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 A^Tiue 
 
 NARRATIVE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 DISPUTATION, 
 
 Between feme Minifters of the Vres^ 
 hytenan^ and Others of the Baptiftj 
 Perfuafion, concerning the Subjects 
 and Manner of Bapijm: 
 
 Held in Mr. Willidms^s Meeting-place there 
 on Wtdmfdty^ Feb. 22. !6gf. 
 
 The MANAGERS 
 
 For the Presbyterians were, 
 Mr. Samuel Chandler oi Fare- 
 
 Mr. Leigh of Ueveport in the 
 
 I/le of Wight. 
 Mr . Rolinfiiriof . Hunger ford 
 
 in Berks, ModtratOr. 
 
 For the Bapti/ls were, 
 Dr. WiHiam Rujfel of London. 
 
 ham. ^ir. Johin Williams of Eafi 
 
 Kneyle in Wiltjhire, 
 Mr. John Sharp of Frcofne in 
 Somerfetjhire, Moderator. 
 
 Tranlcribed from two Copies taken ^t the Difpute ; the 
 one by Mr. Btfel Town- Clerk of Portfrmurh, and the 
 other by Mr. Samuel Ring. 
 
 Revis'd-and Publi/liM by T^x. miham R^^el: 
 
 London, Printed for J. Sprint at the Bdl in Little- Britain. i6^p 
 
^'^W^m^ x: 
 
To the moft HonodraUe G©^aM?i|pur, 
 
 X'" 
 
 Major-Genera/ E R t E; 
 
 And the Hic^QtirabT^/^ 
 
 \ Colonel GIBSON, 
 
 Deputy-Governour of His Ma- 
 jefty's Garrifon oi fortfmouth, 
 
 THIS 
 
 NARRATIVE 
 
 Is humbly Dedicated, 
 
 ^ S a grateful Acknowledgment of that 
 
 t\ Favour you did us, in your Applicati- 
 
 /"'^^^ on to His Auguft Majefty, to know 
 
 ""^^ liis Pleafure whether you nijght admit 
 
 of a difputation betwixt the Minifters of the 
 
 Preshyterim and thofe of the Baptifi's Perfwa- 
 
 iion, (of which this is the beft Account the 
 
 P/M/kr could obtain ; ) whereupon his Majefty, 
 
 out, of his wonted Clemency, as an Effeft of 
 
 A 2 chat 
 
that innate Goodnefs which he hath always ma* 
 xiifefted towards his Dtffemwg Frotejlant Suh-^ 
 jeffsy was gracioufly pleafed ro let us have His 
 Royal Permiffion^ in anfwer to your Rcqueft. 
 
 For which Favour, together w^ith the Liber- 
 ty we enjoy in the free Exercife of our Religi" 
 on, we defire to lay hold on this Occafion, to 
 exprefs bur Thankfulnefs to G^^ and the Kj^g\ 
 faytjQg for His Majelfy s Hedth and Profpenty in 
 ths yi'drid^ and that God would vo'ichfafe to en- 
 rich him w^th a Crown of Glory in the World to 
 come. 
 
 Tout Honours^ 
 
 to my Poiper^ 
 
 William Ruffei. 
 
 To 
 
To my much Efleemed and Beloved 
 Brethren in the Lord, 
 
 Mr.THOMAS BOWES, 
 
 Meflenger and P?fl:or of the Congregnion c 
 Baptized Believers at Portjmottth ; 
 
 AND 
 
 Mr, JOHN WEBBER, 
 
 Faftor of the Church of Chrift at Go/port unde 
 - the lame Profeflion of Believers Baptiini in Water 
 
 Together with the Congregations to whom the- 
 
 tielong : / 
 
 Wiflnngyour Increafe in Grace^ and in the Knowkclge o^ 
 • our Lord Jefus Chrifi; and that God would add to ym 
 number daily [uch asfliall he faved^ 
 
 Honoured and Beloved Brethren, 
 
 IHave thought meet to make this Dedication alfo to jou, h- 
 caufeye tvere not only e^emd ear JVitneffes of what pa fl h 
 the Difpu ration 5 bm were frivy to all the Clr cam fiance. 
 with which it was attended^ and were ihefole Catife of m;^ 
 being engaged in it. How it was managed you be(t know^ a',i: 
 therefore aire proper Judges of the matters of fa5i related ik thi 
 Narrative. For my own part^ I have took much pains, and tifec 
 great Care and Confideration in the Review cfthife Papers yop. 
 fent me from thofe that wrote down the Bifpnte^ that I might di 
 po Wrong to either Party. " ^ 
 
 And herein I have had all the Helps 1 could obtain both fron 
 
 our Brother Williams, who was engaged with me in the Difpu 
 
 tation 5 from whom I received (by the hands of Mr. Sharp, om 
 
 ■ ' ' Mode 
 
1 fte Dedication. ^ ' "■" ^^^'^l^ 
 
 oderator ) art Account of thofe Arguments he offered^ und 
 ^^hat elfe he conld remember^ taken from his own mouth : hejides 
 the account I have had by Letters from divers other Perfons 
 that were pre feyit. All which I have diligently compared^ and 
 'have alfo endeavoured {fo far as thofe Accounts and my own 
 Memory would furnifh me' therewith) not only to give a true 
 Narirativeofwhat wasfpoken^ but alfo to give our Antagonifts 
 Words their due weight as well as our own. 
 
 And if there be any thing omitted therein^ they mpift blame 
 themfclves^ or their own Scribe^ and not us. For Mr William 
 I Leddel went to Air. Smith their Writer^ and carried our Copy 
 •with him^ and de fired him to compare it with his" : He anfwered 
 that his was very imperfe^ , it being the firfi time he was 
 ^^/^Difpute, and he could not take ity t/ut feme things were left 
 cut ; ajidfmd^ that it was not as yet wholly written over, Mr. 
 Lcddol waited upoyi him afecondtime^ but cottid not obtain a 
 fight of it to compare them together^ although he was fatisfied 
 it was then finifhed. Now whether he did this of himfelf or by 
 AdrAcefrom them^ is be ft known to him f elf. However^ it leaves 
 us without blame, 
 
 I know it is not proper for me ( who was principally concerned 
 in it ) to fay much concerning the Dlfpute itfelf-.for beirgmade 
 P^^blick^ it's left to every one that reads it to judge for himfelf 
 Neyerthelefs^ it may not be amifs to make feme few Remarks up- 
 on tt ; bccaufe it may fall into feme hands who may not well un- 
 der flan d the Grounds of the Controverfie. 
 
 I. It is agreed on bothfidesy That Mr, Chandler'/ Sermont * 
 •were the Gccafion of that Offence taken by you ^ and of the Dii^ 
 pute it felf'^ as appears by the Preliminaries y^^^/^^ by Mr. Tho- 
 K13.S Bowes ^tnd Mr. William Leddel on our party and alfo by ' 
 Mr, Chandler and Mr, Williams on the part of the Presbyte- 
 n^vP.s : as you may fee in p. 5, 4. 
 
 2. Tioe OLjeclions being made againft what Mr, Chandler 
 preach' d^ it htd been his proper JVork^ to have vindicated the 
 Trtnh of hii DcSIri'ie againfi thofe ObjeEiions^ by the Authority 
 of Holy Scripture, But inflead thereof . he pyJs us upon it to 
 prove the contrary. But as the learned 'Dr. Smith did well ob- 
 f^^ve^ He that afferts muft prove. And their cwn Moderator 
 did d^iUre, that Mr, Chandler h.^d in his Preaching averted _ 
 that Idfants are the Subjects of Baptifm, but told fis we Wire 
 ': on him for thM thzv\. 
 
The Dedication. ' 
 
 i. IwoHldmakf this farther Kemark upon it, That the Rea- 
 fon why hetooktks method vas, became he was mnahle to provt 
 what he ha4 afferted : for i„ me of his Sermom he thptsfpeahs - 
 But that I may proceed with the greater clearnefg, I ftall do 
 thefe things J firft, prove from Scripture the W arrantabknefs 
 of Infant-Baptifm, &c. AU to m^ke his Jffcrtion ^od ^ 
 cjtes theCommffion, Matth. 28. ,9. for thrBM^theM. 
 fmts ofbelievmg Parents. And argues ufon it, that hfiitles 
 Thereto be Baptt^ed; and {faith h%) we luve'a piab Text 
 thatfuch infants are Difciples,/..Aas 15. 10 And It „ 
 cur Saviour fanh Go make Difciples, baptizing them it 
 ^uftbeunderftoodoffHch Infants. Mw alto his fmlnce 
 fromms 15. 10. we didjufficiently enervate that. AndZ 
 f^theCommfon, Mr. Uighdoth confefs (as well as Mr 
 Chandler ) that n tsa Command, and that the Command is 
 expreftd. Pig 2y. y4nd farther faith, in p^g. 28, We mull all 
 confers that Jefus Chritt gave Commiffion to BaptizTfielie 
 vers when at the Age of maturity ; but afterwards ItheS 
 dren of thofe Believers. Tet when Mr. Chandler S', 
 arjwer my firfi- Argnment, he affirms, That Chrift bfth no 
 where exprefly commanded Infants to be Baptized. Se7p6 
 And,ffo, then Infants cannot he intended, either in that Com- 
 mt/Jion, or any other place where there is a Command in aiy 
 SmptmeforBapt^fm. So that he needs no other Qonflmion 
 
 4. As for their Confe^ttenc'es which they were fo defin„s to 
 have a Grant from me that I would allow them to WJof- 
 n s very ohfervable, that f they can do ar.y thing that Jy %') 
 
 tton, but have referved them in their own Breafts, as the Vott 
 
 tJ:ZZT"^''-'^'T^-, ^"'^^'^ 'hejfhouldthilkfkt 
 thTLtu tl ''""'"'"^ "f'^'r '^""^ of their' PraEiice, when 
 they tell thern there tsno exfrefs Command in Script.r for h 
 >tHd pretend only they h^e feme Confe^uences toprove tby a«d 
 yet refufeto tell what thefe Confequences are, it s beyond m 
 iTsKT-f {""'"H'' '^^"' V that Ian take up a Z 
 
 that Infants are capable to be made Difciples hj the MiniBry of 
 Men, accordtngto ChrifiS Commit ! they' nil TiUftel^ 
 
 thereof) 
 
The Dedication. 
 
 ^thereof) That Children are accounted Jo when they firfl enter 
 Hhe School^ and call a School- mafter for their Voucher. When tho 
 ' 'very naming of it co'rTfmes themfehes, becaufe they are fofar 
 from being r; ^de SchcUrs by Teaching ^ that they know not one 
 Jitter of the Booi^ by their own Ccnfejfion. 
 Y 6, I cannrt but obferve how flrenuoufly they cppofed them- 
 'Jelve s again ji our way of Baptizing by Dipping ; and rejeEledthe 
 ^Hthority of their own Anthor^^ And divers of thegreateji Pra- 
 tejimt Writers Jince the Reformation, who have ajjerted our- 
 Pra^ke therein to be agreeable to the Etymology of the Word 
 B£t'sr|/^<y, and the Pra6iice of John the Baptill, Chrijl and his 
 Apofiles ; and Ht themfdves can ( when it is to ferve a Turn ) 
 fraEiife it the fame way^ by plnnging the Perfon over Head and 
 Ears in Water, An In ft awe jv hereof^ as I received it {well 
 attejied ' from fever al hands {andthe Perfons ownConfe£ion) 
 take as followeth. , , . ' 
 
 To hack^ that Lijlance of Mr, Williaais'^ aboptt the Virgin 
 Mary and ottr Saviour in anfwer to Mr.Lt\^\s Demand^ 
 tian^el), to give him an L, fiance of one Perfon that was born of 
 a Believer^ and was Baptized when he came to grown year s^ fee 
 pag. 34, 35-. we can give you an Account of one who fe Parent 
 Tvas a Believer when he was horn^ and. Baptized when adult ^ by 
 Mr. Earl the Prefbyterian Minifier at Gofport, by Dip- 
 pingy being abom ^^oytars of Age. And this was done by the 
 Advice of fever al of their Minijters^ particularly Mr, Chand- 
 ler and Mr, Williams, His N'^me is Jofeph Fox; he is 
 a near Neighbour of ours. And they did it either by the Com- 
 mifflon^ or^ without regard to it^ I know not which \ that they 
 beji k^ow. 
 .. And by another hand Ihave this Account. 
 ,:We have alfo thought fit to acquaint you with the Perfon^ and 
 his Name^ who was Baptized by the Presbyterians at Gofport 
 which is as followeth: It W2iS Mr. Jofeph Fox, living in Gof 
 party who being ( by our Brother Z)^^^) delired to anfwer- 
 him one thin^, which was, Whether, when he was Bap- 
 tized by Mr. £arl, it was done by Dipping the whole Body- 
 under Water r And he faid, it was ; and that in the Prefence 
 of four Presbyterian Miniflers. This was acknowledged by him 
 to ouy Brother Duke<?>-/ the 20th of Maich 1698-9. Arid we 
 dodepreyou {if you thinks fit) to place it in fome part of the 
 Difpute, that the World may be acquainted with that Proceed- 
 im^ of theirs, 
 
 Novr 
 
The Dedication. 
 
 Now by this AWion of theirs^ if they believe It. to ke according 
 to the Commijfion^ then they jtiftify our PraEiice ; if they do it 
 for any by-end^wlthout believing it to he according to GodslVord^ 
 then ( as Mr. C^iWmfaith ) the whole ati ion is hut a Sport, 
 
 NoWy that Mr. Chandler can have no other Thoughts of it^ 
 doth evidently appear from his own Words : for In his Sermon 
 preached at Ponitnouth Nov. lo. 1698. /'f/^/r/?. It is n:t like- 
 ly that that God that will have mercy and not lacrifice, 
 would inftitute an Ordinance lb prejudicial to the Bodies of 
 Men : and that it's very unlikely that Dippings which when- 
 ever it is mentioned, isufed as a Token of God s Vengeance^ 
 Ihould in this Sacrament be ufed as a Token of his Mercy. 
 Where you read o( Dippings you find it mentioned in a way 
 of Wrath and Vengeance. Thus the old World was Dip d 
 and Drowned for their Sins : God's Vengeance followed 
 them, and they funk as Lead in the mighty Waters. Thus 
 the Egyptians were Dip'd and Drowned in the Red Sea, 
 Thus the Lord Jefus Chrift fh all come down from Heaven, 
 to render Vengeance on his Adverfaries ; cloathed with Gar- 
 ments Dip'd in blood, Rev, 19.13. [_ Here Mr. Chandler hath 
 rendered that word Dip'd to inveigh and ridicule our RraEiice of 
 Dipping, although he coMobjeEi againft it when I gave it for 
 aninfiance'] But he goes on, faying. You find ftiil Dipping 
 reprefents in Scripture God s Vengeance and Difpleafure. 
 Add fo I fay it is very unlikely, that what was always ufed 
 as a Token of his Difpleafure, fhouldin the New Teftament 
 be ufed as a Token of Mercy. So that it is nor necelfary that 
 Z)/pp% beufed in Baptifin. 
 
 To which I give this for Answer, 
 
 1. If It be fo as be faith, then it was altogether unneceffary 
 that Mr. Erie ( by his Confent ) fhould dip Mr, FoxV whole 
 Body under the Water, 
 
 2. That it was not done In Mercy to him, thus to Baptise 
 him ; but in Vengeance, and as a Token of God's Difpleafure. 
 
 3. That the Baptifm praEilfedby John the Dipper, ^W that-' 
 cf Chrifi and his Apo files y was not an Ordinance injfituted of 
 God in a way of Mercy, but appointed for the People in a way of 
 Wrath and Vengeance : for 1 have given him a cloud of Witnef- 
 fes, that they did adminlfter it by Dipping the whole Body under 
 the Water, 
 
 4. By this he doth condemn and ridicule all thofe learned Prote- 
 fiants I have mentioned ; with many others thatmi^kt be named, 
 
 a A^id 
 
i The Dedication. 
 
 f Jyjd the Lilz/iaesof the Church of England {as well as we) 
 
 ''') appot'jit^ Dipping as the hcB way of Baptiz^hg (and Sprin- 
 
 - ifig only i^i c.fe of PVeaJ^iefs) and was pi fed by them formerly 
 
 I fis their freq^e^it Prabtke ; . and is afferted by fome of their 
 
 igreateji Divines, to he the old and beft way of Baptizing : 
 
 I a»d is to this day the coysflant Praflice of the Greeks Church. 
 
 i I am alfo well ajfured f^om fome other hands ^ that^ upon the 
 
 r2^thof gebr. lafi, a few days after the Difpute, Mr. Leigh 
 
 faid in the PrefeyiCe of divers Perfont^ That to fat is fy a Scrupff- 
 
 IcMs Corifcience he would adminifier Baptifm by Dipping, 
 
 Whereupon Air, *v\'illiams as]^ him if he would do it to anfwer 
 
 *t Scrupulous Cor.fc'ience without Gods Word f And he anfwer ed 
 
 No. And^ I have reafonu conclude that Mr, Leigh may believe 
 
 z/^'?/" pippins; // the right way of Baptiz^ihg^ whatever he might 
 
 fay in the time '&f the Difpute ; becaufe he did fay to divers 
 
 perfons^ That if it had-been in a private Conference^ where there 
 
 had bee, 1 b:n a few Vcrfons of a fide ^ he f ho u Id have made f^ve^ 
 
 rdl Conceffions^ which he was not willing to make in fo gre.^t 
 
 ^n Ajj'em'bh. • Arid therefore I will not charge thofe extravagant 
 
 .Exprcfficns of Mr, ChandlerV upon him \ i, e. That Dipping 
 
 yfas always ufed as a Token of T^ifpleafure, And furely Mr, 
 
 Ciiandler had mightily forgot himf elf when he faidfo -. for Naa- 
 
 man the Syrian was commanded to Dip himfeif not in a way of 
 
 - Vengeance and Wrath ^ but in a way of Mercy : and he found 
 
 it to be for, for he was perfeEily cured of his I^profie thereby. 
 
 I wGufd advife Air, Chandler to readover Rom. 2. 1,2, 3. and ^ 
 
 confider'howjharply the Apoflle reproves fuch that co^tdemn o- 
 
 thcrs^ and yet ao the fame things them fe Ives -^ and faith ^ Thou 
 
 at-tincxcutable, O Man, whofoever thou art, that judgeft; 
 
 for whtrtirsrhou judgell, another, thou condemned thy felf 
 
 fjr thou .that judgell:, doell the fame things. ^ 
 
 How can he^ or a-ny of therrf^ condemn our PraBice^ when 
 
 themfelves^ can do it tofatisfie a Scrupulous Confcience, ^r, &c. 
 
 And efpccially Air. Leigh, who confeffes it to be according to the 
 
 TVord of God f And Mr. Erie hath done it by their Confent. 
 
 I fhall now give you an Account from another hand written 
 from Gofporc, /;•; which ( after he hath fignified his refpeEis to 
 me^ &c. ) he thus faith \ Although they look on your Argu- 
 ments to be of little weight, yet we think them to be of too 
 great weight for them to anfwer with all their Cunning. I 
 Jiope thofe that were unprejudiced will receive fome Light, . 
 though they endeavoured (as much as in them lay ) to dar-/ 
 • • ^ l'*>n 
 
ken Counfel with their mutinos Carriage. But Trinh wiU 
 be Truth ftill in fpightof ail its Oppoiices; and >^ili fhine, 
 though they would cloud it. This was written after \hat vain 
 bo.ifting Advertifement of the Presbyterians />* the Poil man, 
 ivhich was very fleafiyig to their Party at London, aKdmade 
 fo great a Noife all over the Nation, as if the j had gotten [ome 
 great Vi^ory\ although in trpith it was ■ nothing Jo : as will evi- 
 dently appear by this Narrative. But my Friend proceed ^^ fiy^ 
 ^*^^» I.hope this Account I have herewichTent you, 'will conis 
 Afe to your hands -, wherein you may fi^e feme of ihtir Cu- 
 riofity, whereby they fay they have contbunJt^d your Sophi- 
 dry. Four things I obferved in their i-roctcdin^s, vvhicii 
 ( to me ) condemned their Caufe. 
 
 I. The want of fo much as one bare Indance in Scripture 
 to confirm their Praiftce of Infant Baptifni. 
 
 II. When they required an ilnilance of a Believers Child 
 Baptized when adult; and proixiifed when product: c4 they 
 would give us the Caufe : which Inilance was given, andyec 
 they periifted in it as before. 
 
 HI. Their appeahng to the People to give their AfTent that 
 they were fatisfied with Mr. Leigh's Argument ftoiii Man 
 19. i^^Offffch is the Kingdom of Heaven, by holding up their 
 hands : and it was obferved there were but few that did hold 
 up their hands in comparifon of fo great a Multitude j {uo- 
 pofed by fome nor to be one in fifty ; and by others, a muca 
 fewer number ; fo that they^were far from having the Opi- 
 nion of the People on their iide by way of Approbation^ what- 
 ever they may fay of thcmfelves; which was not a little Mor- 
 tification to them. 
 
 IV. When they could not obtain it by Right, they would 
 have it be theirs by nnight. And this was evidenced by ciieir 
 repeated Clamours i vv'hich'was not (when duly conlidered) 
 to their Honour. 
 
 Belides, There have been two ConceHions made lince the 
 Difpute by themfelves, which vyere thefe : 
 
 1. That there was Credit gained to our caufe by this 
 Difpute. 
 
 2. That there was Truth and Chriftianity in ir. 
 
 For my part, i am fatisfied in what was faid, and {0 are 
 our Friends, &c. 
 
 Sir, This is but fome ; and confidering rhe Procedtre was 
 fo clamorouS; ic may be faid to be fome of die opoi.s v on 
 
 a 2 • ■ . \-i 
 
ill Battle, where Innocence and Rancour encountred. 
 
 I fliould be ^lad to hear of your Welfare, and defire an 
 Intereftin your Prayers as oft as you goto the Throne of 
 Grace. Jokrs &c. Gofport^ March ii. 169^-9, 
 
 I will give yoH an AbjlraEl of another Letter, from a i»orthj 
 Perfon in thofe Partly direEied to me^ who was an eye and ear 
 V Witnep ofwhai- fdft. In which ( after Chrijiian Saint ations ) 
 ' ■ failh^ 
 
 l hopethefe Lines will find you in Health, after your tedi- 
 ous and uncorn.'oirable journey, which I hope may bring 
 Tonne Glory to God, notvvithftanding the great Rage that 
 the, &c: was in. Indeed they had no other ihifc to fave 
 their Repurarion, but by cading out a Flood, a6ling the 
 partof the Setpents hifs amongrtrhe worft. I do under- 
 l^^nd, fevt r.i I vvere convinced by their Rudenefsj and they 
 z.\-Q fince Baptized. 
 
 I think it may beconvenienrto takeaway the Cloud from 
 the Gommon Feople by expofing what was delivered in the 
 pifpute ( to publick view ) and by adding that which they 
 would not then hear; I mean that which relates to the man- 
 ner of Adminiflration. ^ You may confider of it. Tis pity 
 , they flioiild ^lory in their fiiame, deceiving the World. 
 
 D.^ar Friend, I thank you for all your Labour of Love. 
 Your Preaching and Behaviour was to me very acceptable, 
 and to all our Friends, drc. Go/port, March 6. J698 9. 
 
 JSj thefeTeflirr.onies yofi may fee, that ^Z^^' Presbyterians had 
 no Caafe to pidlijh what they did- to the World, except it were 
 to keep up their declinii^ Reppitation. 
 
 Aher the Difpute wa.^ evidcd, and I was returned to my Lodg- 
 ing, Mr,^ \Villiams tdd rr.e he wotddgo to his Namefakes hottfe 
 to talk wiih rA^^'Presbyctrian Minifters that were there. Ide- 
 ji'-ed him to remerf^ber rr^y Love to them, and let them know, that 
 I could di four e with Men and yet love them mtwithjlanding: 
 but drfirtd him n tell Mr, Robinfon, their Moderator, that 
 JtO'jkji very unkindly at his hands, that he floould tranfgrefs 
 j'jmnch us he had done againsi the Rules of Difpnte, and be fa 
 , *wujrje as he n?as, fo as to give tfje Lye (for he [aid in the 
 midii of the Difpure, with a laudVoice, That is a Lye, and yet 
 ' €otild -not r^ake ary thiyig out (TiboMt if,) and for Ins Mifrcpre^ 
 ^oHtationof-^hkt^Ihadfaid, partictdarly f^pon that Argnment 
 ^hut the ^eajis Qf the field mt being capable^ &C, 
 ' " '^ ■ " • ' And 
 
"^ 
 
 Tne Dedication. 
 
 And when Mr, Williams came to fee me before I left Poi.. 
 mouth, he told me that he had delivered my Menage to them 
 md that Mr. Williams the Presbyterian Minifter dldack^wn 
 ledge that Mr. Robinfon had exceeded his Bounds : and4ha 
 he did ahufe me in his mifre^refenting of me to the People upot 
 that Argument, 
 
 1 anpverd^ It was well he had acknowledg'd it now ; but I 
 had been better if he had done it before the People. 
 
 ^ Mr, Williams the Baptift Minifler was pleafed to cbmrnu- 
 nicate this Account to me by Mr, Sharp our Moderator. 
 
 Feb. 23. \6()%-<y. -/^r. Leigh and him f elf being together at 
 ^r.Williams'/ Houfe in Portfmouth, there came in Mr, Erie, 
 -^r. Bowler, ^^^ >^r. Farrel, r/?r<?^ Presbyterian Mlniflers\ 
 and there was two other Baptifts frefent at the fame time. Mr. 
 Farrel, in the Pre fence of the forememioned Miniflers^ faluted 
 Mr, John Williams, the Bifputant^ after this manner, 
 ^ Mr, Williams, ImuH tellycu^ and that not as my own Sen- 
 timents only^ but as the Sentiments of every one of our Brethren^ 
 that what Credit was gained to your Cmfe^ was gained by you, 
 
 Mr. Leigh asked Mr. Williams, whether we did infer from 
 thofe words ^ That the Minifters had granted out of their own 
 mouths that we had gained the Caufe f 
 
 His Reply was^^ No^ all that we infer from it was this ; That 
 it was an implicit Concefjion^ that there was Credit gained to 
 our Caufe, 
 
 Mr. Leigh faid, How mPtch Credit did we infer was grants 
 ed by them to our Caufe ? 
 
 M^, Williams/^/W, We do not know the quantity of it, 
 
 Mr. Leigh replied., Truly it was but a little Credit that was 
 granted out of our own mouths that was gained to your Caufe. 
 
 To which Mr. Williams anfwered, Tnat if there was a little 
 Credit granted out of their own mouths^ then there was Credit 
 gain d to our Caufe ^ granted by ihemfebjes \ which was no far^ 
 ther denied by Mr. Leigh.. 
 
 But what wasfpoken by Mr. John Williams in the Difpiite, 
 was abundantly fhorter than what Z)r. Rufiel did then fpeak^ 
 Thus far as to Mr. \Ni]\nmss Account. ' 
 
 Notwithfiandiyg all this., whilft they were making thefe Con^ 
 ceffions at Portfmouth, they let fly an Advertiiemenc after 
 Br, RufTel to London, which was Printed and Publified befort 
 he got home: for^ as Mr, Williams [aid, they hew who'hac^ 
 :yMrt them. Here follows a true Cofy thereof, 
 
 Tje 
 
llie Uedicatito. >' ' """" 
 
 TK;^ Poft-Man, J)?^. 25. 1698 9. 
 
 a till Six in the Afternoon, without any Intermiiiion. 
 , J he Theme of the Difpute was the Subjefts of Baptifm, and 
 LhelVlmner how Baptifm is 10 be performed. Kw/c/ and ivillims 
 " ■ - the Opponents for the AnabjpriBfy and Mr. Chandkr and 
 
 /.c\??i!j DeFendants for the Pres'ytcrtarih Mr. ^^^^r/* Moderat^.r 
 Jin theformefj and Mr, Robin m for the latter. 
 ; Mr. I{iif:l onpofed Ir,fdnt-Bjpufm, with ali the Subtilty and 
 fivVJhiftfV of the Schools ; cind was anfvfcered with good Reafon 
 a: d Learning. Upon the whole, it wa? the Opinion of all the 
 Judidou^i Auditory, the Presbyi^rians fufficiiHitly defended their 
 Dockin'-, :n1 alfo worfted their Adva fanes, when they came to 
 iffame the place of OppOi;ents.. 
 
 t We being Jllent^ and, mt Pifmg the fame Methods as they didy 
 to ^qnlrt Ztt foolljh ASjhtifements in common News-Papers, 
 th^efe /VIcn grew CGTtfidcnt ; and upon the jft of Aipnlfoliomi^g^ 
 ;V ^^5 Flying-Port, they pMfh a long StoryfffillofVntrjUhs, 
 a--djt/lyfqmnt-eydRefle5iions, not becoming their Learning or 
 Profe^kn : and ailtcfipport afinki-^g Inter e si. Bat it appear- 
 ed fo manifejily^partial, that there fcemed to be little or no cre- 
 dit given \o it ^except by fome few of their own Par p. _^ 
 
 For although they werefo civil to give themfelves the Title of 
 Mailer, theygrmgcd tofpeal^Jo honourably of their Opponents. 
 And in the Tecond Paper they fay, one Mr, William (by fome 
 f.?LW Dr.y Rudel 0/ London, &c. ^^^ 
 
 All that I [hall fay to it is this] As I am a Mmjter of Chrtjt 
 and of the. Churches, I can (through the Grace of God) bsar all 
 the Indignity and Contempt they can put upon me j if I, by fo 
 doing, can but do good to Souls, and bring the leafi Tribute of 
 Honour to my Lord and Mafter thereby, I thanl^ God that he 
 enabled me to copmt the Co ft: before I was ordained to the JVork of 
 the Minijiry ; and therefore, if Reproaches, yea Bonds and Af 
 prions, abide n->e, it is no more than I looked for. 
 
 But what Reafon thefe Men have to refufe to give me the 
 civil Title of Doftor, / k^ow not, neither do I care. But this 
 J hiow, that msiny years fince, I was not only admitted as Ma- 
 tter of Arts, but'^took my Degree o/Batghelov in Pbyfick, and 
 
The Dedication. 
 
 was after that Crearsd a Dodtor m Phy Hck of the famoM 
 Vmverfity of Cambridge, and alfo admitted hy miiverfdCon 
 fent to be a Member of the Senate there: and that not as fom 
 have fuggefied, as if it had been only ex gratia. Jet theje Men 
 even whilfl; I was in Portfrnouth (as wellasftnce) have repor- 
 ted among the People there, that I was Rujflel the Mountebank^ 
 a Man that hath been dead [ever al years. They thought (per- 
 haps) byftich Artifices to kjjen the Peoples Opinion of we. But: 
 hy making me little, they make ihemfelves the lefs, in that fach 
 Giants (as they would have the People believe them to be) (ho'M 
 not be able to conquer fnch a Pigmy as they have reprefentedme 
 in the Eyes of the Vulgar, 
 
 They have alfo reported, That I am a Hackney Difpiitant^ 
 and^ that I refufed to come down to Portfmouth wnder thirty 
 Guinea V ; but that at laH I was prevail' d upon to take Twenty, 
 I aid not trouble my [elf whllfl I was at Portfmouth to confute 
 them in it, becaufe our Friends there k^iew how to do it^ them- 
 felves', for they k/U'w the Kemt to bs altogether grcund'lefs and 
 falje. But feeing 1 have this opportunity, I think fit hereby /■/> 
 tell the World, That I did not fi much as demand one farthin? 
 of them for my Journey, neither before nor after. For all that 
 aare throughly acquainted with me know, that I do neither Preach 
 for Hire, nor Divine for Money, as fome of them do: but- ar 
 I have freely received, (o I defire freely to give-, believing that 
 ought to be left to the free Benevolence of the People. 
 
 But that I may do Right to our Friends at PortHnourh and 
 Oof port, / do acknowledge that ef their own free good -Mil 
 ( Without asking ) they did pay my Coach- hire and bear my Char^ 
 ges ; which, as^ they thought it was the leafr they could do, fa / 
 can truly fay, it was the mojl lever expelled. 
 
 Ifhallclofe this Epiftk, with giving the World an Account 
 of the Occafion of this Publication, 
 
 There were two things that moved our Friends thereto, 
 
 I. Their Noije and Clamour they made in the Time of thr 
 Btfpute ; which hindred the People from hearing what was f lid, 
 efpectally when they were Yinch'd upo'4. an Argument. 
 
 For which Re afon, it was thought convenient topubliflo it, that 
 what they could not be permitted quietly to Hear, they may have 
 the benefit to Read without Interruption ; andfo have lelfm'e to 
 conjider it. 
 
 Bat zdly, The principal Caufe thereof was thofe Advertife.- 
 
 nuftt' r^-n frnt ail over the Nation, to mifreprefent the Df(^ 
 
 pure 
 
ln The Dedication. 
 
 fUte , a>jd blind the eyes of the Vnthinklng aboHt it. 
 
 J^hereas this Publication wi/lfet the matter in a true Light ^ 
 nd let all Meyi fee that they had neither Serif ture^ nar any 
 oodConfequences deduced from thence, to prove their Practice, 
 \ither with refpe5i to the Subje^s or Manner, And therefore 
 
 'hen the People fhall fee that they have neither Command nor 
 example for their Pra^ice, I hope it will be a means to convince 
 'hem of the Vnlawfulnefs thereof-, and that they will not dare 
 [or time to come to praSiife a humane Tradition in the room 
 if an Ordinance of Jefus Chrift : remembring what our Lord 
 Yaid of the Jews of old. In vain they do worfhip me, teaching 
 for Doftrines the Commandments of men, Matth. 15. 9. 
 And in Marii.^. For laying afide the Commandment of 
 God, ye hold the Tradition of men. And then hear what 
 Paul faith, Coloj[.2. 20, 21, 22. Wherefore if ye be dead 
 with Ghrift from the Rudiments of the World; why, as 
 though living in the World, are ye fubjeft to Ordinances 
 '{Touch not, tafte not, handle not, which all are to perijhwith 
 the ftfing) after the Commandments and Dottrines of men I 
 
 Now the Godof Peace, that brought again from theDeadour 
 Lord Jefus, that great Shepherd of the Sheep, through the blood 
 of the everlafiing Covenant, make you perfea yn every good 
 work to do his mil, working in you that which is wellflealwg 
 in his fight, through Jefus Chri^, to whom be glory for ever 
 and ever. Amen. So prays, 
 
 Your Brother and Fellow-Labourer 
 
 • in the Work of the Gorpel, 
 
 William RufeL 
 
The Occafon of this%ifpumf(^c ^i(^d 
 
 how Dr.Ruflel came to he ingazed themn; 
 
 Jccording to the Jccomit received from 
 
 Cofpoit and Portfmouch. The Occa- 
 
 Jion was this : 
 
 THE Congregation of Baptized Believers at Gofport 
 were fo blefTcd with fuccefs in their Miniftry, that 
 m a fhorttime they had gatheied Twenty Members, 
 very worthy Perfons, who were addec' to them by 
 Baptifm. Many others were amuzed and put upon Enquiry 
 This ilartled the Presbyterian Party, becaufe divers of them 
 were of their Number, either ^^ernbers or Benefaaors: and 
 they began to fear the Iflue thereof 
 
 Whereupon Mr. Sam. Chandler, of Fareham, about five cv 
 fix miles from Portfmouth, a Presbyterian Minifter, whom 
 they much efteemed for his Learning, was procured to come 
 and Preach up the contrary Doarine, firft at Gofpore, and af- 
 terwards at Portfinouth, upon Thurfdajs, on purpofe (ds was 
 fuppofed) to put a flop to this fo hopeful a beginning amongft 
 the Baptifts, and hinder their Progrefs therein. And this was 
 managed by him and his Admirers in fuch a manner, as was to 
 the Grief of fuch as truely fear God in thofe^Parts. For it was 
 given out, that Mr, Chandler would not only prove Infant 
 Baptifm from Scripture- Teftimony, and Anfwer all the 0*b- 
 jeaionsof the Baptifts againfl ic ; but alfo fufficiently furniife 
 his Hearers with Arguments to defend their Praaice. 
 
 And in the Profecution of this hisDefign, he took occaficn 
 to make his Excurdons, whetein he fpake very diminutively of 
 thofe in the Mimjiry ; reprefenting them as Perfons Ignorant 
 of, and Unacquainted with the Holy Scrij^res. He alfo Ri- 
 diculed and mil reprefented the manner of their Performance 
 of this Holy Ordinance, as it reprefents a Burial and a Refur- 
 rtaion, wherein upon i^o?». 6. 3. 4 he makes too bold with 
 the manner of our Lord's Burial, and the Apoftles Applica- 
 tion thereof to Holy Baptifm. He might have been pleafed to 
 
 B hiv 
 
(O 
 
 have wounaed the poor -Baptif^s through the Sides of fome 
 other Perfon, than fo great an Apoftle. .^ , 
 
 H^ alto did greatly extol the Praaice of Infant-Baptifm.and 
 the life and Ad vintage of it to them, beyond thofe of riper 
 Years ; and did inveigh againft their manner of Praftice, with 
 mofi fevere Rtfleftions. Upon this, the Presbyterian Party 
 began to triumph over the Baptrfts, and boafted, that what 
 Mr. Chandler had faid upon that Point, was unanfwerable. 
 
 Whereupon, when this laft Sermon was to be Preached, 
 wherein he was to Ihew his great Skill in Anfwering our Ob- 
 jeftions : Mr. Bo-coes, and divers other Brethren of both the 
 Baptized Congregations , went and heard him. When he had 
 done, Mr. Boroes defired leave to fpeak, and in a modeft and 
 Chriftian-like manner, did enter his Objeftion againft what 
 Mr. Chandler had fpoken : and upon a meeting betwixt them- 
 felves, they did mutually Agree, That the Points in Difference 
 lliouldbe publi-kly DifputedatAiA Williams his Meeting-houfd 
 in Portfmouth ; and that Mr. Chandler and Dr. Rufel Ihouidj be 
 the Difputants. . , . ,. » 
 
 As touching Dr. l^tiffel, his being ingaged in it, it did not 
 arife from any defirein himfelf to be concerned in it; buc 
 from the preffing Importu^ty of his Friends. 
 
 The Church ztGofyort being newly conftituted, and being 
 more particularly concerned (as the thing was cicumftanced) 
 and fuppofing that all this Stir and Noife was chiefly d^figned 
 againft them^ did fir ft make their Application to him for his 
 Afliftance. And in the Name of the Church, a Letter v/as 
 fent to him by one of their worthy Brethren, wherein they 
 exprefs themlelves after this manner. 
 
 To our Efteemed Brother Rujfely we of the Church of Chrtji 
 at Gofporty fend Greeting, 
 
 \ f\ 7 E heijig under a frejfure of Confcience, having of hte 
 V V had the great Ordinance of our Lord Jefus Ck//?,(viz. 
 th/it of Believers Baptifm in Water) inveighed again^, and ri- 
 diculed by one if the Vresbyterian Ministers (Mr. Chandler by 
 Name; ) and being much grieved that the Ordinance of Chrifi 
 Jhould be thus triumphed over, and trodden under Foot: and hop' 
 ing you have fo-^ar ingaged your felf in Chriji's Caufe, and 
 that God hath given you Abilities to defend it, ree don't only Beg, 
 hut Require your Perjonal -Prefence, and dtfire your /^JJifiance h 
 defend that Sacred Ordinawe, §cc. 
 
 He 
 
Ke alfo received feveral other Letters, Signed by the Mii J 
 fters, and other Private Brethren, to prefs him to it. 
 
 He did fend them word, that it was his Opinion, it would 
 be the beft way for Mr. Chandler and ^imfelf to *?xcha nge 
 fome Letters berwixt them in the firfl pIace;to try the t^rengrh 
 and length of their Weapons ; and thereby prevent a Pubfick 
 Difputation, if poffible. But when they let him under Oand 
 that the Matter was too far proceeded in, and fo circnmflan 
 ced, that nothing lefs than a Publick Difpote coi)]d decide if, 
 he then confented to anfwer their Requeft therein, b- caufa 
 Cas they had ligniiied to him) the Glory of God, the Honour 
 of his Truth, and the Good of Souls, was endnsntlv concer- 
 ned in^fuch a Publick Defence, efpscially confidering that, the 
 Presbyterian Party had given out,' that we were afisid to meec 
 them: Bat I fl)all detain you no longer vrofn the Dirpute k 
 felf ; an Account of which follows. • 
 
 For the Presbyterians. For the Bapiius, 
 
 Mr. Samuel Chandhf^ of Dr. William Kufel, of L;?;, 
 
 Fareham. don. 
 
 . Mr. Leigh ^ of Newport in Mr, John Willi am.^, of E'^.fi- 
 
 the IJIe of Wight, Kmyl in Wiltjhire. 
 
 Mi'.R.obinfofiy oiHmgerfordy Mr. John Sharpe, o^ fraome^ 
 
 Moderator. ' in SQmerfetp^ire,M.o^'^i:uQT. 
 
 An Account of the Difputation hrdd at Portd 
 
 mouth, February the 2 2d. 169 
 
 THE Difputants going to the Place of Meeting, between 
 the Hours of Nine and Ten in the Morning, having 
 took their Places, Dr. Rufel fpake to this Effed. 
 
 Gentlemen, Forafmiich as the Work we are going to en- 
 gage in, is a Part of Religious Exercife ; It is my Opinion , 
 we ought in the firft place { as is ufual upon fuch Occasions} 
 to be feeking God by Prayer; that his Prefence may be with 
 us, and his Dleffing upon our Endeavours. 
 
 The Motion being accepted, Mr. Chandler began the Meet- 
 ing with a fhort Prayer, which being ended, the Quefiions and 
 Preliminaries agreed upon, were read^ v/hich are as folio weth ; 
 
 whereas hj Mr. Chander's Ute Preaching on the Ordinance of 
 Baptifm, feveral Per fins haije taken j fence; and upon defiie of 
 SaUsffi^ionj it*s mutmlly Agreed betwem us, yehofe Names an 
 
 B 2 under'- 
 
V 4 ^ jH 
 
 ,aJer-t»rHten ; That thefe Two Points he Amicahly Dlfputed in tWM 
 following Order, with Rehtion to Manner, Time, and Place ; as ' 
 
 hereafter exprefs''d, viz. 
 
 ^e. I. Whether accarding to the Commiflion of out Lord 
 
 and Saviour Jefus Chrift, Adult Believers are only the pro- 
 
 per Subjefts of Baptifm : and not Infants? 
 _^e, 2. Whether the Ordinance of Baptifm as appointed by 
 
 Chrift, is to be Aminiftred by Dipping, Plunging ^( or) 
 
 Overwhelmicg only, and not othcrways ? 
 j^grced.TheDif^utatim be held at Portfmouth;» Mr*. WilliamV 
 Meeting-Place, on Friday f^e loth. of February next enfying (if 
 God permit) beghim7ig at Nine in the Mornivg. jind if in ^fe the 
 Providence of God jhoitld fo Order ^ That either Party jhould fall 
 (fck, or any other unavoidrMe Gircumflance happen ; that then the 
 Time jhallbe deferrd to another Day, to be agreed on by the Parties 
 concern' dj not exceeding a For tnight after '^ provided a Weeks Notice 
 he given thcrecf before the icth. of February, y^lfo Jgreed^ The 
 Parties Dlfputant: be Mr. Samuel Chandler of Fareham, and 
 D William RuiT^l of London ; or any ether Perfonsin either of 
 their Steads, fuppoftrig them Ordained Minijlcrs ; and each DifpU' 
 rant io choofe a Mcderator. 
 
 7fie Difputation to be Managed Regularly^ with JlriB Regard to 
 nstwo above recited Suhjecis . And if the Moderators {hall fee fit, 
 during any interval of the Difpuf&nts for Refrejlyment , that two 
 ■other PerfonTgo an with the DifputCj until they reajfume it. 
 
 Portfmouth, Decern- Samuel Chandler, 
 
 bsr, lid. 1698. Francis Williams. 
 
 Here follows Mr. Chandler i Apology to the People. 
 
 My Friends.. It is not out of Vanity or Pride, I appear in this 
 'Place upon this O:ca(ion at this Time ; MoQ- of you know,and 
 i fuppofe mary of you have heard, that in the Courfe of my 
 Ledture inthis Pi'cae, I have Difcourfed of the great Princi- 
 ples of Religion ; and having explaiaed the Creed, and the 
 Lord's Prayer, I came to give an Account of the Two Sacra- 
 ments of the Nev^ Tspa^nejit -, and therein was unavoidably 
 conce^a£d to fpeak to thofe Truths that are contradi^ed by 
 tx^t^Q^ Gentlemen here prefent. 
 
 Thofe that heard me, know, that I was very Mod'eft inex- 
 prefling my felf in this Controverfie : But a bold and donfident 
 Challenge was g\\tn me. which I knew not how to refufe ; 
 Dnlefs I would betray the Truths I believe in my Confciencej^ 
 PC conjfefs my felf not able to vindicate them. And accor- 
 cjnglj thefe Msn have fent for fom? Alllftance to ©ppofe us 
 .n this R/|acter. I 
 
i defire thefe things may be handled with a gteat deal of Calm- 
 nefs ; that we may difcourfe of things as ibecomes Chriftians. 
 And as we have the Favour of the Government both Civil 
 and Military, Co we may give them no.occafion to repent of 
 allowing us this Liberty. 
 
 And alfo I defire that nothing may be done unbecoming 
 this Place, where we ufually meet together for the more im- 
 mediate Worlhip of God. And I would have you join with 
 me in this Petition j Thai God wmld grant his Truth may take 
 flace. 
 
 He then repeated the Queftions to be Difpured, and faid, 
 Thefe are the Two Articles we are to Difputc of at this Time. 
 We Deny, and they Affirm. 
 
 Then Dr. Rufslkiii, Gentlemen, you know I was not pie- 
 fent at the drawing up of the Preliminaries, and therefore I 
 think it may b«<neceilary, before \^t tnwt upon the Difputa- 
 tion, to know wherein we agree about the firft Queftion, and 
 wherein we differ ; that we may not 'Difcourfe about thofe 
 Things wherein we are Agreed. 
 
 I do fuppofe, by the ftating of the Queftion, That you ^o 
 own that Adult Believers are the proper Subjeds of Baptifm. 
 And if you do, I would defire you to declare your felves herein. 
 
 Mr. Chandler {2i\dif He did own that Adult Believers were the 
 proper SubjeQs of Baptifm, but not the only proper : Infants 
 were to be baptized alfo. 
 
 D. Rujfel. Then you own our PraSice to be right. 
 
 Mr. Chandler. Yes, if they have not been Baptized in their 
 Infancy ; then they are to be Baptized upon Profefiion of their 
 Faith, when they come to Years. 
 
 Dr. Ru£el. You fuppofe they are to be Baptized by Virtue of 
 fome Commifiion ; and that it is by the Commiflion of our 
 Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift. ^ 
 
 Mr. Chandler. Yes, I do fo. 
 
 Dr. RuJJel I fuppofe you expe£l I iliould be Opponent firft. 
 
 Mr. Chandler. Yes, that was Agreed. 
 
 Dr. Rujfel. If therefore I prove that Infants are not the pro- 
 per Subjects of Baptifm, you will allow that I perform what I 
 have undertaken, we having no other Subjs^s in the Queftion 
 but Adult Believers, and Infants. 
 
 Mr. Chandler. Yes, we do allow it. 
 
 Dr. Rujfil Then I will undertake to prove, that Infants are 
 fo far from being the proper tSubje£ts of Baptifm, that they 
 are not the Subj?^ of it at all 
 
 And 
 
X 
 
 \n<l now I would know how w5 fhall Difpute ; whether by 
 ding the Commiffion, andmakmgan Inference therefrom, 
 
 , proving'that Cif we are not aareed about ir) from feme 
 other Text; or what way we fhall proceed in. 
 
 Mr. Chandler. You muft do it Syllogiftically ; and therefore 
 form your Argument. 
 
 Dr. Ruffel. My Argument is this. 
 
 j4yg. 1. If Chrift hath no where required any of his Mini- 
 fiers to Biptize Infants, then the Baptifm of Infants^ is not ac- 
 cording to the GommifHon of our Lord and Saviour Jefus 
 Chrift. 
 
 But Chrift hath no where required any of his Minifters to 
 Baptize Infants ; ^ <. 
 
 Ergo, The Baptifm of Infants is not according to the Com- 
 miHian of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift. 
 
 Mr. Chandler. I diftinguKh here upon your Antecedent. If 
 you mean that Chr% hath not exprefly comnwnded Infants to 
 be Baptized ;• then I deny the Confequence of your Mapr, For 
 Chrift hath no where Exprefly commanded Infants to be. Bap- 
 
 Dr. Rudel. If ycu will infift upon that, I can eafily prove 
 It. For fbme Ferfons are exprefly commanded to be Baptized 
 in the Commlllion : Infants (by your o'^vn Con f- (lion) are not 
 exprefly commanded to be Baptized either in the Commiflion, 
 or elibwhere: Bat I have neither the Word^Commanded, nor 
 exprefly CoaimanJed in my Argument j anu you muft An- 
 fvver to my Argument. 
 
 For I agree with you, that Infants are no where exprefly 
 commanded to be Baptized. , r r 
 
 Mr. Chandhf. There is no need of that; but thofe of your 
 Way will not allow us to prove it by confequence. 
 
 Dr.RufeL I fay, that it's no where required t If you prove 
 it any way required, ij^fhall luffice. ,_ . ^ 
 
 M,. CbarJUr. If you will allow good Confcquences drawn 
 from Scripture, I will deny your Mi«or. . 
 
 . Dr. RpM. Then you muft fuppofe that Chrift hath required 
 fomeot' "his Minifters to Baptize Infants. . , ^ . 
 
 Mr. Uigk Wediftinguifli between confequeatial 1 ruths, 
 and e>:prels Words. r :i» ^ 
 
 Dr RufJU. So do we: Hut I hope our LordsG -milao.. .- 
 boat Holy Baptifm, is delivered in 'exprcfs Won ^. and "not 
 confequential. The Term in my Argument is very lax, I do 
 not there fay Commanded, but Required ; and it you prove 
 the Baftifmof Infants any where required by Chnft, itismt- 
 
 Ificient. ,. 
 
 Mr-, 
 
( 7 ) 
 
 Mr, Chandler. Will you allow genuine Confequences drawn 
 from Scripture ? 
 
 Mr. Leigh. Will you allow good Scripture Confequences in 
 this Cafe, or do you expcft plain Scripture Words ? 
 
 Dr. RufeL Whac need is there of fo manv Words about tin's? 
 Certainly Mr. Chandler h bound to fix upon fome Anfwer to my 
 Argument. I (ayiagain, the Term I ufe admits of any proof; 
 he is not thereby obliged to produce any e prefs Commaud, if 
 he can do it without ; if htf prove that Chrift hath any way 
 required if, it will fuffice. 
 
 Mr. Leigh Gentlemen, you that are Notaries, pray obferve i 
 feow ambiguoufly he exprelles himfelf 
 
 Dr. Ruffel I think I express my felf plainly enough, when I 
 tell you, That if you prove if: any wjiys required,! will allow it. 
 
 Mr. Robinfm, their Moderator, faith, Will yr j allow this of 
 Confequence^ or not ? 
 
 Dr. RuJfeL Let us nccthus fiumble at the Threfhold, how 
 often muft I tell you, that if you can prove it any wsy required 
 by Chrift ; prove it either hy confequence, or which way you 
 will, if you do but prove it, I will allow it^ But you muft re- 
 member that you ^re to prove it according to ChritVs com-' 
 rtiflion, ( for thofe are the Terms in the Qucflion ) and I 
 believe you will find a difficult Task to do that by confe- 
 quence. 
 
 For fuppofe an Embaffador fhould declare to the Prince to 
 whom he is fent, That hh Maimer hath given him Authority, 
 by his commiffion, to negotiate wi?:h him aboot mch a paiti- 
 cular matter that he fiiall nam 5, and that he is charj^ed'to do 
 this in his Mafter^s Name snd Stead. If when his Crcdmiah 
 are produced there is no fuch th:ng mentioned therein, he 
 cannot expefl the Prince Ihould gh^e credit to hJm therein, 
 when he had told him before, ft w^<? a psrt of hi. MaH-CF's 
 commiffion (which is osr cafe:) And ^is alledging only 
 confequential Proofs after that, will not ferve his turn' Em 
 if you think you can do it by confequences, you may try your 
 Skill, with all my heart, fo yon do but prC7e it required pc- 
 cording to Chrift's commiffion ; which is thfi»thing in Qatfti- 
 en between us, 
 
 Mr.Chnndlcr. Whar, from the comniiffion ? 
 
 Mr. Rob'mfin the iMod^rator cries oi\f ti^'Mr. Cha-ridUr^ Hold ! 
 Dr. Rnffel rauil prove it by an:univerfal N^egarive; 
 ,, Dr. RppL Then Mr. Chandler muf^.deny fOcJie psit of eiy 
 Argument, which I have nor yet bttn irblsiC^ prevail, with 
 him^o do. 
 
 Mr. CbcmdUr. I d^nv the Minor. 
 
(8) 
 
 Dr. Rnfd. By. denying the M:mr, you fay that Chnft hath 
 Tome where required fome of his Minifters to baptize In- 
 fants. 
 
 Mr. Chandler. By good confequencc. 
 
 Dr. Rufel. Then I will make good my Minor thus: If Chrifl 
 hath any where required any of his Minifters to baptize In- 
 fants *, it's fome where (b recorded in the Holy Scriptures. 
 
 B\\t it's no where fo recorded in the Holy Scriptures ; 
 
 Er^o, Chrift hath not any whete required any of his Mini- 
 ilers to baptize Infants. 
 
 Mr, Chandler. What do you mean by being recorded ? 
 
 Dr. Ru0. I hope you know what the word Recorded fig- 
 nifies. i mean any where fo written. 
 
 Mr. Chandler. To this I anfwer by diftinguifliing again. If 
 you mean by being Recorded in Scripture, being Recorded 
 in exprefs words, I deny your Major) bat if you mean by con- 
 fequence, I deny your Minor. 
 
 Dr. Rufel. If you do but prove it Recorded, it isfufficient. 
 
 Mr. Chandler. I deny the Minor. 
 
 Dr. R-aJffd. Then you fay it's fomewhere fo Recorded in 
 Holy Scripture. I therefore argue thus. 
 
 If it be any where fo Recorded in Holy Scripture, Mf. 
 Chandler, or fome other Perfon is able to Ihew it. 
 
 But neither Mr. Chandler y nor any other Perfon whatfoevep, 
 is able to fhew it : ^ ^ ^ 
 
 Ergo, If is not any where fo Recorded in Holy Scripture. 
 
 Mr. Chandler. T deny your Minor. 
 
 hr. Rujfd. Hold Sir, it is an univerfal Negative. \ioa mufl: 
 give your Inftance where it is fo written. I appeal to your 
 Moderator. 
 
 Mr. p^ohinfon. You muft prove it fiilJ. Suppofe Mr. Chand- 
 ler cannot give an Inftance, nor no body in the Company; 
 you cannot thence infer that none in the World can. 
 
 Dr. Rufel. This is in EiFefl to give away your Caufe, when 
 there are fo many Men of Parts and Learning prefent ; if 
 none of them are able to give us one Inftance from Scripture 
 for Infant- baptifm, we cannot expeS that any body elfe fhould. 
 Befides, I would defire thofe Honourable Perfons and others 
 in this Aflembly that underftand thefe things, to confider that 
 I am not fairly dealt with, and that I am under a great Difad- 
 vantage, not having other learned Perfons to adift me as Mr. 
 Chandler hath, and yet am forced to anfwer two or three at a 
 time. But to proceed, I do affirm that it being an Univerfal 
 Negative, he ought to give his Inftance, and i demand it of 
 him J and till he doth, my Argument ftands good. 
 
 Mr,Ch0nd'' 
 
(.9 J 
 
 Mr. Chandler. This is only a Trick to turn'oiF the Opm^ 
 iiency, - 
 
 Dr. RufeL What do you talk .of a Trick? I hope you are 
 able to give one Tingle Inflance ©f what is your daily Pra^ice. 
 
 Mr. Leigh. You do this to turn the Opponencv upon Mr 
 Chandler. 
 
 . Dr. Rujfel. If Mr. Chandler will fay he can give no Inilance, 
 I will urge it no further. 
 
 Here Mr. Chandler was going to fpeal, and Mr. Leigh hin- 
 ^red him. 
 
 Dr. Rtijjel. Sir, why do you hinder Mr. chandhr from fpeak- 
 ing ? 
 
 Mr. Chandler. Becaiife you would turn the Opponency upon 
 me. 
 
 Dr. Rujfel. I intend no fiich thing. When you have brought' 
 your Inftance, after I have fpoken to it, I Will then go on 
 with the Opponehcy. 
 
 Mr, Leigh. You can bring no Argument can tlirotv the Op- 
 ponency upon him like this. 
 
 Mr.Rohinfon. You mufl know that according to all the Rules 
 of Logick you^ are to prove your Propofition. For you uni- 
 verfally affirm it, though in Form it runs negatively. You 
 fay no Perfon camgive an Inftance in Scripture whereby we 
 baptize Infants : How do you prove this ? 
 
 Dr. RuJfcL I never yet knew that an univerfaf T^egativd 
 was an Univerfal Affirmative. This h to fay any thing, tho' 
 never fo contrary to Truth I wonder at it that you fhouJd take 
 the matter upon you thus byTurns;efpeciaIly thatyoufhotik! 
 take upon you to be a Difputanr, whofe Work is only to be a 
 Moderator. Is this civil Treatment to a Stranger chst comes 
 fo many miles to meet you ? 
 
 Mr. Robinfe?!. I muft not fuffer the Queflioii to be alter 'cf, 
 Mr. Chandler isRefpondenti you put the part of an Opponent 
 Upon him, I muft not allow ic: Do you prove your Queftion. 
 
 Dr. Rufel. Mr. Chandler (I underft^nd) hath iignified t6 
 the People in his Preaching, that there are plain Scriptures to 
 be brought for the proof of Infant-Baptifm, and now is the 
 time for him to produce them : I urge it upon him to ailigrf 
 hut one Inftance, and you will not fufFer him fb to do. 
 
 Mr» Leigh. 'Tisnot Mr. Chandler'*^ Sermon , it is the Q.^ 
 ftion before us that you muft regulate. 
 
 Dr. Rufel. If ybu fay you hzJve tio Scriptilfe pf ccf for In- 
 fants Baptifm, I have dom Bm why muft you prevent Mf\ 
 Chandler ? 
 
( lo) 
 
 1 hope here are forae Honourable Perfons and orhers that 
 tinderrfand the Nature of this Controverfie, and they may 
 xeafonably expeft that thofe who have made fucha Noife a- 
 bout it, can give feme tolerar^e Inftance for it ; and if they ^ 
 will do that, we will proceed to examine it. 
 
 MrRobinfon. There are many here know how that MrXhand- 
 ler hath afTerted and proved that Infants are the SubjeSs of 
 Baptifm ; but you are nor to call on him for that now. You 
 did (hy your Friends) undertake to prove the contrary, and 
 itreftsujjon you fo to do. 
 
 Dr RuJfeL I have already provM the contrary, and my Ar- 
 gument iill ftand good till you give your Inftance. 
 
 Mr. Roh'rafon If you will change Sides, Mr Chandler, you 
 may admit this Trick. ^ >, « ^^ 
 
 Dr. Rufcl. Can you (at other times) boalt of fo many plain 
 Sc ipmres for your Praftice, and now you are brought to the 
 Teft about it, you are not able to produce one; what will 
 the People think of you ? 
 
 Mr. Leigh. I will undertake in any Difpute Philofophical or 
 Divine, in this manner immediately to turn the Opponency 
 upon the Ref^o'ndepc. When I cannot prove the AfTertion, I 
 will preicntly fay, If you can bring any folid Proof for your 
 Praaice, it is true, if not, falfe And I appeal to the Mode- 
 rator wheti^er it be not his Bufinefs to keep the Difj^utants to 
 the Rules of Difpute. ^ , . -r t. 
 
 Mr Rchi?:fon. The Moderator is to regulate them if they 
 tranrgrefs Bounds ; but you have grosfly tranfgreffed : I ap- 
 peal to any that undeiftand Logick, whether this be fufFerable 
 for him thus to turn the Opponency upon Mr. Chandler. 
 
 Then Dr. Smiih flood up and faid, If I muft fpeak, then by 
 \ our Leave, according to what I always underftpod. He that 
 alfcrtsmuft' prove. , , . ^ :, , t r , 
 
 Dr Rufd Then they having alTerted that Infants are the 
 Subjefts of BaDtirm,they are to prove their Praaice,efpecially 
 when they are'forc'd upon it by an Univerfal Negative. We 
 defirebut one tingle Inftance, and they will not allign it. 
 
 Mr. Robinfon.- No ; you are to prove your Argument, 
 
 Dr. Rujfd. I have done that already, and therefore if Mr, 
 ChanMer.v<^\^A confefs he hath no luftance to give, I will pro- 
 ceed to a new Argument. 
 
 This Mr. Chandler refufed to do, and yet vould not give his 
 
 Jttjiance. « , 
 
 Dr. RuJJeL If Mr. Chandler can give no Inftance, here are 
 divers other Minifters,Gentlemen of Parts and Learning; Have 
 
 none 
 
none of them an Tnftance to produce ? If you thusrefufc to 
 produce it, the People will think you have none to give. 
 
 Notvvithftanding tbif;, none of them could be prevailed up- 
 on to do it, althoughthey were called upon, and challenged to 
 give any cne Inftance (where it was fo written) if they could. 
 
 Whereupon Dr Rujfd fpake to this EfFtft, Gentlemen, It 
 may be you think I have but one Argu«Bent ; if you will fay 
 no more to this, I am not willing to tire our the Auditory , 
 I will therefore proceed to a New Argument. 
 
 But take notice (by the way) that my firft Argument ftands 
 good, till you give your Inftance to the contrary. 
 
 ^rg. 2. If Infants are nflt capable to be made Difc'ples of 
 Chrift by the Miniftry of Men, ihen they cannot pofilbly-be 
 the Sub|i'£ts of Baptifm intended in Chrifl's Commiffion. 
 
 ^nz Infants are not capable to be made Difciplss of Chrifl 
 by the Miniftry of Men. 
 
 Brgo^ They cannot poOibly be thf Subje£is of Baptifm ia« 
 tended in Ghrift*s Commiffion. 
 
 Mr. Chandler repeats the Argument,and then faich,Here if you 
 mean by being made Difciples, aSualand compleat Difciples, 
 I deny your Major: But if you mean fuch as are entered into^ 
 a School and given up to InftruQ:ion, then f deny your Minor. 
 
 Dr.,Ru[felRepszts his Major, and defires Mr. Chand/er to tdl 
 him what he denies in it. For (faith he)!Tty Words are plain, 
 to be made Difciples by the Miniftry of Men. 
 
 Mr. Roknfo7i. Mr. Chandler di^inguifhes between Compleat 
 and Incompleat Difciples. 
 
 Dr. RuJ^el.Bm what then doth he mean by denying my Major? 
 
 Mr. Robin fan. He denies , that thsy that cannot be made 
 compleat Difciples, are not intended in the Commtiffion. 
 
 I hope the Reader will obferve how often Mr Chandler \vz% 
 at a lofs, and Mr. Lsigh and Mr, Rohinfon were forced to help 
 him out with their Didindions and equivocsble ExpicfHons. 
 
 Here Dr. Rujfel (feeing thev would not be brought to give 
 any dlreft Anfwerj turns his Kypcthetical into a Categorical 
 Syllogifm. 
 
 Whofoever are uncapable to be made Difciples by the Mi- 
 niftry of Men, they cannot be theSubjedsW" Baptifm inten- 
 ded in Chrift's Commiflion : ' ^ 
 
 But Infants are uncapable to be made Difciples |?y the Mini- 
 flryof Men; * 
 
 Erge, They cansot be the Subje£l:s of Baptifm intended In 
 Chrift's CommJilion. ^ 
 
 Now let Mr. Chandler tell me what he mean^by being made 
 Compleat, or Incompleat Difciples by the Mlnil>ery cf M"p 
 (according to my Argumrcnr) if he can. . G 2 
 
(12) 
 
 Mr, Chandler. I mean by Compleat Difciples, fuch as at? 
 actually capable of Learning ; By Incompleat, fuch as are en- 
 ttred in ibch Places in order to be taught. We fend Chil- 
 drtnto Scho ol before they know a Letter. 
 
 Dr Rufel. My Argument fpeaks not of fuch; but of tho(e 
 \5i ho have unoerftanding, and are capable to b« made Afiual 
 Difciples, which Infants are not. 
 
 Mr. Chandler. Th&t fuch as are fo capable, are the only 
 Sub je£ls of Baprifm ; you are to prove it. 
 
 Dr. Riifel. Then you deny the hUjor. 
 
 Mf. Chandler. Ves, as to your Hypothetical Argument. 
 
 Dr. Rufl. It you had done this before, you had faved your 
 felf and me much trouble. Then I prove it thus. 
 
 If our Lord, in thst Commiflion given ffor Holy Baptifm, 
 hath commajided his Apoftles, that were Men, to make Difci- 
 ples by their Miniflry, and after that, to Baptize them, then 
 the Coni^quence of rhe Major is true. 
 
 But our Lord in tha*- Commiflion given for Holy Baptifm 
 harh commanded liis Apoftles, that were Men, to make Dif- 
 ciples by their Miniftry, and after that to Baptize them. 
 
 Ergo, The Conffrquence of the Major is true. 
 
 Mi-: Leigh I diftinguifli thus. They may be entered into the 
 Church in Order for Learning, and fo they are Difciples be- 
 fore Baptifm : Yet in a more vifible Senfe, they are made Dii^ 
 ciples by Baptifm 
 
 Dr.RtiJfel. Thea you fuppcfe Infants not capable to be made 
 Difciples by the Miniflry of Men. 
 
 A/a Chandler. Not folemnly inverted.' 
 
 Dr. RtiJJei. We are not talking of that ; the Queftion be- 
 twixt us is, Whether they are capable to be made Difciples 
 by the Miniftry of Men. Will you alTert that ? 
 
 Mr. Leigh. We affcrt they are Difciples, as Children of Be- 
 lievers, before Baprifm. 
 
 Dr. Rnffel. This is nothing to the Purpofe, but to fpin out 
 Time. ' Mr. Chandler or Mr. Leigh ihould haveanfwered to my 
 Argument, which neither of them have done. For if Infants 
 are Difciples (imply as being Children of BeJieveing Parents, 
 before Baprifm, (as Mr Leigh fzhh) then it is done without 
 any Miniftcrial Inftriiftion. And therefore is fo far from be- 
 ing an Anfwer to my Argument, that it is a raeer Evafion. 
 
 I therefore Argue thus upon them. 
 
 If Infants are not the Suojefts of Teaching, according to 
 Chrift*sGommilTion, then they are not theSubjeQ:s of Baptifm 
 c>y.that Commiflion. 
 
 But 
 
 I 
 
( »? ) 
 
 But Infants are not the Subjefis of Teaching, according tQ 
 Chrift's Commiflion. 
 
 Ergo, They are not the Subje^s of Baptifm by that Com- 
 miffion. 
 
 For what our Lord hath joined together, no Min ought to 
 feparate. 
 
 But our Lord hath joined Teaching and Baptizing together. 
 
 Therefore no man ought to feparate. 
 
