AN

ANSWER TO FOOLS;

AND

A WORD TO THE WISE.

Quot. THERE is nothing personal in my book, as to any living characters.

Answ.

This is true. There is not the personal character, in your book, of any one creature, either in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, or in the waters under the earth; neither of angel nor spirit, saint nor sinner, brute nor devil. And what the Reviewers have said of your book, is true, that there are no such characters, no such antinomians, to be found, as are there described.

Quot. It is possible that more than one, or one hundred persons, may find their own sentiments exploded, and their own characters drawn, in this piece.

Answ. Though Maria owns there is nothing personal as to any living characters, yet a hundred living persons have found their characters drawn

in her book; I cannot, for my own part, find out one character in it. There are several monsters, but no creature likenesses. There is a saint mentioned, with his grace in captivity to sin. There is an Arminian half described, but he is called an antinomian. There is a church mentioned like the moon in sanctification, but the real church has got the moon under her feet. There is a triumphant believer mentioned, and faith gives him his victory. Faith is represented as cutting a sinner off his old stock in one place, and working vital union in him in another. And there is Scanderbeg mentioned, but nothing described save his arm and his sword. Therefore, who these hundred persons there drawn can be, I cannot tell: but this I know, that there is not one of them alive at this time in England. If Maria was open to conviction, she would own her characters a fiction, and her assertions a contradiction: but women, as well as pigs, love to run their own way, and will make a terrible noise if an attempt be made to stop them; so we must go on.

Quot. This has been particularly the case with Mr. William Huntington and Mr. Jones: they have met with their own likenesses so strong and picturesque, that they start at the resemblance; and each one cries out, This is me!

Answ. Let another praise thee, and not thy own mouth. Let thy own works praise thee in the gate. However, my ugly face has hitherto baffled every artist that has attempted a likeness

of it but Maria has attempted a likeness of the inward state of my mind; and I think that my heart is as puzzling to a hypocrite as my face is to an artist. A hypocrite can no more delineate a sinner saved, than a bat can pourtray an eagle flying in the face of the sun. But Maria will insist upon it, that she has hit a likeness. For my own part, I would not wish to be positive in this matter, though I am better acquainted with Mr. Huntington's cast than most men are. Let us consider the outlines that Maria has drawn. She has called me a minister of the gospel, and a liar; a christian, and a conjuror; a partaker of grace, and a graceless person; an antinomian, and a diviner; a rancorous person to men, and yet familiar with the devil, or a dealer in black and magic art. Now, though I am no judge of pictures, yet I think that no antiquarian in the world will allow, if he is led by unbiassed reason, that all these lines can meet together in any one likeness. Wonderful are the changes that I have passed under since I have been in the metamorphosing hands of this mistress of arts; and what she will make of me next, I know not, unless she turn me into a muscle, and carry me in a basket; or into a penny whistle, and sell me at Bartholomew Fair.

Quot. Mr. Jones says, he has good grounds for concluding this book is aimed at him. No, says Mr. Huntington, it is a dreadful great bolus intended to choke me.

Answ. I seldom make any use of quack me

dicines; for I believe quack doctors in physick, and quack doctresses in divinity, have ruined the bodies and souls of thousands, and have drowned themselves in destruction and perdition by so doing, and for nothing in the world but to get an idle penny. I have no doubt but Maria's pride, as a prophetess, would rather choke me with a bolus, than suffer me to take off any of her proud flesh, pierce the skin of her profession, or admit any salutary composition to her bleeding conscience. But, as many have tried to poison me, I am very careful what I commit either to stomach or conscience. I apply nothing that comes from Maria's hands, nor even eat a black pudding, unless I know who made it. I am no friend to fortune tellers, men-milliners, or women-clergy; for I believe the devil is the sole master of all such.

Quot. Now, whether the book was aimed at Mr. Jones, or designed as a bolus to Mr. Huntington, I can assure the public, that neither of these gentlemen have been injured by it in the least: they are both in good health and spirits.

Answ. A sufficient proof that the patients had better skill in drugs than the lady of the faculty; and more wisdom too, seeing they preserved their health when a plot was laid to choke them for the sake of a trifle of money. Mr. Ryland promised in public, that he had prepared a pill for me; and would give me a bolus, if that did not do. But then I did not know that they were to be pounded in Maria's mortar, or sent out in her gallipot,

till I saw her name on the label; and then I treated them with all the contempt that they deserved; never dreaming that a physician would covet the sanction of a woman, or that a master of arts would defy his antagonist under the pitiful patronage of a parish girl.

Quot. And, as a proof of this, they have each of them published an answer, and defended their cause as well as they are able.

Answ. I am glad that the cause of truth is counted mine, and that I am considered as a coworker with him who pleads his own cause against those who bring forth their strong reasons against the King of Jacob.

When a hypocrite becomes a plaintiff, and a believer the defendant; when blind guides are made counsellors, and carnal reason draws the process; when pride and deceit are the parties aggrieved, and the truth of the gospel the aggressor; when the law is made the only rule of life, and the appeal is made to a candid world; there is never any doubt but the believer in Christ will carry the suit, so as to come off with a conscience to God, and a countenance to men. And, as to the applause of the world, and the seeking honour one of another, we leave that to Paulus and Maria, who cannot believe.

Quot. In making a few remarks upon their publications, I mean to be as concise as possible.

Answ. The reason is, Maria has squeezed out all the contents of her press. She has lately pub