THis Contest between Mr. Danson and my self, will I pre­sume, appear so surprizing and unexpected; that as it happens in sudden Frays, the first Quere generally started is like to be, How fell you out? To satisfie which, I must dispence with the Vanity of telling the World; that (what­ever Fools thinks, or Knaves Report) our Weekly Intelligence is not publisht solely to Get Money, (though that be an Ingredient which insinuates in most undertakings) nor meerly to Entertain the Idle with Stories, and furnish Coffee-Houses with Chat, (though for that some ungrateful Dons are not a little oblig'd, for without such Innocent Diversions, 'tis a thousand to one but their Tongues would be imploy'd to the Hazard of their Ears.) But besides these, ano­ther main use of that Sheet, is for Extravagants to do Pennance in: To Expose Vice and Ill Nature to deserv'd contempt, and if possible Laugh Foppery out of Countenance and Practice. Thus the Name of POOR ROBIN becomes more awful than an Apparitors, keeps the peace no less than the Constable, and makes those tremble who bid defiance to the Stocks and the Whipping-Post, whilst yet he dispences his Corrections with so much Mildness, that onely the conscious feel the Lashes; and By-standers could scarce take notice of their Chast [...]zements, did not their own Wincing proclaim their personal Guilt, and summon a crowd to whoot at their Folly.

In which Predicament we must Rank Mr. Danson's Printed Re­sentments: For certainly, as never Man gave more Cause for a Sa­tyrical Reflection, so none but his Discreet self would since have taken the pains so amply to satisfie the World how well he deserv'd it. Wise and good Men cannot but abhor that mischeivous humour of testy Fencers in Divinity, who like Tavern Bullies catch up what­ever stands next, and convert it into a Weapon, or New Medi [...], (as our Author calls it) for carrying on a Brangle, which too of [...] is no less unnecessary than unseasonable: the one but Milking an [Page 2] He-Goat, whilst the other holds under a Seive; But for a Person of his pretended Piety and Gravity to abuse an- Eminent Minister by representing him Dialoguing with, and Preaching Salvation to the Devil: and by slanderous Imputations, mangling his words, and put­ting Innocent Expressions on the Rack of Malice. To Extort an odi­ous Meaning which 'tis like his thoughts were never Guilty of, was such a Matchless peice of Disingenuity, that I co [...]ld not but think't deserv'd to be expos'd in a D [...]vertisement to the Hiss and Laughter of all the world.

As for the Merits of the cause, or Original Controversie I shall not meddle, for 'tis dangerous trampling in Holy Ground, unless our Shooes are first pluckt off. I mean, that Lightness Prejudice, Self-conceit and Opiniastry remov'd; wherein most Men are too apt to walk. And besides, 'tis the opinion of Wiser Men, that Mr. Sher­lock has so fully Justifi'd his Principles, that his Book may serve as a sufficient Answer, not only to his Adversaries first Pamphlet, but the latter too (which pretends to be a Reply to it.) And even whatever else, Indefatigable Impertinence shall scribble for the future on this subject; if people will be but at the pains to consider and compare his Words with the others wild distorted Inferences only give me leave to say; That I cannot think Mr. Danson, for all his Clamours to be so much at odds with the foul Fiend as he pretends, for what can be more favourable and obliging, then when p. 3. of his Defence, he possitively, and no less Blasphemously calls God, The Devils Be­nefactor▪ and abuses a sacred Text to countenance his madness. Had Mr. S. been Guilty of such an Obnoxious Expression, 'twould no doubt have afforded Tragical matter enough for Two or Three more Ʋnfriendly Debates.

But waving the Body of the Pamphlet, I shall take notice onely of what he has been pleas'd particularly to concern me in, Viz. The Preface; and this forlorn Hope comes fronted with Two of our Au­thors Cardinal Vertues, Boasting and Falshood; Telling the World that his late friendly Debate between Satan and Sherlock had a ve­ry fair Reception both as to matter and MANNER, from all Ranks and Orders, Learned, Intelligent and Pious —Now how well the Illegitimate Brat was resented by Persons of the best RANK; Those that Mid-Wiv'd it into the World have some little reason not to forget: and 'tis notorious that most modest Men of his own [Page 3] party and Sentiments in the matter of the Controversie were so far dissatisfi [...]d with his scandalous manner of managi [...]g it, as generally to disown and condemn it.

