The Appeal of Injured Innocence, Part 1 · Chapter 11 – Chapter 12
CHAP. XI. That many of the Animadvertors Notes are onelyonly Additional, not Opposite to what I have written; And that all things, omitted in an History, are not Defects.
WHo so beholdeth the Several places in my Book, noted on by the Animadvertor, hath cause, at the first Blush, to conclude my Church-History very Erroneous and full of Faults; out of which, so bigg a Bundle of Mistakes have been collected: but upon serious Perusal of these Notes, it will appear that a third part of them at the least, are meerly Additional not opposite to what I have written; so that they render my Book not for Truth the lesse, but his for Bulk the greater.
Herein he seemeth like unto those Builders; who either wanting Materials to erect an intire house, or fearing so frail and feeble a Fabrick will not stand by it self, run it along the side-walls of another house, whereby they not onelyonly save Timber, but gain strength to their New Edifice.
The Animadvertor had a Mind to communicate some new Notions he had to the World, but he found them not many and weighty enough to fill a just Book for Sale: whereupon, he resolves to range his Notions against my Church-History, that so partly carping thereat, and partly adding thereto, he might betwixt both make up a Book Competent for Sale.
Hence, it is that sometimes not liking my Language (as not proper and expressive enough) he substituted his owne, with little or no variation of Matter; and sometimes adds new Passages: some whereof I could formerly have inserted, but because I perceived my Book (as the Reader is sensible by the price thereof) grown already to too great a Volume.
When Additional Notes frequently occur, I conceive my self not obliged in the least degree to return an Answer thereunto, as being rather besides than against what I have written: However, if I have left out any thing, it would have been suspected I had omitted that which most had made against me, to prevent which Jealousie, such Additional Notes are also here verbatim represented.
To such as object that the Animadvertor's Additions are Suppletory of the Defects in my Church-History; I answer, that a Defect properly is Absentia debiti adesse, the Absence of what ought to be there, so that a thing is maimed or lame without it.
But Additions to an History are reducible to these two Heads, viz. either such as they
Must without Imperfection be added.
May without Impertinency be added.
Few, if any, of the former; some of the latter kind are found in the Animadvertor's Additory Notes. And let me tell Him, that if He writes Books against all who have written Books, and have not written all which may be said of their Subject, he may even write against all who have ever written Books, and then He will have work enough.
Let us go no farther then to his own Geophraphy, being sure he is too Iudicious to be so conceited of his own pains, as to think he hath inserted all that may be said of so large a Subject.
The *In Vit. Aesopi.Story is well known of Aesop's Master, who buying two Servants together in the Market-place, demanded of one of them, what he could doe; He answered, that he would doe all things, doe all things. Then the other [Aesop himself] being askt what he could doe, answered, He could doe nothing. His Master seeming angry to keep so unprofitable a Servant; How can I (returned Aesop) doe any thing, when my Fellow-servant will doe all, and leave me nothing to doe?
If Dr. Heylin hath done all things in his Geography, he hath given a Writ of Ease for ever to Posterity, who may Despair to merit more of that matter. All who hereafter shall write a new Book of Geography, must also find out a new World with Columbus, as anticipated by the Doctor, having formerly completed all on that Subject.
I presume not to say, that I have in my Church-History done all things, having written many and most material Passages, leaving the rest to others. But this I say, that all things left out in a History, are not wanting; neither are all things wanting, Defects, if not essential thereunto. As for some of the Animadvertors added Notes, they are no more needful or useful than a sixth finger to a mans Hand, as (God willing) in due time shall appear.
CHAP. XII. That the Author Designed unto himself no Party-pleasing in Writing his Church-History.
PArtiality is constantly charged on me by the Animadvertor, and once, with a witness, as followeth, pag. 257.
We see by this, as by like Passages, which way our Author's Bowle is BY ASSED, how constantly he declares himself in Favour of those who have either Separated from the Church, or appeared against it.
I return, (to prosecute his Metaphor) that I have used as UPRIGHT BOWLES as ever any that enter the Alley of History, since our Civil Dissentions.
I do freely declare my self, that I in VVriting my Book, am for the Church of England, as it stood established by Law; the Creed being the Contracted Articles, and the 39. Articles the Expanded Creed of her Doctrine, as the Canons of her Discipline. And still I prise her Favour highest, though for the present it be least worth, as little able to protect, and less to prefer any that are faithfull to her Interest.
As for pleasing of Parties, I never Designed or Endevoured it. There were a kind of Philosophers, called ELECTICI, which were of none, yet of all Sects, and who would not engage in gross in the Opinions of any Philosophers, but did pick and choose here and there, what they found Consonant to Truth, either amongst the Stoicks, Peripateticks, Academicks, or (misinterpreted Epicures,) receiving that, and rejecting the rest; such my Project to commend in all Parties what I find praise-worthy, and condemne the rest; on which Account, some Fleer, some Frown, none Smile upon me.
First, for the Papists, though I malice not their Persons, and have a Pity (as God I hope hath a Mercy) for many amongst them, yet I do, as occasion is offered, dislike their Errors, whereby I have incurred (and according to their principles) deserved their Displeasure.
The old Non-conformists being the same with the modern Presbuterians, but depressed and under, as the modern Presbuterians are the old Non-conformists, but vertical and in Authority, do (though the Animadvertor twi…teth me constantly to Advocate for them) take great and general exception at me; and it is not long since, in a Meeting of the most Eminent amongst them, I was told, that I put too much Gall into my Inck against them.
The Independent, being the *Gen. 43.44.Benjamin of Parties, (and his Mess I assure you is none of the least) taxeth me for too much fieriness, as the Animadvertor (in his Expression lately cited) chargeth me for too much Favour unto them.
Thomas Lord Coventry, when coming from the Chancery to sit down at Dinner, was wont to say, Surely, to day I have dealt equally, for I have displeased both sides. I hope that I have his Happiness, for I am sure I have his Unhappiness, that having disobliged all Parties, I have written the very Truth. Thus I can onelyonly privately comfort my self in my owne Innocence, and hope that when my Head is laid low, what seems too sweet, too bitter, too salt, too fresh to the present divided Age, will be adjudged well tasted and seasoned to the Palate of Unpartial Posterity.