more easily received and firmely beleived because he is acquainted fully with all their wayes being one of them and ordinarily in counsail with them 3. But if it be true that the Classis hath such a practise Cyp. Epist l. 1. Epi. 8. Adulterum est impium est sacrilegum est quicquid humano furore instituitur ut dispositio divina violetur Ans 2. Reply and that the government hath established such an order which he will never be able to prove yet that will not free him from guilt seeing by his owne confession such a Custom or Canon is contrary to Christ his ordinance which I will expresse in Cyprians words It is adulterous it is wicked it is Sacrilegious what soever by humaine fury is instituted to the violation of a Divine ordinance His second answer or evasion rather followeth Secondly By involving the Elders with him in the same guilt and blame and retorting an accusation of partiality in that they lay the fault upon him only But who seeth not the insufficiency of this defense that either considereth the reply to the former answer or knoweth his power in the Consistory But what before was sayd by me in defense of the Classis may be a sufficient Apology also for the Elders and Deacons Thirdly By questioning the reason of their not complaining after this manner hitherto But who seeth not Ans 3. Reply that this is a mere evasion For what though they exhibited not a bill of greivances til now It may be they wayted in hope of reformation or it may be these last passages haue ripened the sore and filled up the measure and caused it to run over What consequent is there in these Arguments They complained not thus before therefore they were not injured The sore did not runne before therefore it was not an ulcer This measure did not runne over before therefore it was empty Nor is there more weight in his conclusion of that 3 answer when he appealeth to their consciences whether now also they would not haue kept silence if they could haue brought in Mr. D. even according to this corrupt order used by us as they complaine of it 1. Let the Reader judge whether any others are mentioned in the complaint either Elders Reply Classis or government but only the Answerer Why then doeth he speake in the plurall number saying this corrupt order used by us 2. Is there not a manifest contradiction in this part of the answer For if they could have brought in Mr. D. by their free choyse which himselfe acknowledgeth to be the ordinance of Christ how could they then have brought him in according to this corrupt order whereof they complaine so that why should they not keep silence if the cause of complaint had bene removed as in this case it had bene Answ 4 Let his fourth answer be considered wherein he granteth that the free consent of the people is required unto the lawfull calling of a Minister and that by vertue of those texts Act. 6.3 and 14.23 Reply 1 First If upon that ground this power of the people be established then 1 It is their duety to plead for and to stand fast in their liberty in this particular and that not as a matter arbitrary but necessary seing it is Christ his ordinance 2 That person sinneth against God and the Church who any way depriveth them of it and is bound to give satisfaction if but any one member much more if 22 considerable members complaine of it And this injury is the greater because it reflecteth 1 not upon a singular person but upon a Society 2 not in civill but spirituall immunityes and priviledges 3 Such as are not devolved upon them by the favour of earthly princes but purchased for them by the blood of Christ The aequity of this complaint may be proved out of the Answerers concession thus They who without just and sufficient warrant hinder that the Church cannot injoy these Ministers whom they with one consent desire doe deprive the Church of that liberty and power which Christ hath given it in the free choyse of their Pastor But the person complained of by these 22 subscribers doeth without just and sufficient cause hinder the Church from injoying those whom they with one consent desired Therefore the person complained of doth deprive the Church of that liberty and power which Christ hath given it in the free choyse of their Pastor The Proposition himselfe granteth to be true as hath bene noated The assumption they prove in the following Section by instances as we shall see in due time The Answerer hath sayd nothing hitherto that may serve to weaken the trueth of it In the words following also he rather evadeth it then maketh a direct answer And his evasions are by way of diversion For. 1. He diverteth his Reader from the particular subject of the complaint Pag. 19. Ans 4. Reply telling him of the order of these Churches about this matter whereas for ought I have heard from themselves at any time or now have read in their wrightings that good correspondency with the Christian Magistrate and foreknowledge or advise of the Classis which the Synods of these Churches describe as the order to be observed in the calling of Ministers are not contrary to that liberty and power in the free choyse of their Pastor which they clayme and the Answerer acknowledgeth to be due to the Church by vertue of Christs ordinance But I suppose it will be granted on all sides that the Synods doe not acknowledge any power to be due to the Magistrates or Classis to deprive the Church of any power which Christ hath givē it which is the greivance they now complained of and wherein the Answerer is accused not for observing the order of the Synods but for doing contrary to the intent of the Synods in their orders 2. He diverteth his reader from the question in hand Pag. 20. Ans 5. Reply by propounding another question to be examined which he pretendeth that some object out of Acts 6.3 viz. whether the people ought not to goe before in seeking out officers for themselves That this is a mere diversion will appeare to the indifferent Reader if he examine their wrighting in which he shall not find any word tending that way but rather they complaine that the Elders are too much neglected by the Answerer as will appeare in its place So that the 20. p. is a laborious proving of that which is not in question 3. The pretended absurdityes in his sixth answer Pag. 21. Ans 6. Reply Pag. 21. Ans 7. Reply are to the same purpose with his fifth Answer and serve only to countenance a girde at some neighbour Minister Cui-bono he best knoweth His seventh answer is no more to the purpose then the fifth and sixth For what if these Complainants should not agree one with another touching the due order of Elections and touching the ground thereof from those
171 35 Magistrates Magistrates may not take away the power of the whole Church froÌ„ her in choosing Officers but may onely rectify her choyce 51. 17 Magistrates possessed with a false informatioÌ„ about the cause of the Replyers comming over 183. 30 Magistrates give but a conditionall consent to the Replyers settling 185. 9 Ministers The lattine coppy of the writing of the 5 Dutch Ministers together with the translation 126 Objections Objections against the peoples choosing their owne Ministers answered 45. 6 Occasion To be an Occasion onely of an evill is not blame worthie 199. 27 Offence To give an Offence is sinfull 143 11. Opposition Opposition among the persons whom the Church desired objected by the Answerer examined and the persons vindicated 57. 12 Order Order about having one that can speake Dutch may be attributed more to the Answerer then the Magistrate 91. 5 Of the Order agreed upon in the Consistory and the insufficiency of it for accommodation 177. 13. The inlarging of the Order as much as just nothing 190. 1â— An Order agreed upoÌ„ to be made by the Elders hindred by the Answerer â—16 13 Pamphlet What a Pamphlet is 8. 8 Parents Parents sin a sufficient ground in some cases to keepe their children from baptisme 167. 5 Parker Mr. Parker defended 74. 7 praised for his great worth 74 19. What workes hee was author of 74. 22 Mr. Parkers judgment about the power by which the Church should be governed 240. 21 Against the Answerer 242. 6 Passions Passions are then strongest when reason is weakest 6. 10 Pastor Pastors proper worke to feede a flock already gathered 291. 37 To compell Pastors to performe a ministeriall act to them who are not members is to confound the Apostolicall and Pastorall office 280. 22 What governing belongs to Pastors 298. 10 It is lawfull for Pastors in some cases to flee 103. 2 Patronages Patronages whence they came in and the evill which followed upon them 41. 15 Potts Mr. Potts grieved with promiscuous baptising 125. 23 Praysing Selfe Praysing not alwayes unlawfull nor vaine 25. 24 An evill end ofttimes in praysing 9. 2. Preservation Selfe Preservation must not be with calumniation 12. 32 Proove To Proove belongs to the Answerer for divers reasons 32. 30 Protestation Protestation with the Answerers observations upon it reviewed 317. Provocation Threefold ProvocatioÌ„ added unjustly 325. 1 Quaere Threefold Quaere in the Protestation with the Answerers observations reviewed 322. 4 Reformation As Reformation increased the right of the people more pleaded for 41. 36 Reply A Reply upon the 4 answerers which the Answerer calles his comforts 34. 26 Replyer Replyers writings unjustly called complaints 10. 32 Replyer unjustly charged for nourishing contention 15. 8 Replyer vindicated about a writing left by him for which the Answerer blames him 23. 28. 99. 2. Iustified in the matter of the writing 201 4 things in the Replyers defense about his writing considerable 23. 29. Replyer freed froÌ„ a 4fold charge layd upon him about his industry in keeping the Church together 25. 13 Replyers writing sent to the Classis vindicated from the imputation of the Answerer 33. 18 Replyer defended about faults in his writing 72. 16 Replyer vindicated from the cavill of the Answerer about the word Alwayes 96. 15. Replyer justified about his coming over to Amsterdam 101. 6 About an authentick testimony which he is charged to have wanted 102. 20 About the resignatioÌ„ of his Pastorall charge 106. 8 Concerning his knowing of differences 112. 8 Concerning his intention of comming over but for 3 or 4 monethes and seeking of the place 112 24 Replyer justified about writing divers conferences which hee had with the Answerer 124 1 Why the Replyer rested not in the judgement of the 5 Dutch Ministers about promiscuous Baptising 174. 4 Replyer vindicated about his falsely supposed consenting to the writing of the 5 Dutch Ministers And froÌ„ an accusation of withdrawing his consent 187. 21 Replyer cleared concerning his pretended preaching in a private house 197. 1. and 275. 20 Cleared from fault in desisting from it 277. 22 Replyer cleared about his journeying out of towne before the Sacrament 200. 24 Replyer justified in his three writings 202. 26 Replyer freed from the Answerers quarelling at these words he did not desire me 204. 