Plain Evidences the Church of England is Apostolical, Response 1
AN ANSVVERE vntounto Mr. Ainſworths firſt Foreſpeech, ſo hee termeth it, as much as it toucheth mee.
IN the Foreſpeech of all his whole Booke, hee tels his Reader, that my Booke hath rather ſhew then waight of reaſon. It may well be the praiſe of his anſwere to me, if it had but the ſhew of reaſon. Haſte it ſeemeth begot it, trauell of minde in diſcontentment brought it forth. The labour will owne the Authour, though the childe may ſhame the father. It proclaimes indigeſted thoughts; it is a Lapwing not voide of the ſhell, leauing the neſt, and fluttering with penny wings, endeuouring to flye, and yet hardly hatcht; as the iudicious Reader may perceiue.
It ſeemeth (ſaith hee of my Booke) to be penned rather to diſgrace others, then to defend themſelues. So it ſeemeth to him: this is his charitie, ſiniſterly to interpret, to ſuppoſe a ſcope in thought not intended, nor by writing manifeſted. The end I hauehave ſet downe in my Epiſtle to the Reader; but that hee doth not beleeue, what remedie? Hee belike thinkes me one in pen, and another in heart; if ſo, I ſuppoſe herein he taketh meaſure of his owne length, to mete me. If the former diſtaſte him for diſgracing them, and not defending our ſelues, I hope this will pleaſe him, if it will not, I know no remedy. To abuſe him, I intend not, neyther to make their cauſe worſe then it is; to defend our ſelues hee muſt giuegive vsus leaue: and this is now my drift.
But not better fruit (ſaith hee) can be expected from ſuch as rebell againſt the light, which themſelues once ſeemed to regard. There is a regard to be had of truths euer, that regard ſtill I hauehave, but ſometime is a ſeeming regard to vntruths, for to finde them out, to holde the truth, and that I profeſſe to hauehave had touching their way. Hee cals that light, which I knew of their way, but I now iudge it darkneſſe, through knowledge of the truth now, whereof I was ignorant then. I ſee now by the light, their darkneſſe, our truth, their errours, and yet bewaile perſonall corruptions. My former Booke may ſpeake for mee herein, the title thereof tels it them, and this labour will more manifeſt it. I then rebell not againſt the light receiued, but by the light reſiſt I darkneſſe, as I iudge their vncharitable cenſuring, ſeperation, and condemning of vsus to be. I wiſh themſelues not to be rebellious againſt God, againſt his Church, and againſt the light of our louing endeuours in the truth, to reduce them to a better courſe, to ioyne to ſome reformed Church, to be no more Separatiſts, that they breede no more Anabaptiſts. But what if it had beene light, euen the truth of God, which I did ſeeme to regard, and yet with-ſtood my knowledge? can no better fruit then rebellion be expected? The light of Chriſt in Peter was withſtoodMat. 26. of him with fearefull periurie; the light of the GoſpellGal. 2. afterwards ſhuffled by through diſſimulation, yet Peter was an Apoſtle, his deniall of the truth ſprung through weakeneſſe, yet better fruit was by Chriſt expected from him, and better hee brought forth. You are deepe (Mr. Ainſworth) in cenſures: All oppoſing your way, are men in your iudgement depriued of Grace, rebellious againſt the light: you are preſumptuous in cenſuring; you may giuegive ſentence againſt all men and all Churches in the world; but none may giuegive iudgement of you? I wiſh to you leſſe pride, more humilitie; leſſe diſlike of others, & more charitie, with greater diſlike of your owne ſelues: the want wherof is the preſent enimie to louely vnitie, that euer accompanieth true pietie, which many pretend, but few truly do inioy.