Richard Baxter's penitent confession and his necessary vindication in answer to a book called…

XXIV. I Greatly repent that I at Coventry took the Scots Covenant, for the many Reasons which I shall hereafter rehearse. And that once I gave it to one Man, a Papist Physician who pretended to be converted, and desired me to give it him: But suspecting his Hypocrisy, I never gave it more, but kept I think Thousands from taking it in Worcestershire and elsewhere. I thought at first that it was intended only as a Test to the Garrisons and Armies, and knew not that it would after be made a dividing test for the Magistracy, and Ministry through the Land: which yet by the tenor of it, I might have understood. But I repent not that I neither sware nor subscribed that no man that ever took it, is obliged by it to that part which is good and necessary: Perjury is no jesting Matter.

XXIV. I Greatly repent that I at Coventry took the Scots Covenant, for the many Reasons which I shall hereafter rehearse. And that once I gave it to one Man, a Papist Physition who pretended to be converted, and desired me to give it him: But suspecting his Hypocrisie, I never gave it more, but kept I think Thousands from taking it in Worcestershire and elsewhere. I thought at first that it was intended only as a Test to the Garisons and Armies, and knew not that it would after be made a dividing test for the Magistracy, and Ministry through the Land: which yet by the tenour of it, I might have understood. But I repent not that I neither sware nor subscribed that no man that ever took it, is obliged by it to that part which is good and necessary: Perjury is no jesting Matter.

XXV. I more repent that I once publicly defended it against a Writing of Sir Francis Nethersole, which he wrote against Mr. Vines, who had Preached for it. And that I did not more impartially consult with Sir Francis, and hear all that he had to say against it: For he was near us, and I Preached to him once at Kenilworth-Castle, where as a Prisoner he was liker the Master of that Pleasant Seat (under Colonel Needham) for he seemed purposely to force the Committee to Imprison him, by constant provoking them, who would fain have let him alone: But by that means he saved House-keeping, and scaped both Plundering