3. To the third, that they unjustly lay this complaint upon him.] Why so? Because, they say Mr. P. is the only cause. If that be the fault; let the expression be altered, and, in stead of the only cause, what if they say, the principal cause? will that please him? No: Mr. D. contradicteth them, in confessing the Classis to be so strong a cause thereof: But this is no contradiction to that saying, that he is the principal cause. For, the concurring of diverse causes to the producing of one effect, doth not destroy, but suppose a due subordination of causes; so that the effect may be ascribed to either properly, yet to the principal efficient primarily, and secondarily to the Instrument. As if one man cut another with a knife; it is truly said the knife cut him, or the man cut him: to the knife it is ascribed, but as to an instrument, to the man, as to the principal Agent. To apply this. I demand, who carried the matter to the Classis, and would accept no ways, which I propounded for private accommodation? The Answerer. Who held it in the Classis, when they were willing to have it ended in the Consistory, suspecting the Elders would carry the matter for me, and that the keeping of me out might not be imputed to himself? The Answerer. who intimated to some of them the danger of giving me liberty, in that point, when some of them inclined thereunto, telling them, it would encourage the Brownists, and it would make the contrary practise of their Church censured, and that it would ⟨p. 74⟩make their Church to be accounted as a sink, or common shore, to receive what the English Church refuseth, that he might irritate and incense them against me, in this point? Did not the Answerer?1 I conclude. If he was the cause moving them to it, the complaint may justly be laid upon him that he was the principal cause of it.
3. To the third, that they unjustly lay this complaint upon him.] Why so? Because, they say Mr. P. is the only cause. If that be the fault; let the expression be altered, and, in stead of the only cause, what if they say, the principall cause? will that please him? No: Mr. D. contradicteth them, in confessing the Classis to be so strong a cause thereof: But this is no contradiction to that saying, that he is the principall cause. For, the concurring of diverse causes to the producing of one effect, doth not destroy, but suppose a due subordination of causes; so that the effect may be ascribed to either properly, yet to the principall efficient primarily, and secondarily to the Instrument. As if one man cut another with a knife; it is truely sayd the knife cut him, or the man cut him: to the knife it is ascribed, but as to an instrument, to the man, as to the principall Agent. To apply this. I demand, who caryed the matter to the Classis, and would accept no wayes, which I propounded for private accommodation? The Answerer. Who held it in the Classis, when they were willing to have it ended in the Consistory, suspecting the Elders would carry the matter for me, and that the keeping of me out might not be imputed to himselfe? The Answerer. who intimated to some of them the danger of giving me liberty, in that point, when some of them inclined thereunto, telling them, it would encourage the Brownists, and it would make the contrary practise of theyre Church censured, and that it would ⟨p. 74⟩make their Church to be accounted as a sinck, or common shore, to receive what the English Church refuseth, that he might irritate and incense them against me, in this point? Did not the Answerer?1 I conclude. If he was the cause moving them to it, the complaint may justly be layed upon him that he was the principall cause of it.
- 1Causa causae est causa causati.
