But because some men speak in a more Sanguinary dialect than others, and because the late charges of Disloyalty, ought not to be disregarded by a loyal subject, and because for the sakes of their own souls, it hath often made me pity Mr. Durel, Dr. Boreman, and many others like them, who have published ugly falsehoods of me, I once thought to have here exercised so much Charity to them, as by a full Narrative of all ⟨p. 27⟩those actions of my life, which concern such matters as they accuse me of, to have rectified all their mistakes at once, and made them understand, what it is, which they wrote of before they understood it: And the rather because this excepter followeth them, in telling me how guilty I was of the wars, and all the effects of them, and also that I wrote a flattering book to Richard Cromwell. And in this narrative I purposed to confess so much as had any truth in their accusations, and to stop them in their falsifications and calumnies as to the rest. But upon second tho•••ts, I cast it by, perceiving by too long experience, that they who are engaged against the Truth, are unable to bear it, and take all for an unsufferable wrong to them, which detecteth the falsehood of their reports. And when men do (as Mr. Hinkley) importune me to publish the reasons of my Non-conformity, when they know that the Law forbiddeth it, and there is no expectation of procuring a Licence, or when the old stratagem is so visibly used, of drawing us by their challenges into their Ambuscades; or when I am eagerly provoked to gape against an oven, while it is red or flaming hot; If I crave their patience, and exercise my own, till it be grown more cool, before I accept of such a challenge, and suffer them to use their Art (till repentance shall unteach it them) and to make my name a stepping stone, to those ends which they now aspire after, methinks they should be content, to talk on without a contradiction, and to be free from the light of that Truth, which they are not able to endure; Or at least should pardon me, if I imitate my Lord, ⟨p. 28⟩that was silent, even when false accusers sought his defamation and his blood. But, God enabling me, I promise them an answer, as soon as they will procure me License and Indemnity.
But because some men speak in a more Sanguinary dialect than others, and because the late charges of Disloyalty, ought not to be disregarded by a loyal subject, and because for the sakes of their own souls, it hath often made me pitty Mr. Durel, Dr. Boreman, and many others like them, who have published ugly falsehoods of me, I once thought to have here exercised so much Charity to them, as by a full Narrative of all ⟨p. 27⟩those actions of my life, which concern such matters as they accuse me of, to have rectified all their mistakes at once, and made them understand, what it is, which they wrote of before they understood it: And the rather because this excepter followeth them, in telling me how guilty I was of the wars, and all the effects of them, and also that I wrote a flattering book to Richard Cromwell. And in this narrative I purposed to confess so much as had any truth in their accusations, and to stop them in their falsifications and calumnies as to the rest. But upon second tho•••ts, I cast it by, perceiving by too long experience, that they who are engaged against the Truth, are unable to bear it, and take all for an unsufferable wrong to them, which detecteth the falsehood of their reports. And when men do (as Mr. Hinkley) importune me to publish the reasons of my Non-conformity, when they know that the Law forbiddeth it, and there is no expectation of procuring a Licence, or when the old stratagem is so visibly used, of drawing us by their challenges into their Ambuscad'es; or when I am eagerly provoked to gape against an oven, while it is red or flaming hot; If I crave their patience, and exercise my own, till it be grown more cool, before I accept of such a challenge, and suffer them to use their Art (till repentance shall unteach it them) and to make my name a stepping stone, to those ends which they now aspire after, methinks they should be content, to talk on without a contradiction, and to be free from the light of that Truth, which they are not able to endure; Or at least should pardon me, if I imitate my Lord, ⟨p. 28⟩that was silent, even when false accusers sought his defamation and his blood. But, God •nabling me, I promise them an answer, as soon as they will procure me License and Indemnity.
