Reply to a Book, Reply · Part 21
His Anſwer to the 21. Section examined, concerning ſome of the members withdrawing themſelves from the Lords ſupper.
AS one abſurdity uſually followes another, ſo was it with the Anſwerer in penning this treatiſe. For, having taken liberty to caſt the ſuſpicion of all other miſcarriages, which have happened in others, upon me, (though moſt injuriouſly) he now continueth the ſame noate, ſaying that howſoever I doe miſlike & ſpeake againſt Seperation and Schyſme, and reprove the ſame, yet can I not altogether cleare my ſelfe of being ſome occaſion of Diviſion amongſt them, whileſt I maintaine ſuch practiſes ſo different from them.
Anſ: 1. It is well that his pen doeth cleare me from inclining to Schyſme or Seperation, whoſe tongue hath unjuſtly rayſed ſuſpicions thereof againſt me in the minds of ſome. Yea, that his owne hand wrighting, in this Section,Sect. 2. and 10. hath cleared me of thoſe contrary aſperſions, and imputations, by himſelfe caſt upon me, and written and printed againſt me in other Sections 2. What need is there, that I ſhould goe about to cleare my ſelfe from that which is not a fault? For, if to be ſome occaſion of diviſion among men, by maintaining a practiſe different from others be blame-worthy, then Paul and Barnabas were to be blamed for that practiſe of theyrs different from thoſe beleivers who held that it was needfull to be circumciſed, after the manner of Moſes. Act 15. …. &c.For, the text ſayth, they had no ſmall diſſention, and diſputation with them. So were Paul and Silas, who were accuſed at Philippi, before the Magiſtrates, as exceeding troublers of the citty for teaching cuſtoms, Act. 16.20.21.which were not lawfull for them to receive being Romans. At Theſſalonica, Iaſon & other brethren are accuſed to be thoſe that turne the world upſide downe. Nor can it be denyed that Paul was ſome occaſion of that great ſtirr and uprore,Act: 17.6. which aroſe in Epheſus, whereby the wholl citty was filled with confuſion. And, howſoever he laboured, by all concord with them in things lawfull, to injoy peace at Ieruſalem (as by purifying himſelfe &c.Act: 19.23. Act: 21.26.28.29 30.) yet, upon a cauſeles jealouſly of his bringing Greekes into the Temple (becauſe they ſaw Trophimus with him in the citty, whom they ſuppoſed that Paul had brought into the Temple) the wholl citty was moved, and of this commotion Paul could not altogether cleare himſelfe of being ſome occaſion, by maintaining ſome practiſes ſo different from the Iewes. 3. The Anſwerer ſeemeth to inſinuate ſomewhat againſt my journey out of towne, two or three dayes before the time of adminiſtration of the Lords ſupper (wherein he ſayth) I was accompanied with ſome members of the Church, who (as he heard) did goe with me, and leave the communion, this, he ſayth, gave great occaſion of ſtrife & other offence to the Church, & was a courſe tending to Schyſme. Repl. 1. For the complanants, who, he ſayth, ſeperated themſelves at that time; ſome of them whom he examined, whether they had adviſe with me about it, have cleared me fully, in their anſwer, and the reſt are able and ready to doe the like. Who would thinck that, againſt ſo ample teſtimony, the Anſwerer ſhould have the boldnes to accuſe me ſo unjuſtly for that? 2. His accuſation of me for my journey out of the Citty, at that time, is as injurious, as that: For the caſe, which cauſed my travayle, at that time, would have conſtrained me thereunto, at any other time, as well as that, it being neceſſary, for the helpe of a painfull Miniſter, who, being very ill, craved my aſſiſtance, with much importunity. My wife accompanied me thither, and the Mrs. of the houſe where we lodged, was pleaſed to accompany my wife, being a ſtranger in theſe countryes (which I had no cauſe to refuſe, but to take thanckfully) and, beſides her, not one member of the Church went along with us (unles the mayd, which attended her ſucking child be a member, which I thinck ſhe is not) Now, what was to be blamed in this? This the Reader ſhall ordinarily find, that the Anſwerers complaints, both againſt me and others, have no other roote but the evill ſurmiſes of his owne jealous fancy: pluck up that roote, and the moſt of his complaints will dye of themſelves.