More reasons for the Christian religion and no reason against it, or, A second appendix to the Reasons of the Christian religion being I. an answer to a letter from an unknown person charging the Holy Scriptures with contradictions, II. some animadversions on a tractate De Veritate, written by ... Edward Herbert, Baron of Cherbury ... / by Richard Baxter.

XII. Whether Interest make the Judg∣ment of Divines in the Cause of faith more suspicious or contemptible than other mens? I put this Question with respect to those words in the Preface. Sed ne∣que auspicaciores ubi{que} posterioris istius seculi Scriptores dicendi sunt—Fit ita ut pro Regionum & fidei diversitate in id potissimum incumbant, ne illos domi male multet inopia, adeo{que} non tam quid in se verum, quam quid sibi ipsis utile exquirant.—Non est igitur a larvato aliquo vel stipendioso Scriptore, ut verum Consummatum opperiaris. Illorum appri∣me interest, ne personam deponant, vel aliter quidem sentiant. Ingenuus & sui arbitrii, ista solummodo praestabit Au∣thor.

Answ. First, It is not to be deny∣ed, that there are multitudes of such

Carnal Pastors in the Churches, that are Christians for the case, honour and wealth. Secondly, But that this should be so with all, I shall disprove, and prove that none on earth are so credi∣ble in this case as Divines. First, Be∣cause they have made it the business of their lives to search out the truth: and therefore (some of them) must be sup∣posed to have the greatest advantages to know it. So that for Ability they have no sort of men that are Compe∣titors. For diligence and helps are the improvers of understanding. And all men are found best at their own pro∣fession; Lawyers in the Law, Physi∣cians in Medicine, Philosophers in Philosophy, &c. And for your self, your next words are, [Nobis tamen ad alia omnia fere quam literarum studia (uti oportuit) exequenda, otium fuit: Partim armis in diversis regionibus, par∣tim quinquennali Legatione, partim nego∣tiis tum publicis tum privatis, vacavimus] And is not this your disadvantage? Who is a good Linguist, Lawyer, Phy∣sician, &c. that hath had but little lei∣sure for his studies?

Secondly, And as for Will and In∣terest,

it is notorious that thousands of the Ministry have so little set by world∣ly Interest, as that it is upon the terms of greatest self-denyal to the flesh, that they take up and exercise their office; being moved onely by the great Inte∣rest of their own and others souls: Their voluntary diligent labours, their holy lives, their contempt of the world, may convince any of this, that are not blinded by prejudice or malice. There are few Learned men in the Reformed Churches, but might far better use their studies and labours, if they took that for best which is most profitable, advancing or pleasing to the flesh.

Thirdly, You had a Brother of your own, so holy a man, as his sincerity was past exception; and so zealous in his Sacred Ministry, as shewed he did not dissemble; And I suppose had it been necessary, you would have so maintained him, that he should not have fled from truth for fear of pover∣ty.

Fourthly, What can you think of all those that gave up their lives for the Christian saith and hopes? Did they go upon such carnal grounds as you men∣tion.

Fifthly, The revolutions of States, and the diversity of Sentiments, and especially the Interests of the Car∣nal part, do bring it to pass (by Gods over-ruling of all) that usually the most serious Christians and Pastors, are the sufferers of the age they live in: so that how much hath God done hereby to confute such suspicions and accusa∣tions! There are now in England lear∣ned and worthy men, in Church pre∣ferments, which doubtless do not so love them as to buy them with the loss of truth, and that to keep up a Re∣ligion against their Consciences. But if you did so accuse them, sure the ma∣ny hundred silenced Ministers now in England that live in poverty, and ma∣ny of them want Bread, when they might have preferment as well as o∣thers, do live out of the reach of this accusation: I write not this at all as meddling with their Cause, but as an∣swering your Exception. I have my self got no more for Preaching the Gos∣pel these nine years, than if I had been a Lay-man; I mean I have Preached for nothing, if the success on mens souls were not something, and Gods

acceptance (so far as I did Preach:) And more than that, I would offer any man my solemnest oath to satisfie him, that I believe and profess the Christian Doctrine for its proper evidence, and for the hopes of the blessedness pro∣mised thereby; which if they prevail∣ed not with me above all the riches, preferments and pleasures of this world, I would never have been a Preacher or a Christian, nor would continue in my calling and profession one day, much less on the self-denying terms as I now do.

But, O my Lord, thou hast been to me a faithful Saviour, a happy Teacher, a supporting Comforter, in my greatest dangers, distress and fears: Thy service hath been sweet and good! Thy word hath been a powerful Light, a Quicken∣ing, a changing, an elevating, a guid∣ing, a comforting word. So far am I from Repenting that I am thy Disciple or thy Servant, that (now I am not far from my departure from this world) I do vehemently protest, that I beg no greater mercy of thee in this world than that I may Believe in thee more firmly, and Hope in thy promises more confidently, and by

thine Intercession receive more of thy Ho∣ly Spirit, by which I may have neerer ac∣cess to God, and that by thy blood and merits I may be justified and cleansed from the guilt of all my sins, and that by thee I may be taught to know the Fa∣ther, and to Love him as his Love and Goodness hath manifested it self in Thee, and in the gracious works of mans Re∣demption; That thou wilt be the underta∣ker for my soul and body, through my life, and that at death I may commend my Spirit into thy hands, in a strong well grounded Faith and Hope and come to the in the fervent desire of Divine and Heavenly Love And I ask for no great∣er felicity hereafter, than to be with thee where thou art, to behold thy Glory, and to see the Glory of the blessed Deity, and Live in the perfect Knowledge and Love and Praise of God.

Sixthly, And I may add, that it is not only Clergy men that are Chri∣stians: Besides them the Learned'st men in the world have defended or stuck to the Christian Faith: I need not name to you either men of your own rank, such as the two Mirandula's, the great Du Plessis, Marnixius de Al∣deg••nde,

Anhaltinus, (a Prince though a Divine,) Bacon, and many a worthy Noble man of these Kingdoms, and of many other: nor such Laymen as the Scaligers, Salmasius, Grotius, Causo∣bone, Thuanus, and multitudes more. Were all these larvati vel palliati by as∣sed by price or fleshly interest? He that is not a Christian for Spiritual and E∣ternal Interest, taking up his Cross and following a Crucified Christ, on terms of self-denial, even to the for∣saking of all for him, not excepting life it self, and doth not by his Cross even Crucifie the flesh and the world, which is the provision for its lusts, is indeed no real Christian at all.

I had thought to have said some∣what to your pag. 220, 221. [In om∣ni Religione, immo & conscientia, sive ex Natura sive ex gratia, media suffici∣entia dari unde Deo accepti esse possint, ultro credimus—] But I have been long enough, and the answer may be gathered from what is said before.

The Lord save this Land and the darker world from Infidelity and its fruits; and give us mo•••• ••f that spi∣rit

which is Christs Agent and witness in us, effectually to plead and main∣tain his cause,