Richard Baxter's Catholic theology plain, pure, peaceable, for pacification of the dogmatical word-warriors who,…Richard Baxter's Catholick theologie plain, pure, peaceable, for pacification of the dogmatical word-warriours who,…

I shall here freely tell the Reader the History of my own Conceptions of these matters, and then my present ⟨image 6⟩thoughts of the Causes of all these Calamities, and the Cure.

I. I was born and bred of Parents piously affected, but of no such knowledge or acquaintance as might engage them in any Controversies, or disaffect them to the present Government of the Church, or cause them to scruple Conformity to its Doctrine, Worship or Discipline: In this way I was bred my self, but taught by my Parents and God himself, to make conscience of sin, and to fear God, and to discern between the Godly and the notoriously wicked: For which my Parents and I were commonly derided as Puritans, the Spirit of the Vulgar being commonly then fired with hatred and scorn of serious godliness, and using that name as their instrument of reproach, which was first forged against the Nonconformists only; And the Clergy where I lived, being mostly only Readers of the Liturgy, and some others that rather countenanced than reproved this course, I soon confined my Reverence to a very few among them that were Learned and Godly (but Conformists) and for going out of my Parish to hear them, my reproach increased: About eighteen or nineteen years of age I fell acquainted with some persons, half Conformists and half Non-conformists, who for fear of severities against private Meetings, met with great secrecy only to repeat the public Sermons, and Pray, and by Pious Conference edify each other. Their Spirits and Practice was so savoury to me, that it kindled in me a distaste of the Prelates as Persecutors, who troubled and ruined such persons, while ignorant Drunkards and Worldlings were tolerated in so many Churches, yea, and countenanced for crying down such persons, and crying up Bishops, Liturgy and Conformity: Before I was aware, my affections began to solicit my understanding, to judge of the Things and Causes by the Persons (where the difference was very great). But yet my first Teachers kept my judgement for Conformity as Lawful, though not Desirable had we Liberty, till I was ordained. But soon after a new acquaintance provoked me to a deeper study of the whole Controversy than I had undertaken before; which left me persuaded, that the use of Liturgy and Ceremonies was lawful in that case of necessity, except the Baptismal use of the Cross, and the subscription to all things, &c. But in 1640.