 And it is turther manifeft, That our Lord did nor command 
 his Father to make Difciples by fonie fecret Work of bis ; but 
 he commanded his Apoftles (that were Men). to make Difciples 
 by their Msniilry ; and chat is the Point you are to Anfwer to, 
 
 Mr. Roh'jifln. He denies rheyare uncapable co be made Dif- 
 ciples by the Minil^ry of Men- 
 
 Dr. RujJeL Then by the way take notice, that he grants my 
 Major to betrue; *that unlefs they are capable to be taught by 
 the Miniftry of Men, they cannot be the Subjefts of Baptifm. 
 I fliall therefore proceed to the proof of my Minor. 
 
 If Infants have no knowledge to difcern between Good and 
 Evil, then they are not capable to be made Difciples hy the 
 Miniftry of Men. 
 
 But Infants have no Knowledge to difcern between Good 
 and Evil. 
 
 ^ Ergo, They are not capable to be made Difciples by the Mi- 
 jjiftry of Men. 
 
 Mr. Chandler^ You Trick all this while. I rold yoo by In- 
 fants being Difciples, I meant thdr being foleainly invcfled 
 by Baptifm. 
 
 ^r. Rnjfel. You ftill miflake, we are net fpeakmg of their 
 Inveftiture, but of the Prerequillres of Baptifm; And it is 
 evident from what I hive faid, that ihofe that: are truly Bap- 
 tized according to ChriiVs CommifTton (which is the thing we 
 are uponj muft fir ft be made Difciples by the Miniftry of Men. 
 For the Commiflion in Mark i6. 15, 16. is a Command to his 
 Apoftles to go into all the World, and Preach the Goipel to 
 every G-eature, and rhat foch of them that were made Difci- 
 ples by their Preaching, they fliouM Baptize. And in Ma^th. 
 28. 19. They are commanded ro Diiciple all Nations, and to 
 Baptize fuch of them whom they had made Difciples by Teach- 
 ing. 
 
 Now when I have fliewed you, how that Infants not being 
 capable- thus to be made Difciples ^ they cannot be the Subje£l:s 
 of Baptifm intended in that Commidion ; then you grcmthe 
 Confequence of the Majori and by denying niy M.S^i'v, you 
 fay they are capable, ' " • 
 
nt. 1 
 
 And when I have brought another Argument to prove m; 
 linor, YOU then evade ic by. an indirefl; Anfwer. . 
 
 Sir, you are bound to give a direft Anfwer to my Argument 
 
 Mr. Chandler. I deny the Confequence of your Major. 
 
 Dr. Rtt0. By fo doing, you fay, though they have no Know- 
 ledge to difcern between Good and Evil, yet they are capable 
 to be made Difciples by the Minftrry of Men. How can this 
 poffibly be true ? 
 
 Mr. Leigh. You will not allow of Compleat and Incompleat 
 Difciples. 
 
 Dr. Rujfel, What is this to my Argument ? Pray let Mr. 
 Chandler fix on fomething, » 
 
 Mr, Chandler. I fay if you mean Incompleat Difciples, I de- 
 ny that they are uncapable to befuch. 
 
 Dr. Rufel. How often muft we have this diftinftion repeated 
 to keep us from the Point in hand. We are now upon this. 
 Whether Infants have Knowledge to difcern between Good and 
 Evil ; which is che midium I bring to prove the other by ; Why 
 do you not anfwer to that ? 
 
 Mr. Chandler. They have no Knowledge, yet are capable of 
 being Incompleat Difciples. 
 
 ^Dr. Rujfd. If by Compleat, you mean perfeQly fo, I know 
 not of any fuch Chriflian in the World. j}tir I hope this doth 
 not hinder, but there may be Real and A8:ual Difciples of 
 Chrift, made fo by the Miriiflry of Men, and fitted for Ho- 
 ly Baptifm. Bat I proceed to the proof of my Minor. 
 
 If the Gofpel in the Miniftration of it, was appointed to in- 
 form Men what is Good, and what is Evil, and Infants have 
 no Knowledge to difcern betwixt Good and Evil (as Mr. Chand- 
 ler hath been forced to confefs) then they are not capable to be 
 made Difciples by the Miniftry of Men : 
 
 Bat the Gofpel in the Miniftration of it was appointed to 
 inform Men what is Good, and what is Evil, and Infants have 
 no Kno^vledge to difcern betwixt Good and Evil,as Mr. Chand- 
 ler hath been forc'd to confefs : 
 
 Therefore they are not capable to be made Difciples by the 
 Miniftry of m.en. 
 
 Mr. Rohinfon. When Mr. Chandler hath diftihguilheJ, you 
 mud: pat it into a Syllogifm, elfe you will ftill confound it. 
 
 Dr. Rufel Anfwers, Have I not put it into an Argument.and 
 vou will not fafF<;r him to anfwer it .? IF you think he hath not 
 iutiicientiy done that already, let 'him do it again, and tell us 
 what he means by ir, if he can. 
 
 Mr. -handler, f mean one defigned and given to Learning, 
 folemnly engaged to it, dedicated CO the Work, as a Child 
 
 entered 
 
 us 
 fig. I 
 
, ( lO 
 
 eiitred into a School before he underftands one Letter ; this 
 is Incompleat; Coi^^pleat is to be made fo by Learning. 
 
 Here Dr. Rufel would have fpoke, but was not permitted, 
 but broke in upon. 
 
 Mf'a Leigh. I appeal to any, whether a Child fent to School 
 to a Mafier or Miftrefs ; given up by the Parents, and ac- 
 cepted by them ; whether the Notion of a Scholar be not 
 grounder^ on foch a Relation ? 
 
 Dr. Rujfd. I fpeak of Aftual Difciples, made fo by Teaching; 
 are thefe fuch, Ivho Coy your own Confeflion) know not one 
 Letter of the Book? Thefe are Incompleat Scholars indeed, 
 Mr. Leigh. I believe there is a School- matter here; let him 
 fpeak whether fuch be not immediately Scholars. 
 
 Upon this, Mf. Ridge the School- matter flood up .and faid. 
 Upon the Parents Dedication, and the Matters Acceptation,and 
 the Payment of Entrance money, we do look upon him as a 
 Scholar. Whereupon there followed a general Laughter. 
 
 ^ Dr. Rufel. I appeal to this Aflimbly. whether my Argument 
 did net exprefs fuch that were made Diiciples by the Minittry 
 of Men. What therefore is the Reafon of yoiir making fuch 
 a noife and ftir about fuch being accounted Scholars fo fooit 
 as they enter the School, before they know one Letter of the 
 Book* Are thefe made Scholars by Teaching, when they 
 have never learned, nor cannot learn; becaufe they have no 
 Knowledge to difcern between Good and Evil ; And yer this 
 is the cale of thofe little Infants you pretend to baptize. 
 
 Mr. Cha7idler. We allow they are not capable of Knowledge 
 to difcern between Good and Evil, nor of being made tanx- 
 pleat Difciples. 
 
 Dr. Rufel. Then the Confequence neceflarily follows, that 
 Infants are not at all intended in the Commillion of cur Sa- 
 viour, Matth. 28. 19. 
 
 Mr. Robinfon. Put it into a Syllogifm. 
 
 Dr. Rufel. There is no need of that, for Mr. Chandler hath 
 granted every part of my Argument. 
 
 ^ For I. He hath granted that Infants tave no Knowledge to 
 difcern between Good and Evil. 
 
 2. That (according to my Argument) Infants are not c^* 
 pable to be made Difciples by the Minittry of Men. And 
 then it mutt unavoidably follow, they are not imenJed in 
 Chritt's Committlon. 
 
 Mr. Leigh. How Sirs ! Did wc fay Incompleat Difciples are 
 not in the Commillion ? 
 
 Dr. Rufel. That hath been fufficiently fpoke to already ; I 
 lliall therefore proceed to a new Argument. 
 
( i6 ) 
 
 Arg. V TF rhe Apoftle P^«/did declare all the Counfel i 
 God, and kept ba k nothing that was profitable for the-Churchi 
 of God, and yer did never dc^clare the Baprifm of Infants to' 
 be a Gofpel Infticution according to Chrift's commiflion ; then 
 it is no Golpcl Inftitution, nor any part of thi Counfel of God, 
 nor projitatje for the Church of God. .^ 
 
 But the Apoftlc Paul did declare all the Counfej of God and 
 kept back nothing that was proficable for the Church of God, . 
 and yet did never declare the Baptifm of Infants to be a Gof- 
 pel Inftirurion according to Chvills commifiion. 
 
 Ergo, It is no Gofpel Inftiturlon, nor any part of the Coun- 
 fel of God, nor profitable for the Church of God. 
 
 Mr. Chandler. Your Argument is long. 
 
 Dr. Rujfd Not To long, nor fo hard lo be underftood. 
 
 Mr. Rohinfm'. Such long Arguments are nevet admitted in. 
 aay Dirpur:irion. 
 
 Dr. Rujfd. Let Mr. Chandler fpeak to the Argumene. 
 
 Upon this, Mr. Chandler finding himfelf unable to anfwei* 
 it, notwichftanding h6 had two or three Prompter* to inftruft 
 him, he qairted the Place ^f a Difputant, and Mr. Leigh de- 
 fit'd to take it up, which was admitted him, ufion condition 
 he woald fpeak to that Argument, which he promifed tfi do. 
 
 Mr. Leigh I deny that the Apoftle Paul did never declare 
 Infant-baptifm to beaGofpellnPdtution. .■ 
 
 Dr. Rtiftl. Then you deny my Minor, which I thus prove. 
 
 If the Apoftie Paul hath fo declared it, it is foiriewhere to 
 be found in the Writings of the New Teflament. 
 
 But it is not any where to be found in thofe Writings. 
 
 Ergo, The Apofde Taul did never fo declare it. 
 
 Mr. Lei^h. I deny the fequel of your Majjr ; tor the Words 
 were fpckcn to the Church at Ephefus ; and what do you talk 
 of PauPs Epifties, he wrote but one that I know of to the 
 , Church at Ephcjut. 
 
 Dr. Riiffel. Part of the words in my Argument were fpoken 
 to the Elders of the Church of Ephefus; but I have neither 
 Ephefus, nor Church of Ephefus, nor Paurs Epiftles in my Ar- 
 gument. Why do you nut antwer to the Argument. 
 ^ Mr. Leis,h. We have not the whole of the Apoftle Paul's 
 Writings ''in the NewTeftament; and this that he wrote to 
 the Church of Ephefus is but a fmall part thereof 
 
 Dr Rufl. Pray fpeak to the Argument: You fee I have no 
 fuch Expicflions in it as are taken.up by you. 
 
 Mr Leigh. I will do it by a Simile. ^ . i r 
 
 You know thac Pml wrote divers EpIUles, and in them Of 
 .'iff^entSubj^as. 
 
 y 
 
( '?; 
 
 ft is as if a Man IhouH write a Book of fevernl things, and 
 when he hath finiflied it, one comes and 'cuts off Cix Leaves 
 thereof ; and after this,there is a Quertion arifes, whether fuch a 
 Man hath writ any thing about fuch a particular Sehje£i,No w ic 
 doth not follow,that becaufeit is not contain d in the reft of hf« 
 Book,that therefore it is not in tbn fix Leaves that were cur off. 
 
 Dr. Rufel. U Mr Leigh fpeaks adRet», as I fiippofe he thinks 
 he doth, then I thus infer upon hirn. Firft, That he doth by 
 this allow, that there is no mention rrnds of Infant Baptifm 
 in any of thofe Writings of the Apoftle PauPi, that we have 
 bound up with the refi: of the Holy Scriptures. Secondly, He 
 fuppofes there may be fbmething faid of it in thofe fix Leaves^ 
 that were cut off after he had finiflied his Epiflles. 
 
 Now the Affembly of Divines tell us, that the Scriptures of 
 the Old and New Teftamentare the only Rule todireil: us in 
 matters of Worfliip. But whether Mr, Leigh be of their 
 Mind I cannot tell. 
 
 Mr. Leigh. Yes, I am. 
 
 Dr. Rufel. Then what you mean by it I know not, butt 
 believe they meant what we have in the Bible, and not what is 
 contained in thofe fix Leaves that were cut off, or elfe they 
 defigned to put a Cheat upon the whole World, which*I do 
 not fuppofe. ^ • 
 
 But as touching thofe fix Leaves, I conclude our Brethern 
 have them not in their Cuftody, becaufe I never heard them 
 fpeak any thing in the leaft concerning it. 
 
 For my own part, I can fpeak for my CqW-^ I never fatv 
 them, nor heard of them till now ; neither do I know any 
 thing of the matte-. But if Mr. Leigh or his Brethren have 
 them in their Cuftody, I defire they would produce rhem. 
 And when they have fo done, if they will pleafc to favour us 
 fo far as firft to prove that thofe were the very fix Leaves that 
 were written by Paui.wQ will take the pains r6 examine them: 
 And if it then appears that there is any fuch thing co tained , 
 in themr as Mr. Leigh fpeaks of, we will al ow it. ' 
 
 Mr. Leigh mas angry hsreufon, faying. What do you talk of 
 our being the Keepers of them? And what do you talk of all 
 the NewTeftament ? Is all the New Teftament the Apoftle 
 PauW writings ? 
 
 Dr. Rujfel. l fay T do not confine you to PauVs Eplflle*, 
 much lefs pretend all the New Teftament to be of the Apoftle 
 PauPs Writing, as you would infinuate to the People j hue 
 my Words are, It's no where fo declared in the Writings of 
 the New Teftament. And do you produce one Inftance that ic 
 Is, if you can, for that will put an Iffue to our Con? rover fie. 
 
 D Mr. Leigh. 
 
( i8 ) 
 
 Mr. Leigh. Ycu wpuld refer what Paul faith to the Church 
 of Ephefus, to the whole New Teftamcnt. 
 
 Dr. Ruffel. I hope you will own the Holy Scriptures to be 
 the onlyJRuie to direft us in matters of Worfliip. 
 
 Here Mr. Leigh he»ks in upon the DoBor, not permitting him 
 to /peak what he had to faj ; but injiead thereof^ he faith, I 
 will not own that we have all the Sermons that Paul Preached 
 to the Church at Ephefus, and if we had, he might Preach it 
 to fome others though he did not to them,for this was fpoken 
 to rhem. 
 
 Dr. Ruffel. I refer you to the Scripture. You fay that Paul 
 might declare fome fuch thing, and yet it may not be Re- 
 corded in the Scripture. The Words are plain, I have tjotjhun- 
 nedtodichre to ym.nllthe Comifel of God. Afts 20.27. And ia 
 Ver. 20. / kept hack nothing that was profitable unto you. And 
 I do not fuppofe that Paul taught one Do£trine in one Church 
 aftds^nother Dotirine in another. For in i Cor. 4. 17. He tells 
 t Ut Church, Tnmthy jhali bring jou into remembrance of my -ways 
 in Ckrifi as I teach ev;ry where in every Chucrh. 
 
 Bellde^., he doth not only tell them that he had fo difcharg'd 
 his Office among them as to be free from the Guilt of theic 
 Blood, but that he was alfo free from the Blood of all Men, 
 Ver. 21. Teftifying to th^jfcw/ and alio to the Gr^^^;, Repen- 
 tarjce toward God, and Faith toward our Lord Jefus Chrift. 
 
 And I further add, That if Paul never taught Infant- Bap- 
 tifm in the Church of Ephefus, nor in the Church of Corinth, 
 nor in anv other Place, I hope you will then acknowledge ic 
 to be no Gofpel Inftitution, nor any part of the Counfel of 
 God, nor yet protitatle for the Church of God; And there 
 is no Record in Holy Scripture of his fo doing. 
 
 Mr. Leigh. I fay PauPs Writings are not the hundredth 
 Fart of what Paul Preached. We cannot luppofe that in thofe 
 U)i Chapters to the Epheftans, he could contrive to put down 
 the whole of,hir, Preaching to them. 
 
 Di'. ili^ffel- Sir, you might have fparedall this Labour ; for I 
 ^Tj fatisfied the People will not trouble themfelves to feek 
 or it any were tK^, but only in the .Writings of the New 
 Teftament; and if they will take my Word,! canalTure them 
 'tis not there to be found. And I perceive you think fo foo,or 
 clfe yoM need not refer them to P^«/s Sermons which are not- 
 written. J have heard, indeed, of fome unwritten Traditions, that 
 are locked up in the Pope'*s Breaji, to be delivered out as he finds 
 Jccafion for the fcrving of a Turn ; bitt I never knew that thePres- 
 ijter .ins were ever intruded with anj fuch Trcafure. 
 
 lif. Leigh You fay it is not to be found in the Writings of 
 the New Teftament; I deny it. V>r. Ruffel 
 
Dr. RuJJel Then you deny my Wmr, which is ^he thing 
 you (hould have done before, -only you were afraid of being 
 brought to give an Inftance, Now by denying my wj/wor, you 
 fay ic*s fomewSere fo recorded in the Writings of the New 
 Teftament, that Pml did declare the Baptifm of Infants tvo be 
 a Gofpel-Inftitution,d^i?. And, to prove it Is nor, I argue thu.. 
 y If it be fo recorded in the Writings cf the New Teflament, 
 then Mr. Liigh or fome body elfe is able to fhew k. 
 
 But neither Mr- Leigh^ nor any body elfe, is ab;e fo flievv it. 
 
 ErgOy It is not fo recorded in tiie VVrirings of t-he New Te- 
 ftament. 
 
 Sir, I have now brought it to an Uaiverfal Negnire, as I 
 did with Mr. Chandler upon the former Argument ; and 
 now it refts upon you to produce your Inflance. 
 
 Mr. Leigh. 1 will fay it is in the Commillion All Nations, 
 
 Dr. Rufel. Are you of Mr. Chandlers Ojjinion? 
 
 Mr. Leigh. I will not anfwer you. 
 
 Dr. Rufel. Then I fay it is^ not writfen in the CommifTioa 
 that Paul did ever declare any thing concerning the Baptifm 
 of Infants. 
 
 But what do you bring this for now ? you might have 
 done it upon thd firft Atgument, when we were upon the 
 Commillion ; but it's wholly improper now ; for this that 
 we are now upon, is, Whether the Apoftle Paul hath any 
 where fo declared it. 
 
 Reader, Obferve thefs mens Trifling, Do they not know 
 as well as we, that the Commlflion of our Lord for Hoiy 
 Baptifm was given long be-ore PWs Converfion ; and yet 
 they have the Confidence to affirm before fo great an Audi- 
 tory, That it is written in the Commiffion, that P^«/ did de^ 
 dare the Baptifm of Infants to be a GofpeJ-Infticution, d^c, 
 which is the thing exprefled in my Argument. 
 
 Upon this the Reverend Mr. Chandler, (who had quitted 
 the Work before^ began now in a great Fury to break Silence 
 again, faying, You are a perfect Sophifter, your Arguments 
 are full of Fallacy- 
 
 Dr. P.ujffd. It is an eaHe matter for a man to fay Co, that 
 underflands not an Argument himfeif 
 
 Air, Ldgh. Then, pray Sir, begin again from ABs i%zj. 
 
 Dr. Ruffel Truly, Mr. Leigh, I did not come fo many miles 
 to fpend my Time thus, to go backwards and forwards afrer 
 this manner. 
 
 Mr. Chandler. You muft do fo, If you underhand the Rules 
 of Tergiverfation. 
 
 [This was one of Mr. Chandler'/ Witticifm:.} 
 
 P ^ Dr. RK^i 
 
( 20 ) 
 
 Dr. Rufel. If I do Hot underftand thofe Rules when I have' 
 occafion for them, I will come to you and learn. 
 
 But to return to Mr. Leighy for I have not done with him 
 -t ; Sir, you have afligned the Commiflion to prove that 
 Paul did declare infant- Baptifm to be a Gofpel-Inftitution.part 
 of the CounftI of God, &c. Now it's impoflibic that fhould 
 l^e written in the Commiflion, as I have told you before; 
 You mufl therefore ihew us where it is fo Recorded in fome 
 other part of the Nevf Tejiament ; and not aflign a place where 
 there can be no mention of it. 
 
 Mr. Leigh. He (ays he gives us the Latitude of the whole 
 ^^'ewnjiatnent^ but will not admit of the Commiflion, becaufe 
 ihar doth not fay that Paul hath fo declared. 
 
 Dr. B^uffd. And there is very goodreafon for it, for the Apq- 
 ftlp Paul is now under conlideration, asmentionM in my Ar- 
 gument; vvhofo]emnly proteftech, rhatin the difchargeof his 
 Miniftry, he had freed himfelf from the blood of all men, in 
 delivering ro them all that his Mafter had given him in Com- 
 mijfion. That he had not fhunned to declare all the Counfel 
 of God, he had i epc back nothing thkt was profitable for the 
 Church of God ; bur as a faithful Steward of the Myfteries ot* 
 God, he did difpencethe Word, as himfelf declares in i Car, 
 4. J, a. And I verily believe, that Paul was as Faithful,as Emi- 
 enr, and as Laborious a Servant as ever Chrift had upon 
 .z\\\\. And therefore the force of my Argument depends 
 pon this, That if Paid never faid one word about Infant- 
 >;aptirm, then it c^n be no part of the Counfel of God, nor a 
 Mofpei In/litution, nor ever given him in Commiflion by hjs 
 Lord and Alftftsr. 
 
 Vou have denied my m'imr ; I have proved it by bringing 
 •:u lO an Inflance by an Univeifal Negative. You have af- 
 jigaed the Conmii [lion i I have fhewed'you the Impofllibilicy 
 tpf proving it from thence. I have prefled you to aflign 
 fome other part of the Neu? Tejiam?nf far an Inftance. I have 
 not as yec been able ro obtain it. H<vq are divers men of Parts 
 and Learning among you, can none of you produce fo much 
 »> one initance to prove it ? Surely the People muft needs 
 conclude you hAVQ none to give, I therefore challenge yoju 
 to produce the place where it is written, that Paul ever faid 
 one word of Infant- gaptifm. And till that be done, my Ar- 
 gument vyill Hand good. 
 
 Air. Leigh. If Patil did not declare it,if we have other places 
 appaicnt and plain, ^t tcaft confequenti^l, it is fuflicient. 
 
 Dr, i^ujjll. This is not an Aufwer to my Argument, yqu 
 night have goHs here upon the other, but canno^ uppo this ; 
 •i)j did yoa not aflijn fqms of thofe places then, i^.; 
 
( 21 ) 
 
 Mt. Chandler. We deny the Confequence, Paul might fpeafc 
 of it fome where elfe, though it is not found in his Epijiles. 
 
 Mr. Robinfon. You are to prove that , becaufe Paul did not 
 fliun to declare to the Church of Ephefus the whole Counfel 
 of God, therefore Baptizing of Infants muft be found there, 
 or elfe it is. no part of the Counfel of God. 
 
 Mr. Leigh. However, we will fuppofe the thing ( but-not 
 grant it) that Paul has not fpoken of Infant-Baptifin. 
 
 Mr. Williams. If you fuppofe it, we will take it for gran- 
 ted ; if we may nor, fay fo. 
 
 Thus ended their Oppoiition to this Argument. 
 
 Dr.RuJftl. I will now proceed to another Argument. 
 
 ^rg. 4. Chrifl's Commiflion doth fhew who arc to be Bap- 
 tized : 
 
 But it doth not fhew that Infants are to be Baptized : 
 
 Ergo, Infants are not the Subje£^s of Baptifm according to 
 ChriiVs Comniiffion. 
 
 Mr. Leigh. I deny the Minor. 
 
 Dr. Rujfel. By fo doing, you fuppofe it doth fhew ir. 
 
 I therefore thus Argue. 
 
 If the Commifiion doth fhew that Infants are to be Baptized, 
 Mr. Leigh f or fome other Perfon can fhew it us in the Com- 
 mifHon. 
 
 But neither Mr. Leigh, nor any other Perfon is able to fhew 
 it us in the CommifTion. 
 
 Erg9, The Commiffion doth not lliew that Infants are to 
 be Baptized. 
 
 Mr. Leigh. It is included in the Word, All Nations. 
 
 Dr. Ruffel. I beg your favour ; Mr. Chandler afferted in his 
 Sermon, That it was the Infants of Believing Parents that 
 were to be Baptized ; And that it was necefTary Mtn flionld 
 Repent and Believe, otherwife they had no Right to this Or- 
 dinance. And if we were fent (faith he; into an Heathen Nz" 
 tion, we ought to ingage men to Repent and Believe, before 
 we Adminifter this Ordinance to them. Here are Qualifica- 
 tions required in the Perfons to be Baptized (by your owa 
 ConfelHon; without which you mufl not Adminifter it. And 
 it is contrary both to your own Principles and Practice, 10 
 baptize Jews . Turks and Heathens, and all their Infanrs, with- 
 out previous Qualiiications to fit them for ic. 
 
 Mr. Leigh. I fay it is included in the Word, All Nations i 
 Do you prove it is not. 
 
 Dr. Rttfel. You have brought an Inflance, and it is yoi^r 
 bqiinefs to make good your own Inflance ; otherwife my Ar- 
 gumeijc ftands firm an4 uotoucbU 
 
( 22 3 
 
 B^it if I Hiew there are fome QaaMcations required in tfiej 
 Commiflicjo, and prove that thofe cannot be found in Infants; 
 then Infants cannot be included in the Word, All Nations, 
 
 I tell you he hath commanded us to baptise fome Perfon?, 
 but he hath not commanded us to baptize any Infants ; which 
 I thus prove. 
 
 If thofe that Chrifl in his Commiflion hath commanded to 
 136 baptized, mu(l firft be made Difciples according to chat 
 Commillion ; then Infants are not to be baptized by Virtue 
 of that Commiflion. 
 
 But thofe that Chrift in his Commiflion hath commanded 
 to be baptized, muft firft be made Difciples according to thac 
 Commi(fion. ' 
 
 Ergo, Infants are not to be baptized by Virtue of that Com- 
 miiiioH- 
 
 Mr. Leigh. I dsny your Confequence. Repeat it again. 
 
 Dr. R.ufel. Then I will make it Categorical. 
 
 All thofe required to be baptized by Chrift's Commiflion, 
 are Difciples : lafants are not capable to be Difciples, as I have 
 already proved. 
 
 Ergo, Not required to be baptized by Chrift's Commiflion. 
 
 Mr. Leigh. I deny your whole Argument : That all that 
 Chrift requires to be baptized, are Difciples, and that Infants 
 are not capable. 
 
 Dr. Rtiffel. If no other but Difciples are cxprefs'd in the 
 Commiflion, then the Major is true. 
 
 And if Infants are uncapable to be made Difciples, then ehe 
 Minor is true alfo, 
 
 Mr. Leigh. We fay they are implied ; you allowed good 
 Co!ifcqaence.s but now. 
 
 Dr, Rujpl. But here are Difciples mentioned in the Commif- 
 fion ; and none but fuch thac are made Co by the Miniftry of 
 
 Mr. Leigh. You talk of the Commiflion : It is the good 
 Coiifequences I infift upon ; and fay, Perfons are not to be 
 compleac Difciples before they are baptized ; nor aftually 
 taught before they are Disciples. 
 
 br. RnJfA Perhaps you mean a man is not a compleat Chri- 
 flian, if heh^fh not attained to the higheft Perfefiion he is ca- 
 pable of whilft in this Life ; although he hath been a real Chri. 
 ilian for miny Years. I fpeak not of fuch a Completion, but 
 ©f fuch that are a^ual Difciples of Chrift, made fo by the 
 Miniflry of Men. 
 
 Mr. Leigh. I fay there is no neceflity of being Difciples in 
 yom Ssnfe, before they ajre baptized, I 
 
 Dr. i 
 
12?; 
 
 br. Ruffel. Then I will' prove there is a necaflity. 
 
 If our Lord in his Commiflion did not require his Apofiles 
 to baptize any, but onlyfuch as they had before mad« his Di- 
 fciples by Teaching ; then there is a necefficy they iliculd be 
 Aftual Difciples before they are baptized. 
 
 But cur Lord in his Commifsion did not require his Apoftles 
 to baptize any, but only fuch as they had before made his Di- 
 fciplet by Teaching. 
 
 Ergo, There is a necefsity they fhould be A8:ual DifcipIeS 
 before they are baptized. 
 
 Mr, Leigh. I deny the Minor, 
 
 Dr. Rufel. Then I will read the Commiflion. 
 
 Mr. Leigh. Yott need not do that, we all know the Com- 
 miffion very well. 
 
 Dr. Rufel. I will read my Maker's Commiflion, Mat. 48. ip. 
 Go ye therefore, and difcifle all Nations^ Baptizing them in the 
 Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoji. 
 
 This Commiflion is very folemnly delivered, wherein cut 
 Lord declares, that all Power in Heaven and Earth was given 
 to him. And by Virtue of that Power • — Here Mr. Robinfon 
 ft ops the DoBor, and cries out, You are not to preach here, Sir. 
 
 Dr. Rufel. May I not have leave to draw my Inference from 
 the Text.? 
 
 Mr. Leigh. Form your Argument.- The Text doth not dif- 
 cover it. 
 
 Dr. Ruffel. Is not our Lord's CommilTion of as good Autho- 
 rity as my Argument ? When I have fpoken to that, I will 
 then form an Argument from Ir, if you will be i\kat, and 
 fuifer me fo to do. 
 
 I fay, that in this great Commiflion, our Lord declares hk 
 great Power. 
 
 Mr. Ltigh. Form your Argument. 
 
 Dr. Ruffel. I hope the ufe of all our SyllogifniS is to bring us 
 to the Commiflion: And now we are come to it let iss fee 
 ' whether thefe things are to be found therein, or nor. Will 
 you pretend that Infants are in the Commiflion, and mnfl not 
 the people be fufFered to ice whether there be any thing men- 
 tion'd about them, or not. 
 
 Mr.Rohinfon. Is this your Argument? Bring your Arpu* 
 ment. And then he bawls very^Ioud, faying, Mr, Williatn:^ 
 will you fufFer him to Preach ? 
 
 Mr. Williami anfwers, No, I will not fuffer him to Preach 
 here. 
 
 Dr. Ruffel What do yci |-.ilk of Preaching? Are ye nfraid 
 
 of the Ccmmiffion ? T hope k is net fo bad with you as \i was 
 
 ' ' with 
 
C 24 ) ^ 
 
 With fome in Times paft, whom one of the Fathers (i. e. T?^^ 
 iuli i an) c vh by the n^imit o( Lucifug^e Scripturarum, c:^^. Flyers 
 from rh'^.Lisht of the Scripture (as Bats do from the light of 
 the Sim ; ) What is the reafon, Gentlemen, you will not en- 
 dure to hear the Commiflion opened p Will you fly from the 
 Light of the Commidion of our Lord and Saviour JefusChrift? 
 Is it not the Suhjeft contained in the Queftion ; And will you 
 (or dare you) deny that what I have faid is in the Commiflion? 
 
 Mr. Leigh. We fay not fo. . • 
 
 Dr Rufel. Tf you fhould, you would dire£lly cppofe Mr. 
 Calvin. Von he faith, There is no fjtcntion made of Infants in the 
 CommiJJton, as it is exprefs'd either in Matth. 28. or Mark \6. 
 And further faith, we may as well apply thofe words in 2 Thejf.-:^. 
 10. That if any would not vpork, neither Jhould he eat : To little 
 Infants, and 10 keep them from Food till they ftarve, as to 
 apply what is faid in the Commiflion to them, whereas it be- 
 longs only to the Ad-lt. 
 
 A/r. Rchinfon This is not to the purpofe, what have we to do 
 with what Mr. Calvin fays ? 
 
 Dr. Ruffel. I did not know but you might have had a Vene- 
 ration for Mr. Calvin j but feeing it's ctherwife, I will thus 
 Argue from the Commiflion. 
 
 If there be an exprefs Command in our Lord's Commiflion 
 for the baptizing of fome Perfons, and there be no exprefs 
 Command neither there nor elfewhere, for the baptizing of 
 Infants ;. then the Baptifm of Infants is r.ct contained in 
 that Commiflion : 
 
 Mr. Rohinfon, We fay though — 
 
 Dr. Rtijfet What again Mr. Robinfon ? muft I always be thus 
 broke in upon by you ? What is the meaning of it ? When 
 you fee you are like to be pinched upon an Argument, then 
 you make it your bufinefs to hinder me from fpsaking: Doth 
 this become a: Moderator ? 
 
 I beg ! may have Liberty to fpeak our, and not be thus ta- 
 ken up in the midft of an Argument. Pray, Sir, remember 
 what the Wife-man faith of fuch a one, that anfwei;s a matter 
 before he hears it. 
 
 I fay, if there be an exprefs Command in our Lord's Coia- 
 miffion for the baptizing of fome Perfons, and there be no 
 exprefs Commahd neither there nor elfewhere for the bapti- 
 zing of Infants ; then the Baptifm of Infants is not contained 
 in that Commiffion : 
 
 But there is an exprefs Command in out Lord's CommiflioH 
 for the baptizing of fome Perfons ; and there is no exprefs 
 Command either there or elfewhere for the Baptizipg of In- 
 fants: Erg9, 
 
Bfgo, The Bsptifm of Infants is not contained in that Com- 
 miflion*. 
 
 Mr. Leigh. Tnftead of giving his Anfwer to the Argument, 
 he fliams it off after thisman.ier ; faying, I appeal to the Peo« 
 pie. Xhotrgl^ he allowed Confequences but now, ytt now he 
 requJHres an exprefs Scripture. And yet I fay, If Nations in- 
 clf^de Infants, they are cxprefly mentioned. . 
 
 • Upon thiSy Mr. Robinfon turns DiBator, and fays to Mr. Leigh, 
 l^ou were better deny his Confeqaence. 
 
 jDr,Rr#/ faith, Fray, Mv.Uigh, be pleafed to change places 
 with Mr. Robinfon, let him beDilputant, and you Moderator ; 
 for I perceive neither you nor I are able to pleafe him. This 
 rffas refufed. Upn which Dr. Ruffel faid to Mr. Robinfon, 
 Pray, Sir, do not you thus Dilate to him, I have none to Di- 
 ftate to me : Pray let him anfwer my Argument. 
 
 Here Mr. Leigh ^i^^j Mr. Robinfon had taught him, and de' ^ 
 nied the Confiquence ; and alfd that an exprefs Command -was ne- 
 ceffary to 4uthori'zi: the Baptizing of Infants. 
 
 ' Dr. Rufei My Argument was, If there be an exprefs Com- 
 mand for the baptizing of fome Perfons, you deny the Scque! 
 of the Major ; and in fo doing you fay, That notwithflanding 
 there is no exprefs Command for the baptizing of Infants, 
 neither there norelfewhere in all the Holy Scripture ; yet ne- 
 verthelcfs chey are intended in the Commifiion. 
 
 Mr. Leigh. I do io. 
 
 Dr. RuJfeL And I fay, if thtre be an exprefs Command for 
 the baptizing of fome Perfons; but none at all for the bap- 
 tizing of Infants ; Then they are not, at all intended hi that 
 Commifiion 
 
 Mr. Leigh. I deny firft the fequel of the Major^ and then I 
 ^ill deny your Miner. 
 
 Dr. Ruffd. Thisfeems very ftrange, that when I have made 
 it appear fo evidently from the Commlffion it f<:\^, that there 
 is an exprefs Command for ^he baptizing of fome Perfons ; 
 and yet ic fhould not be alldwed as a neceflary Confequence 
 from the Premifes. that Infants are nor intended j when your 
 felves have confeflcd there»is no exprefs Command in all the 
 Scriptures, for the baptizing of Infants. 
 
 Mr. Leigh. I deny the fequel. 
 
 D'-.Rw^/ Then I will prove that there is an exprefs Command 
 for the baptizing of fome Perfons, from the Commifllon it felf. 
 
 Mr. Leigh. That is not the fequel of the Major^ it is that I 
 deny. 
 
 Dr. Ruffd. And I bring th-j Ccfmmiffion to prove it. But yda 
 fay, that notwithftanding our Lord hathexprefly commanded 
 
 E Tome 
 
iome Perfons to be baptized ; althouoh he hsth not command 
 ded Infants to be baptized, yet they may be fome oi thatNum- 
 her Hith Chrift two forts of Subjsfts that he commands to b^ 
 baptized in that'Commiflion ? Or, rarher, are fome comman- 
 ded, and others nor commanded, and yet both to be baptized ; 
 the one by a Command, and the other\vithouc ? 
 
 Here Mi. Leigh refufis to Jnfwer^ and Cr'iss out, Put it into a 
 Syllogifm. ' ' 
 
 Dr. Ruffel. If no Peffons are to be baptized ac ording to 
 that CommilTicn, but what are there exprtfly commanc&i ; 
 and Infants are not fo commanded ; then the Gefii/eqaencflP'of 
 the Major is true ; '^^ 
 
 But no .Perfons are to be baptized, according to thacCom- 
 million, but what are there ex pre fly cqramaaced ; and In- 
 fants are nor fo commanded ; ' 
 
 Ergo, The Confequence of the Msjor is true. 
 
 A^r. Leigh. I deny your Minor. 
 
 Dr. ku^el By fo doing yon lay there are feme to be bapti- 
 zed that are not there exprefly commanded. 
 
 A'Ir. Leigh Do you nor know your own Argument ? 
 
 Dr. R.njji.1. I repeat it not for my own Knowledge, but for 
 the Peoples Infof macion. And I prove my Minor thus : 
 
 If the Words of the Commifsion are an exprefs Command 
 to the Aooftles, to diiefi them who they fliould baprize, then 
 the Minor is tree : <* . 
 
 But the Words of the Comm*fsion are an exprefs Command 
 to the Apol^Ies, todireft them who they Ihculd baptize ; 
 
 Ergo, The Minor h true, 
 
 Mr. Le'i^h I deny your Minor. 
 
 Dr.'RiiJJel. If there be no other" Gommifsion of oir Lord 
 for Holy Baptifm, but what is Recorded in M^ath, 28. and 
 ^4ark 16 then the Minor is true ; • 
 
 But there is no other .- E'-g^, The Minor is true. 
 
 Mr. Leigh I deny the fiquel of your Major, 
 
 Dr Rujfd. Put we are now upon the Commifsion. 
 ^ Mr Leigh. We are fo ; But we fav, good Confeqaences de- 
 rived from the Commifsion,, are fufficient. 
 
 Dr. Riiffd. So you may if you pleafe ; but I had rathec 
 walk exactly according to the Commirsion of our Lord, cnan 
 by fuch'Conftq ieqces whereinl may be deceivtd. 
 
 Mr. Robrfifon. I matter not what you had ra^r do, or what 
 your Opinion i.s I am for Confeqjences. '" '' 
 
 Mr. Lrlgh. I deny the fequelot the Major; That they are to 
 baptize none, but luch as thej are exprvfly commanded. . 
 
 Dr RnfeL TiiQnl thus Argue ; 
 
 If 
 
(,-27 ; - [ 
 
 it ircic Mc j-u nu^nnercf Allowance given tFiem tobspna^ 
 any other but what rhey latre expreOy commanded, then the 
 Sequel of rhe Major is true ; « 
 
 But there is no manner of Allowance given them to bap- 
 tjze any other hut wh^t they are exprefly commanded : 
 
 E^'go, ths Sequel of the Major is true. 
 
 Mr. lisigh was pleafed here to give a general D^inial, v;ithout 
 Diilingui&ing : Upt»n which Dr.P.upl referr'd him to his tor- 
 m^ Argumcaf, wherein he had already f}ie\vei3, that there is 
 an expreis Comniand for the Baptizing of all fuch, rhar they 
 are: ieguired to baptize hy Virtue of Chrifi; s Commiflion 
 
 Mr Leigh, I deny ycur n-insr, lut ciJ^inguifh bet'veen 
 the Commsnc? being expreiTed and the Subjefts intended. 
 
 Di'.kufd. It the. Words in the Commnlion about: Holy 
 JBaprifin be a Command from Cbiifl; to his Apoftles, then the 
 Tmmr is true: 
 
 Bat the Words in the Commiilion about Holy Baptifoi are 
 a Command fiom Chrift to his Apol^les.. 
 
 Ergo, The w/woF* is true, 
 
 Mr. L6gh. Upon Diuinaicn; we deny that all the Subjtcis 
 £Te txpreis'd. 
 
 Dr. Riijfel My Argi3m';?nt faith, They have not AJIovvance 
 tobaprixe any o'^her. I am novv therefore to" prove diat bo' 
 CcRimJffion is a Qinin and co them, if you deny ic, 
 
 Mr. l^eigh. raiiow' that the G-nrnmand is ixprefs'd : But I i::y 
 ''vr- Snhjeds are to be broiii!',!-!: in by Confeqvience. 
 
 Dr. liiijjtl Then j will prove that the Sabjech ar- 
 
 Jf^ Chxii\ dki cfimmand his Apoftiss to baprize iuv,^. -.^ i-- 
 lieve and are #*3de Diiopks, then the Subj^asare exprti^t'd : 
 
 But Chriil did coHm?.nd bh Apcl- - ' .^p:ize inch a?, bc>, 
 .. ve and are uutde D;ic.:3|*ics ; 
 
 E'-go, The Subj'-:& jireexprefM 
 
 Mr. high. I find a fault ^'ith your Syllo^inti ; your ^i-^jvr 
 .culdbe Univerftti. 
 
 Dr Rufl. i^v-s ro yrove ^l-cne is a Command, ^v■'h K- 
 s'peflt to the ubj c fore [ havtTorm'd ' 
 
 gifm right. For . riv^l Believers and U 
 
 di« SubjtGs they arti coinntc . ; .:^^ to baptize. ■ 
 
 Mr. RoUvJon Ycu ffiuft f^y all f he Subjecls. 
 
 Dr. Rfjjfd. By your F;ivour, tbere is no need of tha;, 
 '^. .Leigh deai|^ there' is an expiefs Command in C 
 
 Mr. Leigh. I hopf-* tKe J'topi^' can reHiiic c': t . 
 Command is eiijntfs'd ; But the Subjtcb to I, ^ 
 
 coafequentially. 
 
Dr. Rufd. Is not that the fame which I fiy yon 
 
 know you allowed there was a Ccmmand for the thing 
 
 bur not for ths'SubjeSs. And therefore I have anfwereif 
 rightly, and your Oppofition is unreafonable. 
 
 Mr. Leigh. We muft all confefs that Jefus Chrift gave Com- 
 mifiion to baptize Believers when at the age of Maturity. 
 Such as were before Jews and Greeks, and Newly. believing in 
 the Lord Jefus, were thereupon to be baptized ; but after- 
 wards the Children of thofe Believers. ^ 
 
 Dr Rujfel It's faid in Mark i6. 1 6. He that helievcth and is 
 haptized jhall be favsd. fiere i^ not one Word of Infers. 
 
 Mr. Leigh And it follows, He that believeth not^ Jhall h 
 darmCd. Now if Believing be previous to Haptifm, hy the 
 fame Way of Arguing it muft be neceflfary to Salvation ; and 
 io you muft fay, Tliat all not believing are danln*d, and fo aH 
 Infsnr*: are damned. 
 
 Dr Rnffgl. This is a Non-fequitur : For Infants are not at all 
 inten'^'cd in this Commiflion, as I have already ihewed you, 
 and as Mr John Calvin doth alfo affirm. 
 
 B'lr f hope Mr, Leigh, will allow our Saviour's Words to be 
 True ; Trtat all thole his Apoftles preached to, according to 
 his Commiffion, if they did not believe, they fhould be dam- 
 ned. For of fuch it is faid, Hethatbelieveth not, is condemned 
 already, becaufe he hath not believed in the Name of the only be* 
 gotten Son of God. * - 
 
 But as touching Infants, I am far from believing that God ' 
 hath decreed them (as fuch^ to eternal Damnation. I will ra- 
 ther believe that all Infants dying in their Infancy are elefted 
 than conclude that any of them are damned. And I fuppofi 
 you do not know the contrary. If you do, I defire you 
 would tell the People fo. 
 
 Mr. Leigh. What do you put that upon us for ? 
 
 Dr. Kaffcl. Becaufe I think it's reafonable you ftiould tell the 
 People what your Opiijion is, feeing you have ftaited it; fot 
 you jee I have given my Opinion freely about it ; and if you 
 think other wife, pray tell the People fo. 
 
 For then I conceive that your baptizing their Infants will 
 do them no good ; for you cannot aker the Decrees of Hea* 
 vtn : Or if you believe, ss the Papifts do, that Grace is con- 
 veyed to them barely by the Aft done, notwithftanding the 
 Children are wholly pafliv e in it, pray tell us (6, 
 
 Mr. Leigh refufed to anlwer to the Former, but gave this 
 Anfwer ro the Latter : No, we deny that. 
 
 Here Mr. John {Vtlliamsj baptiz d Miniftei^ offered his Ar- 
 guments, ',.,.. 
 
 If 
 
^ 
 
 ^Jf Believers are the only Subjefts of Baptifm accordiag to 
 Chrift's Commiflion, then Infants are not 
 
 But Believers are the only Subjefts of BajL'ifm according to 
 Chrift*s Gommiflion; 
 
 Therefore Infants ate not. 
 Mr. Leigh denied the fequel of the major ; which was thus 
 proved. 
 
 If Infants are incapable of believing, then rhey are not the 
 Subjefts of Baptifna according to the Commifllon : 
 But Infants are incapable of believing ; 
 Therefore they are not the Subjtfts of Baptifm according 
 to theCommiflion. 
 
 Mr. Lergh {^id the Greek Word fignified to make Difciples ; 
 and I deny that Infants are incapable of being made Difcipley. 
 Mr. Williams {zid he did not underfland Greek ; he maft 
 leave that to his Brother, 
 
 Then Mr.L<:/g^ faid, I deny the w/7;<?r. 
 Air Williams proved his miror thus: 
 
 If theEfTence of Faith coniifts in the h^ of the Underftari" 
 iing and of the WJll^rhen Infants are incapable of believing : 
 But the Eflence of Faith confids in the Ad of the Under- 
 ftanding and of the Will : 
 
 Therefore Infants are incapable of believing. 
 Mr. Leigh denied the fequel of the m/ijcr^ which Mr Wil- 
 Hants thus proved. 
 
 If none can believe on Jefus Chti{l, th^t never heard of 
 Jefus Chrid, then Infanrs are incapable of believing : 
 
 But none can believe on Jefus Chrid, that never heard of 
 Jefus Chrift; 
 
 Therefore Infants are incapable of believing. 
 Mr. Leigh denied the fequel of the T^iajor. 
 But he /hould have remembred what is written, Rom. lo. 
 J-^.- UoxB {ball they belienje in him of whom they have 7Jot hear^ ? 
 avdhow jhall they hear vpithout a Vreach r ? And ! do notfup- 
 pofe our Antagonifts think they are fibliged to Preach to New. 
 born Infants. And yet the Adminiflrarion of Baptifm is (by 
 the Conimiflion) reftrained to fuch as are made believers by 
 the Preaching ot the Word. ;;' 
 
 Thefs Arguments being fufficiert to prove the Incspacity 
 of Infants believing, the next Argument 7^/r Williams ofterM, 
 was from thence, to prove rhat Infants could not be the Sub- 
 j?8:s of Baptitm according to Chrift's CommifTion. 
 
 If the Adminiftrator mull: have an Account of the Faith of 
 the Subjefl: befo're he bj^ptize him, then Infants are not the 
 Subjects of baptifm according to Chrift's Commifs on: 
 
\ 3 ^ y -'^ 
 
 But the Adminiftrator muft have an Account of thei^ari 
 of the Sub jefl: before he baptize him : 
 
 therefore Infants are not the SubjeSs of baprifin according 
 toChrifts Commifion.- 
 
 Mr. Leigh denied the minor. 
 
 For the Proof of which, Mr, WilUaThs urged two Scriptures, 
 J^sB.^6, 37. and M/ttth.28. 19. and faid, when the Eunuch 
 pro^pofed for baprifm, Philip tells him, Jfthou hiie'vefi with all 
 . thy heart, thou maySi. The contrary (that fairly offeis it felf ^ 
 - is this; Thic if thou doft not believe with all chine Heart, 
 thou mayfl: not. And upon this, the Eunuch ^^deciarcd his 
 Faith before he was baptized. ^"^'- 
 
 From U' hence it's evidenr, the Eunuch was content to b 3 
 taught; P/j/Zi/^teacheshim; and yet after chi^, he muft know 
 whether he believes, before he baptized him. Therefore ic 
 follows, th?y miift have aftual Learning ; aivi the Mihifter 
 muftalfo know that they have ic before ht; baptize them. 
 
 And in Matth. 28. 19. Go difciple to n/e all tUsious^ba^ttziiig 
 them. From whence I thus argue. 
 
 If Minifters have no commibion to baptize any but fuch as 
 are difcipled to Chriji^ then they muft have aa Account of 
 their Difciplefhip before they baptize them. 
 
 . But Minifters have no commifsion to baptize any but-fuch 
 . are difcipled to C^r/^. 
 
 Therefore they muft have an Account cf their Difciple&fp 
 beforethey baptize them. 
 
 To which was added, xhatLrajmui m kis Pa.aplirafe ipon 
 the New Tefhment. reads the commifsir-.T thus Go and teach 
 all Nation!,, and when they have learned, dip thim. And Hur* 
 therfay, If the Adminiflrator muft have tn Account of the 
 perfon's learning before he be baptized, then a bar^ g'^i"g to* 
 SchboHs not fufH -icntto conftftute him a Difcipie. 
 
 Mr. Robinfon. Do you fee. Sirs ! this Gentleman ^jpunds 
 his Opinion upon the Authority of Erafmns. 
 
 t>r\ Rufel. Why mjl^ Erajfnusbe thus flighted? Here are 
 fome Honourable Perfons know very well, chi: Eraffna: ^'ns 
 a man nottobedef^nfed for his Skill about the Erymplogy of 
 a Gree^ Word. Bat any thiflij^fcrves your turn at a Pinzb. 
 
 Mr Leigh. He quotes Erafmas ; and it's well known he was 
 between Papift and PLOteftanc. Now many of thefc men, 
 fpeakingagainl^ Infant baptifm, will call it Popsry j anU yet 
 he quotes £r.»/5»;^; for their Judgment. 
 
 Now, forafmuch as Mr Lff^^ lltppM the AT-gnmenr,-snd 
 only replied to that of E>-afnu^, tha: he ^d.izn. I:itcr-P^r>iJ.::: 
 Mr [VilliamsgyiS hioi this AnTwer, 
 
 ing m 
 
( ?o 
 
 Sir, You have heard my Argument, to which you have gi- 
 ven no Anfwer. As touching Brafmus, I did not quote him as 
 building my Fairh on his Authority, but for his Judgment; it 
 being the Tranflation of a man that underflood' the Original: 
 And aJthough he was not accounted one of the beft of mep, 
 yet he was accounted one of the beft of Schol. rs in his Tiaje. 
 
 Mr. Leigh. And now as to the Eunuch, he was a Profelyte 
 too, and his Infants, if he had any, were to be taken in alfo. 
 Phihp icomes to him, and he requires a Confeffion of his Faith, 
 becaufe he ^fvas a grown man. Yet had he had an Infant wijrh 
 him, he h^ bad a Right to this Ordinance after he believed. 
 When by yoiir Opinion it mufl be caft oat, becaufe not capa- 
 ble of a61ui3l Believing. 
 
 Now I deny that he that adminiflers the Ordinance, mull 
 always have an account of the Perfon, whether he hatb Lear- 
 ned, or not. » 
 
 CI fuppofe Mr, Leigh forgot himfelf, to talk of an Eunuch*s 
 having Children. It puts me in mind of a Story I lately heard 
 ofa Piesbyterian rvlinifter that undertook ( in a Sermon ; to 
 . prove Infanr-Kiptifm, and to that end chofe this Text for his 
 purpofe, of Philifs haptiz^tng the Eunuch. And when he hacj 
 infilied fome time upon it, he fpeaks after this manner to the 
 People; Beloved, T»hen yeu are gone, ferhaps you -a^iU fay. What 
 is aH this to the pttrfoje ? Here is not one wi,rd of Infants in the 
 Text.;^.-j{ is true, fays he, there is not, but I will teU you. how that 
 comes m : Had he ^>ad his Wife and Children with him, they had 
 then been baptized as weO. as himfelf :- Bup they were at a gt^eat 
 dipance from him ; but as fidn as he came heme, jmmsdiately he 
 baptized jhsv2 ali_. 1 will make no Comment upon it, but only 
 this; If thefe Gtnrlcmen kuow what an Eunuch is' r^en it's 
 vain BabJing; if they do not,kc chem go to the Grand Signior's 
 Seraglio., and learn. ) , 
 
 Mr. Willia:.'s. We have plain direaion for what I have faid ; 
 Philip faid to the Eunuch, Jfthcu believe^ with all thine, hart 
 thou mayeji. And accordingly he took an account of his i^^th! 
 And in the CommifHo^, Co difciple all Nations, baptizing 
 them. From whence it's evident, it was thofe riiey had made 
 Difciples, that they were to baptize. And therefore they 
 muft know whether they are Diiciples or no, before they muft 
 adventure to baptize them. 
 
 ^Mr. I^ei^h.^ You argue thus, becaufe ctvri? Them, is of the 
 Mafcuhn^ Gender, ir muft agree with ^^.S^.t^^^ Difciples, bs- 
 mg or the fame Gender, and not with Traifjct ^d U,,^ aU Natir 
 c^s. But any School boy that hach but learned his Greek 
 Grar^amarj cm rclulve-this. 
 
( ?2 ) 
 
 Nov> Mr. Wllliilms had told him before, that he did mt under* 
 fland Greek'; and fo he made bold to valour with it, when he wa* 
 refpondmg fa him. 
 
 But Mr. Leigh might have been fo civil to have told the Old 
 Gentleman his Scnfe of it, and not ( m-fuch a light mamer } t4 
 have referred him to a School- bey for hii Information. 
 
 A School boy knows (\^ Mr, Leigh doth not) that the 
 Rule in the Greek Grammar is as follows; 
 
 Relativum cum /^ntecedcnte concordat Gencre^NumerOf^ Perfcna, 
 And therefore muft give it for Mr. Williams. • 
 
 Bur I will refer rhe Reader to a better Aurhority than a 
 School-boy : The lare Reverend and Learned Minifter of the 
 Gofpel, Mr, John Gofnold. in his Bo. k Entituled, B^/.-^rrKr/u/^^if 
 ^iJk^^, pag. 24 who thus fairh, the ward Them (Baptizing 
 them) hath no refivence unto aU Illations, as is to be Jecn in ths 
 Grammar of the Text, a.v\^6<:. Them, being of the Mafculine Gen- 
 der, but TmvTA tsc Vdv'f\ all Nations, of the Neuter. 
 
 This Them then muft have reference to Difciplcs, to fuch ^s 
 are firft Taught : 
 
 But Mr mUiams pajfTvis by this trivial Flourifh, and proceeds 
 to a new Argbment. 
 
 If Infants are incapable of denying themfeUes for Chrift, 
 then they are incapable of being made Difciplesof Chrift. 
 
 But Infants are incapable of denying thjemfelves for Chrid: 
 Therefore they are incapable of being aiadc Difcipks of Chrift. 
 
 Mr. ' ?igh denies the Sequel of the major. 
 
 Mr WilHsms proves it thus. 
 
 If a Perfon xrannot be his Difciple unlefs he deny both Re» 
 lative Self arid Perfonal Self, then the Sequel is true ; 
 
 But Infants are nor capable foto do : 
 
 Therefore the Sequel is true. 
 
 Mr- Leigh. This purely refers to grown Perfons ; and by the 
 fame Argument y6u may fay Infants muft not Ea- ; becaufe ic 
 is faid in another place. He that cannot work, mu/i mt eat, 
 
 Mr. Williams. Nay, Sir, Ic is he that- w II not work, not he 
 that cannot. It is he that is able and will nor. Fori hv)pe 
 you will provide for your Parents, when by reafon of Age 
 they are notableto work for themfelves. 
 
 Mr. Leigh. But this purely refers to grown Perfons, ^nd I 
 deny that Believers only are Difciples, 
 
 Mr. Williams, I proved that thus: Thofe that in Matth. 28. 
 are called Difciples, are in Mark 16, called Believers : So that 
 they are the fame Perfons intended. 
 
 Hereupon Mr. Leigh not being able to give a direB j^nfwer, en- 
 deavours to Jhift of the force of tiJofe twoT.^its^ and his Inference 
 frnm themy bi this Eviijion. ^i^- 
 
(3?^ 
 
 Mr, Leigh. I wouH know whether Infants are not as capatile 
 of believing in Chrift, as of comming to Chrifl ? Now they 
 are iaid to come when their Parents brought them. For Chrifi 
 fays , Suffer little Children to covie unto me '. And iz\ moft pro- 
 bable they werebroughr in the Arms to Chrift. Why may 
 they not be faid to believe, when they do not aSually believe 5, 
 sf imputatively they are faid to come when their Parents 
 brought them? 
 
 ' S'o, why may not they be faid to believe imputatively,when 
 their Parents devote them to Jefus Chrift, although the Chil- 
 dren do not aftually believe, but only the Parents ? 
 
 Mr.WiUiams. I deny the Parents Faith was ever imputed 
 to the Chnd. Prove it if yi)u can. 
 
 Mr. ^ Leigh. We talk of believers in faro Ecclefa^nd in foH 
 t>d with Diftinftion. and under this Notion, and no other 
 do we account believers are {b. 
 
 And under this Notion, I mean in foro Ecclejia. the Paren'-s 
 Faith may be imputed to their Children. 
 ^^Mr. Williams. We fay aPerfon is not a Difcipleof Chrif! 
 till he hath learned Chrifl. We do not allow of any fuch Im- 
 putation : And Mr. Leigh hath not ofFer'd any thing to prove if. 
 
 Dr. Rufel. It is time to come to fome Inftance; therefore 
 to force you upon it, I argue thus : 
 
 , If the Apoftjes of our Lord di^ never baptize any Infanr, 
 ^hen the baprifm of Infants is not according to Chrifs Com- 
 miffion* 
 
 But the Apoftles of our Lord did never baptize any Infant; 
 : i;rg:o. The baptifmof Infants is not according to Chrifl's 
 Commifhon. 
 
 Mr. Leigh. 1 deny your f^iinor. 
 
 Dr. Ruffel. I prove my minor thus. 
 
 If there be any account that the Apo{lles did ever briptize 
 any Infant, it is fomewhere Recorded in the Writings of th? 
 New TeBament. 
 
 But ir is no wfere fo Recorded in thofe Wrhings : 
 ^ Ergo, There is not any account that the Apoftles did evor 
 bapnze any Infant. . 
 
 Mr. /.gz;;^^, IdenyyoHr»2/Wr. 
 .Dr. Ruffel T muft now force you upon an In{!ance by an! 
 Unjverial Negative, 
 
 If there be any fuch account \n thof^ \¥riting5, Mr. Leigh, 
 orlo.neother Perfcn is abietofhsvv ic us; . 
 
 But neither Mr. Leigh nor any other Perfon is able to do it :' 
 , £rga, There is no fuch account there to be found. 
 
( ?4:) 
 
 Hers Mr. Leigh, being wholly deftitute of an Injiattce ; to 
 
 W 
 
 iC off, ho denies the Sequel of 'the mz]OV. ^nd faith ^ if doth not 
 follow it muft of neceflity be written in the New TeBament. 
 
 Now although this was contrary to the ]{ules ef Difpute, yet 
 Dr.RufleJ could not urge him to give any Inftance ; wherefore he yir- 
 gues upon him thus. 
 
 Dr. Rulfel. If noth ng elfe will do with you, I will prove the 
 feguel of my major, according to your denial. 
 
 If there be no other Rule left to direQ; us how we are to 
 Worfliip God in this Ordinance of Ba^tifm according to the 
 Gofpel, but what is contained in the Writings of the New 
 Teflament ; then it muft of neceffity follow, that \t be therein 
 written, it fuch an account be any where to be folfhd ; j 
 
 But there is no other Rule left to direS us how we arei 
 to Worfliip God in this Ordinance of Baptifm according to 1 
 the Gofpel, but what is contained in the Writings of the New = 
 Tejiament. 
 
 Ergo, It muft of necefity follow, that it be therein written, 
 if fuch an account be any where to be found. 
 
 Mr. Leigh. I fay it might be pra£tifed in thofe Times, 
 though not Recorded in the New Tejiament. 
 
 Dr. Ruffel. Will you grant that it is not Recorded in the New 
 Tejiament. 
 
 Mr. Leigh. We will fuppofe it ; but not grant it; 
 
 Dr. Rv^d. Thereafonvvhy you fuppofe it, is becaufe yovi 
 cannot prove it .- For you are not fo free of your conceffions. 
 
 Mr. Leigh. It is not Recorded in the New Tejiament what you 
 pradife, that grown Children of Believers were baptized. li 
 chalknge you to give one Inftance of any one born of be^ 
 lieving Parents, baptized at Age. ,. ^ . 
 
 Dr. R'ujfcl I have called tor .one Inftance from Scripture le- 
 veral'tim<rs,of anv one Infant that was ever baptized, and you, 
 have not betn able ta produce it. This you now fpeak of, is 
 befides the matter we are upon : And is ufed on purpofe to 
 divert us from our Argument, and lead us to fomething elfe: 
 that is foreign to it Pray do you firft fliew us where it is ^o 
 written in the NewTeflament, that any one Infant was baptized, 
 if you can : and then you ftialj hear what we have to fay. 
 
 Mr. Leigh: Thefe Men talk much of Scripture, ard call 
 upon us to produce Scripture for our baprizing of Infanrs ; as 
 if they had abundance of proof for their Practice ; Now 
 let them give but one Inftance of what is their PraSice; 
 namely, of one Perfon that w^sborn of a Believer, and vvasi 
 baptized when he eame to grown Years j and! will givethcmi 
 
 ^^^^^"^^- • Dr.Rufil, 
 
 • II 
 
( 1? ) 
 
 Dr.RuftL I \^'ill Tnftahce in Con^antlm ihs Great ^-wh^^e 
 Mother Helena, was a Chriftian, and yet he was not baptiztd 
 till he was confiderably in Years. 
 
 Befides, I do not remember, that there is any account in 
 Hiftory, during the firft 5:00 Years, that any one of the Fa- 
 rfiers, or eminent Bifliops of the Church, that were born of 
 Chriftian Parents, were ba| tized until they were about Twen- 
 ty or Thirty Years of Age. And if any of you know the 
 contrary, I defire you would fhew it. 
 
 Mr. Leigh. What do you tail us of the Fathers? We are 
 not bound to abide by their Teftimony. 
 
 Dr RujfeL This is the firft time I have ever met with this 
 Anfwer from you Paedobaptifts, to tell us you difown the Te- 
 timony of the Fathers in the point of Infant Baptifm. When 
 you think the Fathers are on yeur fide, then we cart hear 
 enough of them ; but now you fee they are againft you, you 
 will not abide by their TeHimony . You know T do nor a/ledge 
 it to prove the Inf^Irution, bur only Matter of Faft. But feeing 
 you will not abide by their TeOimony J flial] leave it to be coa- 
 iidered by the People ; For I am '.veil fatisfied there arc Ibnie 
 Honourable Perfons here, knuw what I lay to be true. 
 
 Mr. Williams doth then proceed to a Scripture Inftanct ; and 
 asks Mr. Leigh this ^cflton. Was not the Mother of our 
 Li3rd a Believer, when Chrift was born ? 
 
 Mr. Leigh answers, What do you a^k that Queftion^for ? 
 Every Body knows that. 
 I Mr^ K iiiiams. Bur do you believ^e it ? 
 . Mr. Leigh Yes, I do believe it ; What then ? 
 
 Mr. miliatns. Then here is an Indance for you from Scrip- 
 ture, cf the Child of a Believer, that was a Believer before ae 
 tsras born ; and yet he was not baptized till he caaie to Years! 
 And this we can prove. 
 
 ^ Upon this the Peoph fell a laughing at Mr, Leigh, and hii 
 Countenance changed pale ; and he was under fame feeming Confter^ 
 nation of Mrnd, fe that he could nat prefcntly reco'ver himfetf { hut 
 ^t laji his Spirits rallied again^ and then he fpake to this EjfeB. 
 
 Mr Leigh Oar Difcourfe was grounded on the Commiflion 
 >^ow was this before rhe Commiffion , or after it ? 
 
 Dr Rtifel. It is a miftake Mr. Leigh, we were not now upon 
 he Commifllon, but upon your Qucftion. ' And I think 
 Vlr. m lliams hzih given, you a pertinent Anfwer, every way 
 uitable to your QueOion, and the Challenge you made us': 
 ind you are bound to take it. Upon this he made no Reply ; 
 lut addrrjfed hivifelf to us after this manner. Now if you pleafe 
 i will beqome Opponent. Our Jnfmr was, You may, ii you 
 hmkiit^. we arc contented. Fa Mr. 
 
 
\ 6^ J 
 
 Mr. Leigh. Then I Argue thus, 
 rf Infants are vifiblc Church- Members, then they we to 
 be baptized. 
 But Infants are vifible Church-MembckS. 
 Ergo, The> are to be baptized. 
 
 Dr Rujfel This Argument doth not include the Point in 
 Queftion, for you ought to put inthefe Words, according to 
 Chrift's Commiffion. 
 
 Mr. Leigh rcfufed fo to do. 
 XJpn rtfkch Dr, Ruflel a^hd him this ^ep'on. 
 Are you of Mr. C^^w^/^r's mind in this Matter? He fays 
 That Baptifm is an Initiating Ordinance. 
 Mr. L*--^^ anfwered, Yes, lam 
 
 Dr. Rnfel. Then make Senfe of your Argument, if you 
 can: For it will run thus. *» . 
 
 If Infants are already vifible Members of the Church, then 
 they are to be baptized that they may be made Co. ^ . 
 
 It is as if I fiinuld fay, That becaufe fuch a Man is in this 
 Houfe already, therefore there' muft fome AS pafs upon him 
 to bring him in, when he is aQually in the Houfe before. 
 Make Senfe of this , if you can. 
 
 However, I will deny the Minor ; and fay they are not vifi- 
 ble Church- Members before they are baprized 
 
 Mr. Chandler. If there be no Precept or Example in all the 
 Word of God, to warrant us to make any other Initiating 
 Ordinance into the Church but Baptifm, then vifible Church- 
 Members ought to be baptized. 
 
 But there is no other Initiating Ordinance into the Clftjrch 
 befides Baptifm ; , i' 
 
 .Ergo, Vifible Church- Members ought to be baprized. 
 Dr. Rufl. What, doth not Mr. Chandler know the difference 
 between the Major and Miner ? I deny the Mimr. and his Ar« 
 gument is to prove the Sequel of the Major : vybich I had con- 
 futed before. 
 
 But if this be true that Mr. Chandkr fays, it is a fall Anfvrer 
 to Mr. Leigh's Mimr : For then it runs thus : if there be no 
 other way to bring Perfons into the vifihle Church but by 
 Baptifm ;* then they were not vifible Church- Member- beFc^e 
 they were bapriz-d. Which is direftly oppofite to what 
 Mr. Leigh hr.th affirmed^ 
 
 Mr Rob m fan. This Argument was brought to prove that 
 vifible Church- Members are tbbe admiic«id to Baptifm. 
 
 Mr. Williams. I deny that Infants are vifible Church Mem- 
 bers in their Infancy, 
 
 1 
 
y i7 ^ 
 
 *frL.,^* I will prove that fomc are fo, from Mat. .9, ,4 
 Suffer, hl,!^eCh,ldr,,>, and firbid ,hcm m>, ,o,ome umo mt 
 fir offnch ts the Kingdom of Hcsven. 
 
 were B$L^> ^' '" ""'"^ ''*'' " P'"'* '''" ''''^^ C''"'!'-*' 
 
 n'' pT*/ jjr' ' 1° "°i P''"*"' '"^"y '■"<:'' thing- 
 Dr. Riifel. Wnat then do you bring it for ?' ^ 
 
 J'ni^Jf ^ ^""^ " '° P^ove chat Infants are villble Church- 
 
 , ,f 'u.?-^'i 't^-^'"': '^'^ bfo'-ght it to prove that Infants had 
 L^'k , ■' ['"•.K-ngdom of Glory, I ftould have thought you 
 
 fci of fh': Pirce' ''"^" ""^P"'"' ^"'' -""^^ ''Srecablf to\he 
 A^>'. L«^^ I argue thus upon it. 
 
