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.
Attersol not for promiscuous baptising 161. 27 Balmford Mr. Balmford defended 93. 34 Baptising Examples against promiscuous Baptising 32. 1 Arguments for promiscuous Baptising answered 118. 31 Scriptures for promiscuous Baptising answered 121. 31 The question cōcerning promiscuous Baptising stated 132. 5 Things premised about promiscuous Baptising 132. 22 Fower grounds against promiscuous Baptising 133. 25 The opinion of learned Writers concerning promiscuous Baptising 134. 1 The ends and uses of baptisme against promiscuous Baptising 140. 21. Promiscuous Baptising offensive 143. 19. Promiscuous Baptising amoung the Reformed a building of things destroyed 145. 21 Promiscuous Baptising against Godly custome 153. 9 Promiscuous Baptising not maintayned by them that seeme to favour it 156. 23 Pretences for promiscuous Baptising answered 163. 8 Promiscuous Baptising not an order of the Dutch Churches but a disorder crept in 175. 15 Confessions and Cannons of the Dutch Churches against promiscuous Baptising 175. 22 Custome about baptising such as that it may justly be called promiscuous Baptising 300. 34 Baptisme Baptisme is an ordinance belonging to the Church 312. 1 Basil Basil for peace sake remooves his dwelling 16. 31 Beza Beza not for promiscuous baptising 158. 19 Beza his opiniō of Synods 228. 11 Beza his carriage when Erastus his booke was published after the authors death 323. 27 Brownists Nearnesse to or distāce from the Brownists but a false rule to trie truth or errour by 10. 2 Brownists errours 280. 35 Burthen What a Burthen is 52. 36 The Burthen of the Complaynants being deprived of those whom they desired grievous by the concurrence of many respects 53. 6 Certainty Humaine Certainty stādeth with a contingency of future events 28. 10. Choosing Power of Choosing Ministers in the whole church 36. 24 the termes explicated 36. 30 the position layd downe as the Affrican Synod Professours of Leyden hold it 37. 8 Proofe of the position reduced to 3 heads 37. 23 Argumēt from the Scriptures 37. 25. Argument from consent of times 40 6. Argument from the evidence of reason 43. 10 Power of Choosing the Church cannot give from her 46. 12 Choyce In Choyce of Ministers there is in cases a necessary use of the combination of Churches 230. 33. Church In what sense Church is taken 36. 33. Church is deprived of her power two wayes 47. 35 Power to governe granted to the Church by witnesses in all ages 237. 21 The order of the Church of Franckford for the power of the Church 243. 13 What authority the Church hath about lawes 258. 10 Classis What the Classis requireth of Ministers which are to be ordained 68. 36 Two things blame worthie in the Classis 9. 12 The Classis repaired unto about the Replyers settling without his consent approbation 185. 34. The proceeding of the Classis after the Replyer had refused his call 193. 1 The Classis assume in some particulars more power then the the Prelates 223. 25 What power is due to Classis over particular Churches by vertue of combination 227. 19 The object of Classicall combinations of Churches 228. 7 Classis power borrowed derived from particular Churches 229. 3. Classis power not a prerogative of jurisdiction but of estimation 229. 27 Classis power not to deprive particular Churches of their power but to strengthen them in the exercise thereof 230. 10 Wherein the Classis power is undue and usurped 231. 26 The undue power of the Classis in making lawes 252. 26 Concerning resting in the determinations of the Classis 271. 14 Classis require more power then the Apostles when they required the Replyer to baptise those which were not members of the Church 287. 10 The Church of Antioch warranteth not the Classis 290. 32 Collection Concerning a Collection which the Answerer calls a recōpense of the Replyers labours 284. 2 Combination What kind of Combinatiō is lawfull among Churches 226. 11 The reasons of the lawfullnesse of Combinations 227. 3 Combinations of Churches in some cases expedient and necessary 230. 30 The Answerers Comforts are the Replyers also 34. 26 Complaynants Complaynants complaints no evill weedes 17. 31 Complaynants vindicated and the Answerer refuted 18. 6 Complaynants defended about their not advising with the Replyer 29. 1 Complaynants cleared of oppositiō unto the worthie servants of God 67. 24 Complaynants vindicated from slaunder in 8 particulars where in charged by the Answerer 88. 28. Complaynants assertions found true notwithstanding the answeres of the Answerer 209. 9 213. 26. Complaint What a Complaint is 3. 24 Complaints not unjust in themselves 3. 28 Fower things required unto an unjust Complaint 3. 29 Complaints of weake ones not to be sleighted 5. 23 Complaints of the Complaynāts unjustly called unjust 4. 10 Conference Conference betweene the Answerer and the Replyer defectively reported 117. 3 Confession Threefold Confession with the observations upon it in the protestation reviewed 18. 17 Contention Contention twofold good and bad 17. 36 Crispe Ia. Crispe vindicated from preaching wherewith the Ansvverer chargeth him 285. 17 Customes Of Customes the evillnesse of them and unlawfullnesse of building any practise upon them 30. 32 Good Customes should not lightly be broken 151. 25 Good Customes of a divers nature 152. 1 Denomination Denomination may follow the better part not the greater 21. 