Answer to the Animadversions on the Dissertations, Treatise · Introduction
AN ANSWER TO THE ANIMADVERSIONS ON THE DISSERTATIONS TOUCHING IGNATIƲS'S EPISTLES, and the EPISCOPACIE in them aſſerted.
By H. HAMMOND, D. D.
LONDON, Printed by J. G. for Richard Royſton, at the Angel in Ivie-lane. 1654.
AN ANSVVER TO THE ANIMADVERSIONS on the Diſputations concerning EPISCOPACY.
THE INTRODƲCTION.
Nu. 1. I Had thought I had concluded the Readers trouble and mine own, when I had gotten to an end of the Aſſemblers Exceptions, but by that time I had tranſmitted thoſe debates to the Printer, and from him received one Sheet of the Impreſſion, I found my ſelf called out anew by a Preface (to a Book of a very diſtant ſubject, The Saints verſeverance) wherein is inſerted, a Diſcourſe touching the Epiſtles of Ignatius, and the Epiſcopacy in them aſſerted, and ſome animadverſions on Dr. H. H. his Diſſertations on that ſubject: And this Preface (and theſe contents of it) le…t it might be leſs diſcernable, thought fit to be expreſt in the Title page, and ſubſcribed by John Owen, ſervant of Jeſus Chriſt in the work of the Goſpel.
2. And although the ſpeedy return of ſuch tasks is not overgratefull to me, yet becauſe 1. I conceive it is his pleaſure that we ſhould enter this commerce: And 2. becauſe the work of the Goſpel is ſo glorious an employment, that I cannot be averſe or flow to the giving all poſſible ſatisfaction to any which profeſſeth to labour in it: And 3. becauſe, if the Reader ſo conſent, this diſcourſe may be annext to the former debates with the Provincial Aſſembly, being likely to be on the ſame heads, which are there ſpoken to, I ſhall not doubt thus ſpeedily to undertake the labour of it; and if his Animadverſions prove any way uſefull to me, I ſhall acknowledge by whom I have profited, retract moſt readily what he ſhall give me cauſe to retract, and never multiply any debates, which may be thus more compendiouſly ended, being confident that no miſcarriage of mine (of which yet I am not conſcious to have committed any in the Book of Diſſert.) will be able to prejudice the main truth which is there defended, the Institution of Biſhops by the Apoſtles.