A26982:12
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.
Supposing the Book which I answer as injurious to you, as to me, I judge it meet to propose to you this Opportunity of your own Vindication: Or if I be herein mistaken, to crave your help for my own Conviction. Your former Accusation of such as I, of the heinous Sin of Schism, or Separation, I confess I answered in a manner that required your Patience: If it was too free, and provoking, I beg your pardon, and do not Justify it. My Reasons were, 1. That I thought, that to take such as I for Schismatics, or Separatists, was a great hardening and strengthening of the real Separatists, when my Character, and such others, should seem to be theirs; and if we were falsely accused, they should seem to be so too.
SUpposing the Book which I answer as injurious to you, as to me, I judge it meet to propose to you this Opportunity of your own Vindication: Or if I be herein mistaken, to crave your help for my own Conviction. Your former Accusation of such as I, of the heinous Sin of Schism, or Separation, I confess I answered in a manner that required your Patience: If it was too free, and provoking, I beg your pardon, and do not Justifie it. My Reasons were, 1. That I thought, that to take such as I for Schismaticks, or Separatists, was a great hardening and strengthening of the real Separatists, when my Character, and such others, should seem to be theirs; and if we were falsly accused, they should seem to be so too.
2. Because I knew how much your Authority, and just Reputation, would add, as a Whet-stone, to the keenness of their Zeal who thought us unmeet to live out of the common Goals.
3. Because I knew (whatever is said against it) how great a Loss it would be to Souls, to have all silenced Ministers give over preaching to any more than four; and what Sacrilege we should be guilty of, to give over our Ministry, which we were vowed to, and to be banished five Miles from all Corporations, or there to avoid all public worshipping of God.