If he say the complaint is unjust in the second respect it must be shewed that the cognisance of a Church-greivance referred to them by the members doth not belong to the Consistory which I suppose he will not undertake If he say the complaint is unjust in the 3. respect their owne protestation in the conclusion of the greivances will answer for them that their end in taking that course was that some lawfull course might be taken by the Elders for the redresse of those greivances and in case that should be neglected to free them selves from the guilt of those evills when they should have done their uttermost indeavours for the redresse of the same If he say the complaint is unjust in the fourth respect as too much aggravating the offeÌ„ce the Answerer himselfe cleareth theÌ„ thereof in the preface of his booke where he justifyeth the harshest expressioÌ„s used by the Complainants the very title of the printed paÌ„phlet which many mislike saying If the coÌ„plaints be just then is the title just being framed according to the contents specâ—all subject of the booke c. It remayneth therefore that he find some other respect in which the complaints may be said to be unjust else it will be concluded that the are just notwithstanding any thing said by him to the contrary in that pretended answer that him selfe hath dealt unjustly in calling them unjust complaints Of W. B. of such others as haue subscribed theeunto Here it would be inquired what copy of the complaints the Answerer meaneth If he meane the written copy why doth he meÌ„tioÌ„ only W.B. name coÌ„cealing the rest seeing they all subscribed it as well as he If he meane the printed copy which I call the pamphlet why are the other subscribers joyned with him seeing they knew not of it before it was published freely expressed their dislike of it afterward If the publishing of it only be the injury where of he complaineth why are the subscribers blamed who knew not of it nor approved it If the subscription to the written copy be the offence what did W. B. more then the rest that he is named alone This Riddle needeth an Oedipus Is it because though he be formost in standing yet he is the least in understanding and by the printer of the Brownists noated to be a Simplician as the Answerer scoffingly and injuriously declareth in his praeface If so no man will prayse his fortitude howsoever they may his policy who chalengeth so weake an Antagonist to the feild Or is it that the Reader may apprehend that to be some weake jury which hath such a foreman that so he may slight the complaint the more for W.B. sake If so the Reader is abused For neither was the complaint subscribed by him alone but by the rest many whereof the Answerer knoweth to be no Simplicians nor were the rest induced to complaine or subscribe the complaint exhibited in Consistory by his example or perswasion Secondly suppose they had bene weaker men then they are it is not safe for any man upon such a praejudice to slight theire complaints seing the Lord doth otherwise who saith For the oppression of the poore Psal 12.5 for the sighing of the needy now will I arise saith the Lord I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him In which last word puffeth at him is expressed both the pride and policy of those that oppresse the poore and needy And commonly circumventing wits and scornfull spirits goe together Prov. 29.8 Ephes 6.9 Prov. 24.23 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lucian de Sect. so Salomon joyneth them in a Proverbe saying Scornfull men bring a citty into a snare And as there is not respect of persons with God so for men it is not good to have respect of persons in judgement which even the Areopagites discerned by the glimmering twilight of nature therefore gave judgement in the night that they might not observe the persons of the speakers but attend to the things spoken by them And the Christian reader I hope will be ashamed that the best of the heathen should goe beyond him in such a point of Iustice Also an answer to Mr. J. D. As he did answer them so he hath answered me also that is boath alike untruely unfitly insufficiently yet with this difference that upon me alone he hath spent more bitternes and gall then upon them altogether which the understanding Reader will easily apprehend to be an argument of his guilt and weaknes to manadge his cause in those passages that concerne me For commonly when reason and judgement is unable to help then the passions grow tumultuous and rise up disorderly at least to make a noyse with impotent clamours as bores and pesants sometimes confusedly assemble and with hideous shoutings thinck to affright the enimy or to give others occasion to thinck they have the victory But here I have a few questions to propounde 1. Quaere Why this Answerer mentioneth my name in the title page of his booke Is it because I am mentioned in the printed pamphlet But he knoweth I protested against that in print in favour of him though he hath ill requited me 2. Quaere Why he wrighteth it so at length both there and throughout his whole booke Js it to ingratiate himselfe with any by opposing me 3. Quaere concerning the matter of his answer 1. whether any report of passages made by me in that wrighting be proved untrue by him 2. Whether the Scriptures alleadged by me be faythfully handled by him or doe not serve fully to the purpose for which I produced them and whether all of them be alleadged by me against the baptisme of some infants as he pretendeth and why he answerth not other passages in that letter to the Classis but only insisteth upon 2. or 3. texts of Scripture in the pretended purpose whereof he abuseth his Reader and what end he had in pretending to answer in such a manner my protestation which was made in his favour 4. Quaere Why he compelleth me thus to contest with him in print seing he knoweth I have declined all contention with him by wrighting or word 5. Quaere Why he bringeth others upon the stage also both Reverend ministers dead and farr absent and the Elders of his owne Church when he pretendeth only to answer W. B. and I. D If he say the Complainants mentioned theire names who knoweth not how easily and fairely he might have declined any speech about them at least Sect. 5. p. 28. Sect. 6. p. 32. Sect. 28. p 76. 77. tending to their reproach notwithstanding that Yea de factô he hath declined the same in the cases of other men Why might not alike answer have served concerning those also 6. Quaere Why seing he would answer me without cause in print did he not answer my threefold wrighting by it selfe or refer me to the answer of the complaints or the Complainants to the answer
of my wrighting in cases paralell and coincident but so implicateth and involveth the one in the other that he compelleth me to reply upon almost his whole booke His answer to these I expect in his reply The Praeface examined IN examining the Praeface I may not omit to acquaint the Reader with two subtile insinuations whereby if he be not forewarned of them he may easily and at unawares be causelesly praejudiced Two subtil devises The first is an old trick of Sophistry called a fallacy of the composition For pretending to answer two wrightings the one made by me the other made and subscribed by diverse well affected members of his Church he so confoundeth them with a booke published by W. B. which in my printed protestation I called an injurious pamphlet as if those wrightings and this printed booke were one and the same For having spoken of that pamphlet in respect of the title publishers and post script he telleth the Reader that the first part of that pamphlet was made by Mr. D. and the 2. part subscribed by others Who reading these passages would not conclude us to be authours of the pamphlet For which cause let the judicious Reader be intreated to understand that a difference must be made betwixt that pamphlet and those wrightings For the printed booke wherein also those wrightings are contayned I called a pamphlet not in respect of those 2. wrightings considered as written for private use but in â—espect of the joynt printing and publishing of them in forme of a booke with such a title and postscript and in this respect onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quia implet omnia loca it is properly called a pamphlet because by this meane that which was before private and intended so to be at least comparatively became now as it were to fill all places and to be made common Whence it is evident that the same thing may be called a pamphlet when it is printed which yet is no pamphlet being only written So then if he undertake to answer the pamphlet let him deale with the authors of it my selfe have protested against it in print and all the Subscribers except W. B. disclaime it But if he will answer the wrightings let him deale fairely with us and not joyne us with the authours of the pamphlet nor abuse the Reader by telling him of a first and second part of the pamphlet but professe to deale with the wrighting which he shall find me ready to defend so farr as concerneth my part The second is a common practise of subtile Oratours whose custome is to raise some sinister suspicion of ill purposes or intendments in the opposite party that so whatsoever they shall say may be either slighted or suspected For this purpose he laboureth to perswade the Reader that partly affection to the Brownists partly disaffection to Classes and Synods and the government of these Churches and partly private discontents have bene the strong motives whereupon these wrightings were made whether by them or me The untruth of which suggestions will the more appeare if we single out some persons whom by name he thus reproacheth And first not to speake of the printed pamphlet nor of any that had a hand in it which both they and I disclaime I will cleare my owne purpose in that threefold wrighting whereof he speaketh As for my renoune and fame for learning and guifts in preaching which he intimateth These titles as I assume not Quomodo luctantes Antagonistas altius attollunt quo vehementius illidant Cypr. epist 2. lib. 2. so I suspect he ascribeth them with no other mind then wrestlers have towards their Antagonists whom they lift as high as they can that they may give them the greater fall afterwards First whereas he saith that threefold wrighting was partly against the classis partly against him the reader may see another politick devise of his to joyne the Classis with him selfe for his owne advantage as if my wrighting were intended against them where as I have all wayes professed my reverent esteeme of theÌ„ as also I did in those three wrightings mentioned by him which were not at all intended nor framed against theÌ„ as he misinformeth the Reader only I doe justly bewayle two things 1. their credulity that they have suffered them selves to be abused so much by misinformations and that from thence they have bene plunged more then where to be wished into the guilt of partiality by to much adhaering to one party with to apparent neglect of the other though in this case the more considerable 2. They re injurious depriving the Church of they re right in the free choyse injoyment of men whom they unanimously desired for they re Pastors without giving them due satisfaction the aequity of they re so doing Which a man may say having respect to some particular persons with out condemning all and in reference to a particular miscariage without condemning all use of Classes and Synods Secondy Whereas he sayth that Fallacia non causae ut causae being discontented that my calling amongst them did not succeed I had an hand in wrighting against them for not desiring me he useth another fallacy which is when that is put for a cause which is no cause For though I had cause to be discontented that my calling did not succeed and that by his fault yet that disconteÌ„t did not cause me to wright as appeareth in that I did forbeare wrighting 6 moneths after he had hindred my setling there but the clearing of mine innoceÌ„cy was the cause of my wrighting whereunto I was compelled by his repoaches Sect. 5. Ans 3. 