o « o -i* ' • • s O .^' ;^; ■4^ .♦^•V. \ ^°- n » s - - ♦ V'f %^^% ~ c xxn APPENDIX. DIFFICULTIES IN THE FRENCH PROTESTANT CHURCH, NEW-YORK. [The subjoinetl Papers belong' to the collection beginning at p. 465 of this Vol. They are extracted from a pamphlet without title, of 34 pages, small 4to. printed by Wm. Bradford in New-York, and purchased for the State Library only quite recently.] MR. LEWIS ROU'S THIRD MEMORIAL, Containing some short Remarks upon the Answer of the Gentle- men of the French Consistory^ to the Petition presented to his Excellency in Council, by several Heads of Families of the French Church in Mew- York. It is impossible to take notice of all the Absurdities, Untruths, Mistakes, Shifts, Evasions and tilings foreign to the purpose, with the other Defects and Imperfections which are obvious in the Answer made by Mr. Moulinars and the rest of his Consisto- ry to the Petition presented to his Excellency and the honoura- ble Council of this Province, by several Pleads of families of our 'Church. Whoever would undertake to answer every thing exactly which that long Writing containeth, must compose a large Volume, and in so doing, would only draw this matter needlessly into lengtli, which is perliaps the design of the Answerers. For wliich Reason it will be sufficient to make some particular observations. The 1st, and principal is. That all what they alledgein favour of their Rights and extraordinary Priviledges, and all that they object against me for to blacken me, and misrepresent me to his Excellency and the Council, all the venomous strokes scattered here and there in their Answer ; all this, I say, is nothing to the purpose, and doth not in the least relate to the true Point in dispute between us ; all this dotli in no sort justify their irregu- lar and unjust Proceeding against me, nor shew how they have been sufficiently authorized, or what Reason and lawful Power they had to turn me out of my office, and to refuse to pay me 1160 DIFFICULTIES IN THE my Salary. In short, all tliis doth not at all, or very little con cern the Petition presented by tlie heads of Families to the Gov- eruoiu- in Council, nor the acts of Opposition and Protestation amiexed to it ; nor even that invidious Act which tliose Gentle- men passed in the Consistory against me, on the 20th of Septem- ber last. Since then the Artifice of the Answerers hath been to turn off the attention of his Excellency and his Council from the true state of the Question, to run upon considerations foreign and remote from the Subject, and into Cavils on matters which have not given occasion to our last Difference ; I think therefore that it is proper and necessary to bring them back to an enquiry into the matter of Fact itself, which we are a]x)ut, and which is ex- pressed in the Petition of the heads of Families of our Church, and in the two Papers thereto annexed. This Petition was pre- sented on account of a certain Instrument passed and signed against me, on the 20th of last September^ and on account of the unhappy Consequences, which it hath since had with Relation to our Church. Now as tliis Instrument, according to the Copy which it hath been thought fit to give me of it, containeth the Reasons and Motives which have engaged the present Consistory to undertake to turn me out of my office,. and to take aU the Steps which those Gentlemen have taken in pursuance thereof; it w^ould have been riglit to have produced this Instrument, such as it is, genuin or not, before his Excellency and the honourable Council, that they might the better judge of the bottom of the Dispute, and not suffer themselves to be amused by tlie subtle Evasions of the Answerers, who will often attempt to impose up- on them, if they are not upon their guard, as it may be expected from persons of their Wisdom and Justice. As this hath not yet been done, and is necessary to explain thro'ly, I desire earnestly, & before anything else, tliat this Instrument may be produced, with the Answers that I have already prepared, aud put into the hands of M'" Jilexander my Attorney. 