24 Difference Differences in opinion must in cases be borne with 58. 11 In cases of Difference there is necessary use of combination of Churches 231. 16 Elders Vsefullnesse and honnour of Elders 207. 31 Elders cleared from the charge of the Answerer about depriving the Church of her right 49. 15. Elders cleared from partiality 210. 34. Errour Errour ariseth frō the perversenesse of passions 63. 11 Errour in men one cause of harsh censuring of others 63. 29 Examples Examples in disquisition of truth not to be rested on 32. 8 Excommunication In Excommunication there may be good use of the combination of Churches 231. 8. Father What a Fathers duety is towards his children 20. 7 Fenner Mr. Fenners judgment about the power by which the Church should be governed 238. 25 against the Answerer 239. 29 Fleeing Fleeing justified by examples 104. 2. Fleeing not fearing them that can kill and not fainting may stand together 104. 23 Fleeing is sometimes a confessing to the truth 105. 14 Fleeing or a voluntary banishment is in some cases worse then some imprisonment 105. 13 Forbes Mr. Forbes defended 85. 32 commended 87. 30 Generall Generall good to be preferred 12. 32. Hooker Mr. Hooker defended 68. 25 Mr. Hooker not the cause of disturbance but the Answerer 116. 19. Mr. Hooker cleared frō Scisme 246. 1. Iacob Mr. Iacobs judgment about Classis and Synods for substance the same with Beza and Calvin 236. 4. Intentions It is lawfull to judge of mens Intentions 234. 1 Law Three things required to the making of a Law 256. 14 Lawes and orders differ 257. 30 Learned Learned mens judgements not sufficient to justify any thing or condemne it unlesse their grounds be found sufficiēt
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
if it 2 neither did he keep private as mourners use to doe but came to the Consistory 3 neither did they apprehend the death of that mayd to be so great a cause of sorrow to him as is here intimated for reasons which are not worth the printing 4 that if it had bene so they cōceive that private greifes should not hinder the redresse of publick greivances and that by the sense 〈…〉 owne sorrow that day for the losse of one mayd servant he might have bene more affected with compassion towards them who had many dayes mourned for the losse of more then one Pastor whom God had by his providence brought among them almost cast upon them Secondly The same observation may be retorted upon himselfe both for the yeare and the moneth 1. The yeare wherein his booke was printed was the yeare 1635. A time when not only the Churches of Dutchland were in great affliction but also the Churches in the Low Countryes were in great danger the Prince of Orange being then in Brabant and the Armyes in some distresse by want of victuall a time wherein by speciall order from the States Generall all Churches were called upon to meete one day in a week in publick to heare the word preached and to pray for the good successe of the Prince and of the Armyes And we are commanded as in all prayer so particularly when we pray for those in authority 1. Tim. 2.8 to lift up pure hands without wrath c. 2 The moneth wherein it was published was Iune or Iuly a time when I was very weake having bene not long before very neare unto death at which time he laboured importunately with the Classis for their consent to the printing of this booke But from that death and from dangerous relapses afterwards into weaknes and distemper the Lord in mercy recovered me even when man cruelly added sorrow to my affliction But I wil aggravate that no further How well he performeth his purpose of not doing the least wrong to those against whom he wrighteth will appeare to the indifferent Reader in the examination of the following Sections in which if he had dealt accordingly I might haue bene happily freed from this unpleasing taske whereby I am now unwillingly detayned from more profitable imployments being compelled hereunto by necessity for the justifying of the truth wherein I doe humbly beseech the God of trueth who also is Love to assist me with the spirit of trueth and of love that I may be inabled in every passage to declare the trueth in love To conclude I leaue it to the Reade to judge whether so to contend be worthy of such a censure as this Answerer layeth upon it or of any blame at all for the matter of it and the thing done unles in the manner of it any unwarrantable distemper of affections or passions have appeared in the complainants which if it be found I will not justifye neither will they I hope justify it in them selves So much be noated for the vindication of theire complaints Secondly Now being called See more concerning that wrighting in Sect. 22. 