21. Sect. 40. Ans 3. Thirdly Whereas he sayth that comming nearer to the Brownists in this question about Baptisme then to us it is therefore the lesse marvayle c. I answer 1. Himselfe in diverse places of his booke freeth me from any such affection to the Brownists as might cause me to wright against him in favour of them Therefore herein he contradicteth himselfe 2. Nearenes to or distance from the Brownists is but a false rule whereby to trye trueth or errour If the Brownists be nearer to the trueth in this matter then this Answerer why should not I come nearer to them then to him Is it not safe to come nearer to the Brownists in holding a truth then to the Libertines in a danberous errour Will he say the Brownists hold no trueth or that we may not lawfully hold the trueth with them that it may appeare we differ from them or that no man can wright in defense of any trueth which they hold without siding against him 3. It would be knowne whom he meaneth by us when he sayth nearer to the Brownists then to us 1. If he meane the Elders of his Church his owne words will contradict himselfe For of them he sayth these three have diverse times professed themselves to be
places Acts 6. and 14 which if he hath diverse times taught them as he sayth the necessity of the free consent of the people unto the lawfull calling of a Minister out of those texts may be questionable Yet will it thence follow that therefore they may be deprived of men whom they have chosen or desire to choose without just and sufficient cause J suppose not Pag. 22. Ans 8. Reply His eighth and last answer is already examined and replyed upon and declared to be contradictory to himselfe in my reply to the third answer concerning their supposed silence if they could have brought me in according to this order thither I referr the Reader So much shall serve for the fourth Section The answer to the fifth Section examined IN this Section they prove the justnes of their former complaint by instances of men desired by the Church but by him rejected and opposed whereunto he answereth This complaint is confirmed and aggravated by Mr. D. c. Ans Reply If this complaint be just it makes good the title which these complainants give themselves the burthened members and well might I say that they are over burthened with the losse of so many men so much desired by the Church The Answerer himselfe sayth If the complaints be just then is the title just being framed according to the contents and speciall subject of the booke And a litle after If this Church be deprived of that liberty and power which Christ hath given it c. then is there cause to complaine of the miserable slavery and bondage of this Church These be his owne words What have the complainants or I sayd more then this That is a burthen which causeth wearines to him that beareth it Wearines ariseth from the disproportion betweene the faculty and the object hence is paine in the subject and thence are complaints which are more greivous as the burthen is more painfull And as corporall burthens are made intolerable to the body by addition of weight so are inward burthens to the mind by accession of aggravating considerations And in this case the concurrence of many respects maketh the burthen they complaine of exceeding greivous as their love to God to the Church to our Nation to their opposed brethen and to themselves First Their love to God stirreth up indignation in them when they see his servants injuryed and according to the height of their esteeme of the men is the deepenes of their sense of their injuryes Their injury they expresse to be his rejecting and opposing them their owne esteeme of the men they declare in stiling them the most worthy servants of God Such superlative and exuperant titles the persons to whom they are applyed dare not assume to themselves acknowledging themselves to be unproffitable servants and not worthy of that high honour to be called the servants of such a God Yet the persons who thus describe them shew a great esteeme of them To see such disgracefully used not by Ammonites as Davids servants were 2. Sam. 10.2.4.5 thorough causeles jealousyes but by Israelites and to be smitten by their fellow servants to the hinderance of the Lords worke and the furtherance of Sathans projects is very greivous Secondly Their love to the Church stirreth up Zeale in them to promove the good thereof by all possible indeavours both for their brethren and companions sake Psal 122. and because of the house of the Lord our God Whence their greife is increased if in deavours prove successes especially when they are denyed those men whom God seemeth to cast upon them and the Church unanimously desireth to the hinderance of the Churches peace and aedification and when that is done not against some one but against many nor once only but often Thirdly Their love to their Nation and Country stirreth up aemulation causeth much greife discontentment in them at any thing that may reflect reproach or disgrace upon the same as Contentions amongst them which by these actions are made unavoydable will doe especially in such a place as Amsterdam where so many nations living in Concord amongst themselves and with others are observers and admirers at the unnaturalnes of some of ours to their owne countrimen Fourthly Their love to their rejected and opposed brethren stirreth up compassion in them For who can looke upon a silly sheepe scratched in a hedge of thornes whither it fled for shelter without pitty And if Iobs complaint is able to affect any tender spirit when he sayth To him ehat is afflicted pitty should be shewed from his brethren Iob. 6.14.15 but my brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brooke which is then emptyest when the season is hottest and the wearied travayler is in greatest thirst much more will this stirr up Sympathy in a mercifull heart to see brethren not only like waters that fayle but as a violent streame that threatens to overflow and drowne those that should be refreshed to reject and oppose those that should be received cherished Fifthly Their love to them selves and to those that depend upon them stirreth up great desire in them to injoy those meanes which they haue found blessed to them to some of them for their effectuall calling to the obedience of Fayth to others of them for their buylding up and strengthning in their most holy Fayth Hence their greife is increased When they see themselves deprived of that which they haue found so good proffitable As for his girding Epithites in the next words against my person and theire expression I passe it by pittying his distemper Whereas he sayth that in the reproofe of these Complainants Mr. D. may in part read his owne it concerneth me the more strictly and particularly to examine the following passages that I may see how justly he reproveth me being prepared in some good measure I hope to beare patiently and receive thanckfully a just reproofe and to hold forth the truth myne owne innocency against unjust reproaches not respecting any mans person in discharge of my bounden duety We will therefore exactly observe his method and examine his pretended answer 1 To generall assertions 2 To the particular instances severally considered and apart 1. His pretended answer to that which is objected concerning these instances joyntly considered and in generall The thing objected or complained of is that the Church is by the Answerer deprived of her due liberty and power in the free choyse of a Pastor whilest men desired by the Church generally are by him rejected and opposed without sufficient cause This we prove say they by his rejecting and opposing the most worthy servants of God who came out of England for the same cause he did whom the Church with one consent desired as Mr. H. and Mr. D. of later times as also Mr. Pa Dr. A. Mr. F. Mr. P. c. Now let us see what he answereth Ans 1 generally concerning them all joyntly considered And thereunto he seemeth to
