A26883:61
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,…
Richard Baxter's Catholic theology plain, pure, peaceable, for pacification of the dogmatical word-warriors who, 1. by contending about things unrevealed or not understood, 2. and by taking verbal differences for real,Richard Baxter's Catholick theologie plain, pure, peaceable, for pacification of the dogmatical word-warriours who, 1. by contending about things unrevealed or not understood, 2. and by taking verbal differences for real,
London: printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons, 1675
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.
My mind being thus many years immersed in studies of this nature, and I having also long wearied my self in searching what Fathers and Schoolmen have said of such things before us, and my Genius abhorring Confusion and Equivocals, I came by many years longer study to perceive, that most of the Doctrinal Controversies among Protestants (that I say not in the Christian World) are far more about equivocal words, than matter; and it wounded my soul to perceive what work both Tyrannical, and unskilful Disputing Clergy-men had made these thirteen hundred years in the world! And experience since the year 1643. till this year 1675. hath loudly called to me to Repent of my own prejudices, sidings and censurings of causes and persons not understood, and of all the miscarriages of my Ministry and life, which have been thereby caused; and to make it my chief work to call men that are within my hearing to more peaceable thoughts, affections and practices: And my endeavours have not been in vain, in that the Ministers of the Country where I lived, were very many of such a peaceable temper (though since cast out), (and a ⟨image 8⟩great number more through the Land by Gods Grace (rather than any endeavours of mine) are so minded.) But the Sons of the Coal were exasperated the more against me, and accounted him to be against every man, that called all men to Love and Peace, and was for no man as in a contrary way.
My mind being thus many years immerst in studies of this nature, and I having also long wearied my self in searching what Fathers and Schoolmen have said of such things before us, and my Genius abhorring Confusion and Equivocals, I came by many years longer study to perceive, that most of the Doctrinal Controversies among Protestants (that I say not in the Christian World) are far more about equivocal words, than matter; and it wounded my soul to perceive what work both Tyrannical, and unskilful Disputing Clergie-men had made these thirteen hundred years in the world! And experience since the year 1643. till this year 1675. hath loudly called to me to Repent of my own prejudices, sidings and censurings of causes and persons not understood, and of all the miscarriages of my Ministry and life, which have been thereby caused; and to make it my chief work to call men that are within my hearing to more peaceable thoughts, affections and practices: And my endeavours have not been in vain, in that the Ministers of the Countrey where I lived, were very many of such a peaceable temper (though since cast out), (and a