92 I he L I FE of the l'art III meddle with no Body, andhope the World will forget that I am alive, Court,City, and Country is dill fill'd with Clamours againft me; and when a Preacher wanteth Preferment, his way is to Preach, or write a Book againft theNonconformilts, and . me by Name: So that the Me:firma of the Prefs (and Pulpits of fome) is fome Bloody Inve&ives againft my felf, as if my Peacewere inconlilteat withthe King- dom's Happinefs : And neverdid my Eyes read fach impudent Untruths in Matter of Fa&, as there Writings contain ; and they cry out for Anfwers and Reafons of my Nonconformity, while they know the Law forbiddeth me to anfwer them (Un- licenfed. I expect not that any Favour or Juftice ofmy Superiours Ihould Cure any ofthis: But, I. If I might but be heard fpeakfor my felf, beforeI be judged by them, and fuch things believed. ( For to contemn the Judgment of my Rulers, is to difhonour them.) n. I might live quietly to followmy privateStudy, and might once again have the ufe of my Books ï which I have not feen there tenYears, and pay for a Room for their Banding at Kiderminfter, where they are eaten with Worms and Rats, having no fecurity for my quiet Abode in any place, enough to encourage me to fend for :) And if I might have the Liberty that every Beggar bath, to Travel from ':-own toTown, I mean, but to London, toover-fee the Prefs, when any thingof mine is Licenfed for it. And, 3. 'If I be fent toNewgate forPreaching Chrdt's Gofpel; ( For I dare not facri- legioufiy renounce my Calling tó which I am Confecrated, per Sacramentum Ordinie) if I have the Favour of a better Prifon, where I may but walk and write; Thefe I íhould take as very great Favours, and acknowledge your Lordfhip myBenefaaor ifyou procurethem. For Iwill not fo much injure youas todefire, or myReafonas to expe&, any greater Matters; no not the Benefit ofthe Law. I think Ibroke no Law in arty of the Preachings which I ant accufed of; and I molt confidently think, that no Law itapofeth on methe oxford-Oath, any more than any Conform- able Minifter; and .I ampaddoubting the prefent Mittimus for my Imprifonment is quite without Law. But ifthe Jultices think otherwifenow, or at any time, !know no. Remedy.:. Ihave yet a Licenfe to Preach publickly in London-Diocefs, under the Arch-bifhop's own Hand and Seal, :which is yet validfor occafional Sermons, tho' not for Le&ures or Cures : But I dare not ufe it, becaufe it is in theBifhop's power to recall it. Would but the Bithop ( who one would think fhould not be againft the Preaching.of theGofpel) not re-call my Licenfe, I could preach occafional Ser- mons, which would abfolve my Confcience from all Obligations to private Preach- ing. For 'tis not Maintenance that I expe& : I never received a Farthing for my Preaching,: to my Knowledge, fineMay 1. 1662. I thank God I have Food and Raiment. without being chargeable to any Man; which is all that !defire, had I but leave to Preachfor nothing; and that only where there isa notoriousNeceffity. I humbly Crave your Lordfhip's Pardon for the tedioufnefs ; and again returnyou my very great 'Flunksfor your great Favours, remaining My Lord, Your Lordthip's blumble, une . 1670. Much Obliged Servant, Richard Baxter. One
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