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         Penn, William, 1644-1718.
      
       
         
           1687
        
      
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         A54166
         Wing P1318
         ESTC R32176
         12353359
         ocm 12353359
         60049
         
           
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             A letter form [sic] a gentleman in the country to his friends in London upon the subject of the penal laws and tests
             Penn, William, 1644-1718.
          
           12 p.
           
             s.n.],
             [London :
             1687.
          
           
             Attributed to Penn by Wing and NUC pre-1956 imprints.
             Place of publication suggested by Wing and NUC pre-1956 imprints.
             Reproduction of original in the Union Theological Seminary Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Test Act (1673)
           Dissenters, Religious -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- England.
        
      
    
     
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           A
           LETTER
           Form
           a
           Gentleman
           in
           the
           COUNTRY
           ,
           To
           his
           Friends
           in
           LONDON
           ,
           Upon
           the
           Subject
           of
           the
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           and
           Tests
           .
        
         
           Quod
           tibi
           non
           vis
           fieri
           ,
           alteri
           non
           feceris
           .
        
         
           Printed
           in
           the
           Year
           1687.
           
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           
             Gentlemen
             ,
          
        
         
           I
           Wonder
           mightily
           at
           the
           News
           you
           send
           me
           ,
           that
           so
           many
           of
           the
           Town
           are
           averse
           to
           the
           Repeal
           of
           the
           Penal
           Statutes
           ;
           surely
           you
           mean
           the
           Clergy
           of
           the
           present
           Church
           ,
           and
           those
           that
           are
           Zealous
           for
           their
           Dignity
           and
           Power
           :
           For
           what
           part
           of
           the
           Kingdom
           has
           felt
           the
           Smart
           of
           them
           more
           ,
           and
           at
           all
           times
           ,
           and
           on
           all
           occasions
           represented
           their
           mischeif
           to
           the
           Trade
           ,
           Peace
           ,
           Plenty
           and
           Wealth
           of
           the
           Kingdom
           ,
           so
           freely
           as
           the
           Town
           has
           always
           done
           ?
           But
           you
           unfold
           the
           Riddle
           to
           me
           ,
           when
           you
           tell
           me
           ,
           
             't
             is
             for
             fear
             of
             Popery
          
           ,
           tho
           I
           own
           to
           you
           ,
           I
           cannot
           comprehend
           it
           ,
           any
           more
           then
           you
           do
           Transubstantiation
           :
           For
           that
           we
           should
           be
           afraid
           of
           Popery
           for
           the
           sake
           of
           Liberty
           ,
           and
           then
           afraid
           of
           it
           because
           of
           Persecution
           ,
           seems
           to
           me
           absurd
           ,
           as
           it
           is
           ,
           that
           Liberty
           should
           be
           thought
           the
           high
           way
           to
           Persecution
           .
           But
           because
           they
           are
           upon
           their
           fears
           ,
           pray
           let
           me
           tell
           you
           mine
           ,
           and
           take
           them
           among
           the
           rest
           in
           good
           part
           .
        
         
           If
           the
           Romanists
           seek
           ease
           by
           Law
           ,
           't
           is
           an
           Argument
           to
           me
           they
           desire
           to
           turn
           good
           Countrymen
           ,
           and
           take
           the
           Law
           for
           their
           Security
           ,
           with
           the
           rest
           
           of
           their
           Neighbours
           ;
           and
           a
           greater
           Complement
           they
           cannot
           put
           upon
           our
           English
           Constitution
           ,
           nor
           give
           a
           better
           pledge
           of
           their
           desires
           to
           be
           at
           peace
           with
           us
           .
           But
           if
           we
           are
           so
           Tenacious
           as
           we
           will
           keep
           on
           foot
           the
           greatest
           blemish
           of
           our
           Reformation
           ,
           viz.
           our
           
             Hanging
             ,
             Qua
             tering
             ,
             Plunder
             Banishing
             Laws
          
           ;
           Is
           it
           not
           turning
           them
           out
           of
           this
           quiet
           course
           ,
           and
           telling
           them
           if
           they
           will
           have
           ease
           ,
           they
           must
           get
           it
           as
           they
           can
           ,
           for
           we
           will
           never
           conceed
           it
           ?
           And
           pray
           tell
           me
           if
           this
           be
           not
           thrusting
           them
           upon
           the
           methods
           we
           fear
           they
           will
           take
           ,
           at
           the
           same
           time
           that
           we
           give
           that
           ,
           for
           the
           reason
           why
           we
           do
           so
           .
        