knife it is truely sayd the knife cut him or the man cut him to the knife it is ascribed but as to an instrument to the man as to the principall Agent To apply this I demand who caryed the matter to the Classis and would accept no wayes which I propounded for private accommodation The Answerer Who held it in the Classis when they were willing to have it ended in the Consistory suspecting the Elders would carry the matter for me and that the keeping of me out might not be imputed to himselfe The Answerer who intimated to some of them the danger of giving me liberty in that point when some of them inclined thereunto telling them it would encourage the Brownists and it would make the contrary practise of they re Church censured and that it would make their Church to be accounted as a sinck or common shore to receive what the English Church refuseth that he might irritate and incense them against me in this point Did not the Answerer Causa causae est causa causati I conclude If he was the cause moving them to it the complaint may justly be layed upon him that he was the principall cause of it A defence of Mr. Parker 3. In the third place he dealeth with Mr. Parker And now we are come to the Triarij in the three following instances the first whereof is this worthy man a man of much eminency above many famous lights in his time Jn this passage I will noate 3 things 1. some doubtfull expressions which should be cleared 2. some questions to be answered 3. the exception that this was 20. yeares since by the Answerer propounded But before I prosecute these particulars I haue some thing to say concerning this worthy man And I confesse when I did read this passage I did much wonder both in respect of the man himselfe and of the Answerer For this man his workes doe in part shew his worth concerning which a judicious censurer though differing from him in judgement about the Hierarthy testifyed that they are as full of learning as an egg is full of meate His workes which I haue seene are 1. a treatise against the Crosse 2. De descensu Christi ad inferos 3. De Politia Ecclesiastica One would haue thought that Holland should have esteemed the opportunity of setling such an one amongst them an unvaluable bessing And yet did the ministers of the Classis make some difficulty about admitting him And did the Magistrates signifie that they should cease from the pursuite of this buisenes I will hope it was ignorantly done the man being unknowne to them or they were abused by sinister informations But if they had rightly knowne him and yet so concluded my conclusion concerning them shall be that they are worthy to want such a man who so undervalued him For the Answerer Is it possible that he should hinder his setling there who sojourned at his house who was a member of his Church and an Elder as am informed about 2 yeares what could they object against him which the Answerer could not have answered Did they suspect him of inclining to Brownisme His booke of Ecclesiastical Policy cleareth him and a letter written by himselfe but published by some other in a pamphlet called the profane Schysme c. cleareth him of that imputation Did they suspect his dissaffection to Classes The same booke sheweth how farr he liketh and disliketh theire way which though it was not then printed the Answerer understood his judgment fully Or was there any thing else in the wind The searcher of all hearts knoweth and will manifest in due time In the meane space here is a sad complaint that the Church was deprived of him whom they admired when they heard him preach which was but a litle before his departure and with one consent desired to injoy as they re Pastor and colleague with the Answerer And the ancient inhabitants say that with a sad heart he left the citty but in a short space after his removeall thence to a Leager whither he was called to be they re preacher it pleased God to remove him from this unthanckfull world from all sorrowes and troubles to perfect joy and peace He died about 3 moneths after he went from Amsterdam at Doesburge in the County of Zâ—lphen whither he was called to preach to a Regiment of English The Church triumphant received him In the yeare 1613 as I am informed whoÌ„ a few out of needles jealousyes hindred from being intertained by this small hand-full a very litle parcell of the Church militant to they re unspeakeable losse and hindrance But I hasten to the three things to be noated in the answer 1. Certaine doubtfull termes in this answer should be cleared and they re meaning shewen As. 1. There was some difference about the manner of his call But he sayth not what was the manner of his call about which the difference was nor what nor betweene whom the difference about it was 2. I propounded the matter unto the Dutch Ministers who made some difficulty about it but be sheweth not about what they made difficultye nor what difficulty they made nor whether they made difficultyes as particular men in a prudentiall way for advise or joyntly concurring in a way of Classicall power binding the Church to rest in they re determination concerning Mr. Parkers unfitnes for that place 3. When Mr. Halius and Mr. Plancius c. were deputed c. I laboured to cleare the difficultyes objected by them but he concealeth what course he tooke for the clearing of those difficulties and whether Mr. Parker himselfe was consulted with for the removeall of them 4. Some while after a dutch Minister and an Elder coming to Mr. T. signifyed from the Burgomasters of this citty c. But he hideth it whether the Burgomasters sent these men and the reason why they came to Mr. T. and not to all the Elders in Consistory and why the Elders were not then sent for before the Burgomasters as in other cases they are to know they re pleasure Besides other evidence I have a coppy of the letter which our Eldership sent unto Mr. Parker but will that letter manifest that the Answerer did what lay in his power to further the calling of Mr. Parker or what else will it evidence 6. And there be some ancient Ministers of the Classis yet living whose testimony might giue further light thereto To what what need these darke expressions if things were carryed fairely and openly especially seing the Answerer it not went to be shye of telling any thing nor of wresting an interpretation of words or actions which was never meant nor thought if it may make for his advantage as this booke aboundantly witnesseth 2. Some questions also should be answered 1. Quaere Why it was not considered of how Mr. Parkers setling in that place might be effected before he was in a manner ingaged to another place 2.
the setling of any Minister in any Church before they had examined his cause or heard what he could say in his owne defence as they did in Mr. H. case or to deprive the Church of a man whom they desired only because he refused to baptise all that are presented by whomsoever though they were neither members of that Church nor otherwise knowne and that in Amsterdam as they did in my case Or to proceed against men so farr that abhorr all haeresy and schysme From the Scriptures they have no such power nor from the Churches nor from the Synods nor from the fundamentall lawes of their owne constitution Whence then The answerer opposeth men upon needlesse jealousyes and then craveth the helpe of the Classis to keepe them out they conceiving it to be their part to defend the ministers interpose strenuously ab that I could say justly and orderly and judge that such men are not fit to be setled in that Church Hereupon the members complaine that he giveth and they receive an undue power in this particular Where is now the double slander will he deny the fact It is too evident Will he deny it to be unduely done The very forme of subscription required by the Classis it selfe will witnes against him which excludeth not any man from the Ministry in these Churches for that cause And can they duely and justly require that of the preacher of the English Church which is not required of any Dutch Minister by the orders of the Classis it selfe But the Answerer gave them not this power The power which the Ministers of the Classis have is not of my gift sayth he they had that power which they excercise before I wae The question is not of the power which they have in generall but of a power which they excercise in some particular viz in that whereof they complaine And herein they doe not complaine of his approving their due power but of his giving them an undue power depriving them of men whom they desired without sufficient cause This power they tooke not to themselves till they were called upon to interpose for the prevention of some imagined danger in the English Church Who suggested those jealousyes Did not the Answerer Who importuned them to wright what they did in the cases here mentioned Did not the Answerer Who bound the Church to rest in the wrightings of those Ministers in these cases Who but the Answerer Let the Scripture be searched and the text shewen wherein the word hath given them this power to hinder the Church from chusing a Minister otherwise free from all exception onely for such causes Let the Synods be examined Js there one Canon in them all to warrant their excercising such a power Will the English Church acknowledge that they have given the Classis this power If the Scriptures the Synods the Church gave it not them if themselves saught it not tooke it not till it was given them it must needs be that the Answerer gave it them By what right either he gave it or they received it I inquire not let them agree about that betweene themselves or rather let them in simplicity and truth satisfye first their owne consciences then the Complainants In his third answer he chargeth Mr. Hook and me with schysme It was requisite he should doe so else he knew that the Classis and he must beare the blame of usurping and excercising an undue power to the wronging of the Church Let us see how he proveth it First In Mr. Hooker whom he chargeth with fowre opinions which tended to schysme as he sayth 1. The two first concerne the Brownists as 1. his opinion that they might lawfully be received for members of that Church 2. that in some cases the members of this Church might heare at their assemblyes To helpe the Reader to a right understanding of this cause till Mr. H. shall thinck it fit to speake for himselfe I will shew 3. things 1. That Mr. H. did not approve of the Brownists judgment in the point of Seperation for in expresse words he answereth to the first question To seperate from the faithfull assemblies and Churches in England as no Churches is an errour in judgment and sinne in practise held and maintayned by the Brownists And therefore to communicate with them either in this their opinion or practise is sinfull and utterly unlawfull 2. That he delivered his judgement herein with considerable cautions as 1. that men should renounce their opinion and practise 2. that care be taken to prevent offence either by incouraging them in their way or by drawing ours to a further approbation of that way then is meet 3. that whatsoever moderation he allowed in this case was to be understood 1. according to the former caution and interpretation and 2. upon supposition 1. that they erred in this point not obstinately but for want of light and conviction as appeareth in his answer to the second question 2. that the person thus opinionated is in his judgment and life otherwise altogether unblameable such an one as in the judgment of reasonable charity may be counted a member of Christ so a Saint 1 Cor. 1.2 3. That the judging a man unfit to be received a mēber for an erronious