The disarmers dexterities examined. In a second defence of the treatise of schisme. / By H. Hammond, D.D.

Sect. 3.

The affinity betwixt Schisme Disarmed and the Catholick Gen∣tlemans letter. The design of this Answer.

ANd when I shall have subjoyned two considerations more, I shal have rid my self, and the Reader of a great part of the task, which seemes incumbent on both of us, and so shor∣ten our work, by inlarging our procinctus or entrance to it.

[ 2] First then it is manifest, that Schisme Disarmed is in a great part of it nothing else but the inlarging on those briefer animad∣versions, which had been given by the letter from Bruxels, or the Catholick Gentlemans answer to the most material parts of the Book of Schisme; For which purpose I refer the Reader to p. 24. of Schisme Disarmed: where after some praelusory lighter skirmishes, he thus begins. These grounds laid, it were not amisse to insert here what the Author of that Epistle which was written from Bruxells in Answer to D^r Ha. saith upon this place] adding his judgement of that letter, that had it not been strangled in the birth, and miscarried in the Printers hand, it might have saved the labour of this larger confute; and being exactly short might justly be styled D^r Ha. his Iliads in a Nutshel, since the force of it was so united, the reason in it so firmly connected, as might have cost the D^r a full ten years siege, ere he could make a breach into it by his brown Paper bullets.] This passage of kindnesse and reference to that Epistle, with ma∣ny other characters of affinity betwixt that, and Schisme dis∣arm'd, especially the first of the three parts of it, perswade me that the Author of that Epistle was the Penman of at least the first part of Schisme Disarmed: And agreeably the answers there drawn in little, have here a larger pourtraiture, but remain in substance, the same, with the advantage onely of some growth of limbs and such like accidentall improvements. Now whereas it is certain, that I have punctually made replie to that whole letter, and every period in it, setting it down and attending it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and having first, to the utmost of my skill, rescued it from all the

Printers miscarriages, (which is all the strangling in the birth he speaks of) and then improved every Answer in it, as far as I could foresee it improveable, never taking the least advantage either of the conciseness of its natural frame, or the misadventures it had casually met with; It were now not onely superfluous for me, but unjust, equally impertinent, and unconscionable to make the Reader pay twice for the same Answers, and therefore no other then duty thus far to comply with his ease, and thrift, as to refer him to that Reply for all that is there competently vindicated, without any further repetition, which I therefore here minde him of, once for all, and accordingly design this view of Schisme Disarm'd to be an Appendix onely to that Reply to the Catholick Gentleman, to glean after the rake, to consider onely those An∣swers in it, which had not been insisted on, in the haste of that briefer letter, but are now taken in by these 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Had my Disarmer taken notice of my Reply, (as he had time to have done, and I cannot apprehend his retirement, or imployment so strict that he should not hear of it) he might possibly have gi∣ven me a sight of some infirmities in it; But as it is, I discern no need of giving it any farther assistance, as far as respects those answers, which it undertook to consider: And so I have no more incumbent on me at this time, but to survey, and muster all the fresh forces, which now first appear in the field, and not to increase the roll with the new names and dresses, that the old stagers appear in, the second time.

[ 3] Secondly, there are some parts of the Tract of Schisme, which my Disarmer excepts against, as superfluous to the debate be∣twixt us, as that intire branch entred on, Ch. 6. of the Romanists plea from the Bishop of Romes having planted Christianity among us. Which being disclaim'd to be any plea of theirs, It is perfect∣ly needless that I should vindicate the arguments, that are fra∣med to refute that plea, any farther, then as he which grants my conclusion, will yet make some specious objections against my way of inferring it.

[ 4] Some other things there are of this kind, to all which I shall not need to give any attention especially when I have done it once in the Reply, And then that which remains, my present necessary charge or province, being thus refined, and separated from these three

parts of it, the declamation, the repetition, and what hangs loose, and may by consent be spared from the controversie before us; it will not retain so formidable a bulk, as it first appeared to have, and may by Gods blessing be dispatcht without much labour, and presented to the Readers use with some degree of that compendi∣um, which Philo speaks of, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the largest propor∣tions may be carved in little, and contrived into a signet, and so might, if the hand were fine enough, the portraiture of my Disarmer.

Notes

• p. 25.