         
           If
           Law
           can
           secure
           us
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           plea
           that
           is
           made
           ,
           we
           may
           doubtless
           find
           an
           expedient
           in
           that
           which
           may
           repeal
           these
           ,
           if
           the
           danger
           be
           not
           of
           Liberty
           it self
           ,
           but
           of
           our
           loosing
           it
           by
           them
           at
           last
           ;
           for
           there
           is
           no
           michief
           the
           wit
           of
           man
           can
           invent
           ,
           that
           the
           wit
           of
           man
           cannot
           avoid
           .
           But
           that
           which
           I
           confess
           makes
           me
           melancholy
           ,
           is
           ,
           that
           methinks
           we
           never
           made
           more
           haste
           to
           be
           cous●ned
           ;
           no
           not
           in
           the
           business
           of
           the
           
             Declaration
             of
             Indulgence
          
           ,
           when
           in
           the
           name
           of
           Property
           that
           was
           actually
           damn'd
           ,
           which
           at
           least
           reprieved
           it
           ;
           and
           the
           price
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           gave
           for
           it
           ,
           viz.
           her
           promise
           of
           a
           legal
           case
           ,
           actually
           failed
           us
           :
           For
           instead
           of
           saving
           our selves
           from
           Popery
           ,
           we
           are
           by
           these
           partialities
           provoking
           
           it
           every
           day
           ,
           and
           methinks
           foolishly
           for
           our
           own
           safety
           ;
           because
           there
           can
           be
           no
           other
           end
           in
           doing
           so
           ,
           then
           securing
           that
           Party
           which
           calls
           it self
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           ,
           that
           is
           in
           her
           Constitution
           none
           of
           the
           best
           Friends
           to
           Property
           ;
           for
           mens
           Liberties
           and
           Estates
           are
           by
           her
           Laws
           made
           forfeitable
           for
           Non-conformity
           to
           Her
           :
           And
           I
           Challenge
           the
           Records
           of
           all
           time
           since
           Popery
           got
           the
           Chair
           in
           England
           ,
           to
           produce
           an
           eight
           part
           of
           the
           Laws
           ,
           to
           ruin
           men
           for
           Conscience
           ,
           that
           have
           been
           made
           since
           the
           other
           has
           been
           the
           national
           Religion
           ,
           which
           is
           ,
           I
           say
           ,
           a
           scandal
           to
           the
           Reformation
           .
        
         
           She
           says
           ,
           she
           is
           afraid
           of
           Popery
           ,
           because
           of
           its
           Violence
           ,
           and
           yet
           uses
           Force
           to
           compel
           it
           ;
           
             Is
             not
             this
             resisting
             Popery
             with
             Popery
             ?
          
           which
           we
           call
           loving
           the
           Treason
           but
           ha●ing
           the
           Traytor
           :
           She
           would
           have
           Power
           to
           Fo●ce
           or
           Destroy
           others
           ,
           but
           they
           should
           not
           have
           Power
           to
           Force
           or
           Destroy
           her
           ,
           no
           not
           to
           save
           themselves
           :
           Shift
           the
           hand
           never
           so
           often
           ,
           this
           Weapon
           is
           still
           the
           same
           .
           'T
           were
           happy
           therefore
           that
           all
           Parties
           were
           disarm'd
           of
           this
           Sword
           ,
           and
           that
           it
           were
           put
           where
           it
           ought
           only
           to
           be
           ,
           in
           the
           Civil
           Magistrates
           hand
           ,
           to
           terifie
           Evil
           Doers
           ,
           and
           cherish
           those
           that
           do
           well
           ,
           remember●ng
           St
           Peter's
           saying
           (
           in
           
           Cornelius's
           case
           )
           for
           an
           Example
           ,
           
