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…

The seventh Section examined, whereunto this title is prefixed, The story of some proceedings about the calling of Mr. D.

The seaventh Section examined, whereunto this title is praefixed, The story of some proceedings about the calling of Mr. D.

1. Except.] That he saith, the things here declared have been occasion of the strife raised up in this place,] This I except against, as it is indefinitely expressed. For it may be universally understood, as if those things had occasioned all the strife, and in that sense it is untrue. For there hath been great strife raised up amongst them, about the rejecting of other men (whom I prefer above my self) before my name was mentioned amongst them, which is not yet ended, as appeareth in the complaints. 2. I affirm, that, whosoever hath been the occasion; his unjust opposition against the men, whom the Church hath justly desired, hath been the cause of the strife in this place.

1. Except.] That he sayth, the things here declared have bene occasion of the strife raysed up in this place,] This I except against, as it is indefinitely expressed. For it may be universally understood, as if those things had occasioned all the strife, and in that sense it is untrue. For there hath bene great strife raysed up amongst them, about the rejecting of other men (whom I praefer above my selfe) before my name was mentioned amongst them, which is not yet ended, as appeareth in the complaints. 2. I affirme, that, whosoever hath bene the occasion; his unjust opposition against the men, whom the Church hath justly desired, hath bene the cause of the strife in this place.

2. Except.] That he saith. Whilst I was busy in writing, &c. another complaint is written against me, and secretly dispersed amongst our people.] My exception against this expression is double. 1. That he calleth it my complaint, which title I do not give it, nor is it proper, it being rather an account, then a complaint, being intended for their satisfaction, who desired to know the ⟨p. 99⟩trueth of passages, not for redress of injuries, which I suffer, without expectation of help from any man. 2. that he blameth the secret dispersing of it: whereas he should rather acknowledge my tender care of his reputation, who would not have it divulged, though for mine own clearing, further then it was necessary, for the rectifying of their understanding and judgment, who had been prejudiced against me, by his misinformations▪ And, if this were a fault in me, yet he hath cause to lay his hand upon his mouth, who not only compelled me to do it, but himself sent a larger writing, without any provocation from me, to a partial friend of his, Mr. B. at Newburgh in England, which was, no doubt, by him secretly dispersed, where it pleased him.

2. Except.] That he sayth. Whilest I was buisy in wrighting, &c. another complaint is written against me, and secretly dispersed amongst our people.] My exception against this expression is double. 1. That he calleth it my complaint, which title I doe not give it, nor is it proper, it being rather an account, then a complaint, being intended for theyr satisfaction, who desired to know the ⟨p. 99⟩trueth of passages, not for redresse of injuries, which I suffer, without expectation of helpe from any man. 2. that he blameth the secret dispersing of it: whereas he should rather acknowledge my tender care of his reputation, who would not have it divulged, though for myne owne clearing, further then it was necessary, for the rectifying of theyre understanding and judgment, who had bene praejudiced against me, by his misinformations▪ And, if this were a fault in me, yet he hath cause to lay his hand upon his mouth, who not only compelled me to doe it, but himselfe sent a larger wrighting, without any provocation from me, to a partiall freind of his, Mr. B. at Newburgh in England, which was, no doubt, by him secretly dispersed, where it pleased him.

3. Except.] That he saith. I have dealt very injuriously with him, not only in reporting many things, but in sundry inferences, &c.] this is a trick of policy, to prepossess his credulous Reader with a forestalled opinion, & prejudice against what I wright, but the wise-hearted will compare the Reply with the answer in every Section impartially, and so judge righteous judgment.

3. Except.] That he sayth. I have dealt very injuriously with him, not only in reporting many things, but in sundry inferences, &c.] this is a trick of policy, to praepossesse his credulous Reader with a forestalled opinion, & praejudice against what I wright, but the wise-hearted will compare the Reply with the answer in every Section impartially, and so judge righteous judgment.

