ANSWER .

THat all the people of God ought to pray both for the prosperitie of the trueth and for the remouing of scandalles , that none may be hindered from the true walking in the trueth , it is their dutye so to doe . But is not Mr. S. the chiefe man which is the cause of the scandell nowe in question between vs , who all though wee did bear with him in his errour , and no doubte would so haue done vntill this day , and allwayes hee resting in peace yet was hee so bussie & vnrestty that hee is the chiefe man that hath brought this scandall or offence , therefore I aduertise him to remembare the saying of our Lord Iesus , woe be to the world because of offences , for it must needes be that offences shall come , but woe to be two the man by whome they come ; and as Mr. S. hath begone the offence : so hee is the these man that may in part by the acknowledging of his sinne heale the breach , and so helpe to take away the offences which if God vouchsafe to give unto him , I shall be glad and I hope all the people of the Lord also : Mr. S. instructeth vs how to remoue scandall , and in thè meane time hee runeth one sweftly two intrease the scandall by publishing of his vnjust writings Hee telleth vs that the setting out of Mr. Answorths Sarmon is his loue taken : But is this so in deed why then hath hee placed such a swet flower betweene such bitter and poysoned earbes , placeing before it his vntrue preface , and be hind it his stoffing postscript wher by hee abuseth the word of the Lord , and belyeth his neybours as afterwards I shall shewe God willing : if this be the euent of Mr. S. loue . what maye wee thinke will the event of his hattred be : But may 〈◊〉 not be justly feared such fruit as this that hee tocke an occasion to set out Mr. Answorths Sarmon , that so with it hee might send abroad his vnproffitable writings , and that hee might get the better sale which alone of them selfe would haue , but littel esteeme ; But let not Mr. S. pretend loue in this : for loue 1. Cor. 13. thinketh not euill : But hee in this hath done euill : loue rejoyceth in the trueth .

But hee strifeth in errour and contention , therfore let Mr. S. feare that hee is guiltye of this Scripture , Prou. 26. 18. 19. 21. which saith : As a mad man casteth fire brandes arrowes & death , so is the man that dece●…ueth his neighbour , and saith am not I in sport , so hee speaketh of loue , but hee casteth vntruethes scandalles , and reproches and errour .

M. Staes . in the beginning of his Preface showeth from the 1. Sam. 7. 2. how that the people of God lamented after the Lord , and as hee saith , the same affectione mee thinkes I perceive in many of you : to the which I answere , it ought not only to be the affectione of many : But of all : Gods people to lament the want of the Lords holy ordinances , and wheras hee speaketh of divers inconvenices for the want of the ministery , alas who will not grant it , and more then hee speaketh of , but wheras hee saith ; Being divers times hurried & ●…orne . with the loud out cryes and hard handling of furious and vnmercifull spirits . These things will fall vpon the head of Mr. S. himselfe : but first I answer : that wee are but weake mene and do sin in our best actions , how much more in the handling of the matteres of controversie , in the which there is allwayes opposition , yea all though the cause be never so just .