             I
             perceive
             now
             of
             a
             truth
             that
             God
             is
             no
             respecter
             of
             Persons
             ,
             but
             
             those
             that
             fear
             him
             ,
             and
             work
             Righteousness
             in
             all
             Nations
             shall
             be
             accepted
             :
          
           Else
           what
           security
           does
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           give
           to
           the
           great
           body
           of
           her
           Dissenters
           ,
           that
           she
           will
           not
           do
           what
           she
           fears
           from
           Popery
           ,
           when
           she
           has
           a
           Prince
           of
           her
           own
           Religion
           upon
           the
           Throne
           ,
           that
           has
           made
           so
           fair
           a
           Progress
           these
           last
           six
           and
           twenty
           Years
           in
           ruining
           families
           ,
           for
           non-conformity
           under
           Princes
           of
           an
           other
           Perswasion
           .
           Come
           ,
           Interest
           will
           not
           lye
           ,
           she
           fears
           Liberty
           ,
           as
           much
           as
           Popery
           :
           Since
           those
           that
           want
           ,
           and
           plead
           for
           the
           one
           ,
           are
           an
           hundred
           times
           more
           in
           number
           then
           the
           Friends
           of
           the
           other
           ,
           and
           all
           of
           her
           side
           ,
           that
           Popery
           should
           not
           mount
           the
           Chair
           :
           So
           that
           she
           would
           get
           more
           then
           she
           would
           lose
           by
           the
           Repeal
           ,
           if
           an
           equal
           desire
           to
           subject
           both
           Popish
           and
           Protestant
           Dissenters
           to
           her
           Power
           and
           Government
           be
           not
           the
           Principle
           she
           walks
           by
           in
           her
           present
           Aversion
           .
        
         
           And
           to
           shew
           you
           that
           this
           is
           the
           case
           ,
           and
           that
           her
           aversion
           to
           Popery
           is
           a
           sham
           to
           the
           Liberty
           desired
           ,
           the
           Dissenters
           are
           of
           no
           use
           to
           her
           ,
           while
           the
           penal
           Laws
           are
           on
           foot
           ;
           for
           by
           them
           they
           are
           put
           in
           the
           power
           of
           a
           Prince
           of
           the
           Religion
           of
           the
           Church
           she
           fears
           ;
           but
           the
           moment
           they
           are
           repealed
           ,
           so
           far
           as
           concerns
           the
           preventing
           Popery
           to
           be
           national
           ,
           the
           Dissenters
           are
           equally
           interested
           with
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           against
           it
           .
           But
           then
           here
           is
           
           the
           mischief
           ;
           This
           Liberty
           takes
           the
           Rod
           out
           of
           her
           hand
           ;
           she
           can
           no
           more
           
             whip
             People
             into
             her
             Churches
          
           ,
           and
           she
           perhaps
           may
           modestly
           suspect
           her
           own
           vertue
           and
           ability
           to
           preach
           them
           thither
           .
        
         
           In
           short
           ,
           if
           she
           were
           in
           earnest
           against
           Popery
           ,
           more
           then
           in
           love
           with
           her
           own
           Power
           and
           Grandure
           ;
           that
           is
           ,
           if
           the
           World
           were
           not
           in
           the
           way
           ,
           she
           would
           rejoyce
           to
           deliver
           Men
           of
           her
           own
           Religion
           ,
           that
           are
           so
           much
           more
           numerous
           then
           the
           Papists
           ,
           that
           they
           might
           ballance
           against
           her
           fears
           of
           their
           prevailing
           :
           But
           to
           cry
           she
           is
           for
           Liberty
           to
           Protestant
           Dissenters
           ,
           and
           make
           the
           demonstration
           of
           it
           ,
           her
           
             keeping
             up
             the
             Laws
             that
             ruin
             them
             ,
          
           and
           then
           say
           it
           is
           for
           fear
           of
           the
           Religion
           the
           Prince
           owns
           ,
           and
           yet
           force
           them
           into
           his
           hands
           by
           doing
           so
           ,
           is
           ,
           I
           must
           confess
           ,
           something
           incomprehensible
           .
        