 , vlt'^J^^L'^^'. ^'''^''S ^^ ^^^ Kingdom of Heaven, that is the 
 Vifible Church of Chrfft, are viflble Church members ' 
 /r^ -a ^^^^'"g^of" of Heaven, that h^ the vifible Church of 
 Lhrift, ,s 2n parr made u^ of Jictle Child, en : 
 
 Ergo^ Little Children are vifible Church members. 
 
 ..,^' '% ' ""'^^ ^'^'* ^^i"^^ ^g^^"^ f^e form of your Ac. 
 gumen : But to pafs chat by, I do deny your tmnor^ 
 
 dculars ^'°''^ ""^ '^'""''' ^^^ anlnduaion of Par- 
 
 inSpture' ^IT,' ^^^^P^^^^'°"^ °^ the Kingdom of Heaven 
 
 I. It flgnifies the Laws and Promlfes of the Kingdom 
 ^. *Kr ^u'r'r "^ ^^^ ^''-^g^om, v hereby we are enabled 
 
 M.lf7r '5' K ^'"'- ""^ '^"^ ''' '' ^'^ f^^f^^ ty ^ grain of 
 Muflard.feed, by Leaven and the like 
 
 Subjeast^'S ^^"^^^^ J^^- C^-ift'^ Management of his 
 
 ^^4^^And fometinies k fignifiss thaHappinefs of the Saints in 
 
 K^/n^^"^ 'J'Pyf^^^^J^ 's taken for the vifiblc Church Mi- 
 
 n^ / '" ""^ "^^^'^ ^'r ^"^ ^^"^ ^^^> '^^^ '^ be taken 
 in this Scripture to make good Senfe of it ; which { Ihali prove 
 by an Argument of Indufbrn ^ 
 
 of ^2 ^f.Nonfenfe to fay, Offuch h the Laws and Promifes 
 of th^ kingdcm; If ,c be Nonfenfe to f.y, OF (uch h the 
 Graces of the Kingdom ; If ic he Nonfenfe to fay, OFfuch 1; 
 
 fenfe to fay, Offuch ,s ^he Happmtis of the Saints in Glorv; 
 
 then the vifible Church is in part made up oi Jircie Children ; 
 
 «.ofc r' ^r"^"?!^.?" '^P^^y ^^ ^^ ^'^ the orha- i and it is 
 good Senfe to fay, Of fuch is the vii,ble Church : ' Erg\ 
 
C ?8 5 
 
 Ergo, The^ifible Church is in part ma(?e up of little Gfailr 
 
 ' Dr Ruffcl. There is fo much Nonrenfe in this Argument, I 
 fnow not well how to make Senfe of it : It feems to me little 
 o the piirpofe. But however. I will deny your Minor and 
 ay, Ir is good Senfe to fay, that little Children belong to the 
 kingdom of Qlory. . , 
 
 ! pray ohferv! {by the way) -oohat fort ef uhjeBs Mr Leigh/ 
 Zhurch mufl confiji of\ if they have no IntereJI in the Graces of the 
 Kingdom, nor yet in the .Glory cf the Kingdom. 
 
 Mr- Leigh. I fay it'sNonfenfe to underftanl Itotherwife. 
 
 And uoon this he defired, that a^l rhore who were fati^^ied 
 with what he had faid fliould hoV up their hands. And of 
 that great Multitude, there was but a very few that did it : So 
 that it-was manifeft they were not fatisfied with what he had 
 faid. 
 
 Mr. Williams. Is it Nonfenfe then to fay, that any Infants 
 belong CO the Kingdom of Glory ? 
 
 Mr.Vetgh. Yes, while they are in their Infant State; for 
 trhtn arrived to Glory they are perfeft as grown men, what- 
 ever they were on Earth. Otherwife we muft fay that there 
 are Infants of two foot long, poor, weak, ignorant things m 
 Glory : Therefore it muft be thus taken, for we muft make 
 good Senfe of Scripture. 
 
 Mr. miliams. I deny your minor, and fliall form an oppo- 
 flte Argument thus : _ 
 
 If infants are neither Members of the Univerfal vifiDle 
 Church, nor yet of a particular conftituted Church, then they 
 are not members of the vifible Church at all : -. , . ,, , 
 
 But they are neither members of the Univerfal viUble 
 Church, nor yet of a particular conftitured Church; 
 
 Therefore they are not members of the villble Church at all. 
 
 Mr. Ltigh took no notice of this Argument^ but Jaid, It did 
 not belong to a Rcfpondent to form an Argument. 
 
 To vph:ch Mr. Williams replfd. My Work is to clear the 
 Truth ; I will not be ty'd up to your Rules oi Oifputarion. 
 
 M'-. R3''/«j^« required an exprcfs prohibition of Infants 
 C'liarch memberfiiip. 
 
 Mr. Williams reply d, That is fine indeed ; Pray give us an 
 cxorefs prohibition of baptizing with Cream, and Spjtrle, and 
 Salt, and Ovl ; and the ufe of the Crofs in Baptifm: (all which 
 you rejea j and of many things more that might be brought 
 ir.ro the Worlhlp of God. j^nd to this m Reply was made. 
 
 Mr. Leigh inltpng again upon his Jrgum':nt for excluding In^ 
 fmti m ofthi Kingdom of Heaven, fnm Matth. 19. affirmtvg^ 
 
09) ' 1 
 
 lea, ofcbry"" " '"" ^°''^"'^' " ^'"f' '^'V *"'«''• Suh 
 
 Mr »',//«^_ ftid Wemuftdiftinguini between a Trfeto 
 Glory, and the aaual En oyment of Glory. EkSt InfL« 
 
 C(Vj'"f r '^'r- •'y Vutueof theL-gkeouf„eft"o1 
 C/^,ft imputed unto them , although they are not aflually „ k 
 
 r„ hi™ ""'J'"!' ^'- ^^f*^"' denied rhe»^>r, and proved' 
 to h,m rom Manh. ,. 7. That Church Memberftip could ^nr 
 be the ground of Baptifm : becaufe thofe many Kfe« a„i 
 others that c.,me and ofFer'd themfelves to » fTr BaD,;rl 
 
 Ch^rch^^be^f g }2. ■"'""" '■^ "'^ "«'" ''-'- «" «>« 
 have "b:»caft out '"■ '"' "'"^6"^ ought by the dw to 
 
 Lar.:^^Kft:,d^l^'j:j>=^^ 
 
 Sumemof'h^LHf ,f r^ ^^'^'- ^>^^^^^^»lot,MsAr. 
 
 ^"oS/pTSrfd'en::r'^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 mem that was more confonant to the Point in One^nn I 
 Jhem And yer we cannot allow that thev are the <?„h;.A r 
 
 Z^". Leigh then proceeds to another Argument : 
 
 .ccoVdSxSik':;? '"^^ "'- » ^'^f" - «'pt''-- 
 
 But Infants ore D.lciples : 
 miffi^n ^""'^ '''" ' '^'■^'■"° %"'"™ acceding to the Com- 
 Mr. miiiams denied the »5/?/o;^. j 
 
(40) 
 
 In defence of which, they argued from Ms. i$. lo. after 
 his manner. 
 I If thofe ^pon^vhom the Yoke of Circumcifton was impofed 
 after the manner of Mofes, were called Difciples, and the man- 
 lier of Mofcs was to Circumcife Infants ; then Infants are cal- 
 led Dirciples, . > 
 
 But thofe upon whom the Yoke of Circumcifion was jm-^ 
 pofed after ;he n)anner of Mofes, were called Difciples, and 
 the manner of Mofes was to circumcife Infants • 
 Ergo, Infants are called Difciples. 
 
 Dr Rujel. I both dillinguifli upon your major, and dehy the 
 Confequence thereof For I hope you undcrftand a difference 
 betwixt the Mannemf performing an ASion, and the Sul^jeBs 
 upon whom it is performed. 
 
 The Manner of M'fcs h the thing here fpoken of; which was 
 tocuto^TtheForeFkinof th- FleOi with a Knife, a {harp Stone, 
 or the like Inftrumcnf And this was fomecimes praftifed upon 
 grown Perfons, and fometimes upon Infants. As touching 
 Infants, they are neither expreff^d, nor intended in the Scrip- 
 ture you- have ailed f<ed. For they are called Brethren, Behevmg 
 Gentiles, fuchthat'had an Epiftle fcnt to them and when they 
 heard it read, they rejoiced at the Confohtion, were efta- 
 blifhM in the Faith, and are called Churches; which your 
 felvesknow (in thofe Times) confifted of Adult Perfons, Mul- 
 titudes both of Men and Women But not of one Inftnt^that 
 we read of among them. And indeed, none of thofe fore- 
 mentioned Charafters can agree to little Infants. _ 
 
 Mr. Leigh. I grant the Manner is there fpoken of and the 
 Subjeas brought in afterwards. But ^^ould not the People 
 conclude that Infants were intended, if I tell them itmuftb© 
 done after the manner of Mojes ? i / l 
 
 Dr. Rtifel. It*s no matter what thofe People conclude, that 
 know not how to diftinguiih bervxeenthe Subjeds, andfhq 
 Manner. But thofe of whom this was fpoken, knew right 
 well, that the falfe Teachers impofed iruponthe Gentiles that 
 did believe : And they are the Subjeas here fpoken of 
 Mr Leigh. I would form this Argument j . . 
 
 If thofe are called Difciples who are advifed by Judaizing 
 Chriftians to be circumcifed after the Manner of Mofes, then 
 Infants are called Difciples : , .r i r l ^• 
 
 But they are called Difciples that are advifed fo to be Cir- 
 cumcifed : 
 
 £r^o, Infants are called Difciples. , ^ . ^ u 
 
 Dr. R#/ denies the Go'ilcqu^nce of the n'^jor, for it dcth 
 
 not follow that becaufe AduU Belieyers who arc the Stibjefts 
 
( 4«,) ,.„ , .,_ ... 
 
 thtte rpolceft of ( Hi IS already proved ) are ciill'd Dlfciptes 5 
 that therefore Infants, who are neither cxprefT^d, nor inffen« 
 ^ed, muft be fo called. For Mr. Leigh hath allowed the Di- 
 ftinSIon betwixt the Subj efts, and the Manner. 
 
 Mr. Leigh. Read the firft Verfe, and you will find, that 
 there came Men from Jtide»,^ thfir taught the (ientil^ Church 
 that believed, Thar unlefs they wire cu'cumc (fed alter th^ 
 Manner qf Mofes, they could not be faved , &c. It was the . 
 Yoke of Circumcifion here intended.. , 
 
 Whereupon b^r. H'^Jliams 'did deny, th^t. barely fcircumci? 
 fiort was that intolerable Yoke, which neither they, nor their 
 Fathers were able to bear , that- is there fpoken of by JPeter, 
 For Circumcifion, barely cbnfidered Children of Eight Day ^ 
 old were able to bear it, and did bear if 
 \ But Circumcidon, as it ol?liged to the Law in Point of Ju- 
 fllfication, w^s th;5t intolerable Yojce, wKich neither th^y, nor 
 their Fathers were able to bear. For the Apoftle tells the Gi^ 
 Utians, Tfiat if they wers citcumfcifed , Chrift fHould profit 
 them nothing ; and that they were bound to keep th6 whol^ 
 Law. 
 
 Now, aJthb' Circumcifion, barely 6onfidered, might be id- 
 pofed on Infants ; yet the falfe Doftrine in which that into- 
 lerable Yoke did cbrifift, together with Circumci lion, 6ould not 
 be impofed on Children. 
 
 Befides, that Circumcifion, after the Mariner of MoJeSy did 
 not refpeft the Subjefts, but^the Form. Ic w.is the Brethren 
 that were the SubjeQis the falfe Teachers would have had tq 
 have been circumcifed afrisr the Manner of Mojes ; arfiongfl 
 ivhich, Children could ndt be numbred, 
 i , For, 17?. They were fuch Brethren that had received tfc^ 
 Holy Ghoft. 
 
 2i/>. They had purified their Hearts by Faitli. 
 ,^^cily. They wdrie fuch thit from among the Gentiles ^ere 
 turned to God. 
 
 Then they went off alfd fr^m this, Jlnd faid, Infants Sr^ 
 part of a Nation, and therefore might be baprized. 
 
 Ur. tVilliam replied, Though Children are part of a Na« 
 tion; yet not of a Natiorj modifyM according to Ghrift^s 
 Commidion. 
 
 Whereupon their Moderatot faid, He thought Mr tVilUm 
 iw^ hid but little Academical Learning. 
 
 Mr. Williams replied, Me was warned by thi Wt?rd, W 
 hdve i care of vain Philofophy. And prefently demaiided,' 
 what was the Antecedent to the Relative thshtf ill the Cditi" 
 hlinidii ^ ^ 
 
 ^ tu 
 
(40 
 
 The Moderator making no anfwer, Mr. Williams faid, Ic 
 was all Nations Difcipled. 
 
 And upon this Dr. Kujfcl, and Mr. WtlUatn? bid both defire 
 them to produce one Inftance for Infant Baptifm, out of the 
 Word of God. And this they did very many times defire of 
 them, but no Inftance was produced. Ac length Mr. Willi' 
 ams defired them, in ihefe Words ; 
 
 Brethren, I would beg you to produce one Inftance for , 
 Infants Baprifm; it will reflef^ upon you if you do not. 
 What will all this People fay, when they are gone ? So many 
 times one tnftance defired : So many Miniftcrs here, and not 
 one Inftance produced : They muil needs conclude there 
 was not one to be produced^ 
 
 Kotwithftanding this, the Minifters were all filent ; and 
 not a Man did reply to it. 
 
 Then Mr. Leigh faid, Wc might take up the Oppcnency 
 again if we pleafc^. 
 
 Thus ended their fo much boafted of Opponency, in that 
 vain-glorious Advertifement, publiftied in the Ppft man, the 
 Saturday morning after the Difpure, feicher by one of them- 
 felves, or of • their unthinking Admirers) before Dr Rujfel 
 could return to London, altho* he fee forth from Portfmouth 
 the next morning after the Dilpute ; his prelling Occafions 
 necefllrating him thereto. • 
 
 Dr. Rujfel did then, at Mr. Leigh's Requeft,' reaflume the Op- 
 pon<ncy, of which Mr. Le%^ feemed to be fick, and was wil* 
 ling to get rid of it. Which was a fign they had no mind to 
 inform 'the People of the Grounds upon which they keep up 
 the PraQice of Infants Baptifm ; when they had fo fair an Op- 
 portunity DUt into their Hands to doit , and mad^ no better 
 Imp'-ov^ement of it. But having no Scripture Proof for it, 
 they were not willing to let fo great an Auditory know the 
 true Caufe why they continue fuch a Scripturelefs Pra£Hce; 
 to fay no worfe of if. 
 
 Dr. Rtiffel I will therefore prove, that no Infants are to be 
 baptized by Virtue of Chrift's Commiilion. 
 
 If Wt^? hath no other Antecedent agreeing therewith but 
 f/ct&i.'T^yWT?, then non6 are to be baptized but fuch as are firft 
 made Difciples by the Miniftry of men, which Infants are 
 not capable of. . 
 
 Bur th? AJitecedent is true ; as is alfo the Gonfequenc^^ and 
 therefore no Infants are to be baptized. 
 
 Mr. Leigh. I deny that clvt'6S hath no other Ancecedfntbuc 
 
C 4? ) 
 
 Dr. R.ujfel. If there be another, pray afiign ft, 
 
 Mr Uiph t fay ic'is ^to'-c W '^dci', All Nations. 
 
 Dr Kiijfd. That cannot prfllbly be • becaufe .:;uV»^, ri?£7», 
 IS of the Mafculin^ Gender, and :rw-','7c« -.' •^Ofij, alligations, is 
 of the Neuter Gender. Out >!J;a<r T^^w , doth very well agree 
 with (Cot^'jTWf , Dtfcpies, they being botk of the Mafculine 
 Gander. 
 
 To this they gave no folld Anrwer,worthy of noting down, 
 according to my remembrance, oi- the Nota iesObferv^arion. 
 
 Dr Rup! having obfr-rved what evafive Anfwers the) had 
 given to his own and Mr lViUtatr.i\ \rguments, wasrcfolved 
 to force them to a direft Anfwer Cif pofliblej by retorting 
 their own Allegation upon themfejves, that the^ might fee 
 the Abfurdiry of it : and this put tiiern into a fluirr?, and great 
 confufion. 
 
 The Argument w^s this. 
 
 If Infants arc capable to be made Difciples of Chrifi hy theMini- 
 jiry of Men, without the ufe of Reajon, then the Bcajls of the 
 Field are alfo capa.ble : but the Beajis of the ^Field are ?iot ca' 
 pable : thaJh's hifants are not capable. 
 
 Upon thi^ there was a great Difordcr among them, and a 
 Perfon in the Company C'ied out, He freaks BiafphcMy. Bi*-: 
 one of ths Minifhrsthat fat by h-m was fo juft, as to faciifiy 
 him to the contrary ; for which he deferves Thanks. 
 
 But Mr. Robinfon, their Monerator, flood up^ and threw 
 himfclf about, making a noiie '.ike one in a delirious P^roxy/ni ; 
 and bid the People rake notice, that Dr.Rw,/^^/ h^d r.tnkcd riieir' 
 Infants among the brute OeaR^ ; and that if hey bccan.eof his 
 Opinion, they nniO: look upon rheni as Dogs, or Cats, oc 
 Hogs, &c. with much more of the fame fort of Rhtrorick ; en- 
 deavouring all he could to enrage the multitude of unihinking 
 Ptrfons againft him, and pur thy People Into a Confanca 
 
 ^Upon this Mr. Sh.^rp, the Baptiff Moderarcr. Hood up, .md 
 faid, Gentlemen hold ! what is to do now? What, dv)th Colo 
 nel ijV//rJde Lord General in the Town oi Portfmmih to d^y ? 
 Whst is the reafcn of this ^ 
 
 Dr. Ruf'l. Hold, Mr. Robinfon. Mull I be thus mifreprcfcn. 
 ted to tht People, becaufe I lay (rhst which you all knew to 
 be true) that Infants want the ufe of Reafon ? I hop^ you 
 will bequieta litdetime, and^give me leave to make ruy De- 
 fence to the Pe pie againft your clamorous Expreffions. ' 
 
 £ am now put upon a neceliity to tell this AfTerably (of ho- 
 nourable Perfons, and odierj) what n-y Thoughts are con- 
 cerning the! State of mankind in general, and of litcie Infant.^ 
 in particular. 
 
 G 2 ^ I be- 
 
V: 44 / 
 
 f beljfiVe that man, as he came out of the hands of Qod, 
 Wrasan-wble Creature, the top Perfeftton of all his Creation 
 hereHelovv and wasfubflituted Lord of this lower World; 
 Was endowed with the Image of his Maker, both Natural an^ 
 Divine. 
 
 ' Bur by his Sin he loft the Divine Image and brought him- 
 felf thereb) under the Curfe, and into a Srare of Condemna- 
 tion, in which his Poftcriry were alfo involved. 
 
 But it plcafed God of his Infinite mercy, not to leave him 
 in that miferablc hftate, as he had left the fallen Angrls. But 
 Chrift interpoftd between Jaftice and the inner the Promifc 
 being maide befoi e the Sentence was pronounced. Gen. 3 ij; 
 That the feed of the tVetnan jhould bruife the SerpeKts head. And 
 this promifed Seed hathCthrough the Grace of God^^ opene^ 
 a door ofmer^y for little Infants, who never finned in ^heis; 
 own perions ; as well as for others. 
 
 And you know, Gentlemen, I have already told you how 
 great an Efteem I have for your' little Infants; that I will ra- 
 ther believe that all Infants dying in their Infancy are elefted, 
 than I uill conclude that any one of them are damn*d • And 
 this is more than I could perfuade our Oppofites to confsfs, 
 although they were urged upon it. 
 
 So that (for ought yet appeafs) we have a greater efteem 
 for your tender Babes than thefe Gentlemen have, notwith- 
 ftanding Mr Robinforis urtrcafonable Clamour againft me. And 
 having thus Apologized for my felf, I do now expe6i an An- 
 fwer to my Argument. ' 
 
 Mr. Robinfcn. What a ftrange thing is this, to talk of bap- 
 tizing the Beafts of the Field ! Who ever did fo .? 
 '• Dr Rttfftl. I am {o far from talking of baptizing the Beafts 
 of the Field, that my Argument is rather to prove the dire£i 
 contrary. And whereas yeu affi'm that Infants have a Capa- 
 city xo be made Dii'ciples of Chiift by the MinifVry of meii 
 (or elfc you have been faying nothing to the pufpofe all thl^ 
 time about it) I bring this to fliew you the Abfurdity of fuc ti 
 a Notion : And you are bound to lliew the Difparity, or cor;? 
 fefs you cannot. - * ' 
 
 ^ Sirs, I would put this Cafe to you. Suppofe there were 
 twenty Or thirty new-born fnfanrs in a Room, and you llionl4 
 chur<i out the moft able end learned Ferfon among you to 
 preach to them, in order ^o make them Difciples according to 
 GhriO'sCommifH n -, I believe he \^ould have no better Sue- 
 cefs than St. Anthony had (fas the Story goe^) when he took 
 ajon him to in^ru£t the Pigs; or, as fome oihers have done 
 (.venPopiili Saints) who h^ve took upon them to preach to 
 . < ihd 
 
t|ie Fowls 6i the Air, &c, of which I could furnifh yon wiib ' 
 ill vers Inftances. 
 
 But why (hould Mr. Rohinfon think it ftrange that any body 
 (hould have fuch a conceit in their minds ? Doth he not know 
 that the Church of Ktiwe baptize things of an inferxour Na- 
 ture ? for they baprtze Churches and Bell... 
 
 And if I had compared your Pra8:ice ro theirs of baptizing 
 Pells, you had had no reafop to complain, for they are both 
 pafllve in the AS; only if yon will give credit to one of the 
 i*arh?rs (viz. Auguftme) the Rells are upon that account the 
 fitreft Subjefts-, for they are wholly psfTivc ^ but (faith he) 
 the little Children are not fo ; for they Ihew their Refinance 
 \>y their Crying. And now I demand of any of ycu ro rake 
 ofFrhe Retortion, and ihew the Dilparity if you can. 
 
 Upon this they were all filent, and none of them would un- 
 dertake to fhew the DiTparity : and till they dq it, my Retor- 
 tion will remain upon them. 
 
 Then Mr. Leigh faid, It is time to proceed to the othct 
 Queftion. 
 
 ' Dr, kupl. I will now enter upon it. 
 The fecond Queftion is this: 
 Whether the Ordinance of Bapti[m, as appointed hy Chriji, is to 
 he adminijlred hy Dipping ^ Plunging, (or) Overwhelming 
 enly, and not othermje .? 
 I take the Queftion in the Affirmative, and my firfl Argu- 
 ment is this. 
 
 y^rg. I. The Holy Scripture fliews us the right way of Bap- 
 tizing, as appointed by Chrift; ^ 
 
 But it doth not fiiew us that it ought to be done by Sprink- 
 ling • 
 
 Ergo, Sprinkling is not the right way of Baptizing 
 Mr. Leigh Sir, you muft bring in that Dipping is abfolute- 
 ly neceiriry(as in the Queftion.) What do you taikofSprinb 
 ling for ? 
 
 Dr. Rnjfcl Sir, I know not of any other w.iy that is prafii- 
 fed by you ; nor, I fuppofe, any of thefe People : I conclude 
 they have-often ittn you fprinkle Infants; and Mr. Cbandlev 
 hatn particularly recommended it in hi Preaching, as fhp bcfi 
 way of baptizing ; and I hope you are not afhamM of yout 
 Praaice.^ ^ ' 
 
 But li you will difown Sprinkling to be the right Way ol 
 paptizing, I am contented ; I will not then iniiil upon it. 
 
 Mr. Robinfon We are not difcourftng of that no'v ; yru are 
 to prove Dipping to be the only way ; aad you muft and Iball 
 f^rovi: it. . ' ■ . ' 
 
 Dr, 
 
Dr. Rupl. Muft and Shall i Mud and Shall is for the King, 
 an5 not for Mr. Robijifm 
 
 Mr, Leigh. But we will not admit of this Argament, becaufe 
 it hath not the wof? Only in it Y^u are to prove that your 
 Way is the only ri^jht Way of Baptizing. 
 
 Dr. Rnffsl'. Mr. Leigh was pleafed •'O maice nfe of an AVgu-- 
 ment of Induftion upon the Qaeftion about ih^SubjeEls : and 
 ; why may nor I ufe the ^ame Li^vt; about the Manner, and 
 ' prove it by Arguments of Indu6lion<i .? 
 
 Upon this fome of them fe'I a laughing, and Mr. Chandler 
 thus expreft himfelf ; Your Inclusion is an InduSiion like th: man^s 
 Covpy of Partridges, 
 
 Mt Willimns ask'd him how many there was in the Covey ? 
 
 Mr. Chandler faid, Why there was but one. 
 
 Mr. W)lliam<i replied, But there was more a hatching 
 
 Dr Ruffd What is the Reafon of all rK,s ? f rell you I will 
 
 * make it good by Arguments of T'^ bi£tion : And if you do not 
 
 underftand my meaning, I vili inform you, and fhew that it 
 
 is a good way of ai'guing, and will anfwer t'le End I bring 
 
 it for. 
 
 For. I will firft at-gue cfFyour way of Sprinkling ; and after 
 that, if ) ou fhall allign a Third way, that is neither praftifed by 
 you nor us, I will then argue that oifalfo; and then (I hope^ 
 I fhall fully prove what I defign by it; namely, that ours is 
 I he only right way of baptizing. 
 
 Upon this they readily difcerned they fliould be forced to 
 give an inftance f om Scripture for thtir Praftice of Sprinkling, 
 •which they were eonicioHS to tjicmfelves they were not able to 
 do: and therefore utterly refufed to anfwer the /Argument. 
 
 Dr. Rnjfd If this Argument will not be admitted, I will 
 proceed ro another. 
 
 That Way which doth not fignifie that which ought to be 
 reprefcnted in Bsprifm, ?.(jcording to Chrift's Appointment, is 
 pot x'f\<^ liiihc way of baptizing. 
 
 But this your p!eten<ltd way doth not do : 
 
 £>-^», It is not rhe right way of baptizing. 
 
 And this I fliall make good by the ft7l!ov< ing Syllogtfm. 
 *■- If that Baptifni which was appointed by Cbrift eJorh proper- 
 iy reprefenc his Burial and Refurreftion find ourx by him, 
 tr.cn it mod: l;.e done not by Sprinkling, but by Dipping,Piung- 
 iug, G€ O'/ei whelming rhe Pcrfon bapcizcfd into W:iter ; 
 
 But that 3.7pifm which was iopcinted by Chrift doth pro- 
 perly repriiVnc his Hurial and R^Currf £iion, and oQrs by him: 
 
 £rgo, It muft be done not by Sprir.kiing, but by Dipping, 
 P'unging. or Overwhelming t!i- F^^ifon baptized into Water. 
 
( 47 ) 
 
 Mr. Chandler. T deny the confequence of the w^jor ; that ic 
 properly fets forth a Burial and a Refurrefllon. It is not foe 
 this Reafon the only Way ; and I deny that this Way doth on- 
 ly fet forth a Burial and a Refurreilicn. 
 
 Dr Rufel. Then I will prove, 
 
 1. That it doth truly re^refent a Burial and a Refurreftion. 
 And, 
 
 2. That it is the only right way of praaifing this Ordi- 
 nance 
 
 I. That it doth reprefent a Burial and a Relurrection, I prove 
 from Rom. 6. and Colojf i. In Rom. 6. 4. Therefore we are hu^ 
 risd with him by Bapiifm into de.zth that like as Chrift was ratfed 
 up, &c, Colojf. 1. 12. Buried voith h'lm in Bapifnif wherein alfo ye 
 are rifen with him^ &c. 
 
 This cannot be underftood literally j for fo they were not , 
 could not be buried with him in his Sepulchre, neither can wg. 
 But the Apoftle refolyes us how this was done, and how they 
 were, and we may, be buried with him, ad alfo rife witb 
 him , and that is by Baptifm. Buried with him in^ Bapifm^ 
 wherein alfo ys are rifen with him. Therefore Baptifm is to be 
 performed in fiich a way that reprelents a Burial and a Refurre- 
 ftion; which is moll aptly reprefenred by Dipping, Plunging, 
 or Ov-erwhelming the Perfrn baptized, into the Water, sni 
 raifing him up again out of it. 
 
 .2. That this ii the only right way of performing this Or- 
 dinance, J prove thus : 
 
 If there were no other way pra^ifed by J^hn the Baptlfl.^ 
 CKrift, nor his Apoftes, but what did reprefent a Burial and 
 aRefurre£iion, then ouis is the only right way of baptizing. 
 
 But there was no orher way pra£tired by John the Baptifi, 
 Chrift, nor his Anoftles, but what did reprefent a Burial and 
 a Refurreflion : 
 
 Ergo, Ours is th^. only righr way of baptizing. 
 Mf\ Chandler. You are to prove, chat becaule Bprifmis sig- 
 nificant of a Burial and Refurreftion, theretore it mufl be done 
 only by clipping. 
 
 Dr. Rufff.l. By this Mr- Chandler grants that Baptifm doth 
 fignifie a Burial and Refmre^iion ; and I hfjve already proved 
 thar therefore it is the only rig;!t wayof baptizing thac w« 
 praftife becaufe there v.'as no other praftifcd in thofe iir,(t 
 Times of the Gofpel. And till he gives an friftance to ihe 
 contrary, my Proof ftands good. 
 
 2\i I Ih.il! farther-prove ic by this Argument. 
 If there caa no Infiance be given that ever the Apftftles did 
 baptize other ways than by dipping, then ouiS is the right 
 Way of baptizing. IJuc 
 
But there can Le no Inftance given, that ever thfc Apof!les 
 did baptize other ways than by dipping ; 
 
 Ergo, Ours is the right way of baptizing. 
 
 Mr. Leigh. I d«ny the Enumeration in your Argument; for 
 It doth not follow, that becaufe the Apoftles did not praftife 
 it any other way, that there were no others that did. For 
 there were divers other Minifters in thofe Times, bcfides th^ 
 Apoflles that di^ alio baptise. 
 
 Dr.RuJfil By this you grant that the Apoftles of our Lord 
 i3id not praftife Baptifm any other way than by dipping. And 
 to prove that rib others did ufe a different Praftice, I thus ar- 
 gue. 
 
 If we have lio Accorint in Holy ScrjptUre, that either the 
 Apnftles, or any other Minifters in thofe Times, did baptize 
 any one Perfon otherways than by dipping, then dipping is 
 the only right way oif baptizing. 
 
 But We have no Account ,in Holy Scripture, that either th^ 
 Apoftles, or any othfer Minifters in thofe Times, did baptize 
 any one Perfon other israys thart by dipping : 
 
 Ergo, Dipping is the only right way of baptizing. 
 
 Mr. Chandler. I can !hew there is another way that it might 
 be done, and not by Dipping ; and that from the Etymology 
 of the word Baptizo, for it Signifies alfo to wajh. 
 
 Dr. Rujjel. I remember what Alflediui faith in his Lexicon The* 
 ohgicum. Having before been fpcaking about the Etymology of 
 that word ; lUud Eatttj^hi/ tautum Jtgnificat Immergere, mn U" 
 liAre, nij: ex confequenti ; and therefore ir fignifies fd »a/Z? only 
 in a fecondary and remote fenfe, becaufe things that are dipp'd, 
 may be faid to be wafliM. But the proper and primary Sig- 
 hificarion of Baptix,o is, to dip ; for it comes from r-^ciTTTJk), wet' 
 ■go, immrrgb, to dip, to plunge, to overwhelm, to dip into, See. 
 
 Mr. Chandler. I own rhat B^'ttw fignifies vtergo, immergo. 
 Uut I can (hew great probability, that rhany, iji Scripture times, 
 Were baptized by pouring a little Water on the Face j and 
 there is no Certainty that Dipping was ever ufcd. 
 
 Dr. Rujfcl. How doth that appear ? 
 
 Mr. Leigi.^ Wt will argue on a Probability. It might be done 
 other ways than by dipping ; and a Probability is the mo^ you 
 can pretend to for dipping. I require you to prove that dip- 
 ping ^i^ras certainly intended in thofe places you bring for it ; 
 arid then I will prove, that dipping was not intended, bUr on- 
 ly an Application of Water to (he Perfon. 
 
 Dr. Rufel. The firft Inftance I fliall give is the Baptifm of 
 our Saviour, asir is expreft in Mark i. 9. Jifus caite from iJazd- 
 rtth of Galilee- and was baptited 0/ John in Jordart. The words 
 
 aie, 
 
(49) 
 
 are, Ktu ICa.'Try^yi ^W 'Iw*fi/« «V f 'lopMlo/. Which Words 
 do certainly fignifie, that he was Dipped into Jordan. 
 
 Mr. Leigh. The Word «? fignifies ?/?, as well as intJ^ and is of- 
 ten fo Tranilated in the New Teftament. 
 
 Dr. RkffeL That it ma^r fomerimes lo fignify where the Scope 
 of the place may ftiew it , I will not contend. But you knoW 
 very well , that where it is joined with an Accufative (as ic is 
 here ) it fignifies into. And I can fhew that cur Tranfiaccrs 
 have fo rendred it in many places in the New Teftament. And 
 it would many times be Nonlence ro underlland ic ccherwife. 
 I will give you fome Inftances of it, in the room of many thac 
 might be given. ^ ^ * , ; 
 
 As in John 3. 17. God fent not hUfon mto tne World to condemn 
 the World '^ but that the World through him might be [aved. ^ Here 
 «V is rendred into : For the W^ords in the Greek are «? t m^ov j 
 and I hope you will not deny that God fent Chrifl into the 
 
 World. , r 
 
 And in i Titn. i. 15. Chriji Jeim came into the World to jave 
 Sinners y &c. There «? is alfo Tranflated i?m. And I hope 
 you will not deny , that Chrijl came into the World to fave Sinners, 
 It's joined with the fame Words as in John 3. 17. before re- . 
 
 cited. . , / 
 
 And in Luke 4. 16. it's faid, Ne went mo the Synagogue on the 
 Sabbath-day , and flood up for to read. Here again it is fo ren- 
 dred 1 for the Words are, «V tIw <;vysty.J>ta), into the Syna- 
 gogue. And the eyes of all them that w&e m the Synagogue were 
 faftned on him, ver. 20. which could not have been, had he not 
 gone into the Synagogue -, as it's manifeil he did. And I hope 
 vou will not deny that Chrift went into the Synagogue : But 
 you may do it with .as much colour of Reafon, as to lay he was 
 not Dip'd or Plunged of John into the River of Jcrdan, when 
 the fame Word is ufcd in the fame Senfe. A^nd beiides, if we do 
 but confxder thole multitudes that /y/j/z Baptized in the River of 
 Jordan, and other places where there was much Water ^ we 
 have no reafon to doubt of the Truth thereof. ^ 
 
 Mr. Leigh. We allow, that what cannot be now ufed without 
 being burdenfome, might "be more corfimodious in that Day, 
 and obferved in that hot Country of Judda, when there was Iq 
 many came to John to be Baptized ; and therefore it may be 
 that they went out to Rivers. But I will argue upon a Pfoba- 
 bility. It is well known , in thofe hot Countries the People 
 wore Sandals -, and they might go into the Water a little w^y 
 to walh their Feet. Now I offer this fair Intexpretation : They 
 might ftep a little way into Jordan for Eafe and Rcfrefhment 5 
 and xhen John might pour a little Water o^ them. 
 
(50) 
 
 Now allow but the Word BATriloto fignifie to wafh, as \^' 
 caja eafiiy prove it is often fo taken in Scripture ; and I offer 
 to all the Company, whether this be not a lair Interpretation 
 ot the Plaoe, That Jshn wafhed him with Water, he going a little 
 way into Jordan. 
 
 Dr, Rujjel. Notwithftanding this Flourifh of a pretended Pro- 
 bability, you know that the Word Bct'srll^w dcth properly ftgni-- 
 fy to Dip, as all the great Lexicographers and Criticksdo tell usy 
 and that its proper and native Signification is to Dip into Water, 
 or to Plunge under Water j and that I could give you many In- 
 riances of, out of ScapuLi, Stephanus ^ Schrevelin^, and many o- 
 thcrs. And they alfo tell us. That if it be ufed f jr Walhing, it 
 is in a remote Senfe ^ and if it be taken in its primary Senfe, it's 
 fuch a wafliing as is by Dipping or Plunging into the Water, and 
 being covered therewith. 
 
 But that you may fee I am not lingular in my Opinion, I will 
 fhew ypu tliat your own Expcfic: rs do thus render it, and (bme 
 of the greateft Men among the Prcteftants that ever vvrcte fince 
 the Reformation-, of which I have 'made aColIeOion out of their 
 own Works, becaufe I would not wrong them. 
 
 I fhall begin with the Teftim. ny of thofe Learned and Judi- 
 cious Divines of your own Perfwari3n,who were thofe that conti- 
 nued Mr. Poofs -Annotations upon Afatth. 5. 6. Thefe are their 
 own Words, Were Baptked^ that is. Dipped in Jordan. 
 
 Upon John 3. 22, 23. There John was Baptizing, becaufe this 
 /^non was'a Brook or River that had much Water. It is from this 
 apparent , that both Chrift and John Baptized by Dipping the 
 Body in the Water ^ elfe they need not have jfought Places 
 where had been a great plenty of Water. 
 
 Before Dr. RuiTel hud read this laft Sentence wholly out, the 
 Presbyterian Minifters, even Mr. Leiih himfeJf, as well as the 
 reft of them, fell a hifnng fo loud, and fet others of their Party 
 to make a noife alfo by their ill Example , that altho Dr. Rujfel 
 went on with his Work, yet toe N ife was fo great, that ic 
 wholly drowned his Voice, that he couid not be heard. 
 
 Whereupon Mr. Sharp the Moderat'^r, calfd out aloud to 
 flill this great Noii;, and fpoke to this effeft : What is the reafon 
 ■ of this HilTmg ^ Gentlemen, are you not afhamed ? You preach 
 to others the Doftrine of^ Sanftification and Self-denial, and to 
 ^^ thus your felves, I am afliam'd to fee it. I pray, good Pec^Ie, 
 take no notice of it now. 
 
 When Dr. Rujfd perceived they would not forbear this Hif^ 
 fing and uncivil Carriage, lie forbore to read any farther. And 
 when Silence was obtainedj he addrcflcd himfelf to the Mini- 
 fterj after this manner : 
 
SkSy What is the matter with you? Muft I not be permitted 
 to recite your own Authors, and fome of the greateft Men that 
 have written fmce the Reformation? Although their Teftimo- 
 ny againft us is of Uttle value, becaufe they are Parties in the 
 Controverfie ; yet when the clear evidence of Truth (hall 
 enforce a ConfcfTion from their Pens that we are in the rigiic, 
 it is then a great Teftimony for us. . ,. 
 
 ■ Here is firft of all Foj/'s Annotators, certain learned and ;udi- 
 cious Divines, that fay in that matter as we do: and they are 
 Men of your own Party. There is alfo Dr. Hammond faith the 
 
 Here the DoElor was interrupted again, and they cried our, 
 What do you tell us of Dr. Hammond? What have we to dp 
 mth Dr, Hammnd i 
 
 Dr, Kuffel. Why certainly, Gentlemen, Dr. Hammond is not 
 thus to be defpifed upon his Judgment about a Greek word. I 
 have alfo Mr. Baxter, Wolleb'm, Tilenw, the Learned Perkins, 
 md Luiher alfo, who was againft Sprinkling, and praftifed Dip- 
 ping-, and fo did the reft of the Divines at WHtenhurg. Mr. 
 Calv'm alfo, although he did allow a Liberty of Sprinkling m 
 cold Climates, yet he faith as Ldo as to the Signification of the 
 ?vord Baptixp, that it f}gnifies?o D/i>, and was.fo ufedin the Pri- 
 mitive Church. 
 
 There is alfo tlie Vutch Tranflatcrs, they do every where 
 render the words that are ufed to exprefs this Ordinance by, 
 as we do ; and they call John the Baptift, Joannes de Dooper, 
 'John the Dipper. And T know not of any place but it s fo ex- 
 preft. And thcfe are Presbyterians, Men of your own Reli- 
 -gion. ■ , 
 
 Upoothis, one of the Miniflers faid, What! do you under- 
 
 Dr, Rkjjel faid, Yes, he underftood it, but he could not fpeak 
 it readily. ^ , ^ , 
 
 They replied. We will try that; for we have a Gentleman 
 here that underftands Dutch very well. . 
 
 Dr. RuffeL You may ask that Gentleman if you think fit; he 
 ^ ..can fatisfie you, that what I fay is true. But they had more 
 pifcretion than to call the Gentleman out to confujie them- 
 ielvest 
 
 Dr. Rujfel. I l]ave alfo the Teftimony of the Dutch Annoca- 
 tors, who fay the fame thing, And thefe alfo are lyJen of yoitic: 
 own Perfuahon. ^ /-^ 
 
 And, to add no more, I have alfo the Teflimpny of the Af- 
 fembly of Divinef, fitting ztWefimmfier : Anilhope jliey may 
 be of fome credit with you, < 
 
 H 2 Pu? 
 
tKcy 
 
 t 52 ; 
 But t^ty woiild not fufFer liim to proceed in the Reac 
 thereof to the People ^ but cried out, We are Proteftants, and 
 
 will net pin our Faith on other Mens fleeves. 
 
 Vr. Ruffel, What ! net the AiTembly of Divines ? I thought, \ 
 though you had no regard to my words, you might have had'' 
 fome regard to the AlTcmbly of Divines. You know I do not 
 wrong thefe Authors : And therefore what muft the People 
 thinly; of you, to c;pp:)fe your felves thus againft thefe great 
 JMcn, and fuch mukitiides of them, that are of your ou-n Per- 
 fuafion (as many of them are ) and the reft, fjme of the gi'eat- 
 eft Mtii lince the Rcf rmacion. Surely the ,Peo]^le cannot take 
 It kindly at your hands, to rejeft the Authority cf x:D,^it Men in 
 a matter of tliis Nature. 
 
 Their AnAver wis We do reverence thefe Divines, but 
 adhere to what they fay no farther than it agrees with the Word 
 of God. ■ -> ^ 
 
 Vr. RuJfel.'We fay,' that in this Particular, what they have 
 written doth agree with the Word of God. 
 
 M\ Leigh. You have rec ::urfe to the prime Signification of 
 the Word, whereas we muft take it according to irs Accepta- 
 tion in Scripture. And I offer it to the Confiderati-n of the 
 learned, whether the prime Signification of the Word be a 
 furficient Argument in this cafe ? And here he mai-te5 his Rhe- 
 torical Excurfions about a Mathematician, an Anf:/:!, a Foot- 
 boy that, carries a Letter, a Phyfician, ifrc and corrludes thus, 
 but Vv'c muft go to the Scripture Accept ition ol the Word. 
 And I challenge you to bring one place 'f Scripture where it 
 muft be underftood that it was done by Dipping. 
 
 Dr. Rujjel. It is very well, Mr. Lei£h will allow that I have 
 given the People the proper Meaning of the word Ba'tIiV^v, 
 and that its prime Signification is to Dip. Now he might nave 
 ifpared all the reft that he hath faid ; for we do not lay the 
 flrefs only upon the Etymology of the World, hue alfo upon 
 the concurrent Teftimonies of Holy Scripture, that it was fo 
 underftood and fo Yi'^i^^ifcd by J^ohn the S ptr'^^ Chrift, and his 
 Apoftles, and fo reprefented by the Metaphors made ufe of ( as 
 a Burial and a Refurreftion) to fet it forth by: as alfo their 
 choofing places where there was mnch Water t" Baptize in, as 
 J have already ftiewed, fo far as tney would permit me •, and 
 Ihould have made it manifeft bey md exception, if I might 
 have been heard. 
 
 But to anfwer your Demand, I alledge A!fs 8- 383 gp. And 
 
 they went both down into the^ iVater, both Philip and [he Eunuch, 
 
 and he Baptised him. And when they were come up out of the Wa- 
 
 ffy &c. Here we haye an account, that both the Adminiftra- 
 
 ' ' tor. 
 
tor, and the Perfon to be Baptized, went both down into th J 
 Water: and when they came "there, he Baptized him. And in 
 Fh'ilip had not been to put the Eunuch into the Water, and co- 
 ver him with it, why fhould they go down both into the Wa- 
 ter ? A little of it might have been brought up to them into 1 
 the Chariot, if Sprinkling would have ferved the turn. But it 
 appears manifeftly, that nothing lefs would ferve for to anfwer 
 the CommifTion, but to Dip the Perfon Baptized into the Wa- 
 ter, other wife they did that, which was wholly needlefs, and 
 befides the Rule that was given tbem to praftife by. And their 
 coming up again out of the Water, doth evidently Ihew that 
 he was Plunged intait, and overwhelm'd with it. 
 
 Mr. Leigh replied, That the Greek word fignified to go down 
 to, and come M^from the Water. 
 
 Mr, Williams replied, That there was two differing Words 
 (as he had been informed) in the Greek Text; as there are 
 two different Words in the Tranflation. For it is faid, As 
 they went on their way, they cme unto a certain Water : This was 
 before he propofed for Baptifm. But when a Grant was given 
 him that he might be Baptized, it is then faid, They went down 
 both of them into the Water, andWiXi^ Baptised him there. Now, 
 as they are different Words in the Tranflation, coming unt^ 
 and going down into, even fo they are differing Words in the 
 Greek. 
 
 Dr. RuJJel faid. They v»fere two different Words ; to which 
 Mr. Leigh concelTed. -' 
 
 But after the Meeting was over, Mr. Willi ms the Presbyte- 
 rian Minifler, in whole Meeting place the Difpute was, tcid 
 Mr. Williams the Baptift Dilputaiat, he was in the right, and 
 that they were two differing Words in the Greek ; one for com- 
 ing ww^o, the other for going down n/fo. 
 
 Dr. Ruffel. I then farther argue ; 
 
 If the Spirit of God doth never ufe the Word 'V>M>TKT(j',(t 
 where the Ordinance of Baptifin is mentioned, but always ex- 
 preffes ic by BitTrT/ff^ct; then it was performed by Dipping, 
 Plunging, or Overwhelming only : But the Spirit of God doth ne- 
 ver life the word *Pii/77j-^ where the Ordinance of Baptifm is 
 mentioned, but always exprelTes it by Bd'7n7(rf^ ; 
 
 Ergo, It was performed by Dipping, Plunging, or Overwhelm- 
 ing only. 
 
 Mr. Chandler. I deny the Sequel of the Major ; becaufe me 
 Word doth fometimes fignifie a Wafhing that is Ihort of Dip- 
 ping. 
 
 Vr. KujJeL You muft then affign your Inftance. 
 
My, ChAtKUer. You muft know that BA'JFTj^a comes from ^^f\ 
 ^7abal, And I will fhew that Vi denotes fuch a Wafliing as 
 js (hort of Dipping. And in Dan. 4. 55. where ic is faid of Ne- 
 buchadnezzar, His body was wet with the dew of Heaven j the Sep- 
 tHagmt render it Bolttj^^ : fo &hat it cannot be undeftood in your 
 fenfe. 
 
 Vr, RuffeL That BatTT/^o is ufed in the (lead of Tabal^ is true. 
 But how do you know that the Word was fo Rendred by the 
 Septuagint ^ 
 
 Mr. Chandler, It is fo in that Tranflation that goes in their 
 Name. 
 
 Dr, Ruffel, That I deny •, for the Word there is Ebaphe, and 
 not Baptizp. But do you not know what VVemes faich in his 
 Chriflian Synagogue^ That the Septuagirtt Tranflatioi; was burnt, 
 and only feme Fragments cf it remaining, which was made up 
 by others : fo that neither you nor I know when we read the 
 Septuagint, and when we read other Men. But what dota all 
 this fignify."? That is but a TranHatioii, and I think ours to 
 be much better than that, if it were as you uy : and more 
 agreeable to the fcope of the place, to fay his body was wet 
 with the daw of Heaven^ than to fay it was dipt with the dew of 
 Heaven. • , . 
 
 But I pray let Mr. Chandler tell us how it is in the Hebrew^ 
 which is the Language in which it was written. 
 
 JMr, Chandler, The Word in the Hebrew isTabaL 
 
 Dr. Ruffel. That I deiiy. 
 
 Whereupon an Hebrew Bible was produced, and handed up to 
 Dr. Rkffel: And the Book of Daniel not being placed in its right 
 Order, as in ether Hebrew Bibles, he did not readily find it\ 
 whereupon they cryM out, They bcliev'd he could not read k. 
 The Dr. anfwered, He could read Hebrew before Mr. Chandler 
 was bcrn : and as a demonftraticn of it, he read a Verfe or two 
 in the beginning thereof. Upon this Mr. -Ro3i/i/o« took the Book 
 and with fome difficulty fcuijd out the Book of Daniel., and th^n 
 gave it to Dr. Ruffel again, who read the Place by them direfted 
 to, and told Mr. Chandler that the Word Tabal was not there. 
 And then, after all this needlefs trouble, Mr. C/;<«n^/f>- did con- 
 fefs that it was net : andfo all his Pretenfion fron> thence vani0i- 
 ed intoSmoak. ^ ...j.i , . 
 
 Mr. Chandler alio urged for another inftance, to prove that 
 f^k/ fignitied a Wafhing lefs than that by Dipping, 2 Kings 5. 
 10^1^. Go avdwaflj jnyordan, and be clean. And in Vcrfe 14. 
 He dipped himjelf in Jordan. Now this mufl fignifie a Walhing 
 (hort of Dipping ^ becaufe though Tabal doth exprefs the Aft 
 done in Ver. 14. yet the Command is given by Racbat^ which 
 ir^mfici to waJJh l>r^ 
 
(55.) 
 
 Dr. RkJJeh I do allow that the eommand is expreft by Ra* 
 chat^^ and alfo that it Ibmetimes is ufed, as well as Cabat^ to 
 fignifie lefs than Dipping when it is applied to fome particular 
 things, or parts of things, which are to be cleanfed trcm Filth; 
 as you know yiTTw in the Greek is to wafh the Hmds. 
 
 But where KachatT^ in the Hebrew is uied in the Sence as it is 
 here expreft, namely, |o waj})hjwfelf', is is always f) be under- 
 wood ot" fuch a Wafhing as is by Dipping. The 'feros under- 
 ftood ic fo, and Naaman the Synan underftoed the Prophet in 
 that Sence •, for ic is faid, he dipped himfelf in Jo. dan feven 
 times. And that he was not miftaken about it, is evident •, for 
 that the Spirit of God hath left it upon Record, that what he 
 did was according to the Saying of the Man of God : fo that 
 thePrcphet did not intend Isy Rachat:^^ any other AVaining than 
 what is peribrmed by Dipping of the Perlon lo walhcd into the 
 Water. And had this been a Derivative , there might have 
 been feme doubt raifed about ic j but leeing Tabal is the Root 
 it feh^ it can fignify nothing lefs than what is the known fence 
 thereof, w:^. He Dipped. He dipped himfelf in J-'oydan feven 
 times, according to the Saying of the Man of Gcd. Thus t 
 have cleared this Text from your Objedion, as not intending 
 any fuch thing as you have brought it for, but the direft con- 
 trary. I 
 
 Then Mr. Chandler faid. We challenge you to prove, by 
 Scripture, that the Word Bapt}:(p fignifies to Dip, and tliat thap 
 is intended by Baptifm. 
 
 Dr. Ruffel. I will prove it from all the Plates where the Or- 
 dinance of Baptifm is fpoken of, if you will let me prove it 
 from the Greek. 
 
 M\ chandler. No , you (hall prove it from our Tranflation, 
 that ic is there any where fo rendred , but you fhill not do ic 
 from any of thole Places where the Ordinance of Baptifm is 
 fpoken of. 
 
 Dr. RujfeL That is unreafonable , that when tte life of at 
 Word is enquired into, and what was the PraClice of the tirft 
 Minifters, pursuant to tliat Word by which they are ccmmanded 
 to Baptize r, for all thofe Scriptures where ic is fo mentioHcd to 
 be excluded out of our Enquiry. 
 
 Mr. Chandler, I will not allow you to prove ic from any of 
 thofe Places where the Ordinance of Baptifm is either expreft 
 or intended. 
 
 Dy, Ruffel, If nothing elfe^will do with you, I will then un- 
 dertake to prove from divers places in Scripture, that either 
 BaptQ^ or its -Perivativcs, is fo rendred i.n our BngUjh Tranfla-' 
 
 The 
 
The firft Scripture I fliall inftance in, iSj ^ • 
 
 Rev, I p. 1 3. Jfe woi doathed with a Vejiure dipped in Bloodi 
 
 Mr, Chandler, This is not Bjipto^ 
 
 Dr, Rujfel, No more is Bapti:{o, BaptifmoSy Baptifma^ &c. but' 
 they are all Derivatives from it ^ and lb is the Word that is here 
 i wfea. And this Mr. Chandler did not deny. 
 
 Vr, Rujfei did then urge the feveral Places in the Evange lifts 
 about ^udas dipping with Chrift in the Difh •, as, Matt. 26/23. 
 lie that dippeth, Mark 14. 20. John 13. 26, When I have' dip- 
 ped it. And when he h.'d dipped, 8>^. Now in all thefe Places you 
 fee it's thus rendred, and the Ordinance of Baptifin not in 
 the leafl intended. 
 
 Moreover, I will give you one Inftance more , in which the 
 moft minute Aftion imaginable is intended , and yet fo much 
 as was put into the Water is faid to he dipt. 
 
 Luke 16. 24. Where the rich Man being in Hell, defired Fa- 
 ther Abrsiham to fend La^^arw, that he might dip the tip of his 
 Finder in Water, to cool hi6 Tongue, &c. 
 
 By this it appears, that our Tranflators did thus underftand 
 the "^Word to intend Dipping ; and have never rendred it to 
 Sprinkle in all the New Teflament. . ' 
 
 I would only add, That when Learned Men come to have 
 but the fame Wifdom as the Jewf} Rabbles have, to reduce all 
 doubtful W.Tds to their Roots and Theme from whence they 
 are denv'd, then much of our prefent Difputes will iifue in the 
 Knowledge of tiie Truth ; and we Ihall ceafe to ftrive about 
 Words to no Profit, but to the fubverting of the Hearers. 
 
 Upon this followed a confufed Jangling and Noife, fo that 
 the Amanuenfis could not take rt down, neither did he think it 
 worth the taking. 
 
 But Mr. Williams, the Presbyterian Minifter, faid, he tlioughc 
 there had been iiccle faid to the Purpofe. 
 
 Upon this Dr. Ruffel faid, Mr. Williams, I think there hath 
 been a great dtal faid more than hath been anfwered; but if 
 you are not fatisfied, we will v/ave all that hath been faid, and 
 I will difpute it over with you de novo, 
 
 Mr. Wdliams ihrugged, and anfwered, No-, lam not very 
 well. 
 
 Although he had not been engaged ae all in the Difpute him- 
 felf, and the Doctor had been fatigued by fo long a Pifputation, 
 yet Mr. Williams refufed to accept his Ofter. 
 V It was at lad thought meet by them to put an Iffueto the 
 Difputation. And Mr. L'^igh ( after he had made a Speech to 
 thank the Govsrqour and the Mayor for their Civility towards 
 
 them. 
 
( 57 .) 
 
 them and the Baptifts had -returred their Thanks alfo ) ne thtn 
 concluded in Prayer -, and fo diimift the Aliembly. It vvas be- 
 tween the Hours of Six and Seven of the Clock when the Dil- 
 pute ended. 
 
 I do now think it proper to give you an Account of thofe 
 
 Learned Mens Teftimonies to jultifie our Praaice of Dipping. 
 
 which Dr. il#/ was then preventCil to recite, by reafcn oi the 
 
 • Minifters Hilfing, and the Noile and Clamour oi their Party, 
 
 that would not fuffer him to be heard. 
 
 PooIV Anmtatms. 
 
 Math g. 6. Were Bapi:i:(ed : that; is, Dl^^cd in Jordan. 
 
 Matt. 28. 19. It's true, the firft Baptilms of which we read 
 in Holy Writ, v/ere by Dipping of the Perfons . B.iptized^ - 
 Where it may be we judge it reafonable, and moft rekmbiing 
 our Burial with Chrift by Bapfifm into Death. 
 
 John 3. 22,-23. There John was Baptizing, becaule this 
 Mnon was a Brook or River that had much Water. It is from 
 this apparent, that both Chrift and John Baptized by Dipping 
 the Body in the Water •, elfe they need not have lought Places 
 where had been a great Plenty of Water. ^ . , 
 
 A^s 8. 38. In hot Countries this was ulual, to B.iptize ^y 
 Dipping the Body in the Water. , , 
 
 Kom. 6. 4. He ieems here to allude to the manner of bapti- 
 zing in thofe warm Eaftern Countries, which was tJ«>^por 
 Plunge th^ Party Baptized-, and, as it were, to bury him xcr a 
 l^vftiie mder Water. 
 
 Dr. HammDndV^/2?wf;:^/onf. 
 
 Man z 'J^ok put the Perfons whom he Baptized into the 
 Water, -Dipped them all over, and* lo took them out again. 
 AiidinliisParaphrafeon . r, j r,- 
 
 Mcirk^ I. 5. And Johui Baptifm was done m Jordan^ a River 
 convenient for chat Purpofe. 
 
 The le^rnei Perkins. 
 
 i^OTW 6. The a»JC!ent Cuflom- of Baptizing was to dip, and as 
 k were to dive ah the Body of the Baptized in the Water ; as. 
 may appear m i--.^^^/, Rom. 6. And the Councils cfl^ri^^/av^ 
 and Kmdm:i. • The Aftion of the Minifter, is his \^ aUiing ot 
 the Praiy Baptized with the Element ot Water. _ 
 
Of Wafl^iing there be three Pares : The putringinto the Wa- 
 tcr, the continuance in the Water, and the coming out of the 
 Water. Perkins s Order of the Caufes of Salvation and Damna- 
 ticn, Cap. gg. fag. 74. Vol. i. 
 
 And in his Comment on Qalat. g.- 27. Vol. 2. Pag. 2 §7. the 
 
 Dipping of the Body fignifies Mortification, or Fellovvlhip with 
 
 Chrifl in his Death : The flaying under the Water, fignities the 
 
 Burial of Sm : And the coming out of the Water, the Refur- 
 
 , reftion from Sm to Newnefs of Life. 
 
 And upon Matth. 28. i^. Here (faith he) a Queftion may be 
 made, Whether Wafhing the Body m Baptilm, muft be by Dip- 
 ping or Sprinkling ? His Anf.ver is this ^ In hot Countries, and 
 in the Baptifm of Men of Years, Dipping was ufcd, and that 
 by the Apoflles : And to this Paul alludes, Rom. 6. 5,4. And 
 Dipping doth more fully reprefcnt our fpiritual Walhing, thin 
 Sprinkling. Jbid. Pag. 257. 
 
 Mr. Baxter, in hisj'ara^rafe. 
 
 Matth. 2,. 5. We grant that Baptifm then was by wafliing the 
 \\ hole Body. 
 
 Matth. 7,. 6, Baptifm was in John^s time, by walhing the 
 • oleBody. • ' _ ' • 
 
 Py.om. 6. 4. Therefore in our Baptifin we are dipped under the 
 Water. , ■ . 
 
 Oj/q/T 2. 12. Ye are dead and buried with him •, for fo your 
 Baptimi fignilies, in which ye are put under the Water, to figni- 
 lie and profefs that your Old Man, or fleflily Luil, is dead and 
 buried with him ^ and you rife thence, to fignifie and profefe, 
 that you rife to Newnefs oi Life. 
 
 • In his third Argument againfc Mr. Blal^^ he faith, quoad ma- 
 dum., with relpeft to the manner. It is commonly confeft by us 
 to the Anabapcifls ( as our Commentators declare ) that in the 
 Apoflles time, the BLiptizefl- were dipped over Head in Water. 
 And though we have thought it lawful to difufe the manner of 
 Dipping, yet we prefume not to change the Ufe and Signification 
 . ir. 
 
 Dr. Cave. 
 
 In his Prhmtivc Chnpamty., Pag. 320. faith, That the Party 
 Baptized was wholly immer§ed, or put under Water ; which 
 was the almcfl conllant and univerfal Cuflom of thole times 
 whereby they did mofl notably and fignificantly exprefs the 
 f reat End and Effefts of Baptifm j for as in immerging there 
 aire in a manner three feyeral A(b, the putting the Perfoninto 
 
 Water, 
 
\ 5y, J , 
 
 Water, his abiding there for fome time, and his riiing up again,, 
 thereby reprefeiicing Chrift's Death, Burial, and Refurredicn, 
 
 Dr. Nicholfon, laU Lord Bifljop of Giouceflcr. 
 
 In his Etpfithn cf the Chmh-Catechifm^'hk\ in JP^^. 174. 
 And the ancient manner in Baptifm, the putting the Perfon 
 Baptized under the Water, and then taking him out .again, did. 
 well fet out thefe two Ads, ilic firfl his dying, the fecond his 
 rifing again.- And in. the fame Page, upon Co/. 2. 12. hefaitii, 
 In the Grave with Chrift we wenj: not, for our Bodies were nor, 
 could not be buried with his ; but in our Baptifm, by a kind of 
 Analogy or Refemblance, while our Bodies are under the Water, 
 we may be laid to be buried with him. 
 
 Dr. Fowler, prejent LordBiff}op of Gloueefier. 
 
 ■ In his Scope of the Chrifiian Religm, upon Row. 6. 4. faith, 
 Chriftians being plunged into the Water in Baptilin, fignifieth 
 their undertaking and obliging themfelves, in a fpiricual Senfe, 
 to die ■ and be buried with Jefus Chrift, that fo anfwerably to his 
 Refurreftion, they may live a holy and godly Life. 
 
 Dr. Tillotfon, late Archbifl}Op of Cmterhury. 
 
 Jn his Sermon upon 2 Tim. 2. 19. faith. Anciently thofe who 
 were Baptized put off^eir Garments, which fignified the put- 
 ting off the Body of Sin ^ j^d were immerfed and buried in 
 the Witer, to reprefent the Death of Sin ; and then did rife up 
 again out of the Water, to fignifie their Entrance upon a new 
 Life. And to thefe Cuftemsthe Apoftle alludes, Rom, (5. 4. 
 
 Dr. Jer. Taylor, late Lord Bifiop of Down. 
 
 In his Du^or Dubitantiunty lib. 9. cap. 4. faith, The Cuftom' 
 of the ancient Church was -not Sprinkling, but Immernon, in 
 Purfuance of the fenfe of the word BcfTTTJ^ovTi^, both in the 
 Commandment and Example of our blelfed Saviour. And this 
 agrees with the Myftery of the Sacrament it lelf^ for we are 
 buried with* him in' Baptifm (faith the Apoftle.) The eld Man is 
 buried and drowned in the Immerfion -" if n^er Water ^ and when 
 the Baptized Perfon is hfted up from the Water, icTeprefents 
 the Refurre^on of the New Man to fJewnefs of Life. 
 
 I 2 Tlie 
 
The Learned JofqA Mede, 
 In \nsbiatr-ibe on Titus ^ 5. faith, There was no fuch thing 
 tS^t&m "^ the ApoftJes time, nor man^ 
 
 M\ Daniel Rogers. 
 
 r-nHl^T °^r u^ "^^'^ '"^""^ '^ ^ Sprinkled, and (faith he) I 
 Inftf ^^''^tv ""^^r^"^'? ^y Demonftration of Scripture ij 
 MantsSprinkhng. It ought to be the Churches Part to cleave 
 to tJitr iLflituticn, which is Dipping. And he betravs the 
 aurch whofe OScer he is, to a^fdcr'd Error, iJSave 
 not to the Inftitution, which is to Dip. Rogers'/ Vw/Ze of the 
 fy^-'o Sm-amcnts^ Vnrt 1. Chap. 5. ^ ^^^^^ijeojm 
 
 The F^nous Kefirmer Luther. 
 
 Luther deBapftJmo Tom. i. Fol, 71. in the Latin Edition 
 Printed at W^ttemburih, faith, Baptifm is a Gr^ek Word : k may 
 0e irannated a Dipping, when we dip fomethina, in Water 
 that It may be covered with Water. And although it be for the ' 
 t^hl^n-M'^^'^l'' abolimed, -for that they do not Dip the 
 vvhoJe Children, but only Sprinkle them with a httle Water, 
 they ought neverthelefs to be wholly Dipt, and prefentlv to b^ 
 drawn out again. ^ ^ _y tu oc 
 
 And in Tom. 2. Fol. 79, concerning,fUi)7o7j's Captivity. The 
 o her thmg (faith he) which belpngsirBaptifm, is tL Sign! 
 or the SacrameiTt, which is.the Dipping it felf into the Water • 
 from whence alfo it hath its Name. Nam Bapti^o Gr^ce, Mem 
 Latme, fy Baptifma Merfio efi. For Bapti^o in Greek, is in Latin 
 Merg^, to Dip; and Bapfifma, is Dipping. And a little after, 
 fpeakingot Rom. 5.4. he faith. Being moved by this Reafon, I 
 womd have thofe that are to be Baptized, to htn^holly Dipt into 
 'ii m^"^^^^' as the Word doth found, and the Myftery doth 
 
 And when Complaint was made to him and other Divines atr 
 ^ntemhu^h, That a Child had been Sprinkled at Hamburgh, and 
 
 their Advice defired upon it; he wrote to flamburgh to acquaint 
 them. That their Ufe of Sprinkling was an Abufe, which thev 
 ought to remove. Ita Merfmem Hamburg! reftitutam effe. So 
 Pipping was reftcred at Hamburgh. Autor Joannes Buienhagjus 
 ^omeramus, m hi^ Book Printed Anno 1 542. He was Contempii- 
 rary with, and a SuccefTor 6f Luther at WittmbHrgh. ' 
 
 The 
 
The Learned Grotius, 
 
 On Mdtth. 5. 6, Merfathne autem^ non perfufme agi fdltum 
 hum r'Uum indkat ^ vods proprietas, ^ loca ad eittn r'ttuni delclla^ 
 John 3. 23. Afts 8. 58. Et (tllufiones multdi Apajlolorum qm ad 
 afpafionem refeirj non pojfuiit, Rom. 6. 3,^. Col. 2. 12. 
 
 Mr, John Calvin. 
 
 On John 3. 23. Baptifm was performed by John and Chfifl^ by 
 dipping of the whole Body in Water. 
 
 And in Iiis Mitutions, lib. a. cap. ,i<^.feB. ip. hcfliith thus, 
 C&terum mergaturne totus qui tingitur^ idque ter an jemel, an wfu- 
 fa tantum aqua afpergatur, minimum referp : fed id pro regio?wfti -dh 
 yerfitate Ecclcfiif liberum ejfe debet Quanquam fy 'ip[mi b^fii^^.Tji 
 verbum mei'gere Jignificat, ^ mergendi ritum veteri Ecclefia^ Mcyv:i-- 
 Wn fuijje conftat. 
 
 Here you may fee, that although he thinks it a thiiig indif- 
 ferent whether it be done by Dipping or Sprinkling, and that 
 thrice or once only^ and that it's left to the Churches Liber- 
 ty, according to the diverfity of Countries: yet he ccmes in 
 at laft with his Quanquamj nowithflanding the word Baptifm iig- 
 nifies to Dip^ and it is evident that the Rire of Dipping was cb- 
 ferved by the Old Church. 
 