2. My second observation is on what they alledge, p. 2, in order to declare the Jurisdiction of his Excellency and the Council, in this Affair, or to divert them from taking tlie trouble of inter- FRENCH PROTESTANT CHURCH, NEW-YORK. 1161 posing & intermeddling in our Dliferences, That " they acknow- " ledge no Jurisdiction in any Civil Court within this Province, " over the private Affairs of their Church, merely Consistorial, " and amongst themselves, &c." Indeed! this is astonishing, and what could not have been expected. Here are, if I am not mistaken, the true Principles of the Independents^ (b) so expressly condemned in our Discipline of France (See among the Observa- tions upon the 6th Chap, the Regulation^ made at the Synod of Clarenton^ in 1644, against those Sectaries, pag. 199 and 200, of tlie Editio in duocim. & p. 118. in 4to) and Tom. 2. in folio, p. 467. Here is a Principle capable of throwing us into Confusion and Disorder, as we see already by experience. Here is what openeth a door to all sorts of Irregularities and Extravagancies, and absolutely takes away all means of applying a Remedy. Here is a Maxim, not only very prejudicial to God's Church, but likewise very dangerous to the State, since it is easie to con- ceive the dreadful Consequences that will follow from it, if it took place. In fine, Here is a Principle which makes the Lot and Condition of a Minister persecuted among us, and in these Countries not only unliappy and dangerous, but even desperate, and witliout Relief To Refute this abominable Principle, and to shew how false it is, and liow contrary to the true Principles of Religion and the Constitution of our Churches, I need only Refer to the 46 .nrticle of the first Chapter of our Discipline, compared witli the 39 & 40 Articles of our Confession of Faith, & especially witli all our Books of Divinity, as for instance, that of M"" Pictet, Professor at Geneva, see his 2d Tom. p. 476, 477, 478, where he treats this Question at length. Here also we may add the Scripture itself, see Rom. 13. v. 1,2. 1 Pet. 2, 13, 14, 15, etc. My Third Ohservation is on what they are continually alledg- ii.g concerning their Freedom and Liberty Saving and Reserving to our selves now and at all times, the free use and exercise of that Liberty of Conscience helongvig and appertaining to the French (b) Yea, of the Papists themselves, see Fascicul, Epist. pap. 181, et 30, and feyn. Purior. Theol. p. m. 754, n. 21, &c., and Tur. Theol. Elen. T. 3, p. a53. 4. n. 2. 1162 DIFFICULTIES IN THE Refai'med Churches &c. Our Congregation which is made up of Members altogether free and voluntary^ and under no 7nanner of Compulsion and Restraint^ ^'c, p. 2. Our Foundationis laidzipon Freedom and Liberty of Coiiscience, &c. pag. 4. But w]iat! Is not this Privilege of Freedom and Liberty which they brag of, as much for Us as for Tliem? Have not we the same Riglit witli them'? And if 20 or 30 Persons, as they are, liave a Title to it, Hath not the rest of the Cliurcli, which makes up, by mucli, the Majority, the same Title, witli more Reason] And why tlien would they deprive the others of it1 Why would they make use of that Liberty^ whicli tliey enjoy only by the Bounty and Permission of the Government, under which we live, to oppress their Ministers and Brothers, witliout Cause, to the great Scandal of the Inliabitants of different nations who surround us, and even of the Jews^ who shew more liumanity, in this Case, than they? Why will they make use of it, to give the Law^ to the whole Cliurch, and to govern it Arbitrarily, as if they were Lords over God's Heritagel See their passage out of tlie first Epistle St. Peter, Cliap. 5. v. 3. Wliy did they make use of it to shut up the Church, as they did, on the 23d of September last, and to deny me the Liberty of performing tliere tlie ordinary Service of Prayer, and to deny the rest of the People the Liberty of as- sembling themselves there? Why do they make use of it still, with Obstinacy, to deprive above sixty or eighty Families, w^ho think tliemselves edified by my Ministry, to deprive them, T say, of tlie Instructions and spiritual Comforts, and, in short, of all the Service of a Minister, whose Return tliey demand, and who belongs to them, as well as to the others, and wh'.'m they can Re-estate when tliey please? I know tliese Gentlemen are free, but only let them take enre not to use their Liberty for a Cloak cf Maliciousness. It is St. Peter to whom they refer me, I don't know why, who gives tiiera this warning, see 1 Epist. ch. 2. V. K". 4. Among their pretences to Liberty and Freedom, they lay a stress particularly on this, That "in the enjoyment of that " Liberty, or rather dispensation or Toleration, their method and " Rule (meaning tlie French Refugees) was to make an Agreement " with their Pastors and Ministers (that is to say) each Consistory FRENCH PROTESTANT CHURCH, NEW- YORK. 1163 " for every particular Congregation, voluntarily and freely united " together, and entred into an Agreement with their Pastor and " Minister upon a certain special mutual Contract, whicli when " either Party failed in Performance of their part of tliat Con- " tract, the otlier was at liberty, and freed there-from on the " other part, and this no ways regarded by the Civil Government, " who took care only, &c. This is what I absolutely deny, and