Ans. To the third, that he denied the authority of Synods and Classes. 1. What Dr. Ames held touching the authority of Synods and Classes, Reply. we shall have time to examine, in the ensuing passages, wherein it will appear, I hope, that his opinion rightly understood can procure neither great, nor any confusion or disturbance of Churches. 2. whereas he pretendeth that his entertaining of Dr. Ames, in respect of this his opinion, would have been an occasion of Contention or Scandal; that the vanity of his suggestion may appear, let the Reader know, that Dr. Ames was minister of the English Church, at the Hague, where, whatsoever he held touching ⟨p. 79⟩this question, it occasioned no contention, nor scandal, neither to English, nor Dutch. Afterward, he was Professor at Franeker, where he continued twelve years: who ever heard of any contention or scandal, occasioned by his opinion, given to any there, all the time of his abode with them? The contrary whereof appeared by the great unwillingness of the Curateurs of that Academy to leave him, which the Answerer acknowledgeth,1 when it may serve (as he thinketh) to reflect blame upon the worthy Doctor. After this, he was called to Rotterdam, where God finished his course, to give him the Crown of righteousness. What contention, or scandal did his opinion, or practise, according to it, occasion there? But as in this so in many other passages in his book the Answerer hath often miscarried by an unwarrantable striving to praepossesse his credulous Reader with unjust prejudices against those, whom he praesenteth to common view as his opposites. I wish he may see his error therein, and amend it, for the future, and that, in the mean time, the judicious Reader may not be deluded thereby. 3. If the Answerer hath (as he saith) earnestly contested with Dr. Ames, ever since he was acquainted with him, and yet still he persisted in the same, it shows that Dr. Ames did not apprehend that strength and weight to be in his arguments, and allegations, as himself fancied. And all men know that the Dr. was sufficiently able to discover the strength, or weakness of an Argument.
Ans. To the third, that he denyed the authority of Synods and Classes. 1. What Dr. Ames held touching the authority of Synods and Classes, Reply. we shall have time to examine, in the insuing passages, wherein it will appeare, I hope, that his opinion rightly understood can procure neither great, nor any confusion or disturbance of Churches. 2. whereas he pretēdeth that his intertaining of Dr. Ames, in respect of this his opinion, would have bene an occasion of Contention or Scandall; that the vanity of his suggestion may appeare, let the Reader know, that Dr. Ames was minister of the English Church, at the Hague, where, whatsoever he held touching ⟨p. 79⟩this question, it occasioned no contention, nor scandall, neyther to English, nor Dutch. Afterward, he was Professor at Franeker, where he continued twelve yeares: who ever heard of any contention or scandall, occasioned by his opinion, given to any there, all the time of his abode with them? The contrary whereof appeared by the great unwillingnes of the Curateurs of that Academy to leave him, which the Answerer acknowledgeth,1 when it may serve (as he thincketh) to reflect blame upon the worthy Doctor. After this, he was called to Rotterdam, where God finished his course, to give him the Crowne of righteousnes. What contention, or scandall did his opinion, or practise, according to it, occasion there? But as in this so in many other passages in his booke the Answerer hath often miscarryed by an unwarrantable striving to praepossesse his credulous Reader with unjust praejudices against those, whom he praesenteth to common view as his opposites. I wish he may see his errour therein, and amend it, for the future, and that, in the meane time, the judicious Reader may not be deluded thereby. 3. If the Answerer hath (as he sayth) earnestly contested with Dr. Ames, ever since he was acquainted with him, and yet still he persisted in the same, it shewes that Dr. Ames did not apprehend that strength and weight to be in his arguments, and allegations, as himselfe fancyed. And all men know that the Dr. was sufficiently able to discover the strength, or weakenes of an Argument.
- 1Pag. 18.
