Richard Baxter's dying thoughts upon Phil. I, 23 written for his own life and…

But especially, if we meet with a Clergy that are high, and have a great deal of Worldly interest at the stake: Or if they be in Councils and Synods, and have got the Major Vote, they too easily believe that either their Grandeur, Reverence, Names, or Numbers must give them the reputation of being Orthodox and in the right, and will Warrant them to account and defame him as Erroneous, Heretical, Schismatical, Singular, Factious, or Proud, that presumeth to contradict them, and to know more than they: Of which not only the case of Nazianzene, Martin, Chrysostom are sad proofs, but also the proceedings of too many General and Provincial Councils. And so our hard studies and darling Truth must make us as Owls or reproached Persons among those Reverend Brethren, who are ignorant at easier rates, and who find it a far softer kind of life to think and say as the most or best esteemed do, than to purchase reproach and obloquy so dearly.

But especially, if we meet with a Clergy that are high, and have a great deal of Worldly interest at the stake: Or if they be in Councils and Synods, and have got the Major Vote, they too easily believe that either their Grandure, Reverence, Names, or Numbers must give them the reputation of being Orthodox and in the right, and will Warrant them to account and defame him as Erroneous, Heretical, Schismatical, Singular, Factious, or Proud, that presumeth to contradict them, and to know more than they: Of which not onely the case of Nazianzene, Martin, Chrysostome are sad proofs, but also the proceedings of too many General and Provincial Councils. And so our hard studies and darling Truth must make us as Owls or reproached Persons among those Reverend Brethren, who are ignorant at easier rates, and who find it a far softer kind of life to think and say as the most or best esteemed do, than to purchase reproach and obloquy so dearly.

And the religious People of the several parts, will say as they hear their Teachers do, and be the Militant followers of their too Militant Leaders: And it will be their House talk, their Shop talk, their Street talk, if not their Church talk, that such a one is an Erroneous, dangerous Man, because he is not as Ignorant and Erroneous as they, especially if they be the followers of a Teacher much exasperated by confutation, and engaged