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,…

My genius was inquisitive, and earnestly desirous to know the truth: my helps for Piety were greater than my helps for Learning, of which I had not much besides Books: sickness helped my seriousness, keeping me still in expectation of death. All my reverenced acquaintance (save one) cried down Arminianism as the Pelagian Heresy, and the Enemy of Grace: I quickly plunged my self into the study of Dr. Twice, and Amesius, and Camero, and Pemble, and others on that subject: By which my mind was settled in prejudice against Arminianism, without a clear understanding of the case: whereupon I felt presently in my mind, a judgement of those that were for Arminianism; as bad or dangerous adversaries to the Church; and specially of the then ruling Bishops: which yet I think I had not-entertained, had I not taken them withal for the great Persecutors of Godly able Ministers, and serious Christians, not only for Ceremonies, but for holy practices of life.

My genius was inquisitive, and earnestly desirous to know the truth: my helps for Piety were greater than my helps for Learning, of which I had not much besides Books: sickness helpt my seriousness, keeping me still in expectation of death. All my reverenced acquaintance (save one) cryed down Arminianism as the Pelagian Heresie, and the Enemy of Grace: I quickly plunged my self into the study of Dr. Twisse, and Amesius, and Camero, and Pemble, and others on that subject: By which my mind was setled in prejudice against Arminianism, without a clear understanding of the case: whereupon I felt presently in my mind, a judgement of those that were for Arminianism; as bad or dangerous adversaries to the Church; and specially of the then ruling Bishops: which yet I think I had not-entertained, had I not taken them withal for the great Persecutors of Godly able Ministers, and serious Christians, not only for Ceremonies, but for holy practices of life.

Being under these apprehensions, when the Wars began, though the Cause it self lay in Civil Controversies, between King and Parliament, yet the thoughts that the Church and Godliness it self was deeply in danger by Persecution and Arminianism, did much more to bias me to the Parliaments side, than the Civil interest (which at the heart I little regarded): At last (after two years abode in a quiet Garrison) upon the Invitation of some Orthodox Commanders in Fairfax's Army, and by the Mission of an Assembly of Divines, I went (after Naseby Fight) into that Army as the profest Antagonist of the Sectaries and Innovators, who we all then (too late) saw designed those changes in the Church and State which they after made. I there met with some Arminians, and more Antinomians: These printed and preached as the Doctrine of Free Grace, that all men must presently believe that they are Elect and Justified, and that Christ Repented and Believed for them (as Saltmarsh writeth). I had a little before engaged my self as a Disputer against Universal Redemption,