4 Things in defence of my wrighting 1. I must cleare the wrighting left by me from his unjust intimations against it For which purpose I will declare fowre things First that the wrighting qua tale is not to be blamed Suppose I had complained Is it unjust to wright downe a mans complaints Then downe with all courts of Iustice where suits causes are so transacted And my case was such as I could not be righted against many injurious reports purposing to leave this country otherwise then by wrighting Againe a man wrighteth with more deliberation and a more full recollection of his thoughts then he speaketh and so with more strength as the scattered beames of the Sun heate more intensly and vehemently being united in a burning glasse And lastly I would haue added that a man wrighteth with more composednes of mind and a better temper of spirit then he usually speaketh and so with more solid judgment the passions being somewhat quieted and allayed as the water is cleare and transparent after the mudd is setled in the bottom but that the distempered passions appearing in the Answerer and that in print are a reall confutation thereof Secondly Neither was the secret spreading of the wrighting a fault but rather an Argument of my tender care of his reputation that I desired that matters betweene us should not be divulged but only declared where it was necessary for their satisfaction who had bene praejudiced against me by untrue reports of passages Or if the delivery of a wrighting to a freind or two in myne owne defense was to be blamed what shall be sayd to him 1. Who provoked me thereunto both by private suggestions and by publick injuryes 2 Who him selfe did the same thing without being provoked thereunto by me For he wrote a large letter to one Mr. B. at N. in England dated Septemb. 26. in which moneth also he had revived contention in publick after I had satt downe quietly almost 5 moneths and with this he sent inclosed a copy of the wrighting of the 5 Ministers which I never did because I tooke it to be a private wrighting not to be communicated without their consent Thirdly Neither was that wrighting a complaint if actions be denominated from their ends but rather an Apology or true defense of my innocency against untrue reports about my letter to the Classis and about the question concerning promiscuous baptizing of all that are presented by whom soeuer and about passages betweene the Answerer and me being frequently importuned by some freinds to giue them myne answers to such objections that they might be inabled to satisfy others that were praejudiced unjustly against me So that in my intent it was an Apology if by accident it became a complaint who is to be blamed He that complaineth or he that gave the cause let the Reader judge Fourthly Here is an old fallacy Nō causae ut causae when my wrighting is pretended to be the cause of their complaints which was not For they complained of many of the greivances mentioned in that wrighting not only before my wrighting was seene but before I saw Amsterdam And though they make some complaints which agree with some passages in my wrighting yet they make many more also which are not in my wrighting Who watered those rootes So much shall suffice for the vindicating of my selfe from the imputation of contentiousnes and of my wrighting from the censure of watering evill weeds of unjust complaints Ans He sayth of our Church had he not exercised much patience and industry it would certainely have fallen from me c. But as he doth vainly prayse him selfe c. Here is a 4 fold charge layed upon me with bitternes enough Reply 4. Things unjustly charged upon me 1. Vaine selfe-praysing 2. Wronging him and the Church 3. Folly and
against him 2. To the second The judgment of the Classis 1. concerning Mr. Hook 2. concerning the answerer Here againe concerning this judgment of the Classis it would be enquired 1. Quaere Whether all the Ministers of the Classis consented hereunto or not 2. Quaere Whether they that so judged declared their sentence to be according to the Scriptures If yea what Scriptures they produced to warrant they re censure If not By what rule they will justify such proceeding 3. Quaere Whether the Church referred this matter to the Classis and craved they re judgment therein 4. Quaere Whether the Classis did heare Mr. H. declaring the reasons of his judgment and seeke to rectifye his judgment if they thought he had erred by Scripture before they proceeded to sentence against him If upon inquiry it shall appeare that the matter was not referred to their judgment by the Church and that only some few of the Ministers or all or most of them without shewing the aequity of their sentence by the Scriptures thus judged without hearing what Mr. H. could say in defence of his assertions and then gave it under their hands to subject the Church to they re determination and the Answerer procured this to be done and afterwards pressed it upon the Church to keepe out Mr. H. let the Reader judge whether this be not a manifest depriving of the Church of that liberty and power which Christ hath given it as himselfe acknowledgeth in the free choyse of they re Pastor Nor can I thinck that the Classis or deputyes of the Synod would justify the Answerers dealing in this buisenes and condemne Mr. H. so farr if they had bene rightly informed of the naked trueth without such intimations suggested by the Answerer against him as might serve to stirr up unjust jealousyes and surmises against that worthy man For may not any thing he held stand with the doctrine contained in the Catechisme Confession and Synodicall explication thereof And doeth the Synod require any more of him that is to be admitted to any Church in these countryes I am confident that this case would beare a review that a Nationall Synod would not justify the deputyes for that provinciall Synod nor the deputyes justify that Classis nor the Classis approve of the Answerers dealing in this buisenes if it were more thoroughly examined Ans 3. To the third His apology for wrighting this being compelled by the Complainants in his owne defence which