paragraph.

"Let us look round", says the Unmasker, "and see who are those who enjoy the Places of Profit and Trust in this Province; (a very few excepted) are they not Quakers or Quakers Creatures?" are all those Gentlemen then, of other Societies in the Province, (a very few excepted,) that bear public Offices, Quakers Creatures?— abusive man!—to let his factious zeal carry him to such lengths of vile defamation.

"It has been argued", says he, "if the Indians are guilty let their accusers appear, and not put them to death without a fair trial"? and doubtless a very upright and Christian argument it is: but because "it is a hard matter to prove Indians guilty,—that are not guilty—"put them to death without a fair trial."

Again, "But it has been proved by a very circumstan|tial Oath of a young man (who has since very unaccountably

Contents of this annotation:

  1. The Quaker Vindicated - 13