A26982:111
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.
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.
IX. Weakness keeping me in expectation of Death, and God then having given me a greater sence of Mans Everlasting state, and of the differences between Faith and Hypocrisie, 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 Mathematicks, 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.