what they cannot prove. There is not one word said of it in any of tlie Agreements or Contracts which liave been made with me and Mr. Moulinars^ nor in those of any of our Churches with their Ministers. If, however they pretend that such a Clause ought to be pre-stipposed, I say, that tliis can't be, unless witli such large Restrictions and Limitations as would be no ways of Service to them in the Affair between us. The first of these Limitations is. That if such a Principle ought to be admitted in some sort, it must be supposed likewise, that there is a competent and unsuspected Judge, who may determine between tlie two Parties, which liath failed and neglected to perform their part of the Contract ; For if it is left to each Party to have a Riglit to decide who is in the Wro7ig, and so be botli Judge and Party in their own Cause, this will bring Confusion and Disorder into the Church, and abolish that Justice and Equity which ouglit to be the Rule of all Agreements. The second Limitation, is That in case of failure in either Party, regard should be had to the nature and circumstances of such Failure, to judge if they are of sufficient Importance to deserve, that a breach of Contract should follow. For if Pretence is taken from the least failure, or any sort of failure whatsoever, to break a Bargain made between Persons wlio are bound to one anotlier forever thereby, at this rate, (taking every tiling in the utmost strictness) we should open the Door to all sorts of, Breaclies : All Marriages will be dissolved, all Engagements between Parents and Cliildren, and between Masters & Servants, woidd be annulled ; and to confine my self to tlie subject which we are upon, there would not be «ne Minister wlio could remain six Months peaceably in his Cliurclt, Fur either the Cluirch might complain that the Minister luid failed in liis Duty, or the Minister might alledge, that the Churcli liad not furnished Iiim 1164 DIFFICULTIES IN THE with necessaries, or had failed either in Respect or Affection, or Obedience or Submission to liim, or liad acted contrary to some Article of the Contract made between tliem, or to some point of Discipline which the Church was engaged to observe, as well as he, and so on, &c. (for I have now touch'd upon the present Case) And hereupon each of the Parties might imagine them- selves respectively to have a Right to annul their Bargain, and to provide themselves otherwise ; whence a Thousand ill Conse- quences would follow, easie to be imagined, and very prejudicial to the Quiet, Peace, Edification and Preservation of the Church. Besides, we might by this means abolish the Exercise of Charity, of Christian Toleration, of mutual Forbearance, and of the Forgiveness of Injuries and Faults, &c. We might thus introduce the manner of Turks and Barbarians^ and even worse, into all Christian Churches. I should think it would be much better to follow herein charitable Counsels, and to remember what the Apostle St. James tells us. That he shall have Judgment with- out Mercy, that hath shewed no Mercy, ch. 2. v. 13. The Third and last Restriction or Limitation which must be applyed to the Principle here advanced by the Answerers, is, That the Cognizance of all these Differences, which often have an Influence on Civil and Temporal Concerns belongeth either to Ecclesiastical Judges, or to Civil and Lay Judges. So that where the Ecclesiastical Judges, to Avliom generally the Determination belongeth, are too remote, as hatli been often said upon this occa- sion, the Cognizance thereof naturally devolveth upon the Civil and Lay Judges, who have likewise some Right, Power and Inspection over Ecclesiastical Affairs, according to our Discipline and Books of Divinity, as appears by the Passages which I have already cited. And how then can tlie Answerers tell us, That this is no loay regarded by the Civil Government ? They will excuse me if I tell them, that they do not well understand the matter. 5. And now, what shall I answer to so many loose, general and indetermined Accusations and Reproaches, v/ith which they fill up their Answers against me ? 