opinion in such a kind is to confirme the Brownists in that unsupportable and absurd censure which now they maintayne touching those that hold the Churches in England true Churches professe they will occasionally communicate therein as appeareth in his answer to the third question These things being duely weighed I leave it to the judgment of the indifferent Reader whether a man allowing such men to be received members with that Church or others differing frō them in judgement and practise about Seperation to heare with them occasionally and extra casum scandali without offence and expressing himselfe in these points with such interpretations cautions and suppositions may justly be charged with schysme 3. The third opinion which he held and the Answerer sayth tended to schysme was that private men might preach and expound the Scripture c. In the 17. question propounded to him by the Answerer he expresseth his judgment by a distinction of a double ground from which this may be done viz either ex officio or ex dono i. e. by vertue of an office and this no man may doe without a calling thereunto from the Church or from the gift that Christ doeth dispense to severall members according to their measure the place they hold in the body and that thus any Christian may privately doe as opportunity expediency serve he holdeth and therein professeth his agreement with Dr. Ames in the 14. Booke of cases of consc cap. 25. who proveth it both by Scripture and reason And will any man say that this is an opinion or practise of Schysme 4. The fourth opinion which he held and for which the Answerer accuseth him of schysme is that Churches
deny the authority and due power of Synods and Classes to be lawfull and necessary but they complaine of an undue power and authority ascribed to Classes by the Answerer and they declare by instances what that power is which they account undue Now unlesse he can prove that power to be due which they have affirmed to be undue he hath not answered their complaint which is that under pretence of asking and taking their advise he subjecteth the Church under that power which they affirme to be undue That he doeth so subject them hath bene shewed and that he pretendeth onely to aske and take their advise his owne expressions both by speeches at other times and in diverse passages of this booke declare sufficiently 4. His fourth answer is to their saying that the Church never acknowledged any such power to be due whereunto he answereth 1. by shewing the agreement betweene the ancient English inhabitants there the Magistrates and the Dutch Ministers which was to have such an English Church as should accord with the Dutch in the same order of Discipline and Government 2. By declaring that since his first comming but he sayth not how long after his first comming he was admitted to be a member of the Classis 3. By shewing the manner of their receiving members viz by profession of the same fayth with them and by solemne promise covenanting to submit unto the discipline of this Church according to the rule of Christ But what is in all these passages to prove their submission to any undue power and authority of the Classis Nay when they professe to submit unto the discipline of this Church according to the rule of Christ doe they not therein implicitly professe against submission to any undue power of the Classis And as litle doeth the practise of any members since in resorting to the Classis upon occasion of asking their judgment in matters controverted among them establish any undue power of theirs And to what end should those that joyne with his Church leaving their separation come with a protest against the undue power of the Classis when they knew not of their subjection thereunto no more being required of them in their Covenant at their first admission then submission to the discipline of this Church according to the role of Christ As for that which he addeth of their chusing rather to continue as they were then to be of the English Synod this doeth not testifye their acknowledgment of their subjectiō to any undue power of the Classis But how were they under the Classis when not long before that the Answerer himselfe as Mr. Forbes assured me laboured to set up an English Classis or Synod which not succeeding in his indeavour at that time he never after attempted to procure nor would joyne with being after set up at the procurements of others As for St Offw report of Geneva we have already shewne some difference betweene the association of Churches in Geneva and the Classes in these Countryes But be that as it may it makes nothing for the warranting of any undue power of the Classis 5. His fifth answer is to that passage in the complaint when they say that the power which they complaine of is such as the Scriptures doe not in any place give to such a company of Ministers The fault that he findeth herewith is that they doe not alleadge any one place of Scripture to condemne the same As though Negative Arguments from Scripture were not sufficient proofes of the unlawfullnes of a thing in matter of Religion By the helpe of St. Offw booke he accommodateth the 15. of the Acts. concerning the Church at Antioch seeking helpe of the Church at Ierusalem in a difficult question to the present question But what is that to the undue power of the Classis whereof they complaine In his next answer it may be he will give me occasion of shewing that that very place of Scripture maketh strongly against that undue power which he ascribeth to the Classis in the particulars complained of and such like 6. His sixth answer is to that part of the Complaint when they say that the undue authority whereof they complaine is such as doeth not become any except the Apostles that could not erre to have This he sayth is false and absurd and upon this occasion he reproveth me for a like speech in my letter to the Classis touching my consent required to the wrighting of the five Ministers namely that such a subjection is greater then may be yeelded unto any Councill whether of Classes or Synods c. that thereby the wrightings and decrees of men are made infallible and aequall with the word of God which is intolerable Reply Jt is true that I so wrote and that which I wrote herein is true Let us now see what he answereth He sayth what wise man is there that sees not the strange folly and vanity of such assertions as these Iunius was a wise man and yet he saw no folly nor vanity nor strangenes in a like assertion and so was Bogerman who relates it roundly and without haesitancy from him in these words Bogerm Annot in Hug Grot ex Iuni p. 225. Servus mandatum Domini sui referens ad conservum suum obligat illius conscientiam instrumentali ministerio suo at cognitioni suae aut foro suo minimè obligat Hoc nunquam Dominus quisquam daturus nunquam fervus fidelis assumpturus i. e. A servant relating the command of his Lord to his fellow servant bindeth his conscience by his instrumentall ministry that is as I conceive it so farr as he reporteth the Lords mind and command but doeth not bind him to his owne outward jurisdiction This no Lord will ever give nor any faithfull servant assume But did not they assume this and more when they would bind me to rest in that wrighting and to be accountable to them for my conformity to it not having convinced or instructed me that it was the will of our Lord that I should doe so Also Dr. Whittaker was a wise man Whitt de Concil Quest 3. Chap. 2. yet he saw no folly nor vanity nor strangenes in a like assertion For speaking of the definitions of Councills concerning matters to be beleived or to be done he sheweth that to define a thing signifieth either 1. to declare what we are to beleive doe upō the authority of the Scripture because the Scripture teacheth that it aught to be so beleived and done and that therefore they that beleive or doe otherwise are in an errour 2. or else it signifyeth to appoynt and prescribe by their owne authority what we are to beleive or doe so as men must rest in it whatsoever reason they have against it and may not beleive or doe otherwise The first he alloweth and so did I and desired nothing else but to understand some rule from the word warranting me to doe that whereunto they in
AN APOLOGETICALL REPLY To a booke Called AN ANSVVER to the unjust complaint of VV. B. Also an ANSWER to Mr. I. D. TOUCHING His report of some passages His allegation of Scriptures against the baptising of some kind of infants His protestation about the publishing of his wrightings BY IOHN DAVENPORTE BD. Prov. 18.17 He that is first in his owne cause seemeth just but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him Hieron ad Nepot Cave ne aut lingnam aut aures prurientes habeas ne aut ipse alijs detrahas aut alios detrabentes audias Nemo invito auditori libenter refert Discat detractor dum te videt non libenter audire non facile detrahere Horat Epist 16. ad Quint. Mordear opprobrijs falfis mutemque colores Falsus honor juvat et mendax infamia terret Quem nisi mendosum et mendacem AT ROTTERDAM Printed by Isaack van Waesberghe upon the Steygher at the Fame Anno 1636. The Preface to the Reader CHristian Reader 2. Cor. 1.12 Though the testimony of a good conscience is of it selfe a sufficient cause of rejoycing in all the tribulations of this pilgrimage Act. 23.1 1. Pet. 3.16 Act. 24.16 and of confidence in our Apologies against false accusers in which respect Blessed Paul according to the wisdom given unto him did herein excercise himselfe to have alwayes a conscience voyd of offence toward God and toward men yet next to a good conscience every man is bound to provide for his good name it being Eccles 7.1 in Salomons judgment better then precious oyntment which serveth to cheare a mans owne spirits and to make him amiable to others and as any man is of more publick use so it is both more diffused and more apt to be tainted by the shew of any infirmity according to that holy proverbe Eccles 10.1 Dead flies cause the oyntment of the Apothecary to send forth a stincking savour so doeth a litly folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour But the regard of our good name must be excercised upon higher then selfe-respects else it is but vaine glory which flowing from pride falleth into unwarranted contention Gods name must be more deare unto us then our owne and our care must be not so much to shun our owne as his dishonour our esteeme whereof ought in some proportion to answer to his dignity and eminency We see that among men the same reproach which is but a slander of private persons is scandalum magnatum when it reflecteth dishonour upon peeres of a realme and it is crimen lasae Majestatis when it ascendeth to the soveraigne majesty For which cause it is not to be wondred that God hath shewen himselfe so jealous of the honour of his owne name not onely upon the sonnes of Aaron and Eli and those wicked Preists in Israel Mal. 2.5.8.9 but also upon Aaron and Eli themselves and upon Moses and David in whom though he pardoned their sinne yet he passed not by this consequent of it the dishonour of his name without a temporall judgment Iosu 7.9 Psa 8.1 Psal 111.9 Mich 5.4 For his name is a great excelent holy and reverent name it is a name which hath Majesty in it and is as farr above all names as his Majesty is above all creatures Gods honour being principally intended the good of men is not to be neglected that they within the Church be not ashamed or offended nor they without hindred or hardned Luther on Gen. 9. Gen. 9.22 For such is the malignant genius of the Serpents seed that they delight in observing the slipps and falls of Gods servants as swine doe to nuzzle in filth and excrements vvhich evill inclination was so strong in Cham Canaan that it brake the bonds of nature and therefore it is the lesse to be wondred at if Sanballat and Tobiah Nehem. 