27 Replyers opinion concerning the Classis the same with Dr. Ames 224. 36 Replyer cleared from Scisme 248. 32. Replyers judgement concerning the truenesse of Churches expressed in Dr. Ames words 281 19. Replyers opinion against promiscuous baptising not built upon grounds of separation 280. 20 Of the right by which the Replyer did communicate in the Lords Supper 288. 20 Replyer refuteth not himselfe when hee professeth readinesse to baptise their infaÌ„ts who have membership elsewhere 292. 34 Request Threefold Request in the Protestation with the observations of the Answerer reviewed 324. 25 Scisme Scisme what it is how taken 26. 9. Five things about Scisme 26. 22 Scripture Scripture ought to be the rule to trye all things by 13. 20 All things agreeing with Scripture are old though they may appeare new 13. 33 Texts of Scripture answered by the Answerer reviewed by the Replyer 286. to 316 Acts 20.28 reviewed 288 9 Col. 4.17 reviewed 296. 19 1. Peter 5.2 reviewed 297. 16 Ro. 14.5.23 reviewed 299. 5 Act. 11.21.26 reviewed 304. 32 Gen. 17.10 reviewed 306. 8 Rom. 4.11 reviewed 306. 32 Acts 2.39 reviewed 310. 11 1. Cor. 5.12 reviewed 311. 37 Secession Secession from a Church twofold 26. 27 Shepheards Shepheards combination a good embleame of the combination of Ministers 297. 29 The reason of Shepheards combination 297. 30 Speech Speech must have two propertyes 2. 8 Suretyes Sureties not from the beginning 164. 14. Sureties caÌ„ give no right to Baptisme 164. 35 Synods Abuse of Synods have caused some reverend men to speake against them 225. 9 Synods necessarie for certain causes 228. 11 Power of Synods see Classis Voetius The judgement of Voetius about the power of the Church 242. 36. Waldenses Waldenses seperate bring the right of â—hoosing their Ministers to the Church 41. 31 Yea. The saying Yea not sufficient to testify faith notwithstanding the places of Scripture brought to proove it 302. 1 Negative argument from Scripture disabled by the Answerer in his arguing for the sufficiency of Yea. 305. 19 FIN AN APOLOGETICALL REPLY To a booke called An ansvver to unjust Complaints c. THE TITLE PAGE EXAMINED AN ansvver Every man shall kisse his lipps that answereth right words sayth Salomon Prov. 24.26 3 Things required in a right answer He that will answer complaints made against him with right words must be mindfull especially of three things First for his personall qualification that he be innocent of the particulars charged upon him Let him make his answer first to his owne conscience in the sight of God and then 2 Cor 1.12 from a good conscience bearing witnes of his integrity let him make his answer to men
that may be well sayd quod volenti non fit injuria and that quilibet potest recedere a suo jure yet the cases must be such as wherein a man is not tyed to mainetaine his liberty with so strong a bond as the bond of reason nature of the rules of Christian aequity and of the freedom of the law of God It is free for a man not to eate or drinck this or that but not to eate or drinck at all and so to starve himselfe it is not free and in this case volenti fit injuria Husbands parents and masters have by the very instinct of nature and aequity of Christs law freedom to provide for those that depend upon them and so must carefully use this theire freedom may not wholly put from themselves the care of their provision education c. nor give theire consent to the making of any law or to the bringing in of any custom whereby theyr freedom should be restrained or annihilated in this point Thus farr he Now to prevent all mistakes it will be convenient to answer a question or two that may be propounded upon this occasion Quest 1 What if a Minister be put in by a patron without the choyse of the people going before may such a minister be thought to have a lawfull calling Ans Though that act of the patron be not sufficient to make him a lawfull Pastor to that people yet the after consent of the people Dr. Ames â—n 2. Manduct by acceptance and submission may make it good As in wedlock the after consent of parents or partyes doth often make that a lawfull state of marriage which before without that was none and in government acceptance and submission doth make him a King which before was an Usurper though in their order these actions be rather consequents then causes of that calling So it is betweene minister and people Quest 2 What if the Church neglect to call a Minister or desire and consent upon one that is unmeet either for doctrine or manners In such cases Ans Mr. Cartwr 1. Reply p. 35. the ministers and Elders of other Churches round about should advertise first and afterwards as occasion should serve sharpely and severely charge them that they neglect not this care of electing a fitt one and that they forbeare such election of one unfitt or if it be made that they confirme it not by suffering him to excercise any ministry And if either the Churches round about doe fayle of this duety or the Church which is admonished rest not in their admonition then to bring it to the next Synod and if it rest not therein then the Prince or Magistrate which must see that notbing in the Churches be disorderly and wickedly done aught to drive that Church from that election to another which is convenient Thus Mr. Cartwright So that in his judgement other Churches have no power of hindring a faulty election but by admonition which power every Christian hath in another for his good Nor can the Magistrate forbid the choyse which the Church hath made or would make unlesse the man upon whom they pitch be so unfitt either for doctrine or manners that the making of such a choyse will be wickedly and disorderly done Having thus declared what we hold de jure populi concerning the Churches right in the choyse of their Ministers Now we come to enquire de facto whether their complaint be just concerning the injury wherewith they charge the Answerer in this particular taking the rise of ensuing passages from those words wherein he mentioneth my name after a provoking manner in this Section I leave it to their consciences to consider Ans pag. 19.3 whether now also they would not have kept silence if they could have brought in Mr. D. even according to this corrupt order used by us as they complaine of it To prove that the Answerer doth not behave himselfe as becommeth a Pastor in governement their first evidence is Reply that he depriveth the Church of that liberty and power which Christ hath given it in the free choyse of their Pastor Now a Church is as well deprived of their liberty in chusing when the men â—â—ply whom they desire are without sufficient cause shewen to the Church kept out as when men are without their approbation obtruded upon them They complaine of both these injuries of the first in this and the following Section of the second in the sixth Section That in this Section they complaine of the first of these injuries appeareth by the instances which they produce for proofe of it in the fifth Section So then their complaint in this and the next Section is that they are deprived of the liberty and power of the free choyse of their Pastor which Christ hath given them in that they are deprived of worthy men whom they have generally desired but have bene hindered that either they could not chuse them or having chosen could not injoy them and this hath bene done against them without sufficient cause alleadged against the men whom they have desired And the person whom they particularly charge with this unjury is the Answerer Let us now consider how he doth defend himselfe And this he endeavoureth to doe diverse wayes Pag. 18. Ans 1. First by putting the blame from himselfe upon the Classis and not upon their persons so much as upon the very government established in these Churches 1. Reply 1. Here it must be remembred that the Complainants produce the holy records of the ancient charter of priviledges which of old was granted unto particular Churches in this case Pag. 19. Ans 4 which also the Answerer himselfe coÌ„fesseth so clearely to warrant their claime and to justifye this plea that he hath as he sayth both publickly taught in the exposition of those 2 places Acts. 6.3 and 14.23 and doth still acknowledge that the free consent of the people is required to the lawfull calling of a Minister and afterwards he sayth Pag. 22. Ans 8. that to deprive the Church of that liberty power c. must be an heynous crime and no lesse then Sacriledge This crime how great soever it is the Reader will find that he chargeth upon the Classis how justly let him see nor will he be able to cleare himselfe of slandring the very government and order of discipline established in these Churches unlesse he can shew out of the Nationall Synods that it was established for an order in these Countryes that the Classes should have power to deprive the Churches of the Ministers whom they desire or have chosen without shewing sufficient cause for the Churches satisfaction which is the greivance complained of by these subâ—â—ibers 2. If it be not true of them the more heynous the accusation is the more greivous the slander is and so much the more greivous in him who is many wayes obliged to them and whose testimony against them will 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
