A27006:39
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.
First the Author.
1. He was one who loved to see and set things in their clearest, and most genuine Light; he well considered what sort and size of Evidence and Proof all things were capable of. Matters of Sense are evident by their due Appulses on the Senses. Matters of Doctrinal Truth by Demonstration; Matters of History by credible report: and he could consider well how Certainty and Probability differed. Nor was he willing to he imposed upon, or deceived through Prejudice, Laziness, Interest, or a factious Spirit. To say he never was mistaken (for undoubtedly he had his Errors and Mistakes, some of them retracted, and publicly acknowledged by him when discerned) is to attribute more to him, than any mere Man can say: and more than any impartial and severe Student will arrogate to himself. I shall never call the Retractation of a discovered Error or Mistake, a Fault; but rather a commendable Excellence: and I judge it better to argue closely, than bitterly to recriminate or traduce. Truth needs neither Scoff nor Satyr to defend it.
1. He was one who lov'd to see and set things in their clearest, and most genuine Light; he well considered what sort and size of Evidence and Proof all things were capable of. Matters of Sense are evident by their due Appulses on the Senses. Matters of Doctrinal Truth by Demonstration; Matters of History by credible report: and he could consider well how Certainty and Probability differed. Nor was he willing to he imposed upon, or deceived through Prejudice, Laziness, Interest, or a factious Spirit. To say he never was mistaken (for undoubtedly he had his Errours and Mistakes, some of them retracted, and publickly acknowledg'd by him when discern'd) is to attribute more to him, than any meer Man can say: and more than any impartial and severe Student will arrogate to himself. I shall never call the Retractation of a discovered Errour or Mistake, a Fault; but rather a commendable Excellence: and I judge it better to argue closely, than bitterly to recriminate or traduce. Truth needs neither Scoff nor Satyr to defend it.