6.13 to hinder the worke of the Lord in the hands of his servants did seeke matter of an evill report that they might reproach them And as it would not satisfye Hamans malice to lay hands upon Mordecai alone Hest 3.6 but he saught to destroy all the Iewes so these are accustomed for the miscarriage of any one to misjudge the generation of Gods children Which David much feared and earnestly deprecated Psal 69 5.6 saying Let not them that wayte on thee O Lord God of Hoasts be ashamed for my sake Let not those that seeke thee be confounded for my sake O God of Israel And the laying of a stumbling block Rom. 14.13 or an occasion of falling in the way of weake Christians by giving them offence is of no lesse dangerous consequence to him by whom the offence cometh for whom it had bene better that he had bene cast into the sea with a milstone about his neck then it is to him who is scandalized Mat. 18.6 who is wounded and made weake 1. Cor. ◠13 and in danger of being destroyed thereby which caused holy Paul to resolve rather to eate no flesh whilest the world stādeth then thereby to cause his brother to offend And the same thing which maketh the hearts of the righteous sad Ezeck 13.22 usually strengthneth the hands of the wicked that he should not returne from his evill way Thus it falleth out in scandalous reproaches raysed against those that feare God by the worst of men but much more when Israelites thrust their swords into their fellowes sides Exod. 21.22.27 especially when those who are as women with child are spurned hurt and indangered by reproaches to miscarry of some spirituall children of whom they travayle in birth Gal. 4.19 till Christ may be formed in them These considerations may serve to be an Apology to others for this my Reply and for an admonition to my selfe and direction about my wholl carriage in it They who have read the Answer whereunto this Reply is made will testifye on my behalfe that the honour of God and the good of the Church both for maintenance of truths opposed and for vindicating myne owne name and the names of others far more worthy then I from calumny did necessitate the publishing of this Apology It had bene more to the Answerers comfort if he could have as truely pleaded the same necessity as he readily pretended it But 1. how easily might he have prevented it in the cause either by not making an unjust opposition or by yeelding to such aequall meanes of accommodation as were propounded or by propounding other wayes sufficient to salve the sore or by referring the matter to the Church as properly belonging to their cognition or by fairely seeking the advice of the Classis seing he would bring it thither without praepossessing the Dutch preachers with causelesse praejudices and jealousies against men whom they knew not 2. Seing due care was not taken to prevent the kindling of the fire yet how easily might it have bene quenched when the smother of it
J professed to have sayd that prophetically without a prophets warrant it had bene against modesty or conscience but when I professe to speak it but after the usuall manner of all men who account a thing that is most probable as certaine I am no more to be blamed then Ioab was if he had sayd to David in a fit manner certainely in stead of as the Lord liveth If thou goe not forth 2. Sam 19 7. Sect 22. there will not one tarry with thee this night nor so much as the Answerer himselfe is to be blamed for using the same word in a case lesse probable when he sayth It is certainely a want of modesty prudence in me c. which I shall noate more particularly in its due place But I thincke any learned man will conclude this chalenge to be a mere cavill 4. The 4. charge replyed upon To the fourth I did not diminish the grace and power of God in that speech for what I sayd may stand with a due acknowledgement of God 1 to be the supreme and principall efficient to whom the instrument is not contrary but subordinate subservient as he that sayth the knife cutteth doth not derogate from the power of the hand which useth guideth the knife 2 to be a voluntary free agent Si accusasse sufficiat quis erit innocens who could have effected his owne pleasure in this particular without any instrument or without me And therefore his discourse of Gods often frustrating humane purposes is nothing to the purpose But if such bold accusations may passe upoÌ„ any mans naked affirmation without proofe innocency it selfe shall be judged condemned as guilty Ans 14. 15. Before I leave this Section I must examine one passage more in which I find my name twise used wherein he telleth the nine first and twelve latter complainants that Godly wisdom and good conscience required of them all Ans that they should have my counsail touching such weighty matters c. I am sorry that the Answerer thus discovereth his spirit Reply by seeking with subtile devises and insnaring questions to circumvent the innocent the drift and aime whereof is to intangle the Complainants or me if either of us attempt the answering of his booke For if it should be sayd that they did not advise with me then he sayth their headlong and headstrong rashnes was extraordinary great If it should be sayd that they did consult with me and I did approue of their wrighting then sayth he will it appeare that he hath bene an extraordinary authour of contention Is not this the spreading of a nett and setting of grinnes Psal 140 4. Esa 29.20 21. Hosea 9.8 Is it not the watching for iniquity and the laying a snare for men Is it not that which the prophet Hosea noateth saying The prophet is a snare of a fowler in all his wayes Now although I can sufficiently cleare my selfe yet I thinck it not expedient to gratifye the Answerer so farr in this way but will rather answer him as our Saviour Christ did the Pharises when they put questions to intrap him by some other questions How easily might the vanity of this passage the faultines of his dilemma be discovered by shewing him that the disjunction is not full and that the parts there of doe not touch me at all For. 1. what necessity was there that they should consult with me Why not with him or with any other Againe if they had consulted with me what necessity was there that I should expresse my judgment Might I not professe that I would not answer to such questions nor intermedle in such matters Againe if I did expresse my judgement whether in dislike of their way or with such cautions as the case required were they bound to rest in myne opinion as it was required of me to rest in the judgment of the five Ministers Had they not liberty to examine my advise and upon the reasons which satysfyed them to chuse the way which they tooke Lastly If I did approve of their declaring to the Consistory in wrighting what were the greivances which caused these differences and oppositions supposing that a sober and wise answer thereunto would facilitate the ending of those contentions if either the complainants should be convinced that their praejudices against the Answerer were not well grounded or the Answerer reflecting upon his owne faylings should in humility and faythfullnes give satisfaction by amendment in the future would this prove me to be an extraordinary or any authour of contention or rather will not it evince that I have bene studious of his and the Churches peace This nett was ill made and therefore it hath caught nothing we shall see if he will mend it against the next time The answer to the third Section examined P. 15. ans 2. 3. THat which particularly concerneth me in this Section is to be found page 15. Ans When some of these Complainants have upon occasion objected unto me that nothing but customs and examples of men were vrged against Mr. D. I signifyed unto them at diverse times that if Mr. D. would set downe any reasons from the Scripture for the maintenance of his opinion I would God willing endeavour c. Reply 1. Had he named those of the Complainants that objected this to him and upon what occasion they did so our answer should have bene more punctuall in reference to passages betweene them then in this obscure generall report it can be 2. Whereas he seemeth to take offense at these men objecting that nothing but customs and examples were urged against me to prevent all mistake I will speake something concerning both these 1. See Sect. 11. First For customs J must confesse that whatsoever shew was made of Arguments from Scripture missaplyed or other pretended reasons as of lesse usefull souldiers and weapons in lighter skirmishes yet customs and consequences were the Triarij and maine strength of the battaile in case of hazzard these were insisted upon by every one almost that pleaded for this disorder as the principall plea they seemed to haue Now howsoever I am and shall be allwayes ready to give all due respect unto those good customs of Churches which are taken up 1 Cor 11.16 upon good warrant and received and long continued amongst Gods people yet I am of opinion that is not lawfull to doe even good things only upon this ground because it is the custome For our fayth should not stand in the wisdome of men 1 Cor 2.5 But to doe a thing that is not warranted by Scripture nor good reason Euseb lib. 1. de praep Evang. Cap. 2. lib. 6. Cap. 8. Ier 44.17 2 King 10.19 Ioh. 4.20 Ier. 10.3 Levit 18.30 Act. 21.21 1 Sam. 2.13.16 Mat 5.19 Rom. 3.8 Pr. 19.16 Consuetudo impedire non debet quo minus veritas praevaleat Nam consuetudo sine veritate vetusâ—as erroris