 The Cafe is fo clear ( as a learned Writer hath noted ) tliat 
 Calvin up and down his 1 Works doth often confefs, that the 
 ancient manner of Baptifm in the Primitive times wa* by Dip- 
 ping the whole Body under Water. 
 
 Pifcator^ 
 
 On John 3. 23. faith, That Baptifm was performed by Dip- 
 ping the whole Body under Water. 
 
 The Dutch Tran/iators. 
 
 Matth."^. I. Joannes de Dcoper^ John the Dipper. I't-rf ■■ 
 Gedoopt in de Jordaen^Di-pt in Jordan! Verf. 16 Evdc Jcius gecio''- 
 Xjnde opgeck.lommcn uyt het water. And Jefus being Dipr,. h 
 ( climbed or) came up out of the Water. Matth. 28. 15. Crac 
 wyft alle de vokkcren^ defelve dopende in den r.ar.e des rt-dcrs. ^c'c. 
 Inflruft all the People, dipping the fam.e in the rrme cf ti-e 
 Fafher, ^c. Marki..^. Ende wiert vc-n- ]car.ne gcoc.qt in dc jcv; 
 daen. Ende tof.cnt a Is hj fi)t hct W^icr o^kjacnij ^<c. Ai d \va< 
 
 di|)t 
 
C H ) 
 
 Cyp,hin^ Efiyhimm, and others. And this is//// ( faith he) the 
 Praftice both of the Greeks and Kufi.tns to this Day. And Cites, 
 Caffander de Bipufm-i^ p. 193. and yet notwithflanding this Cu- 
 ilom, which is both fo Ancient and fo Vniverfal, is now abolilhed 
 • by the Church o£ Rome* 
 
 ' And this is the reafon that the Afafcovkes fay that the Latines 
 are not rightly and duJy Baptized ^ becaufe they do not ufe this 
 Ancient Ceremony in their Bapcifm. 
 
 ^^. Alfo, in zhzz Greeks Lcxkov.^ PuWifhed and Recommended to 
 all, tor tile encreafe of Knowledge ( and explained in Englijh ) ' 
 by Mr. JFofeph Car) II, Mr. George Cockayne, Mr. Ralph Vening,- 
 Mr. William Dell , Mr. M.ittkew Barker, Mr, Wiltiam Adderly, 
 Mr, Matthew Mead, Mr. Henry Je^Jey. They render Battw, to 
 dip, plunge, or drown. In the palTive Voice, Ba7rlo//iAf, to be 
 plunged, or overwhelmed. 'EufaVTW, co dip in, as one doth 
 his Finger in Liquor. [From thii rve may allow, that the Presbyterian 
 Minijlers do Baptise their Fingers when tbey dip them. into the Water : 
 but cannot be [aid to Baptise the Children, becaufe they do not dip them 
 in the Water, but fprinkle only a little Water upon their Faces.'] Mattk 
 26. 23. JohniT,. 26. Marli I ^-20. BATni^u, to plunge, to 
 overwhelm, towafh, to dip*, Matth. 9. 11. John i. 25. Chap.?. ^ 
 Q.6, j^ohn^.j. I Cor. I. 17. ]ohn 1.31. Matth. 28.10. Jofc 3. . 
 22. John 4. 2. Chap. i. 28. ' • 
 
 Bct-rj.' {oucw, to be plunged, to be Baptized, or Dipt. 
 
 By a Metaphor, it's taken for Affliftion, Matth. io. 22. which 
 is familiarly read in Scripture ; whereby Affliftions are compared 
 to the Gulphs and Whirl-Pools of Water, into which thofe are 
 plunged, who ftruggle with the Miferies and Calamities of this 
 Life. Yet they are fo plunged, that they can lift up themfelves - 
 again. ? ' 
 
 ^ I might alfo add, what thofe feveral great Mafters of the 
 Greek Tongue, as Scapula, Stephanm, Schrevelius, and divers 
 others, have faid concerning the Etymology thereof. But the 
 Learned being fo well acquainted therewith, I fhall only touch . 
 upon it : They confirming what I have already bbferved From 
 others. They tell us in their Lexicons, that BetTii^cj, <^c, from 
 Batttzi), fignifies ?nergo, immergo, fubmergo, obruo-, item tingo, 
 quod fit immergendo. To dip, to overwhelm, to plunge or 
 dip in, to drown or fmk in the Water, to overwhelm, to dip, . 
 or plunge- to put under, to cover clean over, i^c. ^ And that 
 'PAvii^a, Ranti::j, is Afperg-), to fprinkk; "PAyTJTfMS, Afp^'fi^i 
 Sprinkling. 
 
 Now thefe two different Words, do fignifie two different 
 Adions: For he that is only fprinkled, cannot be faid to be 
 dipt, or plunged under the Water, and to come up again out 
 
( 6? ) 
 
 df the Watet, ^ when they were never in it) as thofe ate fald to 
 do, in ^^s 8. 38. They went both down into the Water, and 
 they came up again ouf of the Water. Befides, I challenge 
 all the Learned in the World to (hew one Inftance in the New 
 Tejiamentf that thefe Words Rantizo, Rantifmos, or Rantifma, 
 are ever made ufe of by the Spirit of God to exprefs that Or- 
 dinance of Baptifmby. For they know right well that Bapto^ * 
 and its Derivatives are always made ufe of to expcefs ic by. 
 And where they are tranflated intoEnglifh, the one is rendred 
 dipping, and the other Sprinkling. But if thefe Men wiU 
 keep up a Praftife contrary to Holy Scripture, and the Judg, 
 ment of the moft Learned Lexicographers and Criticks in the 
 Greek Tongue, it's their own fault, and not outs. 
 
 The ^jjemhly of Divines Ann9t at tons, 
 
 -/f^j 8. 38. They went both down into the Water, 
 
 They were wont to dip the wM^ Body, or go down intd 
 the Water, as here, and M<a(«^. 3. 16. 
 
 And upon R»w«. 5. 4. Buried with him by Baptifm. 
 SeeCe/. 2. 12. In this Phrafe the Apoftlc feemeth to allude to 
 the Ancient Manner of Baptifm ; which was to dip the Parties 
 baptized, and as it were, to bury them under the Water for a 
 while, and then to draw them out of ir, and lift them up; 
 toreprefent the Burial of our Old Man, and our Refurreflion 
 to newnefs of Life. 
 
 The late Dr. Gabriel Towerfin, in his Explication of the C«- 
 techifm of the Church of England ^V^n^. page 20, &c. fpeaks 
 largely upon it, in Vindication of the Rite of Dipping in bap- 
 tifm ; of which I fhall recite fome few Paflages, and refer you 
 to his Book for the reft. 
 
 Baptifm is intended as a Sign, and that in refpedl of th? 
 manner of Application ufed ; I mean the dipping, or plunr 
 ging the Party baptized in it. A iignification which St. Paul 
 will not fuffer thofe to forget, who h^ve been acquainted with 
 his Epiftles, for which he quotes Rom. 6. 4. and Col. 2. 1 2. 
 It was performed by the Ceremony of Immerfion, that the 
 ferfon Immerfed, might by that Ceremony ("which was nd 
 obfcure Image of a Sepulture^ *be minded of the precedent 
 Death, as in like manner by his coming again out of the Wa- 
 ter, of his riling from that Death to Life, after the Exampfe 
 of the Inftitator thereof. 
 
 thm 
 
(64) 
 
 Cypy'ian, EP^hanm, and others. And this is fliJt ( faith he) the 
 Praftice boch of the Greeks and Ku$^m to this Day. And Cites, 
 Caffander de Baptifmo, p. log. and yet notwithftanding this Cu- 
 ilom, which is both fo Anctenp and foVniverfal, is now abohfhcd 
 by the Church of Rome* 
 
 ■ And this is the reafon that the Mufcovites fay that the Lat'mes 
 arc not rightly and duly Baptized ; becaufe they do not ufe this 
 Ancient Ceremony in their Bapcifm. 
 
 Alfo, in zh^t Greek, L?xkon, PuWilhed and Recommended to 
 all, for tile cncreafe of Knowledge ( and explained in En^ljjh ) 
 bv Mr. ^Xeph C(ir)ll, Mr. George Cockayne, Mr. Ralph Vening,' 
 M: William Dell, M: M.itthew Barker, Mr.WiHiam Adde)iy, 
 Mr. AUnhevp Mead, Mr. Henry Je^ey, They render BaVtw, to 
 dip, plunge, or drown. In the paifive Voice, Ba:r|o//.<y^, to be 
 plunged, or overwhelmed. 'Eu^^tttw, co dip in, as one doth 
 his Finger in Liquor. {Jrom tkk we may allow, that the Presbyterian 
 Afinijhrs do Baptise their Fingers when tbey dip them.into the Water : 
 but cannot he faid to Baptise the Children, becaufe they do not dip them 
 -in the Water,' but fprinkle only a little Water upon their Faces.'] Matth. 
 26. 23. JohniT,^. 26. Mark,!^- 20. BA'TTV^ay to plunge, to ^ 
 overwhelm, towafh, to dip, Matth. 3. 11. John i. 2$. Chap.?. 
 ^6, John 4.1. I Cor, i. 17. John 1.31. Matth, 28.19. ]ohn :^. 
 22. |o/;/i 4. 2. Chap. I. 28. 
 
 Ba,7r^i(oiJicu, to be plunged, to be Baptized, or Dipt. 
 
 By a Metaphor, it's. taken for Affliftion, Matth. io, 22. which 
 is familiarly read in Scripture ; whereby Affliftions are compared 
 to the Gulphs and Whirl-Pools of Water, into which thofe are 
 plunged, who ftruggle with the Miferies and Calamities ol this 
 Life. Yet they are fo plunged, that they can litt up themfelvcs - 
 
 *^''l inight alfo add, what thofe feveral great Mafters of the 
 Greek Tongue, as Scapnla, Stephana, SchreveUus, and divers 
 others, have faid concerning the Etymology thereof. But the 
 Learned bein^^ fo well acquainted therewith, I mall only touch 
 upon it: They confirming what I have already obferved from 
 others. They tell us in their Lexicons, that B6tT77(fti, pc. trom 
 E^TTTw, fignifies mergo, immergo, fubmei-go, obrno -, item tmgo, 
 quod fit immergendo.. To dip, to overwhelm, to plunge or 
 dip in, to drown or fink in the Water, to overwhelm, to dip, 
 or plunge-, to put under, to cover clean over, ^c. ^ And that 
 '?cLVTi^<^, Rantiv, is Afperg;^, to fprinkk : 'P*j'7i<r^ff, Afpm, 
 
 ^^Now"tTiefe two different Words, do fignifie two different 
 Anions : For he that is only fprinkled, cannot be laid to be 
 dipt, or plunged under the Water, and to come up again out 
 
(60 
 
 of the Water, ^ when they were never in It) as thofe are fald to 
 do, in ^Sfs 8. 38. They went both down into the Water, and 
 they came up again out of the Water. Befides, I challenge 
 all the Learned in the World tofhew one Inftance in the Nere 
 Tejiamenf, that thefe Words Rantizo, R^ntifmos, or Rantifina, 
 are ever made ufe of by the Spirit of God , to exprefs that Or- 
 dinance of Baptifmby. For they know right well that Bapto^ 
 and its Derivatives are always made ufe of to exprefs ic by. 
 And where they are tranflated intoEnglifli, the one is rendred 
 dipping, and the other Sprinkling. But if thefe Men wiU 
 keep up a Praftife contrary to Holy Scripture, and the Judgn 
 ment of the mod Learned Lexicographers and Criticks in the 
 Greek Tongue, it's their own fault, and not ours. 
 
 The Ajfemhl^ of Divines Annotations, 
 
 j^Bi 8. 38. They went both down into the Water. 
 
 They were wont to dip the w^o/^ Body, or go down into 
 the Water, as here, and M-fl!«^. 3. 16. 
 
 And upon Rom. 6. 4. Buried with him by Baptifm. 
 SttCol. 2. 12. In this Phrafe the Apoftle feemeth to allude to 
 the yfncisnt Manner of Baptifm ; which was to dip the Parties 
 baptized, and as it were, to bury them under the Water for a 
 while, and then to draw them out of ir, and lift them up; 
 toreprefent the Burial of our Old Man, and our Refurreflion 
 to newnefs of Life- 
 
 The late Dr. Gabriel Towerfon^ in his Explication of the Cj8- 
 techifm of the Church of England .^V^n^, page 20, &c. fpeaks 
 largely upon it, in Vindication of the Rite of Dipping in bap- 
 tifm ; of which I fhall recite fbme few PafTages, and refer yod 
 to his Book for the reft. 
 
 Baptifm is intended as a Sign, and that in refpecX of th? 
 manner of Application ufed ; I mean the dippings or plun: 
 ging the Party baptized in it. A fignification which St. Paul 
 vrill not fuffer thofe to forget, who have been acquainted with 
 his Epiftles, for which he quotes Rom. 6. 4. and Col. 2. 1 2. 
 It was performed by^ the Ceremony of Immerfion, that the 
 ferfon Immerfed, might by that Ceremony Cwhich was nd 
 obfcure Image of a Sepulture; *be minded of the precedent 
 Death, as in like manner by his coming again out of the Wa- 
 ter, of his rifing from that Death to Life, after the Exampfe 
 of the Inftitaior thereof. 
 
 The^ 
 
( ^5) 
 
 Thenj^e puts this Quefton,' Whether it ought to be pec- 
 formed 6y an Immerfion, or an Afperfion, 6'c ? 
 
 HisAnlwer is, It may be a more material Queftion than is 
 commonly deemed by us, who have been accuftomed to bap- 
 tize by a bare Effufionand Sprinkling of Water upon the Party 
 
 For things which depend for their force on the meer Will 
 and Plcafure of him who Inftituted them, there ought (no 
 doubt) great regard to be had to the Commands of him that 
 did fo ; as w^hout whSch there is no reafon we fhould receive 
 the benefit of that Ceremony to which he has been plcafed to 
 
 annex it. ' - ^ ... • i 
 
 Now wharthc Command of Chnft was in this particular, 
 cannot be well doubted of by thofe who (hall confider . Firft, 
 The Words of Chrift, Matth. 28. 19. concerning it, and the 
 PraSice of thofe Times, whether in the Baptifm of 7e^ or our 
 Savioar; for the Words of Chrift are, ThatthBif^^^Uha^u^^ 
 or dip thofe rchm they made Difiiplesto him; for (fo no doubt} 
 the word B.:TT^^om?, B^i>f/;io»r«, properly figmfies : Though 
 if there could be any doubt concerning the figmfication ot the 
 words tbemfelves, yet would that doubt be removed by con- 
 fidering the Praaice of thofe Times. For fuch as was the 
 Prafticc of thofe Times in baptizing fuch m reafon we are to 
 think our Saviour's Command to have been concerning it> &e. 
 there being not otherwife any means cither tor thole, or tu- 
 ture Times to difcover his intention concerning it. 
 
 What the Praaice of thofe Times were, will niW no other 
 proof, than the reforting to Rivers and other fuch Receptacles 
 cf Water for the Performance of that Ceremony, as that be- 
 caufe there was much Water there, Mt;;^. 3^ 5- ^<"^" 5- .^3- 
 And the Scripture expreflv a^rming concerning the baptiim 
 of rho Eunuch, ^cfs 8. 18. That Phdip and the Eunuch went 
 br/eh down into a certain Water(v;hich they met with in their 
 Tournev) in order to the baptizing of the latter. 
 
 For What need would there have been of the Baptifts re- 
 forting to f>reat Confluxes of Water; or of P/iU?^ and the 
 Ennuch's o'oing do-.vn into thiS, were it not that the Baptilm 
 both of t& ene and the other, were to be performed by an 
 Immerfion, a very little Watc r (as we know it doth with us> 
 fufficin^ifor anEffcfionorS^inkling. ■ 
 
 The fame is to be faid yet more, upon the account ot our 
 conforming to the Death «nd Refurrtaion of Chritr, which 
 we learn from St. P^«/ CO be the defign of Baptilm to lignifie; 
 for though t\nt might, and was well enough represented by 
 ti^e hapifficd Ftri^msbdng buried in Baptilra; and their rifing 
 
 cue 
 
out ofit ; yet can it not he faid to be fo, or, a|t leaft but very ' 
 imperfeSly, by the bare pouiiog out, or fprinkling the bap- 
 tifmal Water on him. 
 
 But therefore, as there is fo much the more Reafon to re- 
 prefent the Rite of Immerfion as the Only Legitimate Rite of 
 Baptifm, becaufe the Only One that can anfwer tlie ends of its 
 Inftitution, and thofe things that were to be fignified by k; 
 fo efpecially, if (as is well known, and undoubtedly of great: 
 force) the generrTl rraSice of the Primitive Church was agree- 
 able thereto, and the Greek Church to this very day : for who 
 can think that eithtr the one, or the other, would have been 
 fo tenacious of fo troublefom a Rite, were it not that they 
 tvere well aiTured (as they of the Primitive Church might ve- 
 ry well be) of its being the Only Inftituted and Legitimate One. 
 I cannot but think the forementioned Arguments to be fb far 
 of force, as to evince the necellity thereof, &c. For what 
 benefit can Men ordinarily expeQ: from that which depends 
 for its force upon the Will of him that inftituted it; where 
 there is ho fuch compliance in the leaft with it, and the Com- 
 mand of the Inftitutor, as may anfwer thofe ends for which 
 he applied it. 
 
 Dr. Barlow, late Bijhop of Lincoln, in his Letter to Mr. John 
 '■' TombeS; Printed in his Life-time and owned by him. 
 
 He fait F thus; I believe and know, that there is neither Pre- 
 cept nor Praftice in the Scripture for Psedo-baptifm ; nor any 
 juft Evidence for it, for about two hundred Years after Chvift. 
 Sure I am, that in the Primitive Times they were to be Cate- 
 chumeni, and then Illuminati^ or Bfiptizati: And this not only 
 Children of Pagans, or Pagans Converted ; but Children of 
 Chriflian Parents. 'Nazianzcn., though a Bifliop's Son, being 
 not baptized till he was about Thirty Years of Age, as appears 
 in his Life. And the like is evjdenr in fome others. 
 
 I have feen what my Learned and Worthy Friend Dr. Ham- 
 mond, Mr. Baxter, and others, fay in defence of ir ; and I con- 
 fefs I wonder not a lirrle, that Men of flch P^rts fhojpld fay 
 fo much to fo Htrle purpofe; for I have not feen any thing 
 like an Argument for it. 
 
 I (hall add no mere, but my liearty WiOies, that i^^ God 
 was pleafcd to make the Hearing of the Difpure of foch ukto 
 feveral Perfons , that they were fdly convinced (by the 
 Grace of God t6wards them ) of the Truth of the Doarine of 
 Holy Eaptiim, and ^'vi in f^w fisys after fubmit rhcm-. 
 
 feiv^ 
 
( (58 ) 
 
 felves to b/ dipt in Water upon Profefllon of their Faith ac* 
 cording to the Commiflion of our Lord and Saviour Jefus 
 Chrift, That it may alfo be of the like ufe to many others, in 
 the Reading of it ; that fo there may be added to the Church 
 daily, fiich as fhall be Saved. And then my Defign will be 
 anfwered in its Publication ; and I fhall count it a fufficienC 
 Reward for all my Pains and Labour therein. 
 
 j^ 
 
 FIN IS. 
 
Aiiimadverlions 
 
 Mr. ^LL£iV's ESSAY, 
 
 To Prove 
 The Gommon Pradice of Singina in 
 Rhime, with conjoined Voices^ as 
 ic is now uled in their Congrega- 
 tion, to be aChriffiian Duty ; 
 
 His Arguments are Examined and PLefuteJ. 
 
 By William'4.ujfti^^ Doaof in Phyfiek, 
 of the famous Univerfuy of Cambndoe, 
 
 ■ ijro^tii }n^t< ^n^?n in ^Wii nn\ ^^n j^n ht 
 
 Hie tfl mens chartjfim^s Filiusy qui ndht accevtiss €j% 
 
 hmc at^dite^ Mat. 17. 5. 
 Nee erJm fumus nt tndti^ qui divitjam doElHrjum 
 
 cmtponantur .- — For we are r,ot as >?7any^ nhich 
 
 corrupt the Word of God^ i Cor. 2. 17. which 
 
 mix their own inventions wirh it. 
 
 LONDON^ Printed for the Author, 16^6. 
 
n me tipittic ueaicatory. 
 
 j4nd hAVWg communicated to many ofyott^ 
 whtH lately ajjtmbkd tn this City of London, 
 tny Defion in this Publication ; as alfo to di- 
 vers worthy Brethren who rtftde therein : And 
 meeting with a jnfficient Encouragement and 
 Approbation thereto^ as a thing tending to the 
 Gkry of God, fhe Prtfervatwnof the Churches 
 from Error ^ and the reducing fuch that haze 
 gone ajlray^ and refloring thtm to that Peace 
 and "Union they enjoyed, before the time they 
 were dtflurhtd a?id divided by fome late 
 Irouklers of the Churches^ who have intro-- 
 duced this nen? Humane Invention cj Singing 
 David 'j Pfalms */W Khime and Metre^ with 
 conjoined Voices^ &c. as a Church -Ordinance^ 
 amongft us^ for which there is neither Precept 
 nor Precedent in all the i^ew leflament \ t 
 have therefore proceeded in the Publicatiorf 
 thereof ^ and tn this Dedication to you. 
 
 Honou' ed and Beldved Brethren, 
 
 7ou will find m this Treatife fever al things 
 (which to me fetm very co/'fiderable) that I 
 have anrmadzerttd upon. As, 
 
 I. Ihtir '^ufiifymg fever al Additions to 
 tht W rd of God^ upon which much of the Con^ 
 troverfte dep nds ; as the Word Sung, &c. 
 which ts addtd tn divers f laces ^ in our late 
 Englijb'lranflition, and IS not to be found ia 
 thcOrtgtnal Gretk Te^r^ 
 
 2. Their 
 
The Epiftle Dedicatory, iH 
 
 2. Their Detra^w^ from the Word of 
 God, m ItAving out fever d words that are in 
 the Origmd Hebrew Text ; astn Plalm 148 i. 
 thty have left out thefe words^ ^pTT)^ "iWl* 
 Halelu &• Jehovah, which contains [even Syl- 
 lables^ a?^d fifteen Letters ; a^d ism EngUfhy 
 Praife ye the Lord- 'And this is done on pur-^ 
 fofe to deceive their unlearned Reader^ as yo^ 
 tpilljee by what I have objerved at Urge upon 
 the place. 
 
 But I am told by fome^ it hath been [aid in 
 their defence^ That there is a flrokt — bttivixt 
 the other words ^ to rigniji^ this omtfjion* 
 
 I am forry that any Man of Vnderftandin^r 
 (houtd frame (uch an Excufe^ either for Him- 
 felf or friend : For it is not only mamfeft to 
 all that underftand Hebrew, th^t there are 
 two fuch flrokes — in the Origind lexty in 
 that very line \ bnt alfo to every Header^ that 
 Mr. Allen hath put don]n trvo flrokes - — - ai/o 
 in the fame Une^ zn his Book : And tmce more^ 
 intha fco?idVer('e^ there is. the fame fir oke — 
 put m by him : Jni twice more in *Pfa!. S, 4. 
 although he hath not left out any one word in 
 thofe other places which.are in the Original Text. 
 And in cafe I jhould kjlow thePains and Trou- 
 ble to examine it^ I doubt not to produce Five 
 hmdredplaces in theBook of Pizlms^f n Hebrew 
 anii fome 1 houfands in the Old Teftament, 
 mhere the f^m^eflroke is ufed to twite words to- 
 
 A J gethero 
 
' iv The Epiftle Dedicatory. 
 
 gether, Makkaph ts the name hy which this 
 ( — Jftroke is caittd by the Hebrtcians^ and. is 
 put to jo n ttrOy and J ome times three words to- 
 gether ^ as appears hy the follovinj Example : 
 
 Gnal pnalgei-majim, CD^Q^U^S""^!;, ftQ 
 Hanferd Knollis, Rud. Heb. Gram, pag. 8. 
 and Ludov. de Dieu, Gram. Hebr. dre. 
 but never to fignifie xvords omitted^ as they 
 f re fend, It^s often ufed in Englifb words ^ in 
 the fame fence, 4/, Prieft-hood, Man- hood. 
 Birth-right, Four-footed Beads. Eailer-day, 
 Whit-Sunday, Gommon-Prayer, andmatiy 
 other words wJjerein' it^s ufed, not tofignifie 
 my thln^ left out\ hut to unite them toge- 
 ther. But hoive'uer^ this is an acknowkd^- 
 ment of thetr leaving out thofe words I 
 have charged them with, out of the Original 
 Text : And the reafon is obvious^ becaufe it 
 fbouldfetm to be mttre^ to make good his Af- 
 fertion^ although it was other wife in the Word 
 of God, But whdgave them Authority to deal . 
 thus deceitfully with the Divine Oracle's ? And ■ 
 indeed y this Excufe ferves only to aggravate, 
 their Offtnce, • 
 
 / do not therefore any. longer wonder to find 
 them fometimes make fo bold; as form of them 
 do with humane Authors^ to mif re^y^fent them, 
 when thty date to deal thus hy the holy Scrip- 
 ture. 
 
 There are • divers Ahitfes of that kind took 
 ' notice 
 
The Epiftle Dedicatory. v 
 
 mtice of by thoft Elders who examined the Wri'* 
 tings of Mr. Keach, a?2d his /earned Hand^ 
 about Sin^ng^ who have charged the fame ufon 
 them in prints to which Irejer the Reader • 
 
 There is one Infiance I (hall obferve in this 
 place,; and the rather y becanfe Mr , kW^n re- 
 fers us to that learned Handy about the word 
 vi^yQ-, and calls him a Learned Minifter of 
 Chrift, &c^ where^fptAking about the fignifica' 
 tion of v'lxviiozcvTv?, hymnefantes, in Mat.26. jo, 
 he faith y The following rvords not being well 
 render'*d by Mr. Tymme, / {ImU ftt down^ 
 they are thef^^ Grsscum verbum laudem qui- ^ 
 dem ; maxitnequse Deo dcbctur,includic ; 
 noaautem neceffano evincit ; quod Ceci- 
 nejrinc. The Greek ward- Jndeed includes 
 Praife, chiefly that which is d^i to God ; but 
 it doth not necejfarily ev/nce that they Jung. 
 But 1 pravj hoiv doth this learned Minijier 
 (who IS one of Mr. Alien'i fve Champions) 
 render it r* 
 
 TheGrejek word indeed {faith he) in- 
 cludes Praife, chiefly that which is due to 
 God ; but undoubtedly it doth evince that 
 tiieySung. pr m fuch Iranflators^ Libera 
 no:^ Domine. What an Abufe was this upon 
 his Englifh Reader ? For thty could not 
 examine the mttter themfdves^ ( althoaoh 
 every one that undtrftands Latin., might fee 
 the fallacy at the- fir ft view.) But they kneivthat 
 
 A 4 . B^ipi* 
 
VI The Epiftlc Dedicatory. 
 
 Book was moji Ithly to fall into the hams of more 
 that did not undnfland it, than of thofe that 
 didy 'and of fuch who would take it upon trnfi 
 from fo learned a Hand, 
 
 Jht(e are (omt of thofe Stratagems where- 
 with they endeavour to beguile ignorant and 
 ^n ft able Souls ; and fn long as thtyfh all con- 
 tinue the Vfe of ftich Pracl/ces^ they mufi ex- 
 fe5i to hear of them^ 'that fincere Souls may 
 javoid bein^ takf^n in the fnare. 
 ' J. 7 have alfo took notice what [mail regard 
 they have hitherto taken of feme of t he mo ft ma:- 
 terial P&jfdges that have been alledged again ff 
 this their Praclice of Siisg^in^ tn Rhtme^ &rc. 
 by Mr. Ifaac Marlovv, Mr. Kiffen, A/r.Sceed, 
 Mr^ Barrett,' Mr, Man, and the Author of 
 the late faeries ; and of their frefentin^ the 
 World ra Print with the fame Argu?nents 
 '^hich had been fufficiently confuted^ and that 
 fomt years before -Mr. Allen and thefe five 
 Gentlemen ujherd his Book into the World, 
 '•This is indeed the way to enrich the Printer^ 
 but not to put an end to the Controverfiv, nor 
 fatisfie the Qonfciemes of fincere Chrijiians Vy 
 'the Word of God, h is t-'Crf trouhlefom to con- 
 tend with fuch that will not be ferfnaded to 
 ceafe practifwg that which hath no Foundation 
 nn the Holy Scriptures; but is built purely upon 
 humant" Authority^ when it is" wade out fo to 
 'H wi/h the greatcsi tiearnefs of evidence that 
 t'^ "- ^-^ ■ ■ , men 
 
The Epiftle Dedicatory. vii 
 
 mtn cm dedte. I Jte ii*s a great mifchief^ 
 tvanto the kit of men ^ publtckly tQ defend an 
 Error ^ for thty Ik under a temptation to con- 
 tinue that Oppofitwn^ for Reputation- fake : 
 And therefore how cautious had all Chriflians 
 med to be,' how they efpoufe any one thing with^ 
 Cut un doubted Author it y. 
 " Ihe Philofophers of our Age are far more 
 cautious of being deceived in the knowledge of 
 Natural things ^ than our Divines are about 
 Spiritual ; for th^y will not admit of any one 
 thing tobetrue^ upon the highefl Probability 
 imaginabk^ unlefs there can be given a De- 
 monflration of it, fuitableto the nature of that 
 Science ': And therefore Des Cartes lays this 
 down as a Rule to direct them^ That nothing be 
 admitted ftr truths hut what they can have a 
 clear and dtfitnB knowledge of\ and therefore 
 faith in his Book, Principiorum Philofcphiac, 
 par. I. pag. ii. Cercum autem eft, nihil 
 nos unquam falfum pro vero admilTuros, ft 
 tantum iis affenfum praebeamus, quae dare 
 & diftinde percipiemus. 
 
 jVow, in Divinity we have as certain a Rule 
 to walk by^bothin the Credenda and Agenda, 
 a-ad a more certain than they can have m Na-- 
 tural Philofophy, and yet men Err more about 
 it ; Credenda effe omnia quae a Deo reve- 
 lata funt, quanivis captum noftrum exce- 
 dant, * • 
 
 Agenda 
 
viii The Eptftle Dedicatory. 
 
 Agenda effe omnia quse a Chrifto pre- 
 cepta lunt. M^e are to believe all things 
 mhtch we know to he divinely revealed, as they 
 ar^fo revealed, altho' /k Modus Operandi 
 he unknown to us. As tn the Creation ot the^ 
 World, and the Incarnation of the Son of 
 Cod, &C. we are hound to believe thefe things 
 to be true, hecaufe revealed, altho" we cmnct 
 form 'any Idea in our mmds how either th 
 one or the other was efftcttd, orelfe you muji 
 deny all the Fundamental Truths of Religion^ 
 even God himfelf. , , , 
 
 Js to the Agenda, the things to be per- 
 formed in Divm Worjhip, we have a mofi 
 certain Rule to direEt us Uom Gad hmftlfy 
 for he hath cnmmankd us to hear hts Son, the 
 Lord ^efus, in all thing s relating thereunto : He 
 hath appointed him {as Mediatr ) to he the 
 Prir/l, Prophet, and Kjng, m aiid over his 
 Church, to teach and govern them by his .,tm ; 
 heisthat one Law-giver, who is abletojave 
 
 and to defiroy. , / . • 
 
 IVe have therefore nothing to do about in- 
 flituted WorjJjip, huttofearch into the i^crip- 
 tures of the New-lejlament, to find what 
 Chrift hath commanded, and to obey him m 
 
 ' And if any one propofes any thing to us 
 about Divine infUtnted Wor(lnp that is not 
 there written^ to rejeif it. 
 
The Epiftle Dedicatory. ix; 
 
 Jnd thtrefore we rtfufe to ft strife fmgim^ 
 ' as our Brethren do, hecaufe there is no Pre^ 
 cept nor Precedent for itj from our only Law- 
 giver, the Lord ftfus. And we ha-ve great 
 reafon fo to do, for if^is written^ The Pro- 
 phet that Aall prefume to fpeak a word 
 . in my Name, which I have nor comm ind- 
 ed him to ipeak, even that Prophet (hall 
 / :, Dtut. 1 8. 20. much niore tf we jha.ll 
 .]/refumt to fraSife a devm of om o^n, or 
 ^ others, as aChurchOrdimnce, which our Law- 
 I giver hath not commmd^d us^ {as ii t^e cafe 
 f . ofoiir Brethren about their mode of ftngmg ) 
 %'and yet have the confidence to jay tt u fo 
 ? commanded', it'^s to bdye the Son of Goa, and 
 \, to procure that dreadjul Qurfe threatned^ Rev. 
 f^22. 18, 19. 
 
 4. / have Animadverted upon their pretence 
 lofjinging, as they pra^fife it*, to be amoral 
 ^ dity^ and have enervated all the Evidence 
 \^hey have given for it, and I hope th-y will 
 fnot in ft (I upon that ^ny more, 
 t But I cannot pafs by one t hi nor, which ts 
 i worthy Obftrvathn, that fome of thoft five 
 \mwfl:trs who have affixed ^htir Nxn^s to 
 \Mr. hW^V^sBook, by way of approbation, fmM 
 ^yet omit to pra^tfe it in th'ir o-vn C<-n^fe^ 
 gat ion : Efpecially when tky tell as in^that 
 ■ Book it is a moral Day, and as fuch good 
 4nitsfelf^ good in its owrf nature^ antece- 
 dent If 
 
i< The Epiftle Dedicatory. 
 
 dently to God^s commanding it in his IVotd,' 
 Originally written in the Heart of man by na- 
 turi^ and may in a great meafure be dtfctrned 
 fvithout any f fecial RevtUtlon^ and therefore 
 of an univerfal and immutable Obligation, I 
 dtfire to know of them^ who gave them this power 
 $0 dif fence wtth Precepts pmfly moral f 
 
 / {hall ar^ue ufon tt^ and fo fajs it. ,^ 
 
 Whatfoever ii a Duty [imply moraly f^ag, 
 if€ proved fo to be witho:n Scrifture. ' ^^^ 
 
 But thtir praBict of ftnging in Rhime^y 
 A fet for my cannot be proved & diUy without 
 Scripture, 
 
 Ergo,* It is not a duty finply moral. 
 
 That which cannot be proved to be a duty 
 ftmfly moral by the light of Nature^ nor 4 
 qoffitive duty by the light of Holy Scripture^ 
 ii no duty at all. 
 
 But ftnging jn Rhime^ as our Brethren pra 
 
 clice it^ cannot be proved to be A duty fm 
 
 fly moral by the light of Nature^ nor a po 
 
 fitive duty by the lig4jt of Holy Scripture. 
 
 * Ergo, It is no duty^at all. 
 
 And 1 hope God will help them in time to 
 fee their Error herein^ and reform. 
 
 But in the mean time I cannot but grieve 
 to think how they have corrupted the minds 
 of J ome of our young Men with this Notion 
 of theirs about finging ; And more particu^ 
 larly that^ hopeful young Branchy Mr* Tho^ 
 
 mas 
 
The bpiltle Dedicatory. 3:1 
 
 mas Harrifbn, who is prtvaikd upon by them 
 to run retrograde to all that Pious and Learn- 
 ed In ft ru^ ion given by his Reverend fa- 
 ther upon this Ocpafion, an account of which 
 you have in Mr, Robert Steed'i Eptftlt a'- 
 gainft the common and popular way offtng- 
 ingy pag. 2,3. as follows^ 
 
 speaking to his Congregationj he faith^ 
 Ihatyou might (by the Grace of God) be 
 confirmed in your ahftaining from that hu- 
 mane invented way of common jinging^ &C. 
 what I have preached to you^ was that which 
 I was inflru^d in by the Grace of God^ partly 
 by fearching the Scriptures^ and partly by the 
 ' information I had in the days of my youth^ 
 by converfe with thofe ivorthies who were then 
 as burning and fhining tights in thofe Con^ 
 gregdtions^ but are now for the moft part fallen 
 ajleep. And among iht refi, ( that I may give 
 Honour unto whom Honour is due ) I Jhail 
 mention one who was well known to many of 
 you, which was Mr. Harrifon, ( ofbkjftd Me- 
 mory ) the late Ptous^ Prudent, Laborious^ 
 Learned, Faithful P aft or of the Church, for* 
 merly meeting at Petty France^ he once de^ 
 daring in ?ny hearing, how he was for feve^- 
 ral years in his Judgment and AffeB'ion 
 greatly addi6ied to, and much in the practice 
 of the common way of fingmg, till fuch time 
 asjt pkafed the Lord once greatly to awaken 
 
 him^ 
 
^/w, y5>/? />* /^e 1/er; mdfi of his fingtng^ 
 ( Note, Mr. Harrifon hxi hem a Parifh-Mt- 
 nijti ? htfort he was a Baptifl: ) and after ^ 
 mofc mraartly to fonder his p.%ih^ whereby 
 through an impartial ft arch oj the Scriptures 
 he was perfi^ded that this common way of find- 
 ing -vas^ to he avotdedy as Wtllworfbip^ as 
 much as Common Prayer^ or Infant J prmlding^ 
 IV huh Scripture ground he then declared ; 
 tv hereby he was greatly Inflrumentai in tht 
 hand of tht Lord to help and fettle me in 
 that matter. This being conjidtred^ tt did not 
 hi [peak that Ref^ict and Honour ,he ouoht 
 to have had to his Father^ s Memory^ when 
 hefet his Hand to Mr, Allen'/ Book, direcHy 
 opposite to his Pious and Learned Sentiments^ 
 till he had been able to anfwer^ (^\vith all mo* 
 defly ) the Grounds of his Fathers Opinion 
 to the contrary^ who declared it to be IVtll^ 
 tvcrfhipy as much as Common-Prayer and In- 
 fant -jpr inkling. But I rather blame thoje 
 who were the Inflmments to draw him into 
 fu^h an indtfcrett Jcfion than himfelf\ for 
 Ihave more honourable thoughts of him than 
 is proper for me to exprefsinthis ^lace, 
 
 5. Ihe^y tell us in that Pamphlet with fe* 
 venteen Names to it, whereof two of thefe 
 who have fet their hands to Mr. Allen'i 
 Book are of that Number, viz. Mr. Jo- 
 feph « Maifters and Mr. William Collirts, 
 
 that 
 
inecpime uedicatory. xui 
 
 that there is no other n>ay frefcrthed for fmg^ 
 
 ing under the Gojpel, than rvhat was under 
 
 the LaiPy and t here j ore they ajftrt tve ought 
 
 to fmg, as thy Jung under the Law : This 
 
 was Jfoken further to in thofe Queries pre^ 
 
 fented- lately to the fingers^ hut they gt%t it 
 
 thegohy^ as they do many other' things i 
 
 alth^ it he fufficiently proved by the Q^terift 
 
 that their fra^ice is contrary in many re-- 
 
 fpe^s to that under the Law^ particularly as 
 
 it referr'^dtoTemple^worfhip^ and now m Mr. 
 
 Allen'i Book the Jame men are pleajed to 
 
 teU usy there is no particular f^efcriptwnfcr 
 
 their finging in Rhtme in the ISItw- lejlamem ; 
 
 But according to that general Rule^ do all 
 
 things decently aud in order^ the major part 
 
 cfhlr. Allen^ Congregation have power totm^ 
 
 foft it upon the refiy they judging it moji for 
 
 Edification. 
 
 Now if it Were a duty ftmply mcrd, md 
 taught hf the dictates of the . Light of Nature^ 
 as they affirm^ they could never want Dtrt- 
 ction how to perform tt^ hecaufe thiy would 
 then always carry their guide about them^ 
 where ever they wentj but now they have it to 
 feek from the Law, ana fay they have no other 
 DireBicn for it. And ancn from the major 
 vote of Mr. Allen'j Congregation, in what 
 manner^ and by whaf mufical Tunes they fh all 
 think fit to perform it hy^ this feems to k 
 
 vtfy 
 
xiv 1 tie bpiltle Dedicatory. 
 
 'Vtry contYAty to thdr ether ajfertwn^ that it 
 is a moral Duty^ hut we can no ways he If their 
 being ftlf- condemned. 
 
 There are many dther things I had a par'- 
 fofe to have fpoken to in this E'ptltiej hut 
 the limits allotted ?ne will not permit it, 
 
 Andl dotibt Hot but I [hall have iejlcBions 
 from them for what I have ahead) done^ ha^ 
 ^ing met with that before for my Introduction 
 to the Qujeries^ althd I did it with all the modtfly 
 and caution the nature of the fubjed would 
 admtty efptcially when I confider their un- 
 kindmfs to thttr old Servant who wrote, the 
 Scenes ; (or they have turned him out of 
 his,Hrufe^ and took away all his Sallary from 
 himy notwtthfianding he was one of their own 
 member Sy and had fervedthtm faithfully even 
 to old' age, and is yet m full communion with 
 them. However^ I will not rendtr evil fox 
 e'uily but endeavour in mteknefs to inflruci 
 thcfe that oppofe themfelvesy alt ho they jhouti 
 tramfle it under their feet^ and turn again 
 And rent the : Hoping that God for Chrifi^s 
 fake ( whofe caufe I am engaged in ) rxill ajfifi 
 We with his fpirit to bear it with Faith and 
 Patience, 
 
 Ifhall now recommend thefe weak endeav* 
 ^JQurs to the Blef/tng of God^ and the feri- 
 ous confider at inn of you my Brethren ; h(f^ 
 ing it may be of ufe to ejiablifb the minds 
 
 of 
 
Tfie Epifile t)ecficatory. ii^ 
 
 offomty ajid redftce others who hjive ethd from 
 the Truth, 
 
 And rpherein I have been tie fie k fit, I hopt 
 God will ftir up the Spirits of fome others i 
 who have more Leifur^y greater Ltarning^ 
 And better Parts^ to give a more full Anfwei^ 
 to Mr. AllenV Eflay, and to fet the truth 
 rve contend for iHd dearer light ^ that we may 
 ^11 call upon the Name of the ^Lord, and ferve 
 him with one confent^ which is the ear nefi de-^ 
 fre^ and hearty prayer^ of foUr unworthy Bro- 
 ther in the Lord Jefus^ 
 
 Froni my Houfe in 
 
 Williarti Rufl^i 
 
 I have only this Reqdefl: to Mr. Jm, 
 and the other Brethren embarqa'd with 
 fiicn in this Controverfie, that if they fhall 
 write again, they would pleare to lay down 
 the true Itate of the Qaeftion^ before the^ 
 enter upon the Controverfie, fotanOoiiP 
 fion of this in Mr. Allen's Effay did ne- 
 ceflitate rae to go thro' his Book, from the 
 beginning even to the end thereof, before 
 I could collea all the parts of that one 
 ^mpmiiQU hi intended to pra^e. And if 
 
 B they 
 
xvi The'£piftle Dedicatory, 
 
 they fball not be fo happy as to find out 
 a more proper Qyeftion,' I defire their An- 
 fwer to this that follows, being well affu- 
 red if they can prove it in the affirmative, 
 it will not only be full fatisfaftion to my ielf, 
 but to all others that diffent from them. 
 
 The Queftion is, 
 Whether Jejm Chrifi as Mediator of 
 the NeW'Coyenant^ hath commanded his 
 Qhurches under tk Gof^el in all their Jf> 
 Jembltesy to ftng the (pfahns of David, 
 as tranflated into Metre and' Muftcal 
 (^nme^ with Tunable and Conjoined Voices 
 of all the People together^ as a ChurchOr- 
 dinance^ or any other Songs or Hymns that 
 arefo compofed, to he fung in ^nme^ hy 
 a prelimited and fct form of Words ? 
 
 Some 
 
L I ] 
 
 Some BRIEF 
 
 Animadverfioris 
 
 Mr. 
 
 A 
 
 U P O N 
 
 ALL EISA's ESSAY, Crr: 
 
 F TE R I had written feveral Paees ia 
 Amwer to W. Allen's Book, I took 
 -fc jfc ? view of that excellent Treatife writ- 
 Mr Willi rr'l "^^^^f'^tit Servant of CHrifl:, 
 e« iJ i^^'"' ^"'^/^^^•■^l other Minifters, 
 
 sti!^ " .^'■/°bert SteedV Efi^k concerning 
 
 Jul! and fohd an Anfvverto thofe pretended Au- 
 tnorities produced by Mr. Allen, for their Pra- 
 
 remL; f.'"f '"I "? ^'''""' ^^^^^ '' '"^'^ "Ore 
 
 rhfrpf '?X^i'°^'° "^P°° ^J'^^ Subjea; SEd 
 
 fal of .nV .° ''f"'ly recommend it to the pera- 
 lal of ail fuch who delire Satisfaeion therein. 
 
 t„ r i!? ^^£', '^ ^^^^^ '° ™^ "ofrnall Wonder, 
 
 to fee Mr. Allen's Book emitted into the World 
 
 our years after, and make no further advance j 
 
 whiThVK"" '?'''°.°'/ ^^"""^g^re, to do that 
 which had Ijeen done before, ana fully confuted 
 by them and Mr. ^^r/w. 
 
 B 2 • So 
 
C 2 ] 
 
 So that in cafe he had not exercifed his Talent^ 
 in contradiaing fome things mentioned in an In- 
 troduction to fome Ojieries lately prefented to • 
 the CoEfideration of tiie Singers, I had refolved 
 to have palt it by in filence -^ but now I find my 
 felf obliged to mal^e fome few Mmadverfwns 
 upon it, leaving the Body of his Book to be an- 
 fwef ed by fome other Hand. 
 
 The firit thing he.notes in that Introduction, 
 is That the Author thereof faith, ' They have 
 'innovated a Form of Worfhip never praftifed 
 fas he finds in all Hiftory) by any of our Bre- 
 thren before us, nor indeed in the World by 
 any other, till about the time of Bsz.a and 
 Calvin, in the laft Century. 
 And that is, to fing in Rhime by afetForm, 
 and that by all the People together, whether 
 Saints or Sinners, Members or no Members, whe- 
 ther they are Young or Old, underfland or not 
 onderftarid what isfung. 
 
 He divides this into Two Parts : 
 I. He tells us, 7 to fever al of the Bapttzjd 
 Churches have been divers years w the practice of it. 
 
 I fuppofe he means Mr. Keach's, and fome few 
 others ; which is no Contradidioa to what 1 
 faid, for it's them 1 am fpeaking of- 
 
 And pray let him who is become their Advo- 
 cate, tell me erf any of our Brethren of the Bap- 
 tized Churches,who did prafticc Singing as they 
 now do, before this Age. He hath not done it 
 • vet, nor I fuppofe ever will. 
 
 As for his Inflante o^ oue Mr. Skinner^ whom 
 he brings in, faying, ' That he, and the Church 
 * uqder his care, were none of thofe that retulea 
 < finging of Pialms to the Honour of God, which 
 
C ? ] 
 
 was publiflied above forty years ago in a Preface 
 to a Book againft Infant- Baptifm ; I anfwer, 
 
 I/?. Mr. Allen doth not tell us this Man was a 
 Ba^ttft : For I have known many in my time 
 who have oppor^d/«/^»r<5^p/i/"w,and never fub- 
 mitted to it themfelves upon Profeffion of Faith • 
 and I have not his Book to inform mk. But fup! 
 pofe he were, what is Forty, to almoft Seven- 
 teen hundred Years ? A mighty Inftance of An- 
 tiquity ! 
 
 But idly. There being nothing in thofe words 
 (as Cited h^Uv, Allen) to prove that his Church 
 were in the pradice of finging David\ or any 
 other Pfalms, as tranflated into Englifli Rhime, 
 It makes nothing to his purpofe. But I perceive 
 a finking Man is willing to Jay hold of the lead: 
 Twig for his Support, although it fail him in the 
 ilFue. 
 
 But idly. He faith, Tea^ we are further told^ 
 not only that this Pra5iice is New among us • hut alfo^ 
 that it was never ufed in the World by any other ^ tilt 
 about the time of Bqzz and Galvin, in the laft Cen- 
 tury, 
 
 The Teftimony that is alledged for this he 
 cannot deny ; yea, himfelf fays enough to evince 
 the truth of it, to any that did not believe it be- 
 fore : But however, he is in a grand Paffion, lay- 
 ing. That R, Watfon, D. D. though he be cited 
 With thefplendid Title o/Reverend, h^is a veryfcur- 
 rtloHs Author ; and quarrels mightily with him,for 
 forae Difference that happened long ago betwixE 
 him and Dr. Cofm^ about another Controverfie 5 
 which IS nothing at all to this Matter about Sing- 
 ing, and ferves only to raife a Dull to blind the 
 Eyes of his unwary Reader. 
 
 B 3 A 
 
t 43 
 
 As fdr hifpffionate and unwary Exprcffions 
 againfi a Dojftot in Dlvlnicy, and of the Church 
 bt EngUndl and ^1 fuppofe) yet living, 1 fhall 
 take no farther notice of, but leave it to the 
 Dodor himfdf to chaftife him for it, and to de- 
 mand Satist^aion for not allowing him the Title 
 of Reverend^ and fhall return to the Matter in 
 
 hand. ^ . . , . t> • 
 
 The Reverend Dr. IF'^^/b;^ faith, m his Book 
 aiainfl Swatng in Rh'me, printed at Lor7do?7^ 
 Jmo 1684! fag. 19. ' The Original of this De- 
 
 * vice {viz.. of turning the Pfalms of David into 
 
 * Rhinie and Metre J ^as not in EngUnd^ but firlfc 
 
 * taken up by one Clement Marot^ a Oroom of the 
 ' Bed-Chamber to the French King Francis I. 
 and having told U3 how he made Songs for the 
 King to fmg, he adds, p^^. 20. ' That he was 
 
 * prevailed with by Fr. Faahlm Co relinquifh his 
 
 * trifling Ddggrel, and to turn Bavidh Pfalms 
 ^ into French Metre ^ That he did the firft thirty, 
 ^ and the King^Jng them, as he bad done his for- 
 ^ mer Ballads; He further faith. That Btz,^ and 
 
 * Calvin did afterwards encourage him ('when at 
 > Geneva) to turn more of them intoRhime, and 
 •^ after that brought them into ufe in their Aflem* 
 
 * blies. Now this is the Matter of Fad about the 
 Original of this Device, as reported by our Au- 
 thor, and it is either true or falfe. 
 
 Doth Mr. Jllen deny thi:^ lo be true ? No ^ he 
 is fo far fror\i that, that his MoJefty will not per- 
 mit liim, or his Reading not furnifli him with any 
 Inftance'of a higher Original than the laft Cen- 
 tury j and therefore is ibklnd tofariiilh us with 
 Two rorroboraticg Tcftimonies befides, to prove 
 the truth of our AfTertion, which ^re as follows t 
 ' I, Saitb 
 
1 . Saith he, We are informed by Dr. Burnet, nn 
 Hiftorian whofe Credit none I fappofe mllqmftion. 
 
 •You are unhappy in your Guefs ; for I fhould 
 much queftion a Report that had only his (ingle 
 Authority to fupport it : For I have not forgot 
 what occa(ion'd the Parliament to order a Book 
 of his (which had a grand Error in it, in point 
 of Hiltory) to be burnt .by the common Hang- 
 man j which was accordingly executed, in the 
 prefence of too many Witnefles to be denied. 
 Bat what is it this fo much admired Dodior of 
 
 * his faith ? ' That the Pfdms being tranflated 
 
 * into Verfe, were much fang by all that loved the 
 ' llefornjation ; and that the AfFedtions of Men 
 
 * to the Work of Reformation were every where 
 
 * meafured by their Singing or not Singing thefe 
 ^ Pfalms. 
 
 A bielTed Standard to mcafure Mens Religion 
 by, when themoft Profane (ii inftrudled there- 
 in) may ling in mulscai Notes, with tunable 
 Voices, better than the moil Solid and Sincere 
 Chriftian ! 
 
 And that we may he (are to knew that Ms Hi- 
 ftorian carries it no higher than the beginning of 
 the Reformation, he furtiier adds his other un^ 
 queftionable Inftance. For, 
 
 2dly, yiw.Allen tells u?, Mr. j^z/zV^ faith, ThM 
 ths Pfalms heh£ tranflated into Frs?jch Metre At the 
 bepnnin^ of the Reformation^ were ftm^ by all forts 
 anddegrees of Mcn^ &c. - 
 
 Thus you fee, for ail his mighty bluiler agarnft 
 Dt. Watfon^ yet he hath fully proved his Teili- 
 mony to be tr|e, by a Bifliop of the Ciwrch of 
 England^ and a learned Minlilerof a Presbyterian 
 Congregation 5 fpr which I thank him. 
 
 B 4. Bui 
 
[6] 
 
 Bat the man feems to be forry for this I&ge- 
 Buity, in a Page or two after \ for he tells us of 
 fotnc Egypiansy about the fecond or third Age, 
 t?vho fpent part of their time in compofing Songs 
 and Hymns to the Praife of God, of all forts of 
 Metre, and Mulical Verfe, which they writ in 
 grave and folemn Rhimes, puO^K, Nftmbers. 
 
 Now how fhall we know the truth of this ? 
 Why, he fends us to Enfehus^ and then to Egypt ; 
 and when we come there, to fearch the Egyptian 
 Records for Thirteen or Foarteen Handled Years 
 paft. And what is ail this for ? Why, he tells 
 lis, That we may know that the time of Beza and 
 Calvic, in the laji Age-, is mt themoft antient dafe 
 of Singing in Metre and Rhime^ as is pretended^ 
 And this is the only Inllance he gives. 
 
 Hath the man forgot already what he was talk- 
 ing of ? Was it not the Tranflation of the Pfalms 
 of David m Metfe, and common Rhime ? And " 
 did not himfelf grant, nay, prove, that this was 
 i3one at the beginning of the Reformation, as 
 'Dr. Wat [on had faid ? and was then brought inpo 
 common ufe, even more common than theCo/;> 
 tnon^Prayer^ if Mr. Quick fay true, as he is quoted 
 by Mr, Allen /And Ihall he now give us an In- 
 ftance of what fome private Chriftians might dp 
 to make themfelves Paftime with, or to make 
 others merry ? Sarely his Bufinefs had been to 
 have proved, that thp. Pfalms of David had been 
 tranflated into Rbime in fome vulgar Language, 
 andfung byfomeChurc^Chrifl:, as they now 
 pradtice it, after tht^hev<i fafhion, whom 
 they Ape and imitate, as their beloved Foun- 
 ders.' - 
 
C73 
 But not one word of this. For, 
 
 1. The Pfalms of David are not fo much as 
 piention'd \ but inftead thereof. Songs of their 
 own making, 
 
 2. There is not the lead fyllable of their being 
 tranflated intoRhime ; which was the only thing 
 he fliould here have proved^if he had known how : 
 For that was the cafe of Clement Marot^ in the 
 ^ays of BezA and Calvin : He tranflated them firft 
 into Fnpch Metre 5 and f dill fay, t^ey were 
 fiever (as I find ) tranflated into Metr#in any 
 Language before. If he knows they were, let 
 him give his In fl:a nee, or forbear fooling thus 
 with his new Mode of Ballad-iicging, for it i^ no 
 better. 
 
 3. Nor yet is there the leaft mention made of 
 bringing thofe Songs, after they had writ them, 
 into their Aflemblies, and reading them line by 
 line, and all the People making a noife like mad- 
 men, in linging after them. So that this Inftance 
 may be difcarded, as impertinent to what he 
 brought it for, it not being adRm^ but a fainc 
 Fiourilhoniy, fuitable to that weak and unfcrip- 
 tural Caufe he hath unadvifedly undertaken. 
 
 Butfuppofe he could have pickt out any one 
 Inftanceoutof Enfebhs^ in the fecond or third 
 Century, that fome one Church had fo fung as 
 they do, (which it*s plain he cannot ; for we had 
 heard of it before now from fome of the Sin^^fters 
 who have written about Singing, in cafe "there 
 ;had been any) yet ( I hope ) this is no Rule for 
 us t© walk by ; for he may find Inftances within 
 that fpace of time, of Infam-Ba^tifm:^ and other 
 corrupt Praftices, which we are not to follow a? 
 our Example. ' - ; 
 
 For 
 
[8] 
 
 For we are not to go to Fathers and Conncils 
 for our Diredtion, but to Chrift and his Apoftks, 
 who are the only infalUble Guides about all the 
 Parts of iflftituted Worfhip now under the Go- 
 fpel i and if any one (although he were an Argcl 
 from Heaven) fpesk not according to their words, 
 we are not to receive, Sue to rejedt his Te- 
 
 Aiid I perceive Mr. Allen doubfts of his Abilities to 
 prove from the written Word of God, that their 
 mode of Singing is a part of the r-vealed arid m- 
 fticuted Will of Chrift in thefe Gof pel- times ; 
 becaufe he leads us to th. t imperfedl Guide, the 
 Light of corrupted, depraved Nature, fiom 
 thence to be inftrucled into their way of Smgmg, 
 it being (as he conceives) a Moral Duty. 
 
 Bat this hath been fufficiently confuted by o- 
 thers, and I fhall have occafion to fpeak more 
 particularly to it in another place : However, I 
 muft fay this of it at prefent. It is^ certainly the 
 moft infipid way ofReafoning, and the wesKeit 
 Subterfuge that ever Men of Parts had r€Courre 
 to, that when they are not able to fhew that their 
 Pradice is any part of inftituted Worfhip under 
 the Gofpel, they (hould fend us to that bhcd 
 Guide of corrupt Nature. , 
 
 It is as if you (hould tell us, It is true indeed, 
 that our way of Singing, by a prelimited Form 
 of Words,with conjoined Voices of all the People 
 together, in Mufical Rhimes,and Tunable Notes, 
 was never commanded by Chrift, taught by his 
 Apoftles, or praftifed by the Primitive Churches. 
 Bat if yon will hearken to the Light within, and 
 mind what the qiaates of a cornipt Humane 
 Underftanding will teach you, then you fh^U be 
 
 better 
 
[93 
 
 better informed than they can do it ^ for that 
 faith, it is aMoralDiuyy and therefore the Duty 
 of a lIMerTy and confeqitently of every Chrifl'un, See 
 Mr. Allen's E fay, p. I ^. ^ ^ 
 
 I fhall now mind him of what follows in the 
 Introdudion, after the Account of Clement Ma^ 
 rot\ tranQating the Vfdms into French Metre and 
 Rhirae. 
 
 We may infer from thence, as we ufually do 
 upon another Subjt^a:, ' That feeing our Ad ver- 
 
 * faries cannot prove from Scripture, or any au- 
 ' thentick Fliftory, that any Infant was Baptixed 
 
 * in the two firfl Centuries, it was becaufe the 
 
 * fame was not commanded by Chrift, nor taught 
 ' by his Apoftles : And furely the cafe will hold 
 *gwd here alfo, feeing that Fifteen hundred 
 
 Years were gone and pad lince our Saviour's 
 
 * time, and nolnilance tobegiven of any Church 
 ' of Chrift that ever fung in Rhirae. 
 
 This I thought had been of moment for him to 
 have anfwered j but hepalFes it by, as ifnofuch 
 thing had been written. 
 
 I fhall therefore offer fome Arguments to prove 
 the Validity of this Alfertion ^ and I demami^ 
 our Singers a politive Anfwer to e/ch of tlieni, 
 if they Ihall think fit to make a Remy . 
 
 If it doth not appear from Scrmnr^y or any aHthen- . 
 iickHiflory^ that the ?[2L\mo('Dakd were tranp. 
 red into Rhime and Metre ^umiljhe Sixteenth Century 
 after the Birth of Chrifi^ *' / . 
 
 Then it xvas imfojfibk tjm any ^hurch of Chrifi' 
 foddfo fing them as our Bretbrm }\ow do; 
 
 B^it it doth not appear from Script nre^ or any an- 
 thentick. Hiflory^ that the Ffalras of David were 
 
 tranfuited 
 
C lo ] 
 
 fr^fffiated into Rlnme and Metre^ until the Sixteenth 
 Century after the Birth of Chrift : Ergo, It wasim- 
 fojfible that any Church ofChrift could fofing them as 
 our Brethren now do. 
 
 The major is undeniable. The minor I thus 
 
 prove : ^ . . 
 
 ]fit he fo recorded^ that they were tranjlated tnto 
 Jihime and Metre before that time, you or fame other 
 are able to fljew it : 
 
 But neither you nor any other are able tojhew it : 
 Ergo, Jt is not fo recorded. 
 
 Now as the major of this Argument cannot be 
 denied, fo the mmor will alfo ftand good till 
 you give an Inftance where it is fo recorded , 
 the Argument being a univerfal Negative : And 
 therefore I fhall thus inter upon you, 
 
 Jf Sinking in Rhime and Metre was never fraUi fed 
 by any Church of Chrifl until the Sixteenth Century^ 
 it was becaufe the Lordjefus had not commandedit fo 
 to be: 
 
 But it was never fo pra[tifed by any Church of 
 Chrift before that time : Ergo, The Lord Jeftts hath 
 not commanded it fo to be. 
 
 The minor ftands good till you give your In- 
 ftance, The Confequence of the major I thus 
 prove, . 
 
 If the Lordjefus had fo commandedit, then bts 
 Jifoflles would have taught the Churches to bavefo 
 praBifed it : 
 
 But they did not fe teach the Ch/irches: Ergo, ft 
 
 itnotfo commanded • 
 
 Tha 
 
[II] 
 
 The Confequenceofthe >lajor Fthus prove' 
 
 If the Apoftks were fdthfd in the Sfcharreof 
 their Minijiry^ an'dkeft back nothing that was pro^ 
 fit able to the Chhrchesy but declared nnto them the 
 whole Connfel of God^ then they did teach the Church*^ 
 es all things their Lord had commanded them. Bat the 
 u4poflles were thus faithful in the difcharge of their 
 Miniflry: ^ Ergo, They did teach the Churches all 
 things their Lord had commanded them. 
 
 There is no part of this Argument can be 
 denied, without rafing up the very Founda- 
 tion of ChriftianiCy. I /hail therefore proceed 
 to prove the Minor of my former Syllogifm, 
 by the fame way that I proceeded before. 
 
 If the ApoHles did teach the Churches of Chrifk 
 to fing in Rhime and Metre ^ with conjoined voices 
 by aH the People together^ with mufical tunes^ by a 
 prelimited form^ as a Gofpel- Ordinance^ then it is 
 fomewhere fo recorded in the New^Teftament. But 
 there is no fuch record to be found in all the Nejt-^ 
 Tefiament : Ergo, The Jpoftles did not teach the 
 Churches ofChriJl to fing as aforefaid. 
 
 The Confequence of the Major is natural from 
 the premifes, and if you deny the minor Prd- 
 poficion, you are ( as before ) obliged to ihew 
 us where it is fo written in the New Teita- 
 menr. 
 
 Thus you may apprehend what a Circle you 
 have brought your fclves into, (by pretending 
 your way of finging to be a part of Inllituted 
 VVorihip under the Gofpel ) out of which I 
 
 con- 
 
[12] 
 
 conceive you cannot ealily extricate your fclves, 
 yoa had better have owned it to be a Humane 
 InftitutioD, and have told your niembevs you 
 had agreed upon it at a Church-meeting, as that 
 which would render you like other People in 
 your Affemblies ^ even as Ifrael would have a 
 King, bccaafethey would be like other Nati- 
 ons ^ and God gave them their Requeft, but it 
 was in anger,and tended to their ruin ; as this way , 
 of Ballad-finging hath ^ tendency to yours, hav- 
 ing begun already codiminiftiyour Numbers, and 
 force two Congregations to unite iuto one,^ to 
 keep up their Reputation, and fupply that de- 
 ficiency finging in Rhirae bad made in the lofs 
 of their members. This, as it is a great truth, 
 fo it is really a matter of Lamentation : Nay 
 farther, a great part of your members that re* 
 main, are fo diffitisfied, that fo foon as you 
 begin to tune your Pipes, they immediate- 
 ly depart like men affrighted. If you were 
 Itfong, (as you fuppofe your felves to be) 
 you ought to bear the Infirmities of the Weak, 
 and not thus foolifhJy to pkafc your own felves, ^ 
 and give the World an occalion to reproach 
 you tor your Divifions. 
 
 The Second thing which Mr. AlUn feems fo 
 much concerned at, is this. 
 
 That in thofe Qiieries it is fuggefted, that 
 the Word Smg \i added by the Tranflacor m 
 all thefe places following, viz.. Mat. 16, 30. 
 Mark 14. 25. A^s 15.25. iM.i, i2» becaufe 
 in none of them it is to be found in ths Ori- 
 ginal, and that coofequently ail that aflert fing- 
 ing from thefe and the liKe Scriptures, deceive 
 
 others 
 
others, and do very ill in juftifying the Tran 
 flators in adding to the Word of God. 
 
 ' This Mr. AUeri faith is a bold prefumption 
 indeed for any, but efpecially fuch as know 
 not a word of the Original Text, thus to ar 
 * raign our Bibles. 
 
 But, pray Sir, whyfohafly? how come you 
 to know this to be true ? what if they who 
 have affirmed it ( whom the Queriil refers to > 
 ihould underftand both Greek and Hebrew as 
 well as your felf; where then will this bold 
 prefumption be found ? 
 
 ^ But, faith Mr. Alleriy to print and publift 
 •againffc their own Teachers aad Brethren fuch 
 ' a heavy Charge as this. 
 
 I anfwer. If Members may not oppofe their 
 own Teachers, when they impofe upon them 
 Humane Inventions, in theftcad of Chri/l's pure 
 Precepts, the Church may quickly be brouphc 
 under fad Circumftances in matters of Wor- 
 
 But, faith Mr. Jller^, let not any Chriflian 
 *be ftartled at this bold prefumption, forl-^f. 
 * fure you 'tis as groundlefs as 'tis bold. Ex- 
 cellent Rhetorick, and a propf in wh Sacerdo- 
 
 Now after all thisNoife, might not a man rea^ 
 fonably expeft, he would have proved that JX 
 or fome other word that flgnifies to ling had 
 been joyned with t>©-, or ^t^v'i^ctvTii, in fome of 
 thefe Texts? but of this he faith not one 
 word. ^^^ 
 
 And altho' it be not there, yet he labours to per- 
 fwade his Reader the Tranflator did well in pur- 
 tiJig It into our Bibles J and the reafon he afligns is, 
 
 becaufe 
 
[14] 
 
 caufe Cdhin, Beza, Pifcator^ the Prencio Txzn- 
 Qators, and many others have afcribed Tinging 
 to our Saviour in thofe Texts, fo that he would 
 have us to think it was lawful for them toefr 
 with a multitude. , ^.j . 
 
 I anfwer, Firji^ Negatively : It is iiot laid that , 
 our Saviour fnng in either of thoft Texts, not- 
 withftanding Mr. AUeii hath fo often aflerted it 
 in bis Book, and makes it the main Pillar up- 
 on which his fmging with conjoined Voices i^ 
 
 And therefore as they all fail hini in their 
 Evidence, fo they are not to be admitted by 
 us as Wimeffes, ( in their own taufe ) they be- 
 
 " BU^t^^cannot Mr. Allen prove the v^ord fang 
 to be in any one of thofe Texts ? No, not m 
 
 one of them. . r- v. r r t 
 
 2. But fuppbfe It were as he faith, ( tor 1 
 would grant my Antagonift all the fair play 
 that he could defire) yet unlefs he could alfo 
 ptove, that this Hymn was fung in Rhimc, by a 
 prelimited form of words, in mufical verfe, as a 
 Gofpel-Church-Ordinance , it will not in the 
 leaft anfwer his End. . 
 
