A26982:557
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.
§ 107. Accus. LXXXIX. He noteth, that I say, that before I was turned out, I could keep no Man-Servant, nor any but one old Woman, in a hired Room; and yet, in St. Martin's, I could build a Tabernacle for Worship. From whence he gathereth, 1. That I hoped to gain the Centurion's Reputation among the Factious. 2. That I had got well by Nonconformity, that could lay out so much.]
Ans. Is there any thing pious or charitable, that these Men cannot turn into odious Crimes, by malignant Calumny? 1. Was it Faction to offer to teach freely in a Parish, where were Fifty Thousand that could not come within the Church? 2. Did he know my Heart, that I did it for Reputation? And may he not say the like by any Man that doth good? 3. Did I gain by Nonconformity, that from the Day that I was silenced, had never taken a Groat for Preaching, nor ever had a Church to maintain me, and had commonly refused even Friends Gratuities (save 10l from one Man, that I could not refuse) for many Years after this, and save from few to this day? Who by refusing a ⟨p. 80⟩Bishopric, and other Emoluments, have lost, I think, above Twenty Thousand Pounds by Nonconformity? What Answer do these Men deserve? *And I preached but one Sermon in that Chapel, When I had built it to have preached freely. And when they persecuted me away, I resigned it to the Parish-Minister, for their public Worship, which is used there to this Day, (near Sixteen Years.)
Ans. Is there any thing pious or charitable, that these Men cannot turn into odious Crimes, by malignant Calumny? 1. Was it Faction to offer to teach freely in a Parish, where were Fifty Thousand that could not come within the Church? 2. Did he know my Heart, that I did it for Reputation? And may he not say the like by any Man that doth good? 3. Did I gain by Nonconformity, that from the Day that I was silenced, had never taken a Groat for Preaching, nor ever had a Church to maintain me, and had commonly refused even Friends Gratuities (save 10l from one Man, that I could not refuse) for many Years after this, and save from few to this day? Who by refusing a