A19884:120
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…
An apologetical reply to a book called an answer to the unjust complaint of VV.B. Also an answer to Mr. I.D. touching his report of some passages. His allegation of Scriptures against the baptising of some kind of infants. His protestation about the publishing of his writings. By John Davenport BD.An apologeticall reply to a booke called an ansvver to the unjust complaint of VV.B. Also an answer to Mr. I.D. touching his report of some passages. His allegation of Scriptures against the baptising of some kind of infants. His protestation about the publishing of his wrightings. By Iohn Davenporte BD.
Rotterdam: printed by Isaac van Waesberghe, 1636Rotterdam: printed by Isaack van Waesberghe, 1636
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
To the unjust complaint.] 1A complaint is a sorrowful declaration of the thing that grieveth a man. Thus to do is not (in it self simply considered) unjust, it being founded in a principle of natural equity, allowed and warranted by all laws Divine and human. So then, to complain of injuries is not unjust: unless it be, §1First, without just cause; as when the plaintiff cannot prove the charge to be true. Thus those Jews unjustly laid many grievous complaints against Paul, 2which they could not prove. or, §2Secondly, unless the complaint be made to those, to whom, by right, the cognisance of the cause belongeth not; as when a man goeth about as a talebearer revealing secrets, 3whether it be done in way of whispering or of backbiting. or, §3Thirdly, when it is done with an evil intent, more for the hurt of the party than for the redress of the grievance: as when Doeg the Edomite came & told Saul & said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech; 4to ⟨p. 4⟩incense Saul against Ahimelech and David, as if they conspired against the King. In which respect David truly said of him: thou lovest evil more than good, 5& lying rather then to speak righteousness. or, §4lastly, when the complaint stretcheth the injury by many exaggerations beyond and above the nature of it and maketh it seem more heinous & worse then it is;6 as, when every infirmity is made a scandal, & every offence a crime, & every petite error a wickedness; as Tully chargeth Tubero in the case of Ligarius.