4. Except.] That he saith, most of my complaints are, for substance, the very same that these Complainants have framed, as if the same pen had written both;] As if he would intimate that I am the author of those complaints; whereas I am persuaded, that, in his own heart, he doth acquit me thereof, both in observation of some passages in that writing, which any man may conceive not to be penned by me, and, upon his strict examination of some of the Subscribers, and of those. 3. whom he exempteth from the number of Subscribers (having, as he saith, acknowledged their fault therein) by whom, if he could have understood that I had been guilty, the Reader should have found it, I believe, either in great letters, or in some remarkable marginal note, expressed and aggravated to the uttermost: yet he so framed his answer to theirs, as if the whole book were an answer to me only, whereas my writing was in some of their hands, a good space of time, before theirs was framed: whence all, that can probably be inferred, is, that they received ⟨p. 100⟩some information about things that concerned my self, from thence, or from my own words. And whatsoever more is inferred from thence is to be returned back to his own needless jealousy, from whence it came.

4. Except.] That he sayth, most of my complaints are, for substance, the very same that these Complainants have framed, as if the same pen had written both;] As if he would intimate that I am the authour of those complaints; whereas I am perswaded, that, in his owne heart, he doth acquit me thereof, both in observation of some passages in that wrighting, which any man may conceive not to be penned by me, and, upon his strict examination of some of the Subscribers, and of those. 3. whom he exempteth from the number of Subscribers (having, as he sayth, acknowledged theire fault therein) by whom, if he could have understood that I had bene guilty, the Reader should have found it, I beleive, either in great letters, or in some remarkeable marginall noate, expressed and aggravated to the uttermust: yet he so framed his answer to theyres, as if the whole booke were an answer to me only, whereas my wrighting was in some of theyre hands, a good space of time, before theyres was framed: whence all, that can probably be inferred, is, that they recieved ⟨p. 100⟩some information about things that concerned my selfe, from thence, or from my owne words. And whatsoever more is inferred from thence is to be returned back to his owne needlesse jealousy, from whence it came.

5. Except.] That he saith, Each of my threefold writing is stained with untruth, and matter of reproach.] but when he cometh to show it (that his Reader may be convinced hereof) he flieth off from two of the writings, at the first onset, which, for the present, he leaveth to the consideration of the Classis. Yet, that he may not seem to be wholly out of heart, he saith, He will so answer the third writing, as that he shall take them in by the way, &c. For me; he may freely take his choice, whether he will answer all, or none, and whether, in every particular, or in gross: but he had dealt more fairly, if he had forborne to pass his sentence, it being his work to give evidence, not sentence: but, it seemeth he durst not rest upon the equanimity of the Reader, who is now made his judge, but would condemn it, least else it might have passed altogether uncondemned.

5. Except.] That he sayth, Each of my threefold wrighting is stayned with untrueth, and matter of reproach.] but when he commeth to shew it (that his Reader may be convinced hereof) he flyeth off from two of the wrightings, at the first onset, which, for the present, he leaveth to the consideration of the Classis. Yet, that he may not seeme to be wholly out of heart, he sayth, He will so answer the third wrighting, as that he shall take them in by the way, &c. For me; he may freely take his choyse, whether he will answer all, or none, and whether, in every particular, or in grosse: but he had dealt more fairely, if he had forborne to passe his sentence, it being his worke to give evidence, not sentence: but, it seemeth he durst not rest upon the aequanimity of the Reader, who is now made his judge, but would condemne it, least else it might have passed altogether uncondemned.

And seeing he undertaketh to answer the third writing, in every particular, we shall (with Gods assistance) examine his answer, and the narration which he maketh of particulars touching my calling hither, with the issue thereof, which, if it be faithfully done, may give much light to help the Readers in judging righteously: else it will, like an ignis fatùus, mislead them from the trueth.

And seing he undertaketh to answer the third wrighting, in every particular, we shall (with Gods assistance) examine his answer, and the narration which he maketh of particulars touching my calling hither, with the issue thereof, which, if it be faythfully done, may give much light to helpe the Readers in judging righteously: else it will, like an ignis fatùus, misleade them from the trueth.

SECT. 8. Concerning my sending for out of England.

