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

9. And if other mens Words and Writings are blemished with so much imperfection, why should think that my own are blameless? I must for ever be thankful for the holy Instructions and Writings of others, notwithstanding humane frailty, and contentious mens abuse of words: And so I must be thankful that God hath made any use of my own, for the good of Souls, and his Churches Edification. But with how many allays are such comforts here mixed? We are not the Teachers of a well ruled School, where Learners are ranked into several Forms, that every one may have the teaching which is agreeable to his capacity: But we must set open the Door to all that will crowd in, and publish our Writings to all sorts of Readers: And there being as various degrees of Capacity as there are Men, and Women, and consequently great variety and contrariety of apprehensions, it's easie ab antecedente to know what various reception we must expect: We cast out our Doctrine almost as a Foot-ball is turned out among Boys in the Street, in some Congregations: Few understand it, but every one censureth it. Few come as Learners or teachable Disciples, but most come to sit as Judges on their Teachers words: and yet have neither the Skill, or the Patience, or the diligence which is necessary in a just Trial, to a righteous judgment. But as our words agree or disagree with the former conceptions of every Hearer, so are they judged to be wise or foolish, sound or unsound, true or false, fit or unfit. Few Sermons that I preach but one extolleth them, and wisheth they were printed, and another accuseth them of some heinous fault: Some men are pleased with clearness and accurateness of Doctrine▪ and others account it too high, and say we shoot over the hearers Heads, and like nothing ⟨p. 104⟩but the fervent Application of what they knew before most Hearers are displeased with that which they most need: If they err, they reproach that Doctrine as erroneous that would cure them: If they are guilty of any prevailing Distemper and sin, they take that Application to be injurious to them, which would convince them, and save them from that guilt. Most are much pleased with plain and zealous reproof of sin; but it must be other mens sins, and not their own. The poor love to hear of the evil of oppression and unmercifulness, of Pride, Fullness and Idleness, and all the sins of the Rich:

9. And if other mens Words and Writings are ble mished with so much imperfection, why should think that my own are blameless? I must for ever be thankful for the holy Instructions and Writings of others, notwithstanding humane frailty, and contentious mens abuse of words: And so I must be thankful that God hath made any use of my own, for the good of Souls, and his Churches Edification. But with how many allays are such comforts here mixed? We are not the Teachers of a well ruled School, where Learners are ranked into several Forms, that every one may have the teaching which is agreeable to his capacity: But we must set open the Door to all that will crowd in, and publish our Writings to all sorts of Readers: And there being as various degrees of Capacity as there are Men, and Women, and consequently great variety and contrariety of apprehensions, it's easie ab antecedente to know what various reception we must expect: We cast out our Doctrine almost as a Foot-ball is turned out among Boys in the Street, in some Congregations: Few understand it, but every one censureth it. Few come as Learners or teachable Disciples, but most come to sit as Judges on their Teachers words: and yet have neither the Skill, or the Patience, or the diligence which is necessary in a just Tryal, to a righteous judgment. But as our words agree or disagree with the former conceptions of every Hearer, so are they judged to be wise or foolish, sound or unsound, true or false, fit or unfit. Few Sermons that I preach but one extolleth them, and wisheth they were printed, and another accuseth them of some hainous fault: Some men are pleased with clearness and accuratness of Doctrine and others account it too high, and say we shoot over the hearers Heads, and like nothing