A26982:612
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.
§ 124. If Posterity and Strangers must be deluded by such false Historians as this, that tell them the serious Godly Ministers and People were Schismatics and Rogues, and the Haters of serious Religion were the most Religious, who can help it? They talk so now to those that live among both Parties. And the debauched, sensual Youth, and the covetous and ambitious Worldlings, seem (partly) to believe them: But so do not the sober Sort, that daily see the Confutation of their Malice.
§ 124. If Posterity and Strangers must be deluded by such false Historians as this, that tell them the serious Godly Ministers and People were Schismaticks and Rogues, and the Haters of serious Religion were the most Religious, who can help it? They talk so now to those that live among both Parties. And the debauched, sensual Youth, and the covetous and ambitious Worldlings, seem (partly) to believe them: But so do not the sober Sort, that daily see the Confutation of their Malice.
§ 125. For my own part, I will conclude, That if I had not known that sort of serious Godly Men, whom the present Malignants now render odious by their Calumnies, I fear I should not have sincerely believed in Jesus Christ, and that his Gospel is true.
For the rest, both Ministers and Laity, whom I ever knew, showed no serious •elief of that Christian Faith which they professed. Here and there there was a civil Person by Temper and Education; but commonly, not a serious Word could I hear from their Mouths about God, or our Redeemer, and the Spirit's sanctifying Works; or of Death and Judgment, and the Life to come, (save in the Pulpit;) nor did they love to hear any such from others, but their Talk and whole Conversation was about the World, or common worldly Things, and (as Mr. Bolton largely describeth them) any Godly serious Discourse did but disgust them, and mar their Mirth, and make them revile the Speakers as Puritans, Hypocrites, or some such Names. Few did I know of them that excelled Cicero, Seneca; or equalled Antnine, Epictetus, Plutarch. And if Christ made Christians no better than the Philosophers, how could I think better of him, than of them? Or trust that Physician that cureth none? I thank God that I have found more of the Effects of his Saving Grace than the ordinary sort, and Members of the described Church-Party, which these Men extol, did ever show me.