Rich. Baxter's review of the state of Christian's infants whether they should be entered in covenant with God by baptism ... or whether Christ, the Saviour of the world, hath shut all mankind out of his visible kingdom ... 'till they come of age? : occasioned by the importunity of Mr. E. Hutchinson (and of Mr. Danvers and Mr. Tombes) who called him to this review in order to his retractation [sic] ...
         Review of the state of Christian's infants
         Baxter, Richard, 1615-1691.
      
       
         
           1676
        
      
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             Rich. Baxter's review of the state of Christian's infants whether they should be entered in covenant with God by baptism ... or whether Christ, the Saviour of the world, hath shut all mankind out of his visible kingdom ... 'till they come of age? : occasioned by the importunity of Mr. E. Hutchinson (and of Mr. Danvers and Mr. Tombes) who called him to this review in order to his retractation [sic] ...
             Review of the state of Christian's infants
             Baxter, Richard, 1615-1691.
          
           [8], 64 p.
           
             Printed for Nevil Simons ...,
             London :
             1676.
          
           
             First ed. Cf. Wing.
             Reproduction of original in Bodleian Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Hutchinson, Edward, 17th cent.
           Danvers, Henry, d. 1687.
           Tombes, John, 1603?-1676.
           Infant baptism.
        
      
    
     
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             Rich.
             BAXTER'S
          
           REVIEW
           OF
           THE
           STATE
           OF
           Christian's
           Infants
           .
        
         
           Whether
           they
           should
           be
           entered
           in
           COVENANT
           With
           God
           by
           BAPTISM
           ,
           and
           be
           Visible
           Members
           of
           His
           CHVRCH
           ,
           and
           have
           any
           Covenant-Right
           to
           Pardon
           and
           Salvation
           ?
        
         
           Or
           whether
           CHRIST
           ,
           the
           Saviour
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           hath
           shut
           all
           Mankind
           out
           of
           his
           Visible
           Kingdom
           ,
           and
           Covenant-Rights
           and
           Hopes
           ,
           'till
           they
           come
           to
           Age
           ?
           And
           whether
           he
           did
           so
           from
           the
           beginning
           of
           the
           world
           ,
           or
           after
           his
           Incarnation
           ?
        
         
           Occasioned
           by
           the
           Importunity
           of
           Mr.
           
             E.
             Hutchinson
          
           ,
           (
           and
           of
           Mr.
           Danvers
           ,
           and
           Mr.
           
             Tombes
             ,
          
           )
           who
           called
           him
           to
           this
           REVIEW
           in
           order
           to
           his
           RETRACTATION
           .
        
         
           An
           Impartial
           Reading
           is
           humbly
           requested
           ,
           of
           those
           Dissenters
           who
           would
           not
           be
           found
           Despisers
           of
           holy
           Truth
           ,
           nor
           such
           as
           judge
           before
           they
           hear
           .
        
         
           London
           ,
           Printed
           for
           
             Nevil
             Simons
          
           at
           the
           
             Princes
             Arms
          
           in
           Pauls
           Churchyard
           ,
           1676.
           
        
      
       
         
         
         
           
             READER
             ,
          
        
         
           I
           Once
           more
           stew
           the
           World
           ,
           that
           is
           is
           in
           the
           power
           of
           other
           men
           ,
           if
           God
           permit
           them
           ,
           to
           hinder
           us
           from
           greater
           service
           to
           the
           Church
           ,
           by
           making
           things
           far
           less
           in
           themselves
           ,
           to
           become
           accidentally
           at
           that
           time
           more
           necessary
           ?
           By
           which
           kind
           of
           Impediments
           in
           Contentious
           times
           ,
           Satan
           frustrateth
           the
           better
           desires
           and
           designs
           of
           many
           of
           the
           Servants
           of
           Christ
           ,
           who
           would
           fain
           be
           better
           employed
           ;
           yea
           ,
           and
           useth
           herein
           the
           service
           of
           such
           men
           ,
           as
           in
           other
           respects
           are
           none
           of
           his
           Servants
           .
           And
           thus
           ,
           though
           Scriptures
           be
           our
           
             General
             Rule
          
           ,
           the
           
             Providence
             of
             God
          
           ,
           and
           the
           great
           Ends
           of
           all
           our
           life
           ,
           are
           the
           Determiners
           of
           the
           Circumstances
           of
           our
           Duties
           .
        
         
           The
           Cause
           of
           this
           REVIEW
           is
           a
           Letter
           of
           one
           Mr.
           
             E.
             Hutchinson
          
           ,
           sent
           me
           ,
           very
           large
           in
           considerable
           Oratory
           ,
           to
           let
           me
           know
           his
           Contempt
           of
           my
           last
           (
           and
           former
           )
           Book
           of
           Baptism
           ,
           and
           to
           humble
           me
           for
           the
           great
           sin
           of
           abusing
           the
           world
           with
           such
           frivolous
           writings
           ,
           which
           seem
           to
           do
           something
           ,
           but
           prove
           nothing
           ,
           and
           leave
           Mr.
           Danvers
           ,
           &c.
           unanswered
           ;
           so
           that
           it
           is
           an
           Answer
           that
           he
           would
           have
           :
           And
           he
           vehemently
           urgeth
           me
           to
           Repentance
           and
           Retraction
           of
           what
           I
           have
           written
           for
           Infants
           Church-membership
           ,
           
           Covenant
           and
           Baptism
           ;
           as
           did
           Mr.
           Tombes
           more
           than
           once
           before
           him
           .
           Should
           I
           Print
           his
           Letter
           without
           his
           consent
           ,
           perhaps
           he
           might
           take
           it
           for
           an
           injury
           ;
           and
           if
           he
           would
           have
           it
           done
           ,
           it
           's
           like
           he
           will
           do
           it
           himself
           .
           But
           because
           it
           refereth
           to
           a
           Printed
           Paper
           of
           Mr.
           Danvers
           ,
           against
           me
           ,
           called
           his
           
             Third
             Reply
          
           ,
           which
           I
           never
           saw
           till
           his
           Letter
           informed
           me
           of
           it
           ,
           I
           thought
           that
           it
           was
           more
           than
           himself
           whom
           he
           importuned
           me
           to
           satisfie
           .
        
         
           I
           have
           told
           him
           here
           truly
           ,
           how
           little
           the
           meer
           difference
           about
           the
           outward
           Baptism
           of
           Infants
           doth
           abate
           my
           esteem
           and
           love
           of
           any
           Godly
           Peaceable
           men
           :
           Two
           sorts
           of
           Persons
           called
           Anabaptists
           I
           can
           live
           in
           as
           friendly
           concord
           with
           ,
           as
           with
           most
           I
           hold
           Communion
           with
           :
           First
           ,
           those
           that
           deny
           not
           the
           Covenant-Rights
           ,
           and
           Church-Relation
           of
           the
           Infants
           of
           Believers
           ,
           confessing
           them
           to
           be
           Holy
           ;
           but
           only
           think
           that
           their
           Baptism
           ,
           being
           but
           the
           solemnization
           of
           their
           foregoing
           Covenant
           ,
           and
           the
           publick
           Investiture
           of
           them
           in
           their
           Relation
           ,
           may
           ,
           as
           the
           Coronation
           of
           an
           Infant
           King
           ,
           be
           deferred
           till
           they
           come
           to
           some
           understanding
           ;
           of
           which
           minde
           were
           Tertullian
           and
           Nazianzene
           .
           Secondly
           ,
           those
           that
           being
           in
           
             doubt
             only
          
           of
           the
           Sufficiency
           or
           Lawfulness
           of
           Infant-Baptism
           ,
           do
           receive
           a
           second
           or
           a
           third
           Administration
           (
           as
           some
           Marryed
           by
           Justices
           lately
           ,
           were
           marryed
           again
           by
           Ministers
           ;
           and
           as
           Mr.
           Humphrey
           pleads
           for
           a
           second
           Ordination
           ,
           
           especially
           if
           Hypothetically
           done
           )
           to
           satisfie
           their
           doubting
           Consciences
           ,
           and
           then
           live
           in
           peace
           ,
           and
           orderly
           Communion
           afterwards
           with
           other
           Christians
           ,
           as
           knowing
           that
           in
           Christ
           Jesus
           neither
           Circumcision
           availeth
           ,
           nor
           Uncircumsion
           ,
           but
           a
           new
           Creature
           .
           I
           say
           none
           of
           these
           shall
           be
           more
           willing
           of
           loving
           Communion
           with
           others
           ,
           than
           I
           shall
           be
           with
           them
           .
        
         
           But
           1.
           
           If
           men
           will
           deny
           and
           scorn
           our
           Infant-Right
           in
           the
           Covenant
           of
           Grace
           ,
           and
           in
           
             Christ
             ,
             Pardon
          
           and
           Salvation
           ;
           and
           
             Visible
             Church-Relation
          
           ,
           and
           will
           so
           far
           deny
           the
           
             Kingdom
             and
             Grace
             of
             Christ
          
           ,
           as
           to
           maintain
           that
           he
           
             excludeth
             all
             mankind
             from
          
           any
           
             Visible
             Right
             ,
             or
             Hope
             of
             Salvation
             till
             Adult
             ,
          
           and
           hath
           given
           such
           Right
           no
           more
           to
           Christian
           's
           Children
           than
           to
           Heathens
           !
           And
           if
           they
           will
           make
           this
           Opinion
           the
           measure
           of
           their
           Communion
           ,
           and
           will
           divide
           the
           Church
           ,
           and
           Unchristen
           ,
           or
           Unchurch
           all
           that
           are
           not
           as
           unthankful
           and
           injurious
           to
           Christ
           ,
           and
           to
           the
           Holy
           Seed
           as
           themselves
           ,
           it
           is
           not
           I
           that
           separate
           from
           these
           men
           ,
           but
           they
           from
           me
           ,
           and
           all
           sober
           Christians
           .
        
         
           And
           I
           will
           here
           add
           but
           these
           two
           or
           three
           Notes
           to
           the
           Reader
           ;
           1.
           
           If
           he
           will
           peruse
           two
           short
           Disputations
           which
           I
           have
           lately
           published
           of
           
             ORIGINAL
             SIN
          
           ,
           (
           the
           Primary
           and
           Secondary
           )
           he
           will
           see
           it
           fully
           proved
           ,
           that
           both
           Naturally
           ,
           and
           by
           
             Supernatural
             Revelation
          
           God
           hath
           declared
           such
           an
           
             Interest
             of
             Parents
             and
             Children
             
             in
             each
             other
             ,
          
           as
           is
           much
           of
           the
           Reason
           of
           all
           that
           I
           here
           plead
           for
           :
           And
           he
           that
           will
           accurately
           observe
           the
           whole
           current
           of
           the
           Scripture
           herein
           ,
           shall
           find
           this
           Conjunct-Interest
           asserted
           from
           end
           to
           end
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           I
           am
           past
           doubt
           that
           it
           is
           a
           principal
           design
           of
           Satan
           to
           mortifie
           our
           Christendom
           it self
           ,
           by
           
             keeping
             Parents
             from
             that
             intelligent
             and
             serious
             Covenanting
             with
             God
             ,
          
           in
           their
           solemn
           dedication
           of
           their
           Children
           to
           him
           ,
           which
           the
           greatness
           of
           the
           work
           and
           case
           requireth
           ;
           and
           to
           turn
           our
           very
           Christening
           into
           a
           Ceremony
           ,
           or
           lifeless
           Formality
           :
           And
           it
           is
           not
           the
           least
           part
           of
           
             my
             Non-conformity
          
           ,
           that
           I
           dare
           not
           deliberately
           profess
           
             my
             Assent
             and
             Consent
          
           ,
           that
           
             no
             Parent
             shall
             be
             suffered
             in
             the
             Church
             to
             enter
             his
             own
             Child
             into
             the
             Covenant
             of
             God
             ,
             nor
             to
             speak
             one
             Covenanting
             ,
             Promising
             ,
             Undertaking
             ,
             nor
             Dedicating
             word
          
           ;
           (
           nor
           must
           be
           
             urged
             to
             be
             so
             much
             as
             present
             )
          
           But
           that
           
             Godfathers
             and
             Godmothers
          
           ;
           who
           never
           give
           us
           any
           cause
           to
           believe
           that
           one
           of
           many
           thousands
           of
           them
           take
           the
           
             Child
             for
             their
             own
          
           ,
           nor
           ever
           purpose
           to
           
             Educate
             him
          
           ,
           or
           do
           what
           
             there
             they
             Vow
             and
             Covenant
             to
             do
             ,
          
           must
           be
           the
           
             only
             Covenanting
             Undertakers
          
           ;
           and
           so
           that
           so
           much
           
             notorious
             false
             Vowing
             to
             God
          
           ,
           or
           Perfidiousness
           ,
           must
           defile
           our
           Baptism
           :
           And
           now
           come
           these
           Anabaptists
           ,
           and
           instead
           of
           
           calling
           the
           Parents
           to
           Seriousness
           ,
           and
           
             Holy
             Fidelity
          
           in
           so
           great
           a
           work
           ,
           they
           tell
           them
           that
           it
           is
           none
           of
           their
           Duty
           at
           all
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           And
           how
           light
           soever
           some
           make
           of
           Unity
           ,
           I
           know
           that
           it
           's
           even
           Essential
           to
           the
           Church
           ;
           As
           the
           Union
           of
           the
           Stones
           and
           Timber
           is
           to
           the
           House
           ,
           and
           of
           King
           and
           Subjects
           to
           the
           Kingdom
           ;
           and
           of
           the
           several
           parts
           ,
           to
           a
           Clock
           or
           Watch
           :
           For
           the
           Form
           is
           Relative
           .
           And
           do
           you
           think
           then
           that
           they
           befriend
           Christ
           or
           his
           Church
           ,
           who
           turn
           the
           Sacrament
           of
           our
           Union
           into
           the
           occasion
           of
           our
           great
           Division
           ?
           yea
           ,
           and
           
             Unchristen
             and
             Unchurch
             all
             the
             Christian
             World
             in
             Infancy
          
           ;
           yea
           ,
           and
           a
           thousand
           parts
           to
           one
           of
           the
           Christian
           Church
           of
           the
           Adult
           ,
           because
           they
           are
           not
           Re-baptised
           at
           Age.
           Passion
           ,
           and
           Prejudice
           ,
           and
           Partiality
           (
           when
           men
           have
           espoused
           the
           Interest
           of
           a
           Cause
           as
           the
           best
           and
           holyest
           in
           their
           eyes
           )
           may
           make
           men
           swallow
           such
           things
           as
           these
           ,
           and
           think
           that
           they
           serve
           God
           in
           reviling
           all
           that
           are
           against
           them
           .
           Were
           we
           agreed
           against
           Infants
           Covenant-Right
           ,
           when
           should
           we
           ever
           be
           agreed
           at
           what
           Age
           it
           is
           that
           they
           are
           to
           be
           received
           ?
           and
           when
           a
           Childs
           Profession
           were
           Valid
           ?
           But
           he
           that
           thinketh
           that
           1.
           
           All
           the
           Christian
           World
           will
           ever
           Unite
           in
           the
           Renouncing
           of
           all
           Infants
           Covenant-Rights
           and
           Hopes
           .
           2.
           
           Or
           that
           
             without
             Unity
          
           ,
           (
           in
           the
           Essentials
           )
           or
           without
           
             Love
             
             and
             Peace
          
           the
           Church
           ,
           of
           Christ
           is
           in
           a
           prosperous
           State
           ,
           doth
           not
           judge
           as
           I
           do
           upon
           the
           most
           serious
           thoughts
           that
           I
           am
           able
           to
           exercise
           ,
           and
           as
           I
           doubt
           not
           but
           I
           shall
           judge
           to
           the
           last
           breath
           ,
           which
           is
           not
           like
           to
           be
           far
           off
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
           TO
           Mr.
           E.
           HVTCHINSON
           .
        
         
           
             SIR
             ,
          
        
         
           WHen
           I
           read
           you
           general
           Accusation
           of
           my
           
             Firey
             discouraging
             of
             Reprovers
          
           ,
           &c.
           
           I
           began
           to
           bethink
           me
           who
           they
           were
           in
           all
           my
           life
           time
           that
           had
           to
           my
           face
           reproved
           me
           ,
           and
           been
           discouraged
           by
           any
           unthankful
           passionate
           returns
           of
           mine
           ;
           and
           not
           remembring
           any
           one
           in
           my
           life
           ,
           (
           unless
           you
           will
           call
           my
           Contradicting
           men
           in
           disputation
           and
           Altercation
           in
           case
           of
           differences
           of
           Judgment
           by
           that
           name
           )
           I
           did
           read
           on
           ,
           in
           expectation
           of
           fuller
           information
           ,
           and
           I
           perceived
           that
           it
           was
           not
           
             any
             verbal
             rejecting
             any
             reproof
          
           of
           my
           
             present
             Monitors
          
           ,
           that
           you
           meant
           ,
           but
           my
           
             published
             Writings
          
           against
           those
           called
           Anabaptists
           .
           I
           have
           long
           had
           far
           lowder
           calls
           than
           yours
           to
           
             Review
             my
             Life
             and
             Writings
          
           ,
           and
           to
           judge
           of
           them
           as
           impartially
           as
           I
           can
           .
           Upon
           the
           Review
           I
           am
           Conscious
           ,
           1.
           
           That
           I
           never
           
             meddled
             at
             first
             with
             Mr.
          
           Tombes
           ,
           till
           he
           unavoidably
           constrained
           me
           ,
           by
           sending
           those
           whom
           he
           had
           prevailed
           with
           to
           me
           ,
           to
           tell
           me
           ,
           that
           if
           
             I
             would
             not
             answer
             him
             ,
             they
             must
             lay
             their
             change
             so
             far
             on
             my
             refusal
             to
             satisfie
             them
             .
          
           We
           lived
           to
           gether
           till
           then
           ,
           without
           any
           meddling
           with
           the
           difference
           by
           me
           .
        
         
         
           2.
           
           I
           find
           that
           when
           he
           had
           (
           without
           my
           consent
           )
           published
           these
           Papers
           which
           I
           privately
           sent
           him
           ,
           with
           his
           Answer
           ,
           I
           gave
           not
           
             a
             word
             of
             Reply
          
           to
           them
           ,
           till
           Mr.
           Danvers
           made
           it
           seem
           necessary
           to
           me
           ,
           though
           it
           be
           above
           20
           years
           since
           they
           were
           written
           .
           Surely
           my
           silence
           was
           no
           
             furious
             Contradiction
          
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           I
           find
           that
           when
           Mr.
           Tombes
           published
           them
           so
           long
           ago
           ,
           and
           they
           have
           been
           in
           your
           own
           hands
           in
           Mr.
           Tombes
           his
           Book
           ,
           neither
           you
           nor
           others
           till
           now
           that
           I
           know
           of
           ,
           shewed
           me
           any
           such
           fury
           in
           them
           .
           And
           those
           that
           I
           have
           spoke
           with
           say
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           no
           such
           thing
           ,
           but
           that
           his
           Reply
           is
           passionate
           ,
           (
           which
           I
           leave
           to
           others
           judgment
           that
           yet
           may
           read
           them
           in
           his
           Book
           together
           .
           )
        
         
           4.
           
           I
           find
           that
           in
           1659.
           when
           I
           endeavoured
           to
           perswade
           Mr.
           Lambe
           and
           Mr.
           Allen
           to
           
             Christian
             Concord
          
           ,
           that
           I
           did
           not
           strive
           against
           their
           Anabaptistry
           ,
           but
           only
           to
           satisfie
           them
           ,
           that
           
             holding
             that
             difference
             ,
             they
             yet
             ought
             to
             satisfie
             themselves
             ,
             in
             that
             which
             they
             took
             to
             be
             their
             Duty
             ,
             and
             to
             hold
             loving
             Communion
             with
             the
             Churches
             and
             Christians
             of
             the
             other
             mind
             .
          
           And
           when
           they
           had
           renounced
           their
           Separation
           ,
           it
           was
           not
           I
           but
           their
           
             own
             Light
             ,
             Experience
          
           and
           Consideration
           (
           by
           what
           other
           helps
           I
           know
           not
           )
           that
           made
           them
           Renounce
           their
           Anabaptistry
           .
        
         
           5.
           
           When
           before
           that
           ,
           there
           was
           a
           Treaty
           in
           London
           for
           the
           Reconciling
           of
           the
           Presbyterians
           &
           Iudependents
           ,
           I
           did
           first
           at
           home
           to
           the
           Ministers
           of
           Worcestershire
           ,
           mantain
           by
           a
           set
           Disputation
           ,
           that
           it
           was
           our
           
             Duty
             to
             seek
             Peace
             and
             Communion
             with
             the
             Anabaptists
          
           ;
           and
           after
           sent
           up
           the
           Terms
           of
           that
           
             desired
             Concord
          
           to
           London
           ,
           to
           Mr.
           Allen
           ,
           who
           at
           some
           Meetings
           for
           that
           purpose
           ,
           told
           me
           the
           business
           went
           hopefully
           on
           ,
           till
           the
           Confusions
           in
           1659.
           disturbed
           and
           overthrew
           all
           .
        
         
           6.
           
           I
           have
           above
           20
           years
           in
           Print
           and
           Pulpit
           frequently
           
           told
           the
           Churches
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           greatly
           beholden
           to
           Gods
           Providence
           in
           permitting
           the
           Anabaptists
           to
           call
           us
           so
           lowd
           to
           the
           serious
           confideration
           of
           of
           our
           Baptism
           ;
           and
           that
           if
           those
           that
           were
           Baptized
           in
           Infancy
           be
           not
           brought
           to
           as
           
             serious
             understanding
          
           ,
           and
           
             resolved
             a
             renewing
          
           of
           that
           Covenant
           ,
           as
           if
           they
           
             had
             never
             been
             Baptised
             before
          
           ,
           yea
           and
           pass
           not
           out
           of
           the
           state
           of
           Infant
           Church-membership
           into
           that
           of
           the
           Adult
           ,
           by
           a
           
             solemn
             transltion
          
           in
           
             owning
             of
             their
             Covenant
          
           ,
           these
           Church
           Corruptions
           will
           be
           continued
           which
           are
           the
           Scandal
           and
           Temptation
           of
           the
           Anabaptists
           .
           And
           to
           that
           end
           I
           wrote
           a
           Treatise
           of
           Confirmation
           .
        
         
           7.
           
           I
           have
           Printed
           in
           this
           last
           Book
           (
           recited
           by
           Mr.
           Barret
           in
           the
           end
           of
           his
           Queres
           )
           such
           an
           
             Offer
             of
             Brotherly
             Concord
          
           with
           the
           Anabaptists
           ,
           (
           supposing
           our
           continued
           difference
           in
           that
           point
           )
           even
           the
           
             very
             words
          
           of
           such
           a
           Profession
           on
           which
           both
           parties
           may
           with
           mutual
           forbearance
           live
           in
           brotherly
           Love
           and
           Communion
           ,
           as
           never
           any
           man
           did
           to
           me
           accuse
           either
           of
           Rigor
           ,
           Unlawfulness
           ,
           or
           Insufficiency
           to
           that
           end
           .
           And
           if
           you
           resolve
           that
           you
           will
           have
           
             no
             Communion
             with
             any
             in
             the
             world
             ,
          
           but
           those
           that
           are
           of
           your
           
             Opinion
             against
             Infant-Baptism
          
           ,
           your
           Communion
           will
           be
           narrower
           than
           mine
           ,
           and
           such
           talk
           as
           this
           of
           yours
           is
           never
           like
           to
           draw
           me
           to
           your
           mind
           .
        
         
           8.
           
           I
           have
           many
           years
           insisted
           more
           upon
           the
           terms
           (
           and
           improvement
           )
           of
           our
           
             Baptismal
             Covenant
          
           ,
           as
           containing
           that
           very
           Touch-stone
           ,
           or
           state
           of
           Evidence
           ,
           by
           which
           both
           our
           
             sincere
             Grace
          
           ,
           and
           our
           
             right
             to
             Church-Communion
          
           must
           be
           tryed
           ,
           than
           any
           man
           that
           I
           know
           of
           ;
           of
           which
           my
           
             Family
             Book
          
           is
           a
           full
           proof
           .
        
         
           9.
           
           To
           the
           Reconciling
           of
           men
           herein
           ,
           I
           have
           oft
           shewed
           ,
           that
           
             If
             our
             Childrens
             part
             in
             the
             Covenant
             of
             Grace
             upon
             their
             Parents
             dedication
             of
             them
             to
             God
             ,
             ●nd
             
             so
             their
             Church-membership
             ,
          
           were
           but
           yielded
           ,
           the
           rest
           (
           whether
           they
           should
           actually
           be
           
             Baptized
             with
             Water
          
           )
           would
           be
           much
           less
           cause
           of
           our
           distance
           and
           alienation
           ,
           than
           on
           both
           sides
           it
           is
           usually
           judged
           .
           Yea
           ,
           if
           the
           Anabaptists
           would
           but
           say
           ,
           
             [
             I
             Dedicate
             this
             Child
             to
             God
             ,
             as
             far
             as
             he
             hath
             given
             me
             power
             ,
             and
             heartily
             desire
             that
             God
             may
             be
             his
             Father
             ,
             Christ
             his
             Saviour
             ;
             and
             the
             Holy
             Ghost
             his
             Sanctifier
             :
             ]
          
           And
           did
           ever
           any
           of
           you
           prove
           
             this
             to
             be
             a
             sin
          
           ?
           And
           we
           are
           ready
           on
           our
           part
           to
           profess
           that
           
             [
             Infant-Baptism
             will
             save
             none
             at
             age
             that
             consent
             not
             to
             the
             same
             holy
             Covenant
             .
             ]
          
        
         
           10.
           
           I
           have
           oft
           told
           the
           world
           that
           though
           the
           Ancient
           Churches
           denyed
           not
           their
           
             Childrens
             part
             in
             the
             Covenant
             of
             Grace
             ,
          
           nor
           their
           
             right
             to
             Pardon
             and
             Salvation
          
           ,
           and
           
             Infaut
             Church
             membership
          
           by
           that
           Covenant
           ,
           yet
           the
           Time
           when
           Children
           themselves
           should
           be
           
             solemnly
             Baptized
          
           ,
           was
           left
           in
           the
           Churches
           for
           above
           200
           years
           to
           every
           ones
           
             free
             choice
          
           ;
           some
           (
           and
           the
           most
           Christians
           )
           usually
           Baptizing
           them
           quickly
           ,
           and
           others
           thinking
           as
           Tertullian
           ,
           that
           it
           would
           
             bind
             them
             faster
          
           if
           they
           
             stayed
             somewhat
             longer
          
           ;
           or
           ,
           as
           Nazianzene
           thought
           ,
           till
           they
           were
           
             three
             or
             four
             years
             old
          
           :
           even
           as
           one
           that
           hath
           
             right
             to
             a
             Crown
          
           in
           his
           Infancy
           ,
           may
           have
           his
           Coronation
           performed
           either
           then
           ,
           or
           afterward
           .
        
         
           11.
           
           I
           have
           oft
           told
           the
           world
           that
           I
           would
           have
           this
           
             liberty
             and
             moderation
          
           again
           revived
           ,
           and
           that
           I
           would
           have
           no
           Anabaptist
           persecuted
           or
           excommunicated
           for
           that
           his
           Opinion
           .
        
         
           12.
           
           I
           never
           persecuted
           any
           of
           them
           ,
           nor
           perswaded
           any
           to
           do
           it
           ;
           nor
           never
           endeavoured
           to
           hurt
           them
           ,
           nor
           denyed
           them
           any
           good
           that
           I
           could
           do
           them
           ;
           (
           though
           I
           told
           you
           truly
           that
           even
           they
           of
           Mr.
           
           T
           's
           .
           Church
           that
           had
           seemed
           
             my
             old
             Friends
          
           ,
           sought
           my
           life
           or
           ruine
           ,
           by
           way-saying
           a
           man
           that
           told
           them
           he
           carryed
           
           Letters
           of
           mine
           ,
           violently
           taking
           them
           from
           him
           and
           carrying
           them
           up
           to
           London
           to
           the
           Council
           ,
           to
           
             Sir
             H.
             V.
          
           &c.
           )
        
         
           This
           is
           the
           account
           that
           my
           
             Reviewing
             Conscience
          
           giveth
           me
           of
           
             my
             dealing
             with
             the
             Anabaptists
          
           ,
           with
           whom
           to
           this
           day
           I
           still
           plead
           for
           
             Love
             and
             peaceable
             Communion
          
           upon
           terms
           of
           mutual
           forbearance
           :
           And
           whether
           it
           be
           holy
           Patience
           and
           Humility
           that
           takes
           this
           for
           Fire
           and
           Fury
           ,
           and
           cannot
           bear
           it
           ,
           consider
           .
        
