Unum necessarium: or, Christ's justification of Mary's choice and of his servants wrongfully accused: containing a resolution of many weighty cases of conscience. Viz. Indifferent things, obedience to the higher powers, &c. With some reflections on Popery, and a brief account of the many cruelties committed by the Papists. By Richard Baxter.

2. And as I advise you before you accuse any, to know whether Christ

be of your mind, and will be against them, or will take their parts; so next I advise you, as you love your selves, to think well how great a Sin malignant and false accusing is.

1. It sheweth much of the Devil in your Hearts, whether you see it or not, it is no better: He is malicious, a Mur∣derer, a Lyar, and the Accuser of the Just, and Slanderers are called by his Name, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as aforesaid.

2. If it be for Christ's Cause, for Truth or Righteousness, or done in Ma∣lice, against Godliness or Faith, Christ taketh it all as done against himself, Mat. 25. For it is not only against his Servants, but also for their obeying and serving him: It is he that command∣ed them, as is aforesaid.

3. You set your self against the Office also of Christ; He is the Advocate of his Servants, He hath undertaken their Defence, and do you think to over∣come him? it is he that justifieth us, (for all that Faith, and Zeal, and Ho∣liness, for which we are accused and persecuted by the world) and who then shall condemn us? It is he that is for us, who then is he that will be

against us? shall we not be more than Conquerors through him whose power hath conquered for us, and whose vi∣ctorious Love will not forsake us? Rom. 8. 34, &c. Remember in what a manner he said, Act. 9. Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the Pricks: And to him that offendeth one of those little despised ones that believe in him, that it were better for him that a milstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the Sea.

And it is not only to the gross Per∣secuting Accusers of the just that I give this Advice, but I beseech you all to take heed of any rash Accusing of the Just; for the wrong is most to God himself, and the hurt to you, and Christ will be against you.

1. Some there are, that when they have by Ignorance, or a stretching Con∣science, for worldly interest consented to some sinful practices, are led by that same unhappy interest, to justifie first what they do themselves, and then to accuse all those as Erroneous, Pre∣cise, or Schismatical, that are against their choice and practice: Most men

that live in sin for interest, do think that they must be secured from the accusations of Conscience, and the dis∣grace of sinning, by justifying their sin, and accusing those as the sinners that are against it, and dare not sin as much as they; but how sad a defence will this prove at last, which so much add∣eth to their Crime!

2. There are some on the contrary, that in ignorance having taken a Duty or a lawful Practice for a Sin, (as Bap∣tizing Infants, Singing David's Psalms, Praying constantly in Families, Observ∣ing the Lords day, Praying oft in the same words, Communicating with some faulty Churches, or such as these men condemn, and such like) they hereup∣on become the rash and false accusers of those that be not as erroneous as themselves; thus did the Pharisees by Christ and his Apostles; thus did the Jewish Teachers, Act. 15. that said, Except ye be Circumcised and keep the Law of Moses, ye cannot be saved: Thus did the Jewish Christians against Peter, Act. 11. 23. They contended with him, saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them: And after his mi∣raculous

Conviction by this censori∣ousness, they drew him to that Separa∣tion which Paul doth blame him for, Gal. 2. 12, 13, 14. and Barnabas and o∣thers dissembled with him, for fear of the censures of these erroneous men; for it is not the least mischievous effect of these false Accusations and Censures, that they frighten many weak Christi∣ans from duty and into sin, while they hear that this or that is no duty, or is some heinous sin, and have not the un∣derstanding to try and judge, they are carryed away with the name and noise; and some such as Peter and Barnabas walk not uprightly, but step out of the way for fear of displeasing them, or being accused by them as others are; and it is not a little shame, guilt and suffering that this course hath brought upon the Ministers themselves.

3. And there are some that here more hainously offend, Familists, Rant∣ers, Seekers, Quakers, and too many more; that while they are guilty them∣selves of lamentable errours, fear not to accuse almost all the Churches of Christ on earth, as if they were not his Churches at all, and had no true

Religion, Ministry, Ordinances, and were not to be communicated with. The Pa∣pists that burn men as Hereticks for the Truth, I think accuse not so ma∣ny of Christs Ministers and Church∣es, nor so deeply as some of these Sects do; yea and father this malignity on the Spirit of God: But Christ will de∣fend and justifie his Churches against all these false Accusers.

O litle do either Papists or any o∣ther Sectaries know how hainous a crime Christ will take it, to accuse the greatest part of Christians on earth, as being Hereticks, Schismaticks, or no true Churches, or having no true Re∣ligion, or part in Christ or in his Spi∣rit; and for a worldly Faction on one side, or a sick-brained, self-conceited Sect on the other side to appropriate the title of the Church or Saints to themselves alone, and say to most of the Members of Christ, You are none of his! If to accuse falsly one man when his estate only is concerned in it, and that before a single Judicature, be so great a Crime as Scripture maketh it, what is it openly before God and the World, rashly or falsly to accuse whole

Churches and Countreys of Christians, yea the faithfullest of Christs Ministers, with bitter scorns, as many of the a∣foresaid Sectaries do; yea, almost all the Church of Christ, in this and al∣most all former ages! For my part, (though some censure me for it) I am afraid of too bold Censuring even of Pa∣pists, or of honest Heathens, such as were Antonine, Cicero, and such others that never heard the Gospel of Christ.