         
           Besides
           ,
           properly
           and
           naturally
           speaking
           ,
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           is
           the
           People
           of
           England
           ,
           and
           when
           it
           s
           apply'd
           to
           a
           Party
           ,
           't
           is
           a
           Faction
           to
           the
           whole
           ;
           and
           that
           Title
           has
           no
           more
           Truth
           in
           it
           ,
           then
           't
           is
           sence
           to
           say
           the
           Roman
           Catholick
           Church
           ,
           which
           in
           English
           ,
           is
           a
           particular
           Universal
           Church
           :
           And
           pray
           is
           there
           no
           room
           left
           to
           consider
           this
           hard
           case
           of
           the
           Kingdom
           ?
           I
           hope
           the
           civil
           Magistrate
           will
           ,
           who
           is
           the
           supream
           Pastor
           of
           this
           civil
           Church
           on
           Earth
           .
           Is
           she
           then
           no
           more
           then
           a
           Party
           ?
           no
           certainly
           .
           
           and
           how
           great
           a
           one
           ,
           a
           true
           Liberty
           of
           Conscience
           would
           best
           tell
           us
           ,
           and
           that
           is
           the
           true
           reason
           ,
           and
           not
           Popery
           ,
           that
           she
           is
           tender
           in
           the
           point
           .
        
         
           I
           conclude
           then
           ,
           that
           whilst
           those
           of
           that
           Religion
           only
           desire
           to
           be
           upon
           the
           Level
           with
           others
           ;
           I
           mean
           upon
           
             Native
             Rights
          
           ,
           the
           
             Great
             Charter
          
           ,
           what
           we
           all
           of
           us
           call
           ,
           our
           Birth-right
           ,
           let
           us
           not
           refuse
           it
           ,
           lest
           God
           suffer
           them
           to
           prevail
           to
           curb
           our
           partiallity
           .
           There
           are
           Laws
           enough
           to
           punish
           Offenders
           against
           the
           State
           ,
           if
           these
           were
           repealed
           ,
           and
           not
           condemn
           People
           by
           
             Anticipation
             .
             That
             Law
             which
             catches
             a
             Protestant
             ,
             will
             catch
             a
             Papish
             Traytor
             ,
             Riotor
             or
             seditious
             Person
             .
          
           Again
           ,
           let
           us
           reflect
           ,
           that
           we
           have
           a
           Prince
           of
           Age
           ,
           and
           more
           honour
           ;
           the
           prospect
           of
           three
           excellent
           Princes
           of
           the
           Protestant
           Religion
           ,
           the
           paucity
           of
           the
           Papists
           ,
           the
           number
           of
           the
           Enemies
           of
           their
           Commnion
           ,
           their
           unity
           in
           that
           aversion
           :
           what
           greater
           security
           can
           we
           have
           in
           the
           World
           ?
           
             Policy
             ,
             Honour
             ,
             Religion
             ,
             Number
             ,
             Vnity
             ,
             ●ay
             ,
             Necessity
             too
             ,
          
           conspire
           to
           make
           us
           safe
           :
           for
           all
           these
           are
           concerned
           in
           the
           means
           of
           our
           preservation
           ;
           unless
           our
           fears
           and
           our
           follies
           should
           prevail
           :
           which
           I
           confess
           I
           apprehend
           most
           ;
           for
           they
           will
           be
           deserted
           of
           God
           ,
           that
           forsake
           him
           and
           themselves
           too
           ;
           
             who
             dare
             do
             a
             certain
             evil
             that
             a
             supposed
             good
             may
             come
             of
             it
             ,
             contradict
             their
             own
             Principles
             deny
             what
             they
             expect
             ,
             sow
             what
             they
             
             would
             not
             reap
             ,
             do
             to
             others
             what
             they
             would
             not
             that
             others
             should
             do
             to
             them
             :
          
           But
           there
           is
           a
           God
           in
           Heaven
           ,
           and
           he
           is
           just
           :
           He
           will
           meet
           to
           us
           what
           we
           measure
           to
           one
           another
           ,
           and
           his
           Judgment
           is
           inevitable
           .
           I
           therefore
           advise
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           to
           be
           as
           ready
           in
           her
           Christian
           complyances
           as
           is
           possible
           :
           First
           ,
           because
           it
           is
           impious
           to
           keep
           up
           distroying
           Laws
           for
           Religion
           ,
           when
           her
           Saviour
           tells
           her
           upon
           this
           very
           Question
           ,
           