         
           But
           yet
           Fury
           and
           Folly
           you
           copiously
           exclaim
           against
           ,
           and
           call
           me
           to
           Repent
           :
           I
           thank
           you
           unfeignedly
           for
           that
           
             honest
             wholsome
          
           word
           
             [
             Repent
          
           ]
           whether
           well
           or
           ill
           applyed
           .
           But
           your
           many
           scornes
           at
           my
           Repentings
           scarce
           well
           agree
           with
           the
           invitation
           .
           Were
           I
           like
           to
           have
           Life
           and
           Leisure
           for
           such
           a
           work
           ,
           I
           would
           resolve
           to
           Review
           all
           my
           Writings
           just
           in
           the
           method
           that
           Austin
           did
           ,
           and
           to
           tell
           the
           Readers
           what
           I
           dislike
           in
           them
           ;
           which
           having
           no
           reason
           to
           expect
           ,
           I
           have
           so
           dealt
           already
           with
           those
           that
           most
           needed
           it
           ,
           and
           corrected
           others
           in
           the
           later
           Impressions
           .
           If
           you
           need
           no
           Repentance
           ,
           and
           have
           written
           as
           much
           as
           I
           ,
           and
           that
           without
           any
           fault
           ,
           you
           have
           been
           happier
           than
           I.
           And
           yet
           I
           intend
           not
           to
           give
           over
           Writing
           ,
           Preaching
           ,
           Praying
           ,
           praising
           God
           ,
           or
           Conference
           with
           men
           ,
           because
           I
           cannot
           do
           any
           of
           them
           innocently
           ,
           in
           a
           manner
           that
           needed
           no
           Repentance
           .
        
         
           But
           upon
           the
           full
           perusal
           of
           your
           Letter
           ,
           I
           must
           say
           ,
           I
           never
           had
           a
           more
           Wordy
           ,
           Windy
           ,
           Empty
           Invitation
           to
           Repentance
           ,
           that
           I
           remember
           in
           my
           life
           .
           I
           looked
           still
           when
           the
           
             fault
             was
             told
             me
          
           ,
           and
           
             some
             words
          
           at
           least
           named
           that
           were
           guilty
           of
           the
           folly
           or
           firyness
           mentioned
           ;
           or
           some
           of
           my
           particular
           sins
           proved
           ,
           that
           I
           might
           be
           convinced
           :
           I
           looked
           to
           find
           some
           one
           Argument
           of
           my
           Books
           confuted
           and
           
             proved
             vain
          
           ,
           or
           fallacious
           .
           But
           it
           renewed
           in
           me
           that
           grief
           and
           pity
           ,
           
           for
           the
           strange
           diseasedness
           of
           such
           Dissenters
           ,
           (
           which
           Mr.
           Danvers
           had
           before
           caused
           )
           to
           find
           such
           abundance
           of
           Rhetorical
           Invectives
           ,
           without
           one
           word
           of
           Proof
           :
           As
           if
           you
           had
           prevaricated
           ,
           and
           had
           a
           design
           to
           have
           
             kept
             me
             from
             Repentance
          
           ,
           by
           telling
           me
           I
           had
           no
           particulars
           to
           Repent
           of
           that
           you
           could
           shew
           .
        
         
           
             What
             do
             all
             your
             Generals
             of
          
           [
           no
           answer
           ]
           and
           tergiversation
           ,
           
             and
             abundance
             the
             like
             signifie
             ,
             to
             any
             man
             of
             common
             sense
             ,
             unless
             this
             be
             the
             meaning
             of
             them
             ,
          
           [
           It
           is
           Mr.
           Danvers
           his
           Opinion
           and
           mine
           that
           you
           are
           foolish
           ,
           firey
           ,
           injurious
           ,
           frivolous
           ,
           &c.
           
           Therefore
           you
           must
           Repent
           of
           this
           ,
           though
           we
           say
           nothing
           that
           should
           convince
           a
           reasonable
           man.
           ]
        
         
           But
           ,
           
             I
             must
             retract
             what
             I
             have
             written
             against
             Anabaptists
          
           ;
           for
           you
           invite
           me
           to
           it
           by
           a
           torrent
           of
           General
           Accusations
           ,
           and
           letting
           me
           know
           that
           Mr.
           D.
           and
           you
           do
           think
           me
           Hetorodox
           .
           ]
           And
           just
           so
           doth
           Mr.
           Pen
           and
           the
           Quakers
           do
           also
           :
           And
           so
           do
           the
           Papists
           ,
           and
           with
           as
           great
           confidence
           and
           Oratory
           perhaps
           as
           yours
           :
           And
           so
           do
           the
           accusers
           of
           the
           Non-conformists
           in
           many
           Volumes
           :
           and
           so
           do
           many
           other
           Parties
           :
           And
           must
           I
           be
           therefore
           of
           all
           their
           minds
           ?
           Or
           why
           more
           of
           yours
           than
           of
           theirs
           ,
           if
           I
           have
           nothing
           from
           you
           but
           
             confident
             Gnerals
          
           ,
           which
           they
           can
           say
           as
           well
           as
           you
           ?
           Yea
           thus
           do
           the
           Infidels
           themselves
           now
           use
           me
           ,
           and
           must
           I
           therefore
           yield
           ?
        
         
           But
           
             I
             have
             written
          
           Fierily
           
             against
             Mr.
          
           Danvers
           !
           1.
           
           Did
           I
           begin
           with
           Mr.
           D.
           or
           he
           with
           me
           ?
           2.
           
           Have
           I
           said
           any
           thing
           offensive
           to
           him
           ,
           besides
           the
           detecting
           of
           his
           marvellous
           audacity
           in
           strange
           heaps
           of
           untruths
           in
           matters
           of
           Fact
           ?
           and
           his
           lamentable
           injury
           thereby
           to
           the
           Church
           of
           Christ
           ?
        
         
           Sir
           ,
           I
           know
           you
           not
           ,
           and
           should
           I
           tell
           you
           what
           a
           Spirit
           in
           your self
           ,
           your
           copious
           outcryes
           ,
           and
           extream
           tenderness
           of
           our
           dissent
           and
           contradiction
           of
           you
           ,
           
           shews
           ,
           and
           how
           unlike
           to
           the
           voice
           of
           a
           sheep
           of
           Christ
           it
           is
           to
           
             cry
             so
             loud
          
           ,
           as
           if
           the
           knife
           were
           at
           your
           throat
           ,
           when
           we
           do
           but
           
             tell
             the
             Church
          
           of
           your
           
             Errours
             and
             Injuries
          
           to
           the
           Truth
           ,
           upon
           the
           urgency
           of
           your
           
             restless
             importunity
          
           :
           Should
           I
           tell
           you
           what
           
             strange
             Partiality
          
           you
           shew
           in
           finding
           
             Meekness
             ,
             Truth
          
           ,
           and
           Reason
           in
           Mr.
           Danvers
           his
           Books
           ,
           and
           
             Folly
             ,
             Fire
          
           ,
           and
           No-answer
           in
           mine
           ,
           I
           could
           not
           expect
           that
           you
           should
           ever
           the
           more
           be
           convinced
           ,
           or
           Repent
           ,
           but
           rather
           take
           that
           also
           for
           Fiery
           ,
           as
           taking
           me
           for
           an
           uncapable
           Monitor
           .
           But
           I
           desire
           you
           only
           to
           ask
           the
           Opinion
           of
           the
           judicious
           and
           impartial
           herein
           ;
           for
           
             Repentance
             to
             your self
          
           should
           be
           no
           odious
           thing
           .
           And
           whereas
           you
           tell
           me
           over
           and
           over
           what
           
             all
             wise
             men
          
           now
           think
           and
           
             say
             of
             me
          
           ,
           and
           of
           my
           Writings
           ,
           am
           not
           I
           an
           unhappy
           man
           that
           
             never
             met
             with
             one
          
           of
           those
           wise
           men
           ,
           but
           your self
           and
           such
           professed
           opposites
           (
           Anabaptists
           ,
           Quakers
           ,
           Papists
           ,
           or
           such
           like
           .
           )
        
         
           But
           what
           if
           
             I
             be
             foolish
          
           ,
           and
           you
           
             be
             wise
          
           ?
           Cannot
           you
           suffer
           fools
           gladly
           ,
           seeing
           you
           your selves
           are
           wise
           ?
           And
           is
           your
           impatient
           and
           general
           Invectives
           ,
           and
           your
           self-justifying
           ,
           an
           infallible
           proof
           of
           your
           great
           Wisdome
           ?
        
         
           Brother
           ,
           upon
           the
           deepest
           search
           that
           I
           am
           able
           to
           make
           in
           above
           20
           years
           Consideration
           ,
           I
           am
           satisfied
           that
           you
           
             heinously
             wrong
          
           the
           
             Mercy
             of
             God
          
           ,
           and
           the
           Church
           ,
           and
           
             true
             Believers
          
           ,
           and
           their
           Seed
           ,
           by
           denying
           them
           that
           part
           in
           
             Gods
             Covenant
          
           and
           Mercy
           ,
           which
           I
           have
           proved
           he
           hath
           stated
           on
           them
           in
           his
           Word
           :
           I
           am
           fully
           satisfied
           that
           God
           never
           had
           Church-Laws
           on
           earth
           ,
           whether
           in
           innocency
           ,
           or
           since
           the
           Fall
           ,
           which
           extended
           not
           the
           priviledge
           of
           a
           Covenant
           and
           Church-state
           to
           the
           Infants
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           if
           they
           had
           such
           (
           on
           that
           supposition
           ;
           )
           and
           that
           the
           Church
           
             from
             the
             dayes
             of
          
           Adam
           
             till
             now
          
           hath
           had
           Infants
           members
           
           by
           Gods
           appointment
           ;
           and
           that
           
             Christ
             so
             found
             them
          
           ,
           and
           
             so
             continued
             them
          
           ;
           and
           that
           it
           was
           then
           a
           thing
           that
           
             none
             did
             controvert
          
           :
           I
           am
           satisfied
           fully
           ,
           that
           all
           that
           are
           Discipled
           are
           by
           command
           to
           be
           Baptized
           ;
           and
           that
           
             Nations
             should
             be
             Discipled
          
           ,
           and
           
             the
             Kingdoms
             of
             the
             world
             made
             the
             Kingdoms
             of
             Christ
          
           ;
           and
           Christ
           would
           have
           
             gathered
             to
             his
             Church
             the
             whole
             Jerusalem
             ,
             as
             the
             Hen
             gathereth
             her
             Chickens
             ,
             and
             none
             were
             broken
             off
             but
             for
             unbelief
             ,
             and
             therefore
             the
             Children
             of
             believing
             Jews
             were
             not
             broken
             off
          
           ;
           and
           that
           
             we
             are
             graffed
             into
             the
             same
             Olive
             :
             I
             am
             satisfied
             that
             they
             that
             so
             hardly
             digested
          
           the
           forbearance
           of
           Circumcision
           ,
           would
           never
           have
           
             silently
             past
             over
             the
             Vnchurching
             of
             all
             the
             Infants
             ,
             without
             one
             word
             of
             exception
          
           ;
           nor
           Christ
           have
           so
           far
           
             countenanced
             the
             Excepters
          
           ,
           as
           to
           be
           
             angry
             with
             those
             that
             would
             have
             forbid
             Children
             comeing
             to
             him
             ,
             because
             of
             such
             is
             the
             Kingdom
             of
             Heaven
             ,
          
           nor
           the
           Scripture
           have
           talk'd
           so
           much
           of
           
             Baptizing
             Housholds
          
           .
           I
           am
           not
           hardened
           enough
           to
           reject
           so
           plain
           a
           Text
           as
           ,
           
             [
             The
             unbelieving
             Husband
             is
             sanctified
             ,
          
           &c.
           
             else
             were
             your
             Children
             unclean
             ,
             but
             now
             they
             are
             holy
             .
             ]
          
           Nor
           in
           that
           one
           text
           to
           expound
           Sanctifying
           for
           
             Lawful
             Marriage
          
           ,
           and
           Holyness
           for
           
             [
             Legitimation
          
           ]
           when
           the
           words
           are
           never
           so
           taken
           else
           in
           the
           Bible
           ,
           and
           
             ma-many
             hundred
             times
          
           in
           another
           sense
           :
           nor
           to
           say
           ,
           that
           
             all
             Pagans
             Children
             are
             holy
             if
             they
             be
             not
             Bastards
             .
          
           I
           am
           satisfied
           that
           man
           must
           not
           teach
           God
           how
           to
           speak
           ,
           but
           carefully
           enquire
           what
           he
           hath
           spoken
           ;
           And
           if
           but
           one
           Text
           of
           Scripture
           acquaint
           us
           ,
           directly
           or
           consequentially
           of
           his
           mind
           ,
           we
           must
           be
           faithful
           in
           observing
           it
           :
           I
           believe
           that
           these
           are
           your
           thoughts
           as
           well
           as
           mine
           ,
           and
           that
           you
           verily
           think
           that
           you
           hold
           close
           to
           the
           Scripture
           ,
           and
           that
           I
           depart
           from
           it
           :
           But
           as
           I
           am
           as
           willing
           to
           understand
           it
           as
           you
           are
           ,
           and
           at
           as
           hard
           a
           rate
           of
           cost
           or
           labour
           ,
           so
           I
           well
           know
           that
           
           one
           mistake
           once
           deeply
           received
           ,
           doth
           let
           in
           abundance
           more
           ,
           and
           fights
           against
           all
           the
           light
           that
           would
           detect
           and
           shame
           it
           :
           And
           he
           that
           once
           accounteth
           Falshood
           to
           be
           Truth
           ,
           will
           account
           the
           
             Defenders
             of
             Truth
          
           to
           be
           its
           Enemies
           .
           Otherwise
           how
           could
           you
           and
           such
           others
           bring
           your
           Consciences
           to
           wrest
           and
           wrangle
           against
           such
           abundance
           of
           plain
           Scripture
           Texts
           ?
           Were
           it
           but
           
             this
             one
          
           ,
           what
           could
           be
           plainer
           ?
           What
           is
           wresting
           Scripture
           if
           this
           be
           not
           ,
           to
           force
           a
           sense
           of
           Holyness
           and
           Sanctification
           upon
           
             one
             Text
          
           ,
           which
           is
           never
           found
           else
           in
           any
           Text
           ,
           and
           the
           contary
           ,
           or
           different
           sense
           neer
           six
           hundred
           times
           ;
           is
           this
           impartial
           dealing
           with
           Gods
           word
           ?
           And
           do
           you
           think
           that
           Paul
           mentioneth
           that
           as
           a
           great
           and
           comfortable
           priviledge
           of
           Believers
           ,
           which
           belongs
           to
           Heathens
           equally
           with
           them
           ?
           Why
           do
           you
           not
           your selves
           still
           use
           that
           language
           then
           ,
           and
           say
           ,
           that
           
             the
             Children
             of
             Infidels
             are
             holy
             ,
          
           when
           too
           many
           will
           scarce
           allow
           the
           title
           to
           
             any
             Adult
             Christians
          
           that
           are
           not
           of
           your
           Sect
           ,
           much
           less
           to
           the
           Children
           of
           Christians
           ,
           though
           dedicated
           by
           Baptism
           to
           God
           ?
        
         
           But
           being
           called
           by
           you
           to
           a
           Review
           ,
           I
           am
           again
           remembred
           ,
           that
           
             our
             Saviour
             himself
             was
             a
             Church
             member
             in
             his
             Infancy
             ,
          
           even
           the
           chiefest
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           the
           Head
           ;
           Mr.
           Tombes
           confesseth
           it
           :
           Let
           not
           your
           opinions
           interest
           draw
           you
           to
           deny
           it
           ,
           nor
           to
           call
           my
           assertion
           
             [
             rotten
             dictating
             .
          
           ]
           If
           you
           should
           ,
           I
           would
           ask
           of
           you
           ,
           
             at
             what
             age
             Christ
             began
             to
             be
             Christ
             ,
          
           and
           the
           
             Churches
             Head
          
           ,
           as
           we
           ask
           the
           Socinians
           ,
           
             At
             what
             age
             he
             began
             to
             be
             God
             ?
          
           And
           if
           an
           Infant
           was
           capable
           of
           being
           the
           
             Head
             ,
             King
             ,
             Priest
          
           ,
           and
           
             Prophet
             Relatively
          
           ,
           though
           yet
           he
           had
           never
           
             Ruled
             ,
             Sacrificed
             ,
             or
             Taught
             ,
          
           then
           there
           is
           nothing
           in
           the
           
             Infant
             Age
          
           ,
           which
           maketh
           it
           uncapable
           of
           being
           
             Members
             ,
             Subjects
          
           ,
           and
           Disciples
           of
           Christ
           :
           And
           it
           is
           like
           that
           Irenaeus
           was
           not
           deceived
           ,
           
           who
           saith
           that
           he
           
             Sanctified
             the
             state
             of
             Infancy
          
           by
           being
           an
           Infant
           ;
           and
           we
           have
           reason
           to
           judge
           ,
           that
           he
           did
           thereby
           give
           us
           notice
           that
           the
           
             Infant
             Age
          
           is
           not
           unacceptable
           to
           him
           ,
           nor
           uncapable
           of
           Church
           Relation
           .
        
         
           Truly
           Sir
           ,
           the
           serious
           thought
           of
           
             Christs
             Infant
             Relation
          
           is
           a
           very
           great
           confirmation
           of
           me
           against
           those
           that
           exclude
           all
           mankind
           in
           their
           Infancy
           from
           the
           Covenant
           and
           Church
           ;
           even
           as
           
             Christs
             ordinary
             Communion
          
           in
           the
           Synagogues
           and
           Temple
           ,
           is
           an
           insuperable
           argument
           with
           me
           against
           unlawful
           Separations
           .
        
         
           And
           God
           himself
           calling
           
             Infants
             his
             Servants
          
           ,
           who
           do
           no
           
             actual
             service
          
           ,
           Levit.
           25.
           41
           ,
           42.
           yea
           and
           calling
           them
           Disciples
           ,
           Acts
           15.
           10.
           prevaileth
           more
           with
           me
           ,
           than
           the
           words
           of
           any
           one
           that
           shall
           say
           ,
           They
           are
           uncapable
           of
           being
           Servants
           ,
           or
           Disciples
           .
           If
           the
           Infant-age
           did
           not
           render
           them
           uncapable
           of
           being
           Subjects
           of
           Christs
           Kingdom
           ,
           and
           Members
           of
           his
           Church
           (
           Universal
           and
           Particular
           )
           
             before
             Christs
             Incarnation
          
           ,
           it
           maketh
           them
           not
           since
           uncapable
           of
           the
           like
           or
           same
           Relations
           .
        
         
           And
           why
           should
           I
           suspect
           such
           incapacity
           ?
           are
           not
           Infants
           members
           of
           
             other
             Societies
          
           ?
           are
           they
           not
           members
           of
           Families
           ?
           and
           may
           not
           a
           Family
           be
           Sanctified
           by
           dedication
           to
           God
           ?
           are
           they
           not
           members
           of
           all
           the
           Kingdoms
           in
           the
           world
           ?
           and
           is
           it
           not
           the
           common
           
             light
             of
             Nature
          
           ,
           which
           teacheth
           all
           men
           so
           to
           esteem
           them
           ?
           are
           not
           Infants
           the
           
             Kings
             Subjects
          
           ?
           and
           why
           may
           they
           not
           as
           well
           be
           
             Christs
             Subjects
          
           as
           the
           Kings
           ?
           Have
           they
           not
           
             Right
             of
             Inheritance
             and
             Honour
          
           ;
           even
           of
           
             Crowns
             ,
             Lordships
          
           ,
           and
           Lands
           ?
           Do
           any
           Nations
           under
           Heaven
           
             level
             all
             Children
          
           ,
           as
           if
           the
           Parents
           communicated
           neither
           good
           or
           evil
           to
           them
           ?
           What
           reason
           then
           to
           suppose
           that
           Christ
           obliterateth
           even
           Natures
           Laws
           ?
        
         
           And
           if
           you
           deny
           not
           
             Original
             Sin
          
           ,
           why
           should
           you
           think
           that
           God
           is
           so
           unproportionably
           prone
           to
           punish
           
           and
           damn
           more
           than
           to
           pardon
           and
           save
           ;
           as
           that
           while
           
             all
             Infants
          
           are
           made
           sinful
           and
           miserable
           by
           their
           Parents
           ,
           yet
           
             not
             one
          
           in
           the
           world
           shall
           have
           so
           much
           as
           a
           part
           in
           Christs
           meritorious
           Righteousness
           ,
           and
           the
           free
           grace
           and
           pardon
           of
           his
           Covenant
           ,
           upon
           the
           
             Parents
             dedication
             of
             him
             to
             God
             ,
          
           and
           
             entering
             him
             by
             consent
             into
             his
             Covenant
             ?
          
           Doth
           
             sin
             abound
          
           so
           much
           
             more
             than
             Grace
          
           ,
           as
           that
           
             Condemnation
             is
             passed
             upon
             all
             Infants
          
           for
           and
           by
           their
           
             Parents
             sin
          
           ,
           and
           the
           
             free
             Covenant
             gift
          
           doth
           not
           
             pardon
             any
             sin
          
           to
           any
           
             one
             Infant
          
           in
           the
           world
           upon
           
             any
             condition
          
           which
           the
           Parent
           can
           perform
           (
           nor
           any
           other
           .
           )
        
         
           You
           never
           yet
           by
           all
           your
           words
           (
           for
           all
           words
           are
           not
           Light
           and
           Proof
           )
           did
           convince
           me
           that
           it
           was
           
             no
             Benefit
             to
             Infants
             before
             Christs
             Incarnation
             to
             be
             Covenant-members
          
           of
           his
           Church
           (
           particular
           and
           Universal
           ,
           )
           Nor
           that
           Christ
           came
           to
           deprive
           them
           all
           of
           that
           benefit
           :
           Mr.
           Tombes
           his
           pretenses
           that
           it
           
             is
             a
             Benefit
             to
             Christians
             to
             have
             all
             their
             Infants
             put
             or
             kept
             out
             of
             the
             Church
             State
             and
             Mercies
             ,
          
           is
           so
           absurd
           ,
           against
           Nature
           ,
           that
           I
           am
           asham'd
           to
           say
           any
           more
           against
           it
           :
           If
           it
           be
           
             our
             Benefit
          
           to
           have
           
             no
             Covenant-gift
             of
             Christ
             ,
             Pardon
             and
             Life
             to
             our
             Children
             ,
          
           may
           you
           not
           next
           say
           ,
           It
           is
           
             our
             Benefit
          
           to
           have
           them
           damn'd
           ?
           And
           if
           it
           were
           so
           ,
           Nature
           teacheth
           us
           to
           be
           loath
           to
           receive
           our
           Benefits
           by
           such
           means
           ;
           as
           one
           would
           be
           loath
           that
           a
           Physitian
           should
           cure
           his
           Sickness
           by
           a
           draught
           of
           the
           heart
           blood
           of
           all
           his
           Children
           .
        
         
           Sir
           ,
           I
           could
           the
           easilyer
           bear
           with
           your
           delay
           of
           
             external
             Baptism
          
           ;
           if
           you
           did
           not
           deny
           all
           Infants
           their
           
             part
             in
             the
             Covenant
             of
             Life
             .
          
           But
           when
           you
           dare
           not
           only
           
             do
             that
          
           ,
           but
           reproach
           our
           assertion
           of
           Gods
           Covenant-Grace
           to
           them
           ,
           as
           
             [
             Absurd
             and
             Heretical
          
           ]
           it
           is
           no
           Fieryness
           to
           say
           ,
           that
           I
           will
           not
           follow
           you
           .
           Where
           there
           is
           no
           Covenant
           or
           Promise
           there
           is
           
             no
             Hope
          
           ,
           which
           
           we
           can
           call
           Divine
           ;
           and
           if
           we
           have
           
             no
             Hope
          
           of
           the
           Pardon
           or
           Salvation
           of
           our
           Children
           upon
           any
           Promise
           of
           God
           ,
           it
           is
           no
           Promise
           of
           Mans
           that
           can
           keep
           us
           from
           Despair
           .
           We
           may
           not
           then
           say
           as
           
             David
             ,
             I
             shall
             go
             to
             it
             ]
          
           any
           farther
           than
           to
           the
           Grave
           .
        
         
           Nay
           do
           you
           not
           do
           worse
           than
           deprive
           us
           of
           our
           hopes
           ,
           even
           lay
           such
           grounds
           as
           
             destroy
             and
             exclude
          
           them
           ,
           by
           a
           sentence
           of
           damnation
           ?
           For
           God
           
             [
             addeth
             to
             the
             Church
             such
             as
             shall
             be
             saved
             .
             ]
          
           And
           if
           Infants
           be
           not
           added
           to
           the
           Church
           ,
           are
           they
           not
           excluded
           from
           Salvation
           ?
           For
           Christ
           
             washeth
             and
             sanctifieth
             his
             Church
          
           ,
           &
           he
           is
           the
           
             Saviour
             of
             his
             Body
             only
          
           ;
           And
           if
           they
           are
           not
           of
           his
           
             Church
             or
             Body
          
           ,
           he
           washeth
           them
           not
           ,
           nor
           is
           their
           Saviour
           effectively
           .
           The
           same
           Text
           that
           saith
           ,
           
             He
             that
             believeth
             shall
             be
             saved
             ,
          
           saith
           ,
           
             He
             that
             believeth
             not
             shall
             be
             damned
             .
          
           ]
           And
           
             He
             that
             believeth
             not
             is
             condemned
             already
             .
          
           ]
           If
           therefore
           you
           allow
           them
           no
           participation
           in
           their
           Parents
           Faith
           ,
           but
           require
           
             personal
             Belief
          
           of
           them
           ,
           as
           necessary
           to
           their
           Salvation
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           Promise
           ,
           you
           must
           also
           require
           the
           same
           of
           them
           to
           save
           them
           
             from
             Damnation
          
           ,
           by
           the
           Threatning
           .
        
         
           Did
           you
           but
           leave
           Christians
           no
           more
           hope
           than
           you
           do
           Pagans
           and
           Turks
           of
           their
           
             Childrens
             Pardon
          
           and
           Salvation
           ,
           I
           would
           not
           be
           ambitious
           of
           the
           Joy
           of
           your
           opinion
           ;
           much
           less
           if
           you
           
             positively
             condemn
          
           them
           .
           And
           what
           do
           you
           less
           ,
           if
           finding
           them
           condemned
           by
           the
           violated
           Covenant
           of
           Innocency
           ,
           you
           totally
           exclude
           them
           from
           the
           
             Remedying
             ,
             Pardoning
             ,
             and
             Saving
             Covenant
             ,
          
           and
           from
           
             Christs
             Body
          
           which
           he
           doth
           save
           .
        
         
           If
           you
           say
           that
           they
           may
           be
           of
           his
           
             invisible
             Church
             ,
             which
             is
             the
             saved
             Body
          
           ;
           I
           answer
           ,
           1.
           
           What
           they
           
             may
             be
          
           ,
           tells
           us
           not
           
             what
             they
             are
          
           .
           If
           they
           be
           not
           so
           
             much
             as
             visible
             Members
          
           ,
           who
           can
           say
           that
           they
           are
           
             invisible
             ones
          
           ?
           2.
           
           They
           are
           by
           
             Nature
             visible
             Members
             of
             the
             Kingdom
             of
             Satan
             ,
          
           and
           
             Children
             of
             wrath
          
           ,
           and
           visibly
           under
           the
           
           
             Laws
             Condemnation
          
           :
           Therefore
           'till
           we
           can
           prove
           them
           
             visibly
             by
             grace
             translated
          
           out
           of
           this
           state
           of
           nature
           ,
           their
           
             visible
             Condemnation
          
           cannot
           be
           denyed
           .
        
         
           And
           what
           a
           jumble
           make
           you
           ,
           if
           you
           make
           a
           great
           part
           of
           Mankind
           to
           be
           at
           once
           
             condemned
             visible
             members
          
           of
           the
           
             Kingdom
             of
             the
             Devil
          
           ,
           and
           
             invisible
             saved
             members
          
           of
           Christ
           ?
           Men
           may
           be
           
             visibly
             Christians
             ,
             (
             Hypocrites
          
           )
           and
           yet
           
             invisibly
             wicked
          
           ;
           but
           to
           be
           
             visibly
             condemned
             members
          
           of
           the
           
             Kingdome
             of
             Darkness
          
           ,
           and
           yet
           
             invisible
             members
             of
             Christ
          
           is
           strange
           to
           me
           ;
           especially
           considering
           that
           Hypocrites
           are
           visibly
           what
           they
           
             are
             not
             really
          
           ,
           and
           invisibly
           ,
           because
           they
           falsely
           profess
           what
           they
           have
           not
           :
           But
           a
           
             condemned
             Infant
          
           doth
           not
           deceive
           men
           by
           dissembling
           ,
           but
           we
           
             actually
             know
          
           that
           as
           a
           child
           of
           Adam
           ,
           he
           is
           a
           child
           of
           sin
           and
           death
           :
           It
           is
           
             truly
             so
          
           .
           Therefore
           we
           must
           conclude
           that
           as
           Gods
           Word
           is
           true
           ,
           
             he
             continueth
             so
          
           ,
           till
           he
           be
           delivered
           by
           Grace
           .
           And
           the
           
             Covenant
             of
             Grace
          
           is
           the
           Conveyance
           of
           ,
           and
           title
           to
           our
           gracious
           priviledges
           ,
           as
           the
           threatning
           is
           of
           wrath
           .
        
