A27006:32
Reliquiæ Baxterianæ, or, Mr. Richard Baxters narrative of the most memorable passages of his…
Reliquiæ Baxterianæ, or, Mr. Richard Baxters narrative of the most memorable passages of his life and times faithfully published from his own original manuscript by Matthew Sylvester.Reliquiæ Baxterianæ, or, Mr. Richard Baxters narrative of the most memorable passages of his life and times faithfully publish'd from his own original manuscript by Matthew Sylvester.
London: printed for T. Parkhurst, 1696
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.
§ VII.
But the great things which are as the Spirit of this History, are the Accounts he gives of the Original Springs and Sources of all these Revolutions, Distractions and Disasters which happened from the Civil Wars betwixt King Charles the First, to the Restoration of Charles the Second, and wha• was Consequent after thereupon to Church and State. And here we shall find various and great Occurrences springing from different Principles, Tempers and Interests; directed to different Ends, and resolved into different Events and Issues. The Historian endeavours to be faithful, candid, and severe. Nothing of real serviceable Truth would he conceal. Nothing but what was influential on, and might, or did affect the Public Interest would he expose to Public View. Nothing that might be capable of candid Interpretation or Allay, would he severely censure. Nothing notoriously criminal, and fatal to the Common Good would he pass by without his just Resentments of it, and severe Reflections on it. As to his immediate Personal acquaintance with, or knowledge of the things reported by him, I know no further of that, than as he himself relates. As to what he received from others by Report, how far his Information was true or false, I know not. Indeed I wrote (with tender and affectionate respect and reverence to the Doctors Name and Memory) to Madam Owen to desire her to send me what she could, well attested, in favour of the Doctor, that I might insert it in the Margin, where he is mentioned as having an hand in that Affair at Wallingford House; or that I might expunge that passage. But this offer being rejected with more contemptuousness and smartness than my Civility deserved, I had no more to do than to let that pass upon Record; and to rely upon Mr. Baxter's report, and the concurrent Testimonies of such as knew the Intrigues of those Times. Yet that I might deal uprightly and upon the square, I have mentioned this (though obiter) to testify my Respects to him with whom I never was but once: but I was treated by him then with very great Civility indeed.