was sufficiently able to discover the strength or weakenes of an Argument To the fourth Ans That he acknowledgeth him to have written diverse learned and worthy treatises 1. While the Answerer seemeth ingenuous in giving his adversary his due he is politick Reply in giving him no more then he must necessarily nor then he may safely without praejudice to himselfe for opposing his calling to be his colleague First so much he must necessarily acknowledge that he may decline the censure of all learned men in case he should doe otherwise For eveÌ„ his professed adversaries will doe so much And though all men should be so possessed with a spirit of envy that they would hide and blemish his worth yet his workes will prayse him to posterity which we will distribute under theyr severall heads thus Besides the booke mentioned by the authour his Demonstratio logica his Polemicall treatises which are extant are 1. that sinewous worke Bellarminus enervatus where the volumes of that daring Iesuit and Cardinall are so concisely answered as if Homers Iliads were in a nutshell and that exact peece in the Arminian controversies his Coronis besides those other disputes viz his Antisynodalia contraÌ„ Grevinchovium his 1 and 2 Manuduction his Reply and Triplication 2. His systematicall treatises his Catechisme which I find mentioned but have not seene it that worthy worke worthily called Medulla Theologiae the Marrow of Divinity and that practicall institution wherein he exceedeth not only Pontificians and Lutherans handling that argument but also his owne guide in that worke who died before he could finish it famous Mr. Perkins his Cases of conscience 3. His exegeticall treatises viz his Analysis upon the wholl booke of the Psalmes which he lived not to perfect to his mind his noates upon the 1. 2. Epistles of Peter and upon the catecheticall heads Secondly so much he may safely acknowledge without prejudice to himselfe for opposing his calling Any ingenous Protestant will acknowledge so much of many popish wrighters in theyr comtemplative and morall discourses both divine humane The Answerer will acknowledge so much of Mr. Ainsworth against whom he hath shewne himselfe more opposite then against this Dr. 2. If Dr. A have occasioned many to rejoyce justly and thanck God for his labours because they have bene of much good use in the Church of God I wish from my heart that the Answerer instead of sharpening his stile to cast reproach upon the memory of so worthy and learned a wrighter had imitated his example in publishing proffitable things that others might prayse God for the fruits of his labours and not such wrangling stuffe and unproffitable invectives which serve onely to greive the hearts of Gods people and for my part I would not have troubled my selfe to reade much lesse to answer if I had not bene thereunto compelled Secondly Was Dr. A. his judgement about the authority of Synods and Classis such an offence Non eadem sentire bonos de rebus ijsdem Incolumi licuit semper amicitiâ as all these worthy and learned treatises for which so many prayse God could not expiate Suppose they had differed in theyr opinions could no accommodation haue bene thought of Amongst good men it hath bene easy to joyne them together in one Church notwithstanding greater differences But what if Dr. Ames his judgement be sound in this matter As it will upon tryall be found to be Will it not then be easy to determine whose cause is most justifyable whose case is most eligible whether his who persiseth in the truth or his who resisteth it though I hope not maliciously in this particular To the fifth Ans Not to speake of other things c. he was generally held more fit to be a Professour of Divinity in Schooles c. I must crave leave to demand Reply what those things are that he omitteth to speake of And if he refuse to answer I may take liberty to supâ—ose that his opinion against promiscuous baptizing is one of those other things If so it is easy to gesse why he will not speake of that at this time 2. It is true 1. Cor. 12.28 Eph. 4.11.12 there are diversityes of gifts answereably diversityes of administrations but as one spirit is the authour of those gifts so one Lord is the authour of those administrations even our Lord Iesus who hath given Doctorall as well as Pastorall gifts for the service of his Church not only to that primitive Church but also to the end of the world 3. Nor is there such opposition betweene Churches Academyes that a man who is generally held fit for the one may not be judged fit for the other They who hold him fit for a Professour did in holding so account him orthodox and sound in his judgment And holding him so sound in his judgment that he is fit to be Professour in an Academy in these Countryes they must necessarily conclude that for the soundnes of his judgment he is fit much more to be a Pastor in any Church in this Country and so condemne the Answerer of injudiciousnes in saying he thinketh him not fit and of selfe-willednes in saying that he can not give his consent for him and of injury to the Church in depriving them of such a man who is generally held fit to be a Professour of Divinity in the Schooles both for learning and sound judgment 4. How fit was for the service of any Chvrch whether in a Pastorall or Doctorall way let his workes testify which declare him to have bene a man well fitted to aedifye the Church by words of knowledge which is the Doctorall way witnes those worthy disputes and Systems published by him and by words of wisdom also which is the Pastorall way witnes his expositon of the Psalmes and of boath the Epistles of Peter and his booke of conscience wherein he doeth that in divinity which Socrates is sayd to have done in Philosophy viz to bring it from heaven into mens houses by reducing all into practise which also he doeth in his uses or applications of Doctrine in his expositions of Scripture and in his practicall resolutions of cases in that booke All which being considered will evince this suggestion of unfitnes to be a vaine pretence that I say no worse 2. How ever whilest he continued fixed in his Academicall imployment thorough continuall scholastick exercises and disuse of publick preaching he had bene formerly lesse dexterous therein yet two things shewed him to be called unto the service of the Church in that worke 1. the strong inclination of his owne spirit thereunto even when his whole time was taken up in the other taske For he hath often bene heard to professe that he would willingly travaile many miles to preach a sermon being as it seemeth like a nurse who is in paine of the fullnes of her breasts for want of some to suck them 2. He no sooner was resolved to joyne himselfe
can testifye I was content to come over for 3 or 4 moneths to helpe them And other agreement or promise I made none Now what need was there of any letters from the Eldership for so much 2. If there had bene any further purpose or agreement to come over by a private sollicitation without publick order yet in so doing no good order was transgressed Because it was agreed upon in the Consistory that it should be free for every member of the Congregation to procure any able minister to come thither for the tryall of his gifts the reason of which agreement as I can shew under the Elders hands was that the Church should not be ingaged unto any man if his gifts should not be approved by the Congregation So that the manner of my comming over was according to the order agreed upon amongst themselves 3. I could add if I thought it worth insisting upon that my comming over was not without his knowledge nor without the desire of the Eldership though not signifyed by any publick Act nor was it requisite in this case the premises being considered The Answer to the nineth Section examined concerning my resigning of my pastorall charge in London THree things are in this Section propounded by the Answerer or pretended rather 1. my not bringing with me an authentick testimony of my lawfull dimission Ans 2. My resignation of my place 3. His answer to my arguing from his preaching against that my resignation to prove that he never desired me for his Colleague Which particulars are now to be examined and answered severally and breifely Reply 1. For the first That this is a mere pretence will appeare if three things be considered 1. that he never required of me any such testimony therefore how doeth he know that I wanted it 2. If I had wanted a testimony it is well knowne to himselfe as well as to others that I could soone have had one 3. I did not want such a testimony as might satifye any man even Momus himselfe One of the Ministers of the Classis having read it sayd it was testimonium laudatissimum The Answerer intimateth that an ample testimony hath bene formerly given to him in other places Pag. 17.3 How ample his testimony was I know not but that myne was honourable and sufficient appeareth by what hath bene sayd 2. For the second seing J am chalenged thus in publick about the resignation of my pastorall charge in London and called to the barr of common censure to answer to that which my accuser objecteth against me both here and in other places of the booke concerning this matter I pray the Reader aequally to consider my defence wherein 1. I will speake something in thesi generally concerning the lawfullnes of that which he seemeth to condemne 2. I will add something in hypothesi for the justifying of what I have done in this particular In Thesi I am to shew that it is not unlawfull for a Pastor in case of extreame and apparent personall danger by flight to provide for his personall safety That this is lawfull appeareth 1. By the precept given by Christ to the Disciples and in them to all beleivers and particularly to the Ministers of the Gospell When they persecute you in this City flee into another Mat 10.23 Vnlesse he will say that rule is but temporary and of force only during the first Century which was the errour of Tertullian Haec scripsit Tertullianus contra totam Ecclesiam Hieron dâ— virisillustr wherein the wholl Church held contrary to him The Arguments which Tertullian produceth for justifying of his Errour I examined thoroughly before I tooke that course found them if I may say with reverence to so ancient a light in the Church of no weight This liberty of flight granted by that precept I have not read many that have denyed of later time onely an Anabaptist one