         
           Shall
           not
           all
           that
           are
           judged
           ,
           be
           judged
           by
           
             Gods
             Law
          
           ?
           (
           the
           Law
           which
           they
           were
           under
           ?
           )
           And
           what
           Law
           shall
           Infants
           then
           be
           judged
           by
           ?
           If
           they
           are
           under
           no
           Covenant
           of
           Promise
           that
           giveth
           them
           title
           to
           life
           ,
           how
           can
           they
           have
           
             title
             by
             it
          
           ,
           or
           be
           
             judged
             by
             it
          
           ?
        
         
           Are
           they
           Justified
           or
           not
           Justified
           ?
           If
           
             not
             Justified
          
           ,
           they
           are
           condemned
           certainly
           ;
           and
           shall
           not
           be
           glorified
           ;
           for
           it
           is
           the
           Justified
           that
           are
           glorified
           ,
           Rom.
           8.
           30.
           
           But
           if
           they
           are
           Justified
           ,
           either
           it
           is
           by
           some
           
             Justifying
             Promise
             and
             Covenant
          
           ,
           or
           without
           :
           If
           without
           ,
           1.
           
           Do
           you
           not
           give
           hope
           also
           to
           all
           Heathens
           and
           Wicked
           men
           ,
           that
           though
           they
           are
           condemned
           by
           the
           Law
           of
           Innocency
           ,
           and
           not
           justified
           by
           any
           
             Covenant
             of
             Grace
          
           ,
           yet
           they
           may
           be
           
             justified
             without
          
           ?
           2.
           
           And
           by
           what
           means
           is
           it
           ?
           by
           any
           or
           none
           ?
           If
           by
           any
           ,
           by
           what
           ?
           If
           
           by
           none
           ,
           how
           know
           you
           it
           ?
           But
           if
           it
           be
           by
           any
           Covenant-Grant
           that
           they
           are
           justified
           ,
           it
           must
           be
           by
           that
           of
           Grace
           which
           I
           am
           pleading
           for
           or
           none
           .
           For
           we
           will
           not
           now
           receive
           another
           Gospel
           .
        
         
           To
           talk
           therefore
           of
           
             meer
             Election
          
           ,
           is
           nothing
           to
           any
           of
           this
           that
           I
           have
           said
           .
           Election
           Justifieth
           not
           ,
           nor
           dissolveth
           the
           condemning
           Sentence
           of
           the
           Law.
           God
           judgeth
           not
           men
           meerly
           on
           the
           grounds
           of
           his
           unreveled
           Election
           ,
           but
           by
           his
           Word
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           Rule
           .
           And
           were
           it
           otherwise
           if
           unrevealed
           ,
           none
           can
           
             prove
             it
          
           ,
           and
           therefore
           must
           not
           affirm
           it
           :
           And
           were
           it
           reveled
           that
           God
           
             will
             save
             some
          
           that
           he
           
             promiseth
             not
             to
             save
          
           ,
           nor
           giveth
           them
           any
           antecedent
           right
           to
           it
           ;
           yet
           1.
           
           No
           man
           could
           know
           by
           this
           ,
           whether
           any
           one
           in
           England
           or
           Europe
           ,
           or
           in
           the
           World
           in
           his
           age
           shall
           so
           be
           saved
           :
           nor
           whether
           it
           be
           many
           or
           few
           ,
           or
           more
           than
           a
           dozen
           in
           the
           world
           .
           2.
           
           And
           no
           one
           can
           know
           who
           any
           of
           these
           be
           ?
           and
           so
           can
           have
           no
           notice
           of
           comfort
           for
           any
           of
           his
           own
           .
           3.
           
           Nor
           that
           Christians
           Infants
           shall
           be
           saved
           any
           more
           than
           the
           Heathens
           .
        
         
           These
           things
           ,
           Sir
           ,
           are
           not
           to
           be
           submitted
           to
           by
           all
           Christians
           ,
           for
           fear
           lest
           you
           else
           revile
           them
           ,
           or
           lest
           Mr.
           T.
           sayes
           ,
           
             Their
             blood
             be
             on
             their
             own
             heads
             .
             Austin
          
           is
           called
           
             Durus
             Pater
             Infantum
          
           ,
           for
           too
           sharp
           a
           censure
           on
           the
           unbaptized
           ;
           (
           though
           many
           mistake
           him
           .
           )
           But
           we
           should
           be
           harder
           ,
           did
           we
           leave
           all
           
             visibly
             condemned
          
           without
           a
           
             pardoning
             word
          
           ,
           or
           any
           
             visible
             remedy
          
           and
           hope
           .
        
         
           And
           truly
           me
           thinks
           you
           too
           much
           
             honour
             the
             Kingdome
             of
             the
             Devil
             ,
          
           if
           you
           make
           it
           visibly
           contain
           all
           the
           
             Seed
             of
             the
             Woman
          
           ,
           even
           of
           the
           Faithful
           ,
           till
           they
           come
           to
           age
           .
           It
           is
           
             too
             great
          
           ,
           I
           will
           not
           feign
           it
           to
           be
           greater
           .
           Were
           all
           the
           Circumcised
           Israelites
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           
             holy
             seed
             till
             Christ
          
           ,
           at
           once
           both
           in
           the
           Church
           ,
           and
           in
           
             Satans
             Kingdom
          
           ?
           If
           not
           ,
           sure
           it
           is
           not
           so
           now
           .
        
         
         
           Sure
           I
           am
           that
           the
           Scripture
           tells
           us
           of
           a
           
             larger
             Church
          
           ,
           and
           a
           
             better
             Covenant
          
           ,
           and
           Promises
           ,
           and
           
             greater
             Salvation
          
           under
           the
           Gospel
           ;
           and
           do
           you
           bring
           it
           down
           to
           this
           ,
           to
           give
           us
           
             all
             up
          
           to
           the
           
             Devils
             visible
             Kingdom
          
           ,
           without
           any
           
             visible
             Remedy
          
           ,
           till
           we
           
             come
             to
             age
          
           ?
        
         
           And
           he
           is
           scarce
           so
           like
           to
           prove
           a
           
             member
             of
             Christ
             at
             age
          
           ,
           who
           is
           trained
           up
           in
           the
           
             Kingdom
             of
             the
             Devil
             till
             then
             ,
          
           as
           he
           is
           that
           is
           educated
           in
           the
           
             Houshold
             of
             God.
          
           There
           is
           more
           of
           Gods
           blessing
           to
           be
           expected
           in
           his
           
             own
             Family
          
           than
           in
           the
           Devils
           .
        
         
           Either
           it
           is
           a
           Mercy
           or
           
             no
             Mercy
          
           to
           be
           in
           
             Christs
             Family
          
           or
           Church
           ?
           if
           none
           ,
           why
           do
           you
           value
           it
           ?
           if
           it
           be
           ,
           why
           should
           we
           think
           that
           the
           Saviour
           of
           the
           world
           procureth
           it
           to
           
             no
             Infants
          
           ?
           nay
           that
           he
           came
           to
           leave
           them
           out
           .
           Would
           you
           not
           take
           it
           for
           a
           Mercy
           if
           you
           believed
           that
           God
           in
           Scripture
           gave
           it
           ,
           to
           all
           the
           Seed
           of
           the
           Faithful
           dedicated
           to
           him
           ?
           I
           think
           you
           would
           .
        
         
           
             For
             my
             part
             I
             believe
             that
             the
          
           Seed
           of
           the
           Righteous
           is
           blessed
           ,
           
             Psal
             .
             37.
             26.
             and
             that
             the
             Children
             of
             Satan
             ,
             and
             the
             condemned
             unjustified
             seed
             are
             not
             blessed
             :
             That
          
           blessed
           are
           they
           whose
           sins
           and
           iniquities
           are
           forgiven
           and
           covered
           ,
           and
           to
           whom
           the
           Lord
           imputeth
           not
           sin
           ,
           
             and
             that
          
           this
           blessing
           cometh
           even
           on
           the
           uncircumcised
           ;
           
             But
             not
             on
             them
             who
             are
             unpardoned
             ,
          
           and
           
             condemned
             already
          
           .
        
         
           I
           hear
           many
           sad
           Mothers
           lamenting
           their
           dead
           Children
           ,
           for
           fear
           lest
           they
           are
           damned
           :
           And
           though
           I
           never
           was
           a
           Father
           ,
           I
           can
           perceive
           what
           the
           concerns
           and
           bowels
           of
           Parents
           are
           .
           But
           what
           would
           they
           do
           ,
           if
           they
           were
           taught
           to
           believe
           ,
           that
           no
           Infant
           ever
           in
           the
           world
           ,
           had
           any
           justifying
           ,
           pardoning
           Promise
           ,
           nor
           visible
           Remedy
           ,
           but
           all
           till
           age
           are
           under
           condemnation
           ,
           by
           the
           undissolved
           Obligation
           of
           the
           Law.
           
        
         
           The
           Antinomians
           of
           late
           years
           have
           attempted
           to
           
           perswade
           men
           ,
           that
           
             secret
             Election
             justifieth
             from
             Eternity
          
           ,
           and
           dissolveth
           the
           Laws
           Obligation
           ,
           (
           before
           it
           
             did
             oblige
          
           ,
           even
           to
           
             non-existent
             Subjects
             :
          
           )
           But
           few
           believe
           them
           ,
           the
           Errour
           being
           sufficiently
           laid
           open
           .
           And
           yet
           what
           other
           than
           this
           feigned
           Antinomian
           Justification
           do
           the
           Anabaptists
           allow
           to
           any
           Infants
           in
           the
           world
           ?
           But
           the
           Obligation
           of
           a
           Law
           or
           Covenant
           to
           punishment
           ,
           must
           according
           to
           Gods
           established
           order
           ,
           be
           dissolved
           by
           a
           Law
           or
           Covenant
           ,
           even
           by
           the
           
             Pardoning
             Law
             of
             Grace
          
           .
           No
           doubt
           but
           all
           elect
           persons
           ,
           before
           Regeneration
           are
           in
           the
           visible
           Kingdom
           of
           the
           Devil
           ,
           and
           heirs
           of
           hell
           ,
           and
           under
           the
           condemnation
           of
           the
           Law
           ,
           as
           undissolved
           ,
           and
           they
           not
           pardoned
           :
           and
           is
           this
           the
           case
           of
           the
           best
           of
           Infants
           ?
        
         
           Had
           Infants
           Church-membership
           been
           a
           meer
           
             Jewish
             Ceremony
          
           ,
           or
           a
           meer
           piece
           of
           the
           
             Mosaical
             Policie
          
           ,
           giving
           no
           right
           to
           
             any
             spiritual
             benefits
          
           ,
           nor
           extended
           to
           
             any
             other
             but
             the
             Jews
          
           ,
           we
           should
           have
           judged
           of
           it
           as
           of
           the
           rest
           :
           But
           I
           dare
           say
           that
           I
           have
           given
           full
           proof
           of
           the
           contrary
           in
           both
           my
           Books
           ,
           not
           here
           to
           be
           recited
           ;
           and
           have
           produced
           more
           than
           
             [
             rotten
             dictates
          
           ]
           that
           from
           Adams
           dayes
           Infants
           were
           esteemed
           as
           under
           the
           Blessing
           or
           the
           Curse
           ,
           as
           belonging
           to
           their
           Parents
           ,
           &
           interested
           in
           their
           actions
           &
           conditions
           .
           Besides
           that
           
             any
             heathen
          
           might
           have
           
             brought
             in
             his
             children
             as
             Proselites
          
           into
           Church-membership
           with
           the
           Jews
           ;
           whereas
           now
           you
           allow
           not
           
             so
             much
          
           to
           
             any
             Christians
          
           .
        
         
           And
           it
           was
           before
           Circumcision
           was
           instituted
           ,
           that
           Marriage
           was
           regulated
           by
           God
           ,
           that
           there
           might
           be
           
             [
             a
             Seed
             of
             God
          
           ]
           Mal.
           2.
           15.
           ]
           And
           I
           will
           not
           be
           so
           audocious
           ,
           as
           to
           expound
           that
           title
           ,
           of
           all
           the
           
             Devils
             Children
          
           that
           be
           not
           Bastards
           .
        
         
           
             But
             still
             you
             say
          
           ,
           There
           is
           no
           Scripture
           ,
           President
           ,
           or
           Precept
           for
           Infants
           Baptism
           .
           ]
        
         
           Answer
           ,
           1.
           
           Abuse
           not
           your selves
           and
           others
           :
           we
           
           are
           first
           to
           agree
           
             Whether
             Infants
             may
             be
             Church
             members
             ,
             and
             under
             the
             Covenant
             of
             Grace
             with
             their
             Parents
             ?
          
           And
           then
           we
           shall
           next
           consider
           ,
           at
           
             what
             age
          
           ,
           and
           in
           
             what
             manner
          
           they
           should
           be
           
             solemnly
             invested
          
           .
           Confound
           not
           differing
           Questions
           :
           the
           first
           must
           be
           first
           resolved
           .
           2.
           
           There
           is
           no
           Scripture
           president
           for
           Baptizing
           any
           Kings
           ;
           must
           none
           therefore
           be
           Baptized
           ?
           3.
           
           Scripture
           tells
           us
           not
           all
           that
           
             was
             then
             done
          
           ,
           but
           all
           that
           must
           be
           done
           .
           4.
           
           When
           Baptism
           was
           first
           instituted
           and
           practised
           ,
           the
           Parents
           must
           first
           be
           
             Converted
             and
             Baptized
          
           .
           5.
           
           Yet
           over
           and
           over
           the
           Baptizing
           of
           Housholds
           is
           recorded
           .
           6.
           
           Infants
           Church-membership
           was
           a
           thing
           that
           they
           were
           
             before
             in
             profession
             of
          
           ,
           and
           no
           sort
           that
           ever
           I
           read
           of
           questioned
           it
           :
           Therefore
           what
           need
           Christ
           institute
           it
           anew
           ,
           any
           more
           than
           to
           new
           make
           the
           Ten
           Commandments
           ?
           7.
           
           If
           it
           had
           ever
           been
           his
           meaning
           to
           
             dispossess
             them
             all
          
           ,
           he
           would
           have
           told
           us
           so
           in
           some
           word
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           or
           some
           mention
           sure
           had
           been
           made
           of
           it
           .
           8.
           
           But
           certainly
           he
           told
           them
           that
           
             he
             would
             have
             gathered
             Jerusalems
             Children
             to
             him
             ,
          
           which
           is
           the
           Nation
           that
           was
           before
           Gods
           Church
           .
           9.
           
           And
           he
           took
           Children
           in
           his
           arms
           and
           blessed
           them
           ,
           and
           was
           angry
           with
           those
           that
           kept
           them
           from
           him
           ,
           and
           said
           ,
           
             Of
             such
             is
             the
             Kingdom
             of
             God.
          
           10.
           
           And
           how
           can
           we
           obey
           Mark
           9.
           36
           ,
           37.
           and
           receive
           Children
           in
           
             Christs
             name
             ,
             and
             as
             belonging
             to
             Christ
             ,
          
           if
           none
           do
           visibly
           belong
           to
           him
           ?
        
         
           2.
           
           
             But
             I
             answer
             fully
             ,
             There
             is
          
           a
           full
           Command
           for
           Infant
           Baptism
           Mat.
           28.
           19.
           
           Go
           ye
           Disciple
           me
           all
           Nations
           ,
           Baptizing
           them
           .
        
         
           Where
           note
           ,
           1.
           
           That
           it
           is
           not
           the
           effect
           that
           is
           made
           their
           duty
           ,
           but
           their
           endeavour
           ;
           else
           the
           Apostles
           had
           sinned
           when
           the
           hearers
           believed
           not
           ,
           and
           because
           all
           Nations
           were
           not
           Discipled
           .
        
         
           Note
           that
           to
           be
           Disciples
           and
           to
           be
           Christians
           ,
           Acts
           
           11.
           are
           made
           all
           one
           ;
           and
           to
           be
           Discipled
           and
           to
           be
           Christened
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           Note
           that
           it
           is
           not
           
             here
             and
             there
             one
          
           ,
           but
           Nations
           ,
           that
           they
           must
           endeavour
           to
           Disciple
           :
           And
           as
           the
           Jews
           are
           called
           a
           
             holy
             Nation
          
           ,
           so
           it
           is
           said
           ,
           
             I
             will
             give
             thee
             the
             Heathen
             for
             thine
             Inheritance
             ,
          
           Psal
           .
           2.
           and
           Isa
           .
           55.
           8.
           
           Mal.
           1.
           10
           ,
           11
           ,
           &c.
           the
           Conversion
           of
           the
           Nations
           and
           Heathens
           is
           promised
           :
           and
           the
           Word
           and
           our
           Experience
           have
           both
           said
           ,
           
             The
             Kingdoms
             of
             the
             World
             are
             become
             the
             Kingdoms
             of
             the
             Lord
             ,
             and
             of
             his
             Christ
             .
          
           But
           Kingdoms
           and
           Nations
           contain
           Infants
           ;
           and
           he
           Discipleth
           not
           a
           Nation
           that
           Discipleth
           no
           Infants
           in
           the
           Nation
           .
        
         
           The
           Apostles
           were
           commanded
           to
           Discple
           whole
           Nations
           :
           the
           Infants
           are
           parts
           of
           whole
           Nations
           :
           therefore
           the
           Apostles
           were
           bound
           to
           endeavour
           to
           Disciple
           Infants
           .
        
         
           Object
           .
           It
           is
           only
           the
           capable
           parts
           :
           but
           Infants
           and
           Ideots
           are
           not
           capable
           parts
           .
        
         
           Answ
           .
           I
           have
           before
           [
           and
           else-where
           fully
           ]
           proved
           
             Infants
             capable
             parts
          
           ,
           as
           Christ
           was
           of
           being
           Head
           ,
           and
           as
           Infants
           are
           of
           Societies
           ,
           and
           of
           a
           part
           in
           Covenants
           with
           men
           :
           and
           Ideots
           having
           not
           the
           use
           of
           reason
           from
           the
           birth
           ,
           are
           in
           the
           same
           case
           with
           Infants
           ;
           and
           the
           Distracted
           ,
           after
           at
           age
           ,
           are
           nothing
           to
           our
           case
           ,
           but
           are
           capable
           of
           being
           Distracted
           members
           ;
           and
           Distraction
           is
           not
           Excommunication
           ,
           nor
           Unchurcheth
           any
           .
        
         
           Object
           .
           2.
           
           They
           must
           be
           made
           Disciples
           by
           Teaching
           .
        
         
           Answ
           .
           1.
           
           If
           they
           be
           made
           Disciples
           any
           way
           ,
           they
           must
           be
           Baptized
           .
           2.
           
           As
           a
           mans
           hand
           or
           foot
           doth
           not
           understand
           by
           teaching
           ,
           and
           yet
           is
           
             part
             of
             a
             Disciple
          
           that
           's
           made
           such
           by
           teaching
           ;
           so
           
             Infants
             understand
             not
          
           ,
           and
           yet
           are
           
             Infant
             Disciples
          
           ,
           as
           being
           naturally
           so
           
           much
           appertaining
           to
           their
           Parents
           ,
           that
           by
           Gods
           Law
           the
           
             Parents
             Will
          
           goeth
           for
           theirs
           in
           consenting
           for
           their
           good
           .
           They
           are
           Subjects
           before
           they
           obey
           ,
           and
           
             servants
             of
             God
          
           before
           they
           serve
           him
           (
           as
           those
           were
           to
           Abraham
           that
           were
           born
           to
           him
           in
           his
           house
           ,
           )
           and
           as
           Christ
           was
           a
           Priest
           before
           he
           Sacrificed
           ,
           &c.
           
           And
           so
           they
           are
           Disciples
           before
           they
           learn
           ;
           and
           made
           such
           by
           
             thes
             teaching
          
           which
           
             made
             their
             Parents
             such
          
           ,
           and
           taught
           them
           to
           dedicate
           them
           to
           God.
           
        
         
           If
           the
           King
           should
           send
           Embassadours
           to
           perswade
           the
           Heathens
           in
           
             New
             England
          
           at
           once
           to
           
             become
             Christians
             and
             his
             Subjects
          
           ;
           would
           any
           man
           doubt
           but
           when
           the
           Embassadours
           prevail
           with
           
             all
             the
             Adult
          
           to
           become
           the
           
             Kings
             Subjects
          
           ,
           they
           do
           thereby
           make
           the
           Nations
           ,
           and
           so
           
             all
             Infants
          
           as
           dependents
           on
           the
           Parents
           to
           be
           Subjects
           also
           ?
           And
           if
           the
           
             same
             speech
          
           of
           the
           
             same
             men
          
           make
           the
           Parents
           both
           Christians
           and
           the
           
             Kings
             Subjects
          
           ,
           may
           it
           not
           as
           truly
           be
           said
           that
           that
           speech
           made
           the
           
             Infants
             Christians
          
           (
           when
           the
           Parents
           consent
           )
           as
           Subjects
           when
           they
           consent
           ?
        
         
           3.
           
           If
           actual
           Learning
           or
           believing
           were
           necessary
           to
           the
           Christianity
           ,
           or
           Church-membership
           of
           all
           ,
           then
           whenever
           any
           one
           were
           Mad
           or
           Distracted
           ,
           or
           in
           an
           Appoplexy
           (
           if
           not
           every
           night
           while
           he
           is
           asleep
           )
           he
           should
           cease
           to
           be
           a
           Christian
           and
           Church-member
           .
        
         
           And
           if
           Infants
           as
           part
           of
           Nations
           must
           be
           made
           Disciples
           ,
           and
           all
           that
           are
           Discipled
           be
           Baptized
           ,
           (
           as
           the
           Investing
           act
           )
           then
           here
           is
           a
           plain
           cmmand
           to
           Baptize
           Infants
           :
           All
           that
           must
           be
           Discipled
           must
           be
           Baptized
           :
           Infants
           must
           be
           Discipled
           :
           Therefore
           Infants
           must
           be
           Baptized
           :
           What
           have
           you
           more
           for
           Baptizing
           Kings
           ?
        
         
           And
           if
           men
           ask
           for
           Scripture
           Presedent
           ,
           or
           fuller
           proof
           ;
           1.
           
           I
           also
           require
           them
           to
           give
           me
           any
           one
           Scripture
           Presedent
           ,
           where
           ever
           any
           one
           that
           was
           the
           
           Child
           of
           a
           Christian
           ,
           and
           not
           at
           age
           when
           the
           Parents
           were
           made
           Christians
           ,
           was
           afterward
           Baptized
           when
           he
           came
           to
           age
           ?
           Prove
           that
           and
           you
           will
           prove
           something
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           I
           ask
           them
           whether
           many
           points
           in
           Divinity
           be
           not
           now
           taken
           as
           necessary
           ,
           or
           sure
           ,
           for
           which
           not
           the
           fourth
           part
           so
           much
           is
           produced
           out
           of
           Scripture
           as
           I
           have
           done
           for
           the
           Church-membership
           of
           Infants
           .
        
         
           And
           seeing
           you
           have
           so
           importunately
           called
           me
           to
           a
           Review
           ;
           I
           will
           add
           these
           few
           things
           more
           ,
           [
           I.
           ]
           What
           Benefits
           I
           perceive
           cometh
           by
           Infant-Baptism
           .
           [
           II.
           ]
           What
           hurt
           would
           come
           if
           you
           could
           prevail
           against
           it
           .
           [
           III.
           ]
           What
           sin
           you
           would
           draw
           men
           to
           by
           rejecting
           it
           .
           [
           IV.
           ]
           And
           I
           will
           tell
           you
           what
           thanks
           therefore
           I
           owe
           to
           God
           for
           preserving
           me
           from
           your
           mistakes
           and
           way
           .
        
         
           I.
           And
           I
           cannot
           but
           think
           that
           all
           these
           following
           are
           Mercies
           not
           to
           be
           despised
           .
           1.
           
           To
           be
           
             Gods
             Children
          
           ,
           and
           God
           to
           be
           their
           God
           and
           Father
           .
           2.
           
           To
           be
           Christs
           Members
           ,
           and
           Christ
           to
           be
           their
           Head
           and
           Saviour
           .
           3.
           
           To
           have
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           in
           Covenant
           with
           them
           ,
           to
           give
           them
           his
           Grace
           and
           help
           as
           shall
           be
           necessary
           to
           them
           upon
           the
           further
           terms
           on
           which
           it
           is
           by
           degrees
           to
           be
           communicated
           .
           (
           of
           which
           more
           anon
           .
           )
           4.
           
           To
           have
           the
           pardon
           of
           all
           Original
           sin
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           damning
           punishment
           ,
           and
           so
           to
           have
           the
           Laws
           Condemnation
           disabled
           .
           5.
           
           To
           be
           members
           of
           so
           holy
           ,
           safe
           ,
           and
           honourable
           a
           Society
           as
           the
           Church
           .
           6.
           
           To
           have
           their
           Love
           and
           Prayers
           as
           Members
           .
           7.
           
           To
           have
           Parents
           obliged
           solemnly
           to
           endeavour
           to
           educate
           and
           use
           their
           Children
           as
           members
           of
           Christ
           ,
           fellow
           Citizens
           with
           the
           Saints
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           Houshold
           of
           God.
           8.
           
           To
           have
           right
           to
           Heaven
           ,
           so
           dying
           ,
           by
           Gods
           gift
           .
           9.
           
           For
           Parents
           and
           Friends
           to
           have
           comfortable
           notice
           of
           all
           this
           .
           10.
           
           And
           that
           they
           are
           not
           under
           the
           
           power
           and
           Kingdom
           of
           the
           Devil
           ,
           as
           those
           that
           are
           Rebels
           against
           the
           Covenant
           ,
           or
           that
           are
           without
           .
        
         
           II.
           Should
           your
           perswasions
           prevail
           against
           Infant-Baptism
           ,
           these
           evils
           I
           think
           would
           follow
           .
           And
           whereas
           you
           say
           ,
           that
           
             your
             Think
          
           is
           as
           good
           as
           
             my
             Think
          
           ,
           pardon
           my
           modesty
           ,
           and
           while
           you
           follow
           your
           own
           Think
           ,
           give
           me
           and
           others
           leave
           to
           judge
           of
           mine
           ,
           by
           the
           evidence
           at
           least
           of
           probability
           which
           I
           bring
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           I
           think
           that
           Christian
           Parents
           would
           want
           one
           of
           their
           Motives
           to
           live
           in
           Thankfulness
           to
           God
           ,
           and
           to
           magnifie
           the
           Grace
           of
           
             the
             Redeemer
          
           ,
           if
           they
           did
           beleve
           that
           all
           Infants
           are
           in
           the
           visible
           Kingdom
           of
           the
           Devil
           ,
           and
           have
           no
           Promise
           or
           Covenant-Grant
           of
           Pardon
           ,
           Remedy
           ,
           or
           Life
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           The
           want
           of
           this
           Demonstration
           of
           Divine
           Love
           would
           be
           a
           disadvantage
           to
           
             their
             Love
             to
             God
          
           :
           For
           where
           much
           is
           forgiven
           ,
           there
           will
           be
           much
           Love.
           
        
         
           3.
           
           It
           would
           deprive
           Christian
           Parents
           of
           all
           the
           forementioned
           Comforts
           for
           their
           Childrens
           good
           ,
           and
           leave
           them
           to
           mourn
           for
           the
           dead
           as
           those
           that
           have
           no
           hopes
           ,
           which
           any
           Promise
           of
           God
           alloweth
           them
           .
        
         
           4.
           
           Parents
           would
           be
           more
           negligent
           in
           the
           pious
           education
           of
           their
           Children
           ,
           than
           they
           are
           ;
           for
           their
           solemn
           Vow
           and
           Promise
           is
           a
           great
           additional
           Obligation
           .
        
         
           5.
           
           
             Young
             Persons
          
           would
           be
           more
           
             bold
             in
             sin
          
           ,
           when
           they
           know
           that
           they
           are
           under
           no
           Covenant
           ,
           Vow
           or
           Promise
           to
           the
           contrary
           :
           And
           they
           would
           usually
           
             delay
             their
             Repentance
             and
             Baptism
          
           ;
           as
           Constantine
           ,
           and
           many
           in
           those
           times
           did
           ;
           as
           thinking
           that
           [
           all
           sin
           is
           done
           away
           when
           I
           Repent
           and
           am
           Baptized
           ;
           but
           it
           is
           more
           dangerous
           to
           sin
           after
           Baptism
           than
           before
           :
           And
           so
           most
           would
           think
           it
           best
           to
           
             live
             out
             of
             the
             Church
          
           ,
           and
           to
           
             die
             in
             it
          
           ;
           to
           live
           as
           Infidels
           ,
           and
           die
           as
           Christians
           ;
           
           to
           live
           after
           the
           flesh
           as
           do
           the
           wicked
           ,
           and
           to
           be
           regenerate
           before
           death
           ,
           and
           to
           die
           the
           death
           of
           the
           Righteous
           .
        
         
           6.
           
           These
           delayes
           would
           do
           [
           as
           delay
           of
           Repentance
           now
           doth
           to
           many
           .
           ]
           even
           drive
           away
           Gods
           Spirit
           ,
           forfeit
           grace
           ,
           harden
           the
           heart
           ,
           so
           that
           few
           delayers
           would
           be
           converted
           .
        