But he proceeds. It had a very foul R [...]ception from other [...] of Mr. Sherlocks perswasion, from whom as I will not so much d [...] as to deny them their share in the two first Characters; So, NOR, AS NOT to deny them any in the last, &c. You see the Gentleman has so blundered himself of late in Logick, that he has forgot his Gram­mar, and now cannot speak without Nonsense and Solecismes. There is a credible story of a certain Quondam Fellow of M [...]dlins, (you know the Stars name, no body Mr. Danson!) that since the memory of man undertook to teach some Gentlemen Latine; but having got an encouraging spill [...] [...]sh'd and never came at them more; I fear our [...] some such slippery trick by the Learned Ma [...]ron that [...] have taught him English.

After a very punctual Recital of a Divertisemement in our In­telligence, beginning— There is lately publisht a Dialogue be­tween a Monkey and his Looking▪Glass, &c. This Hero of the Goose­quill turns up his Mustacho's, and says— He would scorn to take notice of that abus [...], if he had not Good Ground to believe Mr Sher­lock as truly the Authour of it, as other Men are of the Weekly Ad­vertisements; sure he imagines Poor Robin to be of Kin to Smectym [...].

I confess I have often with much satisfaction over-heard grave Coxcombs relate; that as many Authors Club to an Intelligence as there go Taylors to a Man; that we tug at the Pen like Slaves at the Oar a whole Bank together, and write in the posture that the Sweeds give fire in, over one anothers heads; Nay some have been so impu­dent as to pretend intimate acquaintance with half a dozen of the Fraternity of Robin-Writers. But that any of the Tribe of Levi had any Finger in the Pye is a slander, that none but the Devils Dia­logue-maker would suggest; for in truth the Ground of his belief (as well in this as greater matters) is like to prove nothing but Fancy, or rather Malice, which cares not what it reports, so he may cast an Odium upon Mr. Sherlock; If I should say I have good ground to be­lieve; Mr. Danson addicted to Gaming, Bowls, Nine pins, &c. [Page 4] No doubt he would cry out calumny and Slander; and yet I can shew where he was charged therewith in Print some Years since, and which he never disprov'd that I know of; A far better ground for believing it, than any he can produce in this case; For I do So­lemnly declare (and know no reason but my unbias'd Testimony may be Credited before his Envious Surmises) That the said Divertise­ment was ne [...]ther Directly nor Indirectly promoted or procured by Mr. Sherlocke (whom to my knowledge I never saw, nor never had any Correspondence with) nor by any from him, or on his behalf; But was i [...]serted out of that Natural Antipathy and contempt I bear to such a Ridiculous and Abusive piece of Foppery as the Title, and Contrivance of that Pamphlet.

But now behold! The Man of Sylogismes comes furiously to Attaque our Divertisement, and gravely Confound it with a First, Second, Third, and Fourth—ly; Beloved;—

First, It was not Well Witted; Though few that know Mr. Danson can admit him for a Competent Judge; Yet let's hear his reason; The Monkey, (he says) must needs be Satan: &c. And why must it be so; S [...]r Positive? May it not serve as well to Emble­matize your Worship? who being like those unlucky Ani­mals, of a medling Enterprizing humour, and having made abun­dance of strange Grimaces, took them, when represented in your Crackt Imagination for a Picture of Mr. Sherlock; And so frighted with your own hideous Reflection, Conjur'd up a pittiful Devil to de­bate with Absurdities, that had no body but your self for their Author.

Secondly, He says, It was not well worded, because there is no reason the Arguments manag'd by Satan should be stiled the Non-Conformists; Yes Sir! Two or Three small reasons there are: First, Because what ever looks like an Argument is generally borrowed (not to say stoln) from the Non Con's Books; onely the railing abu­sive part is intirely your own. Secondly, Your Satan declares him­self to be a very Precise Devil; A Constant and A [...]tentive Hearer at Conventi [...]les, &c. Thirdly, Because your self seem'd very fond, it should be thought so, making your Devils Common Formula of Ushering in his Arguments to be thus A Phanatick would press you, p. 7. The Calvinists will object, p. 16. would J.O.. say, p. 30 Would a Fanatick say, p, 34. Fanaticks think, p. 38. &c.

