Rich. Baxters apology against the modest exceptions of Mr. T. Blake and the digression…

Though weakness and distance have prohibited me that converse with you which sometime I did enjoy, yet have they not excused your former Kindness out of my Remembrance. Received Benefits should not Die before us: If the Donor kill them not by Retraction, the Receiver must not suffocate them by Oblivion; nor prove their Grave, who was intended for a Storehouse, if not a Garden where they may be Rooted and be fruitful. In those hearts where Benefits Live, the Benefactor Liveth. And those that Live in our Estimation and Affection, we desire their Names may be inscribed on our Monuments, and survive with ours, when we are Dead. While we live also we more regard their Judgements of us, then other mens; and are more ambitious of standing right in their esteem; and therefore are willing that our just Apologies may be in their hands, to hinder misapprehensions, and resist unjust Accusers. May these Reasons excuse my prefixing your Name to these Papers, and directing them first to your Hand: (Custom having led me into that Road, wherein I do not unwillingly follow.) It is not ⟨image 4⟩for Protection or Patronage of my Opinions: For that I refer them wholly to the Father of Lights, the Illuminating Spirit, and the Light of that Truth which they contain and Vindicate. Nor do I desire that you should make these things your Studies; they being more fitted to the use of those Students, that can lay out much of their time on such things. I confess I had rather see in your Hands, the Holy Scriptures, and Books of Practical Divinity, then these Controversies: and had rather hear such Practical Discourses from your Mouth. So far am I from soliciting you to any singular Opinion of mine, that I solicit you not once to read these Books; save only when any Opinion in them shall be Accused, to turn to the Words, and see what is said. It is the Practical Christian that holds fast the Truth, which many eager Disputers soon lose. Doting about Questions that engender strife, is not the Religiousness that God approves; What ever the Professors of this Age may imagine. It is the most Practical Teachers and People in England commonly that are the most Orthodox. I have oft noted many mens Prayers to be much freer from Libertinism, then their Sermons; and their Sermons then their Writings and Disputes. That's a mans Judgement indeed, which he dare reduce to Practice, and own before God.

THough weakness and distance have prohibited me that converse with you which sometime I did enjoy, yet have they not excussed your former Kindeness out of my Remembrance. Received Benefits should not Die before us: If the Donor kill them not by Retraction, the Receiver must not suffocate them by Oblivion; nor prove their Grave, who was intended for a Storehouse, if not a Garden where they may be Rooted and be fruitfull. In those hearts where Benefits Live, the Benefactor Liveth. And those that Live in our Estimation and Affection, we desire their Names may be inscribed on our Monuments, and survive with ours, when we are Dead. While we live also we more regard their Judgements of us, then other mens; and are more ambitious of standing right in their esteem; and therefore are willing that our just Apologies may be in their hands, to hinder misapprehensions, and resist unjust Accusers. May these Reasons excuse my prefixing your Name to these Papers, and directing them first to your Hand: (Custom having led me into that Road, wherein I do not unwillingly follow.) It is not