         
           7.
           
           By
           these
           delayings
           of
           Repentance
           and
           liberty
           of
           sins
           ,
           wickedness
           would
           more
           abound
           ,
           and
           so
           Gods
           judgments
           against
           the
           land
           be
           more
           increased
           .
        
         
           8.
           
           Pagans
           and
           Infidels
           would
           be
           hardened
           and
           encouraged
           ,
           by
           the
           multitudes
           of
           the
           unbaptized
           ,
           and
           the
           paucity
           of
           Christians
           .
        
         
           9.
           
           For
           Christians
           would
           be
           but
           few
           in
           comparison
           of
           the
           multitude
           :
           just
           as
           Mr.
           Tombes
           thinks
           Christ
           would
           have
           it
           ,
           
             [
             here
             one
             and
             there
             one
             .
             ]
          
        
         
           10.
           
           And
           while
           some
           delayed
           their
           Baptism
           in
           scruple
           ,
           (
           as
           many
           now
           do
           the
           Lords
           Supper
           )
           and
           others
           to
           take
           the
           
             liberty
             of
             sinning
          
           (
           which
           were
           like
           to
           be
           the
           common
           case
           of
           youth
           )
           and
           others
           in
           
             senseless
             negligence
          
           ,
           the
           Baptized
           and
           Unbaptized
           would
           grow
           (
           like
           our
           Non-conformists
           and
           Conformists
           )
           into
           distinct
           Parties
           ,
           upon
           distinct
           Interest
           in
           point
           of
           Reputation
           ;
           and
           so
           the
           unbaptized
           become
           the
           Adversaries
           (
           for
           the
           most
           part
           )
           of
           the
           Baptized
           .
        
         
           11.
           
           And
           the
           Rich
           ,
           and
           the
           Multitude
           being
           usually
           the
           Unbaptized
           party
           ,
           they
           would
           be
           still
           the
           strongest
           ,
           and
           the
           Governours
           of
           the
           rest
           ;
           and
           the
           Laws
           and
           Government
           would
           be
           such
           as
           the
           Governours
           .
        
         
           12.
           
           And
           hereupon
           the
           Church
           would
           be
           (
           as
           before
           the
           dayes
           of
           Constantine
           )
           ordinarily
           under
           Persecution
           .
        
         
           13.
           
           This
           Persecution
           would
           detein
           the
           most
           from
           looking
           towards
           Christianity
           ,
           and
           so
           hinder
           multitudes
           from
           comeing
           in
           to
           Christ
           :
           and
           woe
           to
           them
           
           that
           so
           offend
           or
           hinder
           such
           little
           ones
           ;
           It
           were
           better
           a
           milstone
           were
           hanged
           about
           their
           necks
           and
           they
           were
           cast
           into
           the
           depth
           of
           the
           Sea.
           
        
         
           14.
           
           There
           would
           then
           be
           no
           
             sanctified
             Families
          
           dedicated
           to
           God
           ,
           (
           except
           those
           few
           that
           had
           no
           Children
           .
           )
        
         
           15.
           
           
             Much
             less
             would
          
           any
           Nation
           be
           Discipled
           ,
           
             or
             any
          
           one
           Kingdom
           
             be
             the
          
           Kingdom
           of
           the
           Lord
           ,
           and
           of
           his
           Christ
           .
        
         
           This
           is
           not
           the
           Condition
           that
           I
           desire
           and
           pray
           for
           :
           If
           you
           doubt
           of
           all
           or
           any
           of
           this
           ,
           look
           to
           the
           Easterni
           parts
           of
           the
           world
           ,
           and
           be
           not
           worse
           than
           those
           that
           will
           learn
           by
           nothing
           but
           experience
           .
           Judge
           whether
           under
           the
           
             Turkish
             Government
          
           the
           Greek
           Church
           be
           grown
           better
           ,
           and
           whether
           the
           Christians
           are
           more
           and
           holyer
           than
           heretofore
           .
           And
           yet
           the
           Turks
           give
           
             Liberty
             of
             Religion
          
           ,
           which
           most
           Unbaptized
           Princes
           do
           not
           .
        
         
           O
           dreadful
           Case
           !
           That
           ever
           Religious
           persons
           should
           Study
           ,
           Preach
           ,
           Pray
           ,
           and
           fervently
           Dispute
           and
           Write
           to
           bring
           the
           Christian
           world
           to
           this
           ,
           as
           for
           the
           advancement
           of
           Religion
           !
        
         
           III.
           To
           tell
           
             you
             of
             sinning
          
           ,
           I
           suppose
           will
           be
           taken
           for
           
             fiery
             fury
          
           ;
           or
           a
           Reproach
           of
           the
           Godly
           :
           But
           I
           may
           tell
           you
           why
           I
           am
           not
           of
           
             your
             mind
          
           ,
           and
           what
           sin
           I
           think
           
             I
             should
             be
             guilty
             of
          
           ,
           if
           I
           were
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           God
           made
           it
           a
           duty
           for
           Parents
           solemnly
           to
           enter
           their
           Children
           ,
           by
           Dedication
           ,
           into
           the
           Covenant
           of
           God
           (
           as
           is
           oft
           proved
           .
           )
           And
           how
           will
           men
           answer
           the
           non-performance
           hereof
           any
           more
           than
           their
           
             not
             Praying
             for
             them
          
           ,
           or
           
             not
             feeding
             or
             Cloathing
             them
          
           ?
        
         
           2.
           
           
             What
             a
             sin
             is
             it
             to
          
           rob
           Christ
           of
           so
           great
           a
           part
           of
           his
           Church
           ?
        
         
           3.
           
           What
           a
           sin
           so
           to
           deny
           the
           
             Gospel
             Grace
          
           and
           Promise
           ,
           and
           to
           hide
           so
           much
           of
           the
           
             Love
             of
             God
          
           ?
        
         
         
           4.
           
           What
           a
           sin
           so
           far
           to
           confound
           the
           state
           of
           Christians
           and
           Pagans
           ,
           as
           to
           their
           Childrens
           blessing
           ?
        
         
           5.
           
           What
           a
           sin
           so
           to
           
             enlarge
             and
             honour
             the
             Devils
             Kingdom
             ,
          
           as
           to
           give
           him
           all
           mankind
           visibly
           ,
           till
           they
           come
           to
           age
           ?
        
         
           6.
           
           What
           a
           sin
           to
           
             rob
             Parents
          
           of
           so
           much
           of
           their
           due
           comfort
           .
        
         
           7.
           
           What
           a
           sin
           to
           deprive
           so
           many
           millions
           of
           
             Covenant-pardon
             ,
             Grace
          
           and
           Life
           ,
           by
           hindering
           the
           acceptance
           and
           consent
           ?
        
         
           8.
           
           What
           a
           sin
           thus
           to
           change
           and
           
             take
             from
          
           the
           Word
           ,
           yea
           from
           the
           very
           Covenant
           of
           God
           ?
        
         
           9.
           
           What
           a
           sin
           to
           vilifie
           so
           great
           Mercy
           ,
           as
           if
           it
           were
           none
           ,
           and
           to
           preach
           such
           ingratitude
           ?
        
         
           10.
           
           What
           a
           sin
           so
           to
           dishonour
           Christ
           ,
           as
           if
           sin
           abounded
           so
           much
           more
           than
           his
           Grace
           ,
           as
           that
           all
           Infants
           being
           visibly
           condemned
           ,
           not
           one
           in
           the
           world
           is
           visibly
           pardoned
           or
           justified
           ?
        
         
           11.
           
           Yea
           to
           make
           Christ
           so
           like
           Satan
           and
           contrary
           
             to
             himself
          
           ,
           as
           to
           come
           into
           the
           world
           to
           cast
           or
           keep
           all
           mankind
           in
           Infancy
           out
           of
           the
           Church
           and
           Covenant
           of
           Grace
           ;
           And
           when
           his
           
             Name
             is
             called
             Jesus
          
           ,
           because
           
             he
             saveth
             his
             people
             from
             their
             sins
             ,
          
           he
           will
           take
           none
           for
           
             his
             people
          
           ,
           till
           age
           ,
           nor
           save
           any
           Infant
           visibly
           from
           sin
           ,
           either
           guilt
           or
           habit
           ,
           and
           so
           be
           
             no
             Jesus
          
           to
           any
           but
           the
           Adult
           ,
           that
           we
           can
           know
           of
           :
           when
           yet
           before
           his
           comeing
           it
           was
           otherwise
           ;
           And
           so
           to
           make
           the
           Gospel
           much
           harder
           than
           the
           Law
           ,
           and
           the
           yoak
           of
           Christ
           harder
           than
           the
           yoak
           of
           Circumcision
           .
        
         
           12.
           
           Yea
           and
           to
           make
           the
           Gospel
           Church
           more
           narrow
           and
           unhappy
           than
           all
           the
           Pagan
           Nations
           were
           before
           ,
           whose
           Children
           might
           have
           been
           Proselited
           with
           the
           Parents
           .
        
         
           13.
           
           What
           a
           sin
           is
           it
           to
           teach
           men
           to
           be
           thus
           unnatural
           ,
           and
           cruel
           to
           their
           Off-spring
           ?
        
         
         
           14.
           
           What
           a
           sin
           to
           teach
           all
           that
           are
           not
           Re-baptized
           ,
           that
           they
           break
           no
           Baptismal
           Vow
           or
           Covenant
           ,
           nor
           sin
           against
           it
           ,
           because
           they
           never
           were
           Baptized
           .
        
         
           15.
           
           And
           is
           it
           nothing
           so
           to
           
             cross
             our
             Prayers
             ,
             [
             Let
             thy
             Kingdom
             come
             ]
          
           and
           to
           pray
           and
           endeavour
           that
           Christs
           Kingdom
           may
           not
           extend
           to
           any
           of
           mankind
           ,
           till
           they
           actually
           at
           age
           believe
           .
        
         
           But
           the
           great
           difficulty
           which
           it
           will
           be
           expected
           that
           I
           resolve
           ,
           is
           ,
           Whether
           I
           do
           not
           imply
           ,
           That
           all
           the
           Children
           of
           true
           Christians
           dedicated
           to
           God
           ,
           having
           saving
           Grace
           in
           their
           Infancy
           ,
           many
           after
           fall
           from
           it
           ,
           seing
           experience
           tells
           us
           ,
           that
           too
           many
           prove
           ungodly
           .
        
         
           I
           Answer
           ,
           1.
           
           So
           much
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           and
           so
           great
           and
           many
           Mercies
           must
           not
           be
           all
           denyed
           ,
           when
           a
           difficulty
           ariseth
           in
           the
           way
           ,
           which
           we
           cannot
           at
           the
           present
           answer
           :
           Else
           what
           would
           become
           of
           most
           mens
           Christianity
           it self
           ?
        
         
           2.
           
           This
           was
           no
           difficulty
           to
           the
           antient
           Fathers
           ,
           no
           not
           to
           Augustin
           and
           his
           followers
           ,
           and
           so
           to
           all
           the
           known
           Church
           of
           Christ
           for
           a
           thousand
           years
           after
           the
           Apostles
           ,
           who
           commonly
           held
           that
           even
           of
           the
           Adult
           ,
           many
           fall
           from
           true
           Grace
           ,
           Justification
           ,
           and
           a
           state
           of
           Life
           ;
           some
           appropriating
           perseverance
           to
           the
           Elect
           ,
           (
           as
           Austin
           )
           and
           some
           to
           the
           
             confirmed
             in
             Grace
          
           ,
           and
           some
           to
           both
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           It
           is
           hard
           that
           they
           that
           cannot
           extricate
           themselves
           out
           of
           such
           difficulties
           ,
           will
           but
           reproach
           those
           that
           offer
           them
           their
           help
           :
           But
           this
           is
           not
           the
           first
           time
           that
           I
           have
           ventured
           upon
           their
           Ingratitude
           :
           I
           speak
           of
           it
           still
           as
           a
           difficulty
           ;
           but
           what
           I
           have
           said
           in
           my
           
             [
             More
             Reasons
             for
             Infants
             Church-membership
             .
             ]
          
           seemeth
           most
           probable
           to
           me
           ,
           viz.
           
        
         
           1.
           
           All
           Christians
           confess
           that
           Adam
           fell
           from
           a
           state
           of
           Salvation
           ,
           or
           right
           to
           Life
           ,
           at
           present
           .
        
         
         
           2.
           
           Adams
           Grace
           which
           he
           lost
           ,
           was
           a
           
             Power
             to
             Love
             God
             ,
             and
             obey
             him
             ,
          
           which
           he
           could
           use
           or
           suspend
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           Beyond
           a
           meer
           Power
           ,
           there
           is
           in
           the
           sanctified
           by
           the
           in-dwelling
           Spirit
           of
           Adoption
           ;
           
             Gracious
             Habits
          
           of
           Love
           and
           Obedience
           :
           What
           Adam
           had
           of
           this
           I
           am
           not
           here
           to
           determine
           .
        
         
           4.
           
           Beyond
           meer
           weak
           Habits
           ,
           there
           is
           in
           some
           ,
           
             such
             Habits
          
           as
           are
           
             strong
             ,
             confirmed
          
           and
           radicated
           .
        
         
           (
           5.
           
           And
           in
           Heaven
           above
           all
           these
           ,
           there
           is
           
             full
             Perfection
             .
          
           )
        
         
           Now
           I
           apply
           this
           ,
           1.
           
           Actual
           and
           
             Habitual
             ,
             Love
          
           and
           Obedience
           ,
           is
           in
           the
           sanctified
           Adult
           by
           the
           indwelling
           Spirit
           ;
           For
           Actual
           Love
           and
           Obedience
           is
           
             their
             Duty
          
           ,
           which
           the
           Habit
           is
           joyned
           to
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           Vocation
           giveth
           
             Faith
             and
             Repentance
          
           in
           Act
           ,
           with
           some
           
             seminal
             disposition
          
           to
           the
           said
           Acts
           and
           Habits
           of
           Love
           and
           Obedience
           ,
           (
           as
           
             Amesius
             Medull
             .
             de
             Orat.
          
           )
           not
           yet
           Habits
           ;
           and
           this
           Vocation
           goeth
           before
           
             Sanctification
             ,
             Faith
          
           being
           the
           Condition
           on
           which
           the
           Spirit
           of
           Adoption
           and
           Sanctification
           is
           promised
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           So
           much
           Grace
           may
           be
           given
           to
           Infants
           ,
           as
           was
           to
           Adam
           ,
           as
           to
           
             meer
             Power
          
           to
           do
           what
           he
           did
           not
           ,
           and
           as
           the
           Dominicans
           call
           sufficient
           ,
           or
           
             necessary
             Grace
          
           ;
           and
           perhaps
           such
           as
           is
           the
           innitial
           Disposition
           before
           full
           Sanctification
           .
           And
           this
           much
           may
           qualifie
           them
           for
           present
           Pardon
           and
           Justification
           ,
           For
           
             Actual
             Love
             and
             Obedience
          
           is
           not
           their
           Duty
           ,
           and
           consequently
           not
           the
           
             proper
             habit
          
           ,
           beyond
           a
           Power
           and
           
             seminal
             Disposition
          
           ,
           as
           of
           necessity
           to
           their
           first
           state
           of
           Grace
           :
           And
           as
           
             Adam
             lost
             this
             much
          
           ,
           so
           may
           they
           .
        
         
           4.
           
           The
           
             Sanctifying
             Spirit
          
           of
           Adoption
           ,
           is
           not
           promised
           to
           Infants
           to
           work
           such
           Acts
           in
           them
           as
           they
           are
           not
           yet
           capable
           of
           ,
           nor
           such
           Habits
           ,
           as
           in
           Gods
           usual
           order
           follow
           such
           Acts
           ;
           But
           he
           is
           Related
           to
           them
           as
           their
           Sanctifier
           ,
           because
           Christ
           will
           send
           the
           Spirit
           as
           
           they
           come
           to
           the
           use
           of
           Reason
           ,
           to
           help
           them
           in
           
             holy
             Acts
          
           ,
           and
           so
           to
           Habits
           ,
           if
           they
           forfeit
           not
           his
           help
           .
           Which
           some
           do
           (
           besides
           the
           perfidious
           neglect
           of
           Parents
           )
           and
           so
           lose
           that
           Infant-Grace
           .
        
         
           5.
           
           But
           all
           
             Gods
             Elect
          
           shall
           certainly
           have
           more
           than
           this
           Grace
           of
           
             sufficient
             ,
             necessary
          
           ,
           losable
           Power
           and
           Disposition
           ,
           and
           shall
           at
           age
           have
           actual
           Faith
           ,
           Love
           ,
           and
           Obedience
           if
           they
           live
           .
        
         
           6.
           
           What
           ever
           Infant
           dyeth
           in
           the
           state
           of
           that
           Grace
           &
           Disposition
           (
           which
           we
           call
           sufficient
           ,
           &
           in
           its
           nature
           was
           as
           loseable
           as
           Adams
           )
           shall
           be
           perfected
           in
           his
           access
           to
           the
           perfecting
           Glory
           (
           as
           all
           imperfect
           Saints
           are
           ,
           )
           and
           is
           one
           of
           the
           Elect
           ,
           and
           shall
           by
           Promise
           be
           saved
           :
           (
           allowing
           degrees
           of
           Glory
           :
           )
           If
           there
           be
           no
           need
           ,
           or
           evidence
           of
           this
           solution
           ,
           and
           you
           have
           any
           other
           surer
           way
           ,
           then
           cast
           this
           by
           as
           
             [
             rotten
             dictating
             .
          
           ]
        
         
           Thus
           far
           I
           have
           given
           you
           an
           account
           of
           my
           Review
           :
           But
           yet
           I
           here
           repeat
           again
           ;
           
             That
             if
             you
             would
             be
             contented
             your selves
             ,
             to
             satisfie
             your
             own
             Consciences
             to
             be
             Re-baptized
             ,
             (
             as
             one
             that
             doubted
             whether
             he
             were
             well
             Marryed
             would
             secure
             it
             by
             being
             Marryed
             over
             again
             )
             and
             would
             afterward
             live
             peaceably
             in
             communion
             with
             your
             Brethren
             ,
             and
             not
             appropriate
             Church-communion
             to
             your
             Sect.
             And
             if
             you
             would
             not
             deny
             our
             Infant
             part
             in
             the
             Covenant
             of
             Grace
             ,
             the
             promise
             of
             Pardon
             ,
             and
             life
             by
             Christ
             ,
             and
             our
             Infant
             Church-membership
             ,
             and
             only
             delayed
             the
             
               Baptismal
               Investiture
            
             ,
             as
             Tertullian
             desired
             ,
             for
             the
             more
             solemn
             inauguration
             ,
             and
             obligation
             ;
             Though
             I
             should
             not
             be
             of
             your
             mind
             ,
             I
             should
             live
             in
             as
             loving
             forbearance
             and
             Communion
             with
             you
             ,
             as
             with
             other
             Christians
             .
          
        
         
           But
           if
           when
           we
           are
           for
           Peace
           ,
           you
           are
           for
           Church-Wars
           ,
           and
           cannot
           differ
           from
           us
           without
           Dividing
           ,
           
           Unchurching
           ,
           Unchristening
           ,
           avoiding
           ,
           and
           even
           Contemning
           or
           Slandering
           almost
           all
           the
           Christians
           in
           this
           and
           former
           ages
           ,
           in
           such
           things
           I
           will
           have
           no
           Communion
           with
           you
           .
        
         
           The
           Fathers
           likened
           Re-ordaining
           ,
           and
           Re-baptizing
           .
           If
           any
           would
           satisfie
           his
           own
           Conscience
           with
           being
           
             ordained
             again
          
           for
           surety
           ,
           not
           Unchurching
           ,
           Degrading
           ,
           Avoiding
           ,
           Reproaching
           ,
           Persecuting
           those
           that
           are
           not
           of
           his
           mind
           ,
           I
           would
           break
           no
           peace
           with
           such
           a
           Re-ordained
           Person
           :
           But
           if
           the
           
             Re-ordaining
             Sectaries
          
           will
           say
           as
           you
           ,
           
             Our
             way
             only
             is
             right
             ,
             we
             only
             are
             the
             true
             Ministers
          
           and
           Churches
           ,
           and
           turn
           like
           to
           Donatists
           ,
           I
           am
           not
           of
           their
           mind
           .
        
         
           And
           I
           here
           profess
           ,
           that
           while
           I
           tell
           you
           of
           my
           dissent
           from
           
             your
             Extream
          
           ,
           it
           implyeth
           no
           liking
           of
           the
           
             contrary
             extream
          
           of
           those
           that
           would
           confound
           the
           Christians
           &
           the
           Heathens
           ,
           so
           far
           as
           equally
           to
           Baptise
           all
           their
           Children
           ,
           if
           any
           Baptized
           person
           will
           but
           perfidiously
           promise
           that
           for
           them
           ,
           which
           they
           never
           made
           any
           intelligent
           man
           believe
           that
           ever
           they
           intended
           to
           perform
           :
           Nor
           can
           I
           love
           the
           
             Hypocritical
             Religion
          
           of
           the
           Pharisees
           ,
           which
           turneth
           almost
           all
           into
           Ceremony
           ,
           as
           if
           they
           had
           to
           do
           with
           none
           but
           Children
           ;
           nor
           the
           turning
           of
           Catechising
           and
           Confirmation
           into
           a
           
             lifeless
             Formality
          
           ,
           to
           be
           instead
           of
           a
           
             serious
             Profession
             at
             age
             ,
             of
             the
             Christian
             Covenant
             ,
             and
             a
             solemn
             intelligent
             transition
             to
             the
             Church
             Priviledges
             of
             the
             Adult
             .
          
           I
           know
           that
           it
           is
           Satans
           game
           ,
           first
           to
           draw
           Hypocrites
           to
           mortifie
           Gods
           Ordinances
           ,
           and
           turn
           Religion
           into
           an
           Image
           or
           a
           Carkass
           ;
           and
           thence
           to
           stir
           up
           others
           in
           several
           Sects
           ,
           instead
           of
           Reviving
           them
           ,
           to
           Loath
           and
           Bury
           them
           .
           Woe
           to
           the
           World
           because
           of
           Offences
           ,
           and
           Woe
           to
           them
           by
           whom
           they
           come
           .
        
         
           Before
           I
           come
           to
           my
           Fourth
           Part
           ,
           which
           is
           my
           Application
           to
           my self
           ,
           I
           must
           take
           notice
           of
           some
           more
           
           of
           your
           Applicatory
           Letter
           in
           the
           way
           :
           And
           if
           I
           disorderly
           repeat
           some
           things
           ,
           in
           following
           so
           disordered
           a
           Leader
           ,
           you
           (
           at
           least
           ,
           whatever
           others
           do
           )
           must
           take
           it
           patiently
           ,
           it
           being
           far
           short
           of
           the
           tedious
           work
           which
           you
           seem
           to
           call
           for
           :
           You
           would
           have
           Mr.
           Danvers
           his
           Letter
           Answered
           ,
           and
           you
           would
           have
           better
           Proof
           for
           Infant
           Baptism
           .
           It
           is
           not
           
             in
             my
             power
          
           to
           believe
           the
           Reasons
           of
           my
           two
           Books
           ,
           which
           you
           
             generally
             take
             for
             none
          
           ,
           to
           
             be
             no
             sound
             Reasons
          
           ;
           nor
           to
           believe
           Mr.
           
             Danvers
             his
             Books
          
           not
           to
           be
           such
           a
           
             bundle
             of
             most
             gross
             mistakes
             and
             Vutruths
             ,
          
           as
           I
           scarce
           ever
           before
           met
           with
           ,
           from
           a
           professed
           Christian
           .
           If
           I
           mistake
           ,
           it
           is
           not
           in
           my
           power
           to
           do
           otherwise
           ,
           were
           I
           to
           die
           this
           hour
           .
           And
           if
           I
           have
           offended
           the
           Anabaptists
           by
           a
           faithful
           perswading
           them
           to
           Repent
           of
           the
           doleful
           work
           which
           they
           have
           made
           in
           England
           ,
           my
           Conscience
           more
           accuseth
           me
           for
           doing
           it
           
             no
             more
          
           ,
           than
           for
           doing
           so
           much
           .
           If
           you
           take
           all
           men
           for
           as
           bad
           as
           you
           describe
           me
           ,
           that
           
             wish
             your
             Repentance
          
           for
           
             such
             works
          
           ,
           and
           also
           for
           our
           
             woful
             Church
             Divisions
          
           ,
           and
           
             differ
             from
             you
             about
             Infant-Baptism
          
           ,
           and
           that
           yet
           beg
           for
           
             mutual
             forbearance
          
           ,
           and
           
             peaceable
             Communion
             with
             you
          
           ,
           I
           am
           not
           of
           
             your
             spirit
             or
             mind
             ,
             and
             hope
             neither
             to
             live
             nor
             die
             in
             so
             narrow
             a
             Communion
             .
          
        
         
           As
           for
           any
           more
           Answering
           any
           of
           you
           ,
           those
           that
           I
           converse
           with
           ,
           tell
           me
           it
           is
           needless
           ;
           I
           repent
           that
           I
           have
           been
           drawn
           by
           Contenders
           so
           often
           to
           interrupt
           more
           useful
           work
           .
           If
           more
           be
           needful
           ,
           let
           them
           do
           it
           that
           have
           leisure
           ,
           and
           longer
           life
           .
        
         
           
             You
             say
             ,
             that
          
           It
           is
           now
           a
           common
           question
           whether
           ever
           I
           will
           die
           a
           Martyr
           ?
        
         
           I
           am
           sorry
           that
           your
           Acquaintance
           are
           hardened
           ,
           and
           used
           to
           questions
           that
           so
           little
           concern
           them
           ,
           and
           that
           are
           so
           unmeet
           for
           their
           Determination
           :
           If
           Suffering
           be
           the
           best
           State
           ,
           how
           happy
           hath
           this
           Kingdom
           
           been
           made
           by
           the
           OVERTURNERS
           ?
           Do
           you
           mean
           that
           you
           doubt
           whether
           ever
           the
           Anabaptists
           will
           have
           Power
           enough
           to
           effect
           it
           ?
           they
           attempting
           what
           they
           did
           against
           me
           too
           late
           ,
           just
           when
           they
           and
           their
           Co-partners
           were
           a
           pulling
           down
           themselves
           and
           others
           ?
           Or
           do
           you
           mean
           ,
           that
           till
           we
           are
           Martyred
           we
           are
           not
           capable
           of
           your
           good
           Opinion
           ?
           (
           And
           are
           all
           the
           Anabaptists
           Graceless
           that
           are
           yet
           Unmartyred
           ?
           Or
           have
           more
           Anabaptists
           than
           Poedobaptists
           been
           Martyred
           in
           our
           times
           ?
           )
           Or
           is
           it
           only
           your
           Prognostick
           on
           supposition
           of
           my
           Tryal
           ?
           I
           have
           more
           cause
           to
           distrust
           my self
           ,
           and
           beg
           Gods
           strengthning
           Grace
           ,
           than
           boastingly
           to
           foretel
           ,
           
             Though
             all
             men
             deny
             thee
             ,
             yet
             I
             will
             not
             .
             ]
          
           But
           your
           talk
           of
           
             [
             my
             flight
             ,
             and
             others
             suffering
             by
             proxie
             for
             me
             ]
          
           doth
           but
           shew
           that
           you
           have
           not
           that
           care
           of
           avoiding
           Falshoods
           in
           matter
           of
           Fact
           ,
           which
           might
           invite
           us
           to
           think
           that
           you
           are
           liker
           than
           others
           to
           be
           sound
           in
           Doctrine
           .
           But
           had
           you
           not
           mistaken
           ,
           yet
           I
           might
           have
           admonished
           you
           ,
           not
           to
           have
           condemned
           every
           Anabaptist
           that
           hath
           taken
           a
           grosser
           flight
           ,
           than
           a
           sick
           mans
           going
           for
           his
           health
           into
           the
           Countrey
           ,
           when
           he
           had
           neither
           any
           Flock
           ,
           nor
           Vndertaking
           ,
           nor
           Call
           to
           hinder
           him
           :
           At
           least
           that
           you
           mock
           not
           at
           Paul
           for
           being
           let
           down
           by
           the
           wall
           in
           a
           Basket
           ,
           nor
           at
           Christ
           for
           his
           flight
           into
           Aegypt
           ,
           or
           withdrawing
           into
           
             the
             Wilderness
          
           ,
           and
           
             into
             Gallilee
          
           ,
           &c.
           nor
           for
           saying
           ,
           
             When
             they
             persecute
             you
             in
             one
             City
             ,
             flee
             to
             another
             :
          
           or
           at
           least
           pass
           no
           hard
           sentence
           on
           your self
           for
           being
           yet
           alive
           ;
           no
           nor
           on
           Mr.
           Tombes
           for
           
             Writing
             against
             Separation
          
           ,
           and
           for
           
             Communion
             with
          
           the
           
             Parish
             Churches
          
           .
        
