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…

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.

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.

Three things are in this Section propounded by the Answerer, or pretended rather. 1. my not bringing with me an authentic testimony of my lawful dimission. Ans. 2. My resignation of my place. 3. His answer to my arguing from his preaching against that my resignation to prove that he never desired me, for his Colleague. Which particulars are now to be examined, and answered severally and briefly.

THree things are in this Section propounded by the Answerer, or pretended rather. 1. my not bringing with me an authentick testimony of my lawfull dimission. Ans. 2. My resignation of my place. 3. His answer to my arguing from his preaching against that my resignation to prove that he never desired me, for his Colleague. Which particulars are now to be examined, and answered severally and breifely.

Reply. 1. For the first.] That this is a mere pretence will appear, if three things be considered. 1. that he never required of me any such testimony: therefore, how doeth he know, that I wanted it? 2. If I had wanted a testimony; it is well known to himself, as well as to others, that I could soon have had one. 3. I did not want such a testimony as might satisfy any man, even Momus himself. One of the Ministers of the Classis, having read it, said it was testimonium laudatissimum. The Answerer intimateth that an ample testimony hath been formerly given to him in other places.¹

Reply. 1. For the first.] That this is a mere pretence will appeare, if three things be considered. 1. that he never required of me any such testimony: therefore, how doeth he know, that I wanted it? 2. If I had wanted a testimony; it is well knowne to himselfe, as well as to others, that I could soone have had one. 3. I did not want such a testimony as might satifye any man, even Momus himselfe. One of the Ministers of the Classis, having read it, sayd it was testimonium laudatissimum. The Answerer intimateth that an ample testimony hath bene formerly given to him in other places.¹

1. 1Pag. 17.3▪

How ample his testimony was, I know not: but that mine was honourable, and sufficient, appeareth by what hath been said.

How ample his testimony was, I know not: but that myne was honourable, and sufficient, appeareth by what hath bene sayd.

2. For the second.] seeing J am challenged thus in public, about the resignation of my pastoral charge in London, and called to the bar of common censure, to answer to that which my accuser objecteth against me, both here, and in other places of the book, concerning this matter, I pray the Reader equally to consider my defence, wherein. 1. I will speak something, in thesi, generally, concerning the lawfulness of that which he ⟨p. 103⟩seemeth to condemn. 2. I will add something, in hypothesi, for the justifying of what I have done in this particular.

2. For the second.] seing J am chalenged thus in publick, about the resignation of my pastorall charge in London, and called to the barr of common censure, to answer to that which my accuser objecteth against me, both here, and in other places of the booke, concerning this matter, I pray the Reader aequally to consider my defence, wherein. 1. I will speake something, in thesi, generally, concerning the lawfullnes of that which he ⟨p. 103⟩seemeth to condemne. 2. I will add something, in hypothesi, for the justifying of what I have done in this particular.

In Thesi.] I am to show that it is not unlawful for a Pastor, in case of extreme and apparent personal danger, by flight, to provide for his personal safety. That this is lawful, appeareth.

In Thesi.] I am to shew that it is not unlawfull for a Pastor, in case of extreame and apparent personall danger, by flight, to provide for his personall safety. That this is lawfull, appeareth.