An apologetical reply to a book called an answer to the unjust complaint of…An apologeticall reply to a booke called an ansvver to the unjust complaint of…

How much these three requisites are to he wished for in this pretended answer, the wise hearted reader, I doubt not, seeth, with sorrow, and will more clearly, when he shall have compared this Reply, and it together, in all passages. In the mean time; however, in a large acceptation of the word (as Antwoorde, in dutch, is Ander woorden) this may be called an answer: Yet, in strict and accurate consideration of it, I cannot acknowledge ⟨p. 3⟩this to be an answer, but must say, that it will appear;¹ either to be less then an answer to the written complaints of •he members, and to my writing (if by answer he mean the disproving of particulars in them) for he doth not truly & punctually relate matters, but subtly evade the discovery of them: or else it is more then an answer to the printed pamphlet, if, by answer, he mean the revenge, or the requital of one ill turn with another. for, if the publishing of those complaints, in print, was an injury (as I freely professed it to be, in my protestation) yet he should not have answered it with contumely, and that against those, who are innocent of that fact, as all are, against whom he writeth (except. W. B.) so that instead of an answer to clear his innocency, the Reader shall find him endeavouring to repel a less injury, by doing a greater injury; as Diogenes would tread down Plato's pride, alio fastu. But amongst Christians these things ought not so to be: much less towards fellow servants and brethren, least of all from the Pastor towards his flock. Jesus Christ our Lord did not thus, nor his Disciples, nor those ancient believers, who, for his sake, were killed all the day long. my desire and purpose, in this Reply,² is to follow his example, who being reviled, reviled not again, when he suffered, threatened not, but committed it to him that judgeth righteously.

How much these three requisites are to he wished for in this pretended answer, the wise hearted reader, I doubt not, seeth, with sorrow, and will more clearly, when he shall have compared this Reply, and it together, in all passages. In the meane time; however, in a large acceptation of the word (as Antwoorde, in dutch, is Ander woorden) this may be called an answer: Yet, in strict and accurate consideration of it, I cannot acknowledge