         
           
             But
             in
             the
             end
             you
          
           [
           Beseech
           me
           in
           the
           Bowels
           of
           Jesus
           Christ
           ,
           and
           as
           I
           will
           shortly
           answer
           at
           the
           great
           and
           dreadful
           Tribunal
           that
           among
           my
           other
           Errata
           ,
           I
           would
           repent
           of
           that
           absurd
           and
           Heretical
           position
           ,
           of
           a
           Baptismal
           
           Covenant
           of
           Grace
           running
           in
           a
           Fleshly
           Line
           .
        
         
           Answ
           .
           But
           1.
           
           Just
           thus
           the
           Quakers
           dreadfully
           adj●re
           me
           to
           repent
           of
           all
           that
           's
           against
           
             their
             way
          
           ;
           and
           must
           I
           therefore
           do
           it
           ?
           And
           yet
           Mr.
           
             Hicks
             ,
             Ives
          
           ,
           and
           other
           Anabaptists
           treat
           them
           far
           more
           sharply
           than
           cover
           I
           did
           the
           Anabaptists
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           I
           have
           so
           many
           years
           looked
           for
           my
           appearing
           at
           the
           Tribunal
           of
           Christ
           ,
           that
           if
           I
           should
           not
           be
           true
           to
           that
           Light
           which
           doth
           appear
           to
           me
           ,
           I
           were
           more
           unexcusable
           than
           yet
           you
           think
           me
           .
           But
           will
           
             your
             word
          
           at
           that
           Tribunal
           pass
           
             for
             Law
          
           ,
           or
           for
           
             my
             Justification
          
           ,
           if
           I
           should
           contradict
           the
           Grace
           and
           Covenant
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           his
           Church
           Laws
           and
           state
           from
           the
           dayes
           of
           Adam
           to
           this
           day
           ?
           How
           shall
           I
           be
           sure
           that
           
             it
             is
          
           the
           
             Bowels
             of
             Christ
          
           ,
           and
           not
           Self-conceitedness
           ,
           and
           the
           
             Zeal
             of
             a
             dividing
             Sect
          
           ,
           in
           which
           you
           make
           this
           carnest
           sute
           to
           me
           ?
        
         
           3.
           
           Especially
           when
           you
           so
           unintelligibly
           recite
           my
           supposed
           Errour
           ,
           and
           give
           me
           not
           a
           word
           of
           Answer
           against
           that
           abundance
           of
           Scripture
           proof
           which
           I
           have
           brought
           ?
           This
           is
           too
           unsatisfactory
           an
           answering
           of
           Books
           ,
           to
           
             Beseech
             us
             to
             repent
             of
             them
             ?
          
        
         
           4.
           
           
             The
             Wisdom
             from
             above
             is
             Pure
             ,
             &
             Peaceable
             ,
             and
             without
             Partiality
             .
          
           Is
           yours
           so
           ?
           Ask
           any
           Impartial
           man
           whether
           you
           write
           like
           one
           that
           knoweth
           himself
           ?
           You
           here
           call
           us
           to
           Repent
           of
           a
           Position
           as
           
             Absurd
             and
             Heretical
          
           ?
           Did
           I
           ever
           call
           
             your
             Opinion
             Heretical
          
           .
           Not
           that
           I
           remember
           ?
           Such
           writing
           as
           this
           of
           mine
           is
           fiery
           ;
           but
           your
           
             large
             Invectives
          
           without
           one
           word
           of
           proof
           ,
           and
           your
           charge
           of
           an
           
             Heretical
             Position
          
           ,
           is
           nothing
           but
           
             Christian
             Gentleness
          
           .
        
         
           Your
           Phrase
           of
           
             a
             Covenant
             running
             in
             a
             Fleshly
             Line
             ,
          
           is
           
             your
             own
          
           .
           The
           words
           of
           a
           position
           charged
           as
           heretical
           ,
           should
           have
           been
           truly
           recited
           .
           Tell
           me
           where
           I
           ever
           used
           such
           .
           I
           refer
           you
           to
           my
           late
           two
           
             Disputations
             
             of
             Original
             Sin
          
           ,
           besides
           my
           two
           Books
           of
           Baptism
           ,
           for
           full
           proof
           that
           God
           hath
           taken
           the
           Children
           of
           the
           Godly
           and
           the
           Wicked
           as
           participants
           ,
           into
           Promises
           of
           Love
           and
           Mercy
           ,
           and
           threatnings
           of
           punishment
           ,
           with
           their
           Parents
           :
           
             How
             far
          
           ,
           I
           have
           there
           opened
           .
           Your
           telling
           me
           that
           such
           Reference
           is
           to
           set
           you
           the
           task
           of
           Sysiphus
           ,
           shall
           not
           so
           befool
           me
           as
           to
           tempt
           me
           to
           write
           the
           same
           over
           again
           :
           For
           by
           the
           like
           reason
           ,
           others
           of
           as
           great
           authority
           as
           you
           may
           call
           me
           to
           write
           it
           twenty
           times
           .
           And
           if
           I
           give
           neer
           thirty
           Scripture
           Testimonies
           or
           Arguments
           for
           our
           Infant
           Mercies
           ,
           we
           that
           see
           no
           reason
           to
           invalidate
           them
           ,
           will
           not
           so
           despise
           God
           and
           his
           Laws
           and
           Benefits
           ,
           as
           to
           deny
           or
           reject
           all
           ,
           because
           such
           a
           man
           as
           you
           require
           it
           ,
           and
           tells
           us
           that
           they
           are
           all
           invalid
           .
           If
           we
           must
           take
           our
           
             Faith
             on
             Trust
          
           :
           it
           were
           more
           excusable
           to
           take
           it
           from
           Councils
           ,
           than
           from
           you
           .
        
         
           I
           have
           told
           you
           my
           judgement
           herein
           so
           often
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           the
           more
           disingenuous
           in
           you
           to
           give
           it
           in
           such
           senseless
           or
           ambiguous
           words
           ,
           as
           
             [
             A
             Baptismal
             Covenant
             running
             in
             a
             Fleshly
             Line
             .
             ]
             Gods
             Covenant
             as
             Instituted
             ,
             runs
          
           no
           where
           ;
           but
           is
           recorded
           in
           the
           
             Scripture
             ,
             Preached
          
           ,
           and
           Ministerially
           applyed
           by
           his
           Ministers
           .
           
             Mans
             Convenanting
             Act
          
           ,
           is
           absurdly
           said
           to
           
             [
             run
             in
             a
             Fleshly
             Line
             .
             ]
          
           But
           men
           that
           
             have
             Flesh
          
           as
           well
           as
           Souls
           ,
           do
           
             accept
             Gods
             Covenant
          
           ,
           and
           enter
           themselves
           and
           Infants
           in
           the
           mutual
           Convenant
           by
           dedicating
           both
           to
           God.
           
             Natural
             Generation
          
           (
           communicating
           essence
           )
           maketh
           your
           Children
           to
           be
           
             naturally
             yours
          
           ,
           which
           is
           so
           
             neer
             an
             interest
          
           ,
           that
           
             Original
             Sin
          
           and
           suffering
           tells
           us
           that
           God
           esteemeth
           not
           our
           
             Children
             naturally
             guiltless
          
           of
           the
           Parents
           Crimes
           :
           And
           he
           hath
           provided
           a
           Remedy
           for
           both
           ,
           and
           not
           for
           the
           Parents
           or
           
             Adult
             only
          
           :
           And
           the
           Remedy
           is
           a
           
             pardoning
             saving
             Covenant
          
           procured
           by
           a
           Mediator
           .
           This
           Convenant
           is
           
           Vniversal
           to
           the
           Adult
           ,
           as
           offered
           on
           the
           condition
           of
           Believing
           acceptance
           :
           And
           is
           there
           
             no
             Promise
             ,
             no
             Covenant
          
           for
           Infants
           ?
           Why
           so
           ?
           Have
           they
           no
           
             need
             of
             Pardon
          
           ,
           and
           a
           Saviour
           ?
           or
           are
           they
           left
           remediless
           as
           the
           Devils
           ?
           Or
           is
           the
           Promise
           of
           their
           Salvation
           
             without
             any
             Condition
          
           ?
           If
           so
           ,
           is
           it
           
             to
             all
          
           ,
           or
           to
           some
           only
           ?
           if
           
             to
             all
          
           ,
           and
           so
           
             all
             are
             Christs
             members
          
           ,
           then
           all
           
             (
             Turks
          
           and
           Pagans
           )
           Children
           should
           be
           Church-members
           .
           This
           were
           to
           make
           it
           run
           
             unto
             a
             Fleshly
             Line
          
           indeed
           ?
           If
           not
           
             to
             all
          
           ,
           to
           whom
           ,
           or
           to
           
             how
             many
          
           ?
           Is
           it
           to
           more
           than
           twenty
           in
           the
           world
           ?
           or
           more
           to
           Christians
           Children
           than
           others
           ?
           If
           it
           be
           a
           Promise
           of
           Pardon
           and
           Life
           ,
           and
           neither
           tell
           to
           
             how
             many
          
           ,
           nor
           
             to
             whom
          
           ;
           1.
           
           This
           is
           a
           strange
           Promise
           ,
           and
           is
           no
           
             mutual
             Covenant
          
           ?
           Shew
           us
           where
           in
           Scripture
           we
           may
           find
           it
           ?
           2.
           
           This
           then
           must
           be
           
             another
             Species
          
           of
           a
           Covenant
           of
           Grace
           ,
           distinct
           from
           the
           Baptismal
           Covenant
           ;
           and
           to
           feign
           and
           add
           a
           
             second
             sort
             of
             Covenant
          
           is
           another
           kind
           of
           adding
           to
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           ,
           than
           adding
           of
           Ceremonies
           is
           .
           And
           who
           can
           say
           in
           all
           the
           world
           ,
           that
           
             any
             Child
             of
             his
          
           hath
           any
           part
           in
           such
           a
           Promise
           ?
           or
           that
           Pagans
           have
           not
           as
           much
           of
           it
           as
           Christians
           ?
           All
           Promises
           of
           Pardon
           to
           the
           Adult
           are
           conditional
           ,
           and
           
             some
             means
          
           for
           certain
           Title
           is
           prescribed
           ?
           Is
           there
           
             no
             means
          
           for
           the
           certain
           pardon
           of
           our
           Infants
           ?
        
         
           2.
           
           But
           if
           you
           will
           say
           that
           it
           is
           
             conditional
             ,
             what
             is
             that
             Condition
             ?
          
           That
           which
           I
           have
           still
           said
           is
           this
           ,
           The
           Condition
           is
           ,
           that
           
             they
             be
             the
             Children
             of
             the
             Faithful
             dedicated
             to
             God
             :
          
           not
           meerly
           that
           they
           be
           our
           
             Fleshly
             Line
          
           ;
           that
           doth
           but
           make
           
             them
             ours
          
           ,
           and
           (
           with
           Gods
           Law
           )
           enable
           and
           oblige
           us
           to
           dedicate
           them
           in
           Covenant
           to
           him
           :
           But
           being
           thus
           
             in
             our
             power
          
           ,
           and
           
             our
             Wills
          
           for
           them
           as
           
             their
             own
          
           ,
           it
           is
           
             our
             dedicating
             them
             to
             God
          
           ,
           that
           is
           the
           
             immediate
             Condition
          
           :
           And
           every
           true
           Christian
           doth
           
             dedicate
             himself
             ,
             and
             his
             Children
             to
             God
             ,
          
           
           as
           far
           as
           he
           thinks
           himself
           enabled
           :
           This
           dedication
           is
           virtually
           in
           our
           
             own
             actual
             sanctification
          
           ,
           and
           actually
           when
           we
           have
           Children
           ,
           which
           is
           
             solemnized
             in
             Baptism
          
           .
           What
           we
           devote
           to
           God
           by
           his
           Will
           he
           doth
           accept
           :
           And
           we
           can
           shew
           his
           Promises
           to
           the
           Seed
           of
           his
           Servants
           ,
           and
           will
           not
           plead
           against
           our
           Mercies
           .
           Should
           we
           Apostatize
           our selves
           ,
           the
           Mercies
           promised
           to
           the
           generations
           of
           them
           that
           love
           God
           ,
           would
           be
           intercepted
           ,
           and
           would
           not
           run
           to
           a
           
             Fleshly
             Line
          
           :
           But
           an
           
             Infant
             by
             Believers
             dedicated
             to
             God
             ,
          
           is
           not
           unclean
           but
           holy
           ,
           and
           so
           better
           than
           a
           meer
           
             Fleshly
             Line
          
           .
           To
           pour
           out
           your
           Clamours
           against
           our
           
             Proof
             ,
             full
             and
             plain
             proof
             ,
          
           of
           this
           ,
           from
           the
           whole
           current
           of
           the
           Scripture
           ,
           and
           to
           vaunt
           ,
           and
           talk
           with
           such
           Confidence
           as
           you
           do
           in
           the
           dark
           ,
           as
           if
           all
           this
           were
           un-proved
           ,
           (
           and
           the
           very
           second
           Commandment
           were
           again
           cast
           out
           ,
           and
           Gods
           own
           Proclamation
           of
           his
           Name
           ,
           
             Exod.
             34.
             6
             ,
             7.
          
           )
           and
           to
           call
           for
           more
           Answers
           ,
           while
           you
           cry
           out
           of
           too
           much
           ;
           and
           to
           talk
           against
           dictating
           ,
           while
           you
           thus
           obtrude
           your
           
             Quaker-like
             Oratory
          
           ,
           Contempt
           ,
           &
           Obtestations
           ,
           instead
           of
           Argument
           and
           Answers
           ;
           this
           must
           not
           make
           us
           unthankful
           Despisers
           of
           the
           Promises
           of
           God.
           If
           you
           would
           thus
           Hector
           men
           out
           of
           their
           Inheritances
           ,
           or
           the
           title
           of
           their
           Infants
           to
           them
           ,
           few
           would
           think
           you
           argued
           cogently
           :
           And
           should
           the
           words
           of
           such
           self-conceited
           singular
           persons
           ,
           which
           we
           take
           to
           be
           against
           the
           scope
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           and
           consent
           of
           Christs
           Church
           ,
           make
           us
           give
           up
           all
           Infants
           Convenant-title
           to
           Church-membership
           ,
           Pardon
           and
           Salvation
           ?
           You
           read
           frequently
           in
           the
           Gazetts
           ,
           that
           many
           set
           so
           much
           by
           their
           Dogs
           ,
           as
           to
           cry
           them
           about
           ,
           and
           offer
           great
           rewards
           to
           those
           that
           find
           them
           ,
           and
           will
           bring
           them
           home
           ;
           And
           shall
           all
           Christians
           set
           so
           little
           by
           their
           Children
           (
           and
           so
           by
           all
           
             our
             own
             Infant
             Priviledges
          
           )
           as
           
           to
           be
           hector'd
           out
           of
           our
           hopes
           ,
           and
           renounce
           their
           
             great
             and
             precious
             Promises
          
           ,
           which
           number
           them
           with
           the
           houshold
           of
           God
           :
           and
           that
           by
           such
           Rhetorical
           Canting
           as
           a
           man
           of
           equal
           wit
           may
           use
           ,
           in
           almost
           any
           other
           Controversie
           ?
        
         
           As
           Cicero
           wondered
           at
           them
           that
           pleaded
           against
           the
           
             immortality
             of
             the
             Soul
          
           ,
           that
           ever
           men
           would
           be
           such
           enemies
           to
           themselves
           ,
           as
           to
           study
           for
           reasons
           against
           their
           own
           interest
           and
           hopes
           ;
           so
           I
           say
           ,
           Though
           our
           meer
           Interest
           prove
           nothing
           to
           be
           true
           ,
           it
           tells
           us
           ,
           what
           we
           should
           desire
           ;
           and
           when
           we
           find
           
             Gods
             word
          
           so
           excellently
           suited
           to
           
             our
             Interest
          
           ,
           let
           them
           dispute
           against
           it
           that
           will
           ,
           for
           I
           will
           not
           .
           Let
           the
           Enemies
           of
           mankind
           or
           of
           Christians
           ,
           plead
           against
           the
           Interest
           of
           mankind
           and
           of
           Christians
           ,
           and
           not
           themselves
           .
        
         
           It
           's
           an
           unavoidable
           streight
           that
           we
           are
           in
           ,
           between
           them
           that
           silence
           and
           ruine
           us
           in
           this
           world
           ,
           among
           such
           other
           things
           ,
           for
           not
           professing
           our
           Assent
           ,
           that
           
             [
             It
             is
             certain
             by
             the
             Word
             of
             God
             ,
             that
             Infants
             Baptized
          
           (
           none
           in
           the
           world
           excepted
           )
           
             and
             dying
             before
             actual
             sin
             ,
             are
             certainly
          
           Saved
           ▪
           ]
           not
           allowing
           us
           to
           preach
           Christs
           Gospel
           if
           we
           cannot
           say
           that
           all
           
             This
             is
             certain
          
           ;
           (
           were
           it
           
             Faith
             in
             Christ
             himself
          
           ,
           the
           
             weak
             in
             Faith
          
           should
           be
           received
           ;
           )
           and
           
             such
             as
             you
          
           on
           the
           other
           side
           ,
           that
           account
           us
           even
           Heretical
           if
           we
           will
           not
           be
           so
           unthankful
           to
           God
           ,
           as
           to
           deny
           and
           reject
           the
           
             precious
             Covenant
             Hopes
          
           ,
           and
           Church-relation
           of
           our
           Children
           .
           You
           know
           that
           with
           what
           measure
           you
           mete
           it
           is
           measured
           to
           you
           again
           by
           many
           ;
           and
           that
           no
           small
           number
           of
           Christians
           have
           numbred
           Anabaptists
           with
           Hereticks
           ;
           and
           yet
           I
           that
           have
           dealt
           otherwise
           with
           you
           ,
           am
           your
           most
           
             fiery
             Adversary
          
           ?
           And
           why
           ?
           Any
           judicious
           By-stander
           may
           see
           ,
           though
           
             you
             cannot
          
           :
           just
           as
           as
           
             W.
             Pen
          
           lately
           seemed
           to
           think
           more
           favourably
           of
           me
           than
           of
           others
           ,
           till
           in
           an
           open
           dispute
           I
           had
           detected
           
           the
           evil
           of
           his
           cause
           ;
           and
           then
           
             [
             he
             had
             rather
             be
             a
          
           Socrates
           
             at
             judgment
             ,
             than
             such
             a
             nominal
             Christian
             as
             I
             :
          
           so
           you
           and
           your
           Brethren
           that
           are
           like
           you
           ,
           because
           a
           Book
           or
           two
           of
           mine
           have
           cross'd
           the
           Interest
           of
           your
           Party
           ,
           think
           I
           deserve
           all
           that
           you
           pronounce
           of
           or
           against
           me
           ;
           so
           powerful
           is
           Interest
           with
           most
           mens
           understandings
           :
           so
           far
           as
           it
           is
           your
           
             mistake
             of
             the
             Interest
             of
             Christ
          
           that
           does
           mislead
           you
           ,
           I
           easily
           bear
           it
           as
           the
           infirmity
           of
           a
           weak
           and
           prejudiced
           judgment
           :
           But
           so
           far
           as
           it
           is
           the
           interest
           of
           
             your
             Party
          
           which
           is
           abused
           against
           the
           publick
           interest
           of
           Christs
           Church
           it
           is
           selfish
           ,
           and
           such
           as
           is
           described
           at
           large
           in
           James
           3.
           
        
         
           As
           for
           your
           talk
           of
           Mr.
           Danvers
           his
           words
           against
           my
           
             Heterodoxes
             in
             other
             matters
          
           ,
           and
           your
           supercilious
           insulting
           as
           if
           he
           were
           unanswered
           ,
           I
           say
           ,
           1.
           
           I
           take
           him
           to
           be
           
             fully
             answered
          
           ,
           and
           if
           
             you
             do
             not
          
           ,
           that
           proveth
           it
           not
           to
           be
           as
           you
           affirm
           .
           2.
           
           What
           more
           should
           I
           answer
           ?
           What
           doth
           he
           but
           recite
           some
           scrap
           of
           my
           words
           ?
           Had
           he
           done
           it
           truly
           and
           fully
           ,
           had
           that
           been
           any
           Argument
           against
           them
           ?
           Do
           I
           need
           to
           answer
           my
           
             own
             words
          
           ,
           before
           any
           Charge
           against
           them
           be
           proved
           ,
           or
           proof
           once
           attempted
           ?
           Was
           it
           not
           enough
           for
           me
           to
           lay
           down
           the
           Contraries
           to
           my
           Doctrines
           ,
           and
           leave
           the
           Reader
           to
           choose
           which
           he
           seeth
           best
           ?
           Dare
           you
           not
           
             own
             the
             Contraries
          
           ,
           and
           yet
           continue
           your
           accusation
           of
           
             my
             words
          
           ?
           Would
           not
           the
           World
           (
           whom
           I
           blame
           not
           if
           they
           think
           that
           I
           have
           written
           too
           many
           Books
           already
           )
           condemn
           me
           for
           a
           fool
           indeed
           ,
           if
           in
           the
           condition
           that
           I
           am
           in
           ,
           the
           Cant
           of
           such
           men
           as
           he
           and
           you
           ,
           should
           draw
           me
           to
           write
           another
           Volumn
           in
           Defence
           of
           a
           Volumn
           that
           defendeth
           it self
           to
           all
           judicious
           Impartial
           Readers
           ,
           and
           that
           against
           one
           that
           
             proveth
             nothing
          
           in
           it
           to
           be
           Erronious
           ?
        
         
         
           And
           as
           for
           those
           that
           will
           not
           
             impartially
             peruse
             the
             words
          
           accused
           ,
           I
           have
           no
           reason
           to
           think
           that
           they
           will
           make
           any
           better
           use
           of
           a
           Defence
           if
           I
           should
           write
           it
           ?
           And
           as
           I
           am
           past
           doubt
           that
           Mr.
           
           D's
           Quarrels
           ,
           and
           your
           Justification
           of
           them
           ,
           are
           the
           effect
           of
           
             meer
             ignorance
             ,
             self-conceit
             ,
             partiality
             ,
          
           and
           passion
           ;
           so
           if
           you
           prove
           to
           be
           the
           
             knowing
             men
          
           ,
           and
           I
           the
           ignorant
           ,
           I
           am
           sure
           it
           is
           not
           through
           my
           neglect
           of
           Study
           ,
           nor
           unwillingness
           to
           know
           or
           own
           the
           Truth
           :
           And
           I
           have
           no
           cause
           to
           envy
           you
           the
           felicity
           of
           your
           greater
           Wisdom
           .
           But
           if
           it
           be
           a
           Wisdom
           that
           tendeth
           to
           
             bitter
             strife
          
           and
           to
           confusion
           ,
           and
           destroyeth
           your
           Love
           to
           those
           that
           differ
           from
           you
           ,
           I
           will
           remember
           that
           my
           peace
           lyeth
           more
           on
           my
           Love
           to
           you
           ,
           than
           on
           yours
           or
           any
           mans
           else
           to
           me
           .
        
         
           As
           for
           your
           talk
           about
           my
           words
           in
           my
           first
           book
           that
           some
           
             did
             then
             Baptize
             naked
          
           ,
           I
           have
           given
           you
           a
           true
           answer
           .
           To
           contradict
           what
           I
           said
           ,
           were
           to
           lie
           :
           I
           know
           not
           that
           you
           Baptize
           any
           at
           all
           but
           by
           report
           of
           others
           ;
           and
           so
           I
           heard
           that
           then
           of
           some
           so
           credibly
           as
           that
           I
           am
           not
           able
           now
           because
           you
           call
           for
           proof
           almost
           thirty
           years
           after
           ,
           to
           disbelieve
           it
           :
           I
           undertake
           not
           to
           
             prove
             it
             now
          
           ;
           (
           nor
           that
           the
           Quakers
           then
           used
           to
           Quake
           or
           Vomit
           ,
           seeing
           now
           no
           such
           thing
           is
           seen
           among
           them
           :
           )
           If
           really
           it
           was
           a
           misreport
           ,
           and
           never
           any
           Baptized
           naked
           in
           England
           ,
           nor
           in
           other
           Lands
           ,
           I
           wish
           that
           no
           man
           may
           believe
           it
           .
           But
           did
           Mr.
           Danvers
           take
           this
           for
           so
           heynous
           an
           injury
           ,
           and
           yet
           himself
           in2
           Books
           labour
           to
           prove
           ,
           that
           
             for
             many
             hundred
             years
             Baptizing
             naked
             was
             the
             ordinary
             Custome
             !
          
           O
           how
           far
           will
           partiality
           blind
           men
           ?
           Was
           it
           the
           Custome
           of
           all
           the
           Churches
           ,
           and
           yet
           a
           Reproach
           to
           be
           retracted
           ,
           to
           say
           that
           at
           one
           time
           divers
           did
           so
           ,
           if
           fame
           ,
           not
           then
           denyed
           by
           any
           of
           those
           Anabaptists
           that
           I
           converst
           with
           ,
           may
           be
           believed
           ?
        
         
         
           To
           conclude
           ,
           Sir
           ,
           The
           importunity
           of
           Mr.
           Danvers
           and
           you
           have
           not
           been
           unprofitable
           to
           me
           :
           It
           hath
           caused
           me
           ,
           as
           you
           desired
           ,
           to
           Review
           my
           old
           thoughts
           of
           Infants
           Church-membership
           and
           Baptism
           ,
           and
           to
           renew
           my
           thanks
           to
           the
           God
           of
           Mercy
           ,
           who
           hath
           not
           left
           all
           the
           World
           in
           their
           Infancy
           unredeemed
           ,
           nor
           without
           a
           Promise
           or
           Covenant
           of
           Grace
           ;
           nor
           left
           Christian
           Parents
           to
           mourn
           for
           their
           dead
           Infants
           ,
           as
           those
           that
           are
           without
           hope
           of
           their
           Salvation
           ,
           and
           have
           no
           Promise
           on
           which
           to
           ground
           their
           hope
           :
           It
           hath
           renewed
           my
           sense
           of
           the
           great
           obligation
           that
           lyeth
           on
           believing
           Parents
           ,
           both
           of
           gratitude
           to
           God
           ,
           and
           duty
           for
           their
           Children
           :
           It
           tells
           me
           that
           they
           may
           now
           love
           their
           Children
           ,
           as
           the
           members
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           Christ
           ,
           and
           need
           not
           ,
           nay
           must
           not
           take
           them
           as
           members
           of
           the
           Kingdom
           of
           the
           Devil
           ;
           nor
           yet
           stretch
           their
           Brains
           to
           prove
           that
           there
           is
           a
           middle
           Region
           (
           like
           Purgatory
           ,
           or
           
             Limbus
             Infantum
          
           hereafter
           )
           between
           the
           Kingdom
           of
           Christ
           ,
           and
           the
           Kingdom
           of
           the
           Devil
           ;
           And
           that
           it
           is
           a
           sad
           employment
           for
           Parents
           to
           dispute
           their
           own
           Children
           out
           of
           the
           Blessings
           of
           Gods
           Covenant
           ,
           and
           to
           prove
           them
           to
           be
           in
           Satans
           Kingdom
           ,
           and
           not
           in
           Christs
           :
           Yea
           it
           hath
           reminded
           me
           how
           much
           the
           Interest
           of
           Infants
           in
           their
           Parents
           case
           is
           founded
           by
           God
           in
           nature
           it self
           ,
           and
           to
           bless
           God
           for
           that
           inscription
           in
           Stone
           of
           the
           second
           Commandment
           ,
           and
           that
           marvellous
           voice
           from
           Heaven
           ,
           Exod.
           34.
           6
           ,
           7.
           
           I
           believe
           that
           the
           Synod
           of
           Dort
           said
           truly
           ,
           Acts
           1.
           17.
           
           That
           Faithful
           Parents
           need
           not
           doubt
           of
           the
           Election
           and
           Salvation
           of
           their
           Children
           dying
           in
           Infancy
           ,
           (
           before
           the
           violation
           of
           the
           Baptismal
           Covenant
           .
           )
        
         
           And
           seeing
           God
           hath
           pronounced
           our
           Children
           holy
           ,
           and
           not
           unclean
           ,
           and
           told
           us
           that
           
             of
             such
             is
             the
             Kingdom
             of
             God
             ,
          
           it
           remindeth
           me
           how
           careful
           Parents
           
           should
           be
           ,
           as
           thankfully
           to
           dedicate
           them
           to
           God
           ,
           so
           carefully
           to
           educate
           them
           according
           to
           their
           Covenant
           ,
           remembering
           that
           as
           the
           Parents
           Consent
           and
           dedication
           of
           them
           to
           God
           ,
           is
           the
           Condition
           of
           their
           first
           right
           to
           the
           Covenant
           benefits
           ,
           so
           those
           Parents
           do
           Promise
           their
           pious
           education
           ;
           and
           if
           they
           after
           prove
           false
           in
           such
           Promises
           on
           their
           part
           ,
           they
           must
           not
           charge
           God
           with
           unfaithfulness
           ,
           if
           it
           go
           worse
           with
           their
           Children
           than
           on
           supposition
           of
           the
           Parents
           fidelity
           it
           had
           done
           ;
           (
           though
           still
           at
           age
           they
           may
           be
           accepted
           upon
           Repentance
           and
           personal
           Belief
           :
           ]
           Of
           which
           Mr.
           Whiston
           hath
           written
           more
           judiciously
           than
           any
           on
           that
           point
           that
           I
           remember
           .
        