And especially such subtill opposeres as Mr. S. and such as are with him be , and not only subtill , b●…t violent and vnresty and labouring daily to corrupte others who should others wayes thinke . But that in these troubles in many things wee have sinned , I speake it to Godes glory and our owne shame ▪ although the chiefe matter in countrouersy must ly vpon the head of Mr. S. wher it is due with all the euill euentes that doth follow hee being the cause of it . But vnto his clamours , I answer , although wee bee weake & subject to fayle , yet it followeth not therfore that his clamours are true : for what be the outcryes by the which hee or any are torn with all , I hope in countrouersy men must be answered , and if sinne be committed it ought to be blamed , but haue wee done as hee hath done , not only with his tong and pene to send letters , but also in print to send abroad his injurious writings by the which hee slandereth his neighbours , and not only once , but the second time as for example his 16. Questions set out the yeare ▪ 1623. would not any man that readeth them thinke that they are our grounds that hee hath sett out by the way of question , whereas in deed they are his owne framing as they may fite his owne turne beste , yea some altogether false as question the 5. and others the like may not one of them are so sett downe as that wee will approue of it : therfore as Mr. S. hath done euill in making such questions , so hath the answerer , or made his answer according as his mind was declined : and as Mr. S. hath done vs Injurie in them , so hath hee now as I shall shewe , if wee had thus done vnto him then hee might have complained of outcryes . But hee is like a quarrelling man which layeth hard strokes vpon his neighbours , & with all crieth out that hee hath the injury : & if hee be so bold as to sett out in print such vntruethes against vs : what may wee thinke hee hath done in secret with his tong and pene wher wee cannot come to know it : a few words is convenient more to be spoken concerning his 16. Questions , hee saith in his Epistle that hee was much prouoked latly to further it by some amongst vs , I am doubtfull of it , although hee saith that diuers can witnesse it because I know how vnresty hee is , and how smale an occasion hee will take to be provoked vnto his end lesse strife , nay was it not rather that hee toke an occasion both then & now to sett his Printery a worke , for in deed if hee goeth one as hee doth begin hee may make great vollomes to idle contention : but I hope a Christian answer may satisfie a descret reader & to keepe to the mayne things that are different betweene vs , but if any did provoke Mr. S. I hope they did not provoke him to sett downe 〈◊〉 nor yet to pervert our reasons by his owne formings . Hee saith these questions & answers were severall times tendered to our sight which wee would not vouchsafe to regard : to the which I answer neither doe wee regard them now , but doe retourne them to the former of them to whome they are due , & desire him as reason requireth that hee will giue his leaue to frame our owne groundes , as wee haue just occasions : and for our not receiving in to publique these questions & answers , by the answer allredye geven wherin is shewed how vntrue they are , are sufficiente , not to receive them , & also wee had experiance of his troublesomnes before : and should such things be read to the congregation moreouer it was signified that if they came with repentance wee were redy to hear it , and to receiue them with gladnes , but to read his forged writings in the Church wee have no warrant in the word of God , nor any example nor costome : And whereas hee saith : In these to our vnderstanding are comprehended the marrowe & substance of the things in difference betweene vs arising , both from that letter writ to London , the cause of our misery and other actions and dealinges occasioned from the same . To the which I answer first hee himselfe granteth . Them to be collected and composed questions in that hee saith : in these to our vnderstanding are comprehended , which as hee saith , did arise both from the letter and other actions and dealinges occasioned : Answer . But doth not our opposites knowne : that the 〈◊〉 placeing of words or the lacking of a word : or the adding of a word may change the sence , & too whome made hee these questions , was is not to one that was corrupted with the same errour that he held euen as dipt as himselfe , and should wee not expect a good resolution : neither will the marrowe and substance of the differences betweene vs , appeare by such questions and answers , for som questions which hee gathereth , are amisshapen and wanteth that that should be with it , and some are false and it is no marveile : for hee saith they arise from actions and dealings occasioned : and who knoweth not that by such compositions wee may be very much wronged and so wee are in deed . But wher hee calleth our letter the cause of our misery . To the which I answer his errour and his vnrestynes in his errour is the cause of our misery in all these troubles in questions , and for the letter although it is infearme as it is by man composed , yet is it a worke of God by his people against errour & sinne , being the manifesting of our Iudgment confermed by the word of God against that Samaritanest Couenant : being there vnto called : and haue not wee the Scriptures plantyfull for our warrant , having the Prophetes and Apostels for our example , it being appart of our spirituall warfare against since and seed of the serp●…nte to witnesse against such counterfait Couenant as the Prophet saith : Osea . 10. 