November 1633. New stile We now proceed to the third worthy Mr. Forbes and to examine what he sayth concerning him Two reasons are pretended by the Answerer against Mr Forbes Ans 5 A defence of Mr. Forbes for the justifying of his refusing him to be his Colleague 1. His differing from him in judgment about the Declinatour or appeale c. 2. His refusall of referring that difference to an hearing of Ministers And thence he proceedeth in the third place to shew the issue of this difference and Mr. F. refusall to referr it which was that not only he but all the Elders with one consent refused to proceed in the calling of him Reply These we will examine severally and breifely To the first Herein may be noated 1. The Answerers unaequall dealing in publishing to the world these particulars against Mr. F. which by his owne confession were at least 24 yeares past Pag. 13. whereas he blameth the Complainants for unseasonable admonition in that they complaine now of matters done above 20 yeares agone about Mr. Parker and Mr. Forbes Was it unseasonable in them and is it not so in him Nor will it helpe that he say they compell him to it seing in the very next instance viz speaking of Mr. Peters he sayth I thinck it needles to give a reason here why I gave not my voyce for him Why might not this answer as well have served in the former instances 2. His policy is to be noated in this passage in his urging that appeale as a meane to keepe out Mr. Forbes well knowing that Mr. Forbes would not now passe from that for procuring a Ministry in Amsterdam for the which he had formerly taken his life in his hand and at that instant indured banishment 3. His disparadging of Mr. Forbes his judgment when he sayth he saught to maintayne his appeale insinuating thereby an indeavour without ability To the second 1. Any man of understanding and charity will conclude that Mr. Forbes his refufall of entring into that dispute with the Answerer is not to be imputed to his feare of the Answerers weapons or strength especially the case being such wherein Mr. F. had bene as well sifted before as the Answerer could sift him but to his great wisdome modesty who hath alwayes manifested that duetifull respect to his Soveraigne never to stand to the defence of any thing displeasing to his Maties but when and where conscience did urge him Neither could he have entred into that debate without some overture of too much forwardnes for and desire of that station from which his spirit was very averse 2. it seemeth not to be without too much selfe-confidence that he undertooke to shew Mr. F. the unlawfullnes of that appeale The wholl councell of Scotland consisting of wise and honourable persons with others as well versed in the lawes and constitutions both Ecclesiasticall and civill of Scotland as the Answerer did they re indeavour to make Mr. F. and his associats to understand the unlawfullnes of it and yet they could not see it but the Answerer will presently shew it them To the third That both he and the Elders with one consent refused to proceed in the calling of Mr. F. upon his refusall to give them satisfaction A refusall supposeth a petition the Answerer should have shewen who was the petitioner 1 was it Mr. Forbes This seemeth to be intimated But they that knew M. Forbes knew him to be a man of no such meane spirit as to petition or seeke to be the Answerers Colleague 2. were the members of the Church the petitioners or motioners for his call and was theyr request frustrated upon this ground Then they re complaint seemeth to be just in that they were deprived of him for such a cause For what is a difference about things done in Scotland and which are proper and peculiar to the cognition of that State to the Church in Amsterdam what Canon of any Nationall Synod what order of any Classis what Custom of any Church in Holland is violated by Mr. Forbes his opinion concerning the Declinatour Which injury both to them and him is the greater seing notwithstanding that he was intertayned setled in an English Church and which is more to this purpose with the English Merchants amongst whom he lived paynfully discharging the office of a Pastor above 20 yeares to the singular content of the Company not without his Maties of Great Brittaine c. King Iames of famous memory his approbation as to the prayse of his Royall clemency appeared in a message sent by him to the Company For him God provided mercyfully But the Church in Amsterdam was by this meane deprived of a man of eminent worth in the injoyment of the fruits of whose learning judgement wisdom amiable spirit and other exellent properties and indowments all places where he hath lived thought themselves happy accounting him a mā richly furnished with all indowments which are requisite not onely for a minister to any Church but also for a publike instrument upon great occasions in the cōmon affaires of many Churches to stand before princes What esteeme he had in Scotland appeared by theyr imploying of him in publick services those of great importance How he was accepted in Swedē whither he travayled after his banishment was manifest besides other instances in the great favour shewed him and honourable proffer made to him by that Mirrour of Princes the last King of Sweden a litle before his death How the Company of Merchants who injoyed him so many yeares affected him is evident in the annuall exhibition which they have conferred upon his widow as a testimony of theyr high esteeme of him theyr deceased Pastor whom it pleased God to call hence where in ter Veer he finished his course was freed from all the troubles of his pilgrimage to injoy that crowne of righteousnes which is layd up for those that have faught a good fight he died on the 5 day of August old stile and was buryed on the 9 day Anno 1634. In the sixt place he dealeth with Mr. Peters or rather declineth the answer of theyr complaint in that particular Had he done so in all the rest he had eased me of all this labour and trouble might have seemed to others more free from blame then he is or now can rationally be judged to be The answer to the sixth Section examined This Section might haue passed without being examined by me P. 33. had not the Answerer in the close of it brought me in as one fighting against him in like manner as the Complainants which is according to an English proverbe to slander him with a matter of trueth But because he sayth the answer before given to the Complainants may also serve for answer to me I am compelled to examine the wholl Section to find out the answer given to me in theyres His wholl answer tendeth to charge them with slander in
were baptized will in policy present their children thereunto 2. the custom of this place which hath bene to refuse none though presented in the sermon time without notice given before by a nurse or any one neither of the parents appearing in it or being knowne or enquired after nor any sufficient assurance given for the education of the children in that fayth which is there professed and that confession of fayth being expressed demanded by the minister in a language which they that preseÌ„t the child some times vnderstand not in this act boath the ministers must joyne 3. Three meanes of accommodâ—tion Thirdly for accommodation He desireth that at least these three things may be agreed upon First That this Sacrament be administred by the ministers severally not joyntly as the Lords supper is either only by him that preacheth or only by him that preacheth not at that time in theyr severall courses respectively whereby the discovery of any differeÌ„ce in particular cases betweene them may be prevented mutuall concord betweene themselves may be preserved boath being left free to walke according to their light in such particulars wherein their opinions may differ Ob. Ans But this is not according to the order of the Dutch Church Nor will they expect that we should have no particular order different from them seing they are constrained to take up some customs by occasion of they re multitudes which are not so necessary or requisite to be used in lesser Congregations such as this is Secondly That the party who shall present the child resort to the Minister into whose course it falleth to baptize a day or two before to the end that he may informe himselfe concerning the parents c. By which course all publick disturbance in the face of the Congregation will be prevented Ob. It will be very difficult to make this course knowne to all and to bring them to it Ans When such an order is set and made knowne whether by publication in the Church or by private suggestion it will be soone understood of all whom it concerneth and yeelded unto I require no more Thirdly That they who â—e allowed by the Minister to present the child shall be able to speake or at least to understand the English tongue that the Congregation be not deluded by a seeming profession of fayth uttered by the Minister and answered by the party in such forme of words as is dictated to him by some that stand by but himselfe understandeth not By this relation the Reader may see how easily the imagined inconveniences might have bene prevented if the Answerer had bene willing thereunto Secondly It is not true that all the Church generally would takâ— offencâ— as he sayth to see a double practise For at that time all the Church generally desired that some course might be agreed upon for accommodation in this matter and to this day they dislike the Answerers stiffnes and aversnes thereunto And what double practise could they see in the way which I propouâ—ded for accommodation Whereby how easily might all offence have bene prevented But he would not No though some of the Dutch preachers wished it might have bene so and all I am perswaded would have bene contented therewith Ans But another inconvenience he feared which in this place he concealeth but then expressed to me which was that he should be suspected and censured as a man of evill conscience if he should practise that which I refuse as unlawfull Whereunto I answer That will not follow Reply For 1. two men may differ in practise and yet be boath upright whilest they walke according to their light not refusing any meanes of information and conviction if they erre maintaining brotherly love amongst themselves 2. It might have bene so ordered at first if he would that the difference betweene us might not be knowne to others But this we shall ever find that causeles jealousyes and selfe-aymes and respects are and will be the hindrance and baine of any publick good So much for the pretended reasons Secondly The Scriptures alleadged he sayth were two from whence he shewed that when so great multitudes were at once baptized by Iohn Baptist Mat. 3. Mark 1. and by the Apostles Acts. 2. there could not be a strict private examination of every particular person c. Ans To these Scripture instances I will answer severally as I then did First â—o the instance of Iohns Baptising 1. The text sayeth They were baptised of Iohn in Iordan confessing theyr sinnes Whence it is manifest that Iohn was satisfyed concerning they re fitnes to be baptised before he admitted them And that is all that I require 2. How will it appeare that so many were baptised of him at once I rather am of opinion that those places doe contayne the story of the wholl time of Iohns Ministry so farr as concerneth his baptisme in which time multitudes might be baptised by him and yet he sufficiently informed concerning their fitnes to partake of it 2. To Act. 2. Secondly To the instance of 3000 soules baptised by Peter in onâ—â—â—ay I answered that I desire no better satisfaction concerning men in this case then Peter had concerning those 3000. soules For. 1. Their very joyning to the Church by publick profession in those times of persecution was a better signe of fayth and repentance then some publick confession in words is now in time of peace For then it was a reproach now it is an honour to professe Christianity 2. The text sayeth They were pricked in theyr hearts Act. 2.37 and faid vnto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles Men and Brethren what shall we doe Thereupon Peter preached unto them the doctrine of fayth and repentance and new obedience and after this observed what fruit the word brought forth and accordingly dispensed the Sacrament For the text fayth Vers 41. Then they that gladly received his word were baptised Where the particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they is diacriticall and restrictive and serveth both to distinguish betweene them and others that did not so receive the word and to limit the dispensation of baptisme by the Apostles at that time to those only Whereas he sayth By conference of other Scriptures they re confession of their sinnes and profession of fayth were rather to be conceived some solemne and publick testification of tâ—eyre consent unto the doctrine that was preached unto them c. I answer 1. he should have set downe those other Scriptures which being conferred with these declâ—re so much that we might have understood his meaning 2. I demand whether that solemne and publick testification of their consent unto the doctrine preached did not give sufficient ground to Iohn Baptist Peter of perswasion that they had repented and did beleive If so I desire no more If not how are the one sort said to confesse their sinnes so as to declare their repentance For so it must