         
           Also
           I
           have
           been
           hereby
           made
           thankful
           that
           God
           kept
           me
           from
           the
           snare
           of
           Anabaptistry
           ;
           for
           though
           I
           lay
           not
           so
           much
           as
           some
           do
           on
           the
           
             meer
             outward
             act
             or
             water
             of
             Baptism
             ,
          
           believing
           that
           our
           
             heart
             consent
             and
             dedication
          
           qualifieth
           Infants
           for
           a
           
             Covenant
             Right
          
           before
           
             actual
             Baptism
          
           (
           which
           yet
           is
           Christs
           regular
           solemnization
           and
           investiture
           ,
           )
           yet
           I
           make
           a
           great
           matter
           of
           the
           main
           Controversie
           ,
           notwithstanding
           that
           I
           hereticate
           not
           the
           Anabaptists
           for
           the
           bare
           opinion
           sake
           ,
           nor
           would
           have
           them
           persecuted
           ;
           for
           now
           I
           better
           see
           than
           ever
           what
           God
           hath
           thus
           preserved
           me
           from
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           How
           much
           else
           might
           I
           have
           been
           led
           to
           ,
           that
           tendeth
           towards
           the
           
             denying
             the
             Kingdom
             of
             Christ
          
           ,
           and
           denying
           
             him
             to
             be
             the
             Saviour
             of
             the
             world
          
           ;
           yea
           how
           neer
           might
           I
           have
           been
           led
           towards
           the
           making
           him
           to
           be
           the
           
             Destroyer
             ,
             or
             Abaddon
          
           ,
           as
           comeing
           into
           the
           World
           to
           
             condemn
             the
             world
          
           ,
           and
           to
           take
           
             from
             them
             the
             Promises
             and
             Hopes
             of
             Salvation
             :
          
           For
           ,
           1.
           
           I
           find
           that
           
             all
             are
             lost
             in
             Adam
          
           ,
           and
           that
           
             God
             made
             an
             Vniversal
             Covenant
             of
             Grace
          
           with
           fallen
           mankind
           in
           Adam
           after
           his
           fall
           ,
           and
           renewed
           it
           with
           Noah
           :
           I
           find
           that
           
           it
           is
           but
           a
           small
           part
           of
           the
           world
           that
           had
           the
           
             Law
             of
             Moses
          
           ,
           the
           Jews
           being
           to
           the
           earth
           ,
           but
           as
           one
           Village
           to
           England
           ;
           and
           to
           be
           King
           but
           of
           a
           Village
           is
           not
           to
           be
           King
           of
           England
           .
           I
           find
           that
           the
           making
           of
           Abraham's
           or
           Moses
           his
           Covenant
           was
           
             no
             repeal
          
           of
           the
           
             Vniversal
             Law
             of
             Grace
          
           ;
           nor
           put
           them
           into
           a
           worse
           condition
           than
           he
           found
           them
           in
           .
           And
           I
           find
           that
           past
           all
           doubt
           Infants
           were
           Church-members
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           Covenant
           before
           Christs
           Incarnation
           ,
           not
           only
           the
           Circumcised
           but
           the
           Uncircumcised
           Females
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           Uncircumcised
           Males
           in
           the
           Wilderness
           ,
           yea
           and
           out
           of
           the
           Jewish
           Nation
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           in
           it
           ,
           (
           though
           the
           Covenant
           of
           Peculiarity
           was
           proper
           to
           them
           .
           )
        
         
           And
           yet
           notwithstanding
           all
           this
           ,
           I
           find
           ,
           1.
           that
           many
           now
           do
           exclude
           all
           the
           world
           out
           of
           Christs
           Kingdom
           before
           his
           Incarnation
           ,
           except
           the
           Jews
           ,
           or
           at
           least
           a
           few
           rare
           individuals
           more
           ,
           when
           Abraham
           hoped
           there
           had
           been
           fifty
           Righteous
           in
           Sodome
           .
           2.
           
           That
           the
           same
           men
           suppose
           that
           since
           Christs
           Incarnation
           ,
           the
           old
           Law
           of
           Grace
           made
           to
           mankind
           in
           Adam
           and
           Noah
           ,
           is
           repealed
           ,
           and
           they
           that
           cannot
           have
           the
           Gospel
           are
           left
           under
           the
           meer
           Law
           of
           Innocency
           or
           none
           .
           3.
           
           And
           that
           
             all
             mankind
          
           in
           their
           
             Infant
             state
          
           is
           put
           or
           left
           out
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           Christ
           ,
           and
           the
           Covenant
           of
           Life
           .
        
         
           And
           had
           I
           been
           seduced
           into
           all
           this
           ,
           1.
           
           To
           hold
           that
           for
           4000
           years
           Christ
           had
           a
           Kingdom
           no
           bigger
           than
           England
           .
           2.
           
           That
           he
           came
           to
           deprive
           all
           the
           world
           that
           have
           not
           his
           Gospel
           ,
           of
           the
           former
           Law
           of
           Grace
           that
           was
           made
           to
           them
           .
           3.
           
           And
           that
           he
           came
           to
           cast
           out
           of
           their
           Church-state
           ,
           or
           Covenant-mercies
           
             all
             mankind
             while
             they
             are
             Infants
          
           ;
           and
           to
           leave
           us
           no
           hope
           that
           is
           grounded
           on
           his
           Covenant
           or
           Promise
           of
           any
           Infants
           Salvation
           ,
           or
           any
           description
           or
           condition
           whatsoever
           :
           Alas
           ,
           what
           should
           I
           have
           been
           
           led
           to
           ?
           and
           what
           guilt
           against
           Christ
           ,
           and
           of
           furthering
           Infidelity
           ,
           should
           I
           have
           incurred
           ,
           under
           the
           pretense
           of
           promoting
           the
           purity
           of
           his
           Kingdom
           ?
        
         
           II.
           And
           if
           God
           had
           thus
           left
           me
           ,
           I
           had
           been
           likely
           (
           as
           I
           see
           by
           others
           )
           to
           have
           gone
           yet
           farther
           ,
           and
           narrowed
           the
           Gospel
           Church
           it self
           so
           much
           ,
           as
           to
           have
           confined
           it
           to
           the
           Anabaptists
           ;
           or
           to
           have
           thought
           all
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           Christian
           world
           uncapable
           of
           Church
           Communion
           ;
           I
           might
           have
           come
           to
           revile
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           Gods
           gracious
           Promise
           or
           Covenant
           to
           our
           Children
           ,
           as
           Absurd
           and
           Heretical
           ;
           and
           when
           Gratitude
           is
           the
           complexion
           of
           Gospel
           obedience
           ,
           this
           Ingratitude
           might
           have
           been
           mine
           .
        
         
           III.
           And
           then
           I
           should
           likely
           have
           been
           left
           to
           a
           proud
           over-valuing
           of
           my
           own
           Opinion
           ,
           and
           the
           singularity
           of
           my
           Wisdom
           and
           Integrity
           ,
           as
           quite
           beyond
           all
           the
           Christian
           worlds
           that
           differ
           from
           me
           :
           And
           out
           of
           a
           selfish
           unobserved
           adherence
           to
           my
           own
           conceits
           ,
           to
           have
           magnified
           the
           Sect
           that
           was
           of
           my
           own
           mind
           ,
           above
           all
           others
           .
        
         
           IV.
           And
           then
           I
           might
           have
           been
           seduced
           to
           have
           had
           a
           hand
           in
           all
           the
           Turnings
           and
           Overturnings
           ,
           setting
           up
           and
           pulling
           down
           ,
           Praying
           and
           Unpraying
           ,
           Owning
           and
           Disowning
           ,
           Bloody
           dayes
           and
           Thanksgivings
           for
           them
           ,
           that
           were
           since
           
             Triplo
             Heaths-Parliament
          
           till
           1660.
           and
           more
           than
           so
           ,
           to
           have
           justified
           them
           in
           others
           ,
           yea
           and
           that
           after
           Gods
           most
           remarkable
           disowning
           them
           ;
           yea
           and
           to
           have
           abhorred
           and
           derided
           the
           very
           name
           and
           motion
           of
           Repentance
           for
           them
           ,
           and
           to
           have
           despised
           the
           Religious
           Retreat
           of
           
             Nath.
             Ward
          
           ,
           a
           wise
           though
           jocular
           Interpendent
           ,
           though
           Repentance
           be
           the
           only
           Plank
           after
           Shipwrack
           ,
           and
           the
           great
           and
           merciful
           concession
           of
           the
           Gospel
           .
        
         
           V.
           I
           might
           have
           been
           drawn
           hereby
           to
           divide
           Christs
           Kingdom
           ,
           and
           to
           set
           up
           Antichurches
           ,
           whose
           
           employment
           should
           be
           to
           cry
           down
           others
           ,
           and
           draw
           men
           into
           odious
           thoughts
           of
           one
           another
           ,
           and
           to
           destroy
           Christian
           Love
           and
           Concord
           in
           the
           world
           .
        
         
           VI.
           And
           hereby
           I
           might
           have
           been
           one
           that
           prepared
           Professors
           to
           turn
           Quakers
           ,
           Seekers
           ,
           or
           Ranters
           ,
           to
           have
           finished
           the
           work
           that
           I
           began
           .
        
         
           VII
           .
           I
           might
           have
           been
           tempted
           to
           do
           all
           this
           as
           in
           the
           
             Name
             of
             Christ
          
           ,
           and
           for
           his
           
             Truth
             ,
             Word
          
           and
           Church
           ;
           and
           so
           to
           have
           entitled
           God
           to
           all
           ,
           and
           put
           his
           holy
           Name
           to
           these
           works
           of
           Darkness
           ,
           and
           pretended
           his
           own
           Commission
           for
           my
           opposing
           him
           .
        
         
           VIII
           .
           I
           might
           have
           been
           tempted
           hereby
           to
           write
           Letters
           as
           long
           and
           vehement
           as
           yours
           ,
           in
           as
           or●●●cal
           and
           pious
           a
           strain
           ,
           which
           should
           have
           been
           b●●…
           birth
           of
           my
           ignorance
           and
           self-conceit
           ,
           and
           made
           ●…
           of
           Hypocrisie
           ;
           all
           along
           pretending
           that
           I
           am
           offended
           with
           my
           Adversary
           for
           
             want
             of
             an
             Answer
          
           or
           proof
           ,
           when
           indeed
           it
           were
           the
           
             success
             of
             his
             Answers
          
           &
           
             Cogent
             Proofs
          
           ,
           prevailing
           with
           multitudes
           against
           my
           Opinion
           ,
           that
           was
           the
           true
           cause
           of
           my
           anger
           :
           and
           when
           partiality
           had
           filled
           my
           heart
           with
           bitterness
           against
           my
           Brother
           for
           such
           success
           ,
           I
           might
           have
           been
           drawn
           to
           cover
           all
           from
           my self
           and
           others
           ,
           by
           accusing
           him
           of
           
             fieryness
             or
             folly
          
           in
           generals
           ,
           and
           by
           summoning
           him
           to
           Repentance
           and
           Recantation
           ,
           as
           the
           Quakers
           do
           ,
           by
           the
           
             dreadful
             Tribunal
             of
             God
          
           ,
           when
           I
           cannot
           resist
           the
           Scripture
           evidence
           which
           he
           bringeth
           .
        
         
           IX
           .
           And
           I
           might
           have
           been
           tempted
           when
           once
           Prepossession
           ,
           Prejudice
           &
           Interest
           of
           Reputation
           had
           engaged
           me
           to
           so
           bad
           a
           cause
           ,
           to
           have
           studyed
           all
           that
           I
           can
           rake
           together
           to
           maintain
           it
           ;
           and
           to
           have
           stretch'd
           all
           my
           wits
           to
           have
           opposed
           all
           that
           is
           brought
           against
           it
           ,
           and
           to
           have
           made
           it
           the
           chief
           
             work
             and
             Religion
             of
             my
             life
             ,
          
           in
           which
           my
           thoughts
           ,
           affections
           ,
           time
           and
           industry
           should
           be
           laid
           out
           to
           carry
           on
           
           this
           mistaken
           and
           destructive
           cause
           ,
           and
           to
           keep
           the
           Churches
           of
           Christ
           from
           Loving-Unity
           ,
           Communion
           and
           Peace
           ,
           till
           they
           will
           all
           unite
           against
           
             Infants
             Church-membership
             and
             Baptism
          
           ,
           which
           they
           never
           did
           ,
           nor
           never
           will
           do
           :
           Yea
           ,
           and
           I
           must
           have
           taught
           all
           Christian
           Parents
           ,
           that
           though
           they
           must
           love
           their
           Children
           as
           they
           are
           
             their
             own
          
           ,
           (
           as
           Heathens
           do
           )
           yet
           that
           they
           must
           not
           
             Love
             any
             one
             Infant
          
           in
           the
           world
           ,
           as
           a
           
             Member
             of
             Christ
          
           ,
           or
           
             of
             his
             Church
          
           ,
           and
           
             in
             his
             Covenant
          
           .
        
         
           X.
           And
           by
           all
           this
           ,
           what
           a
           Scandal
           should
           I
           have
           given
           to
           the
           
             Atheists
             ,
             Infidels
             ,
             Papists
             and
             Profane
             ,
          
           to
           harden
           them
           in
           their
           Contempt
           of
           Godliness
           ,
           and
           Derision
           ,
           or
           Accusations
           of
           Religious
           men
           ;
           as
           if
           all
           serious
           Religion
           among
           us
           were
           but
           Pride
           ,
           Contention
           ,
           Humour
           and
           Hypocrisie
           ,
           and
           a
           Cloak
           for
           our
           Mala●ies
           and
           Crimes
           .
           Yea
           I
           might
           have
           tempted
           them
           to
           Persecution
           ,
           and
           quieted
           their
           Consciences
           in
           
             silencing
             Christs
             Ministers
          
           ,
           for
           the
           sake
           of
           such
           ,
           whom
           they
           think
           they
           use
           not
           so
           ill
           as
           they
           deserve
           .
        
         
           XI
           .
           And
           alass
           what
           a
           distraction
           and
           scandal
           should
           I
           have
           caused
           to
           the
           ignorant
           and
           weak
           ,
           when
           they
           see
           so
           
             many
             wayes
          
           ,
           and
           hear
           men
           calling
           them
           
             this
             way
          
           and
           
             that
             way
          
           ,
           and
           terrifying
           them
           with
           Gods
           Judgment
           ,
           and
           the
           charge
           of
           Sin
           ,
           if
           they
           be
           not
           of
           
             this
             mind
             or
             of
             that
          
           ,
           till
           poor
           people
           (
           that
           have
           a
           plain
           Rule
           left
           them
           by
           Christ
           )
           are
           driven
           out
           of
           all
           Religion
           ,
           or
           out
           of
           their
           Wits
           ,
           as
           not
           knowing
           of
           what
           side
           and
           way
           to
           be
           .
        
         
           XII
           .
           And
           I
           should
           have
           been
           like
           enough
           to
           have
           been
           drawn
           into
           the
           
             guilt
             of
             Persecution
          
           my self
           ,
           while
           I
           cryed
           out
           against
           Persecution
           .
           I
           might
           have
           Persecuted
           my
           Brethren
           with
           my
           Tongue
           ,
           and
           thought
           it
           necessary
           to
           the
           promoting
           of
           the
           cause
           of
           God
           ,
           to
           blast
           their
           just
           Reputation
           ,
           and
           to
           make
           them
           by
           falshoods
           
           to
           become
           despised
           ,
           lest
           their
           names
           should
           hinder
           my
           design
           .
           Yea
           ,
           who
           knows
           but
           I
           might
           my self
           have
           joyned
           with
           those
           whom
           you
           judged
           the
           persecuting
           Silencers
           of
           the
           Ministers
           of
           Christ
           ,
           and
           Ruiners
           of
           the
           Churches
           Peace
           ,
           by
           endeavouring
           the
           continuance
           of
           those
           
             same
             Impositions
          
           ,
           and
           
             keeping
             Ministers
             out
             of
             the
             publick
             Ministry
             ,
          
           and
           
             depriving
             them
             of
             all
             the
             established
             Maintenance
             ,
          
           which
           in
           the
           judgment
           of
           the
           Sectaries
           themselves
           is
           
             heynous
             sin
          
           ,
           and
           all
           this
           lest
           Repentance
           and
           Altering
           such
           Impositions
           (
           unless
           they
           will
           do
           it
           as
           far
           as
           the
           said
           persons
           desire
           )
           should
           weaken
           their
           Party
           ,
           and
           leave
           them
           under
           greater
           disagvantages
           ;
           and
           to
           have
           thus
           desired
           mens
           
             impenitent
             Continuance
          
           of
           that
           which
           is
           accounted
           
             heynous
             Persecution
          
           and
           Devastation
           of
           the
           Churches
           ,
           and
           starving
           many
           
             thousand
             Souls
          
           ,
           and
           
             undoing
             Ministers
             ▪
          
           and
           their
           Families
           ,
           might
           have
           made
           all
           this
           to
           be
           my
           own
           by
           
             such
             consent
          
           ,
           yea
           and
           endeavour
           ;
           and
           the
           pitiful
           shift
           of
           
             [
             opposing
             a
             Comprehension
             ,
             to
             keep
             off
             our
             own
             Sufferings
             ,
             or
             our
             weakening
             ,
             and
             the
             dividing
             of
             the
             Non-conformists
             .
             ]
          
           might
           have
           been
           an
           Opiate
           to
           my
           Conscience
           for
           so
           heynous
           an
           Iniquity
           .
        
         
           XIII
           .
           Yea
           ,
           who
           knows
           but
           I
           might
           have
           come
           to
           that
           inhumanity
           ,
           and
           immodesty
           as
           to
           falsifie
           publick
           History
           ,
           against
           the
           common
           notice
           of
           all
           the
           Learned
           world
           ;
           and
           to
           have
           faced
           down
           mankind
           that
           the
           Novatians
           were
           against
           
             Infant
             Baptism
          
           ,
           and
           so
           were
           the
           Donatists
           ;
           and
           that
           Austin
           wrote
           divers
           Books
           against
           them
           ,
           as
           holding
           that
           Opinion
           ;
           and
           that
           the
           Brittains
           of
           old
           were
           of
           the
           same
           mind
           ,
           and
           the
           Waldenses
           since
           ,
           and
           Wickliffe
           also
           ,
           &c.
           
           And
           if
           Learned
           men
           had
           wondred
           at
           my
           impudence
           ,
           I
           might
           have
           comforted
           my self
           that
           my
           followers
           will
           believe
           me
           :
           yea
           and
           to
           have
           furiously
           calumniated
           those
           that
           detect
           my
           sin
           ,
           and
           call
           me
           to
           Repentance
           ,
           and
           to
           have
           
           reproached
           them
           as
           
             foolish
             and
             fiery
          
           who
           will
           defend
           the
           Mercies
           of
           Christ
           ,
           and
           their
           Infant
           hopes
           and
           title
           to
           pardon
           and
           salvation
           .
        
         
           These
           and
           many
           more
           evils
           I
           might
           have
           been
           seduced
           into
           ,
           if
           I
           had
           yielded
           to
           those
           reasonings
           that
           would
           have
           drawn
           me
           to
           deny
           the
           Graces
           of
           the
           Covenant
           ;
           and
           which
           in
           my
           youth
           once
           did
           cause
           some
           doubting
           in
           me
           ,
           till
           I
           diligently
           studyed
           the
           point
           ;
           my
           ignorance
           of
           the
           true
           nature
           of
           the
           Covenant
           and
           Baptism
           ,
           and
           the
           weakness
           of
           many
           Writers
           Arguments
           against
           the
           Anabaptists
           ,
           being
           then
           my
           great
           Temptations
           .
        
         
           And
           now
           ,
           Sir
           ,
           I
           thank
           you
           for
           calling
           me
           ,
           
             in
             the
             bowels
             of
             Christ
             ,
             as
             I
             will
             answer
             it
             at
             Gods
             dreadful
             Tribunal
             ,
          
           to
           a
           Review
           of
           the
           Cause
           which
           I
           was
           drawn
           by
           your
           Brethren
           to
           defend
           :
           For
           it
           causeth
           me
           in
           the
           Review
           of
           the
           Nature
           and
           Reasons
           of
           it
           ,
           to
           renew
           my
           thankfulness
           to
           God
           for
           my
           preservation
           ,
           and
           that
           he
           hath
           made
           any
           use
           of
           me
           to
           vindicate
           his
           Covenant
           ,
           and
           the
           Mercies
           given
           by
           it
           to
           mankind
           ,
           and
           for
           saving
           me
           from
           this
           fore-described
           deluge
           ;
           and
           I
           solemnly
           protest
           in
           his
           sight
           ,
           that
           knoweth
           my
           heart
           ,
           that
           if
           I
           knew
           ,
           or
           by
           study
           could
           find
           out
           that
           Papists
           ,
           Conformists
           ,
           Separatists
           ,
           Anabaptists
           ,
           or
           Quakers
           were
           in
           the
           right
           ,
           I
           would
           quickly
           and
           joyfully
           declare
           my
           consent
           ,
           &
           be
           glad
           before
           I
           die
           ,
           to
           joyn
           with
           them
           ,
           and
           recant
           what
           I
           have
           held
           ,
           or
           said
           ,
           or
           done
           against
           them
           .
           But
           the
           Reasons
           which
           I
           have
           given
           in
           my
           two
           Books
           ,
           and
           which
           Mr.
           
             Jos
             .
             Whiston
          
           (
           above
           most
           others
           )
           hath
           lately
           given
           ,
           seem
           to
           me
           unanswerable
           .
           And
           yet
           I
           doubt
           not
           but
           Mr.
           Danvers
           or
           you
           can
           answer
           them
           all
           ;
           there
           being
           few
           Causes
           so
           clear
           that
           a
           man
           may
           not
           talk
           against
           ,
           as
           long
           as
           his
           talking
           faculty
           holds
           out
           :
           But
           do
           not
           expect
           that
           I
           should
           offend
           you
           by
           Replying
           ,
           to
           words
           which
           I
           
           think
           need
           no
           Reply
           ,
           unless
           the
           necessities
           of
           such
           as
           are
           deceived
           by
           you
           do
           require
           it
           .
           Blessed
           be
           that
           Mercy
           that
           will
           shortly
           Reconcile
           his
           dark
           mistaken
           wrangling
           Children
           in
           the
           World
           of
           Reconciling
           Light
           and
           Love
           ,
           in
           the
           perfect
           Vnity
           ,
           which
           Grace
           is
           now
           preparing
           us
           for
           ,
           and
           they
           that
           live
           in
           Faith
           and
           Love
           ,
           are
           breathing
           after
           :
           And
           woe
           to
           them
           who
           by
           dead
           Formalities
           elude
           and
           hinder
           mens
           
             solemn
             intelligent
             owning
          
           of
           their
           Baptismal
           Covenant
           at
           age
           ,
           and
           thereby
           make
           Anabaptists
           ,
           and
           make
           Infant-baptism
           seem
           a
           Crime
           .
        
         
           
             London
             ,
             
               Decemb.
               31.
               1675.
               
            
          
           
             Rich.
             Baxter
             .
          
        
      
       
         
         
           Mr.
           Danvers
           his
           Third
           Reply
           Considered
           ,
           at
           Mr.
           Hutchinson's
           Invitation
           .
        
         
           BEfore
           the
           Receipt
           of
           Mr.
           Hutchinsons
           Letter
           ,
           I
           knew
           nothing
           of
           Mr.
           Danvers
           his
           Third
           Reply
           ,
           which
           I
           have
           now
           perused
           :
           Though
           by
           his
           Conclusion
           one
           would
           think
           that
           he
           took
           
             open
             Rebuke
          
           for
           a
           tolerable
           ,
           yea
           acceptable
           ,
           friendly
           office
           ;
           yet
           finding
           how
           impatiently
           he
           receiveth
           it
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           detection
           of
           his
           Voluminous
           Untruths
           doth
           but
           occasion
           him
           to
           defend
           them
           ,
           and
           to
           stir
           up
           all
           his
           Forces
           to
           render
           the
           Reprover
           odious
           ,
           and
           so
           doth
           but
           exasperate
           his
           Disease
           ,
           I
           thought
           my self
           disobliged
           from
           any
           farther
           attempts
           to
           bring
           him
           to
           Repentance
           ;
           And
           those
           that
           yet
           need
           more
           to
           save
           them
           from
           the
           belief
           of
           his
           Historicall
           Misreports
           ,
           are
           persons
           that
           I
           have
           not
           leisure
           enough
           to
           satisfie
           .
        
         
           I
           again
           profess
           ,
           that
           the
           experience
           of
           these
           last
           fifteen
           years
           ,
           of
           the
           
             strange
             incredibility
          
           of
           some
           men
           on
           both
           extreams
           ,
           [
           the
           Violent
           and
           the
           Dividing
           ]
           about
           
             notorious
             matters
             of
             Fact
          
           ,
           hath
           done
           more
           to
           bring
           me
           to
           
             great
             unbelief
          
           of
           all
           mankind
           ,
           so
           far
           as
           I
           find
           them
           pre-engaged
           by
           Contention
           ,
           and
           by
           a
           Carnal
           ,
           or
           a
           sideing
           factious
           Interest
           ,
           than
           all
           that
           ever
           I
           before
           had
           read
           ,
           or
           heard
           ,
           or
           seen
           :
           I
           should
           once
           have
           thought
           that
           I
           had
           been
           injurious
           to
           humanity
           it self
           ,
           if
           I
           had
           thought
           such
           men
           as
           incredible
           as
           some
           have
           now
           declared
           themselves
           in
           Print
           to
           be
           :
           I
           scarcely
           
           now
           believe
           any
           meer
           humane
           History
           any
           farther
           than
           the
           agreement
           of
           men
           of
           
             contrary
             minds
             and
             interests
          
           ,
           in
           matters
           of
           common
           and
           easie
           notice
           ,
           giveth
           a
           kind
           of
           
             natural
             evidence
          
           to
           it
           ,
           beyond
           what
           it
           borroweth
           from
           the
           honesty
           of
           the
           Writer
           ;
           or
           at
           least
           farther
           than
           the
           footsteps
           of
           very
           great
           Candor
           ,
           Conscience
           and
           unbyassed
           impartiality
           shall
           speak
           more
           for
           my
           belief
           ,
           than
           the
           Authors
           most
           confident
           words
           or
           Oaths
           .
           And
           herein
           
             modest
             men
          
           ,
           and
           
             disinterested
             Peace-makers
          
           are
           now
           believed
           by
           me
           ,
           before
           all
           the
           greatest
           ,
           the
           learned'st
           ,
           and
           the
           most
           zealous
           Contenders
           in
           the
           world
           .
           Davids
           saying
           ,
           that
           
             All
             men
             are
             Lyars
          
           ,
           and
           
             Pauls
             [
             Let
             God
             be
             true
             ,
             and
             every
             man
             a
             Lyar
             ,
             ]
          
           were
           too
           much
           overlooked
           by
           me
           ,
           till
           
             men
             themselves
          
           had
           told
           me
           what
           they
           are
           ;
           and
           warned
           me
           to
           cease
           from
           man
           ,
           as
           vanity
           .
        
         
           Mr.
           Danvers
           his
           accusations
           were
           partly
           of
           such
           
             publick
             parties
          
           (
           the
           
             ancient
             Churches
          
           ,
           the
           Novatians
           ,
           the
           Donatists
           ,
           the
           old
           Brittains
           ,
           the
           Waldenses
           ,
           the
           Wickliffians
           ,
           &c.
           )
           and
           partly
           of
           such
           publick
           Writings
           (
           as
           Augustines
           and
           many
           others
           )
           as
           one
           would
           think
           any
           Scholar
           that
           will
           read
           the
           cited
           Books
           might
           soon
           see
           whether
           he
           or
           I
           be
           the
           falsifyer
           ,
           especially
           about
           a
           practical
           matter
           ,
           in
           which
           their
           Judgments
           could
           not
           easily
           be
           hid
           from
           all
           the
           Adversaries
           about
           them
           ,
           no
           more
           than
           from
           those
           of
           their
           own
           mind
           and
           way
           .
        
         
           His
           accusation
           of
           the
           Novatians
           he
           neither
           defendeth
           (
           that
           I
           see
           )
           nor
           
             confesseth
             to
             be
             a
          
           slander
           ;
           but
           silently
           passeth
           all
           the
           matter
           by
           .
        
