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

As to the Author of the ensuing Treatise, he appears Par negotio, as being very Sagacious, Observant, Impartial, and Faithful. The Things here treated on were Things transacted in his day, quaeque ipse vidit; Et quorum pars magna fuit. Much he knew and felt, and was himself actively and passively concerned in, and the rest he was inquisitive after, observant of, and acquainted with. And being himself an hater of false History, he gave the greater heed and diligence to enter into the depths and springs of what was in his day upon the Theatre of Action. Much he must be informed of by others necessarily: and yet he was greatly averse from the reception of things as true, upon too loose reports. He fanned Intelligence, and was not easily imposed upon, in things of moment. Credulity, Rashness, Partiality, and Perfidiousness, Ignorance and Injudiciousness do ill become Historians. Quis nescit, primam historiae Legem esse, me quid falsi dicere audeat? deinde ne quid veri non audeat? Nequa suspicio gratiae sit in scribendo? nequa simultatis? Cic. de Orat. lib. II. and he had reason for this thought in that (as the Lord Bacon well observes) the Examples of our Ancestors, the Vicissitudes of Affairs, the Grounds of Civil Prudence, and Mens Names and Reputations do depend upon the Knowledge, the Judiciousness and Faithfulness of Historians. Diligent Searches, deep and wise Thoughts, faithful Representations and Reports, with honest Intentions, and generous Designs and Aims at Public Good, render Mens Histories of Things and Persons (as influential upon others) pleasant and advantageous. Every one is not fit to tell the World the History of his own Life and Times: Who lived therein: what Post and Station, Trust and Business, was their assigned Province: what Characters they bore through their deportment therein: what were the regent Principles, the genuine Spirit, and