The Third and last Restriction or Limitation which must be applyed to tlie Principle here advanced by the Answerers, is, That tlie Cognizance of ail 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 whom generally the Determination belongetli, are too remote, as hath been often said upon this occasion, 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 1 have already cited. And how tlien can tlie Answerers tell us. That this is no way regarded by the Civil Government ? They will excuse me if I tell them, that they do not well understand the matter.
5. And now, wliat shall I answer to so many loose, general and indetermined Accusations and Reproaches, v/ith which they fill up their Answers against me 1 'Tis their part to explain themselves more fully herein, and to specific the particular Facts ; for otherwise it is impossible for me to justifie myself,
FRENCH PROTESTANT CHURCH, NEW- YORK. 1165
as my Lawyers inform me. For instance, they insinuate, pag. 4 That I have not perfoimed my E7igagemenf, and that I Jlaged in my Duty. But it belongs to them to shew in what I have failed in Performance 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 tliird of our Agreements • for as to the second, it relates only to the Salary.