4. They have spoken words swearing falsly in making a Covenant : and as Iohn saith , Reu. 2. 10. I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Iewes and are not , but are the Synagogue or Satan : and have wee not also an example in a such like cause as this in the Church of Ephesus which was commanded by the Holy Ghost Reu. 2. 2. for examining of them which saith they was Apostells , and are not : and hast found them liares . And should wee be blamed for examining of them as say they are visible Christians , and haue made a true Covenant when in deed they are found to be liares and this man : who is the chiefe cause of this our misery hath bin found falty in this respect long ago in London for hee went to Mr. Lee , and his people and desired of them Communion signifying to them that hee was as they ware : being in the same Covenant , & so got into theire Communion : But when they came to heare that Mr. S. had deceiued them : ther was a meeting appointed betwene Mr. Lee and his people , & Mr. Iacobe and his people , at the which Mr. Sta. himselfe was presente and three other men which afterwards 〈◊〉 members of our Church which testified vnto vs , how things was caried : so being come together , Mr. Iacobe their manifested as the truth was that they never intented separation from the Church of England : appearing to Mr. S. I for witnesse saying their sittes Mr. S. 〈◊〉 him gainsay it if hee can : to the which speech , hee had not one word to gainsay : yet after this hee coming over to vs hee caried himselfe in the like manner towards vs , and wee being ignorante how things did stand and hee concealing the truth , hee had almost drawne our teacher to yeld to lett him communicate . But when these 3. Brethren had given in their testimony how things did stand , then our teacher saith : That them it was to be considered other wayes , & no doubt if the Lord had continued his life hee would haue discouered that Couenant in question , and yet for all this did this man continue in his vntrue speaking a long time after this saying that they were the most part separated , and when hee was asked , why hee did not then excepte against Mr. Iacobe when hee appealled to him for witnesse : and being observed that your silence was a consent as in such causes it is offtentimes : to the which hee answered that it did not follow , that because hee answered not , that therfore it was so : and yet behold besides M. Iacobes testimony wee sence haue other witnesse of 〈◊〉 R. B. men , which was at the Couenant making , that none of them 〈◊〉 D. P. separated , and this is vnder ther owne hands ratified : and in one o●… their testimonies which was don by their eldere hee is blamed 〈◊〉 as followeth : whosoeuer shall say that they were separated , may wel take shame vnto themselues , yea though it should bee M. S. himselfe , and vnto this writing is the hands of . Three more which testifye S. I. that all of them went to hearing in the Church of England after E. H. the Couenant making to ther knowledge : and now seing that these A. B. things are so in the which this man hath gone beyond himselfe in the speciall ground from whence all these our troubles did arise , how should hee feare himselfe even in his errour , and to take heed how hee goeth one in his procedings least the Lord leaue him vnto hardnes of harte , and to blindnes of eyes , as a just recompence for striuen against the truth : or to lay a snar in Mizpach , to insnare the soules of men , or to doe as Balaam did , which taught Balac to put a stumbling blocke before the Children of Israell , which this man hath done , and doth in the maintaining of that Samaritanesh Couenant , as through the helpe of the Lord , I shall proue in due time : And none to retourne to Mr. S. Preface againe hee calleth vs vnmercyfull spirits , who vnder pretence of godly zeale , and hatred against sinne vngodly massacre the true and living members of Christ body . First I answer that if I should follow him in all his clamours and insinuations , & also his taking vp of mens weaknesse let fall in reasoning , and dispute which hee vseth to hide his owne faultes and transgressions : then I say wee might haue worke enough to doe , and increase vnprofitable writtings . But let him know that all men of wisdome will thinke it apo●…re shifte to helpe himselfe with mens sinnes , or infirmityes to couer his owne sinnes , & so to auoide the maine matter in difference therfore fit it is : seing hee would not rest in his errour in peace : that now hee should . Both justifie his errour and his vnrestynes in his errour , which was the cause of his casting out or else to fall vnder it : and to retourne with repentance , but seing hee hath written vntru●… ths I shall make a briefe answer vnto them : But first wher hee saith wee are furious & vnmercifull , with other reprochfull termes before named : hee should haue stayed himselfe in these things vntill such time as hee had made good his cause in question , for who is not just in ther owne cause in their conceite which be in contention as hee is , and therfore the euill of his reproches , and all the hinderances vnto the truth , which hee speaketh of must lye vpon himselfe , except hee could make his errour truth and his vnrestynes , with seeking to se●… to be good and lawful , which I know is more then hee is abell to doe . And for his quoting of Scriptures how largly and fitly might they all be applyed vpon himselfe as 1. Thess. 4. 1. might be applyed to him to show his busines before hee came to vs , and whill hee was with vs : and since hee was cast out being a raiser vp of contention so breaking those Scriptures Galat. ●… . 15. and 1. Cor. 11. 16. also for Rom. 16. 