 But to put the matter out of doubt, ( altho 
 if their Memories had not failed them, they 
 might have fpared riiy pains herein, it having 
 . been done fufficiently already by Mr. Marhw and 
 others) I will fet down the words m the Gmk,j 
 as they ftand fecotded iii all Chofe t>laces. 
 
 In M^t, 26, 30. Kcu yfAVi)^v7i(y which jfrt^s 
 Montantis renders, Et HymnoSmi aftd UtiMeni 
 A Hymn beiflg faid. 
 
in Mark 14. 26. K:a' viavhi^vti^, £t Hymno di^o^ 
 and a H^^mn being faid; 
 
 In A^s Id. 25, ncioXcfT ^ 'S.hcf^ 'Tr^Qtnif^ixivoi 
 v^vav 7t>y i^^dv.'' Arias Mont* Paulns & Silas or antes 
 laudahmt Deunt. Taut and Silas praying praifed 
 -God. 
 
 In Heb, 2. ,12. vi^vncm) &l Laudaho te^ I will 
 praife thee. 
 
 I fhal) add a fifth place, t?^hefe the word fini 
 is noc in the Original. 
 
 James 5. 1 3, The Greeks Word h -^^AeW, 
 Pfallat 5 Let hioi pfalm^ and not fing PialmSj as 
 they have tranflated it. 
 
 And herein I have nbt only Arias Montanus^ 
 and the Learned Caftellio^ on my fidej but Mr. 
 AlkrT^Oldi Friend and merry Companion, Bez^a^ 
 who alfo leaves out the word /«^ in this Textj 
 altho' he adds it in the reft. 
 
 *Bu£ faith Mr. Alkny Tho' fonae of 6ur old 
 *Tranflations render ii^ they faid Grace, or 
 'they Praifed God, yet none of them tell us, 
 
 * they did it not by linging. 
 
 Nor is there any reafon why they fhould, if 
 Mr. Allsn fay true. That to render it a Hymn 
 being faid, or to tell us they fang it, implies 
 the fame thing. 
 
 Bat jwill he take this for currant Coin front 
 a Pedo baptill, when he ihall tell Us, ^ The Holy 
 
 * Scriptures do indeed fay, that Believers were 
 
 * baptized, and that by dipping : But they no 
 ' where fay, that Infants were not baptized, 
 
 * and that by fprinkling ^ and therefore take 
 *it for granted that they were ; I fuppofe nor. 
 
 * And we have as iittle reafon to admit it ia 
 *this. J 
 
 C 3 
 
[i6 3 
 
 1 hope by this time it's manifeft to the Rear 
 der, that we have neither abufed Mr. Allen 
 nor the Tranflator^. 
 . But faith he, * If this (hould be believed, il 
 
 * would leave all Englifh Readers in perplexing 
 
 * doubts, when they read the mind of God in their 
 ^'Bibles, and when inltead thereof they read the 
 
 * Additions of men. 
 
 I perceive he is not fo foUicitous about the 
 matter, whether it be true, or not true j but 
 he would not have the Engliih Readers to be 
 told fo, becaufe they may then call his Autho- 
 rity for Tinging into queftion: But I hope we 
 that labour to undeceive thera, are not to be 
 blamed for fo doing ; but thofe who have known 
 they were decleved by a corrupt Tranflation, 
 and would not inform them. This is the true 
 ftate of the Cafe betwixt you and us. 
 
 But why (hould this be^ thought fuch a Bug- 
 bear by Mr. Alien and his five Champions ? Some 
 of them know we fay true, that there are 
 Errors in car Engliih Tranflation, ( and that in 
 the cafe depending; ) have they not often 
 told the People in their Pulpits, ( and I doubt 
 not but they will do it again ) that the Original 
 hath it thus or thus, different from that in our 
 Englifh Bibi^ : They it feems ( when they 
 pleafe ) may (hew their Skill in the Original, 
 but we muft not do it. 
 
 But that I may (hew you, we are not fm- 
 gular in our alTertion in this point, I will give 
 you the Opinion o^ that Eminently Learned 
 and Holy Man of God, Mr. Henry Jefey^ as 
 you may read it aj: large in the Hiftory of his 
 Life and Deach , he doth indeed tell us, it 
 
 is 
 
[ 17 J 
 is no dilidnoor to the Tranflators, to affirm, that 
 the knowledge of the Hebrew and Greek hath 
 been improved even to Admiration fincc that 
 time. 
 
 Befides, mention might be made of fome un- 
 handfom dealing, not in the Tranflacors^ but in 
 a great Prelate of that time, the chief Super vifor 
 of that Work ; who, as the Reverend Dr. HiU 
 declared in a great and honourable Allembiy, 
 would have it fpeak the Prelatical Language,' 
 and to that end alter'd it in fourteen places. 
 Inftances of feme of them follow : 
 In Ja, 1 2. 4, for Ua^;^, he fcf uck oiJUPaJJover^ 
 and put in Eafkri 
 
 AU:. 1 . 20. inftead of Charge , hei put in 
 Bifijofrick '-, which Was Jndas his Bag, or no- 
 thing. 
 
 ji^.i. 31. he ftruck oxxt Grave ^ and put in 
 Hell 5 that it might fuit with that blind expref- 
 fion ixt the Creed^ ( which hath puzzled all the 
 World ) He defc ended into iJdl. 
 
 In Heb. p. i . where the word is Aao/^jW-ra, Z^- 
 ftimiomof iVorfiiip^ he puts down Dtvine Service - 
 becaufe they had got a trick to call the Cotnmon^ 
 Frayer by that Name^ 
 
 Iny^i^. ip.37. inftead of Robbers of theTmplc^ 
 he puts in Robbers of Chnrches. 
 
 Thefe and fuch like Alterations Were indeed 
 not only againfl: the minds of the Tranilators, 
 but alfo of the then Bifliop of 6'/orf/?er, who w?s 
 joined with the other as a Super vifor, and com^ 
 plained of it himfelf ; Bm ("faith he) he is fo pot em ^ 
 there is no contradiElina him. 
 
 The Church of England doth not e^tempt bur 
 laft Tranllatio;) from all deficiency, but do Ihew 
 
 Q % in 
 
C i8 ] 
 
 ia tbeir Pulpits continually how the Text may be 
 better tranllated, fo, of fo. ^ 
 
 And when Dr. Bitrgefs gives his Opinion about 
 fubfciibing to Scriptures not rightly vendred, be 
 faith, ^ Oar Subrcription to the Cow/wo^-Fz-^^/r- 
 ' Book^ is to approve the reading of fuch Scrip- 
 
 * tures as are there appointed to be read, and 
 *- not to iailine the Printers or Tranflators Er- 
 
 * rors therein. 
 
 ' Thefe Interpretations King Jama accepted, 
 and the then Archbilhop o{ Canterhmy z&xmzd. 
 to be the true Sence, Meaning and Intention of the 
 ChiiYih of England. _ 
 
 SNtx& I minded, I could give you much more 
 of this kind ; but left it fhould be thought I had 
 fome other Intention than what 1 have propokd, 
 I Ihall forbear doing it till a further Occalion 
 Ihall ofFer it felf. • ^ 
 
 By this time I hope it will not feem to Mv^Men 
 to be fo great a Crime as he thought it had been, 
 to queftion him for juftifying our Tranflation m 
 Ibme few particular fnftances. 
 
 But why Cbould I trouble my lelf to contend 
 lArith one who either is not a competent Judge of 
 TranQ^tions, or elfe is not fiacere, but guilty of 
 handling the Word of God deceitfully, and doth 
 what in him lies (in the Cafe before us) to cheat 
 the Underttanding of his EngliHi Reader. 
 
 For in the clofe of his Book he faith, ^ It bc- 
 
 * ing afferted in this Treatife, that the Divine 
 
 * Book: of Pfatms were written by the holy Pen- 
 ' men in Hebrew metre, aad fome of them in 
 
 * Rhime, not only in the Original Sence of the 
 
 * Word, as it denotes no more than Verfe or 
 
 * Number, but alfo in the Vulgar Notion ofit. 
 
C 19 ] 
 
 The Vulgar Notion is equal Feet, andaChyming 
 at the end, fuch as is foand in the Writings of 
 our Englifh Poets and BalJad-makers, in imita- 
 tion of which, Marot began to tranflate the 
 Ffdmsmto French, for the ufeof the King, which 
 he fung as he had done his other Ballads ; and 
 which Hopkinsy Sternhold^ and others, did after- 
 wards imitate ir\,Englifh Rhime- 
 
 Let not the word BalUd-fmging found amifs ia 
 the Ears of our new upftart Singers ; for we have 
 an Englifh Tranflation that calls the Song of Solo- 
 moriy The Ballad of Ballads. And if Mr. Men can 
 prove this Aflertion of his to be ti;ue, £n> /«i/?t 
 mag?7Hs j^pollo. 
 
 But to proceed : He further faith, ^ It was 
 ^ defireJt by a worthy Minifter that 1 (hould fet 
 
 * down two or three Exaaiples of it ; which I 
 
 * was the more willing to comply witlj, becaufe 
 ^of the Confidence of a late Writer, who de- 
 *niesit. 
 
 The Examples (he gives) follow, and I believe 
 they are fuch that no mortal th«c underftiinds 
 Hebrew would have giveUjexccpt himfclf ; for all 
 Rhime is M^re, though all Metre is not Rhime : 
 But there is not one of all his four Inftances 
 Metre. 
 
 Now fuppofe he had piclOd out three or four 
 true Verfes, both in Rhime and M2tre> out of on 
 Hundred and fifty Pfalms, can any man in his 
 right Wits conclude from thence,that the whole 
 are in Rhime and metre ? Surely, No 5 but that 
 it rather fdl out by chance, as it fomedmes hap- 
 pens in our common Difcourfe. 
 
 And when 1 have made it appear, that }Ax, Allen 
 hath been fo unhappy as to fail in all his Inllances, 
 
 C 3 then 
 
t ^9 ] m 
 
 then I hope the Reader will be fatisfied, that it is 
 pot fueh a bold, ignorant and confident Aflertion, 
 but a great Truth, to affirm. That the P [aims of 
 David were not originally written in Rhime. . 
 1 (hall obferve this method, for the Englilh 
 Reader's better Satisfadion : 
 
 1. Set dowjQ the Hebrew Words in Hebrew 
 Charaflers. 
 
 2. The Hebrew Words In Englilh Charaders. 
 
 3. The matter of them in EngliOi Words 
 and Englifh Gharaflers, that it may be made ob- 
 vious to all. 
 
 I fhali begin with hisfirflEx'ample, Pfal. 8. 5. 
 but the words are in vcr, 4. 
 
 Mahetjojh ki-tizkeremn ? 
 1*23 45678 
 
 Vhen adam^ ki tiphkedenm P 
 1234 S ^ 7 ^ 9 
 
 What is ptan^ that thou art mindful ofhi/fr /* 
 u4/24 the fqn of man^ that thou vifiteft him i 
 
 Here it's manifefl:, ifl. That thefe arc unequal 
 Feet, one having tight Syllables, and the other 
 nine. idly. That the Englilh, although it be 
 Profe, and intended for no other j yet it's as 
 good Rhime as the Hebrew, and as good metre ; 
 for the grft line is ten, and the fecond is eleven 
 
[21] 
 
 His fecond Example is TfaL 6^, i. but the 
 words are in ver, 2. 
 
 I doubt the Contrivance is not his own, becaufe 
 he hath twice mid: the right Verfe. 
 
 Km hkh^^Jh chaxStichaj 
 1234 5 <^7 S 
 
 Lirot gnti^z,€cha uclnh^ccha, 
 n z 3 4 5 67 89 10 
 
 To fee thy porver and thy ghry^ 
 
 So as I have feen th$ in the fanUnAryl 
 
 ••• - 
 
 \fl. Obferve how unequal the Feet are. 
 
 idly. That the Eoglifli is as good Rhime aS the 
 Hebrew, and for metre they are botlf alike ; for 
 in the Hebrew there is eight fyllables in one line, 
 and ten in another : In the Englifb there is nine 
 fyllables in one line, and eleven in the other \ 
 and yet we all know that the Reading Pfalms were 
 never intended for either Rhioje or metre. 
 
 His third Example is TfaU ii6.y. 
 
 Shnbi napfl)i Hmmchajechij 
 12 3 4 5^7^9 
 
 C 4 Ki- Jehovah 
 
^ C 22 3 
 
 Ki'Jehovah gamd gnalajech'u 
 1234 S^ 789 10. 
 
 m 
 
 fetttrn unto thy refi^ my Softly 
 
 For the l^ord hath tfealt boHmifnlly with thee. 
 
 The fourth and laft Example he gives, is 
 ' .148. 1,2. 
 
 Hdditjah mn hafhjbamajim ^ 
 1234 5 ^ 7^9 
 
 Haldiiha bammeromim, 
 1234 5 5.7 8 
 
 fraifeye the Lord from the Heavens ^ 
 Trails- hm in the heights. 
 
 Thus Mff Allen hath let it down in his Book» and 
 yet.itisnot metre; for one hath nine fyllables, 
 and the other hath but eight. 
 
 Let us now fee how the words are in the He-; 
 
 ^rew Text : ' 
 
 HMhjS halelu et Jehovah min hajhjbamajim ; 
 
 V HMnhh 
 
Haldnhn bammeromim, 
 I 2 ^ 4 5 (5 7 8 
 
 Frdfe yt the Lord\ Praife ye Jehovah from th 
 
 Heavem : 
 Fra'tfe him in the heights. 
 
 So that you fee plainly the vaft difference be- 
 tween the words in the Text, and as fet down in 
 Mr. Aliens Book ; for there is in the Hebrew 
 fixteen fyliables in the firft line, and but eight in 
 thelaft. 
 
 Doth this look like Rhime and Metre ? This 
 mult be done on purpofe to deceive his Englifh 
 Reader j for he hath left out thefe words in the 
 IJebrew Text, Hdela et Jehovah^ which con- 
 
 1 23 4 %^ 1 
 tains feven fyliables, and fifteen letters, on pur- 
 pofe to make his Reader believe it was both 
 Rhime and metre. 
 
 From hence it's plain, the moft Sacred and 
 Incommunicable Name of God, which denotes 
 his Effencc, viz, Jehovah^ mult be ra'Zed out of 
 the Book of God, to make it Rhime for the ple^- 
 fing of their Fancies. Doth this become thofc 
 five Minifters who have fet thqr Names to Mr.>^/* 
 ie«'s Book ? It looks as if they were refolved, 
 fas am riefasy right or wrpng, to bear down all 
 that ftands in their w^, rather than lay down 
 this humane Invention of Ballad-Singing. 
 
 The 
 
[ 24 3 
 The fecond Verfe is thus, 
 
 1234 S (^7^9 
 
 Haldnhti coLtzeba^au 
 12345578 
 
 Troifeye him all his Angels ; 
 Pr4i/^ ^tf ^/^« <i// his Hofis. 
 
 This you fee is not Metre, and therefore never 
 intended for Rhime ; for thefirfl line bath nine, 
 and the laft but eight 5 and Solomon faith, The 
 Ugsof the lame are not equaL 
 
 Now you fee what is become of the Advice of 
 his worthy Servant, for he hath failed him in all 
 his Examples. 
 
 I delire the Reader to obferve by the way,that 
 ifMr.>^iff» (hall pick andchoofe, outofa Hun- 
 dred and fifty Pfalms, what Verfes bepleafes, 
 from PfaL%. to PfaL 148. and. yet cannot find 
 one true Verfe, then all his huffing againft me 
 and others will avail him nothing. For fuppofe 
 he had been bound to defend any one whole Pfalm 
 £0 be Rhime, what a hard Work wopld he have 
 undertaken ? 
 
 But 
 
C 25 1 
 
 But to be trifled with no longer by him, I 
 affirm^ That any man that underftands Hebrew^ 
 may aseafily know that the P/"^/^/ were not ori- 
 ginally written in Rhime, as he may know the 
 difference between our Reading and the Singings 
 Pfalms. Bat if men will be wilful and foolifli, 
 and put themfelves and others to trouble, their 
 Ignorance and Pride tauft be cxpofed to the view 
 of all, when it comes in competition with God's 
 Word : And in cafe they ihall any more infift 
 upon this Subjed, I will make it fo manifeft,that 
 every Englifh Reader Ihall be capable to under* 
 ftand it ; and then whether thefe Minifters will 
 confefs their wilful or ignorant Oppofition a- 
 gainft the Truth, or not, I cannot help it. 
 
 For if ail thefe Gentlemen do underftand He- 
 brew, then it is a wilful and premeditated Cheat : 
 If they do not underftand it, then it'sPrefumption 
 in them to oppofefuchihatdo, and at the fame 
 rime tell them, they know not a word of the 
 Original Text. 
 
 But now fuppofe all this were true, ( which is 
 indeed utterly falfe) that they had been written 
 in Rhime, and that fcled men in the Church of 
 the Jews had fung them fo, with their Inftruments 
 of Mufick, what had this been to us under the 
 Gofpel ? For we are delivered from that Yoke of 
 Bondage the Jews lay under ,by the Coming of the 
 Mejfiah: He hath, by his Death, took away the 
 Firit Covenant, that he might ^ilablifh the Se- 
 cond. We are now under the New Covenant^^ 
 which is a better than the Old | it hath a better 
 Mediator, better Laws, better Promifes, and is 
 ( in the whole of it ) a more Spiritual Difpenfa- 
 tion J npt attended with Outward Pomp and 
 
 Glory, 
 
C 26 ] 
 
 Glory, or with common Mofical Singing and 
 Dancing, and great External Splendour \ but the 
 Kings Dat*i^ter now is all glorious within, en- 
 dowed with the Gifts and Graces of the Holy 
 Spirit, and is to ad all her Duties from a prin- 
 ciple of Grace and Holinefs within *, (he needs no 
 Inftruments of Mufick to ftir her Affections, nor 
 any Flefh-pleafing Tunes, or mufical Rhime, to 
 make her merry \ for the Spirit fills Her with 
 Joy and Peace, through Believing ; and when he 
 liath a mind to glorifie himfelf by any Outward 
 Melody, he will not want the AflTiftance of our 
 Singers to indite Tunes to exprefs it by. And 
 indeed, it's ftrange they fhould think, that no 
 Praifes offered up to God, in and through his Son, 
 ihould pleafe him fo well as the Rhimes.of //op- 
 Xinsy Sternholdy and others. 
 
 I had thought here to have put a flop to my 
 Pen, and have faid no more at this time upon 
 this Subjed •, but by the Importunity of feveral 
 worthy Friends, I was prevailed with to take no- 
 tice of fome few things more in Mr. AlkrPs^ Efay^ 
 left it fhould be fuppofed by fome I had omrait- 
 ted fome of the raoft material PafTages therein. 
 
 I fliall therefore, in anfwer to their Defire, 
 obferve what follows : 
 
 In Mr. Jllenh EJfay^ chap.^i, pa^: 5. he tells 
 us, * He (hall endeavour to (hew, that Singing 
 
 * the Prailes of God is a Chriftian Duty, and 
 
 * that it was not peculiar to the Jewifti Difpen- 
 « fation. 
 
 But why doth not Mr. Men ftate the Queflion 
 2^ it ought to be ftated, but leave out the moit 
 material ExpreiHons upon which it depends ? 
 
 Mr. Allen 
 
[27]. 
 Mr. Allen gives us the Reafon of it in his Epiftle ^ 
 for he faith, *^That what he hath omitted in any 
 *^ one place, he hath endeavoured to fupply in 
 *^ another, for our full Satisfadion. 
 
 Now in bis fifth and Sixth Chapters he gives 
 bis Judgment for Singing in Verfe or Rhinfie, ra- 
 ther than Profe, and that in Mulical Verfe, by 
 Artificial Tones *, which is indeed their way of, 
 Singing, and therefore we are bound to under- 
 ftand him in that fence,, according to his owa 
 Explanation. 
 
 1 Ihall therefore lay dt)wn his PcCdon, as he 
 would have us underftand it : 
 
 ' That Singing the Praifes of God,notin Profe, 
 ' but ill metre and Rhime, with an extention of 
 ' the Voice, and a peculiar modulation thereof in 
 
 * mufical Verfe, by Artifical Tunes, v^ith con- 
 
 * joined Voices of all the People together, and 
 ' that by a prelimited Form, ( viz., the Pfalms 
 ^ofDavidy as trafillated into Rhime,) isaChri- 
 
 * ftian Duty, and not peculiar to the Jewilh Dif- 
 ' penfation. 
 
 This (faith he) / p^H frove thcfe three ways : 
 Fir ft, From its king a Moral Duty, 
 Secondly, From the Examfk of oar Lord Jifns 
 herein. 
 
 Thirdly, From the Apojfolical InJMnBions thereof. 
 I (hall briefly confider thefe Three ways by 
 which he Eflays to prove it, in the Order he 
 hath placed thenru 
 
 Firfl^ Be faith it is a Moral Duty : And be- 
 fore he proceeds to prove it, be tells us a long 
 Story of the diftinftion betwixt Moral and meer 
 Pofittve Dntiesyznd gives feveral Jnftances in things 
 wholly foreign to the matter inControvcrfic 
 
 But 
 
[28] 
 But in Pag, 8. he faith, * It's a Moral Duty^ 
 
 * for men to praife God with all the Faculties 
 
 * wherewith he has endowed them ^ and becaufe 
 
 * they are able to praife him with their Mouths as 
 
 * well as their Hearts, therefore they ought to 
 *do it. 
 
 Now I know not of any Adverfary he bath 
 in the World in this Point ^ for it's generally 
 agreed that we ought fo to do, and that we are 
 fo taught by the Di(ftates of Nature ; fo that he 
 hath fpencfeveral Pages to nopurpofe. 
 
 But after this he tells us, * That it is not only 
 
 * to be done by Speaking, but alfo by Singing his 
 
 * Praife. 
 
 Now we muft enquire,what he means by Swg^ 
 ing ? He tells us, in his Anfwer to this Q,ueftion<, 
 what Singing is, fag. 29, &c, ' That the word 
 
 * nvX7^ Shur^ with its Derivatives, is ufed in 
 
 * Scripture above a hundred times, to denote 
 
 * Singings and fignifies primarily io Extend^ and 
 ' to Sing^t becaufe therein there is an Extenlion 
 ' of the Voice: Whence (faith he) *cis evi- 
 
 * dent, there is no Singing properly without an 
 
 * Extenfion of the Voice ^ which will be more 
 
 * clear by conlidering another word, {^7, Ranan^ 
 
 * whofe primary and general fence is,to make any 
 
 * loud Noife : And therefore he tells us, it's 
 thence ufed to denote Singing \ plainly intima- 
 ting to us, that that confilb properly in making 
 a loud Noife with our Voices. • 
 
 Now if this be fo, then I perceive we may 
 perform this Duty in Profe as well as they can 
 in Rhime, if we do but make a loud Noile with 
 our Vorces^ when we render Pr aifcs to God. 
 
 But 
 
[29] 
 
 Bat the whole ftrefs of the Controverfie con-* 
 fills in this ^ Not, whether Praifing God be a 
 Moral Duty ; but, whether fuch a Prailing of God 
 in Rhime, which they contend for, is zAIoral 
 Duty? 
 
 lanfwer, It is not j nor can it poffibly befo, 
 for thisReafon : Becaufe the Light ofNature, 
 although it may teach that there is a God, and 
 that this God is to be worfliipped, and that we 
 ought to worfhip him according to bis own Pre- 
 fcription, fofar as he fhail reveal his Will to us, 
 yet it never could teach us how this God mult be 
 worfliipped •, and until our Singers can prove it 
 in any other inftance^ they ought not to infiffc 
 upon it in this, it being a baffled Caufein Mr. ^/. 
 kTis Congregation long ago. 
 
 Secondly^ He faith, Singing the Praifes of God 
 was a Duty performed to him, by the heavenly 
 Angels, at the difcovery of the glorious Per- 
 fedions in the Creation, and therefore infers, it 
 is a Moral Duty, To prove his Aflertion, he 
 quotes Job 38.7. Whtnthe mormng ftars fanito^e-' 
 ther^ andthefonsofGodjl20utedforjpy. 
 
 I (hall fifft deny, that there is any other thing 
 intended by Stars in that place than the material 
 ones ; for divers of them are called by their 
 Names in that very Chapter, as in <ver. 31, &c^ 
 there is mentioned tht Pleiades^ (or Seven Stars) 
 Orion with his Bands : And its faid, Canft thouking 
 forth Maz.7Laroth in his feafin ? The Hebrew word 
 n^Q, Maz^zarot^ fignifies the Planets^ or Twelve 
 Signs in which they move, which are fo many 
 Conftellations of the Stars, giving their Influence 
 wpon the Earth, And there is particularly meiK 
 
 tiopxd 
 
Honed Ar[iur us with his Sons, which is aCeleflial 
 
 Conftellation in the form of a Bear, about the 
 North Pole ; and after this, it follows, Knowefi 
 thou the ordinances of Heaven f canft tkoufet th^ do- 
 minion thereof in the earth ? So that this hath no 
 relation to the Angels, but fets forth the bleffed 
 Haraiony there was in all the Works of thc^ 
 Creation in this lower World, before Sin had 
 marr'd it by the Fall of j^dam. 
 
 Befides, if he will bring a doubtful Interpreta- 
 tion fron* a Text, he ought to prove his Inter- 
 pretation from fome plain Text : But he hath 
 not given us any Inllance that the Angels did ever 
 iing, and I know of none there is to be given ^ if 
 there be,, let hira produce it, and then he may 
 cxped an Anfwer to it, and not before. 
 
 But further, Had not Mr. Men been refolved 
 to Trifle in this matter, for want of Proof, he 
 would have took notice of what Mr. Marlow has 
 faid upon this Text, in his Truth foherly Defended^ 
 in Anfwer to Mr. Keach's Breach repair'^d , where 
 all that he hath faid upon it is fully anfwer'd, 
 four years before his Book was publiQied. 
 
 It's a fad thing to have to do with fuch men, 
 that neither know how to give or receive An- 
 fwers. 
 
 But fuppofe the Angels had fung, which re- 
 mains yet to be proved, this is no neceifary con- 
 fequence, chat therefore the Light of Nature 
 teaches us fo to do. 
 
 But whilft he was writing this, he had certain- 
 ly forgot what thcAngels are in their ownBeings: 
 They are Spirits devoid of Bodily Organs, and 
 of a Nature very ^iftinct and fuperior to ours : 
 And yet when he is to prove, that Singing the 
 
 Praifes 
 
Pv/iCqs 6f God with our mouths h^miral duty^ 
 he brings in the Angels tpr an Inftance : It plainly 
 appears from hence he is unacquainted with 
 the Doftrine of Spirits^ and of the manner by 
 which they perform their Operations ^ for as 
 they take up things by an intiiitflfe knowledge, 
 fo they a(S in a way fuitable to their own Na- 
 tures, not to be demonllrated by us whilft w© 
 live in Houfes of Clay* J^' 
 
 Thirdly^ He faith, Whatfdever Was praaifed in 
 the Church of God, arid appro/ed by him be- 
 fore the giving of the Law at Mount 5/»^/, and 
 never afterward declared to be typical, is a 
 moral duty. 
 
 Where the Logick of this lies I know notj 
 but we will examine it, and fee if we can find 
 ic out. 
 
 I. Why before the giving of the Law upon 
 Mount Simlf was there no moral duty pradl« 
 fed by the Church of God after that time ? how 
 comes this diftindtion of time to prove this or 
 that a moral duty ? 
 ^ Pray let Mr. Men tell Us, whether that pro- 
 hibition given to ISfoah^ Gen. 9. 4. B^t fiejh with 
 the life thereof^ which is the blood thereof^ (hall ys 
 not eat^ be a moral duty ; for ic was praiflifed 
 by the Church of God before the giving of the 
 Law upon Mount S/»^;, and unlefs he can (hew m 
 that it was declared typical^ and tell us what in 
 w.as a Type of, it muft be a Hiotal duty in his un- 
 derftanding. 
 
 If he ask his Friend Mr. Stennety wh0 is one 
 of his five Champions ; he muft tell him, thai 
 the feventtday.Sabbath was a moral duty, aU 
 
 D tho' 
 
[30 
 tho' it were typical j and given before the Lavv 
 upoQ Mount Sinai. And •on the contrary, Mr. 
 j4Ilcn mult deny it. to be a qjoral duty becaufc 
 it's typical ; how thefe Men come to fet their 
 Hands to a Polition, fo oppoUce to each others 
 underHandin^pft know not ; but tho' they differ 
 in many other things, it feenis they can agree 
 about finging, and that is now become their 
 Shibboleth. • 
 
 1 had thought* %hat all Chriftians had gene- 
 rally agreed, that the Summ of all moral du- 
 ties l>ad been comprehended in the Law of the 
 DecalogiK, altho' they are not agreed, that as 
 it was there delivered, the whole of it is iimply 
 moral ; andiffo, then Mr. MerPshcft ^^y hnd 
 been to have pr6ved finging to be commanded 
 (not before, but) at the giving of. the Law 
 upon mount Simi^ and that would have appear- 
 ed with a more feeniiing probability to have 
 furnilhed him with an Argument to^have proved 
 it amoral duty. 
 
 2. But why doth he fay, that finging was pra- 
 Clifed in the Church of God as fuch? * 
 
 To prove it, he brings only this fingle In- 
 ftanre, Exod, i$, i. Then fang Mofes andtheChil" 
 Aren of Ifrael this Song to the Lord. , ^ 
 
 lanfwer, i. By denying that this was done 
 asaChurch-adt : That they were not excited to 
 11 from any fpiritual and Internal Joy, itirred 
 up by an encreafe of any Gifts or Graces of 
 the Spirit beftowed upon them at that time, 
 as Members of the Church of God, but from 
 fome other confiderations, is evident from thd 
 account given in the Text. 
 For it was upon that mighty deliverance that 
 
 Go4 
 
I 33 1 
 ^"^A^^y? them a:t the Red Sea, when Ph^r^h 
 and his Holt were purfuing them with ragt and 
 malice, to have deftroyed their Bodies by the 
 Svvord, becaufe they were leaving hisConotrev, 
 and he (hould Joofe fo many StAjeas and Vaf- 
 lals, whom he* had enOaved to their great affi- 
 ttion, and his- great profit. Now God havinff 
 preferyed them in that miraculous manner, and 
 fo eminently ilgnalized his' power in the de- 
 ftrudlion of their Enemies, they therefore brake 
 torth into this great extafie of (inging his Praifes, 
 having the great Prophet of the Old Teftamenc 
 to direct them in it* 
 
 So that it doth not at all appear, that it 
 was performed as a Church-aa, but upon an out- 
 ward and civil confideration : Befides, how he 
 will do to prove they were then formed into a 
 ^""^^h-ftate, when all the Laws for the efla- 
 Wiihing the Jewijh Oeconomy were given after that 
 time, I cann<ft readily apprehend ; nor yet how 
 he will prove that they fung in Rhime, feeing 
 the Song It felf, as recorded in the Scripture, 
 IS not m Rhime. i » 
 
 ^ Jurthermore, It may be obferved, that t\\e^ 
 did not perform this Duty as Mr. Men and 
 part of his Congregation do, by finglng pro« ' 
 mifcuouOy, Men and Women together, for the 
 Women had more modefty ( \ perceive ) than 
 lome of our Women have now^ for they did 
 not ling together with the men, but went ouc 
 J ^^«^«^ielves ^ for in Exod. 1 5. 20,21. it's faid, 
 AndMmamthe Propkaefs.thefifttrofjiardn. took 
 attmhrd m her hand, and all the women wmt oni 
 After her mth timbrels Mnd with dances^, and Mi. 
 nam anfwned them, Single to the Lord, for he hath 
 
 D J, , rn-' 
 
C Hi 
 
 tYinmfh(d glerietjly,' the Horfe md hit Ridtr hath 
 he throtpn into the S(tf. 
 
 And pray let Mr. Allett give us in his next 
 a better reafon than he hath yet done, why fing- 
 ing for this outward deliverance from Egyftun 
 Slavery ftouid notbcas goodaTypeofoor fpi- 
 ritual d'eliverance by Chrift, and the Joy that 
 refults theretrooi, as that of the ufe of timbrels 
 and dancing fhou^(r be a Type of Joyfulnefs of 
 Heart under the Gofpel, as he tells, but hath 
 not provedic. And in cafe that the tnatterot 
 their Song was typical, then by his own Ar- 
 gument ic was not a moral duty. _ 
 
 B'U for yoar further fatisfaftion in this mat- 
 ter if vou will but confult the Scriptures, you 
 will find that before the Teraple-worfhip was 
 erefted, it was frequent for thofe People, upon 
 any National Deliverance, or any great Viftory 
 obtained over their enemies, to fing and dance 
 with Inftruments of moficMs youhfire an account 
 of the Song of Deborah, Jndg. 5- ^VOfH^ffC. 
 count, and that of JefhthahS Daughter, and the 
 Maidens her Companions, Jad^. i •; and that ot 
 the womens going outof all the C"iesof /M', 
 finging and dancing, to meet King S^«/. . when he 
 returned from the fljughter of the Ph,l,({mes, with 
 Tabrets,wiih>y,and with Inftruments of mufick, 
 , S./«. i8. 6. the like we read about DaMnog- 
 inp back the Ark to the City of C^W, 2 Sam. 
 6 14, < 5, 16. and if their f.nging was a moral 
 do.v the other muft be fuch alfo, (ifthe di- 
 ftinii^ion of time makes a thing to be, or noS 
 "otbea..'^a duty ) ^and I am fure be has 
 not yet picved it otherv^le. . 
 
 And I defire the Reasier to pbfcrvc, that m 
 
L 5> J 
 
 all thefe places there is cot one word of their 
 finging in Rhime, which is the thing he Ihould 
 have proved, if be could have doni ft, for o- 
 therwife it is nothing at all to his pirpofe. 
 
 Bat, Fourthly^ He faith, that fuch finging is en- 
 joined upon all men of ail Nations, and there- 
 fore a moral duty. 
 
 Ohferv, i. That h^ hath omitted a principal 
 member ia this Argument: For, he fhould have 
 faid, that fuch finging was enjoined upon ell 
 men of all Nations by the light of Nature, and 
 therefore a moral duty : And if he had proved 
 that, then the confequence had been good ;• buE 
 irillcad of that, he tells us it is fo revealed in 
 the Word of God, and brings feveral Texts of 
 Scripture to prove it. 
 
 I (hall therefore in the Second place examine 
 thofe Texisby him alledgcd for probation there- 
 of, Pfdm ^.4. aiid 100. i, 2. and 47. 7* 
 in Ffdmg^ 4. Make a joyful-noife all the Earthy 
 make a loud noife^ and rejqyce^ and fmg \ thofc 
 Words, All the Earthy feem to fall under that 
 Trope called by Rhetoricians Senecdoche totms 
 integralis^ divers Examplesof it arc to be found 
 arfiongft thofe eminently Learned ; Vt cum ^ofuit 
 Cicero^ orhem terrarum pro Imperie Romano 5 the 
 like figure of Speech is ufed Lnke 1. 1, There wem 
 out a Decree from Cefar Afi^uftHSy that all the world 
 fhould be taxed '^ whereby is intended, only that 
 part of it in fubjcdion to the Roman Yoke ; 
 For X^i^yAretz.^ is a Noun primitive, fignifying 
 Earth or Land, and it*s applied to a particular 
 Countrey, 'viz., the Land of Egypt^ in the De- 
 calogue, and in divers other places : And in the 
 I/?. Tcrfe it'5 faid why they jihould rejoice, be- 
 D 3 caufe 
 
L 5^ J 
 caufe God had done marvellous things^ his right 
 Hand J and his holy Arm hath mttn him the 
 ViUory ; 'Jft the 2d, verfe, Ht hath done this i?: 
 the- fight if the Heathen : In verfe 3^^. He hath 
 remembred his mercy and his truth toward the houje 
 ef Jfrad : And in the verfe he hath cited, we 
 have a further Exhortation to thefe People, for 
 «»hom thefe^^eat things had been done, and 
 this Vidlory obtained, to make a joyful noife, 
 and to fing ^ gnd in the following words they 
 are diredcd how to ling, with the Harp, and the 
 voice of a Pfalm, with Trumpet and found of 
 Cornet. Now as JLbhere applied to the People 
 far whom this was done, and the Houfe ofJJrael 
 particularly exprell, and only faid to be done in 
 tie fig,htGf the Heathen, altho* the word Earth 
 be here ufedj it's more probable it's to be taken 
 for the Land ot Camm^ for whofe Jnhabitants 
 God had d^nefuch great things, thafffor all the 
 inhabitants of the IJniverfe ; and unltfs Mr. Allen 
 can prove it to fee ocherwife, it doth not avail 
 bira to prove it a moral Duty. Befides, if that 
 mode of linging^there exprefs'd,be a moral Duty, 
 'viz.. to have Harps, Trumpets, and the found of 
 of Cornets joitied with it, why do not they pra- 
 (Qife it ? For I do not hear that they have as yet 
 brought into ufe any fuch Inltruments ofmufick 
 in their Aijemblies. v " -•. ; '. 
 
 • In Pfalm 100. ver. 1,2.. Make a joyful noife ttnto 
 the Lord^aUyciZands, ferve the Lord withgUdnefs^ 
 come befors his pre fence vpith finging : Now .the fame 
 word that in the 5)8/^. Pfalm is.rcndrcd All the 
 Earthy is here rcndred All ye Landsj intending 
 thereby thcfe Lands which God had given them 
 in pofivfiion/and caft out the Inhabitants thereof 
 
 froip 
 
L J7 J 
 from before them ^ and this is plain in 'ver, 3 , &: 4* 
 where it is reUrained to his People, and the She^p 
 of hisPafture, when they enter into his Gates with 
 thankfgiving, and into his Courts wich Praife : SQ> 
 that this cannot be intended all the World. . 
 
 In Pfdm^'-j,'^, God is the King of all the Earthy 
 fingye with mderfianding, : Here Mr. Allen diflik^s 
 the Tranllation, and would have in be rendred^Z^^ 
 every one that hath underfianding fing fraife^unto 
 him. He may ( I perceive ) quarrel with the^ 
 Tranflators, but we muft not: Nowlwiji take 
 it as he would have it^ for it's reafooable to al- 
 low him all we can, but then we mall confider 
 who it's fpoken to, not all the World, b^ac the 
 Children of Jfrael^ God's peculiar People only, 
 therefore every one of them that have underlland* 
 ing fhould praife him ; that it is fo, is evidenE 
 from the Scope of the Place, as alfo for thac 
 they are not only named by Name, but alfo 
 diftinguiftied from ail other Nations, cer. 3,4. 
 He Jhall [Mue the feofle under hs^ and the Nati- 
 ons under our feet: He puUchoofe our Inhtritmce^ 
 for Hs^ the Excellency of Jacob whom he loved ^ Se-^ 
 lafa. And in ver. 9. They are called the 'People of 
 the God Abraham. 
 
 \t was wifely done of Mr. Aliens cot to fet 
 down thefe Texts at length, left thereby he fhould 
 have confuted himfelf, and faved me the Labour. 
 
 5(y. Mr. Allen faith, ' Whatever is preferr'd 
 ' before the moft Excellent Parts of Ceremonial 
 ' Worlhip, as more pleafing to God, is a moral 
 ' duty. Now I expefted it (hould have followed^ 
 But iingingin Rhime, as we pradtife it, is prer 
 ferr'd before the moft Excellent Parts of Ce- 
 remonial Worfliip, and therefore it's a moral 
 C 4 Duty : 
 
t 3» J • 
 Duty : But perhaps he may not be skilled in 
 togick, and then k xnuft not be expeded from 
 
 But it fQllows, To know God, and to love 
 him above all, to lover our Neighbour as our 
 felvcs, to do Jiiftice and judgment, to be mcrci- 
 ful to the miferable, thefe are preferred before 
 the moll excellent facrifices, which were the 
 chief parts of the Ceremonial Worfhip, there- 
 fore, &c. it Ihould have been ; ' But, faith he, 
 
 * and why ? Bat becaufe the former are moral 
 
 * Duties, and good in themfelvcs ; whereas the 
 latter are- only pofiiive Duties, and good be- 
 caufe commanded. 
 
 But what is all this to his Parpofe, to prove 
 finging in Rhimc, as they praflifc it, with tu- 
 Uable voices, &c. a moral Duty ? 
 
 Take his own Anfwer, ^ And that fingmg to 
 
 5 the Praife of God is a Duty of the fame Na- 
 
 ^tuje, I conclude, becaufe 'as like them, pre- 
 
 « ferr'd before the molt excellent Sacrifice, as be- 
 
 > ing more pleafing to God 9 and is not content 
 
 to give us his own Iffe dixit for it, but laith 
 
 alfo, thus the Pfalmift tells us, Pfai 69- 30,^1. 
 
 Tbisisfayingof things vihich are liable to very 
 
 preat Exceptions, and a confufed loofe fort ot 
 
 way of reafoning, as is obvious to every conli- 
 
 derate Reader. , ^ _ 
 
 ' But, Sir, every like is not the fame ^ I pray, 
 bow come Tinging to the praife of God in metre 
 and rhirae,' with tunable and conjomed voices, 
 to be like to, and equal with our knowing and 
 loving God above ail, and our Neighbour as our 
 felvest &c^ whereas the latter are the highelt 
 ads of the rational Soul, apd the moft fubltan- 
 
L J9 J . 
 
 tial parts of Religion, and the former only a 
 Hiode of Worfhip, never commanded by God ? 
 and if it had, could have been only pofitive,and 
 a meer ripaal ? 
 
 We v^ill now examine the Text he orges to 
 prove it. 
 
 Pfalm. 63. 30, 3 r. / will praife the Nawe of 
 (God with a Sortgy and will magnifie him with thankf- 
 giving: This al/o fljail pleafe the Lord better than 
 an Ox or Bullock^ that hath horns and hoofs. 
 
 For our better underflanding thefe words, 
 we will conlider the Scope of the place, which 
 is a true guide in the Interpretation of Holy 
 Scripture. The Delign therefore of the Pfal* 
 mift being to fet forth the Hate of Chrifl; in 
 his Humiliation and Sufferings, when he was 
 upon the Earth, it ought to be applied to him. 
 
 That it is fo applied, I Ihall inltance in fomefew 
 palTages, wr.p. is applied tp Chrift in John 2. 
 17. His Difciples remembred that it whs written y the 
 z^eal of thine Hotife hath eaten me uf : And the words 
 following are fo applied by the Apoltle Pattl^ 
 Rom. 15. 3. For even Chrift pleafed not him felf^ bnt 
 -as it is written J the reproaches of them that reproach-, 
 ed thee fell on me: The z\ft, verfe was alfo ful- 
 filled in the Perfon of our Saviour when upon 
 the Crofs, They gave me alfo Gall for my meat^ and in 
 trjy thir^ they gave me f^mcgar to drink'-, as you may 
 fee fully teilified in Mat. 17. 34, and 48, Mark I 5. 
 35. Jchn 19. 2^. This tbe.retore cannot be denied 
 to be the true Scope of the pl?ce, when we 
 have three Evangeliits and an Apo{lle to alTert 
 ir. 
 
 Now the Pfalmift being let into the Know- 
 
 Jcdgs of our Salyatipn by Chrift, he feeing this 
 
 ' ^ ' • be- 
 
L 40 J 
 before, fpakeofitasathing already paft, andia 
 the 29th, verfe acknowledges his own miferable 
 ftate, as being Poor and forrowful in bimfelf ^ but 
 feeing there was Salvation to be had ftqfn Ghrifl, 
 th^t is fuificient to comfort him, he pours out 
 tbisEarneft Prayer to Goa, Let thy falvation^ O 
 Cod^ fet m^ Hp on hkh ! and w hat would David 
 do then ? / will praife the name of Cod with a Song^ 
 and win magnifie him with thankjgiving : And this 
 refulted from the fence he had upon blm, of 
 that fall fatisfadtion God had accepted for Sin- 
 ners in the facrifice of his Son, as is plain from 
 the fcope of the place, and is alfo fijlly exprelb 
 in the verfe following v this (viz> the Sacri- 
 fice of Chrift) Ihall pleafe the Lord better ihan 
 all the Sacrifices under the Law, which were 
 but Types of him, who is the great and nioft 
 acceptable Sacrifice ^ and therefore he puts 
 do^Xi Inflar omnium^ an Ox or Ballock, the moft 
 chargeable 6f their Sacrifices. 
 
 From hence you may fee. It dotb not refpeft 
 his mode of praifing God, but the matter of it, 
 the Sacrifice of Chrift. 
 
 I have now replied to al) thofe ways by which he 
 bath attempted to prove their mode of finging 
 a natural or moral Duty, and have fhewn you, 
 that his Aflertion from thofe Topicks is alto- 
 gether groundlefs, and therefore muft fall toge- 
 ther with his large Superftrudure he hath built 
 upon it. 
 
 I had a purpofe in this place to have made 
 itmanifeft, that the Light of Nature, when it 
 was at the height of its perfedlion, as it was va 
 Adam in the day of his Innoccncy, was not 
 capable ( without Divine Revelation ) to in- 
 "■ • ftruet 
 
L 4^ J 
 fir)a<ft man in all the Duties he owed to God^ 
 nor in any mode of worihip he was to per- 
 form, much lefs is it capable fo to do fince 
 the Fall, But feeing Mr. Marlow hath largely 
 in lifted npon it, in his Trnth foberly defended, p. 
 12, 13,14,15. [refer the Reader thither for 
 fatisfadion, and (hall proceed to the nest Se- 
 ction. 
 
 ' Se[i. 2. Mr. Allen faith, he fhall prove fing- 
 'ingto the Praife of God ♦is the Duty of every 
 f Chriftian, from the Example of Chrift. 
 
 I defire the Reader to keep in mind what fort 
 of (ingin^ he intends his Reader fhould under- 
 ftand by thefe words, viz., linging in rhime, 
 with a tunable voice, &c, or elfe it's nothing to 
 his purpofe. And I pray take notice (once for 
 all) that his dividing his pofition into fo many 
 parts, and fpeaking to each of them by them- 
 felves, was on purpofe to blind the minds of his 
 unwary Reader, and never prove the thing ia 
 queftion between us \ and therefore his way is 
 all along to conclude what he hath never proved, 
 and from thence to infer in his next, as if he had 
 proved it without exception ; and that hath occa- 
 lioned bis drawing fo many falfe Conclufions, be- 
 caufe he hath not well eftablifhed the Premifes up- 
 on which they are built, before he leaves them. 
 
 But how doth he prove our Saviour fung? 
 That this was his pradice in Religious Wor- 
 (hip, ( he faith ) is recorded , Mat. 26, 30. Mark 
 14. 16.' I wonder at the Man's confidence, to 
 bring thefe Texts to prove his AlFertion, when 
 there is not one word fpoken of it in either 
 of the places. For, 
 
 5 I deny that it h faid ia cither of thefe Texts, 
 
 thaif 
 
that our Saviour /"/^^^and let him prove it if 
 
 he can. 
 
 Fori have already (hewed, that the word5«»^ 
 is not in the Original, and I do here tell him 
 again, that in his fence it's neither cxprefled 
 nor included. 
 
 z. I deny that there is an account in any 
 other place in the New Teftament, that our 
 Lord Jefus did fing at any other timej if there 
 be, let him adign it;. . , 
 
 If he (hall inftance in Heb. 2. 12. I have al* 
 ready (h3wed that the word fifi^ is not in the 
 Greeks but added in the laft tranflation. 
 
 But feeing it's the Opinion of forae, and that 
 with forae fecming probability, that this Epiftle 
 being written by a Jewy to his Brethren the Jms^ 
 was firft conapofed in the Hebrew Tongue, as 
 well as the Gofpel of Adattherv^ and therefore 
 the quotation being from Pfalm 12. v. ii* which 
 was oiiginally written in Hebrew^ we will fee 
 how it agrees with the Hebrttr, in the Epiftle 
 to the Hebrews^ Chap. 2. 12. 
 
 The words in both are the' fame, but our 
 TranQators have- added fin^ in the one, bat not 
 in the other : And that you may be fatisfied I 
 do not deceive you, 1 will fet down the words, 
 as they ftand recorded in both places. 
 
 Pfah»ii. V.22. 
 
 'Jfapferah Shimcha k'echai j bctochk^hal AbMccha. 
 
 Id 
 
C4n 
 
 In Hebrews 2, v* 11, 
 
 • n^Vn^ ^Hj? ^^n^ ^n^*?^ ;;jp?; msp^ 
 
 Afafferah Shimcha le- echd j betoch Kahd a hdclccha^ 
 
 Thus you fee they are the fame, verbatim and 
 literatim. 
 
 And indeed who could imagine, that the great 
 Apoftle of the Gentiles fliaald falfifie the words 
 he pretends to cite, fo that#e words are to 
 be read, Ixvill declare thy Name mtomyBrethre/i^ 
 in the mdft of the Qpngregation will / praife thee : 
 And the vfovd/irtg is not in tlie Hebrew in cither 
 place: Sec Robert Jon^s //^^/-eip New-Teilament. 
 
 Befides in divers old Bibles in Erjgiifb we 
 have the words v^*'*'^ ^» hymnefi fcj rendered, 
 / will praife thee^ without the addition of the 
 word S/V?^. 
 
 Now the reafon why our lafb Tranilators have 
 made this addition, was not from a different un- 
 derltsmding of the Words, becaufe they hava 
 rendred them fo in Pfalm 22* t/. 22. but their 
 2ffe<^ation to Tinging in Rhime, it being thea 
 brought into common ufe, moved them to 
 make this addition in Heb. 2. 12. and the lame 
 reafon hath excited our prefenc Singers to ju* 
 ftifie their additions to the Word of God ; a fad 
 thing ! that Opinion (hould bs preferred to the 
 truth of the Sacred Scripture. 
 
 Thus you fee there is no fufficient reafon to 
 conclude, that our Lord fung this Hymn wiih 
 his Difciples, (or that they themfelves fang ac 
 that time) nor any undoubted Inftance ot his 
 linging praifes to his Father as our Pattern, fo 
 
 tbar 
 
[44] 
 that Mr. Men bath failed in this Inftance, 
 from the pradlie of oar Saviour, to prove that 
 finging th© Praifes of God is the Duty of every 
 Chriftian ; becaufe he hath not proved that 
 our Lord did fing, either at this, or any other 
 time. 
 
 * Se£l. 3. Mr. j^/ien tells us, his third Argu- 
 ^ment is grounded upon the Apoftolicai Injcw- 
 *dions thereof. 
 
 He begins \yj|h the Apoftle JamtiH words, 
 J Ames 1. 13. // any merry ^ let him fing Pfalms. 
 
 I anfwer, The word fi»g p not in the Greeks 
 and he knows it is not there, and therefore fuch 
 a Quotation is horrid, trifling, both with the 
 People of his Congregation and the Word of 
 God : And I am afhamed to think, that Men 
 of fuch Parts as his five Champions are, Ihould 
 fet their Hands to juflifie fo many known un- 
 truths as are in his Book: For they know the 
 whole ftrefs of the Controverfie depends up- 
 on the addition of the Word y%, and they 
 know it is added in the Tranflation. 
 
 The words are 'ivSv^n vu ^-ctWiTv, it's rendred 
 by Arias Momanus^ ty£quo aaimo efi ^uis ? PfaU 
 lat •, Cafie&io hath it, Liettu eft qnis f Pfallat ; 
 Is any merry ? let him pfalm ; it is not fing Pfalms, 
 as they have rendred it in our lad tranflation. 
 I will add thereto the Teftimony of Bez.a^ who 
 was the principal man to bring finging in 
 Rhime into ufe, as it's now praftifed ; and of 
 whom it's reported in a Book iong fince printed, 
 to fet forth the time of bringing humane In- 
 ventions into the Ckurch, £ez.a being much di- 
 verted with Poetry, made bis paftime to be- 
 come 
 
[45.] 
 cornea part of the vulgar devotion ^ hence they 
 have been flyled by fome, Geneva Jigs. 
 
 Now this man leaves out the word fmg'in this 
 Text, altho' he hath added it in the other pla- 
 ces j his words are thefe, Bom ammoefl aliqm ? 
 pfaiUf^ is ^ny of a good mind? let him plalm. 
 By all this it's manifeft, the word fiig is not in 
 tlie Text. 
 
 j^e/?. But it may be asked, What is the mean- 
 ing ot the word Pfalm ? 
 
 I anfwer, the Hebrew v/ord •^.HJ?, TehiUah, 
 figrifies praife, or praifiDg, a Pfalm, p/. mafc. 
 n:7nn, TehUlm^ Pfalms, Praifes : Hence the 
 Book of Ffalms hath its Name, Se^her TehiU 
 Im^ the Book of Pfalras or Praifes. And from 
 the fame Radix with the other comes thac 
 word Hallelu^ which being joined with a Name 
 of God, is, n^^nyn, HMlelnjah^ Praife ye the 
 Lord, ic being compofed of the Imperative 
 Fiel^ n'7n^ halelii^ Prailb ye, and the proper 
 name of God nj, jah^ this is the proper and prime 
 Signification of the word. 
 
 if we confider the 6'reei^word 4«'^'^^j ffdlo^ 
 it is properly to touch, whence it is that Eu- 
 ripUcs faith, that Muliiians do ^ammv x^^Axr^ 
 Ffallein Chordas^ touch the Strings : And hence 
 with refpeQ to the ufe of \t under the Law 
 and among the Grecuns alfo, they ufed to ex- 
 prefs themfelves thus, Fidi'mts cmo^ to Hu^ or 
 play on a Lute or Harp ^ fo qui fdt fidihus In* 
 dere^ he that knew how to -play on fuch an ln*> 
 iSrument, was called A-^^i^t vel 4ct^.m^ one skill- 
 ful therein j ^nd4^,uo'; is properly along playM 
 upon the Pfaltery or Harp, and therefore 
 (with their good leave) he thatcompfcd the 
 
 the 
 
C46] 
 the Pfalm^ Cent it to thofe Mailers of Mufick, tc5 
 play it upon the Harp, the Timbrel, the Pfal- 
 tery, &c. See PfalmZi, %y &c. their Inftru- 
 mental mufick was, i. Shalijhim^ an Inftrument 
 of three firings, t Sam. i8. 6. 2. An Inftru- 
 ment called 5^«M, Hexachordon^ withli^^ftrings^ 
 Pfalm 60. in the Title. 3. In the Title of the 
 ^th. Pfaim, To the chief Mnfitian on Neginoth, 
 A Pfalm of David ; and of the 6th. Pj'alm* npon 
 Sheminith, an Inftrument of eight ftrinis. 4. Gra- 
 ihur, Decachordon, An tnlirument of ten ftringSy 
 with others too tedious to relate* 
 
 It is true ^c/^j^ Ode^ is a general word, and 
 fignifieth a Singing. that is framed by an humane 
 Voice, but the other, Pfalmos^ a Pfalm, was to 
 be ufed with fome mulical Inftrument, and was 
 fo appointed under the Temple- worlhip, as ap- 
 pears by the Titles of the Pfalms. 
 
 Kow if oar Brethren will not underftand it 
 according to its prime and proper Signification 
 IQ the Hebrew^ which is to praife v^ithout ling- 
 ing, but will force upon us the ufeof Singing 
 in the pradice thereof, let them avoid thofe 
 Arguments that are brought for the ufe of 
 Organs, Lutes, Harps, or Pfalteries, if they 
 can. . 
 
 But when all this comes to be weighed 
 in the Ballance of the Sanc^tuary, it will be 
 found too light : For, lef^s Firft confider, That 
 this was not an Injundtion to the Ghurch, how 
 they fhould behave themfelves in their Affera- 
 blies, but to fuch of them only that were mer- 
 ry, and when they were fo only. 2. It was 
 only to Pfalm, and not to ling Pfalms, unleft 
 by the ufe of an Old-Teltament-word he will 
 
 force 
 
C4r] 
 
 force an Old-Teftaraent-pradice ilpdn us, and 
 then he brings in the wfe of mulical InHru- 
 ments alfo. 3. That feeing Praifing is Pfalra- 
 ing, without Rhime and Metre, thefc Ghrl- 
 llians might be obedienc to this Exhortation, 
 if they praifed God in their private Capaci- 
 ties^ after the beft of their skill and, know- 
 ledge, from the fence of that fpirjtuai Joy they 
 found in their Souls. So that Mr. Men's krfb 
 proof fails him ^ bat he is loth to part with it, 
 and therefore faith, it is Objeaed, This is a 
 Command only to thofe that are merry; 
 
 His Anfwer is, * 'Tis certainly the Duty of 
 ' every Cbriftian to be merry or chearful, or 
 
 * of good chear, or ( which is the fame ) tore-^ 
 
 * joice in the Lord, whatever be their outward 
 
 * condition ^ and from thence concludes^ 'tis hi^ 
 
 * Duty to ling Pfalras. 
 
 There are fo many Exceptions againfl: this hfi 
 Anfwer, that indeed my time will not permit ms 
 to follow him in them ail : Bat I hope fome other 
 hand may t?kehim to task thoroughly lor fuch 
 raillaken Aflertions. , 1 fliall only Note thefe fev^ 
 things:; 
 
 X. He makes a time of Mirth and a time of 
 Afflidion both one, and even in this place 
 where the Apoftle makes fueh a real Diftin- 
 dkion betwixt them. 
 
 2. A praying under the fenfe of Afflidion^ 
 and a finging for Joy, mud be both the fame 
 thing ^ for whatever their outward condition is, 
 'tis their duty to be merry, and to fing Pfalms: 
 But 1 will follow that part of it no further, be- 
 caufe I doabc the Man did not well.confider wh^s 
 he faid when he wrote it, and I will not aggra- 
 
 E yatg 
 
[481 
 
 vate agaioft hitn that advantage he hath put 
 into my Hands, ic being obvious to every con- 
 fiderate Reader. 
 
 But to proceed, I have told him before, that 
 the word Sing is not in this Text, and there- 
 fore we might have difmift it, had he* not re-^ 
 folved to ihew his skill in the Greeks upon the 
 word merry^ which gives me occafion to exa- 
 mine him a little further/ 
 
 1 perceive my Frieiid Mer? doth not think 
 the Tranllritors have rendred the word si/5v//«, 
 EHthttmci^ to the belt advantage for his caufe; 
 tor inftead of rendring it merry^ as they do, 
 be will have it be chearful, or of good chear,' 
 or to re Joyce in the Lord. 
 
 That ii fignifies to fie chearful, or of good 
 chear, he quotes ABsiq.ii^iy but for that 
 other fignification, which he faith is the fame, 
 'viz.. To rejoice, he cites PhH. 4. 4. and i Ihef, 
 5.,i5. We will now examine thefe Trxts^ in 
 Fhil. 4. 4. the Greek is, xo/psTi kv Kvel^j, Fejoice 
 in the Lord^ in i Thef, 5. i5. il''^ 'Trdv-nm XaJ^i-n^ 
 Rejoice evermore : So that it*s not the fame ia 
 either of thefe places, but another word, and 
 of a different llgnification ^ forin. J^wfi 5. I3« 
 the word is efSv/^H, Euthumi^ which fignifies a 
 good and chearful mind, and the oiher in Thi- 
 lippiafjs ^nd-ThcJfalonians^ is Xca'psyg, ChairetCj 
 which fignifies the adt it felf of rejoycing. 
 
 Well, this poor Man hath lOft A\ his labour, 
 for he hath not found out the Word fing ia 
 the Original, nor proved ic a Dtity to fing in 
 Rhime, cherefore we will proceed to his next 
 InSance. 
 Anoiher manifcft Injunftioa of this Duty we 
 
 have 
 
have (faith he) from P^A?/, in Ep^. 5.19. Spe^J^ 
 % f<?^o;ir /f/x/e^ /« Pfalmsy and Hymns ^ and fpt- 
 ritual Son^Sy fivging — — to the Lord, 
 
 I. I obferve than in fetting down thq words 
 he leaves out thefe, and making melody in youf^ 
 hearts. 
 
 Perhaps the feafbn was, left his Readers 
 fhould fuppofe, if thofe words had been i.ifer ted,- 
 it might only have intended thofs fpiritual re- 
 vivings they raight have had in their Souls^ 
 (without finging in Rhime ) by the Operations 
 of the Holy Spiric upon thera ^ without expref- 
 fing their Joy to others By a prelimited Hint- 
 ed form of words, becaufe it's faid in the verfe 
 foregoing, Be filled with the ffii it ^ fp^^H^g to your 
 f elves in Pfalms^ and Hymns ^ and Spirit nal Songs ^ 
 finging and making melody in your Hearts to ths 
 Lord, 
 
 Beiides, this feems to be fpoken to them as 
 private Chriftians, and not as a Church-Ordi- 
 nance, when alTembled together, to be perfor- 
 med with conjoined voices, as many other fuch 
 private Duties are exhorted to in this Epiftle, 
 as you may fee in iht ^th. Chapter, v. ij^i^l 
 27528. to the end of that Chapter ^ and in the 
 5^. Chapter, and the beginning, he dehorts 
 thera from feveral particular Evils, with therea- 
 fons thereof, and the reft of the Chapter is fpent 
 chiefly about the Duties Husbands owe to their 
 Wives, and Wives alfo to their Husbands $ 
 and in the 6th, Chapter he be£,jns with Chil- 
 drens Duty to their Parents, and Parents to' 
 their Children 5 and fo of Servants to theif" 
 Mafters, and ot Mafters-to their Servants : And 
 I hope he will allow, there are divers partica^ 
 E 2 lar 
 
[ 50 ] 
 
 lar 2nd relative Duties to be preQed updn the 
 Members of a Church, which cannot belong to 
 them as a Community, when alTembled together^ 
 And that it is one thing what tlieir work may 
 be in a Perfonal and Family-relation, -in refpedt 
 of the Duty required in this Texc, and another 
 thing to extend the Exhortation fo far as to 
 m^ike it a Church Ordinance, which he can ne- 
 ve: do from thefe words, becaufe they are ex- 
 horted to fpeak to therafelves, and to Img, and 
 to make melody "in their hearts to the Lord. 
 Noti that 1 fuppofe there was no Gift in the 
 Primitive Church for fmging forth the praifes 
 ot God in their AfTemblies, for in i Cor. 14. 
 we have both a Diredlion and Example ^ and 
 becaufe it is fo well expreft by ihofe emineqC 
 Servants of Chrift, and of his Church, Mr. Kif- 
 fin and others, in their ferious Anfwer againlt 
 fmging in Rhime, with conjoined voices, accord- 
 ing to the vulgar pradice of it, I Ihall deli- 
 ver my feif in their words : ' We find ac- 
 
 * cording to the Direction of our Lord and 
 
 * Law-giver, a Pfalm is to be managed after ano- 
 ' ther manner in the Church of Chrift; for in 
 ' I Cor. 14. 2d. where it is mentioned plainly 
 'with reference to the Publick VVorfhip ofG^d 
 
 * in the Church, it is moft evident by the con- 
 *text, from -1/^^24, to 31. that there it is under 
 *the general rsgulacionot the Gilt of Prophecy, 
 
 * and the exercife thereof limited unto one, as 
 ^farther appears from the i5f/7.and ivr^.verfes, 
 
 * wi:hout the leaft intimation of its being con- 
 
 * fined or reftrained to any thing mufical or ia 
 
 * metre, in the delivery of it. 
 
 And as ic was performed by any ooe as a 
 
 Gift 
 
C 5^ J 
 Gift of the Holy Spirit, ( 1 will flng with the 
 Spirit ) fo it was delivered for the Edificati- 
 on of the whole, as the Gift of Tongues and 
 other Gifts were in that day, of which we have 
 an Inftance in j^Eisl.^. And they were all filled 
 with the Holy Ghoft^ and beaan to [peak, with other 
 Tongnes^ as the Spirit gave them titter ame. 
 
 And wherefoever God fhali beftow this Gift 
 upon any one, he will not need their mufical 
 Notes, as Crutches to enable him to exprefs the 
 mind of the Spirit by, for the Edification of the 
 Church. 
 
 - But as our Brethren believe they may Preach 
 without fuch an extraordinary Gift, and are to 
 do it according to this General Diredlion, one 
 by one, fol believe we may praife God in an 
 acceptable manner, according to the Gifts we 
 have received, one by one, withqut any fet form 
 of words. 
 
 'But, faith he, we find a third Apoflolical 
 'Injuntftion of this Duty in the Epiftle to tte 
 * Coloffians^ Chap. 3. i5. where all that are cotiS- 
 ' manded to have the Word of Chrifi drvell richly 
 ' in them^ are alio required To te^ch and admoni[!j 
 *> one another in P [alms ^ Hymns^ and Spiritual Songs, 
 ^* and to fing to the Lord, 
 
 Here Mr. Alkn hath again left out thefe fol- 
 lowing words. With Grace in y0!4r hearts, I con- 
 fefs ic*s more fuitable to their promifcuous way 
 of finging, to have left it out than, pot in : BuE 
 we mult not tske away from what is written, 
 left we incur the Curfe denounced agaiiiit fuch 
 that fo do. 
 
 Bclides, I know not of any duty required ia 
 
 tU Gofpel, thsJ; is accepraDk to God, or pro- 
 
 E 3 Htable 
 
I s^ J 
 
 fitabletoMen, if icbe performed without Grace 
 ifl Che Heart. ^ ^ ' 
 
 But feeing Mr. j^llcrt hath aflerted that it is 
 a moral Duty, enjoined upon all men, of all 
 Nations, and the greateft number of them are 
 without Che fanftifying Graces of the Spirit ia 
 their Hearts,' Chrift's flock being but a little 
 flock compared with the reft of the world, 
 he muft believe that the greateit part of the 
 world are to fing without Grace in their Hearts, 
 that they are enjoined fo to do, and that it 
 is their fin if they do not. 
 
 But I had rather affert with the Apollle, 
 That thofe only are required to do ir, who can 
 ling with the Spirit, aiid have the Word of 
 Chrift dwell in them richly in all vvifdom, and 
 liave Grace in their Hearts, to fit and qualifie 
 them for fuch a fpiritual undertaking, than 
 to conclude with Mr. ^Ikn that they ought 
 to fing, altho' they want Grace and Wifdom 
 to per.wm it. 
 
 They have therefore contrived a pradife ve- 
 ry agreable to their Notion, to Ung by a flint - 
 cr) and pre- limited form of words, in Rhin^e and 
 JiiCtre, with conjoined Voices of all the People 
 togerlier,' S?.ints and Sinners, even the moll un- 
 gracious and prophane, that will buc joyn with, 
 them info doing. 
 
 ' Whether this looks like a Gofpel- Church- 
 Ordiiiance, let all fober Chriftians judge. All 
 the feeming difficulty in this Text to diffe- 
 rence 'It from that in Eph. 5. ip. is in-thefe 
 words, Teaching j^Tid admonilinng one another. 
 
 If we confidcr it only thus, as it is in onr 
 Engiilji Tvai-flaiioUj Tknow no advantage thfs 
 
will give them, to countenance their pradife 
 of Unging: Becaufe, if they are all Teachers, 
 then there are no Learners, for they all fing 
 together at once. Had they pra'difed it by 
 having one Man fpeak to them in a Plalm or 
 Song, and all the reft had kept Silence at the 
 fame time, it would have given fome umbrage 
 to their praftice, altho' it had been by a pre- 
 limited and ftinted form of words : For the 
 words are fometimes ufed in that fence, they 
 may be faid to exhort one another when one 
 fpeaks at a time, and feveral of them take it 
 by turns. But let them (hew us it they can, 
 that ever fuch a form of fpeakmg was mcd, 
 when all that were prefent fpake together, ar.d 
 there were no. Hearers. ^ , 
 
 The words here are ^M(rm'7i^Ki v^^^vn'^^r^v^ 
 Jrias Momanns, Docmtcs & commonentes wfipetip- 
 fos. Teaching and admonilhing your own felves. 
 
