38 n >. Ehe L IFE óf the 1. I Reverend Sir ST f the great Favour of myLord Cbancellour's Reprebenon, I came to underßand how long a time I have fuffered in my Reputation with my Superiours by your mifunder- flandingme, andmifinforming others, as if when I was to preach before the King, I bad foornfully refuted the Tippet as a Toy : when as the Searcher and JudgeofHeartsdoth know that I badno inch thought or word. I wasfo ignorant inthafe matters, as to think thata *As it is in Tippet badbeen the proper Infign of a DrafDivinity ; and Iveriy thought that you of- the Uni- fired it me as froth : And Ihad fo much pride as to be famembat alhamed when you offered vcrfity. it, that I mull tell you my wantof frech Degrees, and therefore gaveyou no Anfwertoyour frri offer ; but to yourfecondwas forced to fay lit belongeth not to me, Sir]. And IPaid not to you any more ; nor badany other thought in my heart, than with fame fhame to tellyou that I badno Degrees ; imagining I fhould haveoffended others, andmade my Pelf the laughter or[cornof many ; if I fhould have ufedthat which didnot belong to me. For Imull profeß that I no more fcruple to wear a Tippet than a Gown, or any comely Garment. Sir, Though this be one ofshe fmalleß of all the Mifbakes which of late bave turned to my wrong, and I mull confeßthat my ignorancegave you the occafson, and I amfar from im- puting it to any ill will in you, having frequently beard that in Charity, and gentlemß and peaceableneßof Mindyou are very eminent; yet becaufe I mull not contemn my Efli- mation with my Superiours, I humbly crave thatfavour and pill-ice ofyou ( which I am confident you will readily grant me) as to acquaint thole with the truth of thisbufneßwbom upon mißakeyou have mißnformed ; whereby in relieving the Innocency ofyour Brother, you will do aworkof Charity and Jußice, and therefore not d f leafing unto God, andwill much oblige, June ao. 166a. SIR, Your humble Servant, Richard Baxter. I have the more need of your Juflice in tbi Cafe, becaufe my dißante denial, me aceeß to thofe that bave received thefe mifreports, and becaufe any publick Vindication of my felf, whatever is fadof me, is taken as an unfufferable Crime, and therefore I am utterly :inca- pable ofvindicating my Innocency or remedying their Mfaßes. To the Reverend and much Honoured Dr. Barks Dean ofWellminßer, Scc. Thelè. To this the Dr. returned this Civil peaceable Anfwer. Hampton- Court, June 23. SIR, i Receivedyour Letter, which]. Would have anfweredfooner.if the Meffengerthat brought 1 it bad returned,. I meal confeß I wasa little furprized with the beginning of it, ae I was with your Name: but when I readfurther Icea ed to befo. Sir, I fhould be heartily * O that lorry and afhamed to be guilty of any thing like.Malignity or.Uncbaritableneß, offecially to they were one-ofyour Condition ; with whom though I concur not perhaps in point ofJudgment in all inch. fame particulars, yet I cannot but eßeem for your perfonal worth and abilities: And indeed your Expreffions in your Letter are fo civiland ingenuous, that I am obliged thereby the more togive youall the fatisfatlien 1 ean. Al Iremember then when you came to me to the Clofet, and I toldyou I wouldfurnifh you witha Tippet ; you anfwered me fometbing to that purpofe asyou write; but whether thefame Numerical words, or but once, Icannotpo- * Thef ßtively fayfrom my own Memory, and therefore I believeyours: Oniy thisI am fare of, that wrds.r Ifaid toyou at my frond eakin That ` forme others of your Perfwafson bad not fervpled beand not, y y f g' being in at it, Which mightfuppafe (ifyou bad not affirmed the contrary) that you badmade me a ffae former refufal: Ofwhich giving me thin no other reafan, than [ that it belonged not you) to him.
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