The Grotian Religion Discovered, Section 1 – Section 2
SECT. I.
IN a Book called Christian §. 1.Concord, having to do with some that will have no Peace, but by the degrading of all the Protestant Ministers, and unchurching 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 Divines, 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 betrayed 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 imputation. 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 also to be Papists; which is none of my design; 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, because I would not trouble my self, or him, or the Reader with unneceslary altercations, 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 accusers 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 honor the man. 2. And then when I have opened the reasons of my offence, I shall produce my evidence to prove that Grotius was a Papist as far and as deeply guilty as I charged him to be.
SECT. II.
AND for the first, I shall speak of his §. 2.person and worth in other respects, and then of this design in special. 1. I do indeed take Grotius for so Learned and Judicious a man, that Mr. Pierce might boldly conjecture as he doth, that I judge not my self worthy in any such respect to be named with him: A small measure of humility may make meserious in this Profession. But I cannot be of every mans opinion in all things, that is more Learned then my self, unless I will hold a hundred contradictions. Yea I must in Gratitude Profess, that I have learnt more from Grotius, then from almost any Writer in those subjects, that ever I read: (I speak not of Practical Divinity, which my soul doth live upon, and is the happiest part of my learning:) Especially his Books de satisfactione Christi, de veritate Religionis Christianae, de Imperio summar. Potestat. circa sacra. de Jure Belli & Pacis, and his Annotations on the four Evangelists. For the blemishes commonly reported of his life, in some points, I ever stopt my ears against the accusation, susspending my censures of him, as being in a matter that less concerned me to take knowledge of, so that if I might be partial for any man, it were very likely to be for Grotius.