A27046:169
A third defence of the cause of peace proving 1. the need of our…
A third defence of the cause of peace proving 1. the need of our concord, 2. the impossibility of it, on the terms of the present impositions against the accusations and storms of, viz., Mr. John Hinckley, a nameless impleader, a nameless reflector, or Speculum, &c., Mr. John Cheny's second accusation, Mr. Roger L'Strange, justice, &c., the Dialogue between the Pope and a fanatic, J. Varney's fanatic Prophecy / by Richard Baxter.A third defence of the cause of peace proving 1. the need of our concord, 2. the impossibility of it, on the terms of the present impositions against the accusations and storms of, viz., Mr. John Hinckley, a nameless impleader, a nameless reflector, or Speculum, &c., Mr. John Cheny's second accusation, Mr. Roger L'Strange, justice, &c., the Dialogue between the Pope and a fanatic, J. Varney's phanatic Prophesie / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Jacob Sampson, 1681
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.
§. 55. The matter of this I have answered. The Flowers of [Flood-gates Torrents, Dragons Scum, Raca, &c. I leave unanswered, because you would have brevity: But if you would have brevity, you should not make work for prolixity, unless you bespeak me to forbear answering you. But I know not how better to spare your trouble and my own, than to tell you, that I expect or desire no answer from you to all this that I have written; And if you do send me one, I will not promise you a Reply. I like the Work as little as you do: And for the matter and manner of my Writings, I do (as one that daily expecteth, (and long have done) a speedy passage into a more holy, wise, righteous, and peaceable World) Protest to you, that as I have not been for forty years at least the most negligent Searcher after Truth, nor the coldest Desirer of it; but have I think Impartially laboured to know it, without adhering to any Sect, (at least these 25 years;) so I do defend nothing which I am persuaded is the Truth; nor oppose any other mens ways, but what I think my Fidelity to God, his Church, and Truth obligeth me to oppose. If you be in the ⟨p. 130⟩right and I in the wrong, it is because you have a more blessed understanding, and not because I have been less studious, or desirous to know the truth than you. And I confess my Temper and Style is sharp; and Verba rebus aptanda, is a Motto that Quoad dispositionem was born with me, and maketh me oft forbear that pleasing style, which should be fitted to the persons, though unsuitable to the thing. But I write in hast, and suit all my Answers just to the matter before me, not considering sufficiently how men can bear it. I justify none of this; and I unfeignedly desire you to pardon all Passages, which you shall truly find to transgress the Rules of Christian lenity: For if I be angry I would not sin; but I am not conscious of wrath or disaffection when I speak most eagerly. But I must needs tell you that had this writing been for the view of the World, I would have forborne most of that freedom which in plainness I have used to you, but being only for your self I remembered L•v. 19. 17. which I need not recite: being confident that you have much wronged your brethren by the Book which you have written. Which I impute (with all the rest of our divisions, violences and calamities) to wa•• of acquaintance and familiarity with each other;
§. 55. The matter of this I have answered. The Flowers of [Flood-gates Torrents, Dragons Scum, Raca, &c. I leave unanswered, because you would have brevity: But if you would have brevity, you should not make work for prolixity, unless you bespeak me to forbear answering you. But I know not how better to spare your trouble and my own, than to tell you, that I expect or desire no answer from you to all this that I have written; And if you do send me one, I will not promise you a Reply. I like the Work as little as you do: And for the matter and manner of my Writings, I do (as one that daily expecteth, (and long have done) a speedy passage into a more holy, wise, righteous, and peaceable World) Protest to you, that as I have not been for forty years at least the most negligent Searcher after Truth, nor the coldest Desirer of it; but have I think Impartially laboured to know it, without adhering to any Sect, (at least these 25 years;) so I do defend nothing which I am perswaded is the Truth; nor oppose any other mens ways, but what I think my Fidelity to God, his Church, and Truth obligeth me to oppose. If you be in the