'Tis their part to explain themselves more fully lierein, and to specific the particular Facts ; for otherwise it is impossible for me to justifie myself, FRENCH PROTESTANT CHURCH, KEW-YORK. Il65 as my Lawyers inform, me. For instance, tliey insinuate, pag. 4 That / have not per fanned my Engagement ^ and that 1 faged in my Duty. But it belongs to tliem to shew in what I have failed in Pcrformajice of our Agreements : I have endeavored to fulfill them according to my weak Ability, and if every thing were examined in a strict equitable sence, I may one day let them see, that I liave done more than I had obliged myself to do, as well by the first as by the third of our Agreements • for as to the second, it reliites only to the Salary. They say, / have broached Innovations amongst them^ contrary to the said Contract and the Constitution of our Church. But it belongs to them to shew what these Innovations dive^ and how they are contrary either to my Engagements, or to the Constitution of our Churches^ or to the Principles received among us, and whetlier their dear Moulinars may not be as much, or more justly accused of them than I. They say, Tliat I have put them at Defiance^ with many opjjro- hrious and vile Expressions^ Sfc. But it belongs to them to make good Proofs of the Facts, and by credible Witnesses. And besides, who has ever lieard that a Minister w^as deposed, and the payment of his Salary refused him, on account of ill ground- ed Suspicimis, or words hastily spoken, and perhaps wrongfully reported, and to which tliemselves may have given just occasion? Don't tliey fall thereby under the Censure which God hatli de- clared by the Prophet haiah against those that make a Man ari a fender for a Word, and lay a snare for hivi that Reproveth in the Gate, and turn aside the Just for a thing of Jf ought ? — ch. 29, v. 21 . In order to support these fine Suspicions, which, without Rea- son, tliey have taken of me, and the Defiance to which (they say) I liave put them, tliey would insinuate, as it seems, " That I and my Subscribers are minded to set up another French Congrega- tion in Mew-York by ourselves, or to go over to the Church of England, as by Law Established, or the Presbyterian - - - - Profession [Here is something whicli their Malice hath thought of, but they have not thought fit to express it.] And all this they advance or suggest witliout ground and against this some of our Subscribers have already prepared an authentic Declara- tion. I find them very extraordinary in telling us, That in such 1166 DIFFICULTIES IN THE case they do not freteiid to have, use or exercise any Coercive Pow- er to Restrain or Punish us foi' it, much less to Compel us to RetwTi to them, ^'c. We know that very well, and we think it the in- terest of the English, both Ejiiscopaliaois and Presbyterians to make their Reflections hereupon, and to judge of the Imperti- nence and Silliness of such an Allegation. But they have still more Assurance when they tell us, That they are not insensihle of the Methods I have taken to get a number of Subscriptions in my favour. It was not possible to take a fairer and more direct Method than I have done, to make all tlie members of tlie Church explain tliemselves as fully as I could upon tlie Important Aifalr now in question. But these Gentle- men ought to blush at tlie unworthy and fraudulent manner which they have used to bring in People to sign against me, making them believe that it was for the peace and good of the Church ; and thus abusing the sacred name of Peace, and covering themselves with the Cloak of Hypocrisie, without shewing this poor People, or at ^.ast without reading to several of them the Writing which they would have them sign. " They were not ignorant either (they say) of my Contrivances " to remove the Jurisdiction of this matter to another Judicature." What is this Jurisdiction that I would decline % If they mean their own, they are in the right of it, and I am not in the wrong, since they are my Adverse Party, and I hope no body will blame me for this. What is that other Judicature whither I would carry the affair ? One may see plainly that they have here his Excellency in view, who camiot be obliged to them for thus disputing his Right of Judicature. For why shall not any one apply to him, in case the affair be proper for him to take notice of? And why should not I apply myself to him, if there is occasion, because it may be thought he has entertain'd some favourable Dispositions towards me ? especially since I ask liini no Favour, but only Justice ? They Reproach me afterwards, being prompted by their own Passion and Hatred against me, with having Heat, a?2d a violent Temper ; I will not make any Apology for my own Temper, which I think needless, and indecent in any man to do. But I advise them rather to look back upon themselves, and consider their FRENCH PROTESTANT CHURCH, NEW -YORK. 1167 own Faults more than those of their Neighbours, that they may not incur the Censure whicli our Saviour Jesas Christ pronounceth in the Gospel against all proud Reprovers of otliers ; Why he- holdest thou the mote that is in thy Brothers Eye, but consider est not the Beam that is in thy own Eye ? or how xvilt thou say to thy Brother, let me pull ozit the Mote out of thine Eye, and behold a beam is in thine oion Eye 1 Thou