And let me add, that I can tell you of a secret which some might be apt to think (as it is really, so) is industriously and much more unrighteously kept up in one mans breast, that may be conscious of a great design in it. The Author of the Book entitled the Weapon Salve, or Irenicum, seems to have found it some inconveniency to him, to have been the Author of so good a Book, whereupon in a certain Soliloquy (though he is pleased to represent it as a tripartite Dialogue) he asks himself his own opinion of it, and gives himself this answer; I will tell you freely (as you know men use great liberty in talking with themselves, though prudence would direct that to be done in some cases, with great Caution, and not to talk inconvenient things too loud, left they be too much overheard) I believe there are many things in it, which if D. St. were to write now, he would not have said, for there are some things which show his Youth and want of due consideration, others in which he yielded too far, ⟨p. 32⟩&c. Now here (though I believe he had begun to be inclined to throw away his Salve, and use only the Weapon for the Wounding of sound parts, not the cutting off the incurable, yet) I conceive one may safely enough take it for granted, his intention was not to retract the whole Book. But whereas he tells us not what he doth, (how would the Doctor take it if one should ask) why is this kept up as such a mighty secret in his own breast? Or say the tenderness of his mind might, 'tis likely, out of mere shamefacedness keeps him from declaring against what his own Conscience tells him is truth. However his retractation cannot make that which was true become false. The reason of things is sullen, and will not alter to serve mens conveniences. Perhaps indeed his judgment is really altered. If therefore he would acquit himself like an honest and conscientious man, let him tell the world plainly, which be the pernicious principles of that Book, that honest and conscientious men who have thought well of many things in it, (and perhaps the same things which he now disapproves) may not always be deceived by the shows of Reason that deceived himself, and by which he deceived them. The same justice that obliges not to lay a stumbling block in the way of the blind, doth also oblige him to remove it who hath laid it:
And let me add, that I can tell you of a secret which some might be apt to think (as it is really, so) is industriously and much more unrighteously kept up in one mans breast, that may be conscious of a great design in it. The Author of the Book intitled the Weapon Salve, or Irenicum, seems to have found it some inconveniency to him, to have been the Author of so good a Book, whereupon in a certain Soliloquy (though he is pleased to represent it as a tripartite Dialogue) he askes himself his own opinion of it, and gives himself this answer; I will tell you freely (as you know men use great liberty in talking with themselves, though prudence would direct that to be done in some cases, with great Caution, and not to talk inconvenient things too loud, left they be too much overheard) I beleive there are many things in it, which if D. St. were to write now, he would not have said, for there are some things which shew his Youth and want of due consideration, others in which he yielded too far, ⟨p. 32⟩&c. Now here (though I beleive he had begun to be inclin'd to throw away his Salve, and use only the Weapon for the Wounding of sound parts, not the cutting off the incurable, yet) I conceive one may safely enough take it for granted, his intention was not to retract the whole Book. But whereas he tells us not what he doth, (how would the Doctor take it if one should ask) why is this kept up as such a mighty secret in his own breast? Or say the tenderness of his mind might, 'tis likely, out of meer shamefac'dness keeps him from declaring against what his own Conscience tells him is truth. However his retractation cannot make that which was true become false. The reason of things is sullen, and will not alter to serve mens conveniences. Perhaps indeed his judgment is really altered. If therefore he would acquit himself like an honest and conscientious man, let him tell the world plainly, which be the pernicious principles of that Book, that honest and consciencious men who have thought well of many things in it, (and perhaps the same things which he now disapproves) may not always be deceived by the shews of Reason that deceived himself, and by which he deceived them. The same justice that obliges not to lay a stumbling block in the way of the blind, doth also oblige him to remove it who hath laid it:
