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…

And is there no difference between the Christian Corinthians going to Law amongst the Heathen (neglecting such means of composing differences as might be had in the Church) and these men seeking help from the Church for redress of the Church-grievances? That they had cause to complain, will appear in the reply to the Answerer, in the following Sections, and that, upon ⟨p. 20⟩such cause, in case of obstinacy, on his part, they had power to have proceeded further then they did, in that complaint, who knoweth not? The strange liberty that the Answerer taketh in misapplying the Scriptures alleged by him, upon this occasion, should be a matter of sorrow to the godly Reader, and of humiliation to himself.

And is there no difference betweene the Christian Corinthians going to Law amongst the Heathen (neglecting such meanes of composing differences as might be had in the Church) and these men seeking help from the Church for redresse of the Church-greivances? That they had cause to complaine, will appeare in the reply to the Answerer, in the following Sections, and that, upon ⟨p. 20⟩such cause, in case of obstinacy, on his part, they had power to have proceeded further then they did, in that complaint, who knoweth not? The strange liberty that the Answerer taketh in misapplying the Scriptures alleadged by him, upon this occasion, should be a matter of sorrow to the godly Reader, and of humiliation to himselfe.

¹That sweet name of Father, which the Answerer assumeth to himself (and it is due to him in respect of his office) should have caused an yearning of bowels in him towards his Children, that cried for milk, when the Nurses, whom they desired, were thrust out of doors. At least, when they cried for bread, he should not have given them a stone, and beat them instead of feeding them. Suppose the Children were froward; A little fatherly indulgence, in granting their desire (it not being for their hurt, but for their good) should have been used to still & quiet them. David would have rebellious Absalom gently entreated for his sake. But these did not conspire against their Father, as Absalom did: only, because their father was not the Lord, but Steward of the house, they complained that he denied the household that allowance of provision, which their heavenly Father afforded his family. But it may be, they did that too contentiously; It will not be found so, upon trial, no, not in this act of exhibiting their grievances in their own Consistory, if all the earnest entreaties, large offers for the poor, & other means used by them, for the obtaining of their desire, the necessity of the place, the inconvenience which already they felt in the so long want of one, the qualities of the men, of whom he deprived them, the insufficiency of the pretences; whereupon he did so, and their despair of being accommodated, to their content, be equally and judiciously considered. And, if the contention of Children be indeed grievous to his fatherly spirit, how easily might he have prevented it, by obeying that Apostolical Canon,