A19884:444
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…
An apologetical reply to a book called an answer to the unjust complaint of VV.B. Also an answer to Mr. I.D. touching his report of some passages. His allegation of Scriptures against the baptising of some kind of infants. His protestation about the publishing of his writings. By John Davenport BD.An apologeticall reply to a booke called an ansvver to the unjust complaint of VV.B. Also an answer to Mr. I.D. touching his report of some passages. His allegation of Scriptures against the baptising of some kind of infants. His protestation about the publishing of his wrightings. By Iohn Davenporte BD.
Rotterdam: printed by Isaac van Waesberghe, 1636Rotterdam: printed by Isaack van Waesberghe, 1636
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
In Hypothesi.] For the justifying of mine own act, in this particular (being injuriously compelled hereunto, in so public a way, by the inconsiderate importunity of an angry brother who seemeth very regardless how far he exposeth me to censure, or danger) I will briefly relate, both the causes of it, and the manner of my carriage in it. That the true cause may be known, false causes pretended by others, must be removed. For, this way, I have been much wronged, whilst many, out of ignorance, or malice, or both, either willingly not knowing, or maliciously concealing the truth, have taken an unwarrantable liberty to spread abroad slanders, with as much confidence, as if they had been trained up in the Machiavells and Jesuits principles,1 from their childhood. And some were so bold herein, that they feared not to cast the poison of their reproaches, and to shoot the arrows of their slanders at me, thorough the ears of their superiors, persons of noble quality, whose place and authority should have awed them, and made them afraid to be found liars unto them, though they had no regard of God, nor of their conscience, nor of their account in the day of Christ. The time may come when I shall,2 in print, remember their deeds which they do, and their prating against us with malicious words, if they take not up in time, but proceed and persist in these injurious dealings. In the mean space, and always, my soul stay thy self upon the righteous God,3 the God of truth. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgements as the noon day. Say unto the Lord my God. Thou hast known my reproach, 4and my shame, and my dishonour, my adversaries are all before thee. Let not them that wait on thee, o Lord God of hosts be ashamed for my sake: Let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, o God of Israel! Because for thy sake I have borne reproach &c. ⟨p. 107⟩yet, that I may not be altogether wanting to my self, nor injurious to the Reader, in suffering him to be guilty of the sin of evil surmises, or of slander in heart, for want of information, I do seriously and sincerely protest, that (so far as I know mine own heart) I did not with draw my self. 1.