keeping Ian. 19. 1634. The Consistory being gathered Elders and Deacons together it was demanded whether that all persons being no members should be sent unto Mr. D. to desire the baptisme of their children and to make confession to him for his satisfaction in his administration of that Sacrament The answer was by all voyces yea if Mr. D. can be persuaded thereunto And for the better and more convenient bringing of the parents or presenters of the children to the Minister it is agreed by most voyces in Consistory that Th A. the Coster shall bring or direct the partyes to the Ministers house Afterward this question was propounded by the Answerer written downe in these words Whether if persons ignorant being willing to receive instruction allthough not presently able to render a reason shall be sent away by him or admitted to witt they approving of the doctrine of baptisme taught in these Churches and as by us usually is propounded A Copy of this pretended order with the questionw as brought to me by some of the Elders to see what answer J would make to them boath Which when I had considered I found the order too short and the question captious First for the order J let these five things be duely weighed 1. The Answerer dateth this order Ian. 15. which the Elders date Ian 19. as he dated the ministers wrighting to me Ian 28. which themselves in their latine copy to me dated Ian 20. which difference is not of much consequence only it sheweth that it is not safe for the Reader to be too confident of the Answerers memory 2. Where as I propounded three wayes of accommodation as the eleventh Section sheweth here is but one of them propounded in the Consistory 3. That one is otherwise propounded then I expressed it For I did not desire that all whose children should be presented to baptisme should be sent to me but only that it should be so when it fell into my course to administer that Sacrament my motion being that we might not performe it joyntly but severally and alternis vicibus neither did I require that they should make confession to me but that I might speake with them before they presented them in publick that I might have some knowledge of them by private conference with them to prevent publick disturbance 4. The course whereupon they agreed for accommodation was not sufficient For 1. many present their children to Baptisme that acquaint not Th. A. with it before hand The Answerer told me that they come many times in the sermon time no man having knowledge thereof before How shall Tho A. send such to me 2. They that doe acquaint him with their purpose of presenting their children what if they will not come to me upon his persuasion Who seeth not that I am in such cases and the like as farr to seeke for accommodation as if no order had bene made I told the Elders that this would not be sufficient unlesse it were added that no infants should be presented in publick to baptisme whose parents are not members of the Church before the minister had received satisfaction concerning the parents in private To this purpose I required that a firme order should be made in the Consistory to secure me from further trouble about this point which the Elders promised and indeavoured to effect as I was told but the Answerer resisted it refusing his consent thereunto without the consent of the Classis 5. The offer which he pretended that he voluntarily made for the inlarging of this order and my further accommodation to wit that he would send to me those parents that should come to him c. and so departing from his right he was content to referr the wholl worke of examination to my discretion is a vaine boast of false liberality For. 1. few if any come to him to advertise him thereof 2. If he should speake to them they would chuse and it may be refuse and make contention if a firme order were not made to prevent it 3. His referring of the wholl worke of examination to me was cast in for a pretence to evade the first meane of accommodation propounded by me and by the second course Sect. 11. which J propounded for accommodation also it may appeare that this offer was not for the accommodation which I desired but to hinder it rather Secondly for the question Any one may see it was captious For. 1. Why doeth he speake only of knowledge when I would as he knoweth be satisfyed concerning other things as well as their knowledge 2. Why doeth he speake of the measure and degree of knowledge so obscurely and suspiciously 3. Why was this question added to the order Was it not to shew that the order should no further stand then he received satisfaction in my answer to his question And hereby two things are manifested 1. that the order was not absolute but conitionall if I could be persuaded thereunto 2. that I did not approve of this order as sufficient as may further appeare in my dislike of his question whereunto if my answer had bene to his content to what end did he procure the five Ministers to signe that wrighting which was sent to me afterwards as him selfe confesseth in the beginning of this Section It had bene superfluous and to no purpose if the matter had bene before concluded amongst our selves For a Conclusion of this Section to satisfye the Reader that this was to be called rather a proposition or motion about an order to be deliberated upon then an order perfected by mature deliberation these Considerations may be added to what hath bene said 1. That with this pretended order a question was joyned and my answer to boath was required This sheweth that the order was not absolute but to be assented to by the Answerer if my answer to his question should please him 2. That in that order it is expresly sayd yea if Mr. D. can be intreated c. which againe sheweth that it was no absolute order but to stand if I could be intreated c. So that this could not be called an order till the Answerer had bene satisfyed about myne answer to his question and till I had yeelded to what by this order should be propounded to me 3. That when the order was brought to me though the word satisfaction and content was spoken of by me as a word fit to be in the order yet I demanded how this could be done by that order upon the reasons before mentioned in my fifth proofe of the defectivenes of that order 4. That upon my mislike of it the order was left with me to peruse and to add what I thought requisite as it was fit it should seing the end of it was my satisfaction 5. That before J had polished and perfected that order to my content the letter of the five Ministers was brought to me which then put me out of hope till the Elders againe promised me
to the seaventeenth Section examined concerning my withdrawing of my consent first made knowne unto him as is pretended THe title of this Section supposeth 1. that I had consented 2. that afterwards J with drew my consent the untruth of both which assertions hath bene shewen in the foregoing Sections Here he speaketh of matters that passed betweene us the next Consistory after this meeting of the Classis The story whereof was thus A wrighting wherein the agreement of the Answerer with the officers of the Church about my calling was delivered to me by the Answerer Mr. A which wheÌ„ I had read I first gave them thanckes for this expression of their good esteeme of me and then to omit other passages desired to be certifyed whether the order was made in the Consistory which was promised Whereby it appeareth that I still expected that an order should be made more to my content then yet it had bene For answer hereunto the Answerer told me that they could doe no more in that buisenes then had bene done formerly When I heard this perceived by a clause in that wrighting that in accepting this call I should bind my selfe to conforme to the orders and customs of the Dutch Church in this particular as well as in others I made some demurr indeed and desired time for deliberation and being urged by the Answerer to a speedy resolution I gave my answer to them in the Consistory in the end of the same weeke But desiring obtayning secret conference with the Answerer I acquainted him in as inoffencive manner as I could with my still continuing unsatisfyednes about the lawfullnes of that conformity which was expected praying him to helpe me with his advise that my desistance might be so ordered as might best conduce to the preventing of all disturbance and offence He refused to give advice saying he might doe nothing of himselfe in that matter To omitt other passages seing the Elders and Deacons were now come together we agreed to speake with them in the Consistory As for his proceeding to hasten my calling without delay upon my supposed consent the examining of the former Sections hath sufficiently given light to the intelligent Reader for the discovery of the vanity of this overture But if any man thinck I made too strict an interpretation of the words in that wrighting which the Answerer calleth a forme of calling because upon the reading of it I made some demurr desiring time of deliberation let him know that if I had accepted the calling delivered to me in that forme I had actually bound my selfe to conforme to that unwarrantable custom Nor is this my opinion alone but the judgment of the Answerer and as he sayth of the Classis also which will appeare by his owne words hereafter to be examined Sect. 28. p. 76. wherein to prove that M.B. was not of the same opinion with me he produceth these words out of the forme of his calling which was sent to him in wrighting For sayth he being called to administer the word and dependances thereof according to the â—rder of these Reformed Churches and especially of those which are combined with the Classis of Amsterdam and making no exception against this forme but resting therein after this question had bene propounded unto him this is taken for an evidence that he was willing to observe their order in the administration of Baptisme TO SVCH AS THEY VSE TO DOE and so it was understood by the Classis