17. How euidently doth that Scripture reproue his factious action , for the which hee was cast out . But I leaue the manifesting of it vnto his propre place . And for the other whom hee saith are thrust out of the Church : which witnesse for them I hope all men of vnderstanding may consider , that men that haue euill causes for the most part they lack not some partaker to assist them : And for them were they not as forward as any to cast out these two opposites , yea more forward then many , and I am suer more forward then my selfe , and what hath changed theire mindes they say the meeting of the brethren afterwards to be spoken of which I may say is lese then affige leaue to couer there shame : and therefore may it not bee well feared that respects haue stollen awaye ther affection seing theire reason of change is of so little waight : and for this I can show reasons , but at this time I spare ; because that some although justly touched : yet would bee to much moued , and although I could say more yet I stay here , knowing that such things doth , but tend to vaine ●…anglinge . But this man hath administred the cause to speake this . And wheras hee saith wee reject the word of God & all wholsome counsell for our amendement countrary to the very letter of the 38. article , and why did hee not shew wherin also : was it not because hee might doubt of the truth of his affirmation and suer , if it be layd vpon him for an vntruth , I see 〈◊〉 how hee can shifte it for our article speaketh of the communion that all Churches haue for counsell , and helpe in all needfull things in the common faith , and this did wee practise in that our letter to the Church at London , in the which this man did so much oppose vs , and hath made all this troubell , and also wee practise that article as wee haue just occasion : But doth hee meane wee breake this article because wee doe not at his pleasure his will or the willes of such as h●… stoureth vp to bring other Churches , to bee judges whether hee bee rightly cast out or not , if all that are cast out should haue that righte as I know not why hee should haue more right then others : then t●… Churchs should haue worke enough to doe to looke to others businesses & to neglect their owne . But wee must learne to put a differance betweene that which concearneth the common faith , and the proper power that euery seuerall Church hath in it selfe : as for example in Reu. 2. and 3. chap. euery particular Church hath theire commandation or reprofe as they deserved : and as the Church of Pergamus was reproued for suffering of such as taught the Doctrine of Balaam , so needed they not to aske another church whether they should restraine them that so taught or , whether they should cast them out if they would not be restrained , or when they had cast out anie to call for other Churches to know whether they had done wel or not in so doing , especially to such Churches as were corrupted with the same errour , and hear obserue : that when wee did follow our article in the sending our letter to the Church at London at theire request , then wee did euill as hee accounts , because it was against his errour . But now wee must follow him although against reason , and bring our power in to bondage or else hee will tell vs , wee reject the word of God , and doe contrary to our owne article , hee telleth vs of our teachers speech vpon his deathbed concerning Christian moderation , suerly , the best of vs doth , come to shorte of it often times , but why did hee himselfe so soone forget it , seing hee was so vnresty in his errour : for hee was theire , and heard his words . But they whom hee aymeth at to my best remembrance was not their : vpon whom hee taketh this occasion , to speake things not conuenient , and to bring in another mans speech which helpeth not him in his matter to make it good or euill : neither will wismen think it wisdome in him , to set out mens infirmities to the world thinking therby to couer his owne : And for the causles troubles contrary to the Law and Gospell , which hee speaketh of that is to be proued by him , or they that can : when wee come to the pointe . Hee saith , the Church of Leyden hath plainly proued it too vs . I know not that they haue proue any such thing . But one thing I know that they take things for granted that are not so : as for example Mr. S. saith that wee doe contrary to the letter of the 8. position in our Apologie , wher hee would make others beleeve that his sinnes in question are , but matters of suspected euills , and not euills in deed , wherin hee shall sind himselfe greatly deceiued when hee cometh to the triall therof : and wher hee saith certain discontented brethren made a meeting to change that solemne agreement of the church , the elder consenting and acting with them . Answer : How can this man cleare himselfe from a willfull vntrueth in this thing , seing their were diuers Brethren their and all witnesse except one man , that they did nothing , but desired the elder that in the writing of the letter that hee should be carefull to keepe to the true meaning and minde of the Church : in that their sentence and the reason why they did so desir him was because as they told the elder that some of those few contrary minded brethren did pervert the Churches meaning alredy : and that one which indeuoured to seeke and make matter about this meeting , yet in the publique when the thing was in question hee confessed and sayd , that their was nothing done or concluded by the brethren . Now this man being one that was present , and also being very willing to condemne the brethren , if he could haue don it , yet hee thus confessing , and all the brethren testifying as before is sayd , and denieth Mr. S. accusation , and Mr. S. hath bin told of these things although hee hath thus written : and doth hee not know , that if a thing bee denyed by on man , in any acte done that hee is accused of that one I say cannot be condemned , but by the mouth of two constant witnesses : how then is this man guiltles which would condemne many , and yet not hauing one constant witnesse : & for that which hee saith the elder bringing the letter was blamed for writing contrary to the Churches joint agreement , and his owne promise would not hee make the reader beleeve that the Church blamed the elder ; because their agreement was altered an that therfore the letter was tourned backe again : But was it not hee that blamed the elder , and the other three brethren that stod with him , for their was no more at that time that I can remember : But for the Church they knew their owne minde and excepted of it as their owne minde to condemne the Couenant . But because M. S. and another were produced for witnesse , and hee refused it and sayd the other would not do it neither : therfor was it willed the elder to put that thing out : and this was the tourning back of the letter . But how collerable doth hee sett it downe to make it fayer for his porpose : much like the diuells ancient oracle which might 〈◊〉 tourned two wayes , for hee telleth the reader , it was blamed , but hee telleth not by whome it was blamed , hee saith it was tourned backe : But hee telleth not wherfore the Church tourned it backe : & wher hee saith , that the elder was willed to writ the first peacable agreement : it may be hee might so plead or so speake , but that the Church did so , it is not true : But as befor it hath bin signified , and why doth hee thus : is it not because hee would haue the reader to vnderstand it was because his errour was condemned which in deed was not so : and I am persuaded hee dares not say otherwayes although hee hath thus written . But their is one thing more to be spoken of : which is that hee and some with him , would bear vs downe : that the Church did not condemne the Couenant at the first , but left it vnjudged : to this I answer divers things briefly , & first I suppose that hee knoweth , that vpon his clamours and some with him that then the sentence of the Church was called , which gaue their sentence : that they condemned the Couenant the first daye : 2. his owne friends which as hee sayd witnessed for him : they I say tourning their mindes about towards Mr. S. they made 6. or 7. weekes contention , saying that the Churches sentence was altered , and why , sayd they , because the word false was added in the letter : therefore sayd they the Church condemned the Couenant sufficiently by other words . But the word false was auoyded for offence sake : thus it went on 6. or 7. weekes till the letter was looked into , and then it was found that the word false was not their . But to the thing in hand this is the testimony of his owne friends , but that which wee say or his owne friends haue sayd is nothing with him for hee will goe one needlesly to endlesse contention , 3. needlesse I say , for if it had bin as hee sayeth that the Church had not condemned the Couenant the first day , because they would not offend those few brethren : if then those few brethren , made an euill vs of it : I hope the Church had power to condemne it , afterwards for their owne preseruation both of their membres , and of the trueth : and who compelled the Church to consent : was it not because it was their owne minde to condemne the Couenant . But had the Church don as hee saith in that thing : then I say had hee done as the Prophet saith to lay a snar in Mizpha . 4. lett not him thinke that this Samaritanest Couenant should haue that priviledge which circoncision had which was the Lords seale of old to be laid downe in honnour , yet when it was abused , the Apostell left the vse thereof , and would not giue place for one hower : but is it a thing lickly that when the elder brought the letter to reade it , being but a weeke betweene that none of the Church could minde that the sentence was altered , but hee & them few with him for hee knows their is freedom of exception to ●…ll , but one thing more is to be obserued concerning the difference betweene the dealing of this men , and those brethren whom hee accuseth in that meeting , for when his matter was in the publique hee refused to debat the matter , but would haue it tourned to priuate , but those brethren whom hee accuseth , did not only lay down what they did in that their meeting , but offered themselfes to the triall of all that if any could shew it to be otherwayes they should do it : and not only once , but divers times was this in question and allwayes they offering themselfes to triall .

And whereas hee speaketh of a thing yet worse , for either the elder alone or these priuy counsellers with him , stod not to this second agreement the Church made , but wrote another with alteration , addition , and diminishing : besides the Churches knowledge and consent , and sent it for the churchs minde and act . Answer first , wher hee speaketh of the second agreement , I know but one agreement , twise spoken of , and the occasion is manifested before , two if the alteration which hee speaketh of , had bin by him sett downe : then it may be it would appeare to be , but that which hee had commission from the Church to doe , as he himselfe granteth in some thing , but wheras hee speaketh of adding and diminishing , these things are yet to proue , for I know not of any such thing : neither any man that I know of did see the letter or gaue any counsell concerning it , after it cam from the publique , but the elder himselfe .

