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

§ 2. But I doubt it is confessing too little and not too much that you will blame me for: And I cannot remedy that neither. Your Liturgy denieth Christian Burial, to all that kill themselves; and it is no Virtue to belie our selves, I am sure it is sin to belie a Neighbour, whom I must love but as my self: Yea or not (seasonably) to vindicate his Reputation against malignant Slanderers. I have many years left the Book unanswered, to which you refer me for the Confession of my sins, though many told me, it was my Duty to answer it. It is you now that have called me to it. Would you have me ⟨image 5⟩confess all that he falsely accuseth me of? Then you would make your self guilty of all his Lies, by presuming that they are true, and judging before you ever heard the defence of the accused: You write too honestly to allow me to judge so hardly of you.

§ 2. But I doubt it is confessing too little and not too much that you will blame me for: And I cannot remedy that neither. Your Liturgy denieth Christian Burial, to all that kill themselves; and it is no Virtue to belie our selves, I am sure it is sin to belie a Neighbour, whom I must love but as my self: Yea or not (seasonably) to vindicate his Reputation against malignant Slanderers. I have many years left the Book unanswered, to which you refer me for the Confession of my sins, though many told me, it was my Duty to answer it. It is you now that have call'd me to it. Would you have me ⟨image 5⟩confess all that he falsly accuseth me of? Then you would make your self guilty of all his Lies, by presuming that they are true, and judging before you ever heard the defence of the accused: You write too honestly to allow me to judge so hardly of you.

But truly I durst not put by your Call to my necessary defence. The chief reason is, that as you doubt whether my Books will do more good or hurt, and your Author thinks it would be good that They were all burnt, and the Papists are of the same mind; so I am fully persuaded is the Devil: And till he can get the Conquering Papists or Tories to do it, he will Endeavour to make them as useless as if they were burnt, by rendering them odious for their own faults and for mine. And you tell me that my Enemies will not read them. Now till my Opinion of them be the same with theirs, you cannot expect that I that have spent so great a part of above Seventy five years in writing above an hundred and twenty Books, should be content to lose my Labour and End, and that all Men lose the benefit of them, rather than I shall confute a most impudent Liar. If you say, I over-value them, why do you speak the overvaluing of many of them. That is good that doth Good: About Twelve of them are Translated into the German Tongue; and the Lutherans say They have done good. Some are Translated into French: One into the Language of the New-England Americans by Mr. Eliots. Multitudes say, they have been the means of their Conversion, and more of their Information, Confirmation and Consolation. And the Chief benefit that I expect by them to the World is when I am dead and gone. And can you expect that after so much labour for the Church and Souls, I should so far despise both it and them, as not to think all worthy of a just defence?