A PROTESTATION Made and Published by john Davenporte upon occasion of a pamphlett Entitled A JUST COMPLAINT AGAINST AN UNJUST DOER published by a nameless person.  Pro. 26.17. 
He that passeth by, and meddleth with Strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ear.  Mat. 10.16.17. 
Be ye wise as Serpents, and harmless as Doves, but beware of Men.   flying angel blowing a horn and carrying a quill pen 
Pranted at ROTTERDAM, by Isaac from Waesbergbe, upon the Steygher, in the Fame. MDCxxxv.   

THe third day of this present month of jan: 1635. New Style, at noon, the fornamed book was delivered into my hands, by a Reverend Brother, which when I had received, and read the title page, and considered the drift of the Publisher, I was amazed 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 innocence in this matter, and of my hearty dislike of this course.  
First, therefore, I do solemniley and sadly protest these three following particulars.  
1. That I know not, nor can yet learn, who is the Publisher thereof.  
2 That he had not my approbation, or consent to this Publishing of it.  
3. That I do account the injury done herein so great, 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 pass as publicly, as this is like to do, in acknowledgement of his fault.  
Secondly, what motive set this Publisher upon this work I know not nor, can I magine, unless I knew the man. If the arrow against the Separation Stick still in his side, 
A Book be made by Mr. Paget  and cause him thus to kick, and fling, let him know that recrimination is no APOLOGY, 
A Book be made by Mr. Paget  and books are better answered by arguments, than reproaches, and it is more wisdom to heal a man's self, then to wound another, to cleanse himself, then to besmear another. If some other, not engaged in that quarrail, be the doer of it, I wish him to consider seriously, whether some by-respect, or secret distemper have not biased his spirit a wrong way, or imbittered it too much.  
Thirdly: seeing the Publisher consealeth his name, saying, Published by one that etc. I pray him to inform himself of three things.  
Quaere. 1 1. Whether that one be not, in this act, an injurious one? If so; had that evil been a reigning sin in him, which, I hope, is but, his infirmity, it would have been found no small sin in the punishment, which he may yet escape by repentance 1. Tim. 1.13.14.16.  
As for myself; had I been Silent in this case; every man would have concluded me guilty: yea, it is already reported that I am the author of it, and so, besides the injury done to myself (being represented to the public view as a contentious person, which I naturally abhor, and by Grace much more) the injury also would have fallen upon so many persons, as, upon this occasion, should have been scandalised by evil surmises unjustly received against me, which is Slander in heart.  
Quaere 2 2 Whether that one be not, in this act, one, that soweth discord among Brethren, which is one of the six things the Lord hateth and of the seven that are an abomination 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 do not, beyond expectation, mercifully prevent it, it may be the end or event of the work. But the Lord rebuke Satan! The beginning of Strife is as the opening of Waters, saith Solomon pro. 17.14. If any man should go about to open the sluices, how soon might these NETHERLANDS be drowned, before they could be stopped again? 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 act, a Buisy body? 2. Thes. 3.11. one, that Busieth himself in other men's matters. 1. pet. 4.15. For, if the publisher be not a member of that Church; what calling hath he to interpose himself thus publicly in matters, which properly and only concern 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 themselves referred to theyre Consistory, before matters have been there discussed, and determined, or, at least, before the issue, and conclusion, which there shall be put to the question, hath been sufficiently demanded and expected? who ever he be; who called him to intrude himself into matters that appertame to me, so far as to publish a private wrighting, with my name to it, without my kno●wledg, and against my mind?  
I leave the publisher to satisfy himself in these particulars, which whilst he endeavoreth to do, I will labour to satisfy all men concerning mine innocence in the first part of the book, leaving the second part of the book to the members of that Church, whom it concerneth.  
First, I confess, that, about six months since, having been often provoked by injurious reports, about my letter to the Classis, and about my Tenet against promiscuous Baptising all that are brought (especially in such a place as Amsterdam) and about my desisting, and about passages between Mr. Paget, and me, and having been much solicited by particular friends, to give my answers to such objections, as were daily brought to me, and, being informed that the Dutch in that city, and some of the members of that Church, and many of our nation, in other parts of these Country's, were by misreports prejudiced against me, and, seeing that I purposed shortly to leave these Country's: upon such necessity, and much importunity, I was constrained to set down those particulars in wrighting, that some friend might be able to speak in the cause of the dumb, and to clear the truth in my absence.  
Secondly. I profess, that no man hath the original Copy, but myself, and that, for aught I know, I never gave it to more than two to peruse, and whether they both transcribed Copies out of it, or no, I know not, but they both returned mine to me again, which, I have in my keeping, at this instant, and my intent, in communicating it to those two, was only to enable them to give private satisfaction to those that should require it of them, and so to enable those to satisfy others, in a private way, as may appear, in that I applied myself, in that wrighting, only to such things as were then objected, concealing other things which I might have added for my further clearing, unless more public provocation should make it necessary to publish all together. Which I have hither to forborn, expecting when God would sweetly order, and dispose the spirits of pastor and people, in that Church, to unity and concord between themselves, in some conclusions, and ways of advancing theyre mutual good and comfort agreeable to the Gospel, and rule, which Christ hath left for his Churches to walk by, which I have hoped hither to that God would, in time, effect, and do still hope and pray forit: The grant where of would be to me, matter of unfeigned joy and thanksgiving (not with standing all the Injuries which I have Suffered in that place) whersoever it should please God to pitch my tent afterwards.  
Thirdly, From hence it will follow, that I am all to-gether innocent in this Matter, which, as I knew not of it, till it was brought to me in print, so I utterly dislike, both for the unseasonableness of the work, and for the unreasonable, and uncharitable bitterness of the Publisher.  
Lastly, my request therefore 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, seeing he omitted to clear my innocency in his first publication of this Phamphlett, he will now do me so much right as to affix this sheet of paper, in stead of a postscript, to his book, or disperse it among all persons, to whose hands his book 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 speedily send this after it, or stitch this with it: assuring themselves, that, if I could have foreseen 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 confirm, as occasion shall require) yet, I affect not to make that public which may be ended privacy, much less to be the first in a contention, whether public or private.  
Now the very God of peace, who also is Love, unite our hearts to himself, and one to and other in that Love, which is out of a Pure hart, and a good Conscience, and faith unfeigned: and in able us to keep the unity of the Spirit, in the bond of peace, even for his sake, who is the prince of peace, and in whom We, who sometimes were afar off, are made night by the blood of Christ, who is our peace!  
AMEN.