The Grotian religion discovered, at the invitation of Mr. Thomas Pierce in his Vindication. With a preface, vindicating the Synod of Dort from the calumnies of the new Tilenus; and David, Peter, &c. And the Puritanes, and sequestrations, &c. from the censures of Mr. Pierce. / By Richard Baxter, Catholick.

SECT. I.

IN a Book called Christian * 1.1 Concord, having to do with some that will have no Peace, but by the de∣grading of all the Prote∣stant Ministers, and un∣churching all the Protestant Churches that are not Prelatical, I thought it my duty to

warn those that are in danger of the design of such as under the name of Episcopal Di∣vines, do prosecute the design of Cassander and Grotius, to reconcile us to the Pope, upon certain abatements and Reformations of the Romanists. Hereupon I find the Learned and Reverend Dr. Sanderson take notice of it in his Preface to his Sermons, as if it tended too much to raise a jealousie of Episcopal Divines; and the same offence is fullier expressed by the Reverend Mr. Tho. Pierce in his Rejoynder to Mr. Barlee. But these Reverend persons should have noted, that I purposely protested against any accusation of the Episcopal in general, and as such, or any of them, except the guilty, whom I there in part described, which was fitter then the nomination which Mr. Pierce would have. And by name I profess my very great reverence to Dr. Sanderson and such as he.

But Mr. Pierce wonders how I was be∣trayed to speak so severely of so excellent a person as Grotius, unless by taking things on trust; and therefore he makes it part of the Title of his Book, to be [A Vindication of Grotius from Mr. Baxter.] I took him to be a Cassandrian Papist; and Mr. Pierce and many more among us that vindicate

him do take this to be an injurious imputa∣tion. I am here in a great strait! For now if I prove Grotius a Papist, I fear much lest I shall offend his Learned followers and vindicators, as if withal I proved them al∣so to be Papists; which is none of my de∣sign; nor would I so be understood unless they follow him in the very points that I charge him with. And if I say nothing, I shall be unjust to my self to my self, in lying under the injurious charge of being a false accuser of so great a man But Truth is Truth; and I hope will do less harm then silence, when I have so loud a call to speak. Forbearing therefore the search of Mr. Pierces words concerning me, be∣cause I would not trouble my self, or him, or the Reader with unneceslary altercati∣ons, I shall only give him a plain account of my Reasons for such thoughts and words of Grotius (and consequently of all that are therein of his mind,) as he takes offence at; and let him see that I use not to charge men so deeply upon the trust of any ac∣cusers words.

And here 1. I shall te••l him how far it is that I blame Grotius and dislike his design, and how far I approve it, and ho∣nor the man. 2. And then when I have

opened the reasons of my offence, I shall produce my evidence to prove that Groti∣us was a Papist as far and as deeply guilty as I charged him to be.

Notes

• * 1.1

  §. 1.