So that it is not only the judgment of the Answerer but of the Classis also Nor was this Mr. B. case alone to have such an exposition put upon those words in his forme of calling but in the same sense the same forme was tendred me Therefore the Answerer addeth And had Mr. D. accepted this call when it was in the same forme offered unto him that would also have bene taken for a grant of his professed agreement with us c. Now let the Reader judge whether my apprehensions concerning the purpose of those expressions so rightly concurring with the intention and meaning of the Classis and of the Answerer and my judgement being so setled concerning the unlawfullnes of that custom and all meanes for accommodation being frustrated I had not cause to desire time for deliberation and to be wholly turned in my affections from that calling and imployment which was so clogged with ill conditions The answer to the 18. Section examined concerning another Act of accommodation for my satisfaction THe Answerer beginneth this Section with a misreport of my withdrawing my consent which he sayth I had formerly given whereas the truth is that from first to last I was of the same judgment against this unwarrantable custom and so expressed my selfe without any alteration The passages in the Consistory the 11. of Feb. 1634. the Answerer reporteth some what disorderly in that he beginneth with that which was last and maketh the testification of the Elders to follow that Act which went before it whereby the right understanding of things is hindred For after that private discourse before mentioned had passed betweene him and me and after some other speeches in the Consistory and after I had walked forth at their intreaty a great while that they might privately consult being called in againe to heare the issue whereunto matters were brought I found that the order spoken of in the 13. Section was againe renewed and inlarged with this addition that the Elders and Deacons likewise promised to send such to me as should come to them Which was as much as just nothing For the same objections which were made against the same offer made on the behalfe of the Answerer and of the Coster in the 13. Section are of force against this also Whereas he addeth that both he and they promised to prevent all further occasion of offence so much as in them lay had this bene done accordingly the Elders might well have added in way of testification their persuasion that no occasion would befall to worke any scruple unto me in that which I feared For then the order which I desired had bene made to prevent further occasion of offence seing that lay in their power to doe if the Answerer would have joyned with the Elders lovingly and freely therein and no other course could helpe me as the case now stood which the Answerer knew though the Elders and Deacons did not all of them see so farr into it Now seing this lay in them to doe and yet they did it not neither would the Answerer suffer it to be done how was this promise performed of doing what lay in them When I had spoken somewhat to shew the insufficiency of this order to secure me they againe prayed me to walke forth and after a shorter absence then before they sent for me to returne to them to heare what was added for perfecting that order which they wrote downe in these words And further we
purpose if any should at unawares bring such children whose parents are not members we shall desire and counsaile them by the Coster without absolute denyall to bring their children the next excercise following that in the meane time there may be conveniency of examination Vpon which Additionall I will noate some observations 1. That the Elders and Deacons did in effect revoke that testification which was last spoken of For by their adding of this to what was then done it appeared that themselves saw that the former order was not sufficient to safeguard me from the thing that I feared 2. That this Additionall is onely a declaration of their purpose but hath not the force of an order 3. That considering that they purposed onely to signifye so much privately to those persons who should at anytime so come and not to have it published that the wholl Church might take knowledge of it and that by the Coster a meane man whom they to whom he should speake would easily slight and his commission was only to desire and counsaile them which they would easily reject and aske him what he had to doe to counsaile them to deferr the baptising of their children In this case what could he answer but this J doe onely desire and counsail you but I may not absolutely deny you And how can such a course secure me Here againe the Answerer misreporteth my answer for he affirmeth that this would not content me unlesse there might have benean absolute denyall of Baptisme in such a case if intreaty would not serve But I made no such Answer neither is any such answer recorded in the Acts of that Consistory which I have purposely examined All that I stoode upon was that a firme order might be made in the Consistory to secure me from future trouble about that matter But this the Answerer would not permit to be done though it might have bene done without any offence to the Classis and with much content to the Church So that I have just cause to complaine of his want of brotherly moderation in this point what soever he seemed to yeeld which he knew was not sufficient to prevent the thing which I feared The following passage is an unjust reproach which I will passe by having answered to the substance of it formerly How unlawfull that practise is and how necessary it was that I should witnesse against it doth appeare in my Reply to his twelfth Section In Conclusion when the Elders prayed me to deferr my answer to another time the Answerer told me that when I should give myne answer if I did accept of this calling I must promise to rest in that is to conforme to the wrighting of the five Ministers Whereby it appeareth that not withstanding all these pretences of accommodation conformity to that wrighting which bound me to this disorder of promiscuous baptizing was first and last the condition whereupon my calling to that ministry must stand or fall and that the Answerer would have it so Thus that day passed Now though I had just cause of offence at these passages yet that it might appeare how much I was for peace and brotherly concord the next day of their meeting being the 15 of Feb. I came into the Consistory to give my answer which was that if a promise must be made by me to conforme to the judgment of those Ministers set downe as an order for me to rest in I could not doe it because the promise of doing any thing is a Confessiō that the thing is lawfull to be done which I doe not beleive to be so in this case yet because I much prized their loves and tendred their peace as I truely told them I was willing if they desired it to goe on in assisting the Answerer as I formerly had done for a convenient time to see if in the interim by a freindly acquainting my selfe with the Dutch Ministers I might be satisfyed about the lawfullnes of this custom whereunto my conformity was required or procure that this questiō might be layd downe might understand what those other orders customs of the Dutch Church are which I must observe more fully know the mēbers state of the English Church wherwith I should joyne In which motion I intended no intrusion which I have alwayes abhorred and was very farr from in that place but onely the peace and good of the Church This the Elders apprehended to be very reasonable desired that it might take effect but the Answerer was otherwise minded as it is in expresse words by the Elders recorded in the Acts of that Consistory His Answer to the 19. Section examined containing certaine Acts of the Classis after that my dissent and refusall of the call was knowne IN this Section we have the story of passages concerning this buisenes in three Classes and with the Magistrates But before I examine them it may be demanded why this matter was brought into the Classis seing I had in the Consistory declared my not accepting the call which was offered me upon those termes was it because the Consistory had not power to give me a convenient time for informing my selfe concerning the orders customs of the Dutch Church by consent amongst themselves without seeking to the Classis But I come to the particulars Concerning the first Classicall meeting fowre things are reported 1. their dislike of my change 2. Feb. 27. 28. 1634. their approbation of the five ministers wrighting 3. the deputation of diverse Ministers to goe to me 4. the persuasions which these deputyes used To the first The Reader in considering the former Sections will find that my judgment hath bene against this promiscuous baptizing which the Answerer required from the first to this instant without any change To the second 1. It it is not to be expected that they should reprove or dislike that wrighting which was framed in defence of their customs 2. If this be alleadged for the reproofe of my dissenting from them how easily can I reply that no Synod of these Churches alloweth them to require this of me but I will answer him as Augustine doeth an Arrian with whom he had to doe saying Neither may I alleadge the Councill of Nice nor thou the Councill of Ariminum Contr. Max. Arr Cap. 14 thereby to prejudice one another but by the Scriptures which are witnesses proper to neither but commō to boath matter with matter cause with cause reason with reason ought to be debated But neither the five ministers produced any ground from the Scripture to warrant their opinion or practise in this particular not the Classis to justifye their approbation and confirmation thereof To the third 1. That is more fitly called a command then a counsail wherein a man is bound to rest and that under such a paenalty 2. Three Dutch Ministers being deputed to speake with me desired to know what J disliked in that letter I answered them 1 that I disliked