 The word av-n^h in the fingular, fignifies him- 
 felf 5 it is a pronoun relative, and being com- 
 pounded becomes reciprocal, or hath reconrle 
 to the other word with which it is joined, as 
 ^/ActuTof, one that loves himfelT, of^-'^^^^ a Friend, 
 and €^y^^> himfelfi and in iTtm.s- 2. m the 
 plural ^i^^vTT^hfeipfps amames^ which, we render. 
 Men hall k lovers of thmfelvcs, and <^/^f ^'^ is 
 the Love of ones fclf And to bring it dire^ly 
 to our prefent pur pofe, ^.W>A.7^ ( of ^^^ 
 to teach, and ^..^.V, himfelf) one that teacheth 
 bimfelf, and as it is here ufed, teaching (and 
 aaaioniihing ) them(elves. So that it appea^ 
 to be ij^e true fcope of the place, tha th^y 
 were to Teach ^nd admomflj their own felves m 
 ffalms, and Hynnh ^nd fpifmd Son^', f^lf 
 ' E 4 ■ «f 
 
L S4 J 
 
 h^ mth Grace in their Hearts to the Lord, 
 . Ineednoc add any more, becaufc it's iinpof- 
 fible for our Singers to prove their praftice, or 
 any thing like it, from this Texc. 
 
 That tiiere is no divine Prefcription for the 
 me of artificial Tunes, in finging the praife of 
 God, m.Men doth honeftly confefs, in Cha^. 
 ,6. SeO:, I. And in juflifying the lawfulnefs there- 
 of, and for the better clearing of it up, he doth 
 not urge any Text of Scripture, either from 
 the Old or New Teftaraenr, that it was ever 
 commanded by God, or prataifed by either 
 the Church of thej^n?/, or by the Gofpel-Churca 
 in the Apoftles days : For he raaft needs be con- 
 icious to himfelf there was no inllance to be 
 given. 
 
 Bat, 2/y. He defires that thefe things may 
 ^e confidered. 
 
 M. That we a,re commanded to do all 
 
 * things in the Worlhip of God decently and 
 fin order. 
 
 Let the Reader obferve by the way. That 
 all the Chriftian Ccremony,mongers have coa- 
 ftantly made ufe of this Text by a corrupt 
 E^pofitibn thereof, to juflifie all their Inno- 
 Vatioris in Religion, and Additions to theWor- 
 ihip of God, and Mr. Allen is now become their 
 Advocate. ' 
 
 " 2. He faith, * That in many of the External 
 ^ Modes and Circumftances of Divine Worlhip, 
 
 * there is no particular prefcription in the 
 f Word: Bat Chriftian Churches are left at li- 
 fbmyin thefe things, to order them fo as they 
 ^^/ball jiidge moft for Edification. 
 
 U aniwer to chif ^ 1 fhali Hrft deny the whole 
 
C5?] 
 i)fhis Pofition, and fliali demand of him what 
 . thol€ things are which arc a pare of Divine 
 Wor/hip, and yet have no particular Prefrrip- 
 tion m the Word ? 2. How he came to know 
 they are a part of Divine Worftjp, they not 
 being declared fo to be by the Word of God > 
 3. Who gave the Chriitiaa. Churches that lil 
 berty to bring them into the worfhipofGod 
 and determine them to be a part of divine wor! 
 Ihip r 
 
 ^t is ( ii? my Opinion ) exceeding dangerous 
 to allow It, having a tendency to root our 
 change and alter all the external modes of 
 inftituted worfhip, and is that which hath 
 brought the Church of Rom (by a long trad 
 of time) to be the Mother of Harlots, and a- 
 bornmation of the Earth, altho' fhe were in her 
 Original as true a Church as Mr. ^//t»'s. 
 
 By Chriflian Churches I fuppofe he* means 
 every particular individual Charcn: (Forlcan- 
 not apprehend how one Church fhould have a 
 Superiority over another, de Jure,) and then 
 we may quickly have as many different modes 
 of worfbip as there are Churches, and yet all * 
 pretend to ad by virtue of Chrilt's Authority, 
 and this will not argue their being guided by 
 one and the fame Spirit. 
 ^ In the 3^. i)lace he ispleafed to condefcend 
 lotar, as to pretend to explain this, but that 
 Explanation is fcarcely free from a Contradi- 
 ction, lam forry the man hath efpoufed fo 
 bad aCaufe, that he raufl be forced to be fdf. 
 condemned. 
 
 For he faith, * This Liberty, as I conceive, 
 {dQes not authon^e any number of men in a 
 
 fChrifliaa 
 
C S6 3 
 
 'Chriftian Church, to prefcribe Rites and Ex- , 
 *ttrnal Modes of divine worthip accoroing to 1 
 
 * their owDjadgments, and impofe them upon 
 
 * allothe'sin thiir Communion ^ but thefe things 
 » ought to be ordered by the mutual Agreeu^nt 
 ^Tzt leafttheA/.7Vpa" of the feveralMem- 
 
 * How '^ he will tcconcile the former part to 
 the la«er, 1 know not ; unlefs in his Concep- 
 tSn the V-yV part of the Church are not 
 
 ncluded in thefe words, ^'^ "'^'^JT "f f'"' 
 1 hope he is not for making the Women /ole 
 
 ^I^Soir/tSo^'deare him to anfwer mc 
 
 ^^rWhSlTby Churches he doth not^in- 
 tend' the Bletbren in each Church that have 
 
 n^S^e^hl^'ritVotfomeofthem par- 
 ticulariy appointed as helps in Government w^h 
 "ower to ait in all affairs relating to the Dil- 
 JJune of the Church ? and whether feven of 
 
 '""f Whe^r^£^b: U the prefent form of 
 Gommnent exercifed in Mr. ^//c« s Congre- 
 
 '^^? Whether four of thefe feven, upon any 
 dil«eYcetirmg, have not power to decermme 
 »hP matter, they being the major part i 
 *■; wSher i'fanyRues or. external Modes 
 f A\v\nP worfhiD be determined by them »s 
 Si^offiorEdSation, they have not a power 
 fo impofe them upon all others in their Com- 
 
 Tfappofe U agreeable to hi? own Pofitioj 
 
C 57 ] 
 becaufe he faitb^ thefe things ought to be or- 
 dered by the mutual agreement of at leaf!: 
 the major part of the feveral members of ii- 
 And if he ihall extend the power of Difcipline 
 further, yet it mult terminate in the »7^/or part 
 ©fall the Brethren at a Church-meeting/ 
 But how dorh Mr. Men prove this > 
 Why, he tells us in the fo^nh place, 'That 
 'tis the duty of all the Members of a Religi. 
 ^ ous Afiembly to (ing the Praifes of God, and 
 that with conjoined Voices. I perceive one 
 Error being granted, more will follow after 
 |or upon this he Infers, * It is neceffiry, to the 
 end that this may be done decently and in 
 order, that fome general rule (hould be agreed 
 upon, according to which each may fo order 
 , their voice, as that the whole Afiembly may ling 
 ^harmonioufly and without confuilon. It feews 
 he IS confcious to himfelf there is none of this 
 appointed by Chrift, he hath took no care to 
 prevent Confuilon in his Church about finging, 
 but hath Mt the matter to be determined b? 
 Mr. ^Ilen, and the major part of his Congregati-. 
 on, as they m their great wifdoms fhall think fit. 
 
 But what is this general Rule that they have 
 agreed upon? 
 
 His^anfwer is, ' Now fuch a general Rule 
 MS, that which is ufually called a Tune, which 
 ; therefore is riecelfary to the orderly perfor- 
 mance of this duty. 
 
 But how can a Tune be a general Rule ? lie 
 jught to explain himfelf in his next. 
 
 But pray Qblerve, Tirft, He tells us 'tis the 
 j-^urches liberty fo to do ^ then if they had not 
 loiis itjthey fc^d mt finned, and then the 
 
 omit* 
 
[ 58 ] 
 nmittine to fine the Praifes of God with a to- 
 Se Voice had been no fin, if their determi- 
 nation had not made it fo. ^ . . 
 
 Bar, 2/y. * He tells us, that foch fingmg is nc- 
 
 Either it was neceflary before the Church ap- 
 nointed it, or their appointment made it fo» 
 If it was neceflary in it felf, previous to that ap- 
 poiEiment,ihen there were forae reafons ground- 
 Jd upon Scripture to make it DecefTary before 
 that appointment was made } and then I hope 
 thev are able to produce them, that we may 
 •indRc of their validity as well as ihemfelves. 
 
 Bat if their firaple appointment thereof, and 
 aBteement thereto, makes iheir fmging with a 
 toi..bie Voice necefTary, and a part of dinne 
 worOiip, I hope thofe that did never concern 
 themfelvesin that agreement, except to oppofc 
 it are not under any obligation fo to hng. 
 
 Vor, granting things enjoined, antecedently to 
 their injanftion, to be indifferent in their own 
 nature, and at the Churches liberty, and then 
 afterwards to give reafons taken from them- 
 felves as from their decency and order, tlieir 
 conducivenefs to Edification, their tendency to 
 the encreafe of Devotion, their fignificancy ot 
 this or that, is to fpeak amazing contradiQ-i- 
 
 ^"'And to make things neceflary by an agree- 
 ment of the major part of the Church, not en- 
 Sined by the Word of God, is an aft purely 
 of Power : And fo far as it is aflirmed to be a part 
 of divine Worfliip, it is an InvaCon upon the 
 Regal Authority of the Son of Cod. 
 Is not thi?thc very Aigument that all th? 
 
C$9 3 
 Ufarpers in the World, both Princes and Prieftsj 
 have alkdged, for impofing their Hamane In- 
 ventions upon the Confciences of ncten about 
 divine worfliip? And will Mr. Mm (who hath 
 dilTented from them about the external modes 
 of fome parts of inftituted worfliip) take upon 
 him to juftiBe thofe Men in their fo doing ? Sure- 
 ly his Brethren have caufe to take it ill at his 
 hands: For he that builds again the things 
 he hath deftroyed, makes himfeif a TranfgreP 
 for. 
 
 And I pray coniider. All our Obedience in the 
 Worfliip of God is the Obedience of Faith ^ and 
 if the Scripture be the Rule of Faith, our Faith 
 is not in any of ins concerns to be extended 
 beyond it, no more than the thing to be regu- 
 lated is to be extended beyond its Rule. 
 
 The Famous B afil co\x\d fay, ^^v^a 'k^l&cj^n 
 x5 vTipiKpa/icti Kdv^yopU, &c. It hath the manifel!: 
 guilt of Infidelity and Pride to rejeiH: anything 
 that is written, or to add or introduce any 
 thing that is not written. And this is the 
 fumm of all we contend for. 
 
 And in his Epiftle 80. ad Enflath. he rejeds 
 all pretences ofCuftoms and Ufages of any fore 
 of Men, and will have all differences tobede- 
 teraiined by the Holy Scripture. 
 
 Chryfoflom in his Hooiily on PJalmsf). fpeaks 
 after the fame manner: Who is this that pro- 
 raifes thefe things ? He anfwers, Pa^d: For we 
 are not to fay anything without Tellimony, or 
 upon our meer reafoniiigs : For if aijy thing be 
 fpoken without Scripture-teftimouy, the minds 
 of the hearers flaftuate, now afl;eating, anon he- 
 fitating-, fometimes rejetoig what is fpoken as 
 
 irivi- 
 
[5o3 
 
 frivilous, foractimes receiving it as probable : Bt 
 Where ihe teltimony of the Divine Voice comes 
 forth trom the Scripture, it confirmeth the Wt)rd 
 of the Speaker, and the mind of the Hearer. 
 
 The fame Author, as in many other places, 
 fo ia his i^th. Homily, on the fecond Epiftle to 
 the Cortnthians, exprelly fends us to the Scrip- 
 tures to determine all things, as being the exad: 
 and per fed Canon, Balarice and Rule of Reli- 
 gion. 
 
 Hicrom alfo faith, Qmd de^ScriptHris jHthort- 
 tat em non hahety eadem facilitate comemmtttr^ ^nd 
 frohatar -, Whacfoever hath not the Authority 
 of Scripture, may as eafily be 'contemned as 
 approved. 
 
 Among the Latin Fathers Tertnllian is exprefs 
 to the lame purpofe, for in his Book againit 
 Hermogems^ he fairh, Adorofknitndinem Serif tnr£^ 
 qH4mihi fa^orm^ &C. / adore the fnlnefs of the 
 Scripture^ pnd let Hermogenes prove what he faith 
 to be written, or fear the Woe denounced a- 
 gainft them who add to, or take from the 
 Word of God. 
 
 And in his Book De c^rwe Chrifli\ Non reel* 
 tio mod extra Script ur am de tHO infers •, 1 do' not 
 receive what yon bring of your ovon^ xoitl^m Serifi 
 
 tare. > . 
 
 Alfo in his Book Be prefcriptiombtts : Nobis «/- 
 hil ex noftro arbitrio indHlgere licet ^ fed nee eli^ 
 gere t^md aliqnts de arbttnofno tnduxerit^ Apofto- 
 ios Domijii hahempt^s Anthores^ &c. It is fiot lawfnl 
 for Pts ( in thefe things ) to indulge our own wills^ nor 
 to cdoofe what is brought in by the will, of another v 
 we have the Jpojiks of onr Lord for ottr Example^' 
 
 who brought ia^'fioching of their own rainds 
 
 or 
 
[6i] 
 
 or choice, but what they had received from 
 
 Chrift, they faithfully communicated to the Na- 
 tions. And this mull needs be a gr^at? truth, 
 becaufe Chrift is the only Law-giver to his 
 Church ^ God hath appointed him to be Head 
 over all things to the Church : All power is given 
 to him as Mediator in Heaven and Earthy wc 
 are to hear him in ail things whatfoever he hath 
 faid ; Bujheep hear his zmce^ and afiranger they 
 will not follow^ for they how not the voice of ft rangers « 
 We are to contend for that Faith (and no other) 
 which was once delivered to the Saints, noE 
 what hath been fince brought in by humane In- 
 vention, under the pretence of Decency and 
 Order j for we are not to add to his Words, 
 left ^ he reprove us, and we be found Liars. 
 
 It was the high Commendation of the Church 
 at Corinth^ That they kept the Ordinances, as PW 
 had delivered them, and that they followed him 
 therein, as he followed Chrift, and we are to' 
 walk fo, as we have them for an Example 
 Away therefore with all this pretence of De- 
 cency and Order, where we have ndciier com- 
 mand nor Example for our Guide, as there is 
 none in all the Holy Scripture for this mode 
 of finging which they have fet up* 
 
 But I hope it is not yet fo bad with them 
 as It was with that Enemy of the Cnrillian Re- 
 hgion, Samuel Parker^ D. D. and late Bilhop 
 pt Oxford^ to fay as he doth in his EtcL Polity 
 pag, 178. ' That aD the pious Viilani^s chat evet 
 
 * have diflurbed the Chriftian World, have 
 
 * flieltered themfelvesin this grand Maxime 'that 
 
 * Jefus Chrift is the only Law-maker to hh 
 
 * Church. And alfo oppoles the Maxime it felf. 
 
 But 
 
[«2] 
 Bat however, they may (if the Grace of God 
 do noc prevenc) come in cime to be ot his mind : 
 For I perceive, chev do not own that Chrifthath 
 made fuffiJenc providon for his Church, by 
 Laws of his own making, bat hath left the modes 
 of VVorfliip to the difcretion of the major part 
 of Mf. Alkr7\ Congregation, to be done decent- 
 1/ and ill order, according ro their agreement. 
 And if Mr. Jllen^ or any of his five Champion?, 
 will oppofe the MaKiqie it felf, Cas all Will- 
 worftippers are forced todo) I arti of Opinions- 
 whatever Tjpprehenfi-ns they may have of their 
 own Abilities, they are no way competent xo, 
 difprove this Foundation-principle of the Go- 
 
 fpel. 
 
 It's true, all political worldly Governnjent 
 confifts in the exercile of Principles of Natural 
 Right, and their jull application to Times, 
 Ages, Perfons,and Occafional Occurrences,where. 
 in Mens Eafe and Profit /not their Confciences^ 
 are concerned. But in the Worlhip of God 
 things are quite otherwife, for they have a 
 regard to the pleafing of God, and to Man s 
 Eternal Felicity. r. r^-i 
 
 The former indeed, as they relpeCt Civil 
 Government, are liable to alterations, accord- 
 ing to the various circumftances of Perfons, 
 Times and Places. 
 
 But the matters of divine inftituted worlhip 
 being fpiricuaU and depending only upon the 
 will of the Law-giver, and his Acceptation of 
 the Perfons and Services of the Worftiippers^ 
 are not capable of any humane Variation what- 
 foever: They have no refped to Climates, 
 Cuftoms, Forms of civil Government, or any 
 
 other 
 
dther thing of the like nr,tare : tov the vvor- 
 ihip of God under the Gofpel is ( ond ought 
 to bO the fame at all times, in all places, a^ 
 niongH alj People; in all Nations: And the or- 
 der ofit isfixM and determined in ail par- 
 ticulars that belong unto ic. 
 
 And let not any f efpecially our Brethren ) 
 pretend the contrary.^ who liave feparaced from 
 other Churches for their Innovations in rnat- 
 ters of worflilp, until they can giv^e an ifiilancc 
 of any fuch 6dt^ in the Ii-ftitutfonsof Chrifl:^ 
 as that the worlhip of God cannot be carried 
 on, Ror his Church governed and edified, vvith« 
 out an addition of fomething of their own for 
 the Supply thereof, which therefore Oiould and 
 would be neceflary to that end, antecedent un- 
 to its addition : And when they havefodonej 
 1 vVill fubfcribe to their mode of finging, or 
 any other thing they (hall fo add. 
 
 i can fcarcel7 fatiifie my felf without pro- 
 fecuting tnis to its urrtiofl liraics^ becaofe i fee 
 the Decleniion that is in our day requires ir,, 
 but aiy leirare will not permit me at this tiine! 
 
 One thing more I ftould fpeak to, before t 
 clofe thefe Aniaiadverfions ^ and that is, to an- 
 fwer thofe fiUy Reflexions which Mr, M^^ 
 makes upon fome of the Qjieries, about tne 
 life of the VcvbvyAo^ and its derivati^res, chat it 
 doth not only ligniSe to praife, but aifo tola- 
 menr. 
 
 I fhall therefore repeat the two Queries, 
 jQ«. 6. Whether the terra vyv^i^ctyn^, hymte^ 
 fantes^ doth not as ftmngly imply ch3c''rhcy" 
 laoisnted, as that cbey iang and rejoiced ? 
 
 F ^,7. VVhe- 
 
[643 
 
 Qh^ 7. Whether there is not a greater pro- 
 bability, that they mourned or lamented, than 
 that they fung and rejoiced at that time ? 
 
 But Mr. Allen faith, * This i^ ignorantly ( to 
 ' fay no worfe ) intimated by a late Qaerift. 
 
 This man feems to have a great Opinion of 
 his ovWi ( late ) acquired Knowledge, that ac 
 every turn he mult be upbraiding others for 
 their Ignorance, 1 hope all the World arc not 
 ignorant befides himfelf. 
 
 I will prove that ( in this point ) the igno- 
 rance (not to fay worfe) lies at his own door. 
 
 For the Learned Leigh^ in his Critica facra^ 
 faith, Ferhum vi^mv^ ^on folum laudes dicere fig- 
 mficaty fedetiam conqmr't ', ThcYetbhynmein doth 
 not not only fignifie to fpcak Praiies, but alio 
 eonqucri^ viz. to lament^ to €omflain^ to make moavy 
 as that word fignifies-, and conqneftia and con- 
 qneflns is a compUwwgj lamenting^ or crying outy 
 as ufcd by Livey and others, and is well Known 
 to the Learned to be ufed in that fence. 
 
 Alfo Mr. Alexander Rowley ^^ in his Svf^p^S? -mi 
 Ud^n-nu^^ tells us, the word w>;'^-«, hymneoy fig- 
 nifies eoKqneror. viz. complain y make moan^ la- 
 ment, 
 
 Likewife Mr. Keach^s Learned Hand, at the 
 end of his Breach Repaired^ when he hath re- 
 cited Mr. MarloixPs words, that hymno figni- 
 ficd conqueror^ to complain, and that hymnein 
 was put for lamentari^ to lament, which he cites 
 out of Conftatice'^% Greek Lexicon^ he faith, this 
 1 readily allow, and (if I amnocmifinformcd ) 
 this is Mr. William Collins^ont of his five Learned 
 Champions, who have fee their hands in com- 
 mendation of Mr. Aliens Book. 
 
 I 
 
r 65 ] 
 
 . I could cite many other Teftimonies, if tbcre 
 were occalion \ but thefe are fufficient to curb 
 his Infolency againft the Qiierift, and to prove 
 that he only^ and not the Qiierift, is an hm^ 
 ramus. 
 
 But (faith he) I have fenrched all the pla- 
 ces where this word is ufed by the Seventy^ 
 a.nd can find nothing in tlient for this Sueee- 
 ftion. ^^ 
 
 This feems to be done on purpofe to make 
 his Reader believe the Querift had direded 
 him to the Seventy for his Authority, Whereas 
 he faith not one word about them, therefore 
 ( rather than want bufinefs ) he hath fet up a 
 man of ftraw oi his own to fence againft. 
 
 But { wonder how he dares affirm, that he hath 
 fearched all the places where it's ufed by the 
 Seventy^ when the Learned Weemfe^ in his Ghrl- 
 ftian Synagogue, faith, ' ThisTranflationof the 
 ^Seventy pcrKhed When the Library oi Ptolemy 
 * was burnt by Tom^cy^ therefore they are but 
 ' fragments of it which we have now. 
 
 Belides, the Seventy were not h^Trviv^i^ divine- 
 ly infpired, and therefore might err as well as 
 others. It is recorded of them, that they purpofe- 
 ly changed fome places, for fear of giving of- 
 fence to Ptolemy and his Q^ieen. 
 
 As they do not tranftate the Hebrew word by 
 AAyco\^ a Hare, but Jk.-i^yr'oJk^ rough foot v becaufe 
 the Queen was called Amhath^ a Hare, kit (lie 
 fhould fuppofe they mocked her, L€zik,ii.6, 
 
 And in Dent, 32. 8. where they fbould have ren- 
 
 dred it the Children of Ifrael^ they tranfiaced It 
 
 Angels of God, leaft the Heathen fhould beof« 
 
 fended wi^h y/r^(?i*s being equalled with the reit 
 
 F 2 of 
 
of the World ; thirteen fuch places they thu3 ^ 
 tranQate, as Jofifpus and the Talmud teftifie. 
 
 They have likewife added a hundred years to 
 the Lives of each of the Fathers mentioned ia 
 Gen, 5. that they might feem to rhatch the Fa- 
 bulous Egyptians in the number of their years j 
 and they added three or four verfes at the end 
 of Job^ which are not originally fet down in 
 the Hebrew, 
 
 §^): And as I would not take that for a good tefti- 
 ImoDy which is not, fo on the ocher hand I 
 would not reject any thing that deferves com- 
 mendation in its due place. 
 
 That which is Authentic^ Feritatis^ is the He- 
 hrexo of the Old Teftamenc-, and the Tranlla- 
 tion of the Seventy is only Eccleftaftic^ Hnivcr- 
 falls receftdi^ where the firlt cannot be come at, 
 but not elleemed of equal Authority with the 
 Hebrew, 
 
 Moreover, to return to Mr. Allen^ he doth 
 give his ConcefTion, that it may have been ufed 
 in that fenfe, even by Greeh^ Auchois : For he 
 faith, * And tho' any Inftance ihould be found 
 
 * in prophane Writers of its being thus ufed 
 *by way of Antithefis, (I (hail leave him to be 
 correfted by another hand for the improper 
 nfe of that word; yet, faith he, 'I think it 
 
 * would be very unrealonale to take it in fuch 
 
 * a drained fenfe in the Scripture. 
 
 It is not the firft time Mr. Allen hath beea 
 miftaken in his thoughts : For, mufb we fup- 
 pofe that none of the Learned Greekj under- 
 ftood the true Etimology of their own Native Lan- 
 guage, befides the Pea-men of the New Tcfta- 
 
 ment. 
 
 And 
 
1^71 
 
 And ily. I will fuppofe they underftood their 
 own Native Language better than Mr, y4llen 
 is capable to do; and knowing the Guftorasof 
 their own Countrey, were better fitted to adapE 
 Greeks words to thofs things they treated of 
 than one of another Countrey, and fo far re- 
 mote both as to Place and Time. 
 
 si}' After all this noife about the Seventy^ 
 the Quefticn is not how it was ufed by them in 
 their tranflation of the Old Teilament, but how 
 it is ufed by Matthew and Mark^ in thofe two 
 places the Qjieriffc refers to ? fo much for the 
 fixth Query. 
 
 Sji: 7. Whether there is rot a greater pro* 
 bability thst they mourned or lamented, than 
 that they fung and rejoiced at that time? 
 
 I fhall eflay to make that good, from the 
 prefent flate the Apoftles were in, and the 
 Circumftances that attended them at that time. 
 
 I. From the fence they had upon them that 
 their Lord and Mailer was to be betrsyM and 
 crucify'd, which mufl: needs be a very sffliQing 
 confideration, Mat, 26, 21,22. Jnd as they did 
 eat^ he faU, 'verily^ J fay imto yoit^ that one of 
 yonjhall betray iiie-^and thty were exceeding forrowfilj 
 and began every one of them to fay unto him^ Lord^ 
 is it I / the like account you have in that P^r- 
 ralel Place, Mark 14. 19. They began to be for- 
 rowfiil'y and in John 13. which appears (by 
 comparing it with the former) to be at the 
 fame time, both by Judas's betraying him, and 
 the other concurring circumftances, we find they 
 were fo filled with forrow, that ,our Saviour 
 obferving, forbears to proceed any 'further, be- 
 fore he had ofed means to comforc thsm, Joh. 
 F 3 14. 1 
 
C 68 ] 
 
 X4! i" Let not your heart be troubled: And again, 
 in vcr.27. Let not your heart be troubled^ ntithr 
 let it be afraid-^ and in Cha^, 15. 19, 20, 21. 
 when he had told them how they (hould be 
 hated and perfccutol by the world, as alio in 
 Chap. 16, and the beginning, he doth again ob- 
 serve how greatly they were afflided thereat, 
 and therefore faith to them in wr. 6. Beeaufc 
 J have f^id ihefe things unto yon, farrow hath filled 
 •your hearts: And in 1/. 22. And ye now therefore 
 kave forrow \ and inCfe^p.18. i. When Jefus had 
 fpokeu thefe w»rdsy he went forth with his Difciplts 
 over the Brooke Ccdrofty where w^u a Garden^ mo 
 the which he emred, and his Bifciplesy and Jud.ts 
 fame with a band of Officers^ whofcizjd him, bound 
 him, and led him away •, as you may fee more at 
 iarge in that Chapter. 
 
 If it Siould be fuppofed, that our Saviour's 
 ^Tordshad taken ofFthis Grief and Sorrow before 
 jhe inftituted his lall Supper, as the contrary 
 |s evident from the place it felf, fd it is alfb 
 panifeft that it remained upon them after they 
 were in the Garden, by the concurrent tefti- 
 Biony ofthefeveral Evangelifts to this matter, 
 ^Mat, 16. 43. Thar eyes were heavy : And the fam^ 
 ^iccount in ^/^r^ 14. 40. And moft exprefly by 
 tiie Evangelifl: Luke-, Chap. 22. 45. And when he 
 was come to his Difciplcs, he found them Jltepin^ 
 for forrow. 
 
 Ftom all which it's evident, that the Querift's 
 Sugg^ftion, that it was more probable that they 
 liioarned ot* lamented, rather than rejoiced at 
 tliat time, was not the effed of Ignorance, cw 
 wdrfe, but from "a Solid Judgment, grounded 
 ^P6n Ihe word of God : And thai it was Ut. 
 
C 69 ] 
 
 y^to's Ignorance ( not to fay worfe ) that made 
 him ridicule the Qu^rift, ( altho' an ancient 
 Member of his own Church, and one that hath 
 been both a Deacon and an Elder in time pafl: ) 
 and fpcak fo diminutively of him as he hath 
 done in divers places of his Book. 
 
 But Mr. jiUm is not fatislied with this, but 
 makes a further remark upon it, and gives ie this 
 fine name of a Fancy. 
 
 His words are thefe, ' I Ihal) therefore dif* 
 
 * mifs this Fancy with only Noting, That (hould 
 
 * this new Interpretation be admitted, then 
 
 * where 'tis faid, ^ad and Silas fang praifes to 
 ' Go^^ and the prifoncrs heard them^ the meaniog 
 ' would be, ths^ lamented fo loudy that the j^rifoners 
 
 * heard thein, 
 
 I anfwer, i. Bj^ letting himkno^^, there are 
 many words in Scripture ufed in a very different 
 lignification. 
 
 As for inftance, the word Tl?, harachj is 
 rendred, he blefed^ in many places in the Old 
 Teftament ^ and in other places when it is fpoken 
 of Curling God, it being accounted by the He- 
 hews fo horrid, they will not exprefs it by a 
 proper word of curfing, but put hleff^ for it ^ 
 as in the cafe of the falfe witndfes againft Na^- 
 hoth^ I Kings 21. 10, 13. the words are, n?o«^/.^/? 
 blefs God and the King -^ and in -z^. 13. Nahoth did 
 hlefs God and the King : Now in this place it mult 
 -be underflood to curfe^ and therefore our Tr an- 
 flators have rendred it according to the true 
 Scope, Blafpheme God and the King. In Job 2. 5. 
 the word is harach^ he bkftd^ but it's thus tran- 
 llated, He will cur fe thee to thy face *, and in v» 9. 
 it's the fame word, and yet it^s rendred C/ir/i? God 
 md dye. F 4 Again, 
 
1 70 J im 
 
 Again, the word ^^0^7, lechet?i^ ligniiies to^ 
 eatbreadj and yet ifs fbmetimes rendrcd ( and ^' 
 that rightly) tow.ige war -^ and they give this 
 as a reafon for fuch a ufe of the word, that 
 War devours Men, as Men devour Bread. 
 
 Alfo n^, rn^ch, Hgmf'.tS fpirit^ breath or xoind^ 
 it's fomerimes put for the Holy Spirit, fomc- 
 . tinaes /or the Soul of man, fometimes for the 
 breath infpirid and exfpired by a living Animal, 
 and at other times for the wind it felf. 
 ' Pefidcs thefe, there is an inftance in the cafe 
 depending, w^hich hsd he been skilkd in the con- 
 Iroveiiie, he mif j*^^ have underltood. 
 
 For the viioid ^ i*^, halal^ in the conjugation 
 , W, r^viHes he was mad, but in the ^d, conj. 
 It is 7?'^, htlkl^ he pratfcd 'j and hence tchllUh^ 
 praife, or praifing, aPlalm, and in the flmafc. 
 nhl'lim^ praifes, irom whence that Book haih 
 Its name, Sefhtr tehiiiim^ the Book of Praifes. 
 '■ Nqvv I pray obferve Mr. yllkns Logick. 
 
 If there be a word of adifTerent or contrary 
 fignifiraiion, it muHbe ufed in one of thofe fen- 
 ies Gnl7 • for he tells ns, that if we will under- 
 lland It To in Mat, 25. 30. and Mcvrk 14. 26, 
 that they lamented, then we mufl qndeftand ic 
 fdin every other place where it's ufed, or elfe 
 clU hi.i Argument is aNori-ftftUGr^ for he failh 
 we mufb nfe it fo in Ms 16.25* without af- 
 ligning any other reafon. 
 ^' We will therefore try it in thefe few In- 
 llances ; 
 
 • I. \( Barach^ he blelTed, becaufe it's fometimes 
 put for Curbing, Jhould always be ufed in that 
 fenfe, where-evcr it occurs, then in ail places 
 
 V7here the ProDbei; David faith, Bkfs the Lord, 
 
 \.. .,. . ;• ; T , . Q 
 
C7I] 
 
 my SohI^ it muft be meant, Curfe the Lord^ 
 p my Soul! And where he faith, Bkfs the Lord, 
 ^11 ye his Sdnts^ it muifc be intended, he exhort- 
 ed them toCiuTe him : Anc^ Uien what fine work 
 would he make of interprecing Scripture ; but 
 thefe things are eafily undcrftood by the fcope 
 of thofe places where the word is ufed. 
 
 2. Becaufe Lechem is fometimes put for War 
 as well asfor Bread, by Mr. Jllens Rule where- 
 ever Bread is intended we mult call it War. 
 
 3- Becaufe Ruach is fometimes put for Breath, 
 doth he think it good Logick to aflert, that 
 where-ever the Soul of Man is intended there- 
 by, it is nothing ^\^q but his Breath ? or, be- 
 icaufe it doth fometimss fignlfie the Wind, there- 
 fore when it's put for the Divine Spirit, it's the 
 Wind only that is intended ? But this is his way 
 of arguing. 
 
 4. Becaufe the word Halal in the firft conja- 
 gaiion fignifies he was mad^ that whereever we 
 meet with it as ufed in the third conjugation, 
 which fignifies he ^rmfcd, &c. and find it writ- 
 ten, they praifed, ov Jmig praifes, muft wq from 
 thence conclude that all^that did fo were mad ? 
 
 1 do not think Mr. Jllen will allow of fuch an 
 Interpretation. 
 
 i (hall therefore difmifs this Fa^cy in the 
 words of Mr. Keach's learned hand, in his An- 
 fwc r to Mr. Afarlow's Appendix. 
 
 As to what Mr. Marlon? faith of the ufe of 
 the word vuna, hymneo^ to reproach, to accufe, 
 to complain, &c. I readily allow « — But the 
 ufe of tjie words to thefe ends doth not at all 
 prejudice its primary iignificatipn, which is cer- 
 tainly irijf» ■ ' 
 
 So 
 
[ 72 ] 
 
 So that y'ou may fee, if Mr. j^ilen had but 
 eead what this Gentleman had written five Years 
 agoe, he might have faved himfelf and me all 
 this trouble. 
 
 But he proceeds to tell us. It is Objefted, 
 That had this Hymn belonged to the Lord's 
 Supper, doabtlefs theApoftle would have mcn- 
 doncd it, when he fets down the Inftitution of 
 this Ordinance, as he had received it from the 
 Lord, I Cor, ii. i^^&c. 
 
 To this he replies. That were there any force 
 in this Objeftion, we might alfo thence con- 
 clude, that giving thanks before the Cup doth 
 not belong to it •, of which, tho' it be plainly 
 expreft by the Evangelift, yet the Apoftle makes 
 no mention. 
 
 This is a bold ftroke, I could not but admire 
 at this Affertion ^ for if he had but read the 
 place cited by himfeif, he might have been fa- 
 tisfied he was in an Error : I will therefore fet 
 down the words at length. 
 
 I Cor 1 1. 23, 24, 25. For 1 have received of 
 the Lord that which alfo I delivered nnto yon, ( I 
 hope he doth not think the Apoftle was going 
 to tell them a Lye ) That the Lord Jefas^ the 
 fame night in which he was betrayed, took bread \ 
 and when he had given thanks, he brakp ity andfaid. 
 Take, Eat, this is my body, which is broken for you ; 
 this do in remembrance of me : After the fame man- 
 ner alfo he tookthe dtp, when he hadfnpped, frying. 
 This Cup is the New Tefiament in my Blood, this do 
 ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me* 
 
 I pray obferve how this Inftitution is laid 
 down. 
 
 E. Saith the Apoftle, He took Bre^d, 
 
 2, That 
 
C 7J 3 
 
 2. That before he brake it, he gave thanks. 
 
 And touching the Gup, he thus expreffes it ; 
 \Afur the fame manner alfo he took the Cnp : Arid 
 in Chap, 10. i6. The Ctip of Blejfmg which we bkfs, >. 
 
 Now I muft confels, if the Apoftle had not 
 told us, that Chrill gave thanks before he broke 
 the Bread, there had been fome umbrage for 
 this pretence ^ but when the Apoftle faith ex- 
 prdly, After the fame manner alfo he tookjhe Cup ; 
 it muft be to denote that he gave thanks be- 
 fore he gave it to them, or qKq the words are 
 neither Senfe nor Grammar. 
 
 I conclude therefore, ( to ufe his own Rhe- 
 torick ) It's a bold and confident sflertion, con- 
 trary to truth, and to the plain meaning and 
 fcope of the place : And how his five Champi» 
 ons come to be guilty of fuch an over-light, f 
 know not, unlefs they fet their Hands to a Book 
 they had never read. 
 
 I conclude again therefore. That this Hymn 
 might belong to the PalTover, and ceafe with 
 ic, not being mentioned in any of the Apoftolick 
 Writings, as pradlifed by any Church of Chrift 
 in thofe dayes. And alfo, fxecaufe Mr. u^lien him- 
 feif doth cdnfefs there was a Hymn belonging to 
 the Pafibver, altho^ he thinks that both that and 
 the Supper were included in it at that time, and 
 that it was performed at leaft efpeciaily ( they 
 are his own words ) upon the occafion of his own 
 Supper, but doth not give us any one inflance 
 that our Lord Jefus did ever ling, either at that 
 er any othev time. 
 
 There is one thing I had like to have forgot. 
 That Mr. Allsn doth fo (lightly pafs over that 
 Objection, without giving it its due weight, W<c. 
 
[ 74 ] H 
 
 Tto by the fdme Rule they bring into the Church a 
 prelimited and fet Form of fingtng in Rhime^ they 
 may alfo introduce a fet Form of Prayer, 
 
 I do aver. There is more to be faid for fuch 
 a Form of Prayer than for their Form of Singing. 
 
 Firft^ Becaufe we have Forms of Prayer ex- 
 preQy fee down in the New Teftament, as in 
 Mat, 6. 9. JoI'M 1 7. u45ts 4. 24, &c. 
 
 But we have no mention of any Song or Pfalm 
 tranflaced into Rhyme in all the New Teftament, 
 or any inftance of any of thofe Primitive and 
 Apoftolick Churches that ever fung as our 
 Brethren do. 
 
 Secondly^ I would fain know, how they will 
 prove that any part of the Book of Pialras^ 
 much lefs the whole, were tranQated into Greek, 
 or any vulgar Language, in the Apoftle's days, 
 into Rhime and Metre, as they now pra(^i{e it. 
 
 Thirdly^ If they cannot prove it, then all thofe 
 Churches were under an utter impoffibility of 
 finging them in Rhime, as they now do, altho' 
 they tell us *tis z moral duty, and fo the duty 
 of all the men in the World. 
 
 Fourthly^ This Confideration alone renders all 
 they have faid for their pradtife doubtful, un- 
 pl they have proved it, and till then we (hall 
 forbear to praftife it. 
 
 Poftfcript, 
 
[75] 
 
 Poftfcript. 
 
 Since I had finifhed my Aniraadverfions, I haye 
 met with this Objedion from a man of no 
 mean Eftimation ^ That whereas Mr. Mm faiths 
 in p, %.Chap. i. * That fingini ^^^ Praifes of 
 
 * God is a Chriftiart DuCy, from ics bei^iga 
 
 * moral Duty : He doth not believe that he in- 
 tends thereby finging in Rhime^ with conjoined 
 voices of all the People together, as they nonf 
 pradtice it in their AfTerabiies. 
 
 Having therefore fome few fyare pages, I 
 thought good to return this Anfwer thereunto. 
 
 Either be intends their way of fmgwg- to be a 
 mord Duty, or he doth mt ^ if he doth^ I have 
 took him/^/>/y, if liedoth«:jr, then ith nothing to 
 his purpofe. 
 
 For if there fhould be any other mode offing- 
 ing a moral duty, it doth not m the leaf!: 
 prove thdrs to be fo ; his Bulinefs was to prove 
 their own pra5tiee to be a moral Duty, for every 
 man is to prove his own worl^ Ga!, 6. 4. 
 and uniefs he intended fo to do, he hath blotted 
 innocent Paper to no purpofe. 
 
 There is no r^alon to blame niie for taking 
 his words in the mofi favourable acception ; efpe- 
 dally when in his Epiftle he faith, *- What is 
 
 * wanting in one place he hath enaeavoured to 
 'fupply in another: It being alfo his df/Ign la 
 that part o( bis Book to prove their practice to 
 bo^ChriJttan Daty, becaufe it's a moral Duty, 
 and confequently the Duty of ^// men j not only 
 to fpeak^ but alto to fing his praife j feef^^.8, 
 
 9 
 
[76 ] 
 9- of his Book, and io the Comems of that Chap- 
 ter he hath thefe very words, ' Proving fing- 
 * ing of Pfalms a Chriftian Duty from its morality : 
 So Chat he miift intend that or tjoi^ing^ for it's 
 the only media n he makes ufe of ( in that place ) 
 to prove it to be a Chriftian Duty. 
 
 If therefore oar Brethren will fland by this 
 fofttion of theirs, an^ prove their praClice to 
 be i moral DaCy, taught by the li^ht within^ or 
 2f>ofitiveD^diy^ taught by the. %^f of Scripture, 
 I will be facisfied. 
 
 pQr, 1 woald have all men know, T do not 
 contend with my Brethren ( whom 1 love and 
 honour ) without caufe^ but ! do it for the fake 
 of truth, and to pi ^vcnt 2 gradual Apoftacy in 
 matters of iVoylJoip ^ f^r they have already brought 
 in this humane Invention of finoing into the Churchy 
 and joined it with thewor/i/p of God, and where 
 they will fx their Standard^ as yet we know 
 not, buc we have reafon to believe they will 
 proceed further: Becaufe they have told us in 
 Mr. Ahnh Book, Chap. 6. pag. 89. 'That in 
 ' ma;ny of the External Modes and Circuniftances 
 * of Vivim Worfljtp there is no particular pre- 
 ^fcription. in the IVord -^ but Chrtjitan Churches 
 'are left at Lihmy in thefe things, to order 
 ' them fo as they lli'^il judge molt for Edification, 
 But this I hive fufficiently animadverted upon 
 in p4^. 55 &c. to which I refer you. 
 
 I IhilK clofe all With a brief enquiry into the 
 Nature oithofe Songs mentioned in the New Tefta- 
 Tnsnt^ and m what manner it is recorded that the 
 mofi eminent Servants of God, even the 5a« him- 
 lelf, did offer up their Praifes to him. 
 
 Thofe Songs I ftiail ( at prefent ) Cake Notice 
 
 of, 
 
[77] 
 of, that are recorded in the Neu} Teftamem^ yoiJ 
 may find in Rev. 5. 9, 10. G(Mp. 15. 3,4. both 
 which I (hall take notice of. As for that in Rev. 
 14. 3- It*s indeed called a Nexv Son^, buc the w^r- 
 ter of it is not recorded, and therefore I Ihali pafs 
 it by. Rev, 5. 9, 10. Afidthey [mg a NtxoSong^ 
 faying. Thou ^n worthy to take the book^ and tc^ 
 open the Seals thereof-^ for tho^ waft Jlain^ and hafi 
 redeemed us to God by thy bloody out of every idn-^ 
 dredy and tongue J and peopUy and Nation ; and hafk 
 made hs umo our God Kings and Priefts^ and weJhaM 
 reign on the Earth, Rev. 1 5. 3, 4. ^^jd they fang 
 the Song of Mofes^^ the Servant ofGody and the Song 
 of the Lamby faying, Great and AiarvcUom ari 
 thy work^y Lord God \Almighty ^ Jnfl and true are 
 thy ways, thou King of Sams. Who (hall not fear 
 thee, O Lordy and glorifie thy Name^ for thou onlf 
 art holy \ for all Nations JhaH come and worjhip be- 
 fore thee y for thy Judgments are made manife^. 
 Here are feveral things to be obferved • 
 
 1. Thzt thife are called Songs, ^ \ 
 
 2. That thQ matter of them are Praifes to Cody 
 and to the Lamb, 
 
 3. Thai they are in Profe, and not in ^fe^, 
 and yet called Songs. 
 
 4. We may from hence infer, that fuch a A^ode 
 ofpraifing God is ufinging of his Praife in a true and 
 proper fenfe,or elfe thefe could not be called Songs. 
 
 5. It is therefore moft evident^ that when ws 
 praife God in Profe.^ after the beO: manner we can, 
 it's as acceptable a Sacrifice to God as the befc Mh- 
 peal Notes in the World. 
 
 Befides, If our Brethren will pleafe to confider, 
 there are many Forms of praifwg God, by fome 
 of his moft eminent Servants, yea^ by the Sen him- 
 
 m. 
 
i^78] II 
 
 felf, recorded i«i the New Teftament^ which arc ' 
 mitten for our inftrudion, tho' not to oblige us 
 to exprefs our felves in thofc very words : And 
 yet there is not one Example amon^j them of their 
 fraifing God in Rhime^ as our Brethren do ' 
 • 1 ihall give you \omc few Inftances^defiring yon 
 would read at lemi^tb all tnafe following qmtattom. 
 Luk, 1 . 4f , 42 > 43 •» 44- 45 • -^^^ Elizabeth was filled 
 with the Holy (jhojt^ and jhe [pake om with a hud voice^ 
 and [aid, &c. Aifo Luk. i . irom ver. 45, to yer 5 5. 
 j4nd Mary Jatd^ my foul doth magnifie the Lord^ &C. 
 Zachariahlhe Prieit, Luke 1*67-, 6ic. being ijlled- 
 jvith the Holy Choji^ prophefted., faying, Bltfjed be 
 the Lord Godof Ifraely &c. Here was the high 
 praifesof God in his mouth joined with Pro- 
 phefie. 
 
 It is left upon record, how the Lord Jefus^^v^ 
 ^L«i^no his Father, A/^r. 11.25,26. Lnkeio.zi, 
 In that hour Jefm rejoiced in fptrit, and f aid y J thank 
 thee, O Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth, 6cc. 
 
 And in ^51 s j^. 24, &'c, we have an account of 
 the Apojiks arid their Company lifting up their 
 voice t6Godi, both in p^^T*^^ of him, and praying 
 to him at the fame time, which may ferve as an 
 Example to us, to mix our Praifes to God with 
 the prayers we make unto him, according to that 
 ExSprcation, 1 Tim, 2. i, Tnus you fee that in 
 all thefe places there is ufed neither Rhtme nor 
 Metre ^ but a praifing God in Trofe, which met 
 with the highefi: acctptatton trom him, through the 
 ■ hitercejfion^of Chnfi. And I hope our Brethren 
 for the time to conxe, will be pleafed CO follow 
 fuch Praife-wortby Examples; 
 
 F I N / S*. 
 
EPISTLE 
 
 Concerning 
 
 BAPTISM 
 
 Occafionally written upon the fight 
 of two Treatifes publilhed by 
 
 Mr.THOMAS fAMES, 
 
 Teacher of a Presbyterian Congre- 
 gation at JJhford in I{ent : .Who 
 hath reflcded upon the Baptized 
 Chriftians. 
 
 By WIL L I A M'R VSSEL, iMedicinas 
 Doftor, AcademiaeCantabrigienfis, 
 
 ^ tmzt of p?imitia^ c&jimamtp. 
 
 Jsk for the old Fathsy where is the good 
 Way^ and walk therein^ and ye Jbd 
 find reft for your Soulsy Jer. 6. i6. 
 
 London, Printed in the Year i6()6. 
 
(3) 
 
 To thofe Inhabitants of Adiford, and 
 the adjacent ^aripes, ti^ho attend 
 upon the Mintjiry of Mr. Thomas 
 James. 
 
 THE Occafion of my writing this Epiftle td 
 you at this time, arifeth from the Confidera- 
 tion of two Books written by T. J, The one 
 intituled. Sped D^fpdr revived. The other 
 called, A Vindication of that Part oj it which it 
 chaUenged by the Anabaptifis, &c. which is a pretended An- 
 fwer to a Book written by /. W. in Anfwer to hisfira 
 Book, &c. the latter of which he dedicates to you. 
 
 In which Book he brings you in as Parties with him, la 
 confederacy againfl that People 5 as making you to have 
 an equal, if not a greater Intereft than him, in chat Pa^ 
 per-War he hath raifed againft them. 
 
 And feeing it hath pleafed God (;by his good Provi- 
 dence J to put it into the Hearts of our King, and both 
 Houfes of Parhament, to give us the free Exercife of our 
 RehgionbyLaw, (which we efieem as a great Mercy) 
 It was a wonder to me to read fuch fcurrilous and re-- 
 proachful Language, againfl thofe of our Perfwafion j and 
 the more, for that it proceeds from one who is himfelf a 
 Diffenter from the eflablifhed Religion of the Land, and 
 a Teacher of a Presbyterian Congregation. And to find 
 him pubhJlimg to the World, that the Lihabitanrs of ^75^- 
 jordj and divers other Parifhes, did join ilTue wiih him in 
 io doing 5 It feems to befpcak but little Senfeof theGood^ 
 nefs of God, and of our Huiers, in the Liberty you enioy« 
 ^ Now whereas thofe Miniflers thatare of the Epifcopal 
 lerfwafion, do give us civil Treatment, and do not con- 
 cern themfelves todiflurbour Feaceand Quiet, much lefs 
 to reproach and abufeus: I was confidering what fhould 
 A « jBnovsj 
 
move Mr. Thmai Jdms to a<S as he hath done: And at lad 
 I concluded it mufl certainly proceed from that very Spi- 
 rit and Principle of the firft Founder of your Seft, Mr. 
 John Calvin, who burnt the Books of StYvnu4^ a Learned 
 Baptijl J and afterwards perfwaded the Magiflrates of Ge- 
 neva, to burn him alive. Wliich Sentence was executed 
 upon him, as Caflellio tefiifics (who was a Contemporary 
 with him} in thefe words i Michael Servetus roas burnt 
 alive for his Opinion, at Gcncya, Anno i§$g, upon the 2'jth 
 day of Odobcr. 
 
 And yet, as one well obferves, Mr. Calvin did acknow- 
 ledg this of him, That he was a Learned and a Charita- 
 ble Man. 
 
 Notwithftanding this, he wrote a Book to juftify their 
 putting him to death, as a Man whofe Books were full of 
 Errors. Which Book was fufficienrly confuted by the 
 Learned Cajlellio j where he alfo fliews that the Reafon why 
 Calvin procured his Death, was this, left the excellent 
 Parts and Learning of Servetm fhould have eclipfed the 
 Glory of Calvin, and prevented him from being the Head 
 of a Party, And yet Caftellio was not a Baptifl. 
 
 Now if Mr. James (hould have imbibed the fame perfe- 
 cuting Principles, it is no wonder to find fo much Rancour" 
 of Spirit appear in him againft the Baptifis in our Days, 
 as he hach expreffed in thefe two Treatifes. I fpeak not 
 this, as if I meant to accufe the whole Party i for I 
 know that divers of them are meliorated, and have mani- 
 fefted themfelves to be Men of bet:er and more peaceable 
 Principles. But feeing there are fome young Men of ano- 
 ther mind, I thought it not amifs to give you a Caution 
 againft it, remembring what an honefl old Presbyterian 
 Minifter faid once to feme others of his Brethren, who 
 met to ordain three young Miniflers who had declared 
 themfelves for this perfccuting Principle j faith he, " I 
 ** will have no hand in their Ordination, for there are 
 *' Firebrands enough in the World already *, and ( if it 
 *' pleafe God ) I will have no hand in fending more, for 
 " fuch as they afe enough to fct the World in a Flame 
 *' where-evcr they come. 
 
 And r fear your young Man may be of that number. I 
 pray let me ask you a few civil C>ueflions ^ which 1 defire 
 you to-"propound to him, and do you demand of him par- 
 ncular and didintt Anfwers thereunto. i.Whc- 
 
( 5 ) 
 
 J. Whether Mr. Jmss doth not believe the Epifcopal 
 Church of EngUnd to be a true Church ? and their Tea- 
 chers to be true Minifters? 
 
 2. Whether hedoth not own their Baptifm and Ordi- 
 nation to be true and valid ? 
 
 3. Whether he doth not think it lawful for you to go to 
 their pubhck Worfhip, and attend upon their Miniftryin 
 their Parochial Affemblies ', rather than fuffer Imprifon- 
 ment, and the lofs of your Eftates? And if this be fo, 
 
 Then, 4. what can be the Motive to excite Vmias 
 Jmes to keep up a Separation from the eflablifhed Cliurch 
 ot England, now in a Time of Peace ? unlefs it be to get 
 a better livelihood for himfelf, than he could otherwife 
 obtain. 
 
 5. Whetherthefearoflofingfome of his Auditors, or 
 being hindred from an increafe of their Number, by 
 vvhich his Income might be diminifhed, might not be 
 the great Motive which excited him to fuch afooliOi way 
 of fcriblmg againft the BapHfis .<? 
 
 6. Whether it doth not therefore highly concern you, 
 to make a diligent Enquiry into the Word of God, and ex- 
 amine his Dodrmes thereby, that you may fee whether 
 they agree with the Dodrine and Praftice of the Apoftles 
 and Primitive Chriftians, left you fhould be cheated, both 
 or your Money and of your Souls ? 
 
 Now, Sirs, if a prejudicate Opinion doth not interpofe, 
 I doubt not but It may be faid of you as of thofe in Aas 
 '3-48. TiTct.'yfxyoi «V, you aredifpofed to eternal Life: 
 And then there will be fome hope, you will give credit to 
 the Authority of God, in the Gofpel of his dear Son, 
 and be vviUmg to learn what may be taught vou. 
 
 Had not Mr. James oppofed us in the Point of Holy Bap- 
 tifm, I had not concerned my k\f with him, believing he 
 was fuflficiently confuted about his Calumnies againft our 
 Friends at Afhjord by another hand. 
 
 I fhall therefore (for the fake of Truth) ufe my endea- 
 vour to elucidate the Point in controverfy, that you may 
 have a more cJear and diftind knowlcdg of it. 
 
 Neither you nor ycur Teacher, ought to think jc below 
 youtobeinrtruaed in any Gofpel- Truth, buc receive it 
 with mecknefs and humility j and be thankful to them that 
 will take the pains to do it. 
 
 A3 For 
 
(6) 
 
 For Apllos^ who was a great Preacher, and a Man 
 mighty in the Holy Scriptures, did not difdain that a Wo- 
 man fliould inftrua him in the Way of God more per- 
 feftly, AfisiQ.2^, 25, 26. , 
 
 And for your better underftanding the Point in Con- 
 troverfy, I fhall do thefe three things. 
 
 I. Shew you, that Baptifm is to be adminiftredlby Dip- 
 ping, Plunging, or overwhelming the Perfon in Water. 
 
 II. That true penitent Believers are the right Subjefts 
 of Baptifm. 
 
 III. That the Ordinance of Baptifm is now m being, 
 and is to continue to the End of this World. 
 
 I. I (hall (hew that Baptifm muft be adminiftred by 
 
 Dipping, &c. if we confider thefe four things. 
 
 1. The Etymology, or Signification of the Word, the 
 Holy Spirit ufes to exprefs it by. 
 
 2. Tliofe Metaphors ufed in Holy Scripture, to reprc- 
 fent it to our Underftanding. 
 
 3. From the Prafticeof thefirft Baptizers. 
 
 4. From the grand Commiflion of our Saviour, Mat, 
 
 I. From the Etymology, or Signification of the Word. 
 
 The word Baptifmy is from the Greek ^a^iCo^ to dip. 
 Baptifna, a Dipping ; from /BaVTs, B:ipto, to dip, plunge, 
 or drown. It implieth the wafhing of the whole Body j 
 even fuch a wafhing as is ufed in Bucks, where Linen is 
 plunged and dipt. For the native and proper fignification 
 of it, is to dip into Water, or to plunge under Water 5 
 fee Liigh^ Critica Sacra. 
 
 It is a Metaphor taken from the ufe of the Dyers Vat *, 
 and is fuch a Dipping, by which the Cloth put into it is 
 d>ed, and not a bare wafhing only i from whence comcth 
 
 Biptifm. -r ^ « T r 
 
 Zeppeim de Sacramentls faith, Bcfc^/jcr/^®-, Baptiim ; /» 
 -vocis notatiomm attendere vdimus, vocabulm Baptifmi mtrfiQ- 
 nm ffgnificat in amam, &c. If we will atcend to the No- 
 tation of the word Biptifniy it fignifics to dip into Water ; 
 or the Aft it fdf of Dipping and Wafhing. From hence 
 therefore, and from the Etymology of the Word it fch, it 
 doch appear what was the Cuftom of adminiftring Bap- 
 
dfm from the beginning. Whereas now (^ faith he ) wc 
 rather ufe Rancifm (vi-!^. Sprinkling) in the ftead of Bap- 
 tif^Hj which is Dipping. 
 
 Alftedius in his Lexicon Theologmniy printed Anno 16 m 
 pag. 310. faith thus, 3c(/!^t(T[Aoi, fe ^dL<!ff\i(f(jLAy ^ tS 
 ^d^letv, linger e, lavm,'inficere : unde deduSim alkd ver^ 
 
 lUud ^ct^^i^eiv untum fignificat immergere 5 ?ion lavare, nifi 
 ex confequenti. 
 
 From whence ic may plainly be feen, that this Learned 
 Author doth aflfert, That Eaptifm is to dip, plunge, or 
 overwhelm the Perfon baptized in Water : And that its 
 proper iignification is to dip, or dye, and not to wafh,buc 
 only by Confequence. For which he cites for his Autho- 
 rity, both Plutarch and Nn^ian^en 5 as may be feen at large 
 in the Book it felf. 
 
 Befides this is fo well known, that every School-boy in 
 the Greek-Grammar can tell you, that ^A't/Io^ bnpoy is 
 there rendred mergo^ immergOy to dip, to plunge or over- 
 whelm. 
 
 Alfo in a Greel^ Lexicon, publifhed and recomriiended to 
 all, for the encreafe of Knowledg, by 
 
 Jofeph CaryU, 
 George CoJ^ayne, 
 Ralph Verting, 
 WiUim Veil, 
 
 Matthevf Barbery 
 William Adderly, 
 Matthew Meady and 
 Henry Jefjey, 
 
 They tell us, that the fignification of ^ATifloy is to dip, 
 plunge, or drown. And in the Paffive Voice, (^a.'Tirlof^h 
 is to be plunged, or overwhelmed. And that ^ci^V<^Oy 
 is to plunge, to overv\helm, to baptize, to dip. Aod in 
 the Paflive Voice, ^a.'zfl'ij^ofjukh to be plunged, to be bap- 
 tized, or dipped. 
 
 In Clavis Grdic<z Ungit^, printed at London, Ann9 1640, 
 it is thus rendred j Bd^ifjo, 4*'<P^> ^^^S^i ^^^^ ^^ <^^Pj 
 to dye. BcfTsfjiCo, Idem, the fame. 
 
 Ba,'7^^l(T^k, & ^di'TsfJiG-fXiiy mirfto, to drown*, and there- 
 fore €(x^stV]«, is often rendred, to dip into, to drown. 
 And from thence the Latins ufe merfus, a mtrgo, drowned, 
 covered, or overwhelmed with Water. And therefore it 
 isufedin the NewTeflament, for that Holy Ordinance of 
 A 4 Baptifmj 
 
(8) 
 
 Baptifm ; it being performed by dipping the whole Body 
 of the Perfon baptized under Water. 
 
 The Learned Robirtforiy (^ my lingular good Friend ) in 
 his ThefauYus Grac.t LinguA, faith, Bapti-Ko, me)-go. Ba^]coy 
 Innngo. mirgo, to dye, to dip, plunge, &c. Hence (faith 
 he J jsBapti-^o, which fignifies the fame. Asalfo BaMih 
 mos, Bapnfma, &c. But the Greek word VcwWc, Ran- 
 ti\o, (hciaith) is afpifgo, to fprinkle. 
 
 Vam^iAoiy Rantijmos, J^fpirfio, Sprinkling. So that you 
 may eafily difcero, there is as much difference betwixt 
 thefe two Greek words, Baptifmos and Rantifms in Greek, 
 as there is betwixt thofe two words. Dipping and Sprink- 
 ling in Englifh j and therefore furely, not to be conceived 
 to be fynonimous, fo as to fignify the fame thing. 
 
 I now prefume, from what hath been faid, that if ?hc 
 word Bct'zflot and its Derivatives, arc ufed in all places in 
 theNewTeftamcnr, where this Ordinance of Baptifm is 
 fpoken of: Then it will follow, by an unavoidable Con- 
 fequence, that Dipping is the right manner of Baptizing 5 
 and that Sprinkling is not Baptizing. 
 
 That it is fo, will evidently appear from'an Enumeration 
 of Particulars. I will inftance in fome of the principal, 
 ^hen I come to (hew you what was the Pradice of the 
 firft Baptizers. But of that in its proper place. 
 
 I now come to treat of the fecond Particular under this 
 Head, m^. Dipping the Perfons baptized into Water, ap- 
 pears to be the right way of adminiftring this Ordinance, 
 It we confider the Metaphors ufed in Holy Scripture to 
 exprefs it by. 
 
 There are two I fhall chiefly infift upon : i. A Burial. 
 2. A Refurredion. 
 
 We are to confider, that our Lord Jefus Chrift hath not 
 burdened us under the Gofpel, with a multitude of Cere- 
 monies, as it was in that Oeconomy of the Jews under 
 the Legal Difpenfation : But only with fome few, and thofe 
 very ftgnificant ; this being a more fpiritual Difpenfation. 
 
 As therefore the Holy Supper of our Lord in the break- 
 ing of the Bread, fignifies the breaking of his Body ; and 
 thu- pouring out of the Wine, the fhedding of his moil pre- 
 cious Blood j and both of thefe in conjundion his Death, 
 I Cor. 1 1. 2(5. for as ojttn as yon eat this Bread, and drin^ 
 this C% ye do (hew foith thi lord's Death till he cms. 
 
 Even 
 
1 9 ; 
 
 Even fo Holy Baptifm doth fhew forth his Burial and 
 Rcfurrcaion ; Rom. 6, 4. Thmfon we are bmied mth hm 
 h Baptifm into Death ; that like as Chnjl was mfid up from 
 the Dead to the Glory of the Father, even fo we alfo fhould wal^ 
 
 in ntwnefs of Lije, . », j 3 « 
 
 Now confidcr the Metaphor : when Men are dead, wc 
 
 burv them by covering the whole Body under Ground, 
 
 and not by fcattcringor fprinkling a little Duft or Earth 
 
 6n their Faces only. 
 
 SDrinkling C you know) hath no refemblance to a Bu- 
 rial jbut dipping or plunging the whole Body under Wa- 
 ter, is a moft exprefs and lively reprefentation thereof. 
 
 But perhaps Humane Teftimonics- will plcafe you and 
 vour Paftor, better than Divine. And therefore I fhaU 
 fiive YOU the Opinion of fome Learned Bilhops to corro^ 
 borate what I fay. who may be fuppofed to underftand 
 the Original as well as Mr. James. _ , , ^.„ - 
 
 The late Arch-Bilhop of Canterhury, Dr. John tilUtfon^ 
 faith, in his Sermon upon 2 Tim. 2. 19. " Anticntly thofc 
 f' who were baptized, put off their Garments, which 
 « fmnified the putting off the Body of Sin 5 and were im- 
 !^« mcrfed and buried in the Water, to reprcfent the Death 
 ; « of Sin ; and then did rife up again out of the Water, 
 « to fignify their entrance upon a new Life 5 and to thefe 
 « Cuftoms the Apoftle alludes Rom. ^.4. 
 
 Alfo Dr. Fowler, the prefent Biftiop of Gloucejter, mhis 
 
 ' Book of the Sco^e of the Chrijiian Religion, interprets this 
 
 Saying of the great Apoftle, Rom. 6.. 4. as follows 5 
 
 " Chriftians being plunged into the Water in Baptifm, 
 
 i « fignifieth their undertaking and obliging themfelves ma 
 
 « Spiritual Senfe to die, and be buried with Jefus Chrift, 
 
 '' fwhich Death and Burial confift in an utter renouncing 
 
 '« andforfaking of all their Sins) that io anfwerably to 
 
 « his Refurreaion, they may live a holy and godly Life. 
 
 Moreover, Dr. Jer. Taylor, late Biftiop of Down, in his 
 Vu^or Dubitantim, lib. 5. cap. ^. faith tlius: 
 
 « The Cuftora of the Antienc Church was not Sprink- 
 " line, but Immerfion, in purfuance of the Senfc of the 
 " word ^cfTTJit'^VTiiy both in the Commandment and Ex- 
 ^' ample of our Bleffed Saviour. 
 ! " And this (faith he) agrees with the Myftery of the 
 
 f* Sacrament it felf i for we are buried mth hm in Baptifm^ 
 - *' faith 
 
« faith the Apoftle. The old iMan is bnried and drowned i J 
 « the Tmmerfion uoder Water ; and when the baptized] 
 « Perfan is lifted up from the Water, h reprefents the Rc- 
 « furreaicn of the new Man to newnefs o: Life. 
 
 To this I fhall only add chat other Divine Tefiimony of 
 the Apoftle F^«/, Col. .2. 12. Buried -with bin in Bipiifm 
 whirm alfoye are rljen with him through the Faith oj the Opera- 
 tion ojGodf who haihraifed him from the Dead, And (hall- 
 now proceed to the third Particular, vi^. 
 
 9. It doth appear that Dipping is the right way of Bap- 
 tizing, from the Praftice of the firft Baptizcrs. * 
 
 The firft mention of this Ordinance of Holy Baptifm, we 
 have in Mat.7,,1, where John the Dipper is mentioned. And 
 in ver. 6. i: is written, And were baptised oj him in Jordan, 
 confejfing their Sins. The Greek word there is eCct-zr-XoKTo ; 
 which is in Englifh, They were dipped, plunged, or over- 
 whelmed: For it is from the word ^^t-s-Tw, to dip, &c, 
 as I have already fliewed. 
 
 In the 7t/? Verfe, the word is /gfit-zs^/V^, which fignifies 
 the fame. 
 In the I ith Verfe ^a/i/li^co^ to dip, &c. 
 In Verfe the 1 7,th ^du^^t^vcih to be dipped. 
 The Word is ufcd again in ver. 14. 
 And the fame alfo in the PafTive Voice, is ufed in ver. 16. 
 where it isfaid. And Jefm, when he was baptised, &c. And 
 the following words do make that Senfe evident ', for when 
 he was dipped by John in the River of Jordan, it is faid, 
 He went up ftraightt^ay oht 6f the Water: Which implies, 
 beyond contradicticii, That he was in the River, and o- 
 verwhelmed with the Water, according to the proper 
 and native figni.i:^iicn of the word ^a/zP,i^a, And if 
 you wiJl read the <,ihznd6tb Verfesof this Chaj)tcr, )ou 
 vviJl find there Multitudes thus baprl^id by Johnhe Baptifi, 
 Cor Dippa') for it's faid, Tm went out to him Jerufalem, 
 and all ]\xdt?., Jidall theRerionrou\d about Jcrdin, andsvere 
 hpti-^ed oj bl7i in Jordan. The fame is alfo ceflified in that 
 parallel place, mrJ^ i. 4,5. and the lame Greek words 
 ufed there as in Mat. 3, which I have above recited. 
 And m Mar J^ r. 9. J ejus was bapti-:^ed cj John in Jordan: 
 The Greek is E/; r 'lofca^Vla;, into Jordan. Now what 
 Senfe would this be ? Jefus was fprinkled in:o Jordan. But 
 to fay, Jefus was dipt into the River of Jordan, is good 
 Senfe, as^well as a great Truth. Diodat\ 
 
D.M<irf, "F ^fl-e^bly in their Amtumns, fay, D«p- 
 ^'I; Torf * ButX Jure they are noted byMr.W.flj 
 frhisAnfwer; I (hall forbear reciting them, and proceed 
 
 ^t%tifm ^M amm^ii by d^^ tb* ^W. Body w 
 
 '•'"wr. M^e on11/«*?. «. faith, '! '^'l^^^.^^^^'''^ 
 « as Sprinkling ufcd in Baptifm in the ApoftlesTime, nor 
 
 " SXo-Snof thatlateLearned and Pious 
 Minift/rof hlia, Mr. 7,1,.. GoM^, in his Book intituled 
 Minilkrot "^ '' "« ./-rhat Mr. John Cahi«, up and 
 
 ?.7 :r;:ht'xVs. do'h>n ^-^^j^^rsZ 
 
 « our Days:) confefe, That the A»'|f "V™'" " rhe vvhX 
 
 " Church hath affumed this LiS>erty to her felf, of ufing 
 « SprinkUnginthe room thereof. ^^ ^^TranHators 
 
 The fame Author alfo oblerves, ^"^ "~ ^ ^ 
 « Lmfelves never [» much as once »- ^f-N-J^, 
 
 ^*bi:i^&SirfC»,where 
 Tra.natorshavee»ety ff.hsdhkVi^mediftmBood. 
 