else he sayth he would not have done Be it Reply that the complainants wrighting to the Consistory had compelled him to answer there yet that might have bene done by word or in wrighting and kept within themselves Who compelled him to print If he say the printed pamphlet 1. what is that to the Complainants who disliked it 2. my printed protestation was sufficient against that and did satify 3. I had procured that all the pamphlets were bought up save a few that were dispersed before the receit of my letter and so the publishing of them was stopped And therefore I may fitly reply in his owne words a litle qualifyed had the Answerer bene so considerate and wise in this as he hath bene in some other things he would rather have rested in the judgment of the Classis against the printing of his booke and burnt it or utterly suppressed it then to compell me in myne owne and other mens defence to wright these things concerning him or them which otherwise I would never have done though the injuryes we have suffered are great the wrōg done to the Church is farr greater if they had no more to complaine of then that they were deprived of that faythfull servant of God Mr. H. whom he not only then deprived them of but also pursueth him with reproaches in print unto the ends of the earth So much for Mr. H. at least till another occasion be given Ans 2. A breife defence of my selfe which is more fully done in ans to the 7. Sect. and those that follow 2. In the next place he dealeth with me and thincketh to free himselfe from any blame concerning me out of myne owne words in the postscript after my letter to the Classis concerning which he noateth three things 1. Some faults in that wrighting 2. that my desisting is by me imputed to the Classis as the cause thereof 3. that the Complainants are to be blamed for laying this complaint upon him To all which I will reply breifely referring the larger discourse of my matters to the seaventh Section and those which follow Reply 1. To the first concerning faulty and injurious relation of matters to be further examined hereafter Let the Reader but cast his eyes hereafter upon Sect. 19 where this matter should be examined and he shall find nothing sayd by the Answerer to evince that in that postscript are any faults or injurious relations of matters though J can easily shew sundry faults and injurious relations of matters made by him to be further examined both in that and other Sections 2. To the second that my desisting is to be imputed to the Classis P. 147. 3. as the cause thereof Here I may justly retort the Answerers observation concerning my publick censure of the pamphlet upon himselfe in reference to the Classis with some additions more justly and say almost in his owne words Observe the just reward of the inordinate affection which the ministers of the Classis have shewed in contending against the Church and against those Ministers whom the Church hath desired to gratifye the Answerer By the Answerer himselfe complaints are called for to be directed against them that himselfe may escape Nor is it once as it was in my case concerning W. B. that he hath done thus but often in this booke Nor is it done against men unknowne as in my case but he nameth them urgeth it and that in print as well as I did and though by the Answerer himselfe sentence is not pronounced against them yet the evidence which he bringeth is so cleare and so insisted upon and urged by him rhat some will thinck right is not done to the Answerer if sentence passe not against the Classis 3. To the third that they unjustly lay this complaint upon him Why so Because they say Mr. P. is the only cause If that be the fault let the expression be altered and in stead of the only cause what if they say the principall cause will that please him No Mr. D. contradicteth them in confessing the Classis to be so strong a cause thereof But this is no contradiction to that saying that he is the principall cause For the concurring of diverse causes to the producing of one effect doth not destroy but suppose a due subordination of causes so that the effect may be ascribed to either properly yet to the principall efficient primarily and secondarily to the Instrument As if one man cut another with a
Quaere Who incited the Dutch preachers and after them the Magistrates to insist upon those difficultyes to the depriving of the Church of such a man 3. Quaere Whether the Church was satisfyed with that which the Answerer told them was done in this buisenes or whether diverse of them did not intreat him to try once more And what his answer was Ans 3 As for the exception that this complaint is a raking into a buisenes that fell out 20 yeares past and if they re dealings for 20 yeares together c. Reply P. 28. 