         
           His
           Accusation
           (
           for
           such
           it
           is
           )
           of
           the
           rest
           (
           for
           the
           most
           part
           at
           least
           )
           he
           still
           defendeth
           .
           He
           cannot
           Repent
           of
           it
           ;
           and
           I
           can
           no
           more
           believe
           him
           when
           I
           have
           read
           the
           Books
           that
           are
           our
           Records
           ,
           than
           I
           can
           if
           he
           would
           as
           fiercely
           contend
           ,
           that
           the
           Bishops
           ,
           or
           
           Church
           of
           England
           are
           Anabaptists
           ,
           because
           of
           his
           accusation
           of
           the
           now
           Bishop
           of
           Lincoln
           .
           But
           should
           I
           be
           so
           injurious
           to
           the
           Reader
           and
           my self
           as
           to
           cast
           away
           precious
           time
           in
           again
           and
           again
           answering
           his
           untrue
           Citations
           and
           expositions
           of
           words
           which
           are
           before
           our
           eyes
           ?
           and
           which
           neither
           his
           word
           or
           mine
           can
           satisfie
           any
           Reader
           of
           ,
           who
           must
           know
           the
           truth
           by
           the
           Books
           themselves
           !
           when
           he
           tells
           men
           of
           my
           writing
           for
           Popery
           ,
           Conformity
           ,
           &c.
           can
           his
           yea
           or
           my
           nay
           go
           for
           proof
           with
           any
           that
           is
           in
           doubt
           which
           of
           us
           saith
           true
           ?
           Must
           not
           the
           perusal
           of
           the
           full
           words
           decide
           the
           Case
           ?
           And
           so
           it
           must
           as
           to
           his
           Accusations
           of
           the
           several
           Churches
           and
           Parties
           in
           questions
           :
           And
           if
           his
           Believers
           would
           be
           perswaded
           that
           the
           Welsh
           Tongue
           is
           the
           common
           Language
           of
           England
           ,
           if
           he
           do
           but
           vehemently
           affirm
           it
           ,
           and
           revile
           such
           as
           contradict
           him
           ,
           I
           could
           not
           help
           it
           ,
           nor
           must
           I
           write
           books
           about
           it
           ,
           as
           long
           as
           he
           hath
           leisure
           ,
           Ink
           and
           Paper
           to
           hold
           on
           .
           His
           Exclamations
           of
           the
           unsatisfactories
           of
           these
           general
           answers
           ,
           (
           or
           refusals
           )
           shall
           not
           tempt
           me
           to
           cast
           away
           the
           little
           relicts
           of
           my
           time
           ,
           in
           numbring
           and
           disproving
           all
           the
           Vntruths
           that
           he
           hath
           written
           ,
           and
           will
           write
           .
           By
           what
           Law
           am
           I
           condemned
           to
           such
           a
           Drudgery
           ?
           The
           very
           first
           Paragraph
           of
           this
           his
           third
           Reply
           hath
           more
           than
           one
           or
           two
           .
        
         
           But
           the
           chief
           substance
           of
           his
           Book
           is
           his
           reiterated
           accusation
           of
           my
           words
           in
           my
           first
           Book
           ,
           that
           
             [
             many
          
           then
           
             Baptized
             naked
          
           ]
           for
           which
           ,
           as
           a
           heynous
           Calumny
           ,
           I
           must
           Repent
           .
           Readers
           ,
           my
           Conscience
           telleth
           me
           that
           Repentance
           is
           such
           an
           excellent
           healing
           Duty
           ,
           that
           I
           shall
           loath
           my self
           so
           far
           as
           I
           find
           my self
           unwilling
           of
           it
           ?
           But
           is
           it
           possible
           for
           a
           man
           to
           Repent
           of
           all
           that
           the
           several
           contradicting
           Sects
           (
           Papists
           ,
           Quakers
           ,
           Anabaptists
           ,
           &c.
           )
           call
           him
           to
           Repent
           of
           ,
           when
           that
           is
           best
           with
           one
           side
           which
           is
           
           the
           worst
           to
           divers
           others
           ?
           We
           are
           openly
           agreed
           ,
           1.
           
           That
           the
           Baptizing
           naked
           is
           not
           the
           usual
           way
           of
           the
           Anabaptists
           in
           England
           .
           2.
           
           That
           it
           was
           not
           the
           way
           of
           the
           most
           of
           them
           when
           I
           wrote
           that
           book
           .
           3.
           
           That
           we
           heard
           of
           none
           with
           us
           in
           England
           that
           for
           any
           considerable
           time
           continued
           it
           .
           The
           Questions
           remaining
           are
           1.
           
           Whether
           when
           I
           wrote
           those
           words
           ,
           the
           common
           Fame
           or
           Report
           of
           the
           Countrey
           where
           I
           lived
           took
           it
           not
           for
           as
           certain
           that
           divers
           then
           in
           some
           places
           did
           it
           ,
           as
           the
           most
           Scriptural
           way
           ,
           as
           that
           the
           Quakers
           Quaked
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           Ranters
           Swore
           ?
           2.
           
           Whether
           ever
           any
           Anabaptist
           that
           then
           was
           acquainted
           with
           me
           ,
           yea
           or
           any
           one
           person
           denyed
           it
           to
           my
           hearing
           or
           knowledge
           ?
           3.
           
           Whether
           Mr.
           Tombes
           denyed
           it
           when
           I
           wrote
           it
           ?
           All
           these
           I
           will
           no
           farther
           trouble
           the
           Reader
           about
           ,
           than
           to
           tell
           him
           that
           he
           neither
           doth
           ,
           or
           can
           disprove
           me
           ,
           and
           should
           I
           recant
           what
           I
           said
           of
           these
           three
           questions
           ,
           I
           must
           tell
           three
           downright
           Lyes
           ?
           And
           is
           that
           a
           safe
           way
           of
           Repenting
           ?
           4.
           
           But
           let
           the
           question
           be
           whether
           I
           did
           
             well
             to
             believe
             it
          
           ?
           I
           answer
           ,
           I
           believed
           it
           not
           as
           a
           
             Divine
             Revelation
          
           ,
           but
           as
           a
           
             Humane
             Report
          
           ;
           which
           constrained
           a
           proportionable
           belief
           ,
           which
           it
           was
           not
           in
           my
           power
           to
           deny
           ?
           5.
           
           But
           should
           I
           not
           
             yet
             disbelieve
             it
          
           ?
           Answer
           ,
           I
           am
           more
           willing
           to
           do
           it
           than
           not
           ,
           but
           I
           am
           not
           able
           :
           I
           do
           believe
           (
           according
           to
           the
           measure
           of
           the
           aforesaid
           evidence
           )
           that
           it
           is
           a
           Truth
           ?
           I
           cannot
           believe
           the
           contrary
           :
           I
           hear
           not
           a
           word
           to
           warrant
           me
           to
           disbelieve
           it
           :
           it
           is
           not
           in
           my
           power
           ,
           and
           I
           must
           not
           lie
           ,
           to
           say
           that
           I
           believe
           it
           not
           .
           6.
           
           But
           the
           next
           Question
           is
           ,
           Did
           I
           not
           say
           more
           ,
           or
           mean
           more
           at
           least
           ,
           than
           that
           it
           was
           but
           [
           at
           that
           time
           ]
           
             [
             the
             practise
             of
             many
             but
             not
             of
             most
             ,
             or
             their
             ordinary
             way
             ]
          
           and
           
             that
             I
             knew
             it
             no
             otherwise
             than
             by
             uncontradicted
             Fame
             ?
             ]
          
           Answer
           ,
           Either
           I
           did
           
             say
             or
             mean
             more
          
           ,
           or
           
             I
             aid
             not
          
           .
           If
           I
           did
           ,
           I
           hereby
           
           renounce
           it
           ,
           and
           declare
           that
           I
           wronged
           them
           .
           If
           I
           did
           not
           ,
           (
           as
           I
           know
           I
           did
           not
           )
           to
           say
           I
           did
           were
           to
           lie
           ;
           and
           is
           it
           worthy
           his
           writing
           a
           Book
           to
           tempt
           a
           man
           to
           lie
           ?
        
         
           If
           he
           will
           prove
           that
           I
           
             said
             more
          
           ,
           the
           words
           must
           decide
           it
           if
           ;
           that
           I
           
             meant
             more
          
           ,
           he
           is
           not
           to
           be
           believed
           of
           my
           heart
           ,
           as
           if
           he
           knew
           it
           better
           than
           I.
           
        
         
           But
           he
           proveth
           it
           (
           that
           
             I
             intended
             them
             all
          
           )
           contrary
           to
           my
           most
           express
           words
           .
           1.
           
           He
           saith
           ,
           it
           is
           
             my
             scope
             and
             design
          
           ?
           2.
           
           From
           my
           Arguments
           ,
           which
           take
           in
           the
           whole
           Party
           ?
           3.
           
           From
           the
           Instance
           ,
           &c.
           Reader
           ,
           If
           I
           were
           to
           teach
           a
           man
           to
           understand
           my
           book
           ,
           before
           he
           wrote
           against
           it
           ,
           I
           should
           have
           some
           little
           hope
           of
           true
           dealing
           in
           his
           Report
           ,
           how
           weak
           soever
           his
           Arguing
           were
           :
           But
           when
           I
           must
           deal
           with
           a
           man
           that
           understandeth
           not
           plain
           English
           ,
           because
           partiality
           will
           not
           suffer
           him
           ,
           and
           will
           
             not
             learn
          
           to
           understand
           what
           he
           doth
           not
           ,
           and
           yet
           cannot
           forbear
           a
           publick
           contradicting
           it
           ,
           till
           he
           understand
           it
           ,
           would
           it
           not
           be
           a
           slavery
           to
           be
           tyed
           to
           write
           against
           such
           a
           man
           as
           long
           as
           he
           would
           write
           ,
           should
           I
           live
           so
           long
           ?
           I
           joyned
           together
           ,
           as
           the
           mode
           of
           their
           Re-baptizing
           ,
           their
           doing
           it
           in
           
             cold
             water
          
           or
           
             Rivers
             ,
             some
             naked
          
           ,
           and
           the
           rest
           (
           the
           usual
           way
           )
           
             next
             naked
          
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           in
           a
           
             linnen
             Shift
          
           ,
           or
           Vest
           ,
           only
           to
           cover
           them
           .
           I
           took
           that
           which
           in
           the
           hotter
           Countreys
           was
           safe
           ,
           to
           be
           in
           our
           frigid
           Countreys
           a
           breach
           of
           the
           sixth
           Commandment
           ;
           and
           can
           prove
           ,
           that
           he
           that
           said
           ,
           
             [
             Go
             learn
             what
             that
             meaneth
             ,
             I
             will
             have
             Mercy
             and
             not
             Sacrifice
             ]
          
           would
           not
           have
           plunging
           over
           head
           in
           Cold
           Water
           ,
           to
           be
           the
           ordinary
           way
           with
           us
           .
           I
           supposed
           that
           as
           among
           the
           naked
           Indians
           ,
           use
           maketh
           nakedness
           a
           less
           provocation
           to
           Lust
           ,
           than
           it
           would
           be
           here
           ;
           so
           also
           in
           the
           hotter
           Regions
           ,
           of
           the
           world
           ,
           their
           appearing
           
             publickly
             next
             to
             naked
             ,
             in
             one
             linnen
             Vest
             or
             Shift
             ,
          
           was
           less
           unseemly
           
           than
           it
           would
           be
           here
           :
           David
           might
           dance
           so
           before
           Ark
           ,
           though
           Michel
           thought
           it
           impudent
           ;
           and
           they
           might
           usually
           were
           such
           Garments
           as
           would
           not
           have
           kept
           their
           Nakedness
           from
           
             being
             seen
          
           ,
           if
           
             they
             had
             gone
             by
             steps
             upon
             the
             Altar
          
           ;
           and
           such
           as
           if
           it
           were
           but
           turned
           aside
           would
           leave
           their
           nakedness
           as
           Noah's
           was
           to
           spectators
           :
           Custome
           is
           of
           great
           signification
           in
           such
           things
           .
           But
           I
           appeal
           to
           common
           Modesty
           with
           us
           in
           England
           ,
           whether
           it
           would
           not
           be
           a
           breach
           of
           the
           seventh
           Commandment
           to
           come
           to
           Church
           ,
           or
           walk
           the
           Streets
           ,
           or
           appear
           in
           Assemblies
           in
           our
           Shirts
           and
           Smocks
           ?
           Now
           this
           man
           first
           feigneth
           me
           to
           say
           that
           
             it
             is
             Adultery
          
           ,
           because
           I
           say
           it
           is
           
             a
             breach
             of
             the
             seventh
             Commaadment
             ,
          
           as
           if
           nothing
           but
           Adultery
           were
           there
           forbidden
           ?
        
         
           Next
           to
           prove
           that
           I
           mean
           it
           of
           them
           all
           ,
           that
           
             [
             They
             Baptize
             naked
          
           ]
           he
           alledgeth
           that
           I
           said
           ,
           that
           all
           or
           
             most
             did
             it
             ,
             [
             naked
             or
             next
             naked
             ]
          
           and
           ,
           are
           these
           all
           one
           ?
           pray
           doth
           he
           not
           disprove
           himself
           ?
           Is
           it
           not
           sure
           that
           he
           that
           saith
           ,
           
             [
             some
             Baptize
             naked
             ,
             and
             others
             next
             naked
             ]
          
           doth
           not
           say
           of
           
             all
             [
             that
             they
             Baptize
             naked
             ]
          
           What
           should
           one
           say
           to
           such
           a
           man
           as
           this
           ?
        
         
           But
           he
           saith
           ,
           that
           
             [
             some
             naked
             and
             next
             naked
             are
             much
             at
             one
             .
             ]
          
           Answer
           ,
           That
           's
           but
           another
           of
           his
           Untruths
           ,
           from
           whom
           they
           flow
           so
           easily
           that
           I
           may
           not
           number
           them
           .
           A
           grosser
           and
           lesser
           breach
           of
           the
           seventh
           Commandment
           are
           
             not
             much
             at
             one
             with
             me
             .
             I
          
           never
           said
           or
           thought
           that
           they
           were
           .
           If
           I
           had
           ,
           is
           that
           any
           thing
           to
           the
           question
           in
           hand
           ?
           Can
           he
           prove
           that
           I
           said
           
             [
             All
             Baptized
             naked
             ?
          
           ]
           if
           I
           had
           said
           ,
           that
           I
           took
           
             [
             next
             naked
          
           ]
           to
           be
           as
           bad
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           But
           
             de
             facto
          
           ,
           doth
           
             he
             deny
          
           the
           latter
           ?
           it
           seems
           here
           that
           he
           doth
           .
           I
           profess
           also
           that
           I
           go
           in
           this
           but
           by
           
             Common
             Fame
          
           .
           If
           they
           Baptize
           not
           next
           naked
           in
           
           one
           linnen
           Shift
           ,
           I
           never
           heard
           it
           denyed
           till
           now
           ?
           I
           renounce
           the
           mention
           of
           it
           if
           it
           be
           untrue
           ;
           but
           it
           is
           not
           in
           my
           power
           to
           disbelieve
           it
           .
           But
           because
           I
           never
           saw
           it
           ,
           if
           he
           will
           say
           that
           they
           Baptize
           them
           all
           in
           hats
           ,
           bands
           and
           cuffs
           ,
           I
           will
           not
           peremptorily
           deny
           it
           .
        
         
           But
           he
           will
           prove
           that
           I
           meant
           not
           
             [
             Common
             Fame
          
           ]
           because
           I
           add
           
             [
             Experience
          
           ,
           &c.
           ]
           But
           sure
           I
           never
           alledged
           
             my
             own
             Experience
             .
             ]
             I
          
           never
           saw
           any
           of
           them
           Baptize
           :
           I
           never
           
             heard
             a
             Ranter
             Blaspheme
          
           ,
           (
           though
           I
           have
           read
           Letters
           full
           of
           it
           ;
           )
           nor
           I
           never
           saw
           a
           
             Quaker
             quake
          
           .
           If
           you
           say
           that
           they
           never
           did
           so
           ,
           I
           will
           not
           prove
           it
           .
           But
           how
           shall
           other
           
             mens
             Experiences
          
           be
           known
           to
           me
           ,
           but
           by
           Report
           or
           Fame
           ?
           And
           I
           think
           that
           the
           more
           common
           and
           uncontradicted
           the
           Report
           is
           ,
           it
           is
           the
           more
           probable
           .
        
         
           I
           have
           not
           leisure
           to
           go
           on
           at
           this
           rate
           with
           such
           a
           Writer
           ;
           I
           again
           profess
           that
           I
           had
           rather
           Retract
           what
           I
           said
           than
           not
           ,
           if
           I
           could
           do
           it
           without
           lying
           ,
           but
           I
           cannot
           .
           But
           ,
           Reader
           ,
           what
           's
           all
           this
           to
           the
           Question
           ,
           Whether
           our
           Infants
           are
           in
           Covenant
           with
           Christ
           ,
           or
           Visible
           Members
           of
           his
           Church
           ?
           Is
           it
           not
           a
           meer
           Diversion
           ?
        
         
           But
           the
           last
           Question
           is
           ,
           
             Have
             I
             not
             wronged
             their
             Cause
             by
             wronging
             the
             Persons
             ,
             in
             believing
             Fame
             ,
             that
             ever
             any
             of
             them
             Baptized
             naked
             ?
          
           Answer
           ,
           1.
           
           I
           have
           not
           the
           books
           now
           to
           peruse
           ,
           (
           men
           of
           his
           Spirit
           ,
           though
           of
           another
           Opinion
           ,
           have
           disabled
           me
           at
           this
           time
           from
           confuting
           him
           by
           books
           .
           )
           But
           I
           am
           past
           doubt
           ,
           that
           I
           have
           read
           of
           their
           Baptizing
           naked
           in
           forreign
           Writers
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           But
           ,
           Reader
           ,
           Could
           one
           that
           had
           read
           this
           Book
           of
           his
           against
           me
           ,
           for
           this
           passage
           as
           injurious
           ,
           believe
           if
           he
           had
           not
           seen
           his
           other
           Books
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           this
           
             same
             man
             himself
             ,
             who
             in
             his
             two
             former
             Books
          
           maintaineth
           it
           against
           us
           ,
           that
           for
           many
           hundred
           years
           ,
           
           
             Baptizing
             naked
             was
             the
             Churches
             Practise
             ?
          
           Was
           this
           no
           injury
           ?
           Or
           shall
           the
           same
           man
           take
           me
           as
           injurious
           for
           believing
           the
           same
           of
           
             some
             of
             them
          
           for
           a
           very
           little
           time
           ?
           I
           hope
           I
           have
           almost
           done
           with
           such
           Disputers
           .
        
         
           As
           to
           what
           he
           saith
           of
           Mr.
           Lambes
           and
           Mr.
           
             Allens
             .
             (
             who
             have
             left
             them
             ,
             )
             exceedingly
             as
             he
             hears
             ,
             blaming
             me
             for
             broaching
             ,
             much
             more
             for
             defending
             this
             slander
             .
             ]
             I
          
           answer
           ,
           1.
           
           His
           Heresay's
           have
           quite
           lost
           their
           credit
           with
           me
           :
           I
           believe
           it
           never
           the
           more
           for
           his
           hearing
           it
           :
           They
           never
           
             blamed
             me
             to
             my
             face
          
           :
           and
           I
           think
           that
           they
           are
           men
           likely
           to
           do
           it
           in
           that
           friendly
           way
           ,
           if
           any
           way
           ;
           and
           therefore
           at
           least
           I
           may
           hear
           from
           them
           hereafter
           ;
           and
           if
           so
           ,
           their
           reproof
           shall
           be
           willingly
           considered
           .
           If
           it
           be
           true
           ,
           I
           suppose
           it
           is
           ,
           because
           they
           have
           mistaken
           me
           as
           he
           doth
           ,
           as
           if
           I
           had
           spoken
           that
           of
           their
           ordinary
           practice
           ,
           which
           I
           mentioned
           only
           as
           the
           practice
           of
           some
           only
           at
           that
           time
           ;
           which
           was
           as
           short
           and
           confined
           as
           the
           Quakers
           quaking
           .
           2.
           
           Is
           it
           a
           slander
           of
           Mr.
           Tombes
           his
           citing
           Vossius
           ,
           or
           of
           Vossius
           cited
           by
           him
           ,
           to
           say
           that
           some
           Baptized
           naked
           in
           former
           times
           ?
           3.
           
           Is
           it
           then
           no
           slander
           of
           Mr.
           Danvers
           to
           say
           ,
           and
           stiffly
           defend
           it
           ,
           that
           the
           ancient
           Churches
           ordinarily
           did
           so
           ?
           Doth
           he
           who
           so
           pleadeth
           for
           Immersion
           ,
           because
           it
           was
           the
           first
           way
           ,
           now
           take
           it
           for
           well
           done
           in
           the
           ancient
           Churches
           ,
           and
           an
           intollerable
           slander
           that
           it
           should
           be
           said
           to
           have
           been
           done
           of
           any
           of
           late
           ?
        
         
           He
           next
           cometh
           to
           defend
           his
           false
           Report
           of
           a
           Paper
           which
           I
           read
           to
           some
           people
           that
           I
           preached
           to
           :
           The
           first
           hour
           that
           ever
           I
           spake
           to
           them
           ,
           I
           openly
           professed
           that
           we
           met
           not
           there
           as
           separating
           from
           the
           publick
           Assemblies
           ,
           but
           for
           the
           necessary
           instructing
           of
           the
           people
           ,
           who
           else
           had
           none
           ,
           nor
           any
           publick
           Worship
           of
           God
           :
           The
           Parish
           of
           Giles
           where
           I
           lived
           ,
           
           and
           the
           Parish
           of
           Martins
           where
           I
           preached
           are
           supposed
           to
           have
           1000000.
           souls
           or
           neer
           :
           of
           these
           it
           is
           supposed
           that
           not
           above
           6000.
           can
           hear
           in
           the
           Parish
           Churches
           at
           the
           most
           (
           and
           the
           incumbent
           of
           one
           had
           not
           officiated
           at
           all
           for
           many
           years
           :
           )
           it
           grieved
           me
           to
           think
           that
           while
           the
           King
           aintainerh
           a
           Corporation
           and
           Revenew
           for
           propagating
           the
           Gospel
           in
           America
           ,
           and
           the
           Jesuites
           are
           justly
           praised
           for
           doing
           so
           much
           to
           propagate
           it
           in
           the
           
             East
             Indies
          
           ,
           we
           should
           sluggishly
           suffer
           America
           and
           the
           Indies
           to
           come
           so
           neer
           Whitehall
           ,
           and
           so
           famous
           and
           Religious
           a
           City
           as
           this
           ,
           to
           be
           (
           to
           so
           great
           a
           number
           )
           without
           any
           publick
           worship
           of
           God
           ,
           while
           Mahometans
           are
           not
           quite
           without
           .
           Therefore
           to
           my
           great
           cost
           I
           preached
           neer
           a
           year
           over
           the
           Market-house
           at
           St.
           
           James's
           .
           And
           when
           the
           Informers
           began
           with
           me
           ,
           and
           accused
           me
           to
           the
           Justices
           of
           meeting
           contrary
           to
           the
           Act
           against
           Conventicles
           ,
           I
           gave
           my
           Reasons
           to
           some
           Justices
           ,
           and
           others
           ,
           in
           word
           and
           writing
           ,
           to
           prove
           that
           neither
           I
           ,
           nor
           such
           others
           ,
           might
           be
           judged
           breakers
           of
           that
           Act
           ,
           because
           we
           did
           not
           meet
           to
           worship
           God
           with
           any
           other
           manner
           of
           Worship
           than
           what
           is
           according
           to
           the
           Liturgy
           and
           Practice
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           
             England
             ▪
          
           For
           though
           we
           
             did
             not
             so
             much
             as
             they
             ,
          
           we
           
             did
             nothing
             but
             what
             they
             do
             :
          
           For
           we
           did
           but
           
             Read
             the
             Scriptures
             ,
             Pray
             freely
             in
             the
             Pulpit
             ,
             and
             Preach
             the
             Christian
             Doctrine
          
           ;
           and
           all
           this
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           doth
           :
           And
           though
           I
           did
           not
           read
           my self
           ,
           but
           another
           did
           it
           ,
           it
           was
           because
           I
           was
           not
           able
           ,
           which
           if
           I
           were
           ,
           I
           would
           do
           it
           .
           And
           expecting
           quickly
           to
           have
           the
           Cause
           come
           to
           a
           Tryal
           ,
           I
           wrote
           the
           sum
           of
           this
           in
           a
           Paper
           ,
           and
           read
           it
           openly
           ,
           and
           then
           gave
           it
           the
           Clerk
           ,
           that
           none
           might
           misreport
           me
           :
           And
           though
           some
           able
           and
           pious
           Lawyers
           that
           perused
           my
           large
           Reasons
           ,
           thought
           that
           they
           were
           very
           useful
           for
           others
           
           as
           well
           as
           me
           ,
           yet
           the
           noise
           and
           murmuring
           of
           some
           Women
           first
           ,
           and
           such
           as
           Mr.
           Danvers
           after
           ,
           sent
           abroad
           my
           Reproaches
           for
           it
           through
           City
           and
           Countrey
           ,
           with
           so
           many
           false
           additions
           ,
           and
           so
           much
           displeasure
           ,
           as
           added
           somewhat
           to
           my
           former
           knowledge
           of
           the
           difference
           between
           Sectarian
           and
           
             Christian
             Zeal
          
           .
           Surely
           these
           men
           do
           think
           themselves
           very
           grear
           haters
           of
           sin
           ,
           who
           would
           render
           that
           man
           odious
           as
           a
           heynous
           sinner
           ,
           who
           doth
           but
           speak
           those
           words
           to
           vindicate
           himself
           and
           others
           from
           the
           accusation
           of
           Informers
           ,
           which
           he
           verily
           believeth
           to
           be
           true
           and
           useful
           :
           when
           a
           man
           hath
           for
           about
           fourteen
           years
           ,
           not
           only
           preached
           without
           pay
           ,
           but
           at
           many
           score
           pounds
           a
           year
           charges
           ;
           when
           he
           hath
           never
           taken
           away
           one
           of
           their
           Communicants
           from
           any
           Parochial
           ,
           or
           Non-conformists
           Church
           ,
           nor
           meddled
           with
           either
           Sacrament
           ,
           nor
           ever
           set
           up
           his
           own
           preaching
           against
           theirs
           ,
           but
           desired
           to
           preach
           to
           a
           few
           of
           those
           many
           thousands
           that
           have
           none
           at
           all
           ,
           nor
           have
           any
           publick
           worship
           of
           God
           ,
           no
           not
           so
           much
           as
           the
           reading
           of
           the
           Liturgy
           ;
           and
           when
           for
           endeavouring
           this
           in
           languishing
           and
           pains
           ,
           by
           great
           charge
           and
           labour
           ,
           his
           utter
           ruine
           ,
           if
           not
           death
           ,
           shall
           be
           unreconcileably
           endeavoured
           by
           
             one
             party
          
           ,
           and
           for
           
             not
             hateing
          
           that
           which
           is
           good
           in
           the
           Liturgy
           as
           much
           as
           they
           ,
           or
           upon
           every
           surmise
           of
           a
           diseased
           brain
           ,
           shall
           become
           the
           common
           obloquy
           of
           another
           ,
           (
           the
           Sectarians
           ,
           and
           the
           Women
           that
           are
           infected
           by
           their
           disease
           :
           )
           Reader
           ,
           judge
           whether
           the
           true
           belief
           of
           Gods
           acceptance
           ,
           and
           better
           than
           the
           Hypocrites
           reward
           ,
           be
           not
           necessary
           to
           keep
           such
           a
           one
           from
           imitating
           Jonas
           ,
           and
           quietly
           leaving
           men
           to
           their
           beloved
           ignorance
           and
           sin
           ?
           and
           whether
           ,
           if
           we
           had
           not
           many
           soberer
           men
           between
           them
           ,
           that
           are
           for
           neither
           of
           the
           extreams
           ,
           it
           would
           not
           be
           harder
           preaching
           in
           England
           than
           in
           America
           ?
           Yet
           
           with
           most
           hearty
           thanks
           to
           God
           ,
           I
           must
           say
           ,
           that
           notwithstanding
           the
           opposition
           of
           both
           these
           extreams
           ,
           God
           hath
           abundantly
           sweetned
           his
           service
           to
           me
           ;
           by
           the
           ready
           reception
           and
           profit
           of
           such
           people
           ,
           as
           men
           so
           much
           labour
           to
           keep
           in
           darkness
           .
        
         
           I
           speak
           all
           this
           with
           reference
           to
           Mr.
           Danvers
           his
           following
           words
           also
           of
           my
           preaching
           in
           the
           Parish
           Churches
           .
        
         
           The
           foresaid
           paper
           of
           mine
           he
           published
           in
           his
           last
           Book
           ,
           as
           matter
           of
           Accusation
           ;
           and
           did
           it
           ,
           according
           to
           his
           custome
           ,
           falsely
           :
           I
           briefly
           mentioned
           his
           falsification
           :
           He
           now
           Printeth
           that
           Copy
           as
           received
           from
           his
           Bookseller
           ,
           in
           one
           Column
           ,
           and
           on
           the
           other
           ,
           another
           ,
           called
           
             [
             The
             Copy
             obtained
             from
             the
             Original
             .
             ]
          
           to
           shew
           that
           there
           is
           but
           two
           words
           difference
           that
           is
           ,
           
             His
             Copy
          
           spake
           of
           my
           Reading
           the
           Liturgy
           ,
           and
           mine
           spake
           of
           my
           
             own
             Reading
             what
             my
             Assistant
             read
          
           (
           the
           
             Scripture
             .
          