In the next Lines Mr. Danson grows modest, Disclaims his having [Page 5] Improv'd the Art of Scolding, yet acknowledges he had found out an unheard of way to abuse any Antagonist: These are his words; — The unheard of way to abuse any Antagonist, discovered in the Friendly Debate, was not the Improvement of the 8th▪ Liberal Art which the Vulgar call scolding (for that may be heard every day at Billingsgate) but the choice of a Dialogist—That was the No­velty; A Novelty indeed! and since we owe the discovery wholly to Mr. Dansons Ingenuity, I am content he should have a Patent to Monopolize the Invention to Him and his Heirs; Nor is the Myste­ry of Scolding so little beholding to him for its Improvement, as he bashfully pretends; For as the Common Professors of Railing have their Figures, and Peculiar Ornaments, though not so learnedly distinguisht by the Names of Sarcasmus, Asteismus, Mict [...]rismus, Antiphrasis, Charientismus, or Ironia, yet have they their dry Bobs, their broad flouts, bitter taunts, their fleering srumps, and their privy Nipps; And at this Rhetorick Mr. Danson is Excellent, as himself confesses, to make the Devil play upon Mr. Sherlocke.—As p. 22. Now we are under the Rose, I will tell you truely I believe all your talk of a Saviour is but a copy of your countenance; p. 38. I believe all Christs Revelations, and were I sure none but Friends were within hearing, I would say that's more than you do; p. 4. None of your Clubb (which it seems is a very merry Clubb, p. 43.) care much for Paul, &c. But above all, that figure is Superlatively fine, and wholly Novel in his Preface to The Defence, where he calls Mr. Sherlock—Whore.

Thirdly, He taxes the Divertisement as Guilty of calamny, al­l [...]adgeing there is no hint of Bawdry in the words Operam Dare ad Liberos procreandos, they signifying no more than to have conjugal commerce; I confess Commerce is a very pretty and apposite term, that is, To Truck Ware for Ware; But why the Latine must be ren­dred conjugal, rather than any other private Commerce I am yet to learn; And indeed who could Imagine but our Author, or (which is all one) his Devil was not a little Tickled with some conceit, when he draggs in by Head and Ears such a pittiful shred of Bumbast, where there is not the least occasion for't, but meerly for the L [...]tch­ery of Latine, and then cackles over it thus— You see as old as I am I have not forgot all my Latine.

He takes it ill, That the Divertiser should recommend him to a Scotch Casemont, which, he, says, Is a Pillory.—Seriously a Pro­found [Page 6] found Commentator! but I warrant you he had never hit on't so luckily, had not Consciousness of his own merits assisted his gues­sing: For not to mention their deserts who not onely publish Pam­phlets without License, but also abuse the Ipprimaturs of Authori­ty, as he does Pr. Deb. p. 28, and 49. 'tis certain that Forgery is a cr [...]me generally punishable by the Wooden Ruff, and how far guilty of that (at least against conscience and honesty, though not within the Statute) Mr. D. is by Misrepresenting Mr. S [...]. words and sense, Is obvious to every considerate Reader.

But I am farr from the Malice he charges me with, or wishing the least Ill to his Person, and would advise him (as a Friend) to calm that fiery, contentious spirit, which hurries him into these Absur­dities; Not to suffer blind furious Zeal to consume all his Charity; Nor think every man that dissents from his Sentiments an Atheist, a Mahumetan, or Subverter of the Gospel; and if he needs must be [...]ling in Polemicks, to treat his Antagonists hereafter with the Candor of a Scholar, the Civility of a Gentleman, the Gravity of a Minister, and the Moderation of a Christian; this I am sure is whol­som Councel, but if he will neglect it, and proceed as he has be­gun, I would wish him to Imitate his Brother R. to betake himself to the Study of Physick in the Galenical way, with particular regard to the nature of Hellebore and its Operation, which may be of great use this Spring to a person of his complexion, and prevent the dire effects otherwise threatned in the Dog-daies.