A26982:110
Richard Baxter's penitent confession and his necessary vindication in answer to a book called…
Richard Baxter's penitent confession and his necessary vindication in answer to a book called The second part of the mischiefs of separation, written by an unnamed author with a preface to Mr. Cantianus D. Minimis, in answer to his letter which extorted this publication.
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1691
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.
VII When it pleased God by reading some good Books, and by my danger of Sickness, about Fifteen years of Age to waken my Conscience, I was not so obedient to that awakening Call as I should have been: But was oft tempted to my old sin of pleasing my Appetite, and had almost been drawn away to a covetous love of Gaming at Cards: But God quickly checked it by an unusual Providence.
VII When it pleased God by reading some good Books, and by my danger of Sickness, about Fifteen years of Age to waken my Conscience, I was not so obedient to that awakening Call as I should have been: But was oft tempted to my old sin of pleasing my Appetite, and had almost been drawn away to a covetous love of Gaming at Cards: But God quickly check'd it by an unusual Providence.
VIII. I was strongly possest (I think by Pride joined with a Love of Learning) to have settled at the University till I had attained some Eminency of Learning and Titles; but God in great Mercy by Sickness and other hinderances saved me from that danger, and loss of time, and bred me up in a more humbling way, and gave me some little help of safe and pious Country Tutors.
VIII. I was strongly possest (I think by Pride joyned with a Love of Learning) to have setled at the University till I had attained some Eminency of Learning and Titles; but God in great Mercy by Sickness and other hinderances saved me from that danger, and loss of time, and bred me up in a more humbling way, and gave me some little help of safe and pious Countrey Tutors.
IX. Weakness keeping me in expectation of Death, and God then having given me a greater sense of Mans Everlasting state, and of the differences between Faith and Hypocrisy, Holiness and a worldly state, I thirsted to win others to the same sense and state; and to that End offered my self to Ordination when I was too low for so high a Work, both in Learning, and in a methodical knowledge of Theology. And though I was naturally inclined to Logical and Metaphysical Accurateness and method, I was too ignorant in Languages and Mathematics, and divers parts of Knowledge; had I not been a continual Learner (by Books) while I was a Teacher, I had been a dishonour to the Sacred Office and Work, and do repent that I made such haste.