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

40. I am much more cautelous in my Belief of History than heretofore: Not that I run into their Extreme that will believe nothing because they cannot believe all things. But I am abundantly satisfied by the Experience of this Age, that there is no believing two sorts of Men, Ungodly Men and Partial Men (though an honest Heathen of no Religion may be believed, where Enmity against Religion biaseth him not; yet a deba•••ed Christian, besides his Enmity to the Power and Practice of his own Religion, is seldom without some further Bias of Interest or Faction; especially when these concur, and a Man is both ungodly and ambitious, espousing an Intere•••t contrary to a holy heavenly Life, and also Fictitious, embodying himself with a Sect or Party suited to his Spirit and Designs, there is no believing his Word or Oath. If you read any Man partially bitter against others as differing from him in Opinion, or as cross to his Greatness, Interest or Designs, take heed how you believe any more, than the Historical Evidence distinct from his Word compelleth you to believe. The prodigious Lies which have been published in this Age in matters of Fact, with unblushing Confidence, even where thousands or Multitudes of Eye and Ear-Witnesses kn•w all to be false, doth call Men to take heed what History they believe, especially where Power and Violence affordeth that Privilege to the Reporter, that no Man dare answer him or detect his Fraud, or if they do their Writings are all supperest. As long as Men have Liberty to examine and contradict one another, one may partly conjecture by comparing their Words, on which side the Truth is like to lie. But when great Men write History, or Flatteries by their Appointment, which no Man dare contradict, believe it but as you are constrained. Yet in these Cases I can freely believe History: 1. If the Person show that he is acquainted with what he faith. 2. And if he show you the Evidences of Honesty and Conscience, and the Fear of God (which may be much perceived in the Spirit of a Writing). 3. And if he appear to be Impartial and Charitable, and a Lover of Goodness and of Mankind; and not possest with Malignity, or personal ill Will and Malice, nor carried away by Faction or personal Interest: Conscionable Men dare not lye; but Faction and Interest abate Mens Tenderness of Conscience.

40. I am much more cautelous in my Belief of History than heretofore: Not that I run into their Extream that will believe nothing because they cannot believe all things. But I am abundantly satisfyed by the Experience of this Age, that there is no believing two sorts of Men, Ungodly Men and Partial Men (though an honest Heathen of no Religion may be believed, where Enmity against Religion byasseth him not; yet a debaed Christian, besides his Enmity to the Power and Practice of his own Religion, is seldom without some further Byass of Interest or Faction; especially when these concurr, and a Man is both ungodly and ambitious, espousing an Interet contrary to a holy heavenly Life, and also Fctious, embodying himself with a Sect or Party suited to his Spirit and Designs, there is no believing his Word or Oath. If you read any Man partially bitter against others as differing from him in Opinion, or as cross to his Greatness, Interest or Designs, take heed how you believe any more, than the Historical Evidence distinct from his Word compelleth you to believe. The prodigious Lies which have been published in this Age in matters of Fact, with unblushing Confidence, even where thousands or Multitudes of Eye and Ear-Witnesses knw all to be false, doth call Men to take heed what History they believe, especially where Power and Violence affordeth that Priviledge to the Reporter, that no Man dare answer him or detect his Fraud, or if they do their Writings are all supprest. As long as Men have Liberty to examine and contradict one another, one may partly conjecture by comparing their Words, on which side the Truth is like to lie. But when great Men write History, or Flatteries by their Appointment, which no Man dare contradict, believe it but as you are constrained. Yet in these Cases I can freely believe History: 1. If the Person shew that he is acquainted with what he faith. 2. And if he shew you the Evidences of Honesty and Conscience, and the Fear of God (which may be much perceived in the Spirit of a Writing). 3. And if he appear to be Impartial and Charitable, and a Lover of Goodness and of Mankind; and not possest with Malignity, or personal ill Will and Malice, nor carried away by Faction or personal Interest: Conscionable Men dare not lye; but Faction and Interest abate Mens Tenderness of Conscience.