Mr. Helwis who is fully answered in print Helw of the mystery of iniquity Mr. Rob of Rel. Com. P. 23 Mat. 10.5 P. Martyr in Epist ad amicum de de fuga Mat 28.19 Aug in Epist ad Honorat Epist 180. Also the same precept was argued by some others to be but temporary from the temporarines of that other precept Goe not into the way of the Gentiles c. Which indeed was shortly after abrogated But betweene those two precepts Peter Martyr judiciously noateth this difference viz that appeared to be temporary in that it was abrogated by Christ who after his resurrection expresly â—â—mmanded the contrary saying Goe teach all nations But this precept concerning flight in persecution is perpetuall because Christ never reversed it by any word in Scripture And upon this and other satisfying grounds Augustine is cleare concerning the lawfullnes hereof in the case of Ministers as wil appeare to him that shall read an Epistle of his written to that purpose 2. By examples of the servants of God who have done thus We may not expect examples of any Pastors in Scripture who did thus For till the ascention of Christ that gift was not given to the Church And after for the space of 300 yeares the persecutions were for the most part not personall but generall not against the person of the Pastor only in which case alone it is lawfull to flee but against the wholl Church in which case it was necessary Act. 7.25 Exod 2.12.14 3.4.18 that they should stay But of cases paralell hereunto we have instances of not a few As of Moses who being perswaded that God by his hand would deliver the Israelites yet for feare fled out of Aegipt where the Lord did not reprove him for so doing but reveale himselfe more fully to him then formerly 1 Kings 17 3.18-10.19.3.5 c. Acts 9.23.24 2 Cor 11.30 Great Eliah by the Lords appoyntment hid himselfe from Iezabells pursuit who had threatned him was not there in condemned by the Lord but incouraged and assisted The blessed Apostle of the Gentiles Paul to avoyd the lying in wayte of the Iewes was let downe by night through the wall of Damascus by a rope in a basket for which he was so farr from being condemned of his owne conscience inlightned by Gods holy Spirit of truth that he rejoyced in it afterwards and tooke the same course of flying from Iconium to Listra Ast 14.1 5.6 to avoyd violence The time would fayle me to speake of Iacob David Ieremy Baruch of those whom Obadiah hid by 50 in a cave and of those worthyes under Antiochus Heb 11. â— 37.38.39 of whom the world was not worthy who did wander up and downe in sheepeskinnes and goateskinnes in wildernesses mountaines and dens and caves of the earth and this they are said to have done by fayth Yea our blessed Saviour did also sundry times as our head sanctifye flight to all his members who are partakers of the fellowship of his afflictions and of this amongst the rest
So many parish assemblies of England as have any competent number of good Christians in them united together for to worship God ordinarily in one society so many have essentiall and integrall forme of a visible Church and all they have intire right to Christ and to all the meanes of injoying him however they are defective in the purity of their combination and in the compleate free excercising of their power To prevent all mistake he declareth what he meaneth by essentiall and integrall forme thus The essentiall forme of a visible Church is the covenant of God or true fayth made visible by profession the noates and markes whereof are the word and Sacraments rightly administred and received with fruits of obedience The integrall constituting forme is that state relation or reference which a Congregation of such professours have one to another by vertue of their setled combination the noate or marke whereof is their usuall assembling together into one place and watching one over another So that however the defects and corruptions in those Churches are to be witnessed against and howsoever it is the duety of Christians to indeavour as much as in them is to procure the reformation of those defects and not to partake in the sinnes of any Church Eph. 5.11 and amongst true Churches to make choyse of those whereunto to joyne themselves which are most pure Lib. 4. Cas Cons cap. 24. quest 2. so farr as they are able as the same learned wrighter sayth elsewhere yet to dischurch them wholly to seperate from them as no Churches of Christ or to deny baptisme to the infants of their knowne members is not warranted by any rule in the Scripture that I know nor justifyed by my assertion or practise 2. The practise of the Seperatists themselves sheweth that this assertion doeth not strengthen or countenance the errour of the Brownists in matter of Seperation For they professe to hold spirituall communion with other Churches who doe extend the use of baptisme to as great largenes as England doeth and greater also as I am able with Gods assistance to prove though they freely witnesse against it as a disorder in those Churches which also many Godly learned ministers of these Countryes are so farr from justifying that they confesse it to be unwarrantable and wish it may be reformed By all which it is manifest that there is no such affinity betweene these opinions that the errour of the Brownists could not be refuted by me but that mine owne opinion must fall together As he untruely pretendeth 3. Hereunto I will add that in thus reasoning the Answerer imprudeÌ„tly armeth his opposites against himselfe with his owne weapon Polit. Eccles lib. 1. Cap. 14. eâ— 13. Fresh Suite p. 207. Treat of the necess of seperation For this plea is taken up 1. by the those that plead for the Prelats both of former times whom Mr. Parker hath fitly answered by clearing the seekers of Reformation from this imputation and retorting it upon themselves and of latter times whom Dr. Ames in like manner hath breifly and fitly answered 2. by those of the Seperation for Mr. Canne the Answerer knoweth pretendeth in his booke to prove a necessity of seperation from the Church of England by the Non-conformists principles and professeth to oppose it especially to Dr. Ames onely in the point of seperation Whereby it appeareth that he accounteth him and such like opposites in that point notwithstanding their agreement in some truths Concerning which booke I have many things to say in Dr. Ames his defence which if I should here insert this tractate which already much exceedeth the proportion at first purposed by me would swell to too great a volume But I may well be silent at this time seing others as I heare have undertaken it and a more fit occasion may be given hereafter if it be thaught requisite but especially seing he hath not answered Dr. Ames his second manuduction at all wherein he hath said enough for the clearing of his judgment in this matter nor indeed hath he taken away the force of that litle which the Doctor said in answer to the Rejoynder though he expressed himselfe but in few lines and as answering on another occasion and not dealing professedly against the Separation All which might easily be demonstrated but at this time I purpose to abstaine from by-controversyes As for his objection that I performed not that promise though I had time enough my answer is that he neither required it of me nor incouraged me so to doe by assuring me that the performance thereof would end the difference Nor did it fall fitly in my way to speake of this point in any Argument which I handled in publick afterwards His fourth answer tendeth to a sâ—ighting of my labour of love in 6 moneths assistance of him in a time of their extremity It becommeth unthanckfull men thus to elevate that kindnes which they have not hearts to value nor purpose to requite For this purpose he setteth 6 moneths wherein that wrighting as he sayth was given out by me and 6 yeares resistance which he sayth is procured by my opposition to the practise of the Dutch Church and as much recompence he sayth received by me for that as some godly ministers have in twise 6 moneths Reply Concerning the wrighting I have spoken sufficiently in the 2 and 22. Sections and in other places wherein I shewed how he compelled me to it for declaration of the truth against his unjust reports and how himselfe before he heard of any such wrighting from me had traduced me in the darke in a larger wrighting secretly sent to his freind in N. Concerning the ground of 6 yeares resistance Seing he compelled me thereunto in defence of the truth I cannot helpe it nor am to be blamed for it unlesse it be a fault to beare witnes to the truth when I am called thereunto Concerning the collection which he in too mercenary a phrase calleth a recompence for my labour I answer 1. I received none of it from him though some other English preachers are put to that charge so that to him it was a kindnes 2. I contracted not with him for any recompence to be made me from the Church by his meanes so that in me it was a kindnes 3. I received no gratification from the Churchstock as other Ministers have done by his procurement So that the poore had no damage or hindrance thereby as in some other cases they have had through his holding up these contentions 4. The most of that which was given was from their purses whom he contentiously calleth my freinds 5. What ever I received from them they know I was no gayner by it when the necessary charges of my diet are deducted and the hire of an house which at their request I tooke but never lived in thorough his opposition against me and for which I was constrayned to pay the wholl yeares rent 6. As he made no
