What need you, before you have showed one syllable of a reasonable argument in opposition to what I assert, thus trample my person, my gifts, and grace—­have I any—­so disdainfully under your feet, because of my low descent among men; stigmatizing me for a person of that rank that need not to be heeded.  And what, is my rank so mean that the most gracious and godly among you may not duly and soberly consider what I have said?  Was it not the act of the false apostles to say thus—­to bespatter a man that his doctrine might be disregarded?  “Is not this the carpenter?” and, “His bodily presence is weak and his speech contemptible,” did not use to be in the mouths of the saints; for they knew the wind blew where it listed.  Neither is it high birth, worldly breeding, or wealth; but electing love, grace, and the wisdom that comes from heaven, that those who strive for strictness of order in. the things and kingdom of Christ, should have in regard and esteem.  Need I read you a lecture?  Hath not God chosen the foolish, the weak, the base, yea and even things that are not to bring to naught things that are?  Why then do you despise my rank, my state, and quality in the world?

Since you would know by what name I would be distinguished from others, I tell you, I would be, and I hope I am, A Christian; and choose, if God should count me worthy, to be called A Christian, A believer, or other such name which is approved by the Holy Ghost.

Your artificial, squibbling suggestions to the world about myself, my imprisonment, and the like, I freely bind unto me as an ornament among the rest of my reproaches, till the Lord shall wipe them off at his coming.

Faith and holiness are my professed principles, with an endeavor, so far as in me lieth, to be at peace with all men.  What shall I say?  Let mine enemies themselves be judges, if any thing in these following doctrines, or if aught that any man hath heard me preach, doth or hath, according to the true intent of my words, savored either of heresy or rebellion.  I say again, let them themselves be judges, if aught they find in my writing or preaching doth render me worthy of almost twelve years’ imprisonment, or one that deserveth to be hanged or banished for ever, according to their tremendous sentence.  Indeed my principles are such as lead me to a denial to communicate in the things of the kingdom of Christ with the ungodly and open profane; neither can I consent that my soul should be governed in any of my approaches to God by the superstitious inventions of this world, because commanded to the contrary, or commended for so refusing.  Wherefore, excepting in this one thing—­for which I ought not to be rebuked—­I shall, I trust, in despite of slandor and falsehood, discover myself at all times a peaceable anl obedient subject.  But if nothing will do, unless I make my conscience a continual butchery or slaughter-shop—­unless, putting out mine own eyes, I commit myself to the blind to lead me, as I doubt not is desired by some—­I have determined, the Almighty God being my help and shield, yet to suffer, if frail life might continue so long, even till the moss shall grow on mine eyebrows, rather than thus to violate my faith and principles.