Reply to a Book, Reply · Part 18
The anſwer to the 18. Section examined, concerning another Act of accommodation for my ſatiſfaction.
THe Anſwerer beginneth this Section with a miſreport of my withdrawing my conſent, which, he ſayth, I had formerly given, whereas the truth is, that, from firſt to laſt, I was of the ſame judgment againſt this unwarrantable cuſtom, and ſo expreſſed my ſelfe, without any alteration.
The paſſages in the Conſiſtory, the 11. of Feb. 1634. the Anſwerer reporteth ſome what diſorderly, in that he beginneth with that which was laſt, and maketh the teſtification of the Elders to follow that Act, which went before it, whereby the right underſtanding of things is hindred. For, after that private diſcourſe, before mentioned, had paſſed betweene him and me, and after ſome other ſpeeches in the Conſiſtory, and after I had walked forth, at their intreaty, a great while, that they might privately conſult, being called in againe to heare the iſſue, whereunto matters were brought, I found that the order, ſpoken of in the 13. Section, was againe renewed and inlarged, with this addition, that the Elders and Deacons likewiſe promiſed to ſend ſuch to me as ſhould come to them. Which was as much as juſt nothing. For, the ſame objections which were made againſt the ſame offer made on the behalfe of the Anſwerer and of the Coſter, in the 13. Section, are of force againſt this alſo.
Whereas he addeth, that, both he, and they promiſed to prevent all further occaſion of offence, ſo much as in them lay, had this bene done accordingly, the Elders might well have added, in way of teſtification, their perſuaſion, that no occaſion would befall to worke any ſcruple unto me in that which I feared. For, then the order which I deſired, had bene made to prevent further occaſion of offence, ſeing that lay in their power to doe, if the Anſwerer would have joyned with the Elders lovingly and freely therein, and no other courſe could helpe me, as the caſe now ſtood, which the Anſwerer knew, though the Elders and Deacons did not, all of them, ſee ſo farr into it. Now, ſeing this lay in them to doe, and yet they did it not, neither would the Anſwerer ſuffer it to be done, how was this promiſe performed of doing what lay in them?
When I had ſpoken ſomewhat, to ſhew the inſufficiency of this order to ſecure me: they againe prayed me to walke forth, and, after a ſhorter abſence then before, they ſent for me to returne to them, to heare what was added for perfecting that order, which they wrote downe, in theſe words. And further we purpoſe if any ſhould at unawares, bring ſuch children, whoſe parents are not members, we ſhall deſire and counſaile them by the Coſter (without abſolute denyall) to bring their children the next excerciſe following, that, in the meane time, there may be conveniency of examination.
VponUpon which Additionall I will noate ſome obſervations. 1. That the Elders and Deacons, did, in effect, revoke that teſtification, which was laſt ſpoken of. For, by their adding of this to what was then done, it appeared that themſelves ſaw that the former order was not ſufficient to ſafeguard me from the thing that I feared. 2. That this Additionall is onelyonly a declaration of their purpoſe, but hath not the force of an order, 3. That, conſidering that they purpoſed onelyonly to ſignifye ſo much privately to thoſe perſons who ſhould at anytime ſo come (and not to have it publiſhed, that the wholl Church might take knowledge of it) and that by the Coſter, a meane man, whom they, to whom he ſhould ſpeake, would eaſily ſlight, and his commiſſion was only to deſire and counſaile them, which they would eaſily reject, and aſke him, what he had to doe to counſaile them to deferr the baptiſing of their children, In this caſe, what could he anſwer but this, J doe onelyonly deſire and counſail you, but I may not abſolutely deny you? And, how can ſuch a courſe ſecure me?
Here againe the Anſwerer miſreporteth my anſwer: for he affirmeth, that this would not content me, unleſſe there might have benean abſolute denyall of Baptiſme, in ſuch a caſe, if intreaty would not ſerve. But I made no ſuch Anſwer, neither is any ſuch anſwer recorded in the Acts of that Conſiſtory, which I have purpoſely examined. All that I ſtoode upon, was, that a firme order might be made in the Conſiſtory to ſecure me from future trouble, about that matter. But this the Anſwerer would not permit to be done, though it might have bene done, without any offence to the Claſſis, and with much content to the Church. So that I have juſt cauſe to complaine of his want of brotherly moderation, in this point, what ſoever he ſeemed to yeeld, which, he knew, was not ſufficient to prevent the thing which I feared.
The following paſſage is an unjuſt reproach, which I will paſſe by, having anſwered to the ſubſtance of it formerly. How unlawfull that practiſe is, and how neceſſary it was that I ſhould witneſſe againſt, it doth appeare in my Reply to his twelfth Section.
In Concluſion. when the Elders prayed me to deferr my anſwer to another time, the Anſwerer told me, that, when I ſhould give myne anſwer, if I did accept of this calling, I muſt promiſe to reſt in, that is, to conforme to, the wrighting of the five Miniſters. Whereby it appeareth, that, not withſtanding all theſe pretences of accommodation, conformity to that wrighting, which bound me to this diſorder of promiſcuous baptizing, was, firſt and laſt, the condition, whereupon my calling to that miniſtry, muſt ſtand or fall, and that the Anſwerer would have it ſo. Thus that day paſſed.
Now, though I had juſt cauſe of offence at theſe paſſages, yet, that it might appeare how much I was for peace and brotherly concord, the next day of their meeting, being the 15 of Feb. I came into the Conſiſtory to give my anſwer, which was, that, if a promiſe muſt be made by me to conforme to the judgment of thoſe Miniſters ſet downe as an order for me to reſt in, I could not doe it, becauſe the promiſe of doing any thing is a Confeſſiō that the thing is lawfull to be done, which I doe not beleive to be ſo, in this caſe, yet, becauſe I much prized their loves and tendred their peace (as I truely told them) I was willing; if they deſired it, to goe on in aſſiſting the Anſwerer, as I formerly had done, for a convenient time, to ſee, if, in the interim, by a freindly acquainting my ſelfe with the Dutch Miniſters, I might be ſatiſfyed about the lawfullnes of this cuſtom, whereunto my conformity was required, or procure that this queſtiō might be layd downe, & might underſtand what thoſe other orders & cuſtoms of the Dutch Church are which I muſt obſerve, & more fully know the mēbers & ſtate of the Engliſh Church, wherwith I ſhould joyne. In which motion I intended no intruſion (which I have alwayes abhorred, and was very farr from, in that place) but onelyonly the peace and good of the Church. This the Elders apprehended to be very reaſonable, & deſired that it might take effect, but the Anſwerer was otherwiſe minded, as it is, in expreſſe words, by the Elders recorded in the Acts of that Conſiſtory.