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…

As for me; what reproaches soever I sustain, I hope the spirit of understanding and counsel, and the fear of the Lord will so guide me, that I shall not, by returning rebuke for rebuke, ¹give just cause of suspicion that I am overcome of evil. But such a necessity is now laid upon me, that I may say, with Augustine, Cogimur non tacere, cum potius expediat flere quam aliquid dicere. I am constrained to wright, though (in some respects) it were more expedient to weep then to say any thing. My desire is to make a modest defence of the truth, and of mine own innocency, without injuring or irritating any body. Wherein I purpose to propound to my self excellent patterns, whom I wish the Answerer also had imitated, such as Basil and Nazianzen,² whose spirits were so sweetly composed in a difference between them, that notwithstanding it, they gave due respect each to other, Basil calling Nazianzen. Vas electionis, puteum profundum, os Christi, An elect vessel, a deep well, the mouth of Christ, and Nazianzen winding up his invention to the highest strain in Basils praise, as appeareth in an oration made by him for that purpose, though he note an unkindness ⟨image 6⟩received from him, which he could not well digest. In like manner Augustine differed from Cyprian about rebaptization, yet he doth not reproach him, but excuseth his error rather,³ saying, nondum erat diligenter ista baptismi questio pertractata. That question about baptism had not been diligently discussed unto that time, and honoureth his name with excellent titles. Beatus Cyprianus, vigilantissimus Episcopus, gloriosissimus Martyr. Blessed Cyprian, a most vigilant Bishop, a most glorious Martyr. And, comparing Cyprian, & Stephanus,⁴ & Donatus together, in their different carriage about that question, he did not reproach Cyprian as schismatically affected, but showed that both Cyprian and Stephanus and those that adhered to them preserved unity each with other,⁵ and did not, as Donatus, separate from the Church for that cause; and for himself, he professed (howsoever he held as he did touching the Baptism of John) se non acturum pugnaciter &c. that he would not quarrel those that held otherwise. In latter times Beza showed the same spirit towards Bullinger and Gualter;