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An Apology against a Pamphlet

call'd A Modeft Confutation

of the Animadverfions upon the Remonftrant against SMECTYMNUUS.

OF, Readers, to that fame great difficulty of well doing what we certainly know, were not added in moft men as great a careleffenes of knowing what they, and others ought to do, we had bin long ere this, no doubt but all of us much farther on our way to fome degree of peace and happineffe in this kingdome. But fince our finfull neglect of practifing that which we know to be undoubtedly true and good, hath brought forth among us, through Gods juft anger fo great a difficulty now to know that which otherwise might be foone learnt, and hath divided us by a controverfie of great importance indeed, but of no hard folution, which is the more our punishment, I refolv'd (of what small moment foever I might be thought) to ftand on that fide where I faw both the plain autority of Scripture leading, and the reason of justice and equity perfwading; with this opinion which efteemes it more unlike a Chriftian to be a cold neuter in the caufe of the Church, then the law of Solon made it punishable after a fedition in the

State. And because I observe that feare and dull difpofition, lukewarmeneffe and floth are not seldomer wont to cloak themselves under the affected name of moderation, then true and lively zeale is cuftomably difpareg'd with the terme of indifcretion, bitternesse, and choler, I could not to my thinking honor a good caufe more from the heart, then by defending it earnestly, as oft as I could judge it to behoove me, notwithstanding any falfe name that could be invented to wrong, or undervalue an honeft meaning. Wherein although I have not doubted to fingle forth more then once, fuch of them as were thought the chiefe and most nominated oppofers on the other fide, whom no man elfe undertooke: if I have done well either to be confident of the truth, whofe force is best feene against the ableft refiftance, or to be jealous and tender of the hurt that might be done among the weaker by the intrapping autority of great names titl❜d to falfe opinions, or that it be lawfull to attribute somewhat to guifts of Gods imparting, which I boast not, but thankfully acknowledge, and feare also left at my certaine account they be reckon'd to me many rather then few, or if lastly it be but justice not to defraud of due esteeme the wearifome labours and ftudious watchings, wherein I have spent and tir'd out almost a whole youth, I shall not diftruft to be acquitted of prefumption. Knowing that if heretofore all ages have receav'd with favour and good acceptance the earliest induftry of him that hath beene hopefull, it were but hard measure now, if the freedome of any timely fpirit fhould be oppreft meerely by the big and blunted fame of his elder adverfary; and that his fufficiency must be now sentenc't, not by pondering the reason he shewes, but by calculating the yeares he brings. However, as my purpose is not, nor hath beene formerly, to looke on my adversary

abroad, through the deceaving glaffe of other mens great opinion of him, but at home, where I may finde him in the proper light of his owne worth, so now against the rancor of an evill tongue, from which I never thought so abfurdly, as that I of all men should be exempt, I must be forc't to proceed from the unfained and diligent inquiry of mine owne confcience at home (for better way I know not, Readers) to give a more true account of my felfe abroad then this modeft Confuter, as he calls himfelfe, hath given of me. Albeit that in doing this I shall be fenfible of two things which to me will be nothing pleasant; the one is, that not unlikely I fhall be thought too much a party in mine owne cause, and therein to fee leaft; the other, that I shall be put unwillingly to moleft the publick view with the vindication of a private name; as if it were worth the while that the people should care whether fuch a one were thus, or thus. Yet those I intreat who have found the leafure to reade that name, however of small repute, unworthily defam'd, would be so good and fo patient as to heare the fame perfon not unneedfully defended. I will not deny but that the best apology against false accusers is filence and sufferance, and honeft deeds fet against dishonest words. And that I could at this time most eafily, and fecurely, with the least loffe of reputation ufe no other defence, I need not defpaire to win beliefe. Whether I confider both the foolish contriving, and ridiculous aiming of these his flanderous bolts, shot so wide of any fufpicion to be fastn'd on me, that I have oft with inward contentment perceav'd my friends congratulating themselves in my innocence, and my enemies afham'd of their partners folly. Or whether I look at these present times wherein most men now scarce permitted the liberty to think over their owne concernments have remov'd the feat of their

thoughts more outward to the expectation of publick events. Or whether the examples of men, either noble or religious, who have fat downe lately with a meeke filence and fufferance under many libellous endorsements, may be a rule to others, I might well appease my self to put up any reproaches in fuch an honourable fociety of fellow-fufferers ufing no other defence. And were it that flander would be content to make an end where it first fixes, and not feek to caft out the like infamy upon each thing that hath but any relation to the perfon traduc't, I should have pleaded against this Confuter by no other advocates, then those which I first commended, Silence, and Sufferance, and speaking deeds against faltering words. But when I difcern'd his intent was not fo much to fmite at me, as through me to render odious the truth which I had written, and to ftaine with ignominy that Evangelick doctrine which opposes the tradition of Prelaty, I conceav'd my felfe to be now not as mine own perfon, but as a member incorporate into that truth whereof I was perfwaded, and whereof I had declar'd openly to be a partaker. Whereupon I thought it my duty, if not to my felfe, yet to the religious caufe I had in hand, not to leave on my garment the least spot, or blemish in good name fo long as God should give me to say that which might wipe it off. Left thofe difgraces which I ought to fuffer, if it fo befall me, for my religion, through my default religion be made liable to fuffer for me. And, whether it might not fomething reflect upon those reverent men whose friend I may be thought in writing the Animadverfions, was not my last care to confider, if I should reft under these reproaches having the fame common adversary with them, it might be counted small credit for their cause to have found fuch an affistant, as this babler hath devis'd me. What other thing

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in his book there is of difpute, or question, in answering thereto I doubt not to be juftifi'd; except there be who will condemne me to have wafted time in throwing downe that which could not keepe it felfe up. As for others who notwithstanding what I can allege have yet decreed to mif-interpret the intents of my reply, I fuppofe they would have found as many causes to have mifconceav'd the reasons of my filence.

O beginne therefore an Apology for those animadverfions which I writ against the Remonftrant in defence of Smectymnus, fince the Preface, which was purposely set before them, is not thought apologeticall anough; it will be best to acquaint ye, Readers, before other things, what the meaning was to write them in that manner which I did. For I do not look to be afkt wherefore I writ the book, it being no difficulty to answer that I did it to those ends which the best men propose to themselves when they write. But wherfore in that manner neglecting the maine bulk of all that spacious antiquity, which might stunne children, but not men, I chofe rather to obferve fome kinde of military advantages to await him at his forragings, at his watrings, and when ever he felt himfelfe fecure to folace his veine in derifion of his more serious opponents. And here let me have pardon, Readers, if the remembrance of that which he hath licenc't himselfe to utter contemptuously of those reverend men provoke me to doe that over againe which fome expect I fhould excufe as too freely done; fince I have two provocations, his latest insulting in his short answer, and their finall patience. I had no fear but that the authors of Smedtymnus to all the shew of folidity which the Remonftrant could bring, were prepar'd both with skill and purpose to

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