             That
             he
             came
             not
             to
             destroy
             mens
             lives
             but
             to
             save
             them
             .
             Secondly
             ,
          
           Because
           by
           this
           she
           will
           wipe
           off
           rhe
           Reproach
           she
           throws
           by
           continuing
           them
           ,
           upon
           her
           own
           Apologies
           for
           Liberty
           of
           Conscience
           ,
           when
           under
           the
           wheel
           of
           Power
           .
           Thirdly
           ,
           Because
           Liberty
           to
           the
           Papists
           by
           Law
           ,
           is
           bringing
           them
           into
           the
           legal
           interest
           of
           the
           Kingdom
           ,
           and
           will
           prevent
           the
           force
           ,
           they
           may
           else
           be
           driven
           to
           ,
           by
           being
           made
           and
           left
           desperate
           :
           For
           '
           its
           not
           to
           be
           thought
           they
           will
           willingly
           pay
           the
           reckoning
           in
           another
           Reign
           ,
           if
           by
           any
           means
           they
           can
           prevent
           it
           ;
           and
           keeping
           up
           the
           penal
           Laws
           can
           be
           no
           security
           to
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           from
           such
           attempts
           ,
           though
           they
           may
           provoke
           them
           upon
           her
           .
           Fourthly
           ,
           She
           hereby
           saves
           her
           dissenters
           ;
           and
           if
           it
           be
           really
           her
           inclination
           to
           do
           so
           ,
           she
           has
           no
           other
           way
           ,
           and
           this
           unites
           them
           to
           her
           in
           affection
           and
           interest
           ,
           if
           not
           in
           Worship
           .
           But
           if
           on
           the
           contrary
           she
           persists
           obstinately
           
           to
           refuse
           this
           national
           paciffick
           ;
           the
           dissenters
           ,
           I
           hope
           ,
           will
           consider
           their
           honest
           Interest
           ,
           
             Conscience
             and
             Property
          
           ,
           and
           imbrace
           those
           oppertunities
           to
           secure
           them
           ,
           that
           God
           in
           his
           all-wise
           providence
           is
           pleased
           to
           yield
           them
           in
           this
           conjuncture
           .
           Thus
           Gentlemen
           ,
           you
           have
           my
           thoughts
           upon
           your
           News
           ,
           pray
           communicate
           them
           to
           our
           acquantance
           ,
           and
           believe
           that
           I
           am
           ,
           
             Yours
             ,
             &c.
          
           
        
      
       
         
           POST-SCRIPT
           .
        
         
           FOr
           the
           Tests
           that
           are
           so
           much
           discoursed
           of
           ,
           I
           shall
           only
           say
           ,
           that
           't
           is
           ,
           an
           other
           mystery
           of
           the
           Times
           to
           me
           ,
           how
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           that
           was
           against
           the
           Exclusion
           ,
           can
           be
           for
           them
           that
           were
           design'd
           for
           a
           Preamble
           to
           it
           ;
           since
           in
           so
           doing
           ,
           she
           is
           for
           that
           which
           was
           contrived
           to
           introduce
           the
           Exclusion
           she
           was
           so
           Zealously
           against
           .
           I
           confess
           I
           never
           understood
           her
           very
           well
           ,
           and
           she
           grows
           more
           and
           more
           unintelligible
           ;
           but
           this
           I
           know
           ,
           that
           she
           must
           either
           be
           sorry
           for
           what
           she
           has
           done
           ,
           or
           she
           did
           not
           know
           what
           she
           did
           .
           The
           first
           reflects
           upon
           her
           Loyalty
           ,
           the
           last
           upon
           her
           understanding
           ;
           and
           because
           I
           think
           that
           the
           least
           ,
           and
           likeliest
           evil
           ,
           I
           conclude
           she
           is
           no
           infallible
           Guide
           upon
           the
           Question
           .
        
