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

IV. And having laboured most of Forty two Years, by Writing to profit Posterity, as well as the present Age; and written above a hundred and twenty Books to that End, and God having prospered them far beyond my expectation, (in Germany, and other Foreign Lands, as well as in Britain,) I thought it Treachery to suffer the Devil and his Agents to blast them all, (with those that know me not,) without any Contradiction and Confutation of the Slanderers. Sure if they were worth so many Years Labour, 'tis worth a little to take them out of the Fire or Water where Diabolism casteth them: Which I am the more moved to, because while I have the Thanks of Thousands that have read them, common Fame, and Mr. Cantianus, that called me to this Work▪ and others, do tell me, that the Generality now known by the Name of Tories (or malignant Haters of serious Piety) in England, especially among the Universities and Clergy, do so much hate my Name, that they will read no Book which they see my Name prefixed to, (unless as the Adversary against whom it is written.) And as I have small hope of curing that malignant Prejudice, (which is more the hurt of the Envious than of me,) so I must not by Sloth or Silence contribute to its Increase, and Men's Guilt.

IV. And having laboured most of Forty two Years, by Writing to profit Posterity, as well as the present Age; and written above a hundred and twenty Books to that End, and God having prospered them far beyond my expectation, (in Germany, and other Foreign Lands, as well as in Britain,) I thought it Treachery to suffer the Devil and his Agents to blast them all, (with those that know me not,) without any Contradiction and Confutation of the Slanderers. Sure if they were worth so many Years Labour, 'tis worth a little to take them out of the Fire or Water where Diabolism casteth them: Which I am the more moved to, because while I have the Thanks of Thousands that have read them, common Fame, and Mr. Cantianus, that called me to this Work▪ and others, do tell me, that the Generality now known by the Name of Tories (or malignant Haters of serious Piety) in England, especially among the Universities and Clergy, do so much hate my Name, that they will read no Book which they see my Name prefixed to, (unless as the Adversary against whom it is written.) And as I have small hope of curing that malignant Prejudice, (which is more the hurt of the Envious than of me,) so I must not by Sloth or Silence contribute to its Increse, and Men's Guilt.