           )
           But
           1.
           
           If
           this
           be
           all
           one
           with
           him
           ,
           are
           we
           not
           so
           to
           judge
           of
           his
           other
           Expositions
           ?
           I
           know
           one
           whose
           oversight
           in
           writing
           usually
           lyeth
           in
           leaving
           out
           
             [
             not
          
           ]
           and
           
             [
             un
             .
          
           ]
           and
           what
           is
           one
           Syllable
           ?
           The
           Kings
           Printer
           ,
           who
           as
           Dr.
           Heylin
           saith
           ,
           was
           Fined
           in
           the
           Star-chamber
           for
           Printing
           
             [
             Thou
             shalt
             commit
             Adultery
             .
             ]
          
           left
           out
           but
           one
           poor
           syllable
           .
           But
           he
           did
           not
           justifie
           it
           as
           Mr.
           Danvers
           doth
           .
           2.
           
           If
           it
           be
           his
           excuse
           to
           lay
           the
           Copy
           on
           his
           Bookseller
           ,
           may
           we
           not
           take
           it
           also
           for
           his
           answer
           ,
           that
           all
           the
           untruths
           that
           he
           hath
           said
           of
           the
           Novations
           ,
           Donatists
           ,
           Brittains
           ,
           Augustine
           ,
           &c.
           he
           had
           them
           from
           —
           some
           body
           of
           as
           great
           authority
           as
           his
           Bookseller
           ;
           and
           then
           all
           's
           well
           .
           3.
           
           But
           ,
           Reader
           ,
           dost
           thou
           not
           expect
           that
           at
           least
           he
           should
           
             now
             say
             true
          
           after
           so
           much
           warning
           ,
           and
           that
           this
           should
           be
           a
           true
           Copy
           which
           he
           saith
           ,
           without
           exception
           ,
           is
           
             [
             obtained
             from
             the
             Original
             .
             ]
          
           I
           assure
           thee
           on
           the
           word
           of
           a
           Christian
           ,
           it
           is
           yet
           so
           far
           from
           being
           
           true
           ,
           that
           divers
           lines
           ,
           even
           a
           considerable
           part
           of
           the
           writing
           is
           left
           out
           .
           Take
           heed
           therefore
           to
           thy
           belief
           hereafter
           .
           Believe
           not
           every
           Spirit
           ,
           nor
           every
           man
           that
           raileth
           at
           others
           as
           less
           wise
           or
           spiritual
           than
           he
           ;
           what
           wonder
           if
           he
           untruly
           tell
           us
           of
           the
           opinion
           of
           whole
           parties
           ,
           Novatians
           ,
           Donatists
           ,
           &c.
           and
           tell
           us
           of
           whole
           Books
           that
           have
           not
           one
           word
           of
           what
           he
           affirmeth
           ,
           but
           somewhat
           for
           the
           contrary
           ,
           when
           he
           will
           not
           only
           falsifie
           my
           own
           writing
           ,
           even
           a
           few
           lines
           ,
           but
           defend
           his
           so
           doing
           against
           my self
           that
           have
           the
           Copy
           by
           me
           ,
           and
           that
           by
           a
           greater
           falshood
           than
           the
           first
           .
           Are
           this
           mans
           Citations
           to
           be
           credited
           ?
        
         
           Yet
           he
           goeth
           on
           and
           averteth
           that
           
             [
             there
             is
             not
             another
             Syllable
             different
             ]
          
           And
           he
           will
           prove
           moreover
           ,
           that
           ▪
           
             If
             I
             meet
             not
             on
             pretense
             of
             any
             Religious
             exercise
             in
             other
             manner
             ,
          
           &c.
           
           I
           must
           accordingly
           read
           the
           
             Common-prayer
             my self
          
           .
           Answer
           ,
           So
           said
           the
           Informers
           ,
           but
           were
           I
           at
           the
           Sessions
           upon
           my
           Appeal
           ,
           I
           would
           be
           bold
           to
           deny
           it
           ,
           and
           to
           say
           that
           he
           that
           saith
           but
           the
           
             Lords
             Prayer
          
           ,
           doth
           not
           use
           another
           manner
           of
           Worship
           than
           the
           Church
           ?
           and
           that
           to
           do
           less
           ,
           is
           not
           to
           do
           that
           which
           is
           of
           another
           manner
           .
           But
           if
           I
           mistake
           in
           so
           thinking
           ,
           it
           followeth
           not
           that
           I
           prevaricate
           ,
           or
           
             mean
             dishonestly
          
           ,
           as
           he
           insinuateth
           .
        
         
           But
           if
           he
           want
           more
           matter
           of
           Reproach
           ,
           or
           any
           such
           as
           he
           ,
           I
           will
           voluntarily
           give
           him
           more
           ,
           so
           careless
           am
           I
           of
           such
           Censures
           :
           I
           do
           therefore
           tell
           him
           that
           I
           am
           no
           greater
           an
           Adversary
           to
           the
           Liturgy
           than
           were
           the
           old
           Non-conformists
           ,
           Mr.
           Hildersham
           ,
           who
           perswadeth
           men
           to
           come
           to
           the
           beginning
           of
           it
           ;
           Mr.
           Knewstubs
           that
           constantly
           read
           much
           of
           it
           ;
           Mr.
           Ball
           ,
           that
           wrote
           the
           Tryal
           of
           Separation
           ;
           Mr.
           Bradshaw
           ,
           Mr.
           Paget
           ,
           Mr.
           Gifford
           ,
           and
           such
           others
           that
           did
           the
           like
           :
           And
           that
           ,
           as
           before
           the
           Wars
           ,
           when
           I
           was
           accounted
           a
           Non-conformist
           ,
           I
           did
           (
           at
           Bridgnorth
           )
           usually
           read
           
           most
           of
           the
           Lords
           dayes
           part
           of
           the
           Liturgy
           ,
           (
           and
           as
           in
           1660.
           the
           Ministers
           of
           London
           consented
           so
           to
           do
           )
           to
           would
           I
           do
           again
           ,
           on
           the
           same
           terms
           :
           And
           that
           if
           my
           Nonconformity
           did
           consist
           only
           in
           the
           contrary
           ,
           I
           should
           have
           little
           reason
           to
           blame
           the
           Conformists
           for
           the
           sharp
           Censures
           which
           they
           write
           against
           me
           .
        
         
           
             He
             keepeth
             constantly
             in
             his
             way
             ,
             and
             addeth
          
           [
           —
           It
           is
           confidently
           affirmed
           by
           some
           ,
           that
           Mr
           B.
           hath
           lately
           in
           Hartfordshire
           or
           Buckinghamshire
           ,
           in
           order
           to
           obtain
           the
           Pulpit
           (
           where
           he
           several
           times
           Preached
           in
           publick
           )
           read
           the
           Common
           prayer
           ,
           or
           at
           least
           some
           part
           of
           it
           ,
           out
           of
           the
           Service
           book
           .
           ]
        
         
           Answ
           .
           1.
           
           Who
           is
           it
           that
           this
           man
           converseth
           with
           whose
           confident
           reports
           he
           published
           ?
           Are
           his
           Reporters
           infected
           with
           his
           Disease
           ?
           2.
           
           Why
           doth
           he
           Print
           this
           confident
           Report
           if
           not
           to
           be
           believed
           ?
           And
           if
           so
           ,
           alas
           ,
           will
           he
           put
           
             no
             bounds
          
           to
           this
           sin
           ,
           while
           he
           thinks
           that
           he
           cryeth
           down
           our
           sin
           ?
           I
           thank
           God
           for
           my
           time
           ,
           strength
           and
           liberty
           ,
           I
           did
           preach
           fourteen
           times
           in
           several
           
             Parish
             Churches
          
           of
           those
           Counties
           ,
           after
           thirteen
           years
           exclusion
           from
           the
           Pulpits
           of
           such
           Churches
           ;
           and
           it
           is
           not
           in
           the
           power
           of
           this
           mans
           pen
           to
           make
           me
           repent
           of
           it
           .
           But
           in
           all
           those
           times
           ,
           I
           never
           read
           either
           one
           word
           of
           Common-prayer
           ,
           nor
           one
           Chapter
           or
           Psalm
           ,
           save
           once
           ,
           when
           I
           Preached
           where
           there
           was
           no
           one
           to
           Read
           ,
           I
           read
           the
           Scripture
           as
           I
           would
           have
           done
           at
           home
           .
           Will
           not
           the
           presence
           of
           thousands
           of
           witnesses
           secure
           a
           man
           from
           the
           forgery
           of
           any
           unnamed
           Slanderer
           ?
           No
           ,
           it
           will
           not
           :
           As
           after
           our
           Savoy
           Conference
           untruths
           were
           Printed
           against
           me
           ,
           contrary
           to
           the
           most
           notorious
           evidence
           of
           Writings
           and
           Witnesses
           ;
           so
           sometimes
           where
           I
           Preach
           in
           London
           ,
           it
           is
           not
           the
           multitude
           of
           Witnesses
           that
           secureth
           me
           from
           the
           gross
           false
           reports
           of
           this
           kind
           of
           Auditors
           ,
           (
           who
           have
           not
           so
           much
           kindness
           for
           their
           own
           
           souls
           as
           either
           to
           stay
           away
           ,
           or
           forbear
           their
           untruths
           .
           )
           No
           wonder
           then
           if
           witnesses
           at
           26
           years
           ,
           or
           26
           miles
           distance
           ,
           or
           neer
           ,
           be
           no
           security
           against
           such
           a
           one
           as
           Mr.
           Danvers
           ,
           or
           his
           confident
           Reporters
           .
        
         
           
             He
             adds
          
           ,
           [
           Though
           it
           is
           also
           said
           that
           he
           hath
           obtained
           that
           publick
           liberty
           by
           vertue
           of
           a
           License
           he
           hath
           from
           the
           Arch
           Bishop
           of
           Canterbury
           :
           But
           whether
           it
           be
           one
           formerly
           granted
           by
           him
           ,
           when
           the
           Bishop
           of
           London
           before
           the
           Act
           of
           Conformity
           ,
           (
           when
           by
           the
           Bishop
           of
           Worcester
           he
           was
           Silenced
           in
           those
           parts
           )
           or
           since
           is
           worthy
           inquiry
           ?
        
         
           Answ
           .
           It
           's
           like
           you
           have
           enquired
           ,
           and
           found
           that
           it
           was
           the
           former
           ;
           if
           not
           ,
           I
           tell
           you
           now
           :
           But
           to
           some
           it
           is
           almost
           as
           hard
           to
           
             believe
             a
             Truth
          
           that
           is
           against
           their
           Spleen
           ,
           as
           to
           speak
           it
           .
        
         
           
             He
             next
             saith
             ,
             as
             the
             Exposition
             of
             my
             Sufferings
             ,
          
           [
           viz.
           To
           fly
           from
           his
           place
           and
           Charge
           ,
           if
           not
           to
           avoid
           the
           Cross
           of
           Christ
           ,
           and
           to
           shun
           a
           suffering
           Witness
           when
           so
           loudly
           call'd
           thereto
           ]
        
         
           Answ
           .
           1.
           
           Did
           you
           
             hear
             his
             case
          
           ,
           or
           do
           you
           judge
           before
           you
           hear
           it
           ?
           2.
           
           These
           Passages
           are
           too
           conformable
           to
           the
           rest
           .
           How
           prove
           you
           that
           it
           was
           
             a
             flight
          
           ?
           How
           prove
           you
           that
           it
           was
           from
           my
           Charge
           ?
           (
           Reader
           ,
           it
           is
           fifteen
           years
           since
           I
           had
           
             any
             Charge
          
           ,
           of
           any
           one
           Congregation
           ,
           more
           than
           over
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           Land
           ,
           unless
           my
           dwelling
           made
           my
           Neighbours
           become
           my
           Charge
           ?
           I
           had
           no
           Charge
           of
           any
           but
           my
           Family
           there
           ,
           unless
           my
           great
           Charge
           in
           Preaching
           to
           them
           for
           nothing
           ,
           and
           paying
           assistant
           ,
           &c.
           and
           building
           a
           place
           in
           hope
           of
           more
           such
           Labour
           ,
           made
           them
           my
           Charge
           ?
           And
           if
           I
           give
           an
           hundred
           pounds
           to
           one
           man
           ,
           when
           I
           owed
           him
           no
           more
           than
           others
           ,
           doth
           that
           make
           him
           for
           the
           future
           become
           my
           Charge
           ?
           )
           And
           how
           proveth
           he
           that
           I
           was
           
             lowdly
             called
             to
             suffer
          
           ?
           Or
           that
           it
           was
           the
           Cross
           of
           Christ
           that
           
             I
             avoided
          
           ?
           This
           man
           is
           against
           
             dictating
             !
             I
          
           would
           he
           were
           more
           against
           untruths
           !
           
           My
           Sufferings
           have
           been
           enough
           to
           shew
           what
           men
           are
           that
           procured
           them
           ,
           but
           to
           me
           so
           small
           ,
           that
           except
           my
           restraint
           from
           Preaching
           ,
           I
           account
           them
           not
           worthy
           of
           the
           name
           of
           the
           Cross
           .
           But
           yet
           I
           will
           hope
           that
           he
           will
           so
           far
           suspend
           his
           Custome
           ,
           as
           not
           to
           say
           ,
           that
           any
           Sectarian
           Preacher
           in
           England
           ,
           Anabaptist
           or
           Separatist
           ,
           (
           to
           go
           no
           farther
           )
           that
           lost
           not
           his
           Life
           ,
           hath
           
             lost
             more
             of
             the
             World
          
           ,
           by
           his
           
             meer
             Non-conformity
          
           ,
           than
           I
           have
           done
           ?
        
         
           He
           sends
           my
           Conscience
           here
           to
           divers
           Scriptures
           ,
           2
           
             Cor.
             6.
             4
             ,
             5
             ,
             6.
             
             Acts
             20.
             11
             ,
             12
             ,
             13.
             
             Mat.
             10.
             38
             ,
             39.
             
             John
             10.
             12
             ,
             13.
             
             Mat.
          
           23.
           2
           ,
           3
           ,
           4.
           
           I
           am
           willinger
           to
           hear
           these
           Texts
           than
           him
           .
           I
           suppose
           he
           meaneth
           not
           those
           that
           I
           before
           minded
           Mr.
           Hutchinson
           of
           ,
           of
           Christs
           early
           flight
           into
           Aegypt
           ,
           or
           his
           oft
           avoiding
           the
           Jews
           ,
           in
           Nazareth
           ,
           and
           other
           parts
           of
           Galile
           ,
           the
           Wilderness
           ,
           &c.
           nor
           his
           ,
           bidding
           us
           when
           
             Persecuted
             in
             one
             City
             flee
             to
             another
          
           ;
           nor
           
             Pauls
             being
             let
             down
             the
             Wall
             by
             a
             Basket
          
           ;
           nor
           the
           scattering
           of
           the
           Disciples
           ,
           by
           the
           Persecution
           at
           Jerusalem
           ,
           nor
           Pauls
           Circumcising
           Timothy
           ,
           non
           his
           shaving
           his
           Head
           for
           his
           Vow
           ,
           nor
           his
           Appeal
           from
           the
           Jews
           to
           Caesar
           ,
           nor
           his
           crying
           out
           that
           he
           was
           a
           Pharisee
           ,
           nor
           his
           denying
           that
           he
           had
           done
           any
           thing
           against
           the
           Temple
           or
           the
           Law
           ,
           nor
           any
           such
           like
           .
           And
           if
           he
           condemn
           Christ
           and
           Paul
           it
           will
           be
           no
           suffering
           to
           them
           .
        
         
           The
           first
           Text
           tells
           us
           that
           Paul
           in
           much
           Patience
           bare
           
             Afflictions
             ,
             Necessities
             ,
             Distresses
             ,
             Stripes
             ,
             Imprisonments
             ,
          
           &c.
           Answ
           .
           What
           thence
           ?
           Is
           it
           
             Ergo
             R.
             B.
          
           did
           ill
           to
           come
           out
           of
           the
           Goal
           when
           he
           was
           put
           in
           ?
           Or
           that
           he
           did
           ill
           not
           to
           put
           himself
           in
           again
           ?
           Did
           Paul
           sin
           for
           not
           scourging
           and
           imprisoning
           himself
           ?
        
         
           The
           next
           Text
           speaketh
           of
           Pauls
           Preaching
           till
           midnight
           ?
           
             Ergo
             R.
             B.
          
           should
           not
           Preach
           in
           the
           Summer
           in
           the
           Country
           ?
           I
           deny
           the
           Consequence
           .
           It
           may
           be
           
           he
           meant
           
             Acts
             21.
             13.
             
             Paul
             was
             ready
             to
             be
             bound
             or
             die
             at
             Jerusalem
             !
          
           What
           thence
           ?
           Ergo
           he
           sinned
           in
           avoiding
           suffering
           oft
           before
           ?
           Or
           ,
           
             Ergo
             R.
             B.
          
           should
           not
           have
           gone
           into
           the
           Countrey
           either
           for
           Health
           or
           Preaching
           ;
           yea
           if
           it
           had
           been
           in
           case
           of
           danger
           to
           have
           Preached
           to
           many
           instead
           of
           fewer
           that
           had
           often
           heard
           him
           ?
           I
           deny
           the
           Consequence
           .
        
         
           The
           next
           Text
           tells
           us
           that
           we
           must
           take
           up
           our
           Cross
           and
           follow
           Christ
           ,
           &c.
           And
           what
           thence
           ?
           Ergo
           we
           must
           make
           our
           own
           Cross
           ,
           and
           take
           up
           that
           instead
           of
           Christs
           ?
           Or
           ,
           Ergo
           ,
           Christ
           sinned
           in
           avoiding
           the
           Cross
           so
           oft
           before
           ?
           Or
           ,
           
             Ergo
             ,
             R.
             B.
          
           must
           go
           into
           a
           Prison
           that
           he
           may
           give
           over
           Preaching
           the
           Gospel
           ?
           I
           deny
           all
           these
           .
           What
           kin
           are
           they
           to
           the
           Text
           ?
           Have
           all
           the
           Anabaptists
           and
           Separatists
           lived
           all
           this
           while
           in
           sin
           ,
           that
           lived
           out
           of
           Prison
           ?
           or
           that
           have
           had
           maintenance
           and
           quietness
           ,
           while
           
             R.
             B.
          
           hath
           been
           laid
           in
           the
           common
           Goal
           ,
           and
           hunted
           by
           one
           sort
           ,
           and
           reviled
           by
           the
           other
           ?
           Why
           will
           not
           the
           persecution
           of
           your
           Pen
           or
           Tongue
           prove
           a
           comfortable
           suffering
           for
           the
           Truth
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           if
           I
           pleased
           your
           Spleen
           in
           preferring
           a
           chosen
           Prison
           before
           a
           Pulpit
           ?
        
         
           The
           next
           Text
           tells
           us
           ,
           that
           the
           
             Hireling
             deserts
             the
             Sheep
             by
             fleeing
             .
          
           Thus
           the
           Quakers
           also
           talk
           to
           me
           when
           they
           call
           me
           Hireling
           .
           But
           ,
           Sir
           ,
           I
           am
           not
           so
           
             much
             as
             a
             Hireling
          
           ?
           much
           less
           the
           owner
           of
           the
           Sheep
           ?
           I
           would
           I
           knew
           which
           of
           these
           two
           you
           judge
           your selves
           to
           be
           ?
           for
           my
           part
           I
           am
           neither
           .
           Christ
           is
           the
           Owner
           ?
           I
           am
           not
           so
           much
           as
           the
           Pastor
           of
           any
           Flock
           :
           And
           (
           that
           I
           may
           not
           discourage
           your
           contempt
           ,
           I
           add
           )
           nor
           ever
           ,
           that
           I
           remember
           ,
           called
           to
           be
           such
           these
           13
           or
           14
           years
           :
           Nor
           have
           I
           so
           long
           taken
           any
           Hire
           .
           And
           did
           Paul
           flee
           like
           a
           Hireling
           when
           he
           went
           from
           places
           of
           less
           liberty
           to
           other
           more
           commodious
           places
           to
           Preach
           ?
           Did
           not
           Pain
           ,
           Weakness
           ,
           and
           want
           of
           Money
           
           for
           so
           chargeable
           a
           work
           disable
           me
           ,
           my
           Conscience
           would
           command
           me
           (
           by
           the
           motive
           of
           Experience
           )
           to
           go
           about
           Preaching
           from
           place
           to
           place
           ,
           though
           every
           d●g
           in
           the
           streets
           where
           I
           pass
           ,
           should
           bark
           nothing
           but
           
             [
             Hireling
             ,
             Hireling
             .
          
           ]
        
         
           The
           last
           Text
           is
           against
           Separation
           ;
           
             The
             Scribes
             and
             Pharisees
             sit
             in
             Moses
             his
             seat
             ;
             all
             therefore
             whatsoever
             they
             bid
             you
             observe
             ,
             that
             observe
             and
             do
             ,
             but
             do
             not
             ye
             after
             their
             works
             ,
             for
             they
             say
             and
             de
             not
             ,
             for
             they
             bind
             heavy
             burdens
             ,
             and
             grievous
             to
             be
             borne
             ,
          
           &c.
           And
           what
           from
           hence
           ?
           Ergo
           I
           should
           not
           Preach
           in
           the
           Parish
           Churches
           ?
           Or
           is
           it
           ,
           Ergo
           I
           should
           have
           bound
           
             heavy
             burdens
          
           for
           my self
           ?
           Or
           is
           it
           ,
           that
           I
           should
           not
           ●ave
           made
           such
           for
           others
           ?
           This
           is
           the
           likest
           sense
           ;
           f●r
           the
           best
           way
           of
           expounding
           Authors
           is
           by
           similar
           passages
           .
           And
           were
           not
           this
           an
           untruth
           it
           would
           be
           non-conformable
           to
           the
           rest
           aforesaid
           .
        
         
           
             But
             
               (
               saith
               he
            
             )
             is
             not
             this
             a
             strange
             Paradoxe
             that
             he
             should
             suffer
             at
             the
             rate
             for
             a
             Non-conformist
             at
             London
             ,
             and
             yet
             act
             the
             part
             of
             a
             Conformist
             to
             so
             high
             a
             degree
             in
             the
             Countrey
             ?
          
        
         
           Answ
           .
           This
           is
           very
           conformable
           to
           the
           rest
           .
           To
           
             Preach
             in
             the
             Parish
             Churches
          
           (
           for
           his
           story
           of
           Reading
           the
           Common
           Prayer
           is
           like
           his
           Books
           )
           
             is
             the
             high
             degree
             of
             Conformity
             .
          
           This
           is
           expository
           .
           I
           now
           perceive
           what
           it
           is
           in
           me
           to
           be
           
             [
             for
             Conformity
             and
             against
             it
             ,
             for
             Popery
             and
             against
             it
             ,
             for
             Arminianism
             and
             against
             it
             ,
             ]
          
           as
           he
           saith
           .
           The
           equivocation
           maketh
           all
           true
           .
           I
           am
           for
           the
           Conformity
           ,
           and
           the
           Popery
           ,
           and
           the
           Arminianism
           of
           
             Preaching
             Christs
             Gospel
          
           in
           Parish
           Churches
           (
           which
           the
           Papists
           say
           they
           sometime
           said
           Mass
           in
           )
           and
           for
           the
           Conformity
           and
           Popery
           of
           Infants
           part
           in
           the
           Covenant
           of
           God
           ,
           for
           their
           Baptism
           ,
           and
           for
           the
           reading
           of
           Gods
           Word
           ,
           for
           the
           Creed
           ,
           the
           Lords
           Prayer
           ,
           and
           the
           ten
           Commandments
           ;
           and
           for
           the
           Love
           of
           Brethren
           ,
           and
           the
           Unity
           ,
           Peace
           and
           Concord
           of
           Christs
           Church
           ;
           however
           I
           be
           against
           that
           which
           the
           world
           commonly
           knoweth
           by
           the
           name
           of
           Conformity
           and
           Popery
           .
           O
           what
           a
           high
           degree
           of
           Conformity
           did
           the
           old
           Non-conformists
           exercise
           in
           this
           mans
           sense
           !
           I
           have
           lived
           long
           to
           little
           purpose
           it
           such
           a
           man
           by
           the
           bare
           names
           of
           
             Conformity
             ,
             Popery
          
           ,
           or
           Arminianism
           can
           frighten
           me
           out
           of
           my
           Christianity
           ,
           my
           Honesty
           ,
           my
           Charity
           ,
           my
           Min●stry
           ,
           and
           my
           Wits
           .
        
         
           Next
           relating
           my
           story
           with
           more
           caution
           than
           usual
           [
           with
           an
           
             [
             If
             I
             be
             not
             misinformed
             :
             ]
          
           (
           O
           that
           this
           sentence
           had
           been
           twice
           or
           thrice
           in
           every
           page
           of
           his
           Books
           )
           with
           some
           truth
           ,
           some
           mistake
           ,
           and
           more
           omission
           ,
           he
           subjoyneth
           ,
           that
           
             [
             by
             Proxie
          
           (
           that
           's
           his
           fiction
           )
           
             I
             suffer
             Imprisonment
             for
             a
             Non-conformist
             in
          
           London
           ,
           
             and
             in
             person
             out
             doe
             all
             the
             Non-conformists
             by
             his
             publick
             Preaching
             in
             the
             Countrey
             as
             a
             Conformist
             .
             ]
          
        
         
         
           Answ
           .
           1.
           
           Reader
           ,
           by
           this
           you
           may
           see
           at
           what
           rates
           we
           Ministers
           must
           do
           our
           Masters
           work
           .
           Woe
           to
           us
           if
           we
           Preach
           not
           :
           And
           if
           we
           do
           ,
           one
           sort
           Imprison
           us
           ,
           and
           seek
           our
           Ruine
           ;
           and
           the
           other
           Revile
           us
           ,
           as
           if
           our
           greatest
           Duty
           were
           our
           greatest
           sin
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           You
           see
           what
           abundance
           of
           Enemies
           the
           Preaching
           of
           the
           Gospel
           hath
           ,
           when
           Satan
           can
           stir
           up
           such
           men
           of
           Zeal
           to
           take
           it
           for
           a
           Crime
           .
           Paul
           might
           Preach
           even
           in
           the
           Jews
           Synagogue
           :
           I
           must
           not
           in
           a
           Parish
           Church
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           You
           see
           how
           certain
           it
           is
           that
           the
           two
           Extreams
           are
           much
           of
           the
           same
           Spirit
           ,
           and
           that
           they
           that
           most
           cry
           out
           against
           Persecution
           are
           oft
           of
           a
           persecuting
           mind
           ,
           when
           such
           men
           as
           this
           would
           silence
           us
           ,
           or
           have
           us
           
             give
             over
             Preaching
          
           to
           the
           multitude
           that
           most
           need
           it
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           others
           .
           And
           so
           would
           the
           Quakers
           .
        
         
           4.
           
           You
           see
           what
           they
           mean
           that
           cry
           down
           a
           Comprehension
           :
           They
           would
           not
           have
           us
           Preach
           in
           the
           Parish
           Churches
           to
           the
           needy
           multitude
           ,
           unless
           they
           may
           have
           all
           first
           altered
           according
           to
           their
           desire
           .
           Thus
           
             W
             Pen
          
           called
           me
           cruel
           for
           
             desirng
             a
             Comprehension
             as
             leaving
             the
             Quakers
             to
             the
             Dogs
             :
          
           so
           that
           they
           would
           have
           us
           all
           silenced
           ,
           even
           by
           those
           Impositions
           which
           they
           themselves
           account
           sinful
           ,
           till
           they
           and
           all
           such
           have
           their
           will.
           
        
         
           5
           You
           see
           here
           what
           a
           Reproach
           these
           men
           would
           bring
           on
           Non-conformity
           ,
           and
           what
           
             strong
             Invitations
          
           they
           give
           men
           to
           Conform
           ,
           by
           making
           Conformity
           to
           be
           
             Preaching
             in
             Parish
             Churches
          
           .
        
         
           6.
           
           Or
           you
           see
           what
           need
           you
           have
           instead
           of
           disputing
           longer
           with
           such
           men
           ,
           to
           pray
           God
           to
           give
           them
           tenderer
           Cnnsciences
           ,
           that
           may
           fear
           to
           multiply
           Untruths
           ,
           which
           thousands
           of
           Witnesses
           ,
           (
           of
           whom
           some
           were
           Anabaptists
           and
           of
           other
           Sects
           )
           are
           ready
           to
           confute
           .
           Especially
           to
           Pray
           that
           the
           Churches
           ,
           and
           the
           peoples
           souls
           may
           be
           delivered
           from
           such
           as
           would
           not
           only
           Unchurch
           all
           mankind
           till
           they
           come
           to
           age
           ,
           but
           make
           it
           a
           sinful
           Conformity
           than
           to
           Preach
           the
           Gospel
           in
           the
           Parish
           Churches
           .
        
         
           FINIS
           .