A19884:732
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.
The answer to Sect: 20. examined, concerning my pretended preaching in a private house.
That the truth of this passage may appear, the Reader may be pleased to understand, 1, that, after my desistance from the public work, I would have returned to my own Country, but that it was now more unsafe and hazardous for me so to do, then formerly, by a malicious and false report suggested against me in England, by one in Amsterdam (whose name I will conceal, for some reasons, at this time) this audacious Sycophant was not ashamed to inform that I had, in the pulpit, railed against the government of England, against which, the Answerer, and the whole Church are able, and, I hope, ready to testify for my innocency, in that particular: yea, any that have heard or known me, I think will undertake for me, that I am far from railing, at any time, much more in the pulpit, and mine own conscience abundantly cleareth me thereof, in the sight of God. Yet this report was too easily received, and thereupon much bitterness, in terrifying menaces, was expressed against me, in public audience. This I only mention to show the cause of my staying in these parts. 2. Being thus hindered from returning to England, my family also being with me in Amsterdam, I was willing to be as profitable, as I might, to others, without giving just offence to any. For this end, being requested by the Master of the family, where I sojourned, I set a convenient time apart, every Lords day, about 5 a clock in the afternoon, (which was above an hour after the sermon was ended in the English Church) to catechise both our families, upon such grounds of Divinity as I collected from the Scriptures, which I opened and applied to them. To this exercise at first, few ⟨p. 198⟩came, afterwards more coming to the knowledge of it, more resorted: the greatest number (for ought I have heard) which, at the most, have been observed to be present at it, exceeded not 80 persons. It is true, that, as the number increased, some forms were provided for them to sit upon, to save the chairs & stools from hurt. I had the less cause of suspicion, that this would be offensive, seeing it hindered none from the public ordinances which my self and all the rest frequented constantly, and seeing almost as great a number had resorted to a like exercise, at the same hour, in a private family, with the Answerers approbation, formerly.