THe third day of this present month of Ian : 1635. New Stile , at noone , the fornamed booke was delivered into my hands , by a Reverent Brother , which when I had received , and read the title page , and considered the drift of the Publisher , I was amased to see my name prefixed and passages , which concerned me , Published , without my knowledge , and usshered with such harsh and unsavoury language , and Scriptures so wrested and missapplyed : nor could I have rest in my Spirit , till I had resolved upon this Protestation , which I now publish for the declaration , both of mine innocencie in this matter , and of my hearty dislike of this course .

First , therefore , I doe solemniley and sadly protest these three following particulars .

1. That I know not , nor can yet learne , who is the Publisher therof .

2 That he had not my approbation , or consent to this Publishing of it .

3. That I doe account the injury done herein so greate , that I know not how the Publisher of it shall be able to make satisfaction , other wise , then by revoking his books , burning the whole impression , or printing another , that may passe as publickly , as this is like to doe , in acknowledgement of his fault .

Secondly , what motive set this Publisher upon this worke I know not nor , can I magine , unles I knew the man . If the arrow against the Seperation Stick still in his side , A Booke be made by Mr. Paget and cause him thus to kick , and fling , let him know that recrimination is no APOLOGY , A Booke be made by Mr. Paget and books are better answered by arguments , then reproaches , and it is more wisdom to heale a mans selfe , then to wound another , to clense himselfe , then to besmeare another . If some other , not ingaged in that quarrail , be the doer of it , I wish him to consider seriously , whether some by-respect , or secret distemper have not biassed his spirit a wronge way , or imbittered it too much .

Thirdly : seing the Publisher consealeth his name , saying , Published by one that &c. I pray him to informe him selfe of three things .

Quaere . 1 1. Whether that one be not , in this act , an injurious one ? If so ; had that evill bene a raigning sinne in him , which , I hope , is but , his infirmitie , it would have bene found no small sinne in the punishment , which he may yet escape by repentance 1. Tim. 1.13.14.16 .

As for my self ; had I bene Silent in this case ; every man would have concluded mee guilty : yea , it is already reported that I am the author of it , and so , besides the injury done to my selfe ( being represented to the publick view as a contentious person , which I naturally abhorr , and by Grace much more ) the injury also would have fallen upon so many persons , as , upon this occasion , should have bene scandalised by evill surmises unjustly received against me , which is Slander in hearte .

Quaere 2 2 Whether that one be not , in this acte , one , that soweth discord among Brethren , which is one of the sixe things the Lord hateth and of the seaven that are an abhomination to him . Pro. 6.16.17 18.19 . For , if this was not the end , or intent of the publisher ( as I will hope , it was not ) yet , if God doe not , beyond expectation , mercifully prevent it , it may be the end or event of the worke . But the Lord rebuke Sathan ! The beginning of Strife is as the opening of Waters , sayth Salomon pro. 17.14 . If any man should goe about to open the sluses , how soone might these NETHERLANDS be drowned , before they could be stopped againe ? And , who knoweth not that a little Child may fire an house , which a thousand men cannot quench ?

Quaere . 3 Thirdly . Whether that one , be not this acte , a Buisy body ? 2. Thes. 3.11 . one , that Busieth himselfe in other mens matters . 1. pet. 4.15 . For , if the publisher be not a member of that Church ; what calling hath he to interpose himselfe thus publickly in matters , which properly and only concerne that Church ? If he be a member of that Church ; what warrant hath any particular member to publish those greivances to the world , which are by them selves referred to they re Consistory , before matters have bene there discussed , and determined , or , at least , before the issue , and conclusion , which there shall be put to the question , hath bene sufficiently demanded and expected ? who ever he be ; who called him to intrude himselfe into matters that appertame to me , so farr as to publish a privat wrighting , with my name to it , without my kno●wledg , and against my mind ?

I leave the publisher to satisfie him selfe in these particulers , which whilest he endeavoreth to doe , I wil labour to satisfye all men concerning myne innocencie in the first part of the booke , leaving the second part of the booke to the members of that Church , whom it concerneth .

First , I confesse , that , about sixe months since , having bene often provoked by injurious reports , about my letter to the Classis , and about my Tenet against promiscuous Baptizing all that are brought ( especially in such a place as Amsterdam ) and about my desisting , and about passages betweene Mr. Paget , and me , and having bene much sollicited by particular freinds , to give my answers to such objections , as were dayly brought to me , and , being informed that the Duch in that citty , and some of the members of that Church , and many of our nation , in other parts of these Contries , were by misreports prejudiced against me , and , seing that I purposed shortly to leave these Contries : upon such necessity , and much importunity , I was constrayned to sett downe those particulars in wrighting , that some freind might be able to speake in the cause of the dumb , and to cleare the trueth in my absence .

Secondly . I professe , that no man hath the originall Copie , but my selfe , and that , for aught I know , I never gave it to more then two to peruse , and whether they both transcribed Copies out of it , or no , I know not , but they both returned myne to me againe , which , I have in my keeping , at this instant , and my intent , in communicating it to those two , was only to inable them to give privat satisfaction to those that should require it of them , and so to inable those to satisfye others , in a private way , as may appeare , in that I applyed my selfe , in that wrighting , onely to such things as were then objected , concealing other things which I might have added for my further clearing , vnles more publick provocation should make it necessary to publish all together . Which I have hither to forborne , expecting when God would sweetly order , and dispose the spirits of pastor and people , in that Church , to vnity and concord betweene them selves , in some conclusions , and wayes of advancing they re mutuall good and comfort agreable to the Gospell , and rule , which Christ hath left for his Churches to walke by , which I have hoped hither to that God would , in time , effect , and doe still hope and pray forit : The grant where of would be to me , matter of vnfeigned joy and thanksgiving ( not with standing al the Injuryes which I have Suffered in that place ) whersoever it should please God to pich my tent afterwards .

Thirdly , From hence it will follow , that I am al to-gether innocent in this Matter , which , as I knew not of it , till it was brought to me in print , so I vtterly dislike , both for the vnseasonablenes of the worke , and for the vnreasonable , and vncharitable bitternes of the Publisher .

Lastly , my request therfore is ,

1. to M. Paget that he will rest satisfied with my ingenuous profession , and acquitt me ( as he aught ) of any suspicion of guilt , in this particular .

Secondly . To the publisher , that , seing he omitted to cleare my innocency in his first publication of this Phamphlett , he will now do me so much right as to affixe this sheete of paper , in stead of a postscript , to his booke , or disperse it among all persons , to whose hands his booke shall come , or is come . But he will most gratifieme , if he make one good fire of both together

Thirdly . To all men , to whose hands the other book shall come , that they will spedily send this after it , or stiche this with it : assuring themselfes , that , if I could have foreseene this injury , I would have prevented it . For , how soever I have written nothing in that declaration , but the truth ( which I am also ready to confirme , as occasion shall require ) yet , I affect not to make that publick which may be ended privaty , much lesse to be the first in a contention , whether publick or private .

Now the very God of peace , who also is Love , vnite our hearts to himselfe , and one to and other in that Love , which is out of a Pure hart , and a good Conscience , and faith vnfeined : and in able vs to keepe the vnity of the Spirit , in the bond of peace , even for his sake , who is the prince of peace , and in whom Wee , who sometimes were afarr off , are made night by the blood of Christ , who is our peace !