1. He tells the Reader in his Epistle, that his unwillingness to this rejoinder was heightened by the Necessity he found, of discovering some personal weaknesses and forgetfulnesses in me, upon my deny all of some things which were known to be true, if he should proceed therein; for what he intimates of the unpleasantness that it is to him, to discover things of that importance in me, when he professeth his design to be to impair my Authority, so far that the cause I own may receive no countenance thereby; I leave it to him, who will one day reveal the secrets of all ⟨p. 11⟩hearts, which at present are open and naked unto him; but how I pray are the things by me denied known to be true? seeing it was unpleasant and distasteful to him to insist upon them, men might expect that his Evidence of them, was not only open, clear, undeniable, and manifest as to it's truth, but cogent as to their publication; The whole insisted on is, if there be any truth in reports; hic nigrae succus loliginis, haec est aerugo mera; Is this a bottom for a Minister of the Gospel to proceed upon, to such charges as those insinuated; is not the course of Nature set on fire at this day, by reports? is any thing more contrary to the royal law of charity, than to take up reports as the ground of charges and accusations? Is there any thing more unbecoming a man, laying aside all considerations of christianity, than to suffer his judgment to be tainted, much more his words, and public expressions in charging, & accusing others to be regulated by reports? and whereas we are commanded to speak evil of no man, may we not on this ⟨p. 12⟩ground, speak evil of all men, and justify our selves by saying it is so, if reports be true? the Prophet tell's us, that a combination for his defaming and reproach was managed among his Adversaries, Jer. 20. 10. I have heard the defaming of many, fear on every side, report say they, and we will report it; if they can have any to go before them in the Transgression of that Law, which he who knows how the tongues of men are set on fire of Hell, gave out to lay a restraint upon them, thou shalt not raise a false report, Exod. 23. 1. They will second it, and spread it abroad to the utmost, for his disadvantage and trouble; Whether this procedure of our Reverend Author, come not up to the practice of their design, I leave to his own conscience to judge.
1. He tels the Reader in his Epistle, that his unwillingnesse to this rejoinder was heightned by the Necessity he found, of discovering some personall weaknesses and forgetfulnesses in me, upon my deny all of some things which were known to be true, if he should proceed therin; for what he intimates of the unpleasantnesse that it is to him, to discover things of that importance in me, when he professeth his designe to be to impaire my Authority, so far that the cause I own may receive no countenance thereby; I leave it to him, who will one day reveale the secrets of all ⟨p. 11⟩hearts, which at present are open and naked unto him; but how I pray are the things by me denyed known to be true? seeing it was unpleasant and distastfull to him to insist upon them, men might expect that his Evidence of them, was not only open, cleare, undenyable, and manifest as to it's truth, but cogent as to their publication; The whole insisted on is, if there be any truth in reports; hic nigrae succus loliginis, haec est aerugo mera; Is this a bottome for a Minister of the Gospel to proceed upon, to such charges as those insinuated; is not the course of Nature set on fire at this day, by reports? is any thing more contrary to the royall law of charity, than to take up reports as the ground of charges and accusations? Is there any thing more unbecoming a man, laying aside all considerations of christianity, than to suffer his judgment to be tainted, much more his words, and publick expressions in charging, & accusing others to be regulated by reports? and whereas we are commanded to speak evill of no man, may we not on this ⟨p. 12⟩ground, speak evill of all men, and justify our selves by saying it is so, if reports be true? the Prophet tel's us, that a combination for his defaming and reproach was managed among his Adversaries, Jer. 20. 10. I have heard the defaming of many, feare on every side, report say they, and we will report it; if they can have any to goe before them in the Transgression of that Law, which he who knowes how the tongues of men are set on fire of Hell, gave out to lay a restraint upon them, thou shalt not raise a false report, Exod. 23. 1. They will second it, and spread it abroad to the utmost, for his disadvantage and trouble; Whether this procedure of our Reverend Authour, come not up to the practice of their designe, I leave to his own conscience to judge.
