Reliquiæ Baxterianæ, or, Mr. Richard Baxters narrative of the most memorable passages of his…

And though God so orders it, that the worst do generally keep off themselves, and few but Men seeming to fear God do join with us, yet some few of the most zealous of our People, in some places, do hold off, as disliking the broadness of our way. We find it is not only in Doctrinals, but Practicals, that most are for the Extremes, and the mean pleaseth few, but is censured of both. No Party will come to us, unless we will reject all other Parties, but them. It is in those disengaged Christians, that are truly Catholic, and are the Servants of Christ and not of Men, and that love their Brethren as Christians, and not chiefly as of their Party, that the great hope of our Success doth consist: Though smart Experience may possibly recover some of the rest. Our hopes depending in this doubtful state, we give thanks to God, that he addeth somewhat to our encouragement by you. We adventured not rashly on what we have done. It is near a year and half since we begun our Consultations. Our Profession was perused by Bishop Usher and others: Our Propositions scanned by many for and near: and all was altered in them that any of them were offended at. Yet it is far from our Expectations that all should join only on our Terms: Could we get then to Consultations for Unity and Reformation, and to hold on till they did succeed, we had our desire. But indeed we see such exceeding difference in Mens Apprehensions, and such addictedness to their Party in too many, and such a loathness in others to displease the People, or weaken their own Interest in them, and hazard part of their maintenance that comes from them; that we do expect this Work should go heavily on; and if it prove otherwise, we shall ascribe it to the mere good pleasure of God, and his extraordinary blessing: for no doubt but all the force will be raised against it, that the interest of Satan in the ungodly, the heretical Dividers, the dark imperfect Saints, can procure. But though our greatest Comforts would lye in the Success (because we work not for our selves, but for God and his Church) yet we find very much in our upright Endeavours. Indeed we have Experience of much sweetness in the Work: Our very Thoughts and Speeches and Consultations of Peace are sweet. That our Minds should be hereby occasioned to dwell so much on such a blessed Subject, we find a great advantage to our own Souls;

And though God so orders it, that the worst do generally keep off themselves, and few but Men seeming to fear God do joyn with us, yet some few of the most zealous of our People, in some places, do hold off, as disliking the broadness of our way. We find it is not only in Doctrinals, but Practicals, that most are for the Extreams, and the mean pleaseth few, but is censured of both. No Party will come to us, unless we will reject all other Parties, but them. It is in those disengaged Christians, that are truly Catholick, and are the Servants of Christ and not of Men, and that love their Brethren as Christians, and not chiefly as of their Party, that the great hope of our Success doth consist: Though smart Experience may possibly recover some of the rest. Our hopes depending in this doubtful state, we give thanks to God, that he addeth somewhat to our encouragement by you. We adventured not rashly on what we have done. It is near a year and half since we begun our Consultations. Our Profession was perused by Bishop Usher and others: Our Propositions scand by many for and near: and all was altered in them that any of them were offended at. Yet it is far from our Expectations that all should joyn only on our Terms: Could we get then to Consultations for Unity and Reformation, and to hold on till they did succeed, we had our desire. But indeed we see such exceeding difference in Mens Apprehensions, and such addictedness to their Party in too many, and such a loathness in others to displease the People, or weaken their own Interest in them, and hazard part of their maintenance that comes from them; that we do expect this Work should go heavily on; and if it prove otherwise, we shall ascribe it to the meer good pleasure of God, and his extraordinary blessing: for no doubt but all the force will be raised against it, that the interest of Satan in the ungodly, the heretical Dividers, the dark imperfect Saints, can procure. But though our greatest Comforts would lye in the Success (because we work not for our selves, but for God and his Church) yet we find very much in our upright Endeavours. Indeed we have Experience of much sweetness in the Work: Our very Thoughts and Speeches and Consultations of Peace are sweet. That our Minds should be hereby occasioned to dwell so much on such a blessed Subject, we find a great advantage to our own Souls;