Reply to a Book, Reply · Part 10
Sect. 10. examined, concerning my knowledge of theyre differences before my comming over.
THat Roman Emperour, whom ſtoryes report to have ſpent ſo much time in catching flyes, might have bene better imployed in ſuch thoughts as Ahaſueroſh had, when he could not ſleepe. The text ſayth,Heb. 6.1, He commanded them to bring the booke of records, and they were read before him. In like manner, the Anſwerer might well have ſpared this needles, uſeles labour for inlarging this Section, and, in ſte…d thereof, have condemned himſelfe for his unthanckfullnes, who, not only, hath not recompenſed the kindnes that hath bene done him, but hath rewarded evill for good. And, that it may more appeare to all men, even in the Sections where my confidence in him and kindnes ſhould be mentioned, there he laboured moſt to injure me with caſting intimations to rayſe ſuſpitions in mens minds cauſeleſly. To be breife. To what end are all theſe words?
Are they to prove that I had ſeene in wrighting a copy of the differences betweene the Anſwerer & Mr. Hooker? J grant it, but withall I affirme three things. 1. That it was long before I left London, and, when I was farr from any thoughts of comming into theſe parts, and leaving mine owne land, and ſo had no cauſe to fixe my mind upon thoughts of thoſe matters. 2. That my comming over was but for 3 or 4 moneths. He that brought me over, thoſe that wrote for me, the freinds I left behind, all know, and can witnes it. The Anſwerer himſelfe knoweth, I told him ſo, when I firſt viſited him. 3. That in Mr. H. anſwer to the queſtion, there doeth not appeare light ſufficient to informe any man what that is, which in the Dutch cuſtom about Baptiſme, he diſliked. And, when he propounded the queſtion to me, about this matter, I did not underſtand, in what particular, the difference betweene the Anſwerer and Mr. H. lay.
Or, ſecondly, Would he intimate that I ſaught the place, or went about to intrude my ſelfe, for continuance? 1. Himſelfe knoweth, that, when he, with one of the Elders, preſented to me a call from the Conſiſtory, I did not ſuddenly accept it (which I would have done, if I had ſo deſired the place, as he inſinuateth) but tooke time to conſider of it, being not ſatiſfyed about the lawfullnes of the conditions propounded to me. 2, Himſelfe hath reported that I might have had the place, but I refuſed it: which is true, being underſtood in that ſenſe, wherein it is ſayd of thoſe worthyes, Heb. 11.35.that they would not be delivered, viz, not upon unwarrantable, and ill conditions. But this is ſufficient to cleare me of that imputation of inordinately deſiring that place.
Or, thirdly, Would he have his credulous Reader to ſuſpect my trueth, when I ſay that I came over but for 3 or 4 moneths? Elſe, what meane thoſe 4 praeſumptions, which he inſinuateth to ſuggeſt the contrary? To which I will anſwer breifely.
To the firſt, For a man of plauſible gifts, eminent, and of fame, & wanting preſent imployment, to preſent himſelfe where a place is vacant where much contention hath bene &c. I anſwer. 1. For the titles which he giveth me, I account them, as they fall from his pen, but an honourable reproach. 2. For the matter of it:Honorifica contumelia. Hieron ad Pammach: & Ocean. The extreame neceſſity of the place, he being ſo weake and unfit to preach, together with the importunity of thoſe that ſollicited me, was the cauſe moving me (who then was out of imployment, and in continuall danger) to come over to that place, chuſing rather to caſt my ſelfe upon Gods providence, in perills of the ſea, and in a ſtrange land, where I might be of ſome uſe to the Church, for a time, then to live privately, but neither ſafely nor proffitably, in my owne land, in hope that 3 or 4 monethmonth would quiet, and pacifye theyre ſpirits, that were moſt exaſperated and incenſed againſt me, without any juſt cauſe; that ſo my returne to my owne land might be with ſafety and comfort. What if this might give them occaſion of ſeeking, and calling me? will it thence follow, that I ſaught the place before I was called? or that I did intrude, or thruſt my ſelfe in for a Paſtor? Pag. 16▪or that I runne before I was ſent, as he ſlandereth me before? No marvell, if diverſe learned and godly Miniſters, being theyre neighbours in this country, have bene loath to ſhew themſelves in this place &c. leaſt they ſhould ſeeme to offer themſelves unto this calling. For they knew the Anſwerers diſpoſition and ſpirit, and the contentions which have thereby bene in this place, which if I had knowne, ſo as now I doe, no perſwaſions ſhould have drawne me thither. And it is very likely, that I had ſtayed at Rotterdam till the Elderſhip had ſent for me, as Mr. H. did, if the neceſſity of the place had not hurryed me ſooner, to prevent the ſhutting up of the Church dores, which (as I have bene told, and the event ſhewed) would come to paſſe the next Lords day, if my comming prevented it not. Yet two of the Elders, with ſome other members of the Congregation, met me at Harlem, and accompanied me to Amſterdam, & tooke care for my accomodation with a convenient intertaynment: and, the joy, that was generally expreſſed ſoone after my being there was knowne, ſhewed a great deſire in the members that they might injoy me, And the Anſwerer himſelfe, at that time, acknowledged Gods good providence in my being there, at that time, and joyntly with the Elders, who were then preſent, when I firſt viſited him, intreated my helpe the Lords day following, and ſo long as my time would permit, and theyre need ſhould require.
