A26982:441
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.
The present state of England is a lively Exposition of the beginning of that miserable War. We were thus in fear of Popery and Slavery here of late. The Murder of 200000 in Ireland, and the Papists coming in to the King in England was as loud an Alarm, as King James his Liberty of Conscience here. The Archbishop and Bishops, and the Lay Church Lords and Patrons here had Sworn or Promised against taking Arms against the King on any pretence what soever. They did not1 all own King William's Title to the Crown: Yet they thought it lawful to save the Kingdom from a misgoverning King, and the Kings own Kindred, Lords, Army and Clergy forsook him, and joined with him that came in against him: They meant it not as owning then the Invaders Right to the Crown, nor as disowning King James, but to save the Kingdom; and it proved contrary to their expectation that without Blood the turn of the Nation turned the Government.
The present state of England is a lively Exposition of the beginning of that miserable War. We were thus in fear of Popery and Slavery here of late. The Murder of 200000 in Ireland, and the Papists coming in to the King in England was as loud an Alarm, as King James his Liberty of Conscience here. The Archbishop and Bishops, and the Lay Church Lords and Patrons here had Sworn or Promised against taking Arms against the King on any pretence what soever. They did not1 all own King William's Title to the Crown: Yet they thought it lawful to save the Kingdom from a misgoverning King, and the Kings own Kindred, Lords, Army and Clergy forsook him, and joyned with him that came in against him: They meant it not as owning then the Invaders Right to the Crown, nor as disowning King James, but to save the Kingdom; and it proved contrary to their expectation that without Blood the turn of the Nation turned the Government.
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Just so the first beginners of the resistance of King Charles the First his Army intended no change of the Government, and they thought that the War would have been as soon almost ended as begun, as King William's was here; but when it was once begun reconciliation became impossible: And one or others must be ruined: Yet we that owned not the miscarriages of either side, but thought King and Parliament greatly sinful, thought it an absolute Duty to do our best to save the Kingdom, from the most threatening danger. And we thought that the Massacre of Ireland, the Papists in England, the malignity of most of the Kings Adherents, and the prospect of such an Army of Delinquents Conquering a Parliament, and putting all the Land into the Sole power of the King, who was himself in the power of Papists and Delinquents, did clearly tell us where the present danger of the Kingdom lay. But future Changes we could not foresee.