The heaviest Charge cometh last. A breach1 of Charity at least. To fail in Judgement or Discretion, may argue some weakness of brain; to fail in Charity argueth xmuch more, an evil mind. But let Mr. Bs. words here and else-where be well weighed, and peradventure they will give over-much ground of suspicion of some want of that in him, that he chargeth me here to have failed in. Mr. G. saith he, failed in Charity, because he confuteth me by Name, as I was certified, having had no conference with me by speech or writing, though I be his neighbour Minister. Not to insist much on by-matters; that Mr. B. is my neighbour Minister, is more than ever I heard before: that he is ymy neighbour and a Minister, it may well be; yet it is more than I knew, when I dealt in this point; nor do I yet know, where his place of abode is, save that himself of late hath told me, that I ⟨p. 9⟩go oft by his door; and so he may be termed my neighbour, yet in no very strict sense, as any other Inhabitant in the Borough of Southwark may. But to let that pass, if Mr. B. his meaning be that I confuted him by name in the Pulpit, as he charged me at first, and which I utterly deny; how will it stand with Charity or Conscience upon a bare report, which he saith else-where he dareth not rely on, and that a•ter better information acknowledged to have been given him, yet still so oft, and so peremptorily to charge me therewith, and with breach of Charity therein? If his meaning be that I have since that confuted, and do (the zletter of my Book still abiding) by name confute him, not in the Pulpit, but in print, because he saith in the present tense, he confuteth me by name, I deny it not, nor do I hold it any breach of Charity so to do. His Book is abroad under his Name, as well as mine is under mine: Nor is it any more a breach of Charity for me by Name so to confute him in the one, than it was in him by Name to control and oppose Peter Martyr in the other. But neither could this be any ground for Mr. B. then to judge me guilty of uncharitableness, when as yet it was not; nor could any certify him then of it, unless they knew more of my mind then, than I my self did; nor was it done before I had dealt with Mr. B. by writing, as himself in the next passage freely acknowledgeth. Mr. Bs.
The heauiest Charge commeth last. A breach1 of Charitie at least. To faile in Iudgement or Discretion, may argue some weaknesse of braine; to faile in Charitie argueth xmuch more, an euill minde. But let Mr. Bs. words here and else-where be well weighed, and peraduenture they will giue ouer-much ground of suspition of some want of that in him, that he chargeth me here to haue failed in. Mr. G. saith he, failed in Charitie, because he confuteth me by Name, as I was certified, hauing had no conference with me by speech or writing, though I be his neighbour Minister. Not to insist much on by-matters; that Mr. B. is my neighbour Minister, is more than euer I heard before: that he is ymy neighbour and a Minister, it may well be; yet it is more than I knew, when I dealt in this point; nor doe I yet know, where his place of abode is, saue that himselfe of late hath told me, that I ⟨p. 9⟩goe oft by his doore; and so he may be termed my neighbour, yet in no very strict sense, as any other Inhabitant in the Borough of Southwarke may. But to let that passe, if Mr. B. his meaning be that I confuted him by name in the Pulpit, as he charged me at first, and which I vtterly denie; how will it stand with Charitie or Conscience vpon a bare report, which he saith else-where he dareth not relie on, and that a•ter better information acknowledged to haue beene giuen him, yet still so oft, and so peremptorily to charge me therewith, and with breach of Charitie therein? If his meaning be that I haue since that confuted, and doe (the zletter of my Booke still abiding) by name confute him, not in the Pulpit, but in print, because he saith in the present tense, he confuteth me by name, I denie it not, nor doe I hold it any breach of Charitie so to doe. His Booke is abroad vnder his Name, as well as mine is vnder mine: Nor is it any more a breach of Charitie for me by Name so to confute him in the one, than it was in him by Name to controll and oppose Peter Martyr in the other. But neither could this be any ground for Mr. B. then to iudge me guilty of vncharitablenesse, when as yet it was not; nor could any certifie him then of it, vnlesse they knew more of my minde then, than I my selfe did; nor was it done before I had dealt with Mr. B. by writing, as himselfe in the next passage freely acknowledgeth. Mr. Bs.
- 1T. G.
- xIdeò imperitiam confiteri solemus, ut malitiae suspicionem vitemus. Hieron. adv. error. Joan. Hierosol.Ideò imperitiam confiteri solemus, ut malitiae suspicionem vitemus. Hieron. adv. error. Ioan. Hierosol.
- yA divisis ad conjuncta nulla est consecutio. Aristot. soph. elench. l. 2. c. 3.
- zVox audita perit: litera scripta manet.