But wheras hee saith that they were cast out vpon a very suspicion that a few of them met to writ to contradict the Churches action . Answer , I can not but marueil at him , that hee should thus ran into this vntruth to say that it was but suspicion , did not hee himselfe confesse , yea of himselfe manifest , both to the elder , and also to others before it came to the Church besides some that heard the letter reade , and I hope hee dares not deny . But that hee did grante in the publique in the generall , that his letter was the apposing of the letter of the Church , although hee would not in the particulars debat the matters .

And after hee was cast out hee sayd , what did hee , but take away the erronist grounds which Mr. Delaycluce writ in the letter : and therfore he thinking his errour is a trueth , it may be hee thinketh so to deceiue the reader , so likewise hee calleth the laying downe of the matter in the Church the false information of the elder , and that two of them were singled out , and selected from the rest . First I answer , what doth hee call the false information of the elder , I hope hee knoweth that both himselfe , & to other with him did manifeste to the elder themselses that they had written in opposition to the Church , and so consequently contrary to that trueth , which the Church maintained in the letter : was it not this that the elder informed the Church of , hee also saith that two were singled out from the rest , in which hee would giue the reader to vnderstand , as if all that those two had got to their meeting , were at the first knowne wheras in deed it was otherwayes : for although it was knowne that they had a meeting to that porpose , yet euery particular person was not then knowne , but those two opposites made knowne themselses to the elder of the Church pretending to him as if they would submit it to correction : the elder refused to meddle with it himselfe , but told them that it parteined to the Church ; they consented to haue it come to the church , but when it was propounded and laid downe their , then they refused to answer or to debat the matter , nor yet to deliuer vp the letter : and the reason that they pretended was , because the elder in the laying downe of the matter sayd that that which they had done was a thing of an euill nott , and was this a sufficient reason to refuse to debat the matter : what i●… the elder had done like Moses Numb . 32. ●…4 . or like the messenger of the Church , Iosua 22. 18. or like Ely 1. Sam. 1. 14. all these were directly charged with heauy charges and they were cleare , yet did they Christi●…lik debat their matters , & cleared themselues , but these opposites ●…ere , but touched & presently they kiked , and so fullfilled the common prouerb that agalled horse backe is soon harte : but they ought rather to haue approued themselse or to haue submitted themselues to the meanes to come out of their sinne , as Dauid saith Psalm ▪ 141. 5. Let the righteous smite mee , it shall be a kindnes : and let him reproue mee , it shall be an excellent oyle which shall not breake my head . Wher was their pretended committing it to correction when vpon so little occasion they refused triall in the ●…ght place where it should be tried . And for that speech which hee saith the informer speake that it might be holy , just & good : for ought hee knew , this was a speech spoken to prouoque him to answer ●…hilles they were a reasoning together . And the best of vs may escape words some times in reasoning that will not stand : yet is not this man the clearer for all that .

