dividing consequents may be so easily foreseen, and before men deliberately and resolutely continue and keep up such battering engines on pretence of Uniformity and obedience to men, and before they venture to own this to that Lord who hath made other terms of Church Unity and Peace, it nearly concerneth them to think, and think on it a thousand times: A suspended judgment is here safer than prefidence and confident rage.

And also they that desire an abolition of Episcopacy, should a thousand times bethink them first what true and primitive Episcopacy is, and whether the 'Episcopi Gregis,' oreorum Præsides,' or true Evangelists, or Apostolical General Bishops, disarmed and duly chosen, be any injury to the church? And whether the Jews had not been a national Christian church under the Twelve Apostles and Seventy, if they had not rejected Him that would have gathered them as the hen gathereth her chickens under her wings.

They that cannot deny that Christ settled a superior rank of ministers, appointing them besides their extraordinaries, the work of gathering and overseeing many churches, promising therein to be with them to the end of the world, and that only Matthias must make up the national number of such, though Justus had been with Christ as well as he, must be the provers that this rank and imparity was reversed by him that did institute it, if they affirm it: and not without proof charge Christ with seeming levity and mutability, as settling a form of Ministry and Government, which he would have continue but one age; much less must they impose such an unproved affirmation as the terms of Church Concord.

Woe, woe, woe! how effectually hath Satan almost undone the Christian world, by getting in naughty ministers and magistrates, where he could not utterly extirpate Christianity by arms! thereby making rulers and preachers the captains of the malignant enemies of seriousness in that religion which they profess and preach themselves; and if in such hypocrisy they convert a soul, they hate him as an enemy for believing them; and thereby tempt religious men to mistake the crime of the naughty preacher, as the fault of the office, and to oppose the office for the person's sake; and so Ministry and Christianity are despised by too many.

The shutting of their church doors, and condemning to scorn and beggary, and gaols, those that were as wise and faithful as themselves (unless fearing heinous sin made them worse,) should have been by the persecutors long and deeply thought on, twenty eight years ago; and ever since, by them that believe that Christ will judge them. And so should all doctrines and practices that tend to unwarrantable separations and divisions by others. Things of this moment should not be ventured on, nor Papists made both lords and executioners by our distracted combats with each other, and the miserable nation and undone church left to no better a remedy than a 'non putaremus;' and to hear the worldly tyrants, and the tempted sufferers accusing each other, and disputing when the house is burnt, who was in the fault.

I think he was most faulty that could most easily have helped it, and would not: but if great and rich men will be the strength of the factious, as they have most to lose, they may be the greatest losers.

All this hath been said, to tell you how nearly the doctrine of this book, for necessary doubting and a humble understanding, and for Christian love, and against pretended knowledge and rash judging, doth concern the duty and safety of this Nation, Church and State.

My late book of the "English Nonconformity" fully evinceth this, and more; but blinding prejudice, worldliness and faction, give leave to few of the guilty to read it.

I rest your much obliged Servant,

July 31, 1689.

RICHARD BAXTER.

TO THE READER.

READER,

UPON the review of this book, written long ago, I find, 1. That it is a subject as necessary now as ever; experience telling us that the disease is so far from being cured, that it is become our public shame and danger, and if the wonderful mercy of God prevent it not, is likely to be the speedy confusion and ruin of the land. 2. As to the manner of this writing, I find the effects of the failing of my memory, in the often repeating of the same things, with little diversification: but I will not for that cast it away; considering, 1. That perhaps often repeating may make the matter the better remembered; and if it do the work intended, no matter though the Author be not applauded. 2. And men may think justly that what is often repeated dropped not from the Author inconsiderately, nor is taken by him to be small and useless; but is that digested Truth which he would most inculcate. 3. And those who blame their weakness who accuse the Church Liturgy of too much repetition, I suppose will not be much offended with it in our writings, while the dulness and forgetfulness of many readers maketh it needful.

R. B.

August 3, 1689.

KNOWLEDGE AND LOVE

COMPARED.

PART I.

OF FALSELY PRETENDED KNOWLEDGE.

1 CORINTHIANS viii. 2, 3.

And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. But if any man love God, the same is known of Him.

CHAP. I.

The Scope and Text opened; what Philosophy or worldly Wisdom Paul depresseth; and why.

THE calamitous divisions of the Churches of Christ, and the miscarriages and contentions of too many particular brethren, having been sad upon my thoughts above forty years, by this time, without imputation of hastiness and rash judging, I may take leave to tell the world, what I have discovered to be the principal cause", which is falsely PRETENDED KNOWLEDGE, or IGNORANCE of IGNORANCE, or a proud unhumbled understanding, confident that it knoweth that which it knoweth not. And consequently what must be the cure, if our calamity be here curable, viz. To know as much as we can; but withal to know how little we know, and to take on us to know no more than we do know, nor to be certain of our uncertainties.

The text which I have chosen to be the ground of my

a Had I been supposed to have written this book to hide my sloth and ignorance, men would not have neglected my "Methodus Theologiæ, and Catholic Theology," through mere sloth, and saying, that it is too high and hard for them.