A19884:152
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.
As for Mr. D. he is guilty of nourishing contention in our Church.
Nourishing contention in the Church is the thing laid to my charge. An heinous offence, if the accusation be true, but, in him, a grievous slander, thus to reproach me in print, if it be false. I cannot but admire how he fell upon this accusation, to charge me with an evil so contrary to my disposition, and the practise of my whole life, especially, since my public employment in the Ministry. I was about seventeen years a preacher in London, and lived there almost ten years in a pastoral charge. There I had much converse with Ministers of differing judgments, and with people (almost of all conditions and degrees) of different affections, and ways, being employed, both in public occasions and private cases: Let this Answerer speak plainly (I challenge him before all men) whether he hath ever heard, by any credible report, that I have been, I say not, detected, but so much as rationally suspected of contentiousness, in mine own country? And is it probable, that change of air, should work such a change in my disposition,1 in so short a space, that, he, who was wont to be peaceable with all, and a peacemaker amongst many, should, in Holland, where he is but a stranger, and passant, become a nourisher of contention? But what have I done in Holland, that hath given occasion of this imputation? At my first coming, this Answerer, with the Elders, entreated me to help them in their extremity. I did it willingly, preaching twice every Lords-day, till he was able, and, after that, continued to assist him once a day, whilst he desired it. In that time, which was above 5 mouths, I applied my self to him with all love and respect, frequently visiting him, (without once receiving the same courtesy from him) and fashioning my outward comportment and behaviour so, that no difference might appear between ⟨p. 16⟩us, even when I had just cause of complaining. I began no question with him, that might occasion dispute, though I had as good reason to examine his judgement as he mine: when he pressed to know my judgment in any thing, I dealt ingenuously with him, and, if we differed, I examined his grounds impartially, as one that sought the truth, not contention; Yea sometimes I expressed my judgement obscurely, if I suspected a difference, to avoid offending him.