I am willing that every Reader, who has read his Paper, should judge for himself, whether in reading it his own Mind was not lead to conceive of these Letters, as Things extremely diverse from what he finds them to be. Doubtless Mr. Clap trusted to it, that I had kept no Copies of my Letters; otherwise he would never have so exceedingly exposed himself: I am willing that you and others should judge for themselves, how far, one whose Conscience will not restrain him from making such Representations of Letters written, that he may destroy others Characters, and render 'em odious to the World, is capable of unfair dealing in representing private Conversation; where there are no Witnesses, or written Words, that can be produced to confute him. And who can be safe in human Society, if such Liberties are taken, in order to ruin their Fellow-Creatures and Brethren, by Gentlemen from whom so different Things might be expected? If it had been true, that I had said just as Mr. Clap has reported, yet how vehemently has that Practice been cried out of, by Gentlemen on that Side of the Controversies of the present Day, of publicly making Use of private Conversation, and the Report of single Persons, to destroy the Characters of others? And especially how ill does this become Rector Clap, after he knows that that single Person that he says thus reported to him, does so strongly and solemnly deny it, entreating of him therefore to forbear? What a Treatment is this of Christian Brethren!—This dear Sir, is a Specimen of the Manner and Spirit, in which the Controversies of the present Day are carried on against Mr. Whitefield, by many Persons (for I am far from thus charging all his Opposers) the Persons frequently hiding themselves, & concealing their Names. ⟨p. 13⟩And tho' I think it but to little Purpose, to carry on a Controversy with these Persons from the Press, unless when forced to it by gross Slanders; yet I can't but say on this Occasion, that it seems to me worthy greatly to be lamented, by all true Lovers of the Christian Religion, which consists so much in Love & Forgiveness, that Mr. Whitefield should be pursued with so much Violence, and Appearance of inveterate Opposition, and indefatigable Endeavours to blacken him to the utmost; and with such Artifices, as it would be mean to use, with Respect to the basest Miscreant;
I am willing that every Reader, who has read his Paper, should judge for himself, whether in reading it his own Mind was not lead to conceive of these Letters, as Things extremely diverse from what he finds them to be. Doubtless Mr. Clap trusted to it, that I had kept no Copies of my Letters; otherwise he would never have so exceedingly exposed himself: I am willing that you and others should judge for themselves, how far, one whose Conscience will not restrain him from making such Representations of Letters written, that he may destroy others Characters, and render 'em odious to the World, is capable of unfair dealing in representing private Conversation; where there are no Witnesses, or written Words, that can be produced to confute him. And who can be safe in human Society, if such Liberties are taken, in order to ruin their Fellow-Creatures and Brethren, by Gentlemen from whom so different Things might be expected? If it had been true, that I had said just as Mr. Clap has reported, yet how vehemently has that Practice been cried out of, by Gentlemen on that Side of the Controversies of the present Day, of publickly making Use of private Conversation, and the Report of single Persons, to destroy the Characters of others? And especially how ill does this become Rector Clap, after he knows that that single Person that he says thus reported to him, does so strongly and solemnly deny it, intreating of him therefore to forbear? What a Treatment is this of Christian Brethren!—This dear Sir, is a Specimen of the Manner and Spirit, in which the Controversies of the present Day are carried on against Mr. Whitefield, by many Persons (for I am far from thus charging all his Opposers) the Persons frequently hiding themselves, & concealing their Names. ⟨p. 13⟩And tho' I think it but to little Purpose, to carry on a Controversy with these Persons from the Press, unless when forced to it by gross Slanders; yet I can't but say on this Occasion, that it seems to me worthy greatly to be lamented, by all true Lovers of the Christian Religion, which consists so much in Love & Forgiveness, that Mr. Whitefield should be pursued with so much Violence, and Appearance of inveterate Opposition, and indefatigable Endeavours to blacken him to the utmost; and with such Artifices, as it would be mean to use, with Respect to the basest Miscreant;