 "^'Seotf" if we «illbut confiderthe Places where this 
 Hofy Ordlnanco«s admmiftred by the firft Baptizers, it 
 win greatly elucidate th^s Truth. 
 
mgogues, nor yet m private Houfes, in'which it S 
 have been done more commodiouny, if fprinklin. Tt^ 
 Drops of Water upon their Faces would have ?uS 
 
 But they baptized in the River ot Jordan, and other 
 Places where there was much Water • K^^,.r.i • 
 the whole Body under WaTrdi^relVret'^ P'^'^'ng 
 In John 3j 23. A?,d John a!fi (Mir^ h 'A/.^VT 
 
 WattY there y and they came and werp nr^ r^^. ^ ^- '^ 
 ped, Nowhere -I ^^".7^ ^l„^'l^]^^:^^ %l 
 
 ^r nui^ t. ''°'.P''"'f <! t'^m into the Water, but oniv 
 fprinkled them with a few Drops thereof thi/Rp;f^i,ir^ 
 been without Foundation. Fo^r .tcZ^^TuZ^:^ 
 
 r" "^'i ^^PY''^^ ^"t" «°mW have ferved to have 
 fprinkled Thoufands. But their manner of baptizTnfb^! 
 ing to dip the who e Body under War^r VhJ r 
 n.uch Water was neceffary .h'ercunto S 'twhiX 
 Aft of Baptizmg could not be performed 
 
 Now alrho T./ hath trampled upon our Reafons of- 
 fered in jurtinotion of this PraSice, I hope he w»? „1 
 make fo bold with the Spirit's Tcftimo nv .. ro 7 °' 
 dia^tlie Realon he hath gi^ven inThertVdVrVoS: 
 
 Thus you fee that John, who was the firft Banriy^r 
 
 ' oft^rofod"'".''^^''"''""'"^''--'^^^^ 
 
 of theGofpel, and to prepare Chrirt's Way before him ■ 
 
 ^fc...??. Her atfentme C/3«^1,'^«0 tod^S^e or' 
 
 overwhelm in Water, meaning G<^ the Father/ wK 
 
 ever there is mentron made of his Baptizing, thr fame 
 
 Words are ufec, ei.l.er B.;/<,,or itsderivativcl 
 
 It weobferve what is (aid of ourSaviour'<;R»i,M,;.,» 
 
 (tho Jefus l^mfclf did not baptize c' is own p"^. fon^) 
 
 but by h,s Difcples) in every place the fame Word is 
 
 ufed ; as /.fa 5. ,, ^ ^U■^^.r,,, ^Ifo John 4 ,, ^ 
 
 To proceed to the Praftice of the Apoftlcs and chi^f 
 
 ''"'i"T.°/V^%"^°'"'^'' '^'" °« Lo^drakurreaion 
 we (hall find the fame Word ufed ( as above j in e,e "' 
 
 place, where there IS raemioa made of their Baptizing. 
 
Thefirftlnftanceis in Afisi, ^i. Then they that gladly 
 received hu Word, were baptised, the word is kl^a.'vrli^aztv. 
 
 In A^s 8. 1 2. it is alfo trorn the fame word iCa^^it^ovTSi 
 \they were dipped, both Mtn and WonfPn. 
 i And in A^s 8. 58, gp- ea.^1<^f , And he dipped hm. ^ 
 It is here to be obferved, that the Admimftrator Phi- 
 lip as vveUas the Eunuch, went both down into the Water, 
 r which had been needlefs, if Sprinkling would have fer- 
 vcdcherum^i Aud when they came there it's faid, ^^ 
 bamedhim, i.e. dipt him. And then " s ^irther faid, 
 ney came up out of the Water ', not from the Side, or Surface 
 of it as Mr. James would infinuate, by dimngmfhing be- 
 tween from and out of-, for hereic is faid expredy, they, 
 came up out oj the Water. 
 
 Alfo in Aas 10.48. ^'TrU^lwctiy to be dipped, €^f. 
 To be (hort, There is, you fee, an Account that John the 
 Baptijl, Chrift- (by hisDifciples) when upon Earth, and 
 his Apoftks after his Refurredion, did all of thempraftife 
 this Holy Ordinance of Baptifm by dipping, or plunging 
 the Perfons baptized into the Water. 
 
 I will add to this the Teftimony of Mr. ^^^'^(>f'^\ 
 « None of old were wont to be fprinkled j And (faith he) 
 « I confcfs my felf unconvinced by demonflracion of Scrip- 
 « ture for Infants fprinkling. And further, in his Trea- 
 tife of the two Sacraments, Parti. Chap, s- hehachthefe 
 words, ''It ought to be the Church's Part to cleave to the 
 « Inftitution, which is Dipping. And that he betrays the 
 « Church, whofeOflficer he is, to a difordered Error, it 
 «'• he cleave not to the Inftitution, which is to dip. 
 
 And this leads me to the ^tb Particular, namely, That 
 it will appear that Dipping is the right way of Baptizing, 
 if we confider that grand Commiaion of our Saviour, 
 Mat. 22. 19. the Greek viordh fict'TsrKoVTiU tromiSfit^/f* 
 to dip. And being given here by way of Precept, it is 
 Dipping them. But feeing I have already explained the 
 fignificationof the Greek words by which Bapcifm is fig- 
 nified, even to tedioufnefs, both to my felf and you, 1 
 fhall infifl no longer upon it. u ^ r 1 f ma.^ 
 
 As alfo, becaufe I am of Opmion that the Gofpel ofil^^f- 
 thew was written in Hebrew, according to /*>•<);» sTdti - 
 mony, and the opinion (I think ) of moft Learned Men 
 .slfhaU therefore give you the wofd.s, fofiras rhey concern 
 
(14) 
 
 our Purpofe, under this Head, as they arc in that Laru 
 guage^n which I am fure it was fpoken, if not written 5 
 Ic is CDn)H nnO] vttabslu Otam 5 and dip ye them* 
 The Root is Tabal, which is the third Perfon Singular in 
 the Precerperfea Tenfe, and fignifies, hs dipped : And is 
 forendredin many places in Holy Scripture ; particularly < 
 la 2Kings $ f5 where fpea'^ing of .ylaman theSyrkn, k t 
 IS faid, ^f dipped hmfdf j« Jordan [even timts, and was clean " 
 
 in Mat. 3. 6. you have the fame Word again in the 
 PalTive Voice, which muft be rendred in EngHfli, and were 
 dipped of hm m Jordan. And in Ver, id. you have the 
 
 AZ7Z ^^r\^' '' ''.^''f "PP"^^ ^^ °"^ Saviour; 
 
 Alfo in John 5. 22, 25. the fam^ Word is ufed. And in 
 
 nf Mt ^'/a* IV^ '^"^u""^ '° '*^'^ ""^'"^ New Teftamene 
 of Mr.Kobrtfons, who was certainly one of the moft 
 Learned Hebricians our Age hath afforded. 
 
 I might add to this the Teftimony of the Dutch Tran- 
 
 f/f/n-^/^°''^"-^t'^'^'^'^-^' Johannes deDooper, John 
 the Dipper ; and m this Commiffion de felve dopende din! 
 
 that Word had occurred) turned ic into Englifh, as they 
 havemto Dutch, they had faved me and others the trou- 
 
 Now if all this will not fuffice, I know not what wilL 
 However I will make Mr. James one generous Offer 
 That If he can flicw me where our Tranflators have in 
 any one place rendredB^p^/^^, tofprinkle ; or^cmr^, have 
 rendred Ranti^o to dip, in the New Teftament, I will 
 grant him Che Caufe. Andldohope, if he cannot do i 
 he will own thac we are in the right. ' 
 
 O, what a Tyrant Cuftom is ! that dares (land up and 
 contrad.fta thing that is fo evident in it felf, foaPreeable 
 to the Reafon of die Ordinance, to the Etymology of the 
 Word, (an. that from the Pens of our Adverfariesl and 
 to Che ufe of the Phrafe and Expreffion in Holy Scripcure, 
 tothe ComminioPcf our Lord, coche Doftrine and Pra! 
 fticeuf rhenhlB.pcizers, boch before and after our Sa- 
 viours adurrcftion, and chc manner of planting the Pri- 
 imtive Churches. ^ 
 
 Not- 
 
Notwithftanding all this ( I fay ) Cuftom in a wrong 
 W'ay, makes Men bold to oppofe the right Way, altho 
 J,ey'acknowledgitisthe%eft. 
 
 In things civil and indifferent, I can be content that 
 Cuftom (hould be my Guide, but not in the Matter of 
 Ordinances, and things Sacred ; the Rule of which lies in 
 the Inftitution, (^which we are ftrittly to obferve;) and is 
 not in the Power of our Liberty or Choice, either to ufe 
 or refufe : For that Bleffing which attends the Ufe there- 
 of, is annexed unto our Conformity to the Rule and Infti- 
 lution j fee Mat, 28. 20. 
 
 But to proceed to the fecond General Head. 
 
 II. That true Penitent Believers are the right SubjeA of 
 Baptifm. 
 
 I fliall make it good by doing thefe three things, 
 i^. By examining who J^ohn the Baptijt f who was the 
 firft Baptizer ) did admit to his Baptifm. 
 
 2/y, Who our Saviour commanded to be baptized, in 
 that gr-'tid Commiflion Ma, 28. 
 
 2/), Who it was pradlifed upon by the Apoftles and firfl 
 Minifters of Cbrifl, purfuant to that Ccmmiflfion. And 
 of thefe in their Order. ^ 
 
 I ^, Therefore let us examine who they were that fohn 
 didadmit to his Baptifm. , ^. , . ^-r ^ - ■ 
 
 The firft Syllable we read of its being praftifed, is in 
 Mat, 2. by John the Vippsr, (^(o called by the Evangelift, 
 Via EminentU, as being the Beginner of that Holy Ordi- 
 nance i where we have an ACwOunr, inVer. 2. what Do- 
 arine he preached before he baptized, Repsnt ye, jor the 
 Kingdom df Heaven is at band. And in vir, 5. Thm went oU 
 to him Jerufalem, and all Judea, and all the Region round a- 
 bout Jordan. Ver,6. Kat kCd'^Ti^^oviv h iw 'lofc/kV*) 5 
 And Wire plunged (of him ) into Jordan, confeffing thdr Sins, 
 The Hebrew word alfo, is Vaitabeln, and were dipped^ &c; 
 Upon this I ftiall obferve fome things, and fo pafs ic 
 
 1. That thofe he baptized were Adult Perfons, (and 
 i^otlnhnth) foTthty went out to him, 
 
 2, That they were penitent Perfons, fuch that confef- 
 
 fed their Sins. ^i, • 
 
 3. Thai 
 
5. That no others vvere admitted to his Baptirm.' 
 
 For, inver.'j. ic'sfaid, But n^henhe Jaw many of the phd^ 
 nfees and S adduces come to his iaptifm, he faid unto them 
 Generation of Vipers, who hath warned yon to flee frem'thi 
 Wrath to come <> Bnng forth therefore Fruits meet for Repentance 
 
 4. Thar no Birth-Privileges will entitle any Perfon to 
 that Holy Ordinance without Repentance. 
 
 For the Baptifl tells them, in ver, 9. Think not to far 
 
 mthm your [elves. We have Abraham to -our Father. And 
 
 ■ (; in ver, i o.) norv alfo the Ax is laid to the Root of the Tree - 
 
 therefore every Tree fi. e, every Perfon ) which hringeth not 
 
 jorth good Fruit, is hewen down and caft into the Fire, 
 
 And to inform them more fully of the Nature of his 
 Commiflion, and the Qualifications of the Subjeds he 
 further faith, I indeed baptise you with Water f unto, or as 
 the Original hath it) upon Repentance, 
 
 Which agrees mort exadly with the Defign of John\ 
 Mimnry, he being to make ready a People prepared for 
 the Lord; Repentance being a neceffary OualificatioD, 
 v/ithout which they could not be admitted thereunto. 
 
 But fome may query, How I prove they were to believe 
 as weJI as repent ? 
 
 laflfwer, in the words of the Apoftle Paul, Afts 10.4. 
 John verily did bapti'^e with the Baptifm of Repentance, faying 
 unto the People, -pm they fhould believe on him which [houU 
 come after km, tm is, on Chrifi J^efus. 
 
 From all which it appears, beyond difpute, That no 
 iictle Infants were the Subjefts of John's Baptifm. For, 
 
 1 . They could not come from Jerufakm to the River of 
 Jordan, and dcfire to be baptized. 
 
 2. Nor could they confefs their Sins. 
 
 3- Nor yet be able to underfland his Preaching, with the 
 Nature and Defign of his Baptifm. 
 
 4. Nor, laftly, could they be expeftedto bring forth 
 Fruits worthy amendment of Life. 
 
 All vvhich agrees only to Adult Perfons ; they can re- 
 
 &n ^^'''"^^^'^''^*"^^"^' '^^y ^^" confefs their 
 liDfuI Deeds, and come to tender themfelvcs for Baptifm, 
 Cas all thofe did whom John baptized ) which things lit- 
 tle Infants are not capable to perform : Therefore Pcni- 
 
 «f ^.. e^u^'A ^Z",'^,"''^ ^"*'"^' ) were the right and only 
 proper Sub;cft of John's Baptifm. 
 
 2lyy I 
 
(17) 
 
 2/y, ifliallconfiderthegrandComtniflloti of our Lord, 
 Mat. 28. 1 8, 19, 20. And Ji^m camSy and fpal^e unto them, 
 faying^ All Power is given to me in Heaven and in Earth. Go 
 ye therejore and teach all Nations^ bafti^ng them in the Name oj 
 the. Father^ and oj the Son, and of the Holy Ghofl : Teaching 
 them to obferve all things whatfoever 1 have commanded you : 
 And loy I am with ym alrvay^ even unto the End ofttit World, 
 Amen. 
 
 .'That the Gofpel of Matthew was written in Hebrew, 
 fas I have touched above } I find it to be the Opinion of 
 divers Men, eminently Learned : And among others, Hle- 
 Yom^ in the Life of this Evangelift, faith, Mitthans qui 
 C^ Levi ex publicano Apofiolos, primws in Jud&a propter eos qui 
 ex Circumcifone credidernt Evangelim Chrifii, Hebraick Uteris 
 verhifqM compofuit. And further notes. In quo animadverten- 
 dum, quod ubicumque Evangelifta five ex perfona jua, five ex 
 perfona Domini Salvatoris, veteris Scriptur^e tefiimoniis utitur^ 
 non jequtur Septuaginta tranflatorum autoyitatetn, fed HihraU 
 cum. Here you fee he tells us, That the Gofpel of Chrifl 
 by Matthew^ for the fake of th')fe of the Circumcifion 
 that believed, was written in Hebrew Words, and Hebrew 
 Letters. And that he everywhere, in his Quotations out 
 of the Old Teftament, followed the Hebrew, and not the 
 Septuagint Tranflacion. 
 
 In Mr. William Robertfons Hebrew New Teftament, I 
 findthefe words between the iSffcand ipffeVcrfes, which 
 I do not find in any Greek Copy. 
 
 And as my Father hath fent me, even fo alfo J fend you. Go 
 ye therefore, &c. 
 
 I pray obferve in what a folemn manner our Saviour be- 
 gins this Commiflian. 
 
 1, By declaring his own Authority j All Power in Heaven 
 and Earth is given to me. 
 
 2. The Fulncfs of that Authority he gave to his Apo- 
 files y As the Father hath fent me^ even fo alfo I fend yon. 
 
 He then comes to give forth the Commiflion it felf, as ia 
 the I gth and 2 of I? Yerfes. 
 
 a The 
 
The firfl thing in this Commiffion is this, Chrift corn- 
 man J.- -'lem to make Difciples by their Miniflry. The 
 W. rd th^c is %'-annated Teach, is in the Hebrew M^l) 
 VtLmdn, \i fj, rufics to make Drfciples by teaching ;' ior 
 the Root u Lmxd, he learned. And from thence is for- 
 me;. .rit-Heemardquc Noun T^zZ/^iV, a Scholar or Difci- 
 ple, vvne that harh ..rned 
 
 Tiie plain meaning therefore is, That they were firfl to 
 ma^e Diiciples by their Miniftry, and after that .to bap- 
 tize them. 
 
 I: wc slf^ *!xamine the Greek Copy, wefhall find it to 
 agree with rhe Hebrew ; nofdt^^Kls?^ ?;/. fxa^^Tivozcn 
 'Tm.vrur 7% fe-v^fw, (6a.'7fli'(^ovTii ctuTK? wf. That word up- 
 on whirh the whole Scrv-fs of the Argument depends, is 
 Miithi^'iifate, which fignifies, to make Difciples. The 
 LtJued render M^ttktfs, a Scholar, a Difciple ; and Ala- 
 t'rauio,^ to be a Sc.oJar, or Dilciple. And upon this 
 word in this place, the Greek Lexicon renders ic, to mah 
 Difcip/cs. ^ 
 
 But if Mr. J^mis will not believe our LexicographerSy 1 
 can give him r.^e Oi^inion of all the Tranfljtors of the 
 N.vv TefJamtnc for ic, who have rendred ic fo in 3 multi- 
 tude of Places ; and fo far as I have found, in every place 
 where the word is ufed, except only in this Commifllon, 
 and h^re, (^ for fome Realon beft known to themfelves ) 
 inftead of Dif iples, they have only rendred ic Tcacb. 
 Ana chat which is mofl remarkabl-, they have five 
 times in tliis Chapcer r.ndred it DijclpUs, till titey came 
 to cne i(}th Vtrfe, ^and there only ic muft be rendred 
 tiaclu as in vh'. 7,8, g, 15, and 16 And in fohn^i, i, 
 2. Jefiis ynade :.ud.b2pti\e2 more Dijdpks than John, but 
 his DiJdpUs ; m : och - inch the fame word is ufed. 
 
 Ana i pray obiervt the Order of the words, They were 
 f.n'i mjde Difcipl s, and afterwards baptized*, as a pre- 
 re<3uiuce to fit them for that Holv Ordinance. 
 
 Alfo in Acfs II. 26. Tne Difciples are called Chrifiians, 
 And v.er,':2o,i2%- h's fiid, how the fame Perfjns came to 
 be Difciples, Toc Lord Tcfus was firft preached to them ; 
 M>^(yixh\ii r» great Ximber believed, and turned to th: Lord. 
 An. chij* they ivere made Difciples, according to Chrift's 
 ConiiiiilTion. 
 
 Eefidcs, 
 
(19) 
 
 Befides, in Mari^i6, 16. lU that bilitmh,. and U b^f. 
 thd^ [hall be faved. This place is parallel in t?ime with 
 Mat.i^. 19. And whereas in Mattbm is req^uiredr Difci- 
 pling, there is required in MarJ^ Believing, and Iboth be- 
 fore; Bapcifm 5 It's therefore plain, they irauftbe be- 
 lieving Difciples. And Faith comes by hearing-, and 
 therefore .the A poftles were, 
 
 1. To preach to them; asin Mzr^^ 16. i$. Preach the 
 Coffsl to every Creature. 
 
 2. By their Preaching to make them Difciples. 
 g. Being fo made, to baptize them. 
 
 This is the genuine Senfe of our Lord's Commiffion, 
 Mat, 28. i'^. 
 
 Siyfome, they own they muft firfl: be made Difciples, 
 and afterwards baptized. But then they ask this (^e- 
 ftion, How do we know that little Infants are not made 
 Difciples, by fome fecrct Teaching of God I * 
 
 And fuppofing this to be true, of thofe who are born 
 of believing Parents, they conclude they may be bap- 
 tized. 
 
 I anfwer •, For Argument's fake, I will for once 
 fuppofe with them; that not only the Infants of Be- 
 lievers, but all Infants, fo foon as they are born into the 
 World, are made Difciples by fome fecret Teaching of 
 God, f but how we fhall prove either of our Suppofitions, 
 I know not } 5 Neverthelefs I deny that they are there- 
 fore to be baptized by virtue of this Commiflion. And 
 how any mortal Man can know of this fecret Work upon 
 their Souls without Revelation, I can't imagine. 
 
 But pray consider a few things, and it will fet the Truth 
 we contend for in a clear Light. As, 
 
 1. It was Chrift the Son of God who gave this Commif. 
 fion. And Jefrn came and Jpa^e, 
 
 2. Who did he give it unto ? Not to his Father to make 
 Difciples of little Infants, by fome fecret Teaching of his, 
 but to his Apoftles that were Men, to make Difciples by 
 their Miniftry j Me -fpal^e unto them. 
 
 The Conclufion is natural ; which I fhall form into this 
 fhort Syllogifm. 
 
 a 2 If 
 
(20) 
 
 If little Infants are not capable to be made Difcides by 
 the Miniftry of Men 5 
 
 Then they cannot poflibly be the Subjefts of Baptifin 
 intended in this Commiflion. 
 
 But httle Infants are not capable to be made Difciples 
 by the Miniftry of Men i 
 
 ErgOy They cannot poffibly be the Subjeds of Bapcifm 
 intended in this Comrailfion. 
 
 The MAJor is undeniable, the Minor I thus prove. 
 
 If little Infants have no knowledg to difcern between 
 Good and Evil, then they are not capable to be made 
 Difciples by the Miniftry of Men. 
 
 But they have no knowledg to difcern between Good 
 and Evil 5 
 
 Ergo \ They are not capable to be made Difciples by the 
 Miniftry of Men. 
 
 The Minor only is queftionable, which I prove by Di- 
 vine Authority, Deut, i. 59. Afbriover your little Onts 
 
 and your Childnuy yphich in that Vaj hadno^nowUdgbttwtm 
 Good and Evil, 
 
 So that the firft Argument is made good, m\. That lit- 
 tle Infants cannot poffibly be tlie Subjeds of Baptifm in- 
 tended in this Commiflion. 
 
 Whereas fome of our Antagonifts fay, the word tkm 
 relates to all Nations : As they confute themfclves, by 
 refufing to baptize Turks and Jews, before they own 
 Chrift j fo that they cannot extend it univerfally : Even 
 fo it appears, the word themy hath no reference unto all 
 Nations, if they will but mind the Grammar of the 
 Text. 
 
 For etvli<, thm, b of the Mafculine Gender, ( but 
 Tra^V rcC 'i^vtif all Nations, is of the Neuter ) and a- 
 grees with fjixn^rivaxTii Difciples 5 and muft have refe- 
 rence to them, as the only Perfons fitted for Holy Bap- 
 tifm. 
 
 But to proceed, 
 
 g/), I Oiall (hew you who it was praftifed upon by the 
 Apoftles, and firft Minifters of Chrift, purfuant to the 
 grand Commi({ioD. 
 
 We 
 
(21) 
 
 We find all along in the Hiflory of the A^s o] the Apr 
 files, that Baptifm was praftifed upon grown Perfons, thac 
 were Difciples of Chrift, having gladly received their 
 Preaching, repented of their Sins, and believed the Go- 
 fpel, which Infants are not capable to perform. 
 
 Afts 2. 58. Repent y and be baptised. Ver. 41. Thsnthey. 
 that gladly reciived his Word, were bapti\ed, Ver. 44. And 
 all that believed were together, 
 
 Afts 8. 12. When they believed Philip, preaching the things 
 concerning the Kingdom oj God, and the Name oj Jsfm Chrift^ 
 they were baptised, both Men and Women, not little Infants. 
 In ver, ^6, Aitcr Philip had preached Jefus to the Eunuch, 
 (according to Chrift's Commiflion) they came unto a cer- 
 tain Water i and he asked Philip, What did hinder him to be 
 baptised .•? Philip anfwers. If thou beliiveft with all thine heart, 
 thou mayefi. And h^anfwered, I believe that Jefus Chrifl k 
 the Son of God, And upon that Profeflion of his Faith, he 
 was immediately baptized. So that we may learn hence. 
 That Faith is a pre-requifite of Baptifm •, for Philip re- 
 quires Faith of the Eunuch, before he would baptize 
 him. 
 
 So in the Jaylor's Cafe, A^s i5. 31. Paul requires of 
 him, to believe en the Lord Jefus Chrifl, And in ver, 53, 34, 
 it's (aid, he was baptized, believing in God, &c. 
 
 A6is 18.8. Crifpus believed snthe Lord ; and many of th^ 
 Corinthians hearing, believed, and vpere baptised. If thefe 
 Tcftimonies are not fufficient, I know not what will. 
 
 I could in this place produce divers Teftimonies from 
 the Learned f were it needful ) to prove that no Infants 
 were baptized for about two hundred Years from Chrift. 
 See Dr. Barlotvs Teflimony : " There is ( faith he } no 
 " )ufl Evidence of Infant- Baptifm, till about two hundred 
 *' Years after Chrift. 
 
 The Learned CurulUus affirms, '* That the Cuftom of 
 " baptizing Infants, was brought in without the Com- 
 '= mandment of Chrift, and did not begin before the 
 *' third Century. 
 
 Grotlm, on Mat. 19. 15. gives this Account; " That 
 
 " according to the Rule of Scripture, and agreeing with 
 
 ** Reafon it felf , the moft part of the Qreeks in all 
 
 a S "Ages, 
 
(22) 
 
 " Ages, even unto this Day, retain a Cuflom of delay-* 
 '^' ing Infant-Baptifm, till they themfelves can give a 
 " ConfeflTion of their Faith- And it is certain that 'Ni- 
 *' r^iav^in, though the Son of a Chriftian Bifhop, who li- 
 " ved about the fourth Century, and was bred up in the 
 " Chriftian Religion, was not baptized till he was abouc 
 " thirty Years of Age. 
 
 The fame is alfo true of Chryfoflomj Hitroniy Ambrop, 
 Auguftine^ and others. 
 
 And as the Learned Dr. Da-P^(fi7obferves, it does mani- 
 feftly appear, " That the wifefl of our Fathers in Chrifl, 
 ^' did not come to Baptifm, until they were come to 
 " a ftrong and confirmed Age and Wit. So that ( it*s 
 *' plain 3 they were not baptized in their Infancy. Yea, 
 ** further he faith, I could n^'ver read of fo much as one of 
 " the Antient Fathers, for fix hundred Years alter Chrifl, 
 " that was baptized in his Infancy. 
 
 Ludmcm P^^z^fi affirms, in his Tnitiit de Civitate Dn, lib. 
 ■J. cap. 27. Neminm olim tovfinifje bapti'^ari mfi adult a, ieta- 
 te, & qui pey- fe peteret baptifmum^ & inteliigern quid fit 
 bapti\ari. None of old Time were wont to be baptized 
 but in a grown Age, and who defired it themfelves, and 
 underflood what it was to be baptized. 
 
 Erafmus \nh\i Annotations on the E^'iiWe to the Romans^ 
 affirms, *' That baptizing of Children was not in ufc in 
 *' Paurs Time. 
 
 And Dr. Field, in his learned Treatife of the Church, 
 pag. 729. affirms, '' That many very amiently, who were 
 *' born of Chriftian Parents, put off their Baptifm along 
 " Time-, infomuch as fome wereele<fted Bilhops before 
 " they were baptized. As wc read (_fiith he^ of Am- 
 « brofe, &c. 
 
 The Learned B^ljimt, fpeaking of the manner of admi- 
 niftring Baptifm, faith, *' We never read in the Scripture, 
 *^ that any were baptized ocherwifc than by Immerficn. 
 " And we are able to prove, from the A^ls of Councils 
 " and antient Rituals, rhat every-where in the whole 
 " Church throughout the World, f6r ihc fpace of 1300 
 " Years, Baptifm was never adminiftred but by Dip- 
 " ping, except only in Cafes of NeccfTity. 
 
 And 
 
And Bellamine (kith, "Infant Baptifm is called an Apo- 
 *^ flollcai TriditU^ not written, becanCe ir is tiot frund 
 « wiicten in any Apoftoiical Book. torn. i. lib, 4. cap. 2. ^ 
 
 Where by tnc way I O-all note. That if a Man of his 
 Parts and Learning could not fini it there, \ hehfve o- 
 thers will have as little -Succpfs in thetr frarch after it : 
 And it had been his Interefi to have proved it frortj Scrip- 
 ture as • uch a*^ any. becaufe none lay a greater llrefs upon 
 it than l.e, and thofe of his Religion j for they affert it to 
 be neecffary to Salvation, 
 
 ' Let Mr. Jmis know, we do not bring the Teltimo- 
 nies of Humar'. Writers, becaufe wc think the Holy 
 Scri'Huros iufi^fficirrit to juflify our Caufe. For I iiuy (ay 
 with ttmllmn, Lib.cont^'a Hirmogmm, Adoro ■mpuraple- 
 nitudinm, &5. I adore the Fulnefs of the Scripture, lee 
 Himngms fhew that it is written. 
 
 But to fatisfy the World that 've are not lingular in our 
 TudgQients about thefe Matters, as alfo to obviate an 
 Obj(.aion of your Paftor, who tells us in his laft Trea- 
 tife, Pag. 20, « That at therate fome Baptiftsvimt and 
 « report the Words of the Leariicd, they would per- 
 « fwad. filly People, all the Learnea Men were almoft 
 « AmbcpSts, an- cw^ij;y.(S]cL)tei'nt^ feif-condemned, being 
 « as they are in Opinion, though of a contrary Pra- 
 " dice. ' . „ 
 
 1 anfwer, That although Hiey are of a contrary Fra- 
 aice, I n-pe that can bs no Bar to us frohi recicii| 
 their words in favour oi our Opinion •, for, ¥irw.m^ eft 
 genm prnbationis, quod ab ipfo advirfario fmnilur, ut vmtas, 
 ab ipps mmlck vmtatt^ pr^Mtur. It is a for Jibic kind of 
 Proof which is taken tkom the Advcifarv himfelf, when 
 the Truth is proved from them chat cppofe the Truth. 
 And I have herein fullnv-d thf: Counfel of La6lanUH'S'^ 
 lib. I.e. 6. EcsfHorHmTe[nmmsrevinceie,Scc. Tocoi^Viince 
 them by their own Teftimonies, which is chc ftrongeft Con- 
 vidion that may be. 
 
 As it IS truly faid by Chryfoflom, Tunc illos maxim reurh 
 cmiis, am fuorumy in eos, dictu. retorqum'i^. We da moft 
 forcibly convi'^ce them, when we can recorc their own 
 Sayin£3againflthem, 
 
 a A And 
 
And therefore as LaUantiiis, He vtrt fitPuntU r„<, .. 
 faith, SatU fmnm TefiimniJ, ad trcaS'uZ'JL' 
 pod ab ,pfis perhibnur iLicis. That is a found Areume™ 
 
 rnan Orator obferves in the like Cafe, tZ' mk^^Z' 
 quod, xn Mmm, leve ,ft i in tm, qmnUmmtrx u?r^. 
 ^f'^/UfMet ThyTcftlmony! which is but llfhtfrS 
 frivolots ,n another Man's Caufe, yet is vvei«htv in thin^ 
 own, when it is againft thy felf. ^ ^ '"' 
 
 Now I fancy that the Keafon why Mr. James would 
 not have ns urge the Teftimonies of the Learned, fS 
 of ffiewing how contradiaory fome of cheir Orfn ons 
 Sr T ?"' ?"^'"=> "• ''« i» f° doing Seal 
 
 And in Pag. 20. he faith, " I would fain know who «» 
 
 Kr" V^'' J^*""' C^'"* was dipped! or ptngcS^ 
 
 « If ^^,h'?;"^i°n' ""y °'" '^°^' bapdzed ones fpolcVn 
 
 of.ntheNewTeftament,werefo dipped, orplunged " 
 
 I wll'g've you the Opinion of fome Learned Men utl 
 
 tZt:^"'jrV'^°' have faid fufficient toTr 
 
 «ed t.:^ ^ZVe^'r *^'' ^^^ ""^ >«'• -7-" '^ -''e'^- 
 
 « lim" r 'i;y °"' f^'"'"'' ^'l'i<""'tO «k why the Evan- 
 
 Which he had been dipt or drowned. 
 
 ^'^Brng'^Ps faith upon the Place, Mmh. ,. ,5. 
 " S?her^ l""*'" >«°. the River (after the manner of 
 .c h M *'^"'"t baptized) as deep as his Thighs, or 
 
 his Navel for the reft of his Body was dipt by ?;*/ 
 " and not fprinkled only with Water. ^ 
 
 « fV"* J ^Z^"'""?' <^''/«''» tells us upon the Place, "Chrift 
 «' Slr'°^'\''^^'^^' therefore Chrift ,'vasbap - 
 
 zedby7»;„, not by Sprinkling, nor by pouring Water 
 
(25) 
 
 Many more Teflimonies might be brought from Men, 
 who ufe Rantifm inftead of Baptifm, but that I hare al- 
 ready exceeded my firft Intention. But I fhall now fhew 
 you, that Mr. James (^ like the reft of thofc I have quo- 
 ted ) hath contradifted himfelf: For in the fame 2otb 
 Page of his Book, where he vapours fo mightily, and 
 challenges us to prove, that Chrift, or any others, were 
 baptized by Dipping, as y^a have feen a^^ v.- ^ yet pre- 
 fently he tells us, That Baptifm was oft performed by 
 pipping, I gaiufay not. And in the very next Page he 
 faith, I do not produce thefe Teftimonies, as tho I would 
 maintain tliat our Lord Jefus was not dipped. It feems 
 his Confcience began to check him whilft he was writ- 
 ing. 
 
 And again, in Pa^, 2$. Who fpeaks againft the Anti- 
 quity of Dipping /* I thought Mr. James had. Bue he goes 
 on, Dipping there might be in Chrift's Time, and that the 
 beft way of Baptizing. Very well, then it feems we pra- 
 dife the moft Antient, and the beft Way of Baptizing, 
 by Mr. Jamts''s Acknowledgment : And himfelf doth pra- 
 ftife the contrary, and therefore muft needs be felf- con- 
 demned, as praftifmg the worft Wayj efpecially if he 
 will confider, That there is neither Precept nor Precedent 
 for Infant-Sprinkling in all the Word of God. 
 
 But to clofc this Head I am upon : If this be true, that 
 none of the Apoftles, nor firft Miniftcrs of the Gofpel, 
 did ever praftife the Sprinkling< of Infants 5 there mull 
 be fome goq^^Rcafon why they did it not : And the beft 
 I can think of is, becaufe Chrift had not commanded them 
 fo to do. But on the contrary, had commanded them to 
 baptize Penitent Believers, which were Perfons of grown 
 Years •, to which Command they were obedient. 
 , And we have great Reafon to account them faithful : 
 ' For the Apoftle Panl protefts, before an Affembly of Mi- 
 nifters, A^s 20. 20. He had l^ept bacJ^ nothing that -was 
 profitable to them. And in ver, 26* he faith, / have not (hm- 
 ned to declare to you -all the Comfei oj God, If there- 
 fore the Spriokliog of Infants had been profitable for 
 them, or a part of the Counfel of God concerning the 
 Churches, we had certainly heard of it in fome of F4«/*s 
 Speeches or Epiftlcs ; But not one Word being mentioned 
 
 about 
 
(26) 
 
 about it, we may fa fely conclude, ic was wholly unknown 
 to thofe Times, (both as to Subjcds and Manner) it be- 
 ing a Pradice both unprofitable and vain, as being built 
 upon Humane Authority only, having no Foundation in 
 the Word of God : /// vain do they tvorfhip w, teaching jor 
 Vo6lmes tbeCemmindmsnts of Men, Mat. 15. ^. 
 
 I will offer an Argument or two, to prove that Infaat- 
 Sprinkling is not of Divine Authority. 
 
 The Sprinkling of Infants, is either from Heaven, or 
 of Men. 
 
 But ic rs not from Heaven : Erg.'), It is of Men. 
 
 If it be froiij Hraven, the HoJy Scriptures have fome* 
 where revealed ir fo to be. 
 
 But it is no where fo revealed in the Holy Scriptures : 
 ErgOj It is not from Heaven. 
 
 If it be any where fo revealed in the Holy Scriptures, 
 you, or fome other, are able to fiiew it. 
 
 But you, nor no other areable tofhew it : Ergo^ It is 
 nqj any where fo revealed in the Holy Scriptures. 
 
 If Mr. J^amss fhould tell you he can fhevv it fo to be, 
 Jet him give you an Inftance where it is written, as a Lo- 
 gician ought to do, (^the Minor being an Univerfal Ne- 
 gative) or let him for ever be filent upon this Subjed : 
 For it is written. Rev. 22. 18. If any Man fhiU add unto 
 tbefe things, God (hal! add unto him the PUguss that are writ- 
 tin in this Boe^, ^ 
 
 I cannot well go off of this Head, without taking no- 
 tice of a pernicious Notion which fome of the Learned 
 have efpoufed. 
 
 They will allow us that we are in the right, as to what 
 we aflert about the pradice^of the Primitive Churches j 
 but tell us, that their Cerenio.'iies nuy be lawfully ufed 
 alfo, which they ground upon this following Suppofition ; 
 That it is lawful for Men co bring m things indifferent 
 into the Church, and join them with the Worfhip of 
 God. 
 
 And as thisrefers to the Point of Bapcifm, I will brief- 
 ly relate what pafl fome Years ago, betwixt Dr. Barlow 
 late Bifhop of Lincoln, and my felf. It was upon this 
 
 Occafion j 
 
(27) 
 
 Occafion ; A Name-fake of mine being taken up upon si 
 Capias, anci committed to Ailesbury Goal, for not having 
 his rhil fprinkleo. I went to his ' orcfhip ( after 
 feveral Morins confinemenc^ to -kiirc h:^ Difcharge 5 
 and tf>ld him, m\ Friend was nut a Mr^mber of any 
 feparate Congregacioru but or,ly doubted of the 
 Truth of Infant- Baptifm, which I fuppofed his 
 Lordfhip thought he might do, and yec be a gdod 
 Chriflian. 
 
 He told me, "Yes, for he had tumblings and toflings 
 « about it in his own Mind in his younger Days, but now 
 *' he was fatisfied. 
 
 I defired then to know the Grounds of his Lordfhip> 
 Satisfaftion. 
 
 He faid, « The Apoftle Faul^ in Rom. ig. and the be* 
 *' ginning, exhorted the Chriftians to fubmit to the 
 " Higher Powers, &c. And alfo the Apoftle Psur faid, 
 ** Submk your felves to every Ordinance of Mun^ fpr the 
 " Lord's faJ^e^ &c. Now ( faith he ') you muft know 
 " that the Convocation met and concluded, that Infants 
 ," fhould be baptized •, and the King and Parliament en- 
 " 'afted it : And forafmuqh as we are required to be obe- 
 " dient to every Ordinance of Man for the Lord's fake, 
 \ *' therefore we ought to do it. 
 
 I anfwered ; My Lord, If the Convocation had fo con- 
 cluded, and the King and Parliament fo enaSed, That 
 Infants fhould have been baptized in the King's Name, or 
 in the Name of the King and Parliament as Legiflators, I 
 believe thofe People might have complied with it. 
 He anfwered, *' That would have been odd. 
 I reply'd, As odd as it is, if they had comply'd with it, 
 the Controverfy had been at end. 
 
 He faid, " That is true •, But why cannot they comply 
 " with it now I 
 
 My Lord, They have got a Notion in their Heads, th^ 
 it is not in the Power of any Man, or number of Men in 
 the World, to alter the Nature of Inftitutions, fo as to 
 make that Divine that is in it felf Humane, or that Hu- 
 mane that is in it felf Divine. 
 
 The Bifhop reply'd '-, ^ They are right in that, for ngne 
 '* can alter the Nature of things but God alone. 
 
 Why 
 
v2«; 
 
 Why then, my Lord, forafmuch as you do not bamzl 
 Infants n the Name of the King, or King and Parliament* 
 a$ an Humane Inrtitucion, but in the Name of the Fatheiii 
 Son, and Holy Spirit, as a Divine Inftitution, they cinnoi 
 comply with If. ^ || 
 
 " Well (faith he;) there is never a Word of God a 
 
 gamp It : It is no where faid in the Scriptures ye fhal 
 :' not baptize Infants. . ^ 
 
 I reply'd ; 
 
 My ;.ord, I (hall only put your Lordfliip in mind of th. 
 Notes of a Learned Man upon that of Lev. lo. i, 2. con 
 cernmg Nadab and Abihu, Sons of Aaron, Priefts of the 
 Lord ', who offered ftrangeFire before the Lord, whicF 
 the Lord commanded them not. He faith. It is not fuffi 
 cient to fay about inftitutcd Worfliip, It is nowhere for 
 bidden ; For it was nowhere fjid before this time ; Ti 
 jhaU not offer up flrange Fire upon mine Alt ir. But bccaufe 
 there was a Divine Precept, what Fire they fhould oifer, 
 what Perfume they fliould mix with their Sacrifices, and 
 the manner of its Compofition : And they not obfcrvinc 
 that Divine Precept j but offering ftrange Fire, wliich the 
 Lord commanded them not, they were deftroyed by Fire 
 from his Prefcnce. His Lordflifp only gave me this An- 
 fwer 5 He would fpeak to his Official, to be kind to my 
 Friend that was in Prifon, &c. but wholly waved the 
 Matter in Controverfy j and fo I took my leave, and de- 
 parted. 
 
 I mention not this, as if I thought this Learned Man 
 lingular in this Point ; for it is too manifefl, that many 
 others are of the fame Sentiments, without which they 
 could not fatisfy their Confciences in the Pradicc 
 of Infant fprinkliog, and other things which they alfq 
 pradife without cither Precept or Precedent from the 
 Word of God. 
 
 _ There are many things very ridiculous, that have by 
 Degrees been brought into the Church-, of which it is no 
 where faid in the Holy Scriptures, they (hall not be 
 done. And that about this very Ordinance as well as in 
 other Matters. 
 
 As for inftance ; 
 I. Where is it forbidden to baptize Bells ? This hath 
 
 been 
 
(29) 
 been praaifed bv the Popifh Priefts, and that very lately. 
 
 2. Where is it forbidden to ufc the Sign of theCrofs 
 inBaptifm? as the Popifli Priefts do thrice, andtheEpi- 
 fcopa) once. 
 
 3. Where is it forbidden to ufe Cream and Spittle, as 
 the Papifts do, to anoint the Childrens £ycs, Noftrils, 
 and Ears, in their Praftice of Baptifm ? 
 
 4. Where is it forbidden to put Salt in the Child's 
 Mouth, as they alfo do? and give this Reafon for it. 
 That his Words may be with Grace, feafoned with Salt, 
 
 5. And where is it forbidden to baptize your Cattle? 
 And yet how ridiculous would it be fo to do ? But perhaps 
 Mr. /ames may pretend Scripture for it, from his Inter- 
 pretation of I Corinth. 10. 2. For all their Cattle ^o£ 
 which they left not a Hoof behind} wsre under the Cloudy 
 and all faffed through the Sea y and mre all baptised unto Mofes, 
 in the Cloud and in the Sea, The Word is iCa/^'KJuvTo^ 
 which he leaves to Mr. Wells to interpret. And I pray ask 
 him if this Word, as here uied in the pafliveForm, may 
 not be read thus; And they were all overwhelmed unto 
 Mofes ^ as they muft n& ds be when the Cloud covered them, 
 and tht Waters were a Wall ro them on the Right-hand 
 and on the left. So that \ ou fee here is the fame Ground 
 to conclude, their Cattle were ail baptized as well as their 
 little Children : But if the Word had been tranflated 
 overwhelmed^ who could have dreamt of a Baptifm from 
 this Place ? 
 
 But Mr. James viViX have it that there was a Multitude 
 of Chiidren baptized by Mofes, and that 'twas done by 
 Sprinkling alfo, through the dropping of che Cloud, and 
 thedafhingof the Waters; and tiiac miif'.y learned Men 
 doubt not of it ; bur hath not quoted one of them, I am 
 fure the Dutch Tranflacors, vs ho were Presbyterians, read 
 it thus ; Ende alie in Mofen Gedoopt Ziv. ^ \nd they were 
 all dipf unta Mofes ; And all learrjc;d Men d{. tell us, when 
 they fpeak as Snnolars, that Ba/7nzi). i;> pn^'"' immergo^ 
 and how It come.' to loie its Mj. 1 ^idoij in this one 
 Place, I carnot ima^'ne. 
 
 m^ \ pray ask Mr. James thefc ^'^w things ; 
 1. V ho tola him there was Water io that Cloud? For 
 .in the Epiftle of /«ie ver. 1 2. we read Qi Clouds without 
 
 Water: 
 
Water: and wc mufi: cemcmber that this Cloud Was by a 
 Miracle. 
 
 2. If it had Water, who told him that it dropped upon 
 the Children of Ifrael whileft they part through the Red- 
 $ea ? His ipfe dixit- will not do where the Scripture is 
 fjknt. 
 
 g. How came he to know that the Waters daflit upon 
 them ? I cannot fuppofe that he was prefent to fee it : 
 And if it be nowhere written, 'tis but an improbable 
 Guefs. 
 
 But to leave off thefe trifling Fancies of Mr. .]^ames"$ -, let 
 us fee how it is written, Exod. 14. 21. Toe Lord mads 
 'the Sea dry Land, and the Wattrs wire divided. 
 
 Ver. 22. And tht Children of Ifrael went inte the mid(l of the 
 Sea upon the dry Ground, and the Waters wen a Wall unto thm 
 en. that Right-ha^d a"d on their Lejt. 
 
 . Ver. 29. And thy walked upon dry Land inthemidd of the 
 Sea. - V 
 
 Chap. !<;. 8. Tbe Wa^i^ were gathered together. The 
 Flood flood upright as an Heap, and the Depths -were congealed 
 in. the Heart of the Sea, -' . , 
 
 ')iiPfa-im 10^. ^, he .rebuked the Red' fea alfo, and it was dri- 
 ed up yfo he led them through the Depths as through theWil- 
 dirmfs. 
 
 Thus you fee here is not one Word of Sprinkling, or 
 ofdalhing the Water upon them. As to the Cloud it 
 was no common Cloud, but a Cloud that c'id conftantly 
 attend them ih their padage through the Wildernefs ; fee 
 Exod, rg. 21, 22. And the Lord went bffore them by Dayina 
 Pillar oj a Cloud, &c. He touknot away the Pillar ot the 
 Cloud iiy day, rior the Pillar of Fire by night, from before 
 the People. S e alio iV»?»i?. 14. 14. Now if the Waters 
 were a Wall on each fide, and the Cloud covered them, 
 then theymufl need be overwhelmed. P\alm io<,.^§. 
 hefpread a Cloud jor a Covering, and Fire to give Light in the 
 Night. But not one Word of this Cloud's having Water in 
 it, nor of its dropping upon them. What Caufe have \ ou 
 to be cautious,how you admit any thing for 1 ruth upon tha 
 Credit of your Teacher j who can allow himfelf the Li- 
 berty to talk at this loofe Rate about facred things? 
 Befides, if this be to be underftood of Bapcilin as an Ordi- 
 nance, 
 
siancey according to the Ufcof the Word in the New 
 Tcftamenci then I affirm (^according to Mr. James's 
 Logick) if their Infants were baptized, all their Cattle 
 were likewife baptized : But I hope he will be afhamed 
 and blufh ac fuch an Expofitioo,; for befides all other Ab- 
 furdities that attend it, Mnfer. is .hereby made tiie firft 
 Bapcizer, and not John the Beptiff. But I fhall leave. this 
 aod pafe to the third and lail general. Head, r ,. i * 
 
 in. Tliat the Ordinance of ..BapSi fill isnow^in being, 
 and is to continue to the End> of the World. 
 
 Matt. 28.26* Teaching thm ta bbferve all things rohat^.. 
 foeverlioave comrfunded you j imd lo^.Ldmwith you alway, even 
 to the End oj the World, 
 
 Now t!iis Ordinance of Baptifm id Water, being one 
 of thofe tilings he hath commanded, as in the Words 
 foregoing j then the Apoftles vvere to teach all the fuc- 
 ceeding Churches to obferve jo, they being to teach them 
 to obferve ail things he ha^ commanded them^ and to 
 which alfo the Promife of Chrift's Prefence is annexed until 
 the End of the V/orld : The Ordinance it fclf is therefore 
 to continue till that time. 
 
 Befides, it was the Care of the Apoflles, not only to 
 teach that prefent Age the Will of Chrift, but alfo to 
 have it continued to fucceeding Ages : fee 2 Tim. 2. 2. 
 PauPs Charge here to Timothy is, The things -which thou ha^ 
 heard oj me among minyWitnefJesy the fame commit thou to jaith- 
 fiU Alen, -whofioa'J be able to'tcac>) others alfo. And our Lord 
 faith to thofe taichful ones in Thyatna, Rev. 2. 24, 2$. 
 1 will put upon you none other Burden j But that rphich ys ha.ve 
 already, holdjafi tiU Icome. 
 
 But feeing we differ not about its Duration, (although 
 we do abouc the Subjeds, and the right Manner of ad- 
 miniftring the fame) I fhall add no more upon this Head. 
 Had I been concerned with another fort of People, I (hould 
 have tiiGught my felf obliged to have infified more largely 
 upon it. 
 
 I befeech you ccnfidcr what I have faid 5 for it is in 
 true Love to your Precious Souls ', that you may no lon- 
 ger 
 
(J2) 
 
 gcr be deceived by falfe Teachers who handle the W^ 
 of God deceitfully : But that you may come to underftand' 
 the true Doftrine of the Gofpel, and imbrace that Faith 
 which was once delivered to the Saints ; which was at 
 firft fpoken by the Lord himfclf, and confirmed by Signs 
 and Wonders, and divers Miracles and Gifts of the Holy 
 Spirit, according to his own Will. 
 
 For there is but one Law-giver to the Church, even 
 him who is able to favc and to deftroy : Hear him in 
 all things whatfocver he hath faid unto you. Go in the 
 Footfteps of the primitive and ApoftoHck Churches 5 for 
 that is the right Path, and the good old Way j walk there- 
 in, and ye (hall find reft for your Souls. Confider, it is 
 the Word that Chrift hath fpoken, that fhall judg us at 
 the iaft Day. The Lord help every one of us who en- 
 joy the Light of the Glorious Gofpel, to be found obedient 
 thereunto, that fo we may receive that blefled Sentence ; 
 Well dom good and faithful Servant^ enter thouint: the Joy oj 
 thy Lord. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
THE 
 
 EXAMINED, 
 
 And his own Vmdication weighed in 
 the Ballance, and found too light. 
 
 With fomc Animadverfions upon 
 his Epistle Dedicatory. ^ 
 
 Being an Anfwer given by Mx John Wells 
 to the fecond Book written by Mv.Tho- 
 tnasjamesy of Jfhford in Kjf^^r intitu- 
 led, A Vwdicationy &c. 
 
 To rvhich u prefixed 
 
 An Epiftle concerning Baptifm. 
 
 Occalionally written^ upon the light of two 
 Treatifes, publifhed by Uv. Thomas James, 
 Teacher of a Presbyterian Congregation at 
 jifitford in Kent : Who hath refieded upon 
 the Baptized Chriftians. 
 
 TB? a lo53ei: of p^imttiae €l)Ummnty. 
 
 LONDON^ 
 Printed in the Year MDCXCVI. 
 
$ -.>. 
 
 laion'' 
 
(O 
 
 SOME 
 
 ANIMADVERSIONS 
 
 Upon the 
 
 Epiftle Dedicatory 
 
 OF 
 
 Mr. James s fecond Book. 
 
 IN the firft place, I perceive Mr. James is defitous to 
 oblige thofe Inhabitants of Ajhford, and the adja- 
 cent Parilhes, who attend on his Miniftry, to con- 
 cern themfelvcs in the Controvsrfy now depending. 
 . And indeed it is reafonable they fiiouid, if whaE 
 he did in publifhing thofe foul Scandals and Slanders agtinft 
 the Baptijis, were by their Advice : But if not, they may 
 juftly call him to account for what he hath done : He be- 
 ing but their Minifter Q or Servant ) ought to have had 
 their Advice i And unlefs he hath fo done, they are little 
 concerned in the Matter. 
 
 Yet Mr. James would infmuateit, by telling them, That 
 upon fomc Account their Concern is evidently greater. 
 But why the Neighbours, and Parts adjacent, (hould e- 
 f poufe a Quarfd, and become EnmUs to fuch as defire to 
 be at Feau with them, and all Men, as much as in them 
 lies, I know not. And had not he began this Quarrel, I 
 prcfume you might not have had any Contention about 
 the Matters now depending, betwixt Mr; Jmis and the 
 '-: ^ B '" Ba^tifls^ 
 
Bapnfts. For we are only upon the difinfive Part ; and be- 
 ingcxpofed (and that unjuftly) by him, we are willing to J 
 appeaJ to all good People, and be tried by the Rule ofl 
 Gods Word: And wherein we bring not the Word of 
 the Lorn for what we praftife in Religious Matters, we 
 arc concent to be counced Erroneous. 
 
 But Mr. famts reprefents us fo, without trial 5 and to 
 aggravate the Matter, he faith, Th/s Neighbourhood hath of. 
 long time hem the Seat oj mmy Ana-Baptijis ; and the SHr they 
 have made hath not been [mall : Witnefs the Difputation held in 
 the Pam> chmhy ]\i\y 2j, 16^9. bttypitn Fifher and ftve^ 
 ml Mniliers. 
 
 vit, I prefume few will fay, that ever many Anabaptifis 
 were featcd there. 
 
 2iy. But what was the flir they have made? 
 Why, (liiith Mr. James J witnefs Fi^fr, with feveral 
 Minirters. ^ 
 
 And pray obferve, this was about 45 Years ago ; And in 
 all this time he afligns but one more, and that was his Prc- 
 decdfor. Well, what a wonderful fiir hath here been in 
 Afhjord with the Anabapti^s / why, two Controvcrfics in 
 4^ Years. 
 
 But he adds, And thefe Stiri have not been [mall. It 
 fcems as if that Difpuce 46 Years ago, did found in Mr. 
 James\ Ears fnli : altho it's a Queftion to me, whether 'he 
 was then born M fuppofe not. 
 
 But however, Mr. James is very uneafy to think of this, 
 and complains of it. Surely this l^oife looks like filly 
 Stuff. . ^ ^ 
 
 But he further faith, They have not comt (hort in my time, 
 kazing ufgti me to tht fame j though I have onk Anfwmd, with 
 Contempt oj their challenge. 
 
 How, Mr, James, iiave you anfwered them, only with 
 contempt oi their Challenge ? I confefs, J am of the Opi- • 
 nion, you out did all the Miniftcrs chat difputed with Mr. 
 Fijhsr j for I can aflure )ou, they had a hard tug of it, and 
 came off but Ian »el). 
 
 But Mr. Jamisi Argument would difpatch the Matter 
 preferitly, with thi; ilioic wu.d, lanfyoer yoHonlynithCon- 
 timpt 3 and fo diimifs the Aflembiy. And vii^ this he 
 
 may 
 
(3) 
 
 may anfwcr the greaceft Difputanc that is; together with 
 that other Argument that one urged againft Cardinal Bf/- 
 Umine, Btlhrmmc thou Ikf. Either of thefe will make 
 ihort work of any Controyerfy. 
 
 But Mr. James Cdkh, They have not been (hort m his tme, 
 md have urged him to the fame. 
 
 Sir I pray confider what you fay : I doubt they have 
 been fhorc in your time: Have they urged you to any 
 publick Difpute ? This I amfure, you have urged them by 
 your foul Calumnies, to fay fomethitig by way of Defence 
 of themfelves 5 at which you are angry without Caufe. 
 Put if you will prove your Charge by good Evidence, they 
 offer humbly to fubmic. But it >ou will noc do that, then 
 it is you that urge them, and ic is you that have made all 
 this Noife and Stir, and have provoked them to demand 
 Sacisfaaion, and that publickly h and I am forry you have 
 . given them fuch Occafion. 
 
 But I muft needs fay you have your Anfwer ready, for 
 you haveanfwered by Contempt of this Challenge. And 
 indeed I find it fo in your Vindication (as vou call ip a- 
 gainft mej for, Iconfefs, I never wasanfwercd at iucha 
 contemptible rate in my whole life. But fuch Anfwers as 
 thofe furcly will not oblige your Friends to engage in 
 your Quarrel : If it do, I mu^ only take leave to admire ; ' 
 for I dways believed, fmce I have received the Faith of 
 the Gofpel, That the Minifters thereof ought C above 
 others;) to be meek, humble, moderate, temperate, and of 
 a fweet and even Difpoiition, ready to give a Reafon of 
 the Wc that is in them wichmeeknefs and fear, and noc 
 ' toanfvver with contempt , but meekly inftrufling thofe 
 that oppofe themfelves, and to be gentle towards all 
 Men But the Peevijh and the Froward, the Proud and 
 the mghty, together with the Envious, that do arrogant- 
 ly hold Perfons in contempt, can never obhge and Cqpverc 
 the Gainfayers. But I hope Age, and more Grace, and 
 larger Experience, may in time accomplifh Mr. fames, 
 with better Qualifications, than to anfwer with Contempt. 
 Indeed Mr. >;«» was pleafed to tell me. That he did 
 not reftca on thQBaptilis, in his Spir^'^Defpair revived. 
 
 B 2 
 
(4) 
 
 wife'"'^ TnThi ^T '^ r '^'i^'' ^^^ ^^"^^ ^hlDk other- 
 Fonrwo^rh'n^^^^^^^^ None but prciudiced Per- 
 
 hif"^- ^-n^ ^V"" '^'' "^P'^^^ fo thofc that attend udod 
 his Miniftry, he tells them thus, Ue RiJjJ^TlmT 
 
 tm^ingtlnirm^^^^^^^ ^,,^ and nnfi able Souls, Mirprll 
 Hicesofths kind, auMatUrs mU known to mnytim 
 
 So that now he acknowledges his Reflexions on us, for 
 troubling vteak and unftable Souls 5 and fays, Ic is Veil 
 known to many of yqu. J » " i5> weii 
 
 Now if cither he, or any of you, can charge any of us 
 vvith evil doing in this Matcer, /priy affign it , a/d lee 
 the Guilty be admonijhcd. 
 
 But they are unfiable Souls fit feemsj) they give the 
 
 ^''o"rK ' '";, /?^ ^"'^J,'^' "^^'^ ^"^^^^ indeed to L Que' 
 .nTc uJ^^'l"" '°*'^''^ '^^^'' Doubts rcfolved. But if 
 any fuch /bould come too«r Kriends to ask queftions, I 
 hopenoneof them will be fo uncivil to anfwer them w th 
 Contempr, but foberly refolve their Doubts, and fatisfy 
 iliarScrupIa, according to thebeftof their UnderflanZ 
 
 But- pray obferve how Mr. Jmes, according to his ex- 
 cellent temper of Spirit, is pleafed to write zl his Audi- 
 tors concerDiPg the Baptifls. Btr,m of them therefore rfaich 
 
 'f^^Specms, ccLviUmgat, and condemning Infm- Baptifm a^ ^ 
 TietvDoanne, aScnpturelefs thing, ^ 
 
 Sir If their bold and defperate Speeches be only to 
 iay, Infants Laptifm is a New Dodrine, and a Scrip. 
 turelefs thing, we mu^ Hill be thus bold : But, with fub- 
 
 w^^'."]; n ^K ^'-J''^:'''^ ^fl^^gn any Scripture for it, 
 we fhall not be bold m u any longer; for ic is the Script 
 ture we abide by for our RuJe of Faith and Fra.fHce, both 
 '"f PSfjlf- ff ^^J^P'i^'^> in which we find DO mention 
 of InJ^it-JjHMng: Bat zhis we find, ffe th,t hilieveth and 
 ^ baptised, fh,U he favid. And that Infants are fafc with- 
 out it 5 joY of fuch IS the Kingdom oj Heaven. 
 
 £uc Mr. Ju;?:ps faith, Goa no where in aU his Word forbids U 
 .^dicatnheminEzpujm, or rejufeth them: Let them (hew yon 
 that Scripture ij they cm, T^hich jorbids Children to be baptiT^ed. 
 
 Sir, 
 
( 5 > 
 
 ^ Sir, Is all your Rhetorick, and Logic^ come to this ? 
 Would the common ignorant People ask fuch a quelhon 
 as this? Though perhaps they may, becaufe you advKe 
 your own People to ask fo filly a QueOion -, whieh I won- 
 der at i Whether God in all his Word iorbids it ? forbids 
 to dedicate them ? If you mean eKpre.ay, I fay, No, nor 
 a thoufand other things befides. Is it therefore a Duty that 
 muft be done? And to demand of them, to fhew the 
 Scripture if they can, which forbids Children to be bapti- 
 
 I admire how Mr. Jmes comes.to be fo weak. If thefe 
 be the bef\ Arguments you have to perfwade your Peo- 
 ple, they are very weak that cannot fee through all this. 
 
 Where are the Services you difient from, iorbidden in 
 the Word of God? If you own this to be a good Argu* 
 ment, you ought not to leave theClwchof EngUnd I 
 pray, what is there of aWthcit Services that is expnfi)/ for- 
 bidden i Nay, by the fame Rule you may alfo go back to 
 the Church of ilo/«^ ,.,, . . 
 
 But if you will allow all to be forbidden, that you have 
 ro Command or Example for in the Scripture, then 
 fprinklingof Infants, and all other Humane Inventions are 
 forbidden. ^ , . , , 
 
 King Diw<^and his Nobles, were not forbidden fo cm^ 
 ths Ark. upon a new Cart : Bur God msde a Brcacli upon 
 them for doing it. God was always jealous of his Law, 
 and would admit of no other Admininration but ot his own 
 appointing. I might afilgn many Inflances of this kind ; 
 fee the igrb Chapter of the i/Z Book of Chronicles, as alfo 
 I Chron.K^. ig. where you will find, that God brought 
 that Punifhment upon them, becaufe they fought km not af 
 ter the dueVrdir. Changing God's Ordinances, doth bnn^ 
 down Judgments-, fee i/i. 24. 5. 
 
 It's no where forbidden in Scripture, that you ihall no. 
 kADtiZe Turksyjert^s, and Infidels : And may it therefore 
 be done? No; Whatever you do as an Ordinance of God, 
 you mufl have the Word of the Lord for fo doing v and 
 not to add or diminifh. This agrees with that Advice of 
 the Holy Apoftle, Be yejoUowersofme, mn as J am aljo of 
 Chrik fiiw I miff, you, Brethren, thxt you nmemhtr me m 
 
 B 3 ^^i 
 
(6) 
 
 aUtlmss, and ^iip tht Ordinmts as 1 Mvered tbtm unto m 
 1 v^or. 1 1. 1, 2. "^ * 
 
 The fame Circumfpeffion was obferved in Noah ; Ac 
 cording to all that God commanded Um, fi did he ; »hen cld 
 had commanded him to build an Ark, Gen. 6.22. 
 ,Jt\ V' ^°"n^ '" ^'J'"' "ho in the making of 
 Itlfir^l "'"1 ?*= '''« '^^ ''W ^" things according 
 to Che Pattern (hewed h,m in the Mount. The Particular? 
 _ot ,.hich yc u may fee at large in £.^.25. 9, 40. Chao ,0 
 MTcll^^'ri ^''!'"^°^'' eUmtded'j&t 
 vv re m^nl f /°'i''" ^"'''' ""^ '^e Holy Garment 
 s/rvi? f^- j'' '''""''" ™= afllgned for, and in the 
 Service of God, was not Jtft to thi Difcretion of anv 
 
 And indeed, \vho (hould dare to do any thing in the 
 Service of God, but as the Lord commands J ' ^ "" '"* 
 T>mI .IJ^t- ''9""' I'imfelf in the Cafe of Corah, 
 «f/' ii,'^'"'"""' Numb. 16. 28. And Mofes foW, 
 ^e,ey,e(h..Mknmthat the Lord hath fent me to do all tht c 
 
 TooldllJ'^'J ""J'""j>''!' "/ "> "^^ rxind, Cdoubtlefs 
 vK<?j.'i dur/t not do Other wife.^ 
 
 Aif "r.^^'i:/'''^" ^'^^ ^"^^^'^ "^^"^' ^or although fic pra- 
 are ^^^^^ yet in F.^.25. he doth not difallow of 
 
 dipm^ nay, he faith, ic may be the btSlyvayof bapthinP 
 
 ^I'^w' f. '"''t ^^^^)5^^ '^^^^'"^ ''^ ^'ks this Que: 
 
 il..^% V k'/'I^^""''^'^' '^^•^mi"i the Whole Per^in 
 
 Warn / Yes, Mr. /^m, or clfe the whole Perfon ^as 
 not baptized. 
 
 What gaith he3 mthont Guef[is, Corjs^ures, and Proh^ 
 btlitlis? Yes, beyond all probability, or el fe every Man 
 
 ?*^ .?/'/''n°'"'^^"S ^^ ^^' ^^" "^i"^' ^^^ich was more 
 than Mojis durrt to do. 
 
 - -^f? C^aith !^T, James) yea, hut vphat ij fi .^ If chrifi 
 giuhis ChHHhii.hbmy X9 ba^th^i by pouring on Water, or other 
 
 Why really, Sir, I could never find V by any Scripture- 
 Authority} chat the Churches were tver left to their 
 •liberty, to follow tkilr om Gneffcs and Conje^ures, to ufc 
 
 other 
 
& uVietak. that Enquiry, wl.en he l«h ackrow- 
 iXa dipping to be the beft way of baptizing ; for then 
 wbvfhould he feek for any other? . 
 
 Do vou believe that God hath kft it to his ■ hurch, to 
 ufea b«ter andaworferway, or other AprHc^.o"^ ^h^" 
 the beft way of baptizing, fabmitted to by his Son and 
 craaifcdby hisHoly Apoftles > Truly, if jwdo, I fee no 
 ?e"fon why you may not eomply with any decent Cera- 
 
 ^^^M^fltwtEUuateintotheUncferfta^^^^ 
 • f^Lu^reM that we are of the Opinion tliat God 
 
 ha^thle? love'f" o« Sren under the'oofpe!, than he 
 hath lels Love rorou ^^^^ ^^^ . ^^^ 
 
 ^"^ ^°u n ,.mon thus « WhatT hath God lefs Love for 
 r;Vu';^c1iiK tCn'for^'thofe of his old People the 
 « yiwsf Is his Mercy clean gone from our Children? 
 