Ans. TO prove my sending for over to be disorderly, he saith in his printed book, that such as procured my coming out of England, did not, according to good order, communicate the matter with those, whom it specially concerned, who in all such weighty and ⟨p. 101⟩public affairs of the Church, should by their counsel and direction have gone before others therein. The same thing, in his letter sent to Newburgh, he expresseth thus, that, I, being sent for privately by a particular person, without his knowledge, and without advise and consent of their Eldership, came over before I was called.

Ans. TO prove my sending for over to be disorderly, he sayth in his printed booke, that such as procured my comming out of England, did not, according to good order, communicate the matter with those, whom it specially concerned, who in all such weighty and ⟨p. 101⟩publick affayres of the Church, should by theyre counsail and direction have gone before others therein. The same thing, in his letter sent to Nuburgh, he expresseth thus, that, I, being sent for privately by a particular person, without his knowledge, and without advise and consent of theyre Eldership, came over before I was called.

Reply. 1, My end in coming into these parts, was to serve the present opportunity, for a few months, in helping that Church with the fruits of my labours, in their extreme necessity, having preserved my liberty, not for love of ease, but for the works sake, (in hope that after some small time of absence, the displeasure conceived against me would be abated, and my return to mine own country be made more safe,) and not to be Pastor in Amsterdam, unless it should appear, by a very strong & clear call from the joint desire of Pastor and people, upon very safe and satisfying terms, that God, to whose disposal, I wholly committed my self, should design me to that place, as the only station wherein he would serve himself of me, the remainder of my days. In which case, my heart was prepared to obey his call, to any part of the world, and so there, and not otherwise. This being my purpose, as he that brought me over, and others can testify, I was content to come over for 3 or 4 months to help them. And other agreement or promise I made none. Now what need was there of any letters from the Eldership for so much?

Reply. 1, My end in comming into these parts, was to serve the present opportunity, for a few moneths, in helping that Church with the fruits of my labours, in their extreme necessity, having preserved my liberty, not for love of ease, but for the workes sake, (in hope that after some small time of absence, the displeasure conceived against me would be abated, and my returne to myne owne country be made more safe,) and not to be Pastor in Amsterdam, unlesse it should appeare, by a very strong & cleare call from the joynt desire of Pastor and people, upon very safe and satisfying termes, that God, to whose disposall, I wholly committed my selfe, should designe me to that place, as the only station wherein he would serve himselfe of me, the remaynder of my dayes. In which case, my heart was prepared to obey his call, to any part of the world, and so there, and not otherwise. This being my purpose, as he that brought me over, and others can testifye, I was content to come over for 3 or 4 moneths to helpe them. And other agreement or promise I made none. Now what need was there of any letters from the Eldership for so much?

2. If there had been any further purpose or agreement to come over by a private solicitation, without public order, yet in so doing, no good order was transgressed. Because it was agreed upon in the Consistory, that it should be free for every member of the Congregation to procure any able minister to come thither for the trial of his gifts: the reason of which agreement (as I can show under the Elders hands) was, that the Church should not be engaged unto any man, if his gifts should not be approved by the Congregation. So that the manner of my coming over was according to the order agreed upon amongst themselves.

2. If there had bene any further purpose or agreement to come over by a private sollicitation, without publick order, yet in so doing, no good order was transgressed. Because it was agreed upon in the Consistory, that it should be free for every member of the Congregation to procure any able minister to come thither for the tryall of his gifts: the reason of which agreement (as I can shew under the Elders hands) was, that the Church should not be ingaged unto any man, if his gifts should not be approved by the Congregation. So that the manner of my comming over was according to the order agreed upon amongst themselves.

3. I could add, if I thought it worth insisting upon, that my coming over was, not without his knowledge, nor without ⟨p. 102⟩the desire of the Eldership, though not signified by any public Act, nor was it requisite in this case, the premises being considered.

3. I could add, if I thought it worth insisting upon, that my comming over was, not without his knowledge, nor without ⟨p. 102⟩the desire of the Eldership, though not signifyed by any publick Act, nor was it requisite in this case, the premises being considered.

The Answer to the nineth Section examined, concerning my resigning of my pastoral charge in London.

The Answer to the nineth Section examined, concerning my resigning of my pastorall charge in London.