Hypocrite, first cast out the Beam oui of thine own Eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy Brothers Eye. Math. 7., 3, 4, 5. They boast p. 5. That they also passed the like Censure formerly against other Frencli Protestant Ministers for their Offences, which being particular to themselves the Governvicnt for the time being loas never made privy to it, &c. and although the then Gov- eiviours might have heard thereof, yet did they never interpose or meddle therein, &c. Tliere is a great deal of difference, with their leave, between tliese Cases and the present one. And on tills occasion many things might be observed, wliicli would not do them a great deal of honoui-, and which w^ould revive some scandalous particulars, which it is convenient for them, sliould remain buried in oblivion; wherefore Vi\Qj would have done better to liave said notliing of it, since likewise it hath nothing in common with tlie Affair we are now upon. For ray part, I shall not trouble my self with wh^at they have done with relation to otliers, I believe they never did any thing that was right witli their Ministers, chiefly wlien tiiey have been at variance with them. I know they have always been at war with them, to begin from the time Mr. Daille; and that the late Mr. Peiret, who was a worthy Minister, lived in tormeuL among tlioni, as some very credible Persons who were liis friends, have assured me; I know that they have put their Mhiisters out, and liiatthey always pretended to a Power to do it, and that tlicy will always attempt it, as often as tlie Fancy takes tliem. But the time is come, wlicn they must learn, tliat they have not tliis Power and Authority, according, to our Discipline, and that as for me, (Saving always liis Majesty's Authority over me, wlio am liis Naturalized Subject) I depend only in Spirituals on the Synod of the Walloon Churches of Holland, wlio alone can suspend or deprive me. \i Gaoernours formerly have not interposed or inter- 1168 DIFFICULTIES IN THE meddled in their Jlffairs^ it was, I suppose, because no body applyed to tliem to represent their Complaints and Grievances, and perhaps, because no person belonging to the Church, con- cerned or declared themselv'es in favour of the Ministers whom they would speak of. But that is not the Case at present, since there is a Majority of the Church, wlio have declared themselves in my favour, or who desire earnestly that I may be Re-estab- lisiied, and who do not approve what the Consistory hath done. Wliat do they mean by those Passages of St. Peter and Ezekiel, which they quote with an affectation of Piety, tho' at the same time they discover an insolent Contempt and bitter Malice against all the Body of the Ministers of Jesus Christy devoted to the j^reaching of his holy Gospell whom they call that set of Man- kind devoted^ fyc. As for the Passage of St. Peter (1 Epist. ch. 5. V. 2, 3.) wliich instructs us all in our duty, and ought to make us think with liumility of our own weaknesses and failings, their malicious Reflections will not hinder us Ministers from finding our Comfort in tliis Passage, while we find notliing in it, but what we study to do by the grace of God, according to our ability, and what we incessantly ask of him in our prayers. As to the passage of the Prophet Ezekiel, (if I did not fear to lay open in too strong a light tlie Infirmities of some of my flock, over wliicli it is proper to draw a vail) I could call out of tlie Crowd these Diseased Sheep, whom I have strengthened, and the broken whom I have hound up, &c. (Ezek. 34. v. 4.) And who can testifie whether this Passage liath been well applyed by them; or no; But I should he imprudent in glorying, 2 Cor. xii. 11. tho' I am compelPd in my defence, it is better to wait for that time, when, it any of us have done nell, every man shall have praise of God, 1 Cor. 4. 5. Instead of stopping at that verse of Ezekiel, and at tlie first part of the Cliapter, where they have maliciously been searching, wherewitlial to sthig their Minister, and wherein M: turns his own Accuser, they had better have read on wliat follows from the ICtli & 17th verses, to the 22d. inclusive, and to take good heed to what God saith by liis Prophet, now no longer to had Shepherds, but to had Sheep, to Sheep that rebel, tliat will not bear Teaching, and that are stub- born and headstrong, that are fat and strong, &c. v. 16. confer FRENCH PROTESTANT CHLTRCH, NEW-YORK. 1169 Rynos 4. V. 1. Which Characters are so well described by the Prophet, that one would think tliat he had carried his Views as liir as to our Times and Circumstances. While they cite these passages, they talk of the Corruption of Manners which had crept into that set of Mankind devoted to the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But not to speak of the Clergy, I say, that this general Complaint of the Corruption of Manners^ cannot be better applyed than to the horrible Scandals whicli we have seen all along break out in this Church, and to the Disorders, Divisions, and other sins, against which I have so often cryed aloud, Esa. 58. 