thither This passage I would have passed by Reply if his frequent mentioning my name in the 25. and 26. Sections had not compelled me to examine it The cases wherein they complaine that he hath nedlesly waved the judgment of the Elders are three 1. concerning an order that should have bene made for my accommodation in the question about promiscuous administring Baptisme to all that are brought in that place Sect 25. 2. about be an agreement amongst the Elders that a convenient time should be given me to goe on in assisting the Answerer to see if in that time I could obtayne that this question might be layd aside and informe my selfe more fully concerning the orders and customs of the Dutch Church whereunto my conformity was required Sect 26. 3. Concerning his refusall to let Mr. Weld preach though he confessed he had nothing against him without consent of the Classis c. ibid. Whereby it appeareth that they doe not complaine of his seeking advise of neighbour ministers simply and absolutely but 1. in certaine cases there mentioned And therefore they doe not in their wrighting divide the one from the other into severall Sections for that is his owne contrivement but relate all together in one intire Sentence 2. the cases produced by them are such wherein the matter might have bene determined and concluded by the Eldership without violation of any order established in the government of those Churches 3. The matter was so carryed by him in this needles appeale to the Classis that their agreement was nullifyed These things being premised the insufficiency of his five answers in the 24. Section will be obvious to the indifferent Reader in particulars thus For the first His thincking that the Elders erre in their judgment in such cases as these in question is not a sufficient ground of an appeale as may appeare in reason For so no cause should be ended in their Consistory though the Elders unanimously consēt in their judgment if the Pastor differ from them out of an obstinate will without giving sufficient reason of his dissenting and then to what end are the meetings of the Eldership Whereas he calleth upon them to prove it by Scripture they may with better warrant require him to prove by Scripture the lawfullnes of such appeales in such cases for which they find no word commanding or approving them For the second Unlesse he can prove those agreements amongst the Elders to be sinnes and unfruitfull workes of darkenes he will be found guilty of a double sinne 1. that he opposed the Elders without just cause 2. that he misapplyeth Scripture to justifye his unjust opposition of them For the third It is granted that as Councills may erre so may Consistoryes much more easily and that all obedience aught to be in the Lord. But with all that the protesters against them aught to declare the aequity of their so doing from Scripture or good reason which hath not bene done by the Answerer For the fourth The pretended reason whereby the Answerer would justifye this Act taken from the very foundation of government and institution of diverse judicatories to take away disagreement strife controversies or different pleadings among men will not helpe him in the cases questioned unlesse he can prove 1. that the Classes are of the same use by Divine institution for the helpe of Pastors which have the assistance of their Eldership Deut. 1.12 with Cap. 17.8 whereof that judicatorye was for the helpe of Moses who was not able alone to beare the cumbrances and strifes of the people and of the Kings of Israel afterwards which they deny 2. that the causes in question which he carryed from the Consistory to the Classis 2. Chron. 19 8 9.10 are of the same nature with those causes betweene blood and blood betweene law and commandment statutes and judgments which were deferred to the Levites the Preists and cheife of the Fathers of Israel that men might be warned by them that they trespasse not against the Lord. This also they deny and may justly accuse him of misapplying the Scriptures noated by him in the margine 5. To the fifth It is true that the power of the Elders in government had not bene overthrowne by his bringing any matter unlawfully unto the Classis if it were the manner of the Classis in such cases to remitt the matter to the Consistory againe But what one instance can he produce in the particulars whereof they complaine or in any other case brought by him to them wherein the matter was remitted to the Consistory Why so It was not because the buisenesses were so weighty that it hath bene agreed in the Synods that they shall not be proceeded in without advise of the Classis nor because they concerned many Churches and therefore require the consent of all What then It was because the Elders could not satisfye him nor he them as he intimateth in the answer before But why was he not satisfyed Because he would not be satisfyed unlesse the matter might be carryed according to his will For no sufficient reason was given by him against it at that time So then if he will end a buisenes in the Consistory there it shall be ended but if he see that it will be carryed against his mind there it shall not be ended there but be taken out of their hands and carryed to the Classis where he knoweth how to bring his purpose about Thus he hath two strings to his bow But in the meane time is not the power of the Elders in governmēt overthrowne thereby Sect. 25. Jn the 25. Sect. they speake of an agreement amongst the Elders to make an order that those who were not mēbers of that Church should make themselves knowne to me Compl that I might be satisfyed concerning them before they should present their children to Baptisme in publick which they say would have ended that difference betweene us but he protested against it If this complaint be just is it not a greivance let us weigh his fowre answers to it Ans 1. He sayth there was no order made therefore they speake untrue and they know not what Reply Neither doe they say an order was made but it was agreed that one should be made What untruth is in this If any Is it not in his accusation 2. He sayth there is no evidence in theire Church booke that either the Elders had so agreed or that he had protested against it Nor doe they say it is recorded in the Church booke For how could it be recorded when it was never made and that by his hindring the making of it 3. He sayth If such an order had bene peremptorily resolved upon there had bene just reason for him to have protested against it seing the Consistory hath no power c. Travers de Discipl Ecelcs p. 121. But herein he opposeth Mr. Traverse who in his elaborate treatise de disciplinâ Ecclesiasticâ speaking of the
in the Church then in the Pope What that learned wrighter sayth of the Churches power in comparison with the Pope holds in all other paralell instances To these I may add those who have written concerning the right ordering of Churches according to the Scripture I will not stand to give a Catalogue of their names though I might be plentifull therein but will content my selfe with the three wrighters of this kind whom the Answerer pretended in conference with me to make for him and I shall shew them to be strongly against him Mr Cartwright and Mr. Fenner and Mr. Parker men of our owne nation Sect. 4. p. 53. 1. For Mr. Cartwright The very place in his booke whereunto the Answerer referred me I have examined before and have shewen how litle helpe he will have from him De Sacra Theol. lib. 7. p. 279. 2. For M. Fenner He speaking of the Ecclesiasticall presbytery distinguisheth betweene the Eldership of one particular Church which he sayth is properly called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Eldership of many Churches P. 277. 278. The Eldership of the first sort he sayth is a compound office wherein all the Elders doe in the name of the wholl Church administer all the buisenesses of the Church that is of the Lord by common authority and counsaile And for this purpose he alleadgeth many texts out of the old and new testaments These buisenesses he sayth are either judiciary or extrajudiciary Iudiciary buisenesses are such things as are to be defined by the judgment of the Church which are either matters doubtfull which must be defined by the Scriptures or censures to be administred Extrajudiciary buisenesses are Elections ordinations cheife care of disposing the holy treasures keeping of order in the assembly and all things which are to be done Yet in matters of greatest moment and which concerne the good or ruine of the wholl Church he sayth the Elders after consultation had among themselves must tell their opinions to the Church that if they have any thing to counsail or to object it may be brought in and afterwards the opinions and assent of all being declared matters are to be concluded unlesse it be necessary to referr the buisenes to a greater assembly of Elders for the avoyding or composing of differences which is then to be done when the difference is betweene the greater part of the Church And these matters of the greatest moment are the censures excommunication and absolution from it which is to be done in the assembly by the AUTHORITY OF THE WHOLE CHURCH orders also of the greatest moment to be made controversyes of fayth to be composed the elections and just deposing of Ministers other things aequall to these or greater then they all which must be thus transacted as he plentifully declareth from Scripture Thus I have faythfully translated the words of this eminent light in his time Mr. Dudley Fenner who was joyned with Mr. Cartwright in the publick ministry to the English Company in Antwerpe to whom and to that worke of his Mr. Cartwright in an epistle to him praefixed to that booke giveth a singular testimony comparing him to Moses who from Mount Nebo viewed the wholl land of Canaan as it were with one cast of his eye to whom the Answerer him selfe referred me wherein I admire his confidence as to one that made for him The Reader may see how he leaveth the wholl power of jurisdiction in the particular Church and bindeth them no further to make use of other Ecclesiasticall Senats out of themselves then necessity requireth and he doeth not acknowledge that it is a case of that necessity but when the avoyding of troubles and dissentions in the Church makes it necessary And when is that Not when one alone contentiously differeth from all the rest But when the difference is among the greater part And that in such a case the judgment of the wholl Church is first to be tryed and the opinions and assent of all being declared matters are to be concluded Idem ibid p. 280. Else where he sayth that the presbytery of many Churches is to compose and end such things onely as cannot be ended in particular Churches Act. 15.1 to 8. 2. Chron. 20.33 Act. 16.4 And these are cases either proper to those Churches which are brought to them or things common to many Churches and so taken up by them I demand of the Answerer whether he be of this worthy wrighters judgment or not If not why did he referr me to him for satisfaction If yea why is his practise so different from it For in this buisenes though of so great consequence that it indangered the breaking of the Church if I had not sat downe quietly and suffered wrong for peace sake the Answerer alone opposing the desire of the Elders and of the greater part of the Church and the buisenes being proper to the Church and which might have bene ended among themselves yet against the liberty and right of the Church if Mr. Fenners judgement be right he would carry it to the Classis that he might effect his purpose De polit Eccles lib. 3. Chap. 1. 3. For Mr. Parker He largely and strongly proveth this position potestas Ecclesiastica essentialiter primario in ipsâ Fcclâ—siâ tanquam in subjecto proprio residet The power ecclesiasticall doeth essentially primarily reside in the Church it selfe as in its proper subject The sense wherein he thus spake to prevent all suspicion of his pleading for popular confusion he declareth out of Zanchy who sayth Zanch in praecept 4. quest 3. toti Ecclesiae dedisse Christum claves sed ita ut in Ecclesiâ certi essent qui clavibus utantur ad salutem Ecclesiae honoremque Dei That Christ gave the keyes to the wholl Church but so that there should be certaine men that should use the keyes to the good of the Church and glory of God For the proofe of the former that the right of power is in every particular Church he useth five Arguments in the 6 7. chapters then in the 8. chapter he cometh to speak of the excercise and ordinary execution of this power which is he sayth in the Church-officers or rulers yet with this moderation that this dispensation of the Churches power in the officers be according to a well tempered forme partly Aristocraticall partly Democraticall the Church committing those things to the presbytery which it can not commodiously performe by it selfe and retaining that excercise of power which belongs to the dignity authority and liberty which it hath received from Christ Thus he wholy destroyeth that democraty or popular Anarchy which Beza justly condemneth in Morellius and is by some unjustly imputed to those that plead for a due reformation of Churches according to the rules of the word and the primitive patternes Of the first sort of things which the Church committeth to the Rulers because it cannot commodiously performe them by
