A26982:347
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.
Let the Reader peruse but Sir Edward Deering's Speeches in Parliament, proving that this Et caetera Oath was sinfully imposed without Authority, by them that were neither a Convocation, a Synod or Commissioners; the same Man that spake so much for Liturgy and Episcopacy, against Presbytery and Independency: And I doubt not but it was flat Perjury that by it we were required to Swear, viz. [That the described Et caetera Government of the Church ought so to stand.]
And was I perjured for refusing Perjury?
As a summary Confutation of a multitude of his Lies, I at once tell the Reader, that I neither was nor am for the way called Presbytery, Independency, or the English Diocesan way: But for the mixture described excellently by Grotius de Imper. Sum. Pot. and Bishop Usher, and Sir Edward Deering, whose Counsel I wished that the Parliament had followed. And that I was and am far from defending the irregular Actions of the Parliament, or any Members of it: Tho' they thought that the Delinquents had put a necessity on them to overgo their own Judgments to please the Scots, and the Indiscreet and Schismatical part of the Nonconformists, I doubt not but they did ill herein, and should have trusted God in the use of none but lawful means: I believe that a few Men by Craft and unwearied Industry over-reached many that knew not what they did: Sir Edward Deering nameth some of them, especially Sir H. V. Sir A. H. and O. C. that over-reached his own upholders and all the rest: I believe they did ill to excite and encourage disorder and tumults on pretence of Petitioning, and of scurrilous defamations ⟨p. 49⟩of such Men as the Lord Falkland, the Lord Digby, Sir Edward Dering, and some other worthy Men, and so many good Bishops as they abused. And yet that I durst not for these miscarriages, consent to give up the Kingdoms Parliamentary Security for its present and future Safety and Liberties, I still think is consonant to the most common Principles of Lawyers, Politic Writers, Historians, Divines, Protestants, Papists and Heathens.