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

Nay it is not only Dissenters, that do terrify people from reading what I have written, by telling them of I know not what latent dangerous Errors; but even they that are of the same opinion with me: For example, I lately wrote, that [the Doctrine of Infallible perseverance of all the sanctified, was my strong opinion, and I was persuaded of its truth,] and I argued for it from Scripture; yet because I so far acknowledged my own weakness, as to say, that I was not so fully certain of it, as of the Articles of the Creed, and because I say, I think it unsafe for a backsliding scandalous Christian, to venture his salvation merely on this controverted Point,] what offence is taken? what reports spread abroad? some proclaiming that I wrote against Perseverance (even when I wrote for it;) Others that I am turned Arminian: Others that I am dangerously warping! In so much that some of my nearest friends, for whose good I published that Book, were ready to throw it by for fear of being infected with my doctrine against Perseverance! The enemies Instruments be not all unlearned nor ungodly.

Nay it is not only Dissenters, that do terrifie people from reading what I have written, by telling them of I know not what latent dangerous Errours; but even they that are of the same opinion with me: For example, I lately wrote, that [the Doctrine of Infallible perseverance of all the sanctified, was my strong opinion, and I was perswaded of its truth,] and I argued for it from Scripture; yet because I so far acknowledged my own weakness, as to say, that I was not so fully certain of it, as of the Articles of the Creed, and because I say, I think it unsafe for a backsliding scandalous Christian, to venture his salvation meerly on this controverted Point,] what offence is taken? what reports spread abroad? some proclaiming that I wrote against Perseverance (even when I wrote for it;) Others that I am turn'd Arminian: Others that I am dangerously warping! In so much that some of my nearest friends, for whose good I published that Book, were ready to throw it by for fear of being infected with my doctrine against Perseverance! The enemies Instruments be not all unlearned nor ungodly.

For my part, I commend their zeal against Error, so it be Error indeed, and so they will moderate it with Charity and Humility. I am as strongly persuaded that its the Dissenters that err, as they are that its I. And were they as zealous against Error indeed, I think I might have spared the labour of such Writings as these. But I remember how they reprehended Beatus Rhenanus for his supposed coveteousness, Beatus est Beatus: attamen sibi. So are such Brethren charitable, sibi & suis. And all this comes a studio partium, and because the Doctrine of the Unity of Christs Body, and the Communion of Saints (as Saints) is not reduced to practice; and we love not men so much for being of the same Body, as for being of the same Side or Party with us; nor for being in the same Christ, as for being of the same Opinion. If he that knows Christ knows all things; and if Interest in Christ alone be enough to make us Happy; then is it enough to make our Brother Amiable; though still we may be allowed the dislike of his faults.