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…

3. In his third answer he chargeth them with slander, for saying ⟨p. 234⟩that he hath done this merely for his own ends. This, he saith, is a great arrogancy, and setting of themselves in Gods stead, whose peculiar it is to search, and to judge the heart, and reins. But, is this to answer complaints? or is it not to give new cause of complaints? that, whereas formerly they complained that he deprived the Church of the power, which Christ had given it, now they may complain, that he would put out the eyes of the members, and deprive them of the reason and understanding which God hath given them. For, if men may not judge of mens intentions, how is it that our Lord hath left it for a rule, whereby to discern false prophets whose intentions are wolvish, and to raven, how sheepish and harmless soever they seem to be, in their pretences, when he saith, Ye shall know them by their fruits? ¹Which I do not, nor dare apply personally to the Answerer, of whom I have better thoughts, and esteem, but only to show that it is lawful for men, in some cases, and so far as they keep to the rule, to judge of others mens intentions. It is true; it is Gods prerogative to judge the heart. But, what then? may not men, by the light of reason, which he hath given them,² judge the actions? God knoweth the thoughts a far off, in their hidden causes, and seminal preparations, and that, infallibly, this is his peculiar glory, which is not arrogated by man, whilst he professeth only to judge the cause by the effect, and the end by the means, which is, as if a man should say. The smoke appeareth out of the chimney; therefore there is some fire in the house, or the man chooseth such a way; therefore his intent is to travail to such a place. The light of reason and sense enableth a man thus to judge, and the light of Scripture warranteth it. How then can any man justly condemn it? As for the Answerers ends, in this action, reason in any of the complainants saith, they must be, either public, or private. If his ends were the public good of the Church, the means would be directed thereunto: but it seems to them that the means are such as tend rather to deprive the Church of men, whom they warrantably desire, and to straiten the Churches liberty and power in her own matters, Hereupon they conjecture that his end is not their public good, but some private