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

Doth not this Man more disgrace his Church than me, that taketh it for the poison of Asps to cast out only the uncapable, and keep in the rest?

Doth not this Man more disgrace his Church than me, that taketh it for the poyson of Asps to cast out only the uncapable, and keep in the rest?

§ 78. Accus. LXI. He accuseth me for telling the World truly how the English Prelates had encouraged the Enemies of serious Godliness in the Land, and at how much cheaper a rate a Man might be a Swearer, a Drunkard, a Whoremonger, an open Scorner of Godliness, than to fast and pray, or to hear a Conformist in the next Parish, when there was no Sermon at home.

Ans. What doth the Man mean by rendering this odious? If he mean that all this was well done; and that, as in Armies, he hath most Honour that killeth most; so in their Church, he is the best Man that ⟨p. 69⟩doth most against serious Piety; this is to profess themselves the Devil's Militia. But if he mean that I mis-report the matter of fact, and this was not so, he may as well persuade us that we lived not then in England, or that we knew not our Neighbours, or that Men spake not English. Can we choose but know that which every Corner in all the Land did speak? Doth he say a word to confute all this? And it was a meritorious work to silence and imprison with Rogues all that obeyed not their ungodly Canons; but it must go for a heinous Crime to feel their Malice, or blame their Cruelty.

Ans. What doth the Man mean by rendering this odious? If he mean that all this was well done; and that, as in Armies, he hath most Honour that killeth most; so in their Church, he is the best Man that ⟨p. 69⟩