A19884:762
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.
Now then, if any man shall despise this office, as of no necessary use in the Church of God, or, if any shall go about, by disparaging speeches, to disable them from doing the work of their place, or to discourage and dishearten them in it, by a needles, though true, publishing their imperfections, much more, if the reports be untrue, and mere ungrounded reproaches, ⟨p. 209⟩the injury is, not only personal to the men, but public and common to the whole Church, which is much blemished, either for want of it officers, or for want of care to make a good choice, and to see that they discharge their duty as they aught, and much disordered, whilst those, who should be admonished by them, are now armed against them, as men branded with a mark of partiality, and insufficiency, and disorderly walking; and that by their Pastor, and in print.
Now then, if any man shall despise this office, as of no necessary use in the Church of God, or, if any shall goe about, by disparadging speeches, to disable them from doing the worke of their place, or to discourage and dishearten them in it, by a needles, though true, publishing their imperfections, much more, if the reports be untrue, and mere ungrounded reproaches, ⟨p. 209⟩the injury is, not only personall to the men, but publick and common to the wholl Church, which is much blemished, either for want of it officers, or for want of care to make a good choyse, and to see that they discharge their duety as they aught, and much disordered, whilest those, who should be admonished by them, are now armed against them, as men branded with a marke of partiality, and insufficiency, and disorderly walking; and that by their Pastor, and in print.
In which respect (for the prevention of such dangerous consequences or effects) it will be worth the while that we examine this second complaint concerning his slighting the Elders, which I will briefly dispatch, insisting principally upon those things which he calleth me to examine by mentioning my name, which he writeth at length, as his manner is, least else (it may be) the Reader should forget that I am the mark he shooteth at, thorough all these.