         
         
           Another
           thing
           you
           tell
           me
           ,
           that
           gives
           great
           offence
           ,
           is
           ,
           his
           Majesties
           turning
           out
           Protestants
           ,
           and
           putting
           in
           People
           of
           his
           Religion
           .
           This
           I
           conceive
           a
           fault
           ,
           that
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           is
           only
           answerable
           for
           .
           Other
           Princes
           have
           been
           so
           unhappy
           as
           to
           Suffer
           Tests
           and
           Marks
           of
           distinction
           that
           have
           broken
           and
           disorder'd
           their
           Kingdoms
           ,
           by
           depriving
           those
           of
           their
           Temporal
           comforts
           ,
           that
           would
           not
           receive
           them
           ;
           and
           this
           People
           esteemed
           a
           mighty
           grievance
           ;
           and
           were
           frequent
           and
           elegant
           in
           their
           complaints
           about
           it
           .
           We
           have
           a
           King
           now
           ,
           that
           would
           remove
           these
           Marks
           of
           distinction
           ,
           and
           secure
           all
           men
           upon
           their
           native
           Right
           and
           Bottom
           ,
           That
           all
           Parties
           might
           sit
           safely
           under
           their
           own
           Vine
           ,
           and
           under
           their
           own
           Fig-tree
           ;
           so
           that
           now
           ,
           
             who
             is
             for
             Liberty
          
           ?
           becomes
           the
           Test
           .
           Are
           they
           then
           fit
           to
           be
           trusted
           that
           are
           out
           of
           his
           Interest
           ,
           and
           against
           the
           Liberty
           he
           is
           for
           ,
           and
           the
           Nation
           wants
           and
           craves
           ?
           Or
           is
           it
           good
           sense
           ,
           that
           he
           (
           who
           is
           mortal
           as
           well
           as
           other
           men
           )
           should
           leave
           the
           Power
           in
           those
           hands
           ,
           that
           to
           his
           face
           show
           their
           aversion
           to
           the
           Friends
           of
           his
           Communion
           tho
           he
           offers
           to
           maintain
           her
           still
           ?
           She
           had
           the
           offer
           to
           keep
           them
           ,
           upon
           that
           Principle
           that
           must
           heal
           and
           save
           the
           Kingdom
           
             Liberty
             of
             Conscience
          
           :
           which
           shows
           the
           King
           was
           willing
           to
           be
           served
           by
           her
           sons
           to
           chuse
           ,
           if
           upon
           the
           same
           general
           Principle
           with
           
           himself
           :
           wherefore
           't
           is
           the
           Gentlemen
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           that
           turn
           themselves
           out
           of
           power
           ,
           rather
           then
           endure
           Liberty
           of
           Conscience
           to
           others
           ;
           and
           shall
           this
           Vice
           be
           their
           Vertue
           .
           They
           must
           be
           heartily
           in
           love
           with
           persecution
           that
           can
           sacrifice
           their
           Places
           to
           the
           upholding
           of
           penal
           Laws
           for
           Religion
           ,
           because
           they
           would
           not
           let
           others
           ,
           not
           only
           ,
           not
           come
           in
           ,
           but
           not
           live
           at
           their
           own
           Charges
           :
           A
           fine
           thing
           to
           suffer
           for
           .
           Their
           Ancestors
           were
           Martyers
           by
           penal
           Laws
           ,
           but
           these
           for
           them
           .
           The
           cause
           is
           chang'd
           whatever
           they
           think
           ,
           and
           I
           am
           afraid
           they
           are
           chang'd
           too
           for
           want
           of
           thinking
           .
           I
           Profess
           I
           pitty
           them
           with
           all
           my
           Heart
           and
           wish
           them
           more
           Wit
           ,
           and
           better
           Consciences
           against
           next
           time
           ,
           if
           ever
           they
           have
           it
           ,
           for
           these
           ,
           if
           they
           will
           believe
           me
           ,
           will
           hardly
           ever
           make
           so
           good
           a
           Bargin
           for
           them
           ,
           as
           they
           have
           lost
           by
           them
           .
           More
           of
           this
           ,
           if
           you
           like
           it
           ,
           next
           time
           ,
           and
           till
           then
           ,
           Adieu
           .
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
         
      
    
     
  

