2. Yet, when it may serve for a staff, wherewith to beat the Complainants, he addeth thus much. His great unfitness is their great slander, that avouch it, unless they could prove it.] Neither himself nor they will be ever able to prove Mr. B. unfit for that Church, but both he and they might have blessed God, with much thankfulness, for such a mercy, if they had enjoyed him. And certainly it will be found worthy to be called a great slander, if any shall impute great unfitness to him. The place where he hath diverse years executed his pastoral function, constantly, painfully, profitably and with good acceptance, is incomparably before Amsterdam, both in the eminency of the Auditors, and in their ability to judge of his sufficiency: the deserved approbation of him, and affection to him so frequently expressed, on all fitting occasions, by all sorts of hearers, both resorting thither, and residing there, are in stead of letters of recommendation, to stop the mouths of any that shall mussitate or whisper any such disparaging intimations, and to convince them of great slander. But now the question will be, at whose door the slander must be laid? For the Complainants refuse to father it, and do retort the accusation of a great slander upon the Answerer himself, and profess the great unfitness, which they meant, was intended by them concerning others, partly, in respect of the language, and they name several men against whom they except in that respect, whom they could not well understand, through some defect of the English tongue, or their manner of pronouncing it▪ partly; in respect of years, or experience ⟨p. 95⟩for such a work, whereof some other instances are alleged by them. But of both these insufficiencies they acquit Mr. Balmford, and blame the Answerer that he hath so needlessly brought him, by name, upon the stage, whilst he concealeth the names of the other two, and wholly hideth others, whom they can name. Also, they say, some were desired by him, whom they could not think fit for them, in respect of their relations, and engagements to other Churches, which would suffer much by the loss of them, though, in other respects, they accounted them fit.
2. Yet, when it may serve for a staffe, wherewith to beate the Complainants, he addeth thus much. His great unfitnes is theyre great slander, that avouch it, unles they could prove it.] Neither himselfe nor they will be ever able to prove Mr. B. unfit for that Church, but both he and they might have blessed God, with much thanckfullnes, for such a mercy, if they had injoyed him. And certainely it will be found worthy to be called a great slander, if any shall impute great unfitnes to him. The place where he hath diverse yeares executed his pastorall function, constantly, painfully, proffitably and with good acceptance, is incomparably before Amsterdam, both in the eminency of the Auditours, and in theyre ability to judge of his sufficiency: the deserved approbation of him, and affection to him so frequently expressed, on all fitting occasions, by all sorts of hearers, both resorting thither, and residing there, are in stead of letters of recommondation, to stop the mouths of any that shall mussitate or whisper any such disparadging intimations, and to convince them of great slander. But now the question will be, at whose dore the slander must be layd? For the Complainants refuse to father it, and doe retort the accusation of a great slander upon the Answerer himselfe, and professe the great unfitnes, which they meant, was intended by them concerning others, partly, in respect of the language, and they name severall men against whom they except in that respect, whom they could not wel understand, through some defect of the English tongue, or theyre manner of pronouncing it▪ partly; in respect of yeares, or experience ⟨p. 95⟩for such a worke, whereof some other instances are alleadged by them. But of boath these insufficiencyes they acquit Mr. Balmford, and blame the Answerer that he hath so needlesly brought him, by name, upon the stage, whilest he coneealeth the names of the other two, and wholly hideth others, whom they can name. Also, they say, some were desired by him, whom they could not thinck fit for them, in respect of theyre relations, and ingagements to other Churches, which would suffer much by the losse of them, though, in other respects, they accounted them fit.
