The Canterburians Self-Conviction: or an evident demonstration of the avowed Arminianisme, Poperie, and tyrannie of that faction, by their owne confessions; With a postscript for the Personat Jesuite Lysimachus Nicanor, a prime Canterburian. (1641)

Baillie was one of the Scottish commissioners to the Westminster Assembly.

An exceedingly rare item, this book was written as the storms of the religious wars between the Puritans and the Prelates were beginning to blow. These were days when nations adopted overtly religious presuppositions and books such as this became international defences of gospel principles against the ecclesiastical (and political) forces of Antichrist -- and his generation of vipers.

After rehearsing some of the major incidents of Prelatical persecution against the saints of the most high God, and calling to the English for support of the Covenanted cause of Christ, Baillie gives this stirring summary of his motives in writing this book, "behold I here first upon all hazard do break my pitcher, do hold out my Lamp, and blow my trumpet before the Commissioners of the whole Kingdom, offering to convince that prevalent faction by their own mouth, of Arminianism, Popery, and Tyranny."

These were brave and zealous words, for in that day such speech could eventuate in your death. This is not only a historically relevant item, but also a fine defense against the prevailing heresies of the flesh (heresy being a work of the flesh, cf. Gal 5:19-20).

The two predominant heresies addressed by Baillie in this book still cover much of the professing Christian world today; these being:

• 1. false, man-centered views of salvation (Arminianism and Pelagianism) and
• 2. false man-centered views of worship (Liturgical innovationism: either high church or Charismatic)

"Baillie fought hard against Arminianism" noted Johnston (The Treasury of the Scottish Covenant, p. 310); making this book especially valuable for today!

This is the third edition of 182 pages, including a 28 page postscript.