Letters that passed between Mr. Baxter and Mr. Tombs concerning the disputeLetters that passed between Mr. Baxter and Mr. Tombes concerning the dispute

SIR,

I Received yours, and therewith from five of your neighbours their desires of engaging me in this controversy; you mention many inconveniences of verbal dispute, most of which I acknowledge probable: but the inconveniences of writing far greater, as I expressed to you. If it were among the rude Vulgar, much of that you say might fall out: but I have no such desire to be public, but that if you like it better, before a competent number of the intelligent, I am content. If you think that I desire the disgrace of your person, you are less free from sinful censoriousness then I took you to be: My disparaging speeches of your writings being not particularly expressed, I am uncapable of understanding what you mean. I know not that ever I said more against them but that they were in many things to me unsatisfactory, and my reasons I was ready to produce: And I pray you how could I choose but yield to you, and be of your judgment, if I thought your writings sound in the main? so that you seem offended that I do not believe as you, which I cannot yet help, my judgment being not wholly in the power of my will. That you should so expect from me animadversions on your writings, seemeth to me exceeding strange: I have given you my reasons why I am loth by writings to engage in this controversy at all: much more to begin in a way of Animadversions. What my carriage was that offended you, as you express not, so I know not; and therefore your reproof must needs be vain: I asked your messenger, who answered that he saw no miscarriage, ⟨p. 409⟩except it were my revealing your Letter to three that were present, which he confesseth to be his own fault, who never told me of any desires of secrecy: nor had I reason to think of any, it being about so public a business: and if that do discourage your expectations of candour, your charity is not much stronger then others, whatever your judgment may be. For my part, that no sinister ends should make me differ from you, you may conjecture by these reasons, 1 I am nearer of of your judgment in most other Controversies, that I have spoke with you about, then to most mens I know, and therefore naturally should be more inclined to value yours in this.