initio vitiosum est non potest tractu temporis convalescere much more will it hold in the Church in such a case as that unwarrantable custom of promiscuous baptising Sect. 12. which I have proved to be unlawfull in Sect. 12. Secondly Seing nothing hath bene said by the Answerer in defence of the proceeding of the Classis in answer to their complaint of their excercising an undue power in this particular let us now see if he answer sufficiently in his owne defence wherein we will with Gods helpe examine what he sayth in answer 1. to the generall charge 2. to the proofes of it First The generall charge is that he hath given them this undue power Hereunto he pretendeth to make five Answers 1. He sayth it is untrue He onely sayth so but doeth not shew it to be untrue by declaring that either the Scriptures or the Nationall Synods or the Church or good reason hath given it them And so seemeth to be content that the suspicion of usurping may lye upon the wholl Classis rather then he should be suspected to have given it them But he will not so evade if what was replyed to the same answer in the foregoing Section be considered and applyed to this also 2. In his second answer he seemeth so to deny his giving them this undue power as withall secretly to confesse that he gave them counsaile to use this power which he hath not proved to be due That it is undue hath bene proved already and that it being so he hath not behaved himselfe as a pastor in the government of the Church in counsailing them to use an undue power over his Church needs no proofe at all the thing done being sufficient evidence against him 3. His third answer is a mere retortion of the complaint upon the Complainants and a recrimination of them for allowing the Consistory to make orders lawes thereupon he demandeth can this power of making lawes and orders be lawfull and due in a Consistory and yet an undue power in the Classis Are they not condemned of themselves For answer hereunto it must be understood 1 That orders and lawes are ill confounded by the Answerer They may make orders who have no power of making lawes So Iunius distinguisheth them fitly Praelatorum non est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sive mandata dare non praecepta sed ordinationes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ecclesiasticall Governours may give orders not lawes not commands not praecepts Else where he sayth the Fathers called them more fitly Canons because a Canon serveth to direct agentem volùntariè one that acteth voluntarily whereas a law necessitate etiam cogit in voluntarium compelleth a man against his will Chameâ—â—â— also expresseth himselfe acutely to the same purpose De ecclesiâ p. 367. 368. saying that the determinatioÌ„s of Churches are more fitly called admonitions and exhortations then lawes and that when they agree with the word they are admonitions in respect of the Church but lawes in respect of God onely to wit because the Church commendeth that which God hath commanded and that which the Church so commendeth is the word of God 2. That all mistake may be prevented the two extremes avoyded of tyranny by ascribing too much power to the Church and of dissolute libertinisme and Anabaptisme by denying its due power in this particular we will declare what authority the Church hath about lawes and orders by distinguishing betweene lawes already made Luke 10.16 Mat 18.17 1 Cor. 4.21 and lawes to be made In the first we grant that Church governours have great authority and power to wit of providing that men yeeld due obedience to all Gods lawes and ordinances which they are to commend and declare to the Church and to exact their obedience thereunto And indeed this is the very end of all Ecclesiasticall authority Rom. 1.5 and 15.18 So that herein they have more power then of admonishing and exhorting and reproving onely they have the power of censuring and thereby of compelling the severall members to their duety and of seeing that all things be done in the house of God decently and in order 1 Cor. 14.40 In this sense I conceive the order to be made in the Consistory is to be understood the things thereby ordered being no other then that rule of having all holy administrations performed decently and in order requireth And being so understood it doeth not at all patronize that undue power of the Classis 1. Because the Church hath that power in her owne matters which the Classis hath not 2. Because this was but an order for my accommodation in my voluntary obedience of the word warranted by the rule but the contrary made by them is a law for the establishing of an evill custom not warranted by the word and to compell me against my will to the observance of it As for the second The things about which lawes are made are either necessary or indifferent Things necessary are things coÌ„manded or forbidden in the Scripture And they are necessary either absolutely or in some considerable respect Things absolutely necessary to godlines are so constituted in the Scripture that no place is left for the impositions of any new law givers About things necessary in some considerable respect Churchgovernours have power to give order as did the Synod at Ierusalem touching those things which they called necessary Act. 15.28 viz necessary during the time of the offence of the Iew which was necessary to be avoyded Hereunto also serveth that rule Let all things be done decently and in order Cor. 14.40 but the rule of that decency must be not the will and pleasure of men but the light of nature Scripture or warrantable custom For so it was in the instances given in that chapter as for men to pray with long hayre woemen bare-headed in those Easterne countryes and for woemen to speake in the Congregation and for many men to speake at once Things indifferent are such as being neyther commanded nor forbidden in the Scripture may be variously permitted or prohibited according to various circumstances And they are eyther improperly or properly so called Things improperly called indifferent are things not necessary but onely expedient in some respect In such cases Churchgovernours have power to declare the decency and expediency of them yea and to advise and perswade the practise thereof but not by standing lawes to bind the people thereunto As the Apostle gave his judgmeÌ„t 1. Cor. 7.25.40 advise coÌ„cerning single life in time of the Churches distresse yea and perswaded to it for avoyding trouble in the flesh vers 26.28 but would not bind them to it neither in point of conscience nor of outward practise as having no commandment from the Lord vers 25. and sayth that such a commandment had bene a snare vers 35. And herein the power of Churchgovernours falleth short of the authority of civill Magistrates who may in civill matters make standing
speciall freind of myne c. the Dutch Ministers came to his house and made that wrighting That Reverend Dutch ministers love and paines I acknowledge with all thanckfullnes and am sorry that a learned and godly Brother of another Nation should shew himselfe more desirous of myne accommodation then myne owne countryman from whom in many respects I had cause to expect more favour and love then from forraigners especially seing their labour proved no more succesfull thorough the violence of a contrary streame of which enough hath bene said in former Sections His fourth answer chargeth me with untruth in my wrighting to the Classis that at his request alone they did in wrighting declare their private judgment But why did he not at least more roundly deny it if it be untrue For it may be true notwithstanding any thing sayd by him to the contrary For why might not that Minister propound it to the rest being thereunto prepared by the Answerers private intimations or intreaty But suppose the Minister propounded it of his owne accord yet what I wrote is true in the sense wherein I meant it For I spake of the Answerer alone not in reference to the Ministers of the Classis but in reference to the Elders of his owne Church and in this sense it is true that the Answerer considered with the Elders and the Church did alone propound it the motion came not from the Elders but from him onely in that sense But what is this to the order which he required the Elders to make in the Consistory which is the matter in question Is this a fit place to speake of passages betweene the five Ministers him when the Complainants charge him with seeking to make an injurious order in the Consistory Had not the twelfth Section bene a fitter place for this matter where it is purposely spoken of But I forbeare to gesse at the reason hereof Whereas he addeth if he had bene the onely secker thereof there is no cause for them that meane to deale uprightly to complaine of such a lawfull safe course I need not to add any thing in way of Reply thereunto having already said enough in the foregoing Sections to prove that that course was neither safe nor lawfull His fifth answer is a mere catching at an advantage which one expression in their wrighting seemeth to give him I say seemeth for it doeth it not really They say that they thinck no godly man will absolutely be bound to conforme to that wrighting To let passe his unworthy scoffes he accuseth them of a rash and praesumptious judgment for saying