Baxters Narrative of His Life and Times, Appendix · Section 3 · Letter 4
Worthy Sir,
I Received yours of the 9th past, wherein you are pleased to endeavour my Satisfaction touching the Passages in your Key, which I wrote about, as if I had taken Offence at them. I do acknowledge I was a little troubled; But I can truly say, so far as I know my own Mind, I was not troubled so much for my own sake, as for the sake of others, who I was afraid would make worse use thereof, than ever I am like to do, and so receive more prejudice thereby: For I am not thereby set back a Hair's Breadth in my earnest desire to general Communion; but do fear the general Inclinations of some others thereto are weakened thereby, and an Advantage taken by such who have a mind to oppose an Agreement; and the Minds of many prejudiced against your worthy Proposals for Government, and the reading of them. As for Example, I was within these five Days, commending your wholly Common-wealth (and truly I desire with all my Heart a Government exactly calculated to your practical Model) and there was one in Company, who is Author of a small Piece, called, A sober Word to a serious People, that took occasion to give a dash to my Commendation, and to weaken the Reputation of your Writings, as if you were easy in suggesting and asserting things upon Surmises, or very slender Information. Instancing what you say of himself, in p. 332. of your Key, as insinuating him to be such an one as did not think as he wrote, but to be a Designing Jesuit: When as all that know him, and have known him a Tradesman here in London, and in publick Imployment for many Years, would be ready to acquit him in their Thoughts, from any such thing; which indeed I believe: And I am informed that one Stubbs of Oxford, (who is said to have written Sir H. V. Vindication, &c. how true it is I know not) is imployed to scrape together such things out of your Writings, as may any wise reflect Disparagement. The which things I still inform you of, for no worse end than that you might avoid occasion towards those that seek occasion, and that the Devil may have no Opportunity given him to hinder the Propagation and Fruit of your worthy Labours.
As for Sir H. V. I did not intend to interess my self in the Vindication of his Principles by that touch of him in my Letter, for I do not know but that I am at as great a distance from them as you may be, and am heartily glad to hear that his Interest and sway in the present House is much fallen. I am not without a deep Sense of our Danger, and that the preventing of near approaching Confusion and Blood, under God, depends much upon the speedy and well Settlement of the Militia through the Nation, if it be not too late. I cannot but have a jealous Eye upon the Quakers, as well as the C. and Popish Party, &c.
Sir, I suppose my Brother Lambe will suddenly be with you, if he be not already, and therefore I shall earnestly intreat you to caution him against Extremes, to which his temper doth much addict him. I hear Mr. Gunning (and what he is I presume you know) giveth out that Mr. Lambe is come over to them. And my Brother Lambe hath been too apt to let fall odd Expressions, shewing how far his Thoughts incline him to hold Communion with Papists, as those that wish him well do affirm. And he hath oft been speaking to me, how hard a thing it is to justify our Separation from Rome, and to condemn it among our selves. I thought good to give you this hint, as being persuaded you may improve it for his good, who I hope will much regard your Advice.
All against Infant Baptism, are not esteemed Anabaptists; for then Turks and Iews would. Nor could you intend it in that Sense about King-killing; for then there would have been no place for the Vanists to have been another Party distinct from them. Nor does an after owning of their Act who took off the King, prove them to be Agents in it, that had no Hand in it when it was done. These times have discovered as abundance of Wickedness in some, so of Weakness in all sorts of good Men in one kind or other. O that God would pardon what's past, and reduce his People into right Order.
Pray, Sir, excuse these confused Lines, the Fruit of Haste and Diversion of Thoughts. I had left at my House this Day, a large Manuscript, Intituled Romanism discussed; or, An Answer to the Nine first Articles of H. T. his Manual of Controversies, &c. Written by Mr. Io. Tombes. The Printer that left it with my Wife in my Absence told her, that Mr. Tombes desired me to write to you, to prefix an Epistle to it; but I have not spoke with Mr. Tombes, nor the Printer about it; or if I had, should be loath to be so bold to desire such a thing, unless I knew how acceptable it would be to you. Sir, the good Lord keep you and him who is
YOURS, Affectionately to serve you, Will. Allen. London, July 12. 1659.
To his very Worthy, Good Friend, Mr. Rich. Baxter, in Kidderminster.