A26864:31
Rich. Baxters apology against the modest exceptions of Mr. T. Blake and the digression…
Rich. Baxters apology against the modest exceptions of Mr. T. Blake and the digression of Mr. G. Kendall whereunto is added animadversions on a late dissertation of Ludiomæus Colvinus, aliaà Ludovicus Molinæs̳, M. Dr. Oxon, and an admonition of Mr. W. Eyre of Salisbury : with Mr. Crandon's Anatomy for satisfaction of Mr. Caryl.
London: printed by A.M. for Thomas Underhill, 1654
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
SO sweet a thing is Christian Love and Concord, and so precious are the thoughts of Peace to my Soul, that I think it unmeet in this contentious Age, to publish such a Controversy as this, without an Apology: which, its likely, may be needful, both as to the Matter and the Manner. Not that I dare rather choose to Excuse a fault, then to forbear the committing of it: But that I would have the Reader judge of things as they are. Just Apologies are not a cover to our faults, but for removal of mis-representations, and healing of misapprehensions, that those may not be taken for faults which are none, or those to be of the greater size, which are but ordinary infirmities. Whether my Apology be Just, the Reader must judge.
SO sweet a thing is Christian Love and Concord, and so precious are the thoughts of Peace to my Soul, that I think it unmeet in this contentious Age, to publish such a Controversie as this, without an Apology: which, its likely, may be needful, both as to the Matter and the Manner. Not that I dare rather choose to Excuse a fault, then to forbear the committing of it: But that I would have the Reader judge of things as they are. Just Apologies are not a cover to our faults, but for removal of mis-representations, and healing of misapprehensions, that those may not be taken for faults which are none, or those to be of the greater size, which are but ordinary infirmities. Whether my Apology be Just, the Reader must judge.
I do so heartily Love Peace, that I have hard thoughts of Controversy: yet do I so Love the Truth, that I refuse not to contend for it. Though the strait be great, yet its no other then we are usually put to, even in lower things. The most noble and excellent ends, may have some distasteful means: which as none that is in his right senses will choose for themselves, so none but a slave to his senses will refuse when they are necessary. It is no Contradiction in such a case, but true Discretion, to Choose the thing which at the same time we do Abhor: To choose it as a necessary Means, and yet to abhor it for its Ungrateful Nature. We are contented to seek, and buy, and take that Physic which we so abhor▪ that we have much ado to get it down or to retain it. The Lord knows, that contending is distasteful to my soul: though my corrupt nature is too