so whereas 1. they professe onely that they thinck so Now every thought though it may be rash is not to be accounted a praesumptious judgement 2. they doe not speake of suffering themselves to be bound to such a wrighting but of being absolutely bound to conforme to it And there is a great difference betweene those two expressions 3. My name is altogether needlesly brought in here as the Reader may well perceive But I passe it by But is his seeking to have that order made in the Consistory to bind all Ministers that shall be called in that Church proved to be lawfull and for the good of the Church by this or by any thing else he hath sayd in the 5 pretended answers If not It appeareth that no satisfaction is given to the Complainants by his answers And so their second proofe of his subjecting the Church under an undue power of the Classis which they produce for an evidence of his not behaving himselfe as he aught in his pastorall government remayneth unanswered Sect. 30. examined concerning the Answerers violent bringing matters into the Classis when he cannot have his will unjustly satisfyed in the Consistory IN this Section they produce the third proofe of the justnes of their complaint of his subjecting the Church under an undue power of the Classis to wit his violent bringing of matters to the Classis when he cannot have his will unjustly satisfyed Which complaint they agravate by the dangerous consequent or rather effect of it for they say he destroyes the power of the Church utterly often affirming they can doe nothing in these cases without the Classis And to prevent an objection against themselves about what they had said concerning the undue power of the Classis they professe their reverent esteeme of them for counsail advise in all difficult matters that cannot be ended in theire owne Consistory That what is said on boath sides concerning this matter may the more easily and clearely be understood these things must be premised 1. that they doe not complaine of his taking advise and counsail of the Classis in difficult matters For therein they say they esteeme reverently of them 2. Nor that they bring such matters to the Classis as cannot be ended in their owne Consistory But the thing they complaine of is 1. that he bringeth such things to the Classis as may be ended in the Consistory 2. that he doeth it violently that is without consent of the rest 3. that his principall motive or inducement thereunto is the satisfaction of his owne will 4. That he doeth it under a pretence that the Church can doe nothing in such matters to wit as those in question the making of an order for a decent and orderly performance of a Religious duety in a right administration of baptisme and the chusing of their owne Pastors when they pitch upon men abhorring all haeresy and schysme c. and craving the helpe of an assistant for a time in the Churches necessity which they truely say is a destroying of the power of the Church Now let us see his answers hereunto which are fixe 1. His first answer is It is no act of violence but a refuge against violence to refer those things to the Classis which men conceive to be unjustly done or delayed in the Consistory Reply Violence is either opposed to that which is just or to that which is voluntary In their complaint the sense seemeth carry it to boath and so that is violently done which is done both unjustly and without consent That he did it without consent the Answerer acknowledgeth but denyeth that he did it unjustly and retorteth the imputation of violence and injustice upon them either for doing or delaying some thing in the Consistory unjustly He is now become an accuser of them and plaintiffe and therefore according to his owne rule is to bring proofe If he say they did unjustly in making orders about such matters without the consent of the Classis let him shew what rule is transgressed thereby This he should have done before he had taken the matter out of their hands and carryed it into the Classis that they might have bene convinced of the aequity of his so doing If he can not Let him beare the just blame of slandering the Cōsistory in print and of depriving the Church of her due
that wrighting would have bound me The second way of defining he denyeth to belong to any Councill and affirmeth that it appertayneth onely to God and to Christ and to the Holy Ghost Here I might be large in alleadging wrighters of the most eminent noate affirming the like and the same for substance with me in this matter and many of them expressing their judgments in the same words But these shall suffice till a further provocation Afterwards the Answerer demandeth whether no truth be uttered or described by men in our times whereunto the consent of men may be required But what is this to the matter in question Had they declared it to be a truth I was ready to have testifyed my consent with them in it But that they did not nor hath he done it in all this taedious discourse So that this is to argue ex non concessis from that which is not granted Or will he say that because every truth uttered by men must be consented to therefore we are bound to consent to every thing which men shall utter And to as litle purpose is that which he alleadgeth concerning the subscription which the Reformed Churches require to their confessions of fayth Whereas the matter in question is not comprehended in any Article of those Confessions and out of those very Confessions we doe dispute against it But was not the Answerer driven farr and put hard to his shifts when to make some shew of answer he demanded how I could subscribe my name to my owne wrighting sent to the Classis to shew my consent to it and whether I did thereby make my selfe an Apostle or my wrighting aequall to the word of God To let passe his improper calling it my consent to my owne wrighting my subscription to it was not in reference to my selfe but to the word of God whereunto it is consonant and it testyfyed unto them my persuasion that it agreed therewith but what is this to the subscription which they required to injunctions and praescriptions which were not declared to agree with the Scripture either in that wrighting which they sent or in any conference they had with me though I told them that unicum Argumentum c. Any one Argument from the word should prevayle with me and that besides other times once in the hearing of some of the Elders and others But will it follow that because a man upon persuasion of the truth may subscribe to other mens wrightings or to his owne that therefore he may subscribe to those wrightings concerning the truth whereof he is not persuaded Whilest he was wrighting these things a secret Monitour from within suggested to him that all humane judicatoryes are subject to errour and that when that errour is shewed by the word of God it aught to be corrected But if the question be who may judge of this errour and shew it them Here his answer is defective He sayth one Synod often reformeth that which hath bene decreed by another This sheweth indeed that Synods are subject to errour And doe they not therefore erre because they fetched not their definitions and praescriptions from the Scriptures And is it not the best way for rectifying them to reduce them to that rule And how shall this be done but by the course which those Noble Beraeans tooke by comparing them with Act. 17.11 and examining them by the Scriptures And to whom doeth this belong Indeed the publick Ministeriall power of judging in such cases belongeth to Synods or Councills themselves But the private judgment which Divines call the judgment of practicall discretion belongeth to every Christian So that no man is bound absolutely to submit to or to rest in the judgment of any man or Councill but to trye them by the Scripture and to consent with them no further then they appeare to consent with that rule This the Scriptures abundantly declare Mat. 24.4 1. Thess 5.21 1. Ioh. 4.1 Gal. 1.8 Mat. 23.8 when they command all Christians to beware of Seducers to trye all things to trye the spirits Also when they are called upon to receive the word of Christ onely as their onely Master And to deny men the use of their private judgment in things taught them by their Pastors or injoyned and praescribed by Classes or Synods what is it else but to deprive man of his reason mans understanding of its end which is to search find out the truth yea to deprive Christians of the fruite of their fayth and supernaturall illumination and of the spirit of Revelation 1 Cor 14.20 Eph 4.14 Euseb li. 5. C 12. Or at least to make those of riper yeares to be alwayes as Children in understanding This were to revive the haeresy of Apelles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that people aught not accurately to weigh and examine what is propounded to them Hieron in proem ad Gal from which Ierom was so farr that he much commended Marcella a good woman in Rome for this that she wherever she met him would be putting good questions to him and received his answers not as Pythagoras his schollers did his sayings or as the Answerer would have had me to rest in the judgment of the five Ministers but she examined and weighed all things so that he thought himselfe to have non tam discipulam quam judicem not so much a scholler as a judge and as he allowed a good woman this liberty in trying the wordes of a learned and godly Teather so Hylary giveth the same liberty to all private Christians in examining the decrees of Councells Hylar de Synod adv Arrian Si contraria invicem senserint Concilia debemus quasi judices probare meliora If Councills or Synods differ in their determinations we aught as judges of our owne actions to approve of that which is better Whereas he addeth Yet doeth not this take away their authority for the judging and deciding of controversies For by such reasoning they might take away all government and bring in confusion I grant that it taketh away no due subordinate Ministeriall authority frō them but a supreme Praetorian or Magisteriall authority as that is when they bind men to rest in their determinations without convincing them that they are according to the mind of God in the Scriptures or so much as declaring to them sufficient ground out of the word for their so doing And so to doe is not to take away all or any government but tyranny nor to bring in confusion but to prevent it and to establish order Whereas he addeth that by these and such like injurious speeches they doe exceedingly gratifye many sorts of Libertines Arrians Socinians and other haereticks c. What injury is it to witnesse against undue power which is a testifying against injury And how can the Libertines Arrians c. be gratifyed by pleading against that undue power which is excercised in upholding that disorder of promiscuous baptising which serveth to strengthen
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