To the ſecond praeſumption, that they that ſent for me, and I. C. that fetched me over, did not ſeeke me but for 3 or 4 moneths; J anſwer. 1. Suppoſe theyr deſire was to injoy me longer; will it thence follow, that I yeelded for longer time? 2. By what hath bene formerly ſaid it appeareth ſufficiently that I agreed with him for no longer time, which himſelfe is able and ready to teſtifye. if it be required.
To the third praeſumption; that the freind which by an open and unſealed letter, which I brought unto him from London, intreated him to receive me for a fellow helper, did not deſire that for 3 or 4 moneths only.
Anſwer. I thinck, never did Laban ſearch ſo narrowly Iacobs ſtuff to find his Idolls, as this Anſwerer doeth to find an untrueth in my aſſertion. To what end is this brought in? If he thinck, or would perſwade others, that I procured that freinds letter that I might obtaine the place, he is much deceived. For neither ſtands it with my judgment to ſeeke a place (much leſſe by ſuch private recommendations) nor need I the letters of any private freind, having a more publick teſtimony. And how litle I minded that letter, may appeare in this, that I know not that it was unſealed, and, if indeed it was unſealed, I know not at all what was written in it. It is likely, that, knowing the authour of it to be my approved freind, and one that hath deſerved well of the Anſwerer, I ſuppoſed, he would commend me to him affectionately, to be lovingly intertayned, & uſed by him in a ſtrange Country, and ſo tooke no further heed to it. But, what if that freind did intreate him to receive me for a fellowhelper? Will it follow thence, that I ſaught it? who ſeeth not the vanity of theſe pretences?
To the fourth praeſumption. That it was not likely, that, after 3 or 4 moneths preaching amongſt them, I could eaſily be diſmiſſed, and theyre labour and care of ſeeking and calling another must be interruped, if not wholly broken off.
Anſwer. 1. Grant all this to be true: will it thence follow that I ſaught it? 2. Grant, that at the end of 3 or 4 moneths, I had accepted of a call to that place (which it is probable, I ſhould have done, if it had bene offered upon ſafe conditions, rather then to live without publick imployment) will it thence follow, that I inordinately deſired, or baſely, or unworthily ſaught it, or unwarrantably, or without a calling intruded my ſelfe? 3. what hindrance could my mere preaching there be to theyre ſeeking, or calling another, if I ſhould refuſe it? Let the indifferent Iudge.
To what he ſayth in the two following anſwers, about the neceſſity of my knowing the ſtate of the Dutch Churches, whet her I ſtayed here or not. I Anſwer, that even for that Reaſon, my comming over was needfull. For no mans word or letters could make that ſo well knowne to me, as myne owne obſervation, & experience hath done. But the ſuppoſitiō, whereupon he groundeth that opinion, I doe not approve. For, in ſome caſes, a good conſcience ſuffers a man to be neutrall, viz, in thoſe things which he is not bound to know or practiſe, & wherein he hath wanted occaſiō, or meanes of full informatiō. And what hurt can that man be ſuppoſed to doe, by private conference, who ſuſpendeth his judgment, and determineth neyther way? Are not theſe paſſages mere roapes of ſand?
Laſtly. Whereas he ſeemeth to doubt, in the beginning of this Section, whether I came not over with a diſcordant mind; I profeſſe, in ſimplicity of my heart, that I came over with a reverent eſteeme of him, and with confidence that I ſhould reape more fruits of his brotherly love then I have received, and was farr from any purpoſe of rayſing contention, which I naturally abhorr, or ſuſpition, that I ſhould have met with ſuch contentions, as I have bene troubled with, which if I had foreſeene, J ſhould never have come to Amſterdam. Yet I doe not repine at, but contentedly ſubmit to that good hand of Divine providence, which brought me hither, and is pleaſed this way to trye me, and doe with a childelike ſubmiſſion and reverence (in my meaſure) kiſſe the rod in my Fathers hand, even when I lament the unkindnes of my Elder brother, which yet I would not have publiſhed, if he would have ſuffered me to be ſilent.