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…

in Divinity and my particular friend (upon a former agreement between us) to confer with him about my doubts. But when it was known that I went out of town, and not whither, some gave out that I was fled, which others too easily received and too confidently reported, & spread it abroad, yet I returned, as I purposed at my riding forth, that night, to a place within 2 or 3 miles of London, and stayed there the next day, where I was not a little troubled at the clamour, which, I heard, was made by many, about my supposed flight, fearing that it would much irritate and incense authority against me, and accordingly was, even that week, advertised of a storm gathered in a thick cloud, and ready to fall upon me. Whereupon I retired a small ⟨p. 109⟩distance from London, for a few weeks, to see what issue the Lord would put to these overtures. In which time, 3 requests were, on my behalf, and at my entreaty, propounded to the Bishop of that diocese, that then was, by his answer whereunto I perceived that extremity was intended against me. Yet I did not resign, till the Bishop had caused the Churchwardens to be examined concerning me, by the Register of the High Commission, whereby it appeared that he purposed to deal with me speedily, in that Court, if, by resigning, I prevented it not. Nevertheless, I did not yet resign up my place, till I had called the Church together in a general Vestry, and propounded the matter to them, acquainting them with my case, praying them to advise freely what was best to be done, for their good and mine. The Church, I confess, might have required me to stay with them, by virtue of that rule,¹ Say to Archippus, Take heed to the Ministry, which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it. and, if they had so done, I purposed to yield, what-ever had become of me. Yea,² I confess the Churches right to be such in their Pastors, that if, whilst I withdrew my self, for a short time, they had sent for me to return to the exercise of my intermitted function (promising to stick to me, so far as lawfully they might, in all dangers that might befall me) I hold my self bound to have returned thereunto: as Luther, upon the letters of the Church of Wittenberg,³ returned to the execution of his function, from which he had, for a time, desisted, and hid himself, by the advise and command of the D. of Saxony.