But wher hee saith that the matter was followed by interrogatories to finde out sinne . Answer : sinne was found when his vnrestynes in his errour was found , and this being now manifested , and layd down to the Church , wee needed not make much cerching to find the sinne , but rather to vse the best meanes wee could to draw them out of their sinne which then did appeare : and how could this be done , but their must be questions or demandes , or as hee termeth them interrogatories , and a little after hee calleth them intraping demandes , but hee must not shifte the thing so , for did not hee alltogether refuse to debat the matter in the publique , saying they were not according to the rull Matth. 18. dealt with all , therfore they refused to debat the matter in the publique , and hee knoweth well , that when any is asked a question , that is not meet or reasonable they may , and doe refuse to answer , and so might hee have done if hee could haue shewed vnlawfull questions , but in that hee did refuse alltogether to answer or to debat , the matter therin was their sinne of opposing of gouernment , and how contrary were they in this to the seruants of God of old : Numb. 32. 14. 15. 16. Iosua 22. 21. Who although they were charged with heauy charges and had not sinned , yet they answered and cleared themselues . But these although they had sinned , yet they refused to debat or to answer , and neglected the meanes to come out of their sinne : and for his saying it was contrary to Matth. 18. I refer the reader to the answer of his postscript . Hee saith that they were cast out without knowledge of sinnes , & also that they protested solemnly they had neither don the thing so suspected nor intended it . Answer , I still except against his word suspected , for the thing was plainly layd vpon them : for although at the first it was caried with a●…low and safte words , saying that it was a thing of an euill nott , and that they ought to answer euen to apparences of euill in such publique matters of the Church as this was , and seing they did run vnto such an action , they ought to answer , and to that end was Iosua 22. and 1. Thes. 5. 22. brought the one shewing that Christians ought to keepe themselues from apparances of euill : the other Scripture shewing that if a Christian doth any thing that seemeth contrary to the Law of God , they ought to cleare themselues , and to this was added Actes 11. wh●… Petter cleared himselfe , but all this could not persuad them to answer and to debat the matter , so when they still refused : their sinne was condemned by Ephes. 4. 3. 4. and 1. Cor. 3. 3. and other Scriptures , and by these Scriptures was their factious or vnlawfull meeting condemned as their refusall too answer was condemned , as befor is shewed : so then sinne was knowne before they were cast out : but what is that which hee protested they had neither done nor intended it befor I haue shewed how they opposed the Church in the trueth , in that their vnlawfull meeting , to the which I ad this : they that maintaine an errour doe sinne Reu. 2. 14. they that seduce to errour doth sinne vers. 20. they that sequester apart of the church against the church , the church maintaining the trueth doth sinne Rom. 1●… . 17. and all this did they in that meeting , therfore when wee knew of their meeting to conferme that letter : wee knew that all this was by them committed : but it may be hee will excepte , and say that the thing was not so layd downe to them at the first as now I doe , that is true , but were not they the cause of that that it was not , seing they refused to debat , the matter or to answer as I haue shewed therefore the sinne was condemned in the generalls , as I shewed before . But how shall wee vnderstand his protestation concerning his intendement , it may bee hee did not intend any euill , & why because hee minded it to be good , & for the trueth : but wee meddle not with his intendement , but with his action . Petter though hee intended good when hee parsuaded the Lord Iesus not to suffer at Ierusalem . But therin hee was an instrument of Satan to ouerthrow the saluation of all Gods electe , if Satan could haue preuailed by him , and as Petter good intend could not beare him out , seeing his deed was euill , yea although it was his ignorance , so will not his good intend helpe him , seing his deed was euill : Hee goeth one with many clamours after his manner , to the which I haue giuen some answer before . But where hee chargeth vs with partiallity for spearing of scandallous euills least our euill combination , should be weakned discouered or broken . Answer , if all that ●…ich this man saith were true , it might make vs appeare euill in the eyes of men : to the which end hee settes it out : that hee might coller his owne euills , but wee must minde it to be the fruites of his loue , and his loue token thus to do , for hee hath told vs in the beginning of his booke that therefore hee hath sett out Mr. Answorths sermon .

But would hee haue done Mr. Answorth that injury , but vpon this occasion hee might also power out his malice against vs : but to the thing in hand , I considered in my selfe what hee did meane by those scandalous euills , but I could not minde what hee aimed at , so I asked M. S. what hee did meane by these scandallous sinnes hee speake of in his booke , but hee shifted mee of and would not tell mee ; now what dealing is this that a man will sett out to the world such reproches , and refuse to manifest them to one that might vse meanes to helpe them , if their bee any : but let honnest men judge of this his doings . Hee saith further that irregular proceedings haue made our brethren in all places to hange downe their heads , and hee saith wee haue bin plainly certified from sundry churches . Answer that wee haue bin so certified from sundry churches , I know no such thing . But it is his manner if on man let a word fall , hee will apply it to all , as see the answer to his Postscript : now true it is , that one Church which receiued him to them by his Samaritanesh Couenant , they in deed do take his part or else they must condemne themselues , but for any more I know not any : But if it were so , it would not make him cleare in his matter ; therfore let him leaue these clamours , and stand to the cause in differance , that ●…o hee may either approue himselfe or fall vnder it . And wheras hee saith now for these , and the like offences diuers that were of vs turn the backe vpon vs , and betake themselues to liue at large , as if now the dore of indifferency or libertinisme were sett open , that it matters not whome they heare or wher they walke .