A26982:226
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.
§ 9. The Accuser tells me, that it is no new thing for Heretics to have many admirers, and to pretend to purity that they may deceive.
§ 9. The Accuser tells me, that it is no new thing for Hereticks to have many admirers, and to pretend to purity that they may deceive.
Ans. Which is very true, and I will add, that which is far worse: It is no new thing even for them that do not so much as seem to have either Purity, Conscience or common Honesty, no nor to scruple the grossest Lying and Perjury, to have more Followers than Christ himself had while he was on Earth, notwithstanding his Purity and all his Miracles: Such Men find corrupted nature, as disposed to believe and follow them, as a Dunghill to breed Weeds, or a Carcass Maggots: Even those that openly militate under Satan as deadly Enemies to serious Godliness, if they will but cloak their malignity with the Name of a Sacred Function, and call Piety and Conscience by their own Titles (Hypocrisy and Schism) shall convert more Souls to Diabolism in a little time, than all the Preachers that they silence could have converted to Piety, and serious Christianity: And the French Prelacy and Dragoon Discipline, will cleanse a Nation quickly, from Protestant Heresy and Schism. We hope not for the honour of having more Followers than such Men.
Ans. Which is very true, and I will add, that which is far worse: It is no new thing even for them that do not so much as seem to have either Purity, Conscience or common Honesty, no nor to scruple the grossest Lying and Perjury, to have more Followers than Christ himself had while he was on Earth, notwithstanding his Purity and all his Miracles: Such Men find corrupted nature, as disposed to believe and follow them, as a Dunghil to breed Weeds, or a Carcase Maggots: Even those that openly militate under Satan as deadly Enemies to serious Godliness, if they will but cloak their malignity with the Name of a Sacred Function, and call Piety and Conscience by their own Titles (Hypocrisie and Schism) shall convert more Souls to Diabolism in a little time, than all the Preachers that they silence could have converted to Piety, and serious Christianity: And the French Prelacy and Dragoon Discipline, will cleanse a Nation quickly, from Protestant Heresie and Schism. We hope not for the honour of having more Followers than such Men.