R. B. When I first read these words, which you write in a different character, and father on me, I was ashamed of my non-sense, for they are no better: but it came not into my thoughts, once to suspect a forgery in your charge: Far was I from imagining that so Reverend, Pious and Dear a Friend, would tell the world in Print, that I said that which never came into my thoughts, and confute that soberly and deliberately, as mine, which I never wrote; and which any man that would read my Book might find, is wrongfully charged on me. And truly I dare not yet say that you are guilty of this: For though I have read my Book over and over of purpose in those parts that treat of this subject, and can find no such word as you here charge me with; yet before I will lay such a thing to your charge, I will suspect that it may possibly be in some odd corner where I overlooked it, or cannot find it. But I see (if I am not overseen) how unsafe it is to report mens words themselves, much more their opinions, from the reports of another, how Grave, Sober, Pious and Friendly soever. If when we are dead, men shall read Mr. Blake's Book that never read mine, and there see it written that I said [Sincerity is the new Rule, or the rule of the new Covenant.] Can any blame them to believe it, and report it of me, as from him, and say [What, shall I not believe such and such a man, that reports it in express words?] But let this go, with this conclusion: If indeed I have spoken any such words, I retract them as non-sense, and when I find them I shall expunge them: If I have not, patience is my duty and relief; and I have long been learning, that we must suffer from Godly and Friends, as well as from ungodly and enemies; and till I had learned that lesson, I never knew what it was to live quietly and contentedly.
R. B. WHen I first reade these words, which you write in a different character, and father on me, I was ashamed of my non-sense, for they are no better: but it came not into my thoughts, once to suspect a forgery in your charge: Far was I from imagining that so Reverend, Pious and Dear a Friend, would tell the world in Print, that I said that which never came into my thoughts, and confute that soberly and deliberately, as mine, which I never wrote; and which any man that would reade my Book might finde, is wrongfully charged on me. And truly I dare not yet say that you are guilty of this: For though I have read my Book over and over of purpose in those parts that treat of this subject, and can finde no such word as you here charge me with; yet before I will lay such a thing to your charge, I will suspect that it may possibly be in some odd corner where I overlookt it, or cannot finde it. But I see (if I am not overseen) how unsafe it is to report mens words themselves, much more their opinions, from the reports of another, how Grave, Sober, Pious and Friendly soever. If when we are dead, men shall reade Mr. Blake's Book that never read mine, and there see it written that I said [Sincerity is the new Rule, or the rule of the new Covenant.] Can any blame them to believe it, and report it of me, as from him, and say [What, shall I not beleeve such and such a man, that reports it in express words?] But let this go, with this conclusion: If indeed I have spoken any such words, I retract them as non-sense, and when I finde them I shall expunge them: If I have not, patience is my duty and relief; and I have long been learning, that we must suffer from Godly and Friends, as well as from ungodly and enemies; and till I had learned that lesson, I never knew what it was to live quietly and contentedly.