1. If this were a fault in the Complainants to rake into matters 20 yeares past concerning him yet he is unfit to reprove it who in the very next page raketh into a buisenes concerning Mr. F. about 30 yeares past Anno 1605. for which he was banished out of Scotland whereof we shall speake in its place 2. If it were so with him about 2 yeares since in my case and 2 yeares before that in Mr. H. and 2 yeares before that in Mr. Pet. and I know not how long before that in Dr. A. and 20 yeares since Anno 1610. in Mr. Par. and 24 yeares since in Mr. F. his case it seemeth to have bene his constant course thus to injury the Church 3. Personall and private evills past long since and reformed may not be raked into warrantably when publick greivances still continued may be raked into provided that they be not made more publick then necessity requireth and the ayme be right to seeke reformation not to cast reproach upon mens persons Jn the fourth place he dealeth with Dr. Ames but it is after his death It is no valour to trample upon a dead lyon A defence of Dr. Ames Iob. 41.8 of whom I may say if he were alive as the Lord speaketh concerning the Leviathan Lay thine hand upon him remember the battail and doe no more We shall have fit occasion in the ensuing passages to say more for the vindicatiō of his deserved honour against the disparadgments by the Answerer unworthily cast upon him whose name is as a precious oyntment in all the Churches of the Saints and shall be to future ages which will abhor these indignityes cast upon him What is sayd concerning him may be brought to 6 heads Ans 1. that his calling was never put to voyces 2. that the Answerer signifyed to one that asked him occasionally that he thought him not fit nor could give his cōsent 3 that he denyed the authority of Synods Classes 4. that he acknowledgeth he hath written diverse learned worthy treatises 5. that he was fitter for a Professour in Schooles 6. that his leaving of Franeker was disliked by all learned men approved by none To the first 1. The Answerers memory hath not bene so faythfull a record in passages betweene him and me Reply that I should from his not remembring it conclude the thing never was especially when it is so waveringly expressed as if he did remember that his name was propounded but not so propounded as that voyces were asked and gathered which might be and yet the complaint of the members just if upon the proposall of his name the Answerer stifly opposed it saying I thinck him not fit for us and I cannot give my consent whereby the voting of it might easily be hindred though the Church had generally desired him 2. That experience which I have of the ill setting downe of the acts of the Consistory in myne owne case which I shall discover in its place causeth me the lesse to regard they re records of propositions of agreements in that meeting to account them insufficient evidences for proofe of the doing or not doing any thing in question Ans To the second that to one asking him occasionally he signifyed that he thought him not fit for them neither could give his consent for him Be it so he confesseth that he signifyed so much to one whether that one asked this question secretly Reply or in the Consistory alone or in the presence of others he sayth not this maketh good that part of the complaint that he opposed rejected Dr. Ames also Neither doeth the not putting of it to voyces prove that they did not generally desire him seing his peremptory answer to that one might cause them to dispayre of injoying their desire if they had proceeded further in it It is some favour to have a quick dispatch I wish from my heart he had said so to me and I should have prevented all this trouble by a voluntary desistance long before And so much I said to him but he said he would not answer me alone that the blame should lye upon him only he would see what could be done with the Classis in favour of me as I understood him but time hath taught me my mistake Pardon this digression But why was not Dr. Ames fit Ans To the third that he denyed the authority of Synods and Classes 1. What Dr. Ames held touching the authority of Synods and Classes Reply we shall have time to examine in the insuing passages wherein it will appeare I hope that his opinion rightly understood can procure neither great nor any confusion or disturbance of Churches 2. whereas he pretēdeth that his intertaining of Dr. Ames in respect of this his opinion would have bene an occasion of Contention or Scandall that the vanity of his suggestion may appeare let the Reader know that Dr. Ames was minister of the English Church at the Hague where whatsoever he held touching this question it occasioned no contention nor scandall neyther to English nor Dutch Afterward he was Professor at Franeker where he continued twelve yeares who ever heard of any contention or scandall occasioned by his opinion given to any there all the time of his abode with them The contrary whereof appeared by the great unwillingnes of the Curateurs of that Academy to leave him which the Answerer acknowledgeth Pag. 18. when it may serve as he thincketh to reflect blame upon the worthy Doctor After this he was called to Rotterdam where God finished his course to give him the Crowne of righteousnes What contention or scandall did his opinion or practise according to it occasion there But as in this so in many other passages in his booke the Answerer hath often miscarryed by an unwarrantable striving to praepossesse his credulous Reader with unjust praejudices against those whom he praesenteth to common view as his opposites I wish he may see his errour therein and amend it for the future and that in the meane time the judicious Reader may not be deluded thereby 3. If the Answerer hath as he sayth earnestly contested with Dr. Ames ever since he was acquainted with him and yet still he persisted in the same it shewes that Dr. Ames did not apprehend that strength and weight to be in his arguments and allegations as himselfe fancyed And all men know that the Dr.