can such be said to professe the same Religion 2. Many parents doe not bring their children to baptisme but some other body as much unknowne to the Church as they are bring the children it may be with it may be without the parents knowledge or consent for aught the Minister knoweth 3. What promise doe they make that are absent or that understand not the language or that are altogether ignorant of the fayth that is professed in those Churches 2. I demand of him in what sense such persons may be said to be of such Churches who neyther live under the government of those Churches nor so much as heare the word at all amongst them for aught any man knoweth nor are in any respect accounted amongst the members of those Churches nor should be received into visible communion with them if they should offer themselves thereunto being neither able to give any account of their fayth nor testimony of their good conversation 3. Againe I demand why he pretendeth that they baptise onely such as are there described when he knoweth that many are admitted by them which are not capable of that description Is it not because he cannot plead for the admittance of such with any shew of Reason If not Let him produce his Arguments in defence of such promiscuous baptising which yet he hath not done or confesse that he hath done the Church me wrong in the opposition and strife which he hath injuriously raysed to deprive me of that relation whereunto I was called for refusing to doe that which he cannot prove to be lawfull As for those who he sayth though they are without in respect of joyning with any Church yet have more knowledge of the truth and are more frequent in attending upon the publickâ—worship of God and are otherwise more unblameable in their conversation then some of those that are members of the Church his labour had bene to better purpose if he had indeavored to convince them of the evill of this their neglect of joyning to some particular Church that they might not rest contented in their present condition to the apparent hazard of their soules that so they might with good warrant from Gods order have partaked of the ordinances which are given to the Church by vertue of their relation to and communion with the Church rather then thus to interest them in those priviledges wherein they have no right to communicate in that state wherein they stand without violation of Gods order as hath bene formerly shewen and may be hereafter more plentifully upon further provocation Though I had rather reserve the full handling of that to a positive discourse which may in due time be published For the present I pray the Reader to understand that in all the examination of these allegations of Scripture the Answerer hath drawne us from the true question betweene him and me which was not about limiting of baptisme to the members of a true Church concerning which whatsoever I intimated in a word or two in my wrighting to the Classis neither the ministers which were sent by the Classis to speake with me nor the Answerer at any time first or last had any the least word of difference with me but both they and he required my conformity to their custom of baptising all that are brought in manner aforesaid So that this was not but the other alone was the question betweene us So that it lyeth wholly upon him to prove the lawfullnes of that promiscuous administration of baptisme which is in use among them and to convince me of sinne for refusing to conforme thereunto which I expect that he performe in his next booke if he be able But if it be confessed to be evill and the question beâ— how shall it be removed or cured in such a place as Amsterdam I answer disorders are best cured by introducing and setling that order in place of them which appeareth to be most agreeable to Gods revealed will and that is that baptisme be administred onely to such infants whose parents one of them at least is a member of some particular visible Church and that Church priviledges be denyed to those that refuse Church-communion For that which againe he repeateth concerning me it is but a colewort twise sodd and hath bene already answered in examination of his descant upon the first proofe alleadged by me Act. 20.28 His observations upon the protestation reveivved WHat care I had of his credit and peace himselfe declareth in the first lines of his observations when he sayth upon the coming forth of the booke of complaints against him Mr. D. immediately sends out a protestation against it and signifyes he could have no rest in his spirit untill he had resolved upon this protestation I did so indeed and in so doing I shewed my selfe more tender of him then he was of himselfe or of me and thereby deserved better usage at his hands then I have found in many bitter passages of his booke The speciall matters contayned therein he sayth are a three fold Protestation and a threefold Confession a threefold Quaere a threefold Request It seemeth in deed so it fell out occasionally without affectatioÌ„ on my part either of observing odd numbers as of 3 or of making them aequall by being cast into 4 rancks or orders or of putting my discourse into such a mold or frame 1. For the threefold protestation The summe of it was that I neither consented to nor knew of nor approved of the publishing of that pamphlet There is nothing in his five observations worth minding and that hath not bene already answered by me Onely the third is an observeable character of the Answerers spirit who fiercely stricketh at me for striving to save him from the stroke of his Antagonist For he propoundeth it for an observation of a just reward of the inordinate affection which the publisher shewed in contending for me in that by me sentence is pronounced against him unknowne for his injury done in printing Any ingenious man would rather have observed my sincerity and aequanimity who without respect of persons witnessed against evills in whomsoever my love of truth which I praeferred above particular respects to freinds when I was called to declare my selfe and my tender respect of him in that passing by all personall injuries received from him I made hast as the occasion required to interpose in favour of him against those who he sayth contended for me And that their contending for me in that case was no evidence of their inordinate affection towards me hath bene already shewed And by this passage the Reader may see how necessary it was that I should speake so farr as I might justly in defence of the subscribers and others in this cause least in his next booke he should stile it a just reward of they re in ordinate affection to me in that I had now deserted them and minded onely mine owne defence as he traduceth me
tollere è vitâ vitae societatem et amicorum absentium colloquia What is it else but to take from the life of man the society of his life and the conferences of absent freinds With what joy would Beza have imbraced such an occasion of clearing those men as was put into the Answerers hands if any of them had printed a protestation against the publishing of that booke or of those printed letters though they had not shewne any dislike of the matters contained in it But from contrary principles what can be expected but contrary actions 4. For the three fold request 1. My request to him was that he would rest satisfyed with my ingenuous profession in this particular How he hath answered that this booke sheweth and the accusation immediately preceding in his third observation sheweth and his owne words in this place shew For when he cannot accuse me of causing the publishing of it yet he will mis-judge my intention as if for my owne credit not for any respect to Religion or to him I would not have it printed My second request was to the publisher 1. to burne the pamphlet 2. or to affixe my protestation to it in stead of a postscript which seing he did not I procured 450. as I take it of the 500. to be bought and kept up the rest having bene sold before I could prevent it 5. He addeth that this my printed protestation contayneth in it a threefold publick provocation of him to answer my wrighting more then he had before As the odd numbers which were made even by the method whereinto my protestation was accidentally cast are now made odd againe by this intimation of a threefold provocation unjustly added thereunto So the differences which I have many wayes laboured to compose and reconcile he hath by this contentious booke and too much obstinacy in his way continued and increased That this is added unjustly will appeare in examining the severall pretended provocations 1. By my avouching that I wrote nothing but the truth in my declaration Reply It was necessary that I should wright so much Else it would have bene thought that I was guilty of some untruth in that declaration and therefore protested against the publishing of it which also the Answerer frequently intimateth in his suspicious manner of speaking concerning traducing men in the darke And that whatsoever I there wrote is true this Reply doeth witnesse sufficiently But what was there in that litle which I wrote in that declaration which except the letter to the Classis was not halfe a sheet of paper to cause the publishing of a booke of above 20 sheets of paper 2. By intimating further matter which I have to add besides that which I have already written Reply This booke declareth it to be true which I then said and upon further provocation the next booke shall shew with Gods assistance that I have yet much more to say and that I have but sparingly replyed in this 3. Because this printed protestation makes all more publick then they were before Reply 1. Both booke and protestation were suppressed after a few copies of the protestation had bene dispersed in favour of the Answerer to free him as much as in me lay from any hurt that might come by the pamphlet to which end I am informed it was of use and doe not repent of that labour of my love to the truth though the Answerer have thus ill requited me by rendring evill for good one while reporting that I made that protestation onely for my credit being ashamed of what I had written another while glorying that I printed the protestaâ—on to keepe him from answering my wrighting but I should not so escape Now if I should set downe the provocations which he hath given me to make his reply I might name 30 for 3. For the booke it selfe whereunto this reply is made is nothing else but a bundle of provocations But having thus discharged in some weake measure a necessary duety though unwillingly I rest desiring rather that for the future we may be more proffitably excercised in considering one another to provoke to love and good workes And in that resolution and desire I commend the issue of this unpleasing taske to the blessing of the onely wise God who knoweth how to bring order out of seeming confusion and aedification to his Church out of those very accidents and events whereby Sathan seekes the ruine of it beseeching him to compose the hearts of pastors and people every where and in that place specially to a conscionable discharge of the dueties of their relation mutually so effectually to recover the Answerer out of these snares by unfeigned repentance that his Elder yeares may be a crowne of Glory being found in the way of righteousnes and the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made him Overseer may have plentifull cause of blessing God for making his old age fat and flourishing in the blessed fruits of pastorall faythfullnes acceptable to God by Iesus Christ Amen FINIS