An Answer Made to an Open Challenge, Appendix
An Appendix to the former Diſcourſe, containing a Diſcourſe of Mr Boatmans in a publike Lecture at Peters in Norwich, ſeeming to anſwer my firſt Argument upon the firſt Queſtion, by putting another interpretation upon Mat. 7.6.
With ſome Animadverſions tending to prove he ſaid nothing to the purpoſe in the ſaid Diſcourſe.
Reader,
I Shall trouble thee a little further: upon the twenty third of March (as I told thee in my Preface) being intreated by a Reverend Brother in the City to preach his Lecture, I preached upon Mat. 7.6. My Sermon was the ſum of my firſt Argument upon the firſt Queſtion delivered in theſi, without the leaſt particular reflection. Upon the Lords day after, a Friend told me that he heard Mr Boatman did intend to confute me the next Tueſday.
Accordingly he tooke my Text, what work he made with it, thou ſhalt read in the following ſheets, containing a Copy of his Sermon, taken in ſhort-hand from his mouth by a faithfull hand: as to the materiall paſſages which I have to do with, I can prove them by many witneſſes. If thou haſt any faculty in judging, judge betwixt me and him; how well he confuted me, or proved any thing which he ſaid in oppoſition to me, or the truth I delivered, to help thee I have ſubjoyned a few Animadverſions. There is a clamorous party which cries me up as ſufficiently confuted, &c. to vindicate my ſelfe and the truth, I have ſubjoyned theſe ſheets. I aske no favour from thee, but only a juſt, and righteous judgment. I intend not to meddle with him in the Pulpit, if he hath any thing to reply with his Pen, I ſhall wait upon it. Or if he will diſpute, I am ready for him: It is an eaſie thing for a man who hath confidence enough, and conſcience little enough, to ſay, Here was untruth delivered, the Holy Ghoſt never dreamt it, it is nothing to the purpoſe. Here thou haſt what was ſaid before thy eyes, read, and judge, and the Lord give thee underſtanding in all things.
His Sermon follows.