he deny Not the first unlesse he will affirme that the Classes have a greater power over particular Churches then the Apostles had Which J thinck he will not say much lesse goe about to prove Will he deny the assumption Those 4 texts of Scripture were alleadged by me for the proofe of it To prevent all mistakes I pray the Reader to be informed that my intent in alleadging these Scriptures was onely to advertise the Ministers of the Classis that they have no authority to exact this of me as a cōdition of my admittāce to that pastorall charge as my very words in that wrighting declare not to shew the unlawfullnes of my baptising any that are not members of that particular Church for I professe in expresse words after that in regard of the communion of particular Churches among themselves I neither did nor doe refuse to baptise their infants who are not members of that Church so that I may be satisfyed that they are indeed Christians So that the question is onely whether the Classis hath power to exact such a thing of any minister to be admitted to a particular Church amongst them as a condition of his admittance Jn this case I might have put them upon shewing their warrant and commission for their so doing as I now doe require of the Answerer when he shall defend his pretended answer in his next booke but to make short worke I then produced the Apostles practise whose commission was larger then any Classis hath received and shewed that they never assumed so much which they would not have fayled to doe in one place or other the necessity of the Church in those times so requiring nor to have recorded it for the instruction of posterity if they might have done it To this end I noated three places of Scripture Let us now consider them and his answer 1. Text. Acts. 20.28 Wherein Paul charged the Elders of Ephesus to take heed unto themselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost had made them Overseers Where he did not extend the excercising of their office farther then the Holy Ghost extēded their relation Let us examine his eight answers which he giveth rather by number then by weight His first answer is ad hominem to the man more then to the matter For he sayth By what right Mr. D. himselfe being no member of this Church did communicate with us in the Lords supper by the some right may a Pastor excercise his Ministry in some acts of it to those who are no mrmbers of his Church Reply This answer is nothing to the matter in question For 1. the question is not what I may lawfully doe but what the Classis may warrantably exact in manner aforesaid For some lawfull things are arbitrary and in our liberty and to be done sometimes and sometimes omitted as circumstances and respects vary the case and those no man may impose as necessary It had bene more to the purpose if he could have said By what right the Classis did compell him to administer the Lords supper to unknowne persons that are no members of his Church c. by the same right they may compell me to baptise the infants of those that are no members 2. The cases are not alike betweene myne admittance to communicate at the Lords table the admittance of those to baptisme concerning whom the question is For J conceive that besides my relation else where and the right which these Churches give to knowne passants of being admitted to the communion for a short time both himselfe and the wholl Church acknowledged me for a member with them for the time of my abode in that service which they testifyed by desiring the helpe of my publick labours and their chearfull admittance of me to that ordinance during that time without the least scruple Now let the Reader judge whether it be alike to receive a man so knowne and acknowledged among themselves as a member for a time to communion in the Lords supper and the baptising of those infants whose parents are members neither of that Church nor of any other for aught any man knoweth being not at all knowne unto the Church His second answer is that the Apostle might have layed upon them a further duety in some other place though no more was required in that place Reply 1. If he would have answered to the purpose he should have produced some other place wherein the Apostle did so but that he did not because he could not 2. That Paul did not impose any such injunction upon the Pastors of Ephesus at this time being to leave them nor afterwards in the Epistle which he wrote to them from Rome nor at any other time which the Scripture mentioneth and it would have bene recorded if it had bene done being a matter of such moment no where else in Scripture propounded wherefore was it but because he received no such command from the Lord Which if he had done it stood not with his faithfullnes Act 20.20 v. 27. who professeth to keepe back nothing that was proffitable and to declare all the Counsell of God to conceale 3. That neither Paul nor any of the Apostles could impose any such injunctions upon Pastors The 5. booke of the Church Chap. 27. p. 497. Cartw. 1. Repl. p. 43. I prove thus Because it had bene to confound the Apostolicall and Pastorall office to bind men to breake the limits of their office which had bene a violation of Gods order as D. Feild and Mr. Cartwright shew whom it concerneth the Answerer to answer in this point His third answer he sayth is more particular but I say it is no more to the purpose then the former He sayth The preaching of the word is a Ministeriall act which Ministers are bound to performe to some without when they invite Heathens Turkes or Iewes to heare them Pro 9.3.4.5 Mat. 28.19.20 Reply But 1 what is all this to prove that the Classis hath the authority whereof the question is Bring it into a Syllogisme and see 2. For the Assertion it selfe though I grant that the preaching of the Gospell by a Minister is an act of his ministry yet Prov 9.2.3.4 Mat. 11.19 Dan 12.3 it is not so in every man For one that is not one of wisdoms maydens by vertue of office yet may be one of wisdoms children whom God may blesse in the excercise of the gifts and graces of his spirit to be an instrument of turning many to righteousnes And for that other place in Mat. 28.19.20 I know not to what purpose it is alleadged unlesse to shew that the Classis may give ordinary Pastors such a commission as Christ gave the Apostles to goe and preach the Gospell to all Nations 3. To what end doeth he speake of preaching the Gospell to Heathens Iewes and Turkes in this question Is it to intimate that Baptisme may be as lawfully administred to the infants