1. and w^hich have, no doubt, drawn upon her the displeasure of God Almighty, through which she is now threatened with an entire Ruin and Dissipation, or at least with an unhappy Schism and Rent. To obtain the favour of the Englisli, they begg leave humbly to offer (c) that they cannot be called Dissenters from the Church of England, as by Law established. But who, do they think to impose upon by this empty Compliment, so meanly expressed 1 Not surely those of tlie English, w^ho are' Affectionate to their own Clmrcli, and who cannot be so easily catched. The Society and all til e Episcopal Ministers hereabouts know them too well, to suffer themseh-es to be blinded by such smooth Expressions. They have always been Eneiiiys of the Church of England as by Law established, they have always railed at her Liturgy, her Service, her Church Government, and her Ceremonies. It is long ago that the late Bisliop of London, Doctor Henry Compton con- veyed his Complaints to them on tliis subject, by the Consistory of tlie Walloon Church in London, for tliat they shew^ed themselves worse than the Dissenters in England themselves. In opposition lo this JYational Church they have entertained and fomented for several years a scandalous schism at JYcw-Rochel, where the incapacity of providing for a Minister, obliged the Inhabitants *o establish an Episcopal Church, tliro' the Bounty and Protec- tion of the Society in England, and they would still suj^port this schism, if their M . . . . A\'as not taken up in the Custody of our Church, of whicli he keeps the keys, in order to keep me out unjustly. In short, they have always looked upon (c) Fistula dulce canit volucrem ilum decipit auoeps. Vol. in. 7-1 1170 DIFFICULTIES IN THE my Inclination, Esteem and Respect fur the Church of England as a Crwie in me. They have conceived at length such Mistrust and Suspicion thereof, that tliey have not been able to dissemble it in the last Meeting of the heads of ramilies, on the 20th of Septe7nher, so that it is I, and several of my Subscribers who have a Right to say, that We cannot be called Dissenters from the Church of England, no more than were our Ministers in France, and all the wisest and most moderate among the Refugees in E7igland, and all over the Protestant world. They say at last, That they are not indebted unto me one Far thing for all the time that I have served them. But this must be examined and enquired into in due time. In the mean while, I give them notice, tliat they owe me One Quarters Salary, which is past, and that at Easter they will owe me Two. If I have not served them during all this time, it is they who have hindred my doing it, by discharging me from my Functions, as they have done, and which they now dissemble through deep Malice. They add to this, " That if any Person or Persons amongst them " have done me any personal Injury, the Laws of England aiid of " this Colony are open, and that there are Courts of Law and Justice, " and that there are Deputies, who may call them to account.'''' Tis well, I am glad to liear it, I accept their Invitation, and I am of opinion, according to their advice, if I cannot obtain satisfac- tion otherways, to call them into Court, on account of the Injus- tice and Injury which they do me, and particularly of tliat which their Treasurer Mr. Barherie doth me, in refusing me my Pay- ment, when at the same time he has Money of mine in his hands: and besides of that which Mr. Moidinars doth me, in detaining my Church from me, by keeping the keys and by taking posses- sion of my place, which is a remarkable Usurpation, for which I will demand Restitution and Reparation from him. They end with signifying, They presume that His Excellency and the Ilmourable Board will Reject the Petitioners said Petition mid Complaint, &c. But we hope tliat this honourable Body will act otherwise, and that in their great Prudence they will judge better than we can, tliat our Request is both just, lawful and well grounded. Lewis Rou, Kew For/c, Febr. 18. 