A26982:486
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.
3. That Disputation of Ordination was never yet answered, (that I could hear of,) and yet Men were forced to be re-ordained. I never had a hand in ordaining any one.
§ 83. Accus. LXVI. His Accusations of my holy Commonwealth are so slippery and trifling, that they call not for an Answer, unless it be that he taketh it for criminal, 1. That I told Cromwell's Army, that it was Treason to take Arms against the highest Power, as they did; and that if the highest Legislative Power was in the King alone, and not in King and Parliament conjunct, I must confess that I was guilty of death. 2. Or that I said, I honoured all the Providences of God that made our Changes, though I abhorred the Deeds of Men that were guilty. And is it a Crime to honour God, and his Works? 3. Or that I desired Richard Cromwell to govern well, and called my self his Subject, though I never owned his Right to the Government; thinking that Christ directed me so far to submit to the Possessor, when he paid Tribute to Caesar, and sent Lepers, and others,1 to the High Priests, that were Usurpers. And2 this very Man, and his best Church in the World (except seven or eight Bishops) do now practise that which he so condemned me for; yea, and much more, while they swear Obedience to the present King William, publishing that it is as to a King de facto only.
- 1See Dr. Sherlock's Defence.
- 2Hath not Bishop Stillingfleet himself taken K. William's Oath.
§ 84. Accus LXVII. is, That I say, I had been a Traitor had I taken Arms against the Parliament.]