before his death that his wrightings in that controversy had bene too bitter professed his inclination to publish some thing for the qualifying of them but that be feared the scandall that might grow upon such his retractation as is to be seene in the Admonition of the Divines of the County Palatine concerning the booke called liber concordiae Thus a groundlesse jealousy sharpened Luthers spirit in that controversy and a groundlesse jealousy hindred him from retracting what he had written Had the same jealousy hindred Augustine the wholl Christian world had bene loosers thereby wanting that helpe by his booke of Retractations which now they have Which unproffitable jealousy whereby men will make good what they have said or done least they should seeme to have erred Ambrose piously cast off and confessed that his wrightings had need of a second review et qnantumlibet quisque profecerit Ambr offic lib. 1. Cap. 1. nemo est qui doceri non indigeat dum vivit How much soever any man hath profited every man hath need to be taught whilest he liveth These things being premised for prevention of scandall which may be taken at the Answer whereunto the ensuing Reply is made I will breifely conclude after I have added one or two words for prevention of unaequall censures upon the Reply it selfe with respect to the matter and to the manner of my proceeding in it 1. For the matter I must intreat the wise hearted Reader to vouchsafe a benigne favourable construction of things that may seeme lyable to some misconstruction and to consider that in all the passages of this discourse I have a particular respect to the question betweene us avoyding by-matters As for instance when I speake of the summity of the power of particular Churches in re propriâ in such things as are properly their owne doe instance in the choyse of their ministers it may be some captious polititian will thinck that I abridge the povver of the civill Magistrate which is farr from my purpose though I speake as I doe limiting my selfe to the question betweene the Church and the Classis onely which was the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For I acknowledge not onely that submission obedience is due by the fifth commandment both to the highest Governours in every common wealth according to the severall lawes and customs thereof as to Emperours Kings Consuls Princes Dukes States and to other officers and ministers under them as Senators Counsailours Iustices Majors Sheriffs Balives Constables c. these and the like being in respect of their severall kinds 1. Pet. 2.13 Rom. 13.1 that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 every ordinance of man yet in respect of their common nature and power 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are ordered or ordained of God and that for conscience sake in all their civill lawes and constitutions but also in matters ecclesiasticall spirituall it belongeth to the cheife governour or governours to be nursing fathers of the Church as well as of the Commonwealth Isa 49.23 to be Custodes et vindices utriusque tabulae and that they may and aught to establish by their authority the true Religion pure worship of God and to forbid and punish not onely civill persons for civill crimes but even Churchmen also and boath sorts for crimes against Religion as Blasphemy Haeresy Idolatry Sacriledge Schysme c. and to take order as occasion may require that the Churches make choyse of fit officers and that Church officers doe their duety in every kind according to all Gods ordinances and institutions and that the wholl worship of God and all the parts of it be administred in the congregations decently 1. Cor. 14.40 without uncomelines and orderly without confusion of which care they have excelent praecedents set before them for patternes in the Scripture such as David Salomon Hezekiah Iosiah Nor are the matters of the Lord 2. Chron. 19.11 and the Kings matters of so different a nature that the care of the things of God doeth not appertayne to the King but onely to the high Preist but they are distinguished in the manner of their performing them the Magistrates discharging their part civilly politically the Church officers executing theires ecclesiastically and spiritually that so piety and policy the Church and Common wealth religion and righteousnes may dwell together may kisse each other and may flourish together in the due subjection of all sorts of subjects to Princes and Magistrates and of both princes and people to the scepter and government of Iesus Christ Iames 4.12 that one lawgiver who is able to save and to destroy 2. For the manner 1. I have endeavoured to carry my selfe inoffensively in this wholl treatise without wronging or provoking any and for that purpose have concealed the name of the Answerer wishing that it may not be remembred upon this occasion to blemish any of his well deservings in any other service to God or to his Church 2. I have laboured so to temper my stile that the truth may be manifested by his owne actions sincerely related rather then by my verball censures 1. His owne words I have truely repeated and answered and when I have bene compelled to contradict those things whereunto I could not consent I have laboured to shew reason more then passion therein If any thinck it might have bene done more smoothly and plausibly let him know there is a difference to be made betweene personall vindications and doctrinall ventilations there being not the same degrees of provocation to passion in the latter as in the former and that some of the personall aspersions whereunto I am enforced to make reply are such as whereunto a simple cold negation without some vehemency would seeme incongruous as Ierom speakes of the suspicion of haeresy or schysme wherein he sayth it becometh no man to be patient To conclude let the Christian reader if he meete with any such passages suspend his censure till he have bene put upon the clearing of his innocency to the world in answer to a printed booke made in so provoking a manner by such a man upon such an occasion himselfe being excercised with the same tryalls difficulties wherewith I am excercised in these tossings to and fro yet with much quiet in my spirit thorough inward supportments wherein I may say to the prayse of Gods grace in my measure As the sufferings of Christ abound in us 2. Cor. 1.5 so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ Lastly If any man shall thinck that my Reply is too large let him consider 1. that the particular matters of fact wherein myne innocency was necessarily to be defended are many 2. that I could not declare and maintaine the truth which I hold in points of doctrine and which is in word or actions opposed by the Answerer in a breifer discourse 3. that a necessity was layed upon me to wright somewhat on the behalfe of other Reverend ministers some whereof