1724, 5. Minister of the French Church. FRENCH PROTESTANT CHURCH, NEW-YORK. 1171 Postscrij^t, containing some furtlier Observations On the same Answer of Mr. Moulinars. Speaking of the French Protestants in tlie Kingdom of Frujicej they say, " So tliat it was not in tlieir Power ever to Compel any " of the Frencli Subjects to submit unto their Discipline and " Government, nor to Restrain -or Punish any of their Number " wlio had submitted to their Form of Worship, Doctrine, " Discipline and Government, w^ho were minded to forsake " them, and alter their Profession, &c. I don't know to what purpose, nor to what end they tell us all this, neither do I know wliat Consequence they will draw from it, nor wiiat Advantage tliey pretend to get by it, this seeming rather to be against themselves, since they pretend now to a Power to Compel me and to Force me to sign what they will, against all Reason and Equity. But leaving there what they mean by it, I say, that this is not true. Let any one read the Preface of our Discipline, and look on the 16, 17, and 31, 32 Articles of the 5tli Chapter of the same, besides a great many others, and he'll see what great Power our Protestants had in France^ to Compel and Restrain or Punish any of their Number, who had submitted to their form of Worship, &,c. by means of their Ecclesiastical Censures, Excom- munication, Suspension, &c. Speaking of me, they say, " Such Contract we made with Mr. " Rou &,c. and since he has been amongst us, whilst he behaved " himself conformable to his Agreement, and for his Encour- ^' agement so to continue, did come to a second Agreement, Sic." Here they would insinuate that I liave not always performed my Agreement, and that there has been one time when I behaved myself conformal)le to it, and another time wlien I did not so. But this is entirely false ; I have always performed my Agree- ment in the same manner, and there lias been but little difference: So that if I have failed in the Performance of it in those last times, it must be supposed and said, that I have also failed in the beginning, and that, if I have behaved my self conformable to it at one time, viz. in the beginning, the same must be said of the last times with more reason. They have also been always very well satisfied of my Service in the Church when they had *172 DIFFICULTIES IN THE no particular occasion of Anger against me ; And they have shewn to all People in the Town a great satisfaction of it, &c. So that it is their Passion and their Fanc}^ that makes them content or discontent about that, witliout reason in the last point, and we may apply to them what Horace saj^s of himself, Ep. I. lib. I. Rides: quid, mca quum pugnat sententiasecum; Quod petiit sper7iit; repetit quod nuper omisit: jEstuaf, et vitce disconvenit ordine toto, Diruit, (Zdijicat, mutal quadrata rotundls I " Arfd as our Congregation encreased, we did hkewase send for " another Minister, &c. pag. 3. Their Congregation was not Increased^ but rather diminished when they sent for another Minister, but their ill Humour and Malice against me was much increased at that time, by some particular occasions that we know^ ; they sent for this Minister only to vex me, and plague me, as it appears, and Brigadier Hunter^ w^ho saw^ this very well, w^arned and foretold Mr. D. L. of all the Divisions and Troubles that we now see in our Church. And this lasted until we came to find Mr. Ron to flag in his Duty kc. j)ag. 4. Since when they have found meto flagg inviy Duty? if you will believe me, it is since this Governour has been here, and they have found that lie did me the honour of granting me part in his friendship and Familiarity tho' I have no less per- formed my Duty in preaching since that time, than I did before ; So that it is their Malice, Envy and Jcalousie that has made them find out what they could not see otherwise. Observe the Cir- cumstances and the Context of their Answer in this place, and you II find it as I say. And aliho'' we often in a friendly manner requested him to Return to his Duty and j^erforni his Contract, &c. p. 4. They have never requested me any tiling in a fricjidly niSLuner towards my Duty, and tlie}' had no occasion nor reason of doing it, but they have often scoled, railed and grumbled in an unfriendly manner about a few Sermons, wlien tliey had some particular occasions of being angry or fretful against me. What they say here, is meer Malice and Hypocrisy. 6. He still persisted ?ioticithsta7iding to pwsue his oicm humour ^ &-C. p. 4. What humour, or whose humour must I pursue tlien^ FRENCH PROTESTANT CHURCH, NEW- YORK. 1173 if I have not the liberty of my own, as they seem to pretend ? Must I follow or pursue their Humour, or those of the JYormandsj of the Picards^ of the Rochelers, of the Poitevins, of the Langue- docians, of tlie Xamtongers, of the Gascons^ of the Bretoofis, of the Jlngoumoisins^ of the Bearnois^ or of the Dauphinois ? But I liave never been in tliese Provinces, and I find a great many faults in their Inhabitants, so tliat I think it better for me to pursue my own Humor, that is to say, those "bf a right French-man of no Province at all, but who was born in Holland and Naturalized an English-man. 7. " If Mr. Rou will desert the Consistory, when met, and " refuse to come, when sent for, how are we to blame that he has " not been heard (as he is pleased to say) p. 4. I have already answered to this Allegation at large, in my second Memorial, and that is the reason why I have said nothing of it in this Reply. I shall only add here. That since they have found the way to my House, after they had passed this unjust sentence against me (of which I complain) to declare it to me in my face, why did they not take the same Method before they passed tlie same, to read it to me, or to send me, at least, those Papers which they had prepared to Condemn me, in order that I might have been able to defend myself, &c 1 " Tliey cannot be forgetful (they say afterwards) " of that " most gracious Declaration or Saying of our most gracious " Sovereign Lord King George^ upon his Accession to the Throne " of Great Britairi, That the Indulgejice and Toleration granted by " Law to Scrupulous Consciences was no ways inconsistent with the " Civil Sj' Religious Constitution of the Kingdom.^ §"c." What shall I answer to this impertinent and Sycopliantick Discourse 1 VUra sauromalas fu^ere hinc lihet et glacialem Oceanum, &c. Juven. sat. 2. Pray, What has the Indulgence and Toleration granted by Law to Scrupulous Consciences in common, with the Persecution and Oppression of which I and my Subscribers complain 1 What Scruple of Conscience can perswade them to depose or deprive their own Minister, and to take away his Living, without Reason, without the least cause or colour of Justice, for a Bickering, for a thing of nought, and that without the Authority and Power 1174 ■ DIFFICULTIES IN THE they should have for what they do 1 What scrupulous Conscience can perswade them to deprive the Congregation who think (as I have said) themselves Edified by my Ministry, of the Pastoral Cares and Service of a Minister wlio belongs to them, whom they have called here from Europe^ and have made perpetual Pastor of the Church 1 We know that the Indulgence and Toleration gra?ited by Law to scruptilous Consciences, is no ways inconsistc7it with the Civil and Religious Constitution of the Kingdom. But we know at the same time, that nothing is more Inconsistent with the Civil and Religious Constitution of the Kingdom than Persecu- tion, Oppression, Violence, Tyranny, hijustice, Uncharity Usurpa- tion of others Rights, &c. of all whicli they given a scandaious Example, in his Majesty's Dominions not to be suSer'd ; k we do therefore, in all humble manner presume, That if our most gracious King George could hear of it, he would not be muoU obliged to them for thus their intermeddling with his sacred Majesty, and mis-using his most gracious Declaration upon his accession to the Throne of Great Britain, in order to support & authorize their Barbarous Proceedings, and thus for giving a just cause of Complaining of the same to his Reformed Subjects, or perhaps an occasion to his Enemies and Adversaries of eluding or retorting the Complaints and Christian Representations He has been pleased to make, in favour of other Protestants, to some Popish Princes, upon the like Matters. L.R. The last Discourse presented to the Consistory from Mr. Rou's part, in order for an amicable Agreement. As much as I can apprehend by the Answer which the Gen- tlemen of the Consistory have lately given to the Deputies who presented themselves before tliem, on my behalf, as well as on behalf of our Flock (whicli answer has been only verbally com- municated to me, the Consistory not having thought fit to give it in writing, as in reason and justice they ought to have done) it appears to me, That though these Gentlemen have so expresly profess'd their Disposition to Peace, and to enter into an Amica- ble Agreement about our Differences yet they will make none ait all, except upon such Conditions as have been disputed PROTESTANT FRENCH CHURCH, NEW-YOR¥ 1175 already so mucli these six Months past, and upon which we shall always dispute, till there comes a Decision to put an end to tliese Debates. Tlicse Conditions (according to what has been reported to me) are, 1st. That before anything else, I shall acknowledge the Elders lately elected in our Church, to be duly and lawfully elected. 2dly. That I shall subscribe the Act of their Confirmation or Reception incerted in the Registers. 3dly. That 1 shall likewise Promise to hold myself inviolably ttl V^^ C^ ^.^ : i-j- . o^^ ''^ ^>^i5i.: ^V ^ » . o, -^^ - "^ A* ♦iv^^^'- iiX «. ^.^J^M^" "^ A*- ♦*< .^ .^"J^*/^^