crosse proclaimed to all the world both his glory and theire shame As for the Answerer I wish his age may be crowned with the honour of righteousnes upon his unfeinged repentance of these injuries the guilt whereof he hath bene plunged into I hope by the violence of temptation and not by a setled and habituall evill bent of his spirit out of which my prayer is unfeignedly that God would recover him speedily And so I proceed to examine his answer in this Section and the conclusion of the former against which I have diverse exceptions 1. Except That he sayth the things here declared have bene occasion of the strife raysed up in this place This I except against as it is indefinitely expressed For it may be universally understood as if those things had occasioned all the strife and in that sense it is untrue For there hath bene great strife raysed up amongst them about the rejecting of other men whom I praefer above my selfe before my name was mentioned amongst them which is not yet ended as appeareth in the complaints 2. I affirme that whosoever hath bene the occasion his unjust opposition against the men whom the Church hath justly desired hath bene the cause of the strife in this place 2. Except That he sayth Whilest I was buisy in wrighting c. another complaint is written against me and secretly dispersed amongst our people My exception against this expression is double 1. That he calleth it my complaint which title I doe not give it nor is it proper it being rather an account then a complaint being intended for theyr satisfaction who desired to know the trueth of passages not for redresse of injuries which I suffer without expectation of helpe from any man 2. that he blameth the secret dispersing of it whereas he should rather acknowledge my tender care of his reputation who would not have it divulged though for myne owne clearing further then it was necessary for the rectifying of they re understanding and judgment who had bene praejudiced against me by his misinformations And if this were a fault in me yet he hath cause to lay his hand upon his mouth who not only compelled me to doe it but himselfe sent a larger wrighting without any provocation from me to a partiall freind of his Mr. B. at Newburgh in England which was no doubt by him secretly dispersed where it pleased him 3. Except That he sayth I have dealt very injuriously with him not only in reporting many things but in sundry inferences c. this is a trick of policy to praepossesse his credulous Reader with a forestalled opinion praejudice against what I wright but the wise-hearted will compare the Reply with the answer in every Section impartially and so judge righteous judgment 4. Except That he sayth most of my complaints are for substance the very same that these Complainants have framed as if the same pen had written both As if he would intimate that I am the authour of those complaints whereas I am perswaded that in his owne heart he doth acquit me thereof both in observation of some passages in that wrighting which any man may conceive not to be penned by me and upon his strict examination of some of the Subscribers and of those 3. whom he exempteth from the number of Subscribers having as he sayth acknowledged theire fault therein by whom if he could have understood that I had bene guilty the Reader should have found it I beleive either in great letters or in some remarkeable marginall noate expressed and aggravated to the uttermust yet he so framed his answer to theyres as if the whole booke were an answer to me only whereas my wrighting was in some of they re hands a good space of time before theyres was framed whence all that can probably be inferred is that they recieved some information about things that concerned my selfe from thence or from my owne words And whatsoever more is inferred from thence is to be returned back to his owne needlesse jealousy from whence it came 5. Except That he sayth Each of my threefold wrighting is stayned with untrueth and matter of reproach but when he commeth to shew it that his Reader may be convinced hereof he flyeth off from two of the wrightings at the first onset which for the present he leaveth to the consideration of the Classis Yet that he may not seeme to be wholly out of heart he sayth He will so answer the third wrighting as that he shall take them in by the way c. For me he may freely take his choyse whether he will answer all or none and whether in every particular or in grosse but he had dealt more fairely if he had forborne to passe his sentence it being his worke to give evidence not sentence but it seemeth he durst not rest upon the aequanimity of the Reader who is now made his judge but would condemne it least else it might have passed altogether uncondemned And seing he undertaketh to answer the third wrighting in every particular we shall with Gods assistance examine his answer and the narration which he maketh of particulars touching my calling hither with the issue thereof which if it be faythfully done may give much light to helpe the Readers in judging righteously else it will like an ignis fatùus misleade them from the trueth SECT 8. Concerning my sending for out of England Ans TO prove my sending for over to be disorderly he sayth in his printed booke that such as procured my comming out of England did not according to good order communicate the matter with those whom it specially concerned who in all such weighty and publick affayres of the Church should by they re counsail and direction have gone before others therein The same thing in his letter sent to Nuburgh he expresseth thus that I being sent for privately by a particular person without his knowledge and without advise and consent of they re Eldership came over before I was called Reply 1 My end in comming into these parts was to serve the present opportunity for a few moneths in helping that Church with the fruits of my labours in their extreme necessity having preserved my liberty not for love of ease but for the workes sake in hope that after some small time of absence the displeasure conceived against me would be abated and my returne to myne owne country be made more safe and not to be Pastor in Amsterdam unlesse it should appeare by a very strong cleare call from the joynt desire of Pastor and people upon very safe and satisfying termes that God to whose disposall I wholly committed my selfe should designe me to that place as the only station wherein he would serve himselfe of me the remaynder of my dayes In which case my heart was prepared to obey his call to any part of the world and so there and not otherwise This being my purpose as he that brought me over and others
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