 " Ate we ate fo far from believi-g God hath lefs Love 
 too« Chi^ren, as that we fay '^ /= ^ 8^,^»'^' ""^^^^ 
 our< in that they are not laid under tlie Yoke of Bondage 
 which neither they nor their Fathers were able to bear 
 an^fo great isthl Mercy, that oj fif « t,e K«,^.,. » 
 ^wvwY without Circumcifion, or Sprinkling) and he 
 Weffed'a P^r as a Pledg of the Whole : For he does not 
 liSat Speech; to cKclude any infant from Heaven •, nor 
 isTthe Will of God that one of themfhould perilh : See 
 ]/"m8. 10 ... Take huA that p diffifi not .». oft,4>Ut- 
 Zonts-iorlby imu pu, that in Htavtnthut Argils d, 
 
 th^L oj Man U com to f,el,andfave ""^t Ird he 
 i and Infants as vvellas?rown Perfons were left. Ai.d the 
 Grace o"salva,ion extends to all that were loft in Ada^ 
 even for dying Infants, who never finned after the Simli- 
 udeof k«-s Tranfgreffion, '''I"- ^^-^ '{^f'"^^ 
 And in John, .29. Btholi the Lamb cj God, M takA 
 L> tk S« 0/ i\>' World. NOW infants can have no ^ne 
 
But when any come to the Ufe of Reafon r^ .l'"^ fo. 
 quires Duty and Obedienrc ,Z.Tj- '.^°^ 'hen re- 
 do or may^ecdve: FrG,;<t&'°;''''-'8''^'''ey 
 
 thty PjmU '.-ve rh Lord Afl< t. .^ ™ ' "'"' '*■«« 
 
 Soul that finsmuftanfwerfor'fclf^'ES i8 ' ' '"'*" 
 
 :»^r4'j G^^ w f-Th\r T '^^'^'^'^ Repentance to. 
 
 And whereas the queflion is asked, « whv n,n. u 
 
 " felves? ^' °' '^^'' ' New BaptifM for your 
 
 -/ SU 'noHsi" anXt" "^^P' "^^ ''^ « ^o™ 
 fprinWed ; nor is it a bSJT ^^ '° ^^^ Infant to be 
 
 " BpoDtheQuantitvof w"rer « e*^^ f'^'roent. wholly 
 " of more, ^r in a^tt; "av tht"^''- *f.^PP«"rion 
 " ing. would profit foevceJil,!'"'" "{"""Wing pr pour- 
 « Adult and pS four Fatthf^' « y""'"-'* "^eds be 
 
 And 
 
^->i 
 
 (9) 
 
 And this Mr. Jamfs doch pray to God, that they who 
 attend upon his ^ iniftry, might be eftablifhed, and 
 ftrengthcned, and fettled in, hoping to approve himfelf 
 a faithful Minifter of Chrifl unto them in all things. 
 
 And indeed, fhould Mr. Jmes lay alide all Humane 
 Tradition, and keep to the due obfervation of the Pri- 
 mitive Inftitution, and obey the Words and Command- 
 ments of our Lord Jefus, as he doth exhort, direft and 
 perfvvade his Hearers, I doubt nor, but by the Bleflingof 
 God, he might be a very good Infirument to eftablifh 
 and fireng4:hen his People : But if he take (he Liberty to 
 make any Aiteration of the Primitive Conftitution, by 
 adding to, or taking from the Word of God, then it may 
 be faid, \^ho hath requind thtfe things at your hands .^ Rev. 
 22.18. ProVi 30. ^. Ifa. 1.12. 
 
 But whereas Mr. James faith ; " They are their 
 " own Enemies many ways, efpecially thesr Childrccs, 
 " whom they debit of many blcffed Privileges. 
 
 Therein I wiOi Mr. J^amts had more fully explained 
 himfelf j for had he made it appear what we debar our 
 Children of that might be a Bkffing to them, I hope we 
 fhould readily take Advice to avoid that Unhappinefs : 
 But if his meaning is, becaufe we omit to fprinkle them, 
 then I thank him that he wifhes well according to his Un- 
 derflanding: But I araforry for his Ignorance ; for, blef- 
 fcd be God, and our Lord and Saviour Jefus ChriH-, who 
 died to take away the Sin of the World, our Infants are 
 happy, unlefs they commit a fecond Tranfgreflion, and 
 then they ought to be truly humbled for the fame ; 
 and upon Repentance and Faith in our Lord Jefus Chrifl 
 they may be baptized for the Remiffion of 5ins, and bt 
 admitted Members of the Church of Chrrfl, and may there- 
 by become Heirs of Eternal Glory, 
 
 But as Kix.Jmes faith j " The firange Divifions of the 
 " Land of our Nativity, is a forrowful Conflderatioo to all 
 *' that fear God, and are by no means to be widened. 
 
 This is moft excellently faid, and I wifh that no pro- 
 
 fclTing Chriilian would give occafion to widen thefc for- 
 
 fowful Divifions. I pray therefore let all Clamour and 
 
 Slander ceafe , with all backbiting and evil furmifing, 
 
 ^ chat 
 
(lo) 
 
 that kindles a Fire, that breaks out into Flames, and burns, 
 and perhaps fcorches the very Confciences of fuch as 
 kindled it; I pray God extingaifh the fame by fuch 
 Ways and Means that be moft futable to a Chriftian Dif- 
 poficion, 
 
 Yec Mr. Jmis^ I fee, is not willing to be underftood, 
 that he has cone amifs in befpattering us •, For, faith he, 
 " I could upon this account, be content moft gladly to 
 *' befiknti but my Defence, and your Security, wilicx- 
 *' cufe my Undertaking. 
 
 Sir, lamforryyou liave made fo mean a Defence that 
 will not vindicate you, nor fecure any f if any be } that 
 fhall cfpoufe^your Controverfy ; And had you been filent, 
 It might have been more to your Honour, and greater 
 Peace both to your fclf and others : And would you but 
 t;^ke the Advice you give, you would cool the Heats, and 
 fubdue the Paflions that boil in your own Breafl: For you 
 farther advife well, in thefe words j 
 ' *' As for you, my Brethren, believe the Promifes, and 
 " ob/erve the Inilitutions, and obey the Words and Com- 
 " mandments of our Lord Jefus Chrifl, and keep your 
 ** felves pure, that none may be able to fpeak Evil of 
 " you, or to reproach your good Convcrfation ; this 
 ** will give you Peace, and end in Everlafting Happi- 
 « nefs. 
 
 And the Truth is, fuch as believe the Promifes, ac- 
 cording to the Gofpcl of our Lord Jefus Chrift, obferving 
 the Primitive Inflitutions, and obey the Words and Com- 
 mandments of Chrift, and the Praftice of the Apoftle«, 
 and keep themfelves pure in the Doftrine and Difcipline, 
 ^cording as it was at firft delivered to the Saints*, fuch, I 
 fay, need not fear who doth reproach them ; they having 
 a good CoDverfation to adorn the Truth they profefs, may 
 have Peace in Confcience here, and Evcrlafting Happinefs 
 in the World to come. 
 
 And as to the Point of Dipping, it is Baptizing : But 
 Sprinkling is Rantizing only, which is no where com- 
 manded in Scripture as a Sacrament to Infants. And as to 
 laying the ftrefs upon the C^antity of Water, we fay, 
 it's pot the wafiiing by quantity of Water, but lU nnfrver 
 
(") 
 
 f i PMi Canfmet, i Pec. ?. 2 1. to keep the Ordinance as 
 J was delivered, i Cor, 11. Ana as to other ^Applications, 
 ,y fprinkling or pouring, thert is not one Word of God 
 Sr ic With whac Confcicnce then can that be applied ? 
 mt chat fuch as are baptized, muft be adult and ^ofels 
 Taich is mcft evident? for without Faith we cannoc 
 ?Ieafe God, Heb. 6, But Repentance and Faith are requi- 
 lite in order to Baptifm ; But to thac more may be faid in 
 
 * And^'^vvhereas you are plcafed to recite the Waldenfes, 
 now commonly called Vaudois, who were never tamted 
 with any Corruption of Antichrift, but certainly the 
 mod pure and Apoftolicalin the World, who baptize 
 -Infants, and, generally apply the Element ;'f Baptifm 
 « fome other way than by dipping, as pouring, fprmk- 
 
 Sir^' Thit the WaUenfis, when they were called the 
 root Msnof Lions, (Hiftoty gives a very good AccountJ 
 and many Years after, were never tainted or corrupted, 
 and were for the Baptifm of Believers, notjnfants ; and 
 for dipping, not pouring, or fprinkling', affign it if yoit 
 can, and in what Century, and it (hall be anfwered as the 
 Matter may require, if God permit, for T doubt you 
 wrong them : Yet let me qot be too raOi, for whether 
 the J^Wo^ that might fpring from them, be corrupted, I 
 know not •, 4nd no great marvel if they be, feeing that ^y- 
 ffsry Bdi>y/o» hath corrupted Kat'ms, Kmdnds, andTonguis: 
 and therefore I would exhort ail good Chriaians to be 
 fledfaft, that they be not turned out of the good old 
 Way, but keep to the Primitive Purity of the Gofpel, 
 without any mixture of Humane Invention, and not to 
 be ioffU about with every Wind 0} Doanne, b]/ tU flnght cj 
 Men, and cunrting crajtinefs, whereby they hem wait to decern, 
 
 ^^Butvvhe^reln Mr. James gives good and wholfome Exhor- 
 tation to his Brethren, and fuch' as attend upon his Miiu- 
 ftrv, 1 hope they will readily comply with the fame : And 
 I alfo pray to God that he might really confider, and 
 walk by the fame Rule, and do as he advifeth others. 
 
 Take 
 
(12) 
 
 Take his own words ; " And I do earneftly exhort y( 
 « all to attend that Gofpel- Precept, if it be pofTibte as 
 «' much as lies in you, live peaceably with all Men, even 
 <* withthefe Men, as they are Neighbours; live in Love j 
 ** let not thefe Qucftions and Strivings about Matters of 
 ** this or any other Nature imbicter your Spirits, and 
 « provoke you to fpeakunadvifedly, muchlefs to be guilty 
 " of any Misbehaviour in your Adions. • 
 
 This is fuch good and whoKome Counfel, that I mufl" 
 acknowledg it deferves Praife and Commendation in 
 Mr. Jmis\ and I heartily defire that all our Friends 
 though differing in Judgment, would carry it reciprocally 
 kind, where they meet with this fwcer, humble, and 
 merciful Temper : And where they find any otherwise, I 
 hope they will not be provoked thereby to any mcrofc 
 and evil Carriage, bnt rather be kind tc the Froward, and 
 labour to overcome Evil with Good. 
 
 Mr. 
 
Mr. J AMES'S 
 
 VINDICATION 
 
 EXAMINED. 
 
 MR. Jmes begins thus j " I received a Letter, 
 *' with a prifited Book inclofed, bein^ in- 
 " tituled, A Rsply co that prt oj Spiral 
 " Defpdr revived: In lyhkh die Eaptiflnn 
 " general are concerned ^ but more efpe- 
 " cially thofe in Afhford in Ksnt^ Sec. 
 
 In anfwer to wl^.ich he ir.akes fome Apology, as the 
 reafon of it *, faying, upon the reading of the fame, " I find 
 *' it fuch, as may (^ if unanfwered ') turn to my Difgrace 
 « and Contempt. And then farther faith, *« This fhame- 
 ** fui Reply ( for fo it fhall qu cicly be detefted ) is dedi- 
 " catcd to the Honourable Lord Wbarm, feeking Patro- 
 " nagc from fo great and worthy a Peifon, a^.^d fo abuiing 
 " his Name. 
 
 Sir, Your Anfwer is fo unhappy to your felf, as that ic 
 amounts not to a Vindication, having not difcharged sny 
 of the Mifcarriages you were guiky of in your Spira : So 
 that the Difgrace you brought your felf under by the fame, 
 doth ftill remain -, and I prefume you may be afiiamed of 
 your DUi^'m when it is examined. 
 
 I pray, what Offence is it in me, co recommend co the 
 Confideration of the Honourable Lord Whartoriy the Mat- 
 ters and things written, both by you and my felf, to make 
 an impartial Judgment thereof, he being the Perfon undfer 
 - whom your felf did feek Fatmage / But if i Jhould have 
 
 done 
 
(14) 
 
 done as you fay I did, f although *tis falfc ) it fcems 1 
 (hould haveabufed his Lordfhip's N'me. But I hope his 
 Lordfhip was more kind than to think fo, in cafe I had 
 done it. 
 
 But, grezt Mr. JamSy why fo fwelled ? I have had the 
 Honour to fpcak to, and difcourfe with as great Men, and 
 in as honourable Courts, and that publickly, as ever Mr, 
 J^ames liath done. 
 
 And, I pray, why inuft I be fo diminutive in your c- 
 fteem ? But I fee you have an excellent Faculty of hold- 
 ing Perfons in Contempt ^ as appears 'in your Epiftle, 
 where you anfwcr only with Contcmpr. 
 
 But, great Sir, if you take the boldnefs to trouble hi? 
 Lorci(hip with the Reprcach and Scandal you have thrown 
 upon an innccenc People, miy not I humbly pray his 
 Lordfhip's juJgmen: upon it, but that I muft abufe his 
 Honour's Name ? I dare (ay his Lordfhip was of fo good 
 a Temper, chat i; the meaneft Perfon that is fhould ap- 
 peal to him for Juf^ice, he would not have taken it ill. 
 
 But the Tf ?fon of my bolunefs was, from Mr. Jamt5\ 
 dedicating his Book to his Lordfhp firfl j to whom Q I 
 hope^ t might afterwards appeal without ofifence. 
 
 But if Mr. James were fo tender of hib Lordfhip's Name, 
 he would have done well not to have ufed his Lordfhip's 
 Name to a Book wherein he hath fo erueily abufed an 
 innocent People : And I dare fay, my Lord delighted in 
 no fuch Concroverfies. 
 
 But Mr. Jmeshzymg fo great a Patron, he might think 
 it fawcy in any to anfwer his Book; and indeed he has ve- 
 ry fufficiently menaced me for my boldnefs, after his ar- 
 rogant manner : And had I not an Antidote againft Gall 
 and Bitternefs, it might have made fomc penetration: 
 But fofter Words, and more powerful Arguments, might 
 have made a greater Impreflion. 
 
 But Mr. James proceeds, faying, *' I will confine my 
 *« Pen within thefe narrow Bounds, to write but of the 
 " things concerning the Perfon that makes the Reply, and 
 " the manner of it. 
 
 *' The next concerning the Charge vthich is brought 
 ** againft what I formerly publifhed in that Sfira^ fo far 
 
 « as 
 
(15) 
 
 «* as It refpetts the Anabaptifls ; which confiils of two 
 **' Parts : One concerning the poor melancholy diftraOed 
 « Man, R, M. and his Tragical End. Which gave me 
 ^« Occafion to refleft on the Aaabaftifis, as thofc that did 
 ^* him fome wrong, troubling him with their Notions a- 
 « bout theNeceffity of Re-baptization, ^ or being dipt) 
 " which proved injurious to him in his Weaknefs, and 
 «' ftrangeconfufionof Mind. 
 
 I reply, Firjl, As to the Perfon that makes the Reply, 
 he craves no Favour,, but Juftice, and that his Words and 
 Meaning may not be raifconilrued and corrupted. • 
 
 Secgndly, As to the manner of ic, ho Injury is done you, 
 unlefs you account it injurious in me to enqaire after thofc 
 Offenders that you fay are guilty : Which I defire you to 
 affign, that they (^if anyfuch there be) might be dealt 
 with by the Rule of God's Word ; and that manner o£ 
 dealing (Iprefume) cannot be hurtful to any. 
 
 The next thing concerning the Charge that is brought, fo 
 far as it refpefts the Anabafti^s, you fay, confifts of two 
 Parts: One is concerning the poor melancholy diftrafted 
 Man R. M, and his Tragical End ', which, you fay, gave 
 you occafion to refleft on the Anabaj^tifls, as thofe that did 
 him fome wrong. 
 
 Now, if this be fo, why li it not proved ? that others 
 may make judgment of it befides your fclf. For, not- 
 withftanding it was demanded of you again and again, 
 and you have been at the Prefs again, with a pretended 
 yindieatlon^ we can obtain nothing from you but foul Sug- 
 geftions, and fcandalous Clamours without proof, which 
 is very hard. 
 
 But Mr. Jamis farther faith *, « The other is concerning 
 «*.what he hath written, of their prafti ting the like upon 
 «* many others infuch-like Cafes j troubling, weak andun- 
 « ftable Chriftians, eagerly urging them to be dipti and, 
 ** as I faid, making it a Salvi jor mry Stn, 
 
 Reply •, Now this is a full Charge upon the Baptip^ that 
 they have wronged, not only R. M. but many others. 
 And when ne defire this to be proved, Mr. Jmes 
 fecms angry, as if it were an unreafonable Demand : 
 But until it be proved, no judicious Reader can juftly 
 
 allow 
 
( i6 ) 
 
 allow It to be any thing kfs, than a Scandal of his owi 
 inventing. 
 
 And as for his faying, we make Dipping a Saire for c- 
 very Sore, it is fo notorioufly falfe, chat any who ever con- 
 verfed with us, or knew our Pradicc about Baptifni,muft 
 certainly know, we never admit of any to that Ordinance 
 butwithgreatCaurirn, Admonicion, and Inaruftion, till 
 we are well fatisfied with their Humiliation and Repen- 
 tance, and Faith in the Lord Jefus Chri/1: That they may 
 be made fcnfible for what End they obey that holy Ordi- 
 nance of Baptifm, for which we are fo much reproached. 
 But it IS more unkind to receive fuch Ufage from a dif- 
 fentingMiniftcr, than from others. 
 
 But I find your Difcourfe is after fuch a rambling man- 
 ner, or as you fay in another place, a continued Difcourfe, 
 without any particular diftinft Method, that I mufl be 
 forced to follow you accordingly : And much of it being 
 mfignificane, Qss your Story of King James, and fuch- 
 likePaflages]) I may well omit, as not worth the taking 
 notice of It j y€t (^I hope) I (hall anfwer fo fully to 
 eveiy thing that is material, that all judicious Perfons 
 may be fansfied, and then I fhall very little regard thofc 
 Clamours that you may let fly againfl it. 
 
 I perceive your Defign is to raife a Dufl, and beget a 
 prejudicate Opinion in your Reader C if pofllble ') againfl 
 me 5 faying thus, " In doing this, I will confider the moft 
 * material Paflages in that Piece, laying open the Igno- 
 ** ranee and Injuftice of the Publirtrer. And you are plea- 
 fed to fay, That what I have publifhed, arc meer Slanders 
 and Falfhood ; and that my Reply is meer Slander, and 
 boJd and impudent Denial and Contradiftion. 
 
 ABd having thus ridiculed me, he pretends to evince the 
 Reader of the Matter of Faft; and he begins thus: « The 
 ** firft thing which I confider, and is very material, is the 
 " Perfon that makes the Reply, And then he recites my 
 words m thu Reply, in Pag. 2, 5. m\. « Sir, I am a Stran- 
 ger to you, and to the whole matter, any ocherwifc 
 " than as I met it in your Book, ( and fome Friends near 
 " you gave me fome Account J which has loaded us witk 
 t* a greater Weight than is fit to be born. 
 
 And 
 
And then he cries out, '* Now furcly this is a /iraflg« 
 ** thiug, and moft unrighteous, unjuft, and ic may be un- 
 ^ parallcrd : For a Perfon that owns himrelf a perfed 
 •• Stranger to mc, (aad indeed he was, and is) upon the 
 ** reporting a Matter to him, to write and print ac this 
 " rate againft me : What, a Stranger to the whole Matter, 
 ** ar>d yet to print at this confident rate. 
 
 Now, Sir, I pray confidcr what a Noifc you liavc 
 made of my being a Stranger to you, and to the whole 
 Matter : Why do you forget thefc words, Any otbawife than 
 I mat with it in your Book, I And might not a Stranger be 
 informed by your Book? And it was that which informed 
 me, and other Strangers, that were troubled and a(hamed 
 of iti and more cfpecially as coming from a DilTenting 
 Minifter. And ic fecmed mofl reafonable to me, and ma- 
 ny others, that fuch as you accuied, fhoiild be found out h 
 and if guilty, be cxpofed for their FoUy. 
 
 But you «rc civit to give nie the Tide of Mr. WdU ■, i 
 fhallnot carp ac \i as you did, when I gave you the Tick 
 of Wmby Sir: For you were ac a lofs (it feems) whe- 
 ther you might or no, nor knowing rny Quality or Cal- 
 ling : But however you did prefunie Q ac M ) vj give ais 
 the Title of Mr. W^^/i'/. 
 
 This was civilly done, and you did not err in it ; For 
 bcfides the feveral Commifiions 1 have had, both Givif 
 and Military, which bcfpcaks me no kfs, I have always 
 accordingly paid as fuch. 
 
 But you fay you give mc rhii Tick as ^ FrucUr. Now 
 as fuch I am but a Miniftcr, which in filnglilh is but a. Ssr 
 vant, Butfomein this Age are grown fo arrogant, cha;: 
 Servants affc«a to be called Mafters. But as I am a Mini- 
 Ylcr of the Gofpel, I defrre to be (as I ought) a Servant 
 to all. 
 
 And indeed it is the Advice of our Great L9>d and Ma- 
 fitr^ Not to be mxny Mufitrs^ or to be cuilid of Men Rabbi. 
 But fuch as love to be great, and look lofty, and delight 
 to be called of Men Kabbi^ Rxbbiy (viz. M^fttr, M^ftir ) 
 fuch are not fie for Miniftcrs (t/i\. Servants) in the G«>- 
 fpcl i And it is unhappy we do not fpeak Eiiglilh to owr 
 Servants y for the poor ignorant People think a Miniftcr 
 K their Maftcr-, when (God knosvs) the Word fignitiesa 
 Servant, and we ought to be Servants to all j fee Afir. 25, 
 
6) It 0, 9, io» 1 1, 12. Lu^e 2 2. 24, 25, 25» 27. j 
 
 in the third Page Mr. Jamts carps ac mc for calline him^ 
 IVorthySir. 
 
 Pray, Sir, be not difpleafcd with me for my Civility 
 towards vou ; many miftaken Men (as Mr. James is) may 
 deferve that Title. And to have called you bsld and imfu^ 
 dent, (^ as you ferve me ) might have founded a$ harfh in 
 your Ears, as you fay Greel^ and Mrew doth in mine : 
 And I was not willing to offend you j therefore if I 
 fhould ufe that Civility again, pray take it not ill. 
 
 But I find alfo that Mr. jam£s cakes another thing ill, 
 namely, that I did not fend a few Lines to him before I 
 printed, to enquire what Defence he cotHd make for him- 
 felf. But alas, it was too late ! for Mr. Jamts had pub- 
 lifiicd us io print to the World, and expofcd us to Shame 
 and Reproach : Therefore nothing kfs than a publick Re- 
 ply could repair our Reputation. And if Mr. James had 
 confidered the Defign of my Book, which was, to enquire 
 into the Truth of his Calumny, and to find out the Offen- 
 ders, (ifanywere) that they might becxpofed and put 
 to fham-, he had no rcafon to take it ill. But I cannot 
 find any of our Brethren, of the Baptized Chriftians, guil- 
 ty of what Mr. James charges upon them ; notwithftand- 
 ing I was at Afhjord^ and heard what was faid by Mr. James 
 and them. Face to Face. Nor doth Mr. jAmes^ in his 
 (^pretended) Vindication, fct forth who chcy are, nor hath 
 he yet done it j and until he doth, there is reafon to con- 
 clude he cannot : And chat it was only a tranfport of Zeal 
 ^or worfe) which prompts him to fay, Tbt Baptifts might 
 d» R. M. fome nrong^ &c. 
 
 But to deal plainly, it had been kind for Mr. James to 
 have asked the Baptifts, before he had printed, Whether 
 the Matter of Fad he charges them with had been true ? 
 
 Yet I have that Charity for Mr. Jamis ftill, that if it 
 were now to be done, he would not do it : But feeing 
 it is too late, let IVJr. James but as publickly acknow- 
 ledg his MifUke, or Error, as he has expofed us, and- 
 by my confcnc it (hall be full Satisfaftion : but if he do 
 not, it mull be left to the Judgment of the judicious 
 Reader. 
 
 But Mr. James would have mc to confcfs my Fiult as 
 fubiickly j which indeci i will, if he hone/lly afTign it. 
 
and think it no difhonour to fubmit, if he convince mc 
 of Error ; but I do not fee ic yet. 
 
 For Mr. Jarrns extreamly miffes the Matter S for the 
 great Strefs he lays it upon is, That I did all by the Infti- 
 gationof my Friends, and did things hand over head by 
 their Information. 
 
 Dear Sir, be not fo unkind astothinki afted fo foo- 
 liftily i I aflure you I did ic confcionably, and your Book 
 Js the Subjea of my Difcourfe. And of what I was in- 
 formed I cell you, as in the \^xh Page of my Book, Vk. 
 For It films to me by the Account Ihave, &c. So that where 
 I have any thing by Information, you (^orany one that 
 reads my Book^ may eafily perceive if, and do but af- 
 fign wherem the Information is falfe, and ic fliall bede- 
 tefted, and fuch part fhall be acknowledged wherein you 
 prove it falfe i but you have not done ic yet. 
 
 But what you fay y ct is zkcr a Bililngfg ate manner -, as, 
 
 mjuft, bold, mpudent', and in anocher place, /i>. Now this 
 
 IS no Proof, but idle Clamour j nor is ic like a Gentle 
 
 map, or a fobcr Chriftian. But to wave this Difcourfe. 
 
 jvvhat you really prove to be falfe, (hall be allowed? and I 
 
 Ifhallpafs over much of your Clamour as not worch the 
 
 infwermg. 
 
 But in the /^th Page you are at it over agam, vk, <« Had 
 
 but the Letter fent me with his Book, been fent fomc 
 
 Months before, his Pains and Trouble might have been 
 
 Ipared and his Credit faved ; whereas he hath brought 
 
 himfclf into a Snare, to gracify his Friends who impo- 
 
 fed upon his Credulity. *^ 
 
 Sir, You exceedingly miAakethe Point dill, for a Let- 
 
 :er could not do, your Book being out in Princ: Nor did 
 
 ny Friends impofc upon my Credulity 5 brt your Book 
 
 rxpofed us, and ought to have been anfweredif they liad 
 
 lever fent to me. ^ 
 
 And in the ^th Page Mr. James is at itagain,which makes 
 ne admire that fo great a Scholar fhould be fubjed cofo 
 Tiany Tautologies, vr^. »' And make good his Charge on- 
 ly, being informed by thofc whofe Intercrt it was, to 
 blalt what I had written. 
 
 Sir, I fay again, it was your Book informed me, and 
 hey had no need to bhi\ what you had written, for you 
 lave done it your fclf. ^ 
 
 C 2 But 
 
(2o) m 
 
 But in the 5.^1; Page you carp at my Title, for callmgn 
 ABriefRiply, Sir, lean juflifythe Title, and want not 
 your Advice j for your unjuft Charge is removed until ycuf 
 prove icj and 'a hen you do chat, I will beg your Pardon, i 
 
 And then you carp at my handling the Text, Ptov,B,ij*\ 
 and fcoffingly cry out, '* A mighty Search, bccaufe myj 
 *' Neighbours gave him fome Account. t 
 
 But your Book from which I take the Account, yci. 
 take no notice of ; when that is it I take my Informatior*' 
 from ; *Mdonot fee with my Friends Eyes 5 this is ail 
 Clamour and holly. 
 
 And in the 'jth Page he is Aill upon the Dme Topick, ot! 
 hclicving my Afhjord Friends i and faith' not a word of hisi 
 Book, as if hchad never writ one. But I hope fuch ast 
 read our Books will fee, that I ground my Difcourft upon; 
 his Book, and not upon my A(hjord Kriends Informarionj' 
 but wherein Fdo, 1 diflinguifli between the Book and the' 
 information i had from any, which is very little. 
 
 But 1 am arraigned for my If;norance in the Bth Page. 
 t»\. " But Mr. WcUs is no Logician, or the meancft evei 
 '' known. That is in Englilli, a Man of little or no Rea 
 fon, (for Logick is Reafon^ j but Mr. Wills hath none, o\ 
 the IcaA ever known. 
 
 Well, Mr. J>jmesy I muft be content to be a Fool, that 
 you may be wife i but it will be well if ) ou do not provr^ 
 ochcrwife when we come to try the Matter, (_if it ni?y be" 
 for I have had to dp with as great Logicians as Mr. Jamts 
 that have ufed their Arc and Learning co darken Counfel 
 and being wei£hcd in the Balhnce, have been found toe 
 light. But Mr. Jjmts hath an excellent wny of evading the 
 proving of the Matter i for in the ^th Page he faid, vi\, '' Ii 
 '* is time to leave tylr. Wd's hmifelf, and come we now tc 
 *' the Matter of I ad, ^-c. And when you would expef 
 he fliould come to it, he lets you know that *' Mr. Well 
 *' urgech wonderfully tp alTign the Perfon or Perfon 
 *' gujlcyof what I charge the Baptifts with, Qind indee< 
 " I cjofo) i and faith Mr. Wells, if I fail herein, he com 
 " mends to my Lord Whartsa to fee that publick Satisfadi 
 " on be given, and to my Church to take a Courfe witi 
 *' me. 
 
 Sir, This I do, fir ft, bccaufe you dedicated your Bool 
 to '^ - 1 c>rd • "-j-rja, to whora I did appeal. And, fc 
 
(21) 
 
 eoridly, your Church do acquit themfclves well, if chey 
 examine the Matter of Faift, and fee how you can clear 
 your felf-, all which I think is very reafonablc. Bat Mr. 
 Jmn evades it, if it will do, and faith, vi\. *' Bur no\v 
 ** what if the Cafe do not require all this? Why truly 
 if the abufing and flitndering an Innocent People in To 
 grofs a manner, do not require an Examination, Mr. 
 Jm(s may go on without controul. Nay, lie fecms to 
 file w a Reafon (" fuch as it is) why: For, (faith he) 
 ** What if it be not convenient or ncccfl'ary ? What muft 
 '' a Minifter cell the Anabaptifts, and all the World, whar 
 *^ every one in Trouble difcourfes to hun ? So that ir 
 feems Mr. Jfames writes ind prints by Inforiijation of Peo. 
 pk in Trouble, and may publifti it to the World, con- 
 ?ealing their Names. But he wili have it criminal in me, 
 :0 take Information of any, akho well in their Scnfes, and 
 lot in fuch an extafy of Trouble. Bur, faith Mr. Jama, 
 
 * Ic may be Husband or Wife, Parents and Children, Ma- 
 
 * flcrs and Servants, are concerned : And the like Cir- 
 
 * cumftances are fuch, that it is no ways fie or meet to 
 ' name, or affign the Perfons. 
 
 Now if all this will do, Mr. ^ames may fay what he 
 »Ieafes, and befpatter whom he thinks hcj and take the 
 •oldnefs to abufe whom he will at any rate, and tell the 
 Vorid, and the People he befpatters, that he is a Mini- 
 ver, and mufl conceal the Perfons that told him, they 
 eing in trouble of Mind j and he will jurtify what he hath 
 lid is true, but it is not fit or meet you fiiould know who 
 tiey are. Now what Stuff this is, let the Reader judg. 
 iut the A*abaptifts are the Criminals,asand who tliey arc 
 f them we muft not know : if we fhould, what Mii- 
 hief may we puil upon others Heads? (faith Mr. 
 amis) and to prevent it, Mi\ Jamgs wili noc name the 
 ,erfons. 
 
 ii Sir, I pray be kind, and do as you would be done an- 
 j) : If any have been fo evil as to give a falfc Information, 
 , t us know who they are. But if your Information be 
 ue, rjftify the Charge againft the Guilty, and we flial! 
 |keitkmdly, and deal with fuch by the Rule of God's 
 ^ord, as the Merits of the Caufc will require. 
 I ** Bw this (faith Mr. JfamisJ is an extravagant Re- 
 queft, to urge the printing of Namei of private Per- 
 
(22) 
 
 But I think it was more extravagantly done of Mi 
 Jamts^ to rake Information from any that would not, c 
 durft not rtandbyit, and yet publifh to the World th 
 Bi?;^»/?jtobe a very perilous and dangerous People, asbi 
 the Information he has had from fome that were in trot! 
 ble \ but who they are muft not be known : which begei' 
 a Jcaloufy in fome, that Mr. Jamt$ has done all riiis c 
 hisTDwn Head •, but when any other do appear, more ma 
 be faid, but I would have the Guilty only fuffer : An 
 truly if no better Evidence does appear, many will b( 
 licve Mr. J ma is the Man. But I refer to better }«d^ 
 ments. 
 
 But in the \Qth Pifge Mr. 7d;»wdoth fuggeft, we ma. 
 lie upon the Catch, to prevent which he will name none 
 " For, faith he, fuch an One is none of them, though i 
 ** may be a Teacher, or an old Anabaptilf, or nothing, &c. 
 
 But, Sir, pray why fb many Evafions ; thefc are reel! 
 evil Suggeftions : be fo kind as lo try the Matter, and the 
 fpeak as you find. 
 
 But you fay you do but (hew how vain it is for Ml 
 Wills to urge the aflGgning of Perfons ; and I am afraid ; 
 is in vain indeed, for I doubt you cannot j and yet yo 
 fay, ** Proofs I have fufficient to produce, and abundant 
 «' and yet will fpare Names, even of the moft Criminal. 
 
 Sir, I am afraid all this is but a Bounce j for if you hav 
 llich Evidence, and abundant Proof, why fofparingofi 
 when the whole Charge lies upon yourfLlf ? And it wi 
 fo remain, until you clear your (tU by fome other Ev 
 dence. - 
 
 But now to the Cafe of the poor melancholy Man / 
 M, that you vi(:ted ) and fay, zi^. *' Thft one of th 
 *' fame Name, of his Kindred, defired m<; to go an 
 " vifit him, upon the Account of his deplorable Cond 
 " tion ', and he importuned me not a little, ufing this i 
 " a fpecial Argument, that he was continually afliiultc 
 'V by the Anabjptills abeut Rebaptization j which was 
 " great Trouble and Vexation to him. 
 
 5ir, That \ou were defired to give him a Vifit, may t 
 true, and your fo doing is not blame-worthy ; but th 
 fpecial Argument ufed by his Kinfman to you, might b 
 but his own Imagination ; for I fpoke v\ ith R. ^fi Side 
 and (he believes no fuch thing, that ever he was afiaultc 
 
(2J) 
 
 by any of the Baptifif, or that any were a Vcxarion to 
 him. But if his Kinfman fay it, he ought to prove it, or 
 allow it to be but an Iraaginacion of his own. 
 
 But Mr. J^ames faith, He was well facisfied that the Opi- 
 nion of the Anabaptills, about Rebaptization, was a great 
 Trouble and Vexation to him. And truly perhaps it 
 might, for he had no good Opinion of Infants Bapcifm ; 
 and the other he did not comply with, which might trou- 
 ble him ; it did not for ought I know -, but his Sifter with 
 whom he lived, doth not believe it was any of his Trouble. 
 But Mr. James faith, in Pag. 1 1. vi:{. « Surely what 1 
 «* learned from himfelf, was a thoufand Witneifes to me, 
 " and what was clear enough by other Circumflances. 
 
 Now here was a clear Evidence, nay as much as a 
 thoufand Witneflcs ; yet what he faid he has forgot, for 
 he tells us, in Pag. lo. Truly his Memory is not fo happy : 
 But yet he- ventures to tell you thac his Saggeftions arc 
 true; and them that will believe it may. But for my 
 part, whatever might be faid by a Manm that Condition, 
 I think would be but very ferry Evidence. 
 ^^ " But fee (faith Mr. j^ames^ how it plcafed God to put 
 them to fhame, and to condemn them out of their own 
 '* Mouths ; One of their Teachers did own to us, that he 
 " was with him the fame day, or the next after I was 
 '* there, and that he difcourfed of thefc Matters, and thac 
 *' he urged Believers Baptifm to him. And in the Mar- 
 
 ^iin fets /i. L, but Words at length had been better ; but 
 I fuppofe he means Hfn, Longky^ who is neither afraid nor 
 afhamed to fpeak for himfejf, and to give a true Account 
 of what he faid, or knows of the Matter ; And when I 
 was with him and Mr, J amis (as I was) at A^ord, and I 
 dcfircd My, James to charge him j and told them both, I 
 would fparc Hen. Ungliy no more than I would Mr. James^ 
 as they were Face to Face, and expeaed then a full Charge 
 againAhim. ^\xt Mr, James ^^\^^ before feveral Witneff-s, 
 he had nothing agajnft him, nay, nor againfl any of the 
 thnerecLchtrsA%\\tQz\\'it\itm, they all being prcfcnt. Now 
 
 1 this being io^ what a mighty Noife is here to little pur- 
 
 « pofe ? 
 
 Yet Mr. James ventures to tell you of another Eaprifi- 
 Teacher, ^hat difcours'd K, M. about an Hour : take his 
 own words, w\. 
 
 C 4 * ^'Yca 
 
(44) 
 
 " Yea further, at another Time, as the Womin confcft 
 ** unto me, in the prefence of a Gcmlemin who accom- 
 
 *' panied me to her Houfe Junt 1 2. there was one F 
 
 ** another Teacher among them^ who rifited him, and had 
 " private Difconrfe nith him abow an How. 
 
 Now by this F, it fcems he means one Chrifttphir Fut- 
 jo^dy by which you may fee Mr. ^mes docs not fcruplc to 
 name Names, or at Icaft a Letter for their Name, by 
 which they may be known, wlien he thinks it will make for 
 his turn, cfpccially if it happen to be a Baptifl j bw if 
 you ask him for the Names of any that (he pretends^ ac- 
 crife the Baptifts, then he tells you it is not meet nor rea- 
 fonable to name Perfons, it may be of ill Confequcnce to 
 them : So that Mft Jamts is very tender of any but tlie 
 Baptifls, and is not willing any other fliould be expofed 
 and brought to Examination ; and whether there be any 
 fuch we cannot tell, but if there be, and that they do ap- 
 pear, i hope we fhall readily give them all the Satisfafti- 
 on we reafonably may or can j for we do take eare to find 
 the Offender::, (if any be amongfl us^ and therefore this 
 Xhrifio^hn Fhlljmd vtas fert to, to know if he were Guiky , 
 and pray take his Anfwcr as foUoweth. 
 
 Sandmch^Stp^. thcjihy ifyi^^. 
 . Having received an Account from Mr.Cl?ri/**^fcfr Capf of 
 ^/)^f<5>^ in the County of Kf?!/", tliac 1 fhouU infinuate or 
 perfwade one Kohtn MUen of JfVfiwcZ;, in a flateof Defpair 
 or Diiira<Sion,to be dipped, in order to true Peace i thit 
 in fhorcis to teflify in the Prefence of Almighty God, be- 
 fore whom I mufl be judged at the iaft Day ; that I never 
 had it in my Thought6,nor ever exprcflcd by roy Tongue to 
 offer any fucli ridicaJous chiisg to him ; T blefs God I have 
 been better inflruded into the way of admitting Perfons 
 into the order of die Gofpel. This is to let you know, that 
 if this will not ftcp the clamorous Tongue of an Enemy to 
 Truth, fend me but a few Line*, and I will meet him Face 
 to Face, and quefiion not but God will appear lo much fcr 
 his Truth, as he will be alhamed. In witnefs hereunto I 
 liavc fct my Hand, the Year and Day above written, . 
 
 ■Chrifi&f>br fkUfo^J. 
 
 Nfcw 
 
K^5) 
 
 Now if Mr, Jmini tiotfatisfied with this Anfwer, you 
 fee he offers to give Mr. Jmis a Meeting Face to Face. 
 
 And why fhould not Mr. Jmn be as fair to us, as x.6 
 name the Perfoos that do accufe the Eapifts ; and let them 
 alfo come Face to Face, that the Criminals (if any be) 
 may appear and be afharacd ? and whether this be not rea- 
 fonable, muft be left to the impartial Reader. 
 
 But Mr. J mis further fiiiih, vi^. " How fbameful wasic 
 " for ^t* Wills to publifh thus, fagt ii. Firftwedoob- 
 «* ferve, that you were the only Man that vifKedjdifcottrfed, 
 " and advifed this poor Man in his deplorable Ertate > 
 
 And f confefsl do fay, in page 1 1 of Mr. James t Book* 
 it appears he was the Man only, or chiefly concerned with 
 him in his hurry and trouble of Mindj for in his Book I 
 find no other : but to the end he may not be thought re- 
 mifs, and the better to fcem dear, he tells you of fome 
 to be mentioned that he faith did fo much wrong 5 and 
 then cries our, O fhameful ! 
 
 Well, Sir, I pray let me give my true Senfe, and you 
 may bear with me the more, becaufe you )udg I am ig- 
 norant, and I am fo ftill of any befidcs your fclf that did 
 vifit and advife him in that hurry of Mind, tor any thing 
 that I found in your Book which I enquired of, and re- 
 plied to, and ftill fay you are the only Man (as aforefaid) 
 that I find there 5 for I could find no other affigned, only 
 you fay fome other might be named that has done much 
 Wrong j and thefe are the Men 1 enquire after and can- 
 not find them yet, but did exped them in your Vindica- 
 tion : but you fail me there alfo, and the Reafon you give 
 is, you will not name Perfons, but if you will nor, we mufl: 
 leave it to the Reader to judg of the Matter, whether it 
 be reafonable to charge the Bapnfis with fuch foul Crimes 
 as you have done, and not to affign the Parties ; the three 
 Preachers as you call them you had nothing againft. 
 
 But in the 1 2tb Page lie refleds upon Mr. Wdls^^nd faith, 
 *' Yet Mr. Wdls iikhy we obfctve that you were the only 
 '^ Man that vifited, difcourfed, and advifed the poor 
 *' Man In his deplorable Eliate^ what will the World 
 ** think of this? what can they ? To begin his Reply thus, 
 '* 61 ft we obferre ', truly if yOu obferve at this rate, yoa 
 '- may obferve i, 2, ^dly, and iufinicely (and thus fcof- 
 ^ 6u^ly fpeakO eveiasfaras you pleafc or can invent. 
 
(26) 
 
 Towhichlanfvver, I do ftilJ fay I could obfcrre no o- 
 thcr ID your Book, which is the Ground on ^Oh ch I wrore 
 no other beiD^ named in it i but if there had, I fhould have 
 obfervedasmuchof rhem had there been the f.me reafon 
 for It, and farther I durft not, for I dare nor invent things 
 jvhich I know nor, ncr fpeak but as I find ; ar.d finding vou 
 by your own Acknowicdgment, I fueak to ycu only f But 
 dcfireyou toaQign others, fif anv bej nor do vou now in 
 your Vindication aflfign any that did him Wrong, fo the 
 Slander yet remains. 
 
 But you fay, '' How was I converfant with him, for it 
 implies a Famiharity, frequenting a t^erfon's Company > 
 I confcfs ir doth, and herein I acknowledg I might be 
 miflaken, caking for granted what I ought not; yet if he 
 iverea Hearer of you about 2 Years, and you telling in 
 your Book the Pains you took with him, and the Advice 
 you gave him, inchned me to think you had been con- 
 vcrlanr with him i but if not, I beg your Pardon, andwifh 
 you would as readily recede from what you have moft pre- 
 iumptucun> alferttd ; and it would be more for your Ho- 
 nour, than to plead Juflificacion to that you cannot prove. 
 
 I fhalJ pafsover that of the 12th arid i^tb Pages, only 
 that which refpedsA. Afs being advifcd by Mr. 7ames to 
 goto board: and pray what do I fay but what I was in- 
 formed, and fairly tell you fo? (but all the reft of the 
 Matter your Book informed me) and his Siflcr makes 
 good what I was informed, if fte may be believed, for 
 fhc faiti^ her Brother told her he was going to Town to 
 Board, aid to make ufe of a Phyfician as you'dircfted, 
 and went accordingly ; and do not I fay as it feems, and 
 as he told his Sifter who juftifies the fame ftill ? And ftic far- 
 ther faith tiiat at his return Home, which ftie wondered at, 
 (being he went to Board for fome Time) and asked the 
 Realon of ic j and he replied when he was there, he over- 
 heard them, one faying he was in Love, and another that 
 Mr. J^d'm fticuld fay he had not a Dram of true Grace, 
 at which he got away, and related this to his Sifter : And 
 why muft this by you be called my Invention, when I wrote 
 but as it feemcd, and as J W2s informed ? yet you would 
 have the World believe I invented it. 
 
 And then you arc plcafcd to ridicule me for my natRral 
 logick, with many flighting Terms j but I perceive it is as 
 
 you 
 
(27) 
 
 you fay in yourEpiAIe, you anfwer with Contempt; but 
 more Modefty might have become you better. 
 
 The 14th Page I pafs over, being moft of it imperti- 
 nent Matter, only I take notice of your hard Ufage of me, 
 « That my matter is a wild Romance, and a Tale told, and 
 « a foul pack of Lies j but affign not any, only by fuch Sug- 
 gef^ions and Prefumptions, as :hat he can boldly tell you 
 they are a foul pack of Lies : but 'tis eafy to fee the Gentle- 
 man is ina Paffion ; for he tells us in the i $th Page, " He 
 « will break through all, as Sampfin broke his Withs and 
 « Cords, (hewing that4ie is a Man of Mi^-ht, But I doubt 
 not (by the Blefiang of God) but to cut his Locks, and then 
 he will be like other Men, when the Valour of his Heart 
 is abated , and then I hope to find him in a better Temper 
 than to give the Lie, or any foul Language. 
 
 But in the i6th Page, Mr. Jamts undertakes to propouisd 
 
 the Cafe plainly, (^vi\) " I propound the Cafe plainly, 
 
 « and anfwer it home, thefe are the things he quarrels 
 
 «« with me for, for having refleded on the Anabaptijis as 
 
 *« induftrious to make Profelytes, and urge Dipping, as 
 
 « tho all Religion did conlift in going down into the Wa- 
 
 « ter y and in fhort, he challenges me to aflTign the Guilty, 
 
 " or elfe he faith. Page 21. it muft be concluded you can- 
 
 « not, and then in what afkamefulCafe will you appear. 
 
 Yes, Mr. J^amtSy I do fay fo ftill. 
 
 Eut to anfwer this Home, you fay, " Now as to my af- 
 
 *« figning the Criminals I have already faid a little in an- 
 
 « fwer thereunto ', {and a vir) little indeed) it is not al- 
 
 « ways fit and meet, nor is it material j Cui bono, to what 
 
 *' good would it be? 
 
 Sir, is this a home Anfwer ? this is ftill to evade the Mat- 
 ter, for you affign not any, it's ftill concluded, 'tis bccaufc 
 you cannot: but you fay it is not fit nor meet, and yet 
 take the Confidence to fay, ** I have named fomc to their 
 " Teachers, and inftead of taking ^ Courfc with them, 
 " they thought to take a Courfe with me. 
 
 Sir, if what you fay be true, let thefe Criminals be ex- 
 pofed both Teachers and others, or elfe you expofe your 
 felf, and will unavoidably fill under the Cenfure (and 
 that truly) of Backbiting and Slandering your peaceable 
 Ntighbours. 
 
 Yet 
 
Yet you bouncingly tell us ; « But to clear all at once, 
 and then tell us of fevcral Depofitions you have by you 
 •* and behold one in Form, w\. I N. M do own aad tettif y 
 *' ^hat^/.hath difcourfmg, and to my great Vexation 
 « and Difquict, urged me to be dipped, fetting forth the 
 
 abfoluce neceflfity thereof to Salration ; inveigliing a- 
 *• gainft thofe that praftife Infants Baptifm, as ^ntfchri- 
 « ftian, andurgedmetobedipp'd. as ever I ex pea to en. 
 •« tcr the Kingdom of God: Witnefs my Hand M AT 
 *« And let Mr.mUskno^ CTaithMr.JmO that I ha^e 
 *• fcveralDcpofirionsof Perfonsby me. 
 
 Sir,I pray let us have them all, that we mav fee whether 
 ihcy be like this ; but if this be true,it gives'you no relief, 
 for that which you arc to prove, is this. 
 
 1. That the BupHfls finding this poor Man A.M. in 
 Trouble, thought to make a Profelyte of him. 
 
 2. That they aftedfo inconfiderately, and did him fo 
 much Wrong : now yoii muft prove what Wrong this was 
 4nd how much. ' 
 
 3. That they fat in, and told him in his Trouble, his 
 way to have Peace and Comfort, was to be dipped. 
 
 4. If a Manor a Woman come under trouble of Mind, 
 nd they fpy it out •, or if any one be newly joined to their 
 Fellow-Diflcntcrs, of other Opinions, immediately they 
 fet upon them, thinking now is their time to profelyte 
 them to a Party. 
 
 5. You muft prove that they urge Dipping, and /ay 
 fuchaStrefsuponic, that they make it a Salve for every 
 Spiritual Sore. ^ 
 
 5. That they make all Religion in going down into the 
 Water, 
 
 7. That they take advantage of the bodily Wcakneflei, 
 Infirmities and Confufion of Minds, to win Pcrfons, or 
 rather draw them to a Party. 
 
 8. You muft affign more than a fuiglc Perfon, that has 
 been guilty of the Crimes aforcfaid. 
 
 You muft prove that you had juft occaflon to reflcft on 
 the Baptifls, as thofe that did R.Af. fomc wrong, as to 
 his tragical End. 
 
 2/7, You mud prove what you have written of their 
 pradiilng tlic like upon many cthtri in fuch-like Cafei. 
 
 Which 
 
(29) 
 
 which -if you do, I hope to make good what I pro 
 oiifcd you in my Book, that they fhall be dealt with by 
 the Rule of God's Word. But if you do not make good 
 your Charp,e, I muft fay you have greatly cxpofed your 
 felf, and will appear to be a bufy-body, and a troublc- 
 fome Ma!? to your Friends and Neighbours, (and Fellow^ 
 Diftentcrs, as you call them) by afperfing, clamouring, 
 and abufing tliem, by evil Suggeflions and Surmifes j and 
 thenpublifh them to the World to be fuchasyouha/e i? 
 magined them to be, and cenforioufly judged them to be 
 notorious wicked Men, aud have malicioufly befpattered 
 them as Men and Chriftians, rendering them unfit for 
 ' Common Converfation, or Chrifti^n Society, but a mofl 
 pernicious People, and not fit to be conversed with. And 
 when we defirc a Reafon why you deal thus witli us, we 
 can obtain none : But to evade the Matter,you ray,you will 
 not publidi Names, or Perfons. Indeed this is a very poor 
 Shift, and a forry Vindication, that will ftand you in very 
 little ftead. You know my Reply to your Book was to 
 enquire after the Offenders you accufed j and you feen? 
 to vindicate your felf to me, (and all Men that read your 
 Book") by faying, It is not meet to name the Perfons that 
 iliould prove the Chafge and Scandals that are put upon 
 us. 
 
 Pray, why are you fo tender of the Perfons that (hould 
 juftify what you have printed and publifhed to the World, 
 fo as to conceal them, when your own Reputation lies at 
 ftakc for want of proof? Indeed you are very kind to 
 them (^ if any fuch be) that dare not appear in this 
 Matter, but; mighty rude and unkind to thofe you have 
 befpattered, for they mufl ftand accufed, and not be 
 heard nor tried, but yet judged (^by whom?) by Mr. 
 Jamn, And yet I am of Opinion, that mofl: that read 
 our Books, muft think that Mr. Jarmi cannot prove thcfc 
 foul Scandals he has unadvifedly thrown upon us \ and I 
 am apt to think he has taken too much upon himfelf. 
 Yet Mr. Jmts^ after the Depoiition aforcfaid, feems 
 as if he would abate much of what he could fay j and 
 cries, 
 
 '* But alas, fhould I go about to lay open the Pra<fticci 
 " of t'^" AnabaDtifis about us, and reveal what many 
 
 — ''< mr-. with great bitter- 
 
*' ncfs of Spirir, how burdenforoc their very Lives arc I 
 •* ro rhcm, by reafon of their importunate Solicitations l 
 " to bring them to be dipt; and their defperate Speeches, 1 
 " ftriking Terror in their Minds, vexing their Souls coo- ] 
 " tinually, it would, no doubt, found ftrange to many I 
 " Readers. ^ ' 
 
 But, Sir, are you fo favourable as not to lay the Ba^ti^s 
 fo o^enas you might do ? Why then truly they are ex- 
 ceeding bad j for, you fay, they are very terrible to their 
 Nciglibours, and fo burdenfome, that they are vexing 
 their Souls continually ', and fo importunate and felicitous 
 to hring them to be dipt, that as Mr. Jmis fets forth the 
 Matter, it is dangerous to live near them. Nay, and yec he 
 doth not fay all by abundance of what he could fay, if you 
 can believe him. But if you fhould ask Mr, James, how 
 he would prove what he hath faid? His anfwer is. Really 
 itis not meet to name Perfons. 
 
 But what a moft unhappy thing it is, if what he hath 
 faid of the Baptifts fhould not be true : Why, you muft 
 take Mr. James's Word for it, and then it is all as well 
 proved, as all the reft of the Slanders. And Mr. James 
 affcrts it again, -j/^. " So it is in truth ; and forfooth the 
 *' Perfons would fain be accounted Innocent, and cry out 
 " of the Wrong I have done them. 
 
 And truly. Sir, fo they will do ftill, unlefs you afTigo 
 Names, and bring the Perfons to open trial chat you have 
 accufcd ; and the Accufers muft apoear and make good 
 their Charge, otherwife all you have faid will be of little 
 Value, your Labour loft, and your Words called in que- 
 ftion, as indeed they are already. 
 
 But Mr, Jamesy to ftrengthen this Matter, will give 
 you an Inftance j vi':^. " One Inftance I cannot but pro- 
 ** duce, and that a little hrgely, it being fo material, and 
 « I am glad (as the Cafe is) to take opportunity to let the 
 ** World know it. 
 
 Now that which he would have the World to know, is, 
 that my Books ar.- fcattered amongft them i " But furely 
 ** ^faith he) the like was never known j for to this Book 
 " of his they have laid another, and ftitchc them together. 
 
 What a piece of Admiration here is I W-ll, Mr, JameSy 
 admire them ftill j but I hope the People chat reads them 
 will make better ufe of them, than to admire only ; and 
 
 fuch 
 
fuch as have no prcjudicatc Opinion of tlicm, may find 
 them intelligible, notwichftandiag your Slanders and Con- 
 tempt. 
 
 In Pag» 1 8. wc have another famous Inftance of a Wo- 
 man of near 40 Years of Age, S, B. which Mr. fames 
 (as he faichj '' Inftrufting her in the Principles of Cnri- 
 '* ftian Religion, &c. This Woman was alfo difturbed by 
 " the Baptifis, and that which feems worfe is^that G,E. had 
 " the confidence to cell Mr, Jxmn it was' no Bap'tifm 
 " (which makes Afv. Jarms cry cut) mondrcus Codrine » 
 " what will become of Chriflians at this race ? 
 
 Why truly, I hope at this race, it may put People up- 
 on the Inquiry, Whether the Baptifm of Infants be the 
 Baptifm of Chrift, or not ? for indeed Sprinkling is not 
 Baptizing,buc Rantizing ; Afprgm^xi to bcfpriDkle,or feat- 
 tcr abroad ^ and Bapti\o, to dip, dive, or plunge under 
 Water, and agrees with the Scripcure, Rom. 6, 4. Col. 2, 
 12. to be buried, by Baptifm, which Sprinkling will noc 
 admit of. But more of this in another place. 
 
 In Pag, 19. Mr,Jmii cries out, "Thus to cavil! The 
 " word BA'2!r7i^ft) chofen by Chrijfl, and the Holy Ghoft 
 " dothfignitytowafliaswellastodip; it fignifiesawa/lil 
 " ing with Water i not only a total Immcrfjcn, butaPar- 
 ** tial i not only a Dipping, but other Applications of 
 ** Water to wa(h. 
 ^ Well, Sir, I find you arc fo juft as to grant that Dip- 
 ping IS Baptizing s and we grant that fuch a Waftiing is fo 
 likewife. But that Sprinkling is fuch a Wafhing, we ut- 
 terly deny : Nor is it Baptizing, there is another Word 
 for it in the Greek ; and that which is proper in the 
 Greek is Kmit^^ which in Englilh is to fprinklej and ic 
 is not reafonabie to make any other Application, than 
 what was at firft appointed, which is to be buried by Bap- 
 tifm. But Sprinkling is not burying, (;and that every Man 
 of common Senfe underftands} and but very forry walh- 
 ing, fuch as will not be allowed for wafhing : and the 
 Sprinkling you mention under the Law is of no ufe, there- 
 fore I (hall pafs it. 
 
 But, faith Mr. Jmts, « From the Apoftle I will learn 
 " the meaning of the word, rather than follow anv An- 
 
 Sii:, 
 
(?2) 
 
 Sir, if you learn of the Apoftlc, you muft bury by 
 Bjptifm, which you cannot do by Sprinkling : But Mr. 
 Jamts ridicules my Learning, and bccaufe I refer him to 
 Lexicons, Di^ionarits, arid Authors that are Orthodox, the 
 Gentleman would make fport of it as if the BAptifts were 
 fo ignorant as not fit to name thofe Books, or fpeak of Au- 
 thors ^ when God knows we ^re forced to take great 
 Pains to fearch Books and Authors, with greater Diligence 
 than ivcre needful, were the Learned Men generally mere 
 fair, ^thofomeare, there are but few that be fo) for in- 
 ftcad of helping the Ignorant, they by Prieft-craft darkcri 
 Counfel, to carry on their own Ends. 
 
 But bleffed be God Light is broke fortli,that tho Mt many, 
 Mighty, net many Noble, yet forae there are (by God's Pro- 
 vidence) that no Flcfh might glory, iCor. i. 27.* And 
 it is not the Haughty and the tYoud, and fuch as hold poor 
 Men in Contempt, that have aJl the Wifdom in Religioos 
 Matters. 
 
 But Mr. James fcoffingly tells us, ** Truly it is rare to 
 «' find a Baptifl, tho hec-nnot read one word of Greek, 
 •* or underftand I atin, and yet not to talk and write of the 
 «« Senle of .BctT77^<y, as tho they had ccnfulted Ltxkonsy 
 «* Vthionj-rUs, and what not I 
 
 And why fo lofty to have poor Men in Contempt, thati 
 you think underfland not Greek and Latin as you do ? whati 
 muft become of them, muftthey be aafwcrcd only with 
 
 Contempt? , , . r, n. • r 
 
 For fhamc get more Humility, and meekly inflrutt thofe 
 that oppcfe themfclves, ("when you meet with fuch) if 
 you pretend to be a Minifter of the Gofpel. 
 
 But, " As tho we had confulted Uxkons and VlRmi- 
 « n'fj, and what not *, yes, Mr. Jmts ibme of us do, and 
 nh) not we as well as you ? 1 prefume you had your Learn- 
 ing by Education, (and not by Infpiration only) and fo 
 have we i and doubt not but to find enough to confute your 
 Errors, efpecially your lufat.ts Sprinkling, which neither 
 by Infpiration nor Human Learning, ever yet appeared to 
 be the Baptifm of Chrift. I 
 
 But faith Mr. James, »* Who ever yet denied Dipping to 
 " be Baptizing? (lb that he granted it) yet farther faitli. 
 « But Mr. WeUs\ k«riends at AjhjuYd might be aftiamcd tO| 
 «* fay no other application of Water is Baptizing. 
 
 No 
 
No Mr, Jmes, they need not be afharaed till you affign 
 fome other Application by Scripture- Authority ; and yoa 
 grant us Dipping, find Sprinkling if you can by any Au- 
 thority of the Scripture, and we will give you the Caufe. 
 . But Mr. James in the 20th Page faith, « Indeed at the 
 ' rate fome Bapifis write, and report the words of the 
 « Learned, they would perfwade filly People all the 
 ^^ Leaned Men were almoft Anabaptifls -, yea, and 
 * (jvj'TtmrdmTvi') Self^ condemned, beingasthey'arein 
 * Opinion, tho of a contrary Praftice. 
 
 ^OyW.Jamis, not all the Learned, but many do as Mn 
 /tfw^ihimfelf doth-, do not you fay Dipping maybe the 
 «)e/t wayof Baptizing, and yet pradife theeontrary ? fo 
 that you confefs the Truth, but by your Praaicedeny it ; 
 tho you fay, *' You have fearched Lexicons, and Dmkna^ 
 WW, and find the word rendered there Dip, butalfoto 
 ^^ wafli, yea f fay you) and to fprinkle, there comes in an 
 ifciD, Uvo, Ablm, Novv to wafli.by Dipping is cer- 
 tainly Baptizing, as you grant, but your Item to fprinkle 
 mil not do with the Antients. . 
 ^ But faith mt^Jmes, « i would fain know who ca» 
 _ prove our Lord Jefus himfelfwas dipped or plunged in 
 his Baptifm, or that any of thofe Baptized onesfpoken 
 ot intheNewTeftamenr, were fo dipped or plunged ^ 
 ^ not a word that ever! yet read, did prove, I fay, foundl 
 ly prove itj Probability is no Proof of this Decree o'- 
 " pinion is not Faith. ' 
 
 > Sir, you need not ask who can prove it, for, m, you 
 have granted that Baptizing is to dip; but ic is a Gieek 
 word, and is not Englilhed in our Tranflation j if ic had, 
 no doubt but we might have had the proper Senfe as it is 
 tranflated- in HoUand, John the Dooptr, (i.e.) John the 
 ha^ijt ; fo that tyhen we turn the Greek into EneliOi, v?e 
 ought to fay John the Dipptr. 6 > vy^ 
 
 Sir, do nor- quarrel with your felf and the Scripture, 
 and the fevcral Authors that Oiall be affigned in their pro- 
 per Places ; you confcfs the Greek word Bmko, is to dip i 
 2dly, The Scripture teils you ic is a Burial, il^;». 5. 4. 
 toi,2.i2. And I prefume you cannot but know the Gr^ek 
 \yord Ram^o, is to fprinkle, and is as different from Bap- 
 tiTp, as dipping IS fromfprinkling in Englifhi and every 
 M4n of an ordinary Capacity knows what that k, aad'this 
 
 ^ yoir 
 
(34) 
 
 YOU fhall have foundly proved. And as you fty Proba- 
 bilicyisnoProof, ycttofcrvc a turn you make that do 
 as well as you can -, for you dare not fay that Sprinkling of 
 Infants is any more than Probability and Opinion, it is not 
 Faith, fothat you can have little Faith in the Matter, nor 
 can you foundly prove it. Yet Mr. J arms faich, " An Im- 
 « merfion might be, and yet not a total one, or it might 
 <« be by fome other Applications. 
 
 Sir pray aflign thofe other Applicationsif you can, and 
 what they werej for you confefs that Baptifm was per- 
 formed by Dipping, fo I hope you will fay nothing againft 
 that any more, yet I fee you would fain have fome other 
 way too-, for you fay, " But that there were other ways 
 *' is certain, alfo pray let W.WtUs conftrue thefe words, 
 « iundm aquam, infmdere, and fometimes lavare, abluire, 
 "found oftentimes in the Writings of the Antients, yea 
 « and fometimes ^/i'fr^^r^, for Baptizing. Well you fay I 
 rauft conftrue this, and to oblige you I will do what I can, 
 and I pray take it thus, jmdere aquam, is to pour out Wa- 
 rer; M««io-f, is to pour in or upon j Lavare^ Mum, is to 
 wafh, or to wafti off i and you fay found often anjong the 
 Antients, yea and fometimes 4/per^fr?, or caufe to fprinkle, 
 
 ^"^'sfr'/you ffTign none of the Antients that are Authentick, 
 tliat fay Sprinkling is Baptizing ', but that dipping is, all do 
 
 '"silt Mr. Jmts faith, « Let them unriddle how they bap- 
 <^ tized fome in Prifons, and in their Sick-Beds, of Fe- 
 
 led as you do, Ghothat doth not appear:) is this a good 
 Authority from Holy Writ? And as to your Fathers, and^ 
 vourPoek they do not prove the Matter, but are 1 tt e 
 wmh: and it is horrible Toldnefs m any to fay, that 
 Sorinklinp of Infants is tlie Baptifm of Chrift. 
 ^Butin^the latter end of the 2ot^ and part of the 21^ 
 Pages, you reciteaninrignificant Poet, (wl^o may pafsfor 
 aPoe ftilO and B.?w^ a late writer, who comes too late 
 JoTyou any Service in this Cafe. I (hall affign fuch as 
 are m Jre ABtknt in their due Places, and I hope to more 
 rnrnofe- Fot fav vou, ** I do not produce thefe Teftimo- 
 1^;^^; ^ U^ld maintain th^ our Lord Jefus^^^ 
 
(?5) 
 
 I rlrfr ' "^ ''°" "I"'" "? ''f '"'""S'" '° "'''"Win that ouf 
 Lord Jefus was not dipped, do you not tacitly grant that 
 he was dipped ? And well you may, beinp of theODinion 
 K isthe beft wayof Baptizing. nLw ,f fha be tK" 
 
 \l': "r i°'''"f' '° ?^" ^''^ ^'''"^"''^ °f Infants SprLt 
 i5;. V m" . ""^ }"'} " ™"^ '"""^"^ Invention f; but 
 gre« boldnefs ,n thofe as aflirt it to be the Baptifm of 
 
 But prsy affign fucli as cry up £pp,d, or damned, that we 
 may (harply reprove tnem, and teach them to read our 
 
 Md uba^n^id jhme faved ; but he that bUkvethnot, (hlu 
 be damned. Now ,f thef. Words flrike dread upon nv! 
 and drive them into a deep Melancholy, I hrpe it may 
 bnng themto a ferious Confideration of their s'ae ™d 
 Condition, fo as to fee, that without Faith and Obedience 
 they are m danger of being damned : For he -mU comh 
 flmmg Fin, taHng vengeance on thm that knoy^mGd Ju 
 obey not the GofpeL oj our Lord fef^ chrk /Theff 'i 8 
 And when ,he Jews were f.ruck with Terror, l^eing Lit 
 vnthnr Hearts and Said unto Peter, and therk 71 21 
 pes Mm and Brethren, What jhali\e do.' Aftsl.t 4 
 Then Pe^crfatd unto them. Recent, andbe bafited,u!'^^' 
 Thus you fee the Advice and Innruffion that was civen 
 hyreur, to quiet the troubled Souls that were ftrucken 
 
 f^r-LlhlXu^'"" • '^^-^^\B''P'ifi'n.y no'be bit d 
 tor luch Inrtruaions to any troubled Soul Of the like kinrf 
 
 « ^,'-"?*" Confidence, to call lafant-Baptifm a fcrip- 
 
 Indeed I do fo, and have Confidence to fay it flilL with 
 ftbmiffion to better Judgments. Now i V.Jme^c.n 
 Ihew Scripture font, 1 (hall fubmitj which if he can 
 why didhe not doit before now? andthriehdprov5 
 ri.ed I ,m as ignorant, as Mr. Jmtt reads my Words, 
 ^ « (That;) 
 
 ,: ~i 
 
(30 
 
 (That) Sprinkling of Infants is a new Doftrine, and a 
 fcripturelefs thing, and is not to be found from the be- 
 ginning of GmftSy to the end of the Revelations, At which 
 Mr, Jams cries out, " What 1 a new Doanne ? Let fa- 
 *« mousCtf/ww be heard, Pag,2U 
 
 And indeed he was a great Man, for what he could not 
 do by Arguments, he did by Force and Cruelty.^ And 
 Calvin may go in the number of one of Mr. James's felf- 
 condemned Men too; for he faith, upon John 3. 23. And 
 John alfo was bapti'(ing in Enon, mar to Salim, Ohe Rea- 
 fon was) becauje thm was much Water there. Now Calvin 
 upon thefe words faith •, From this place you may gather, 
 that John and Chrift adminiftred Bapufm, by plunging the 
 whole Body in Water. 
 
 Sec alfo another Text, A5ls 8. 36. As they went on then 
 wayy they came unto a certain Water •, and the Eunuch faidy 
 See, here is Water, &c. Ver. 58. And they went down both 
 into the Water, both Philip and the Emuchy and he bapti-^ed 
 him, Ver. 29. And when they were come up out of the Water, 
 &c. Upon which place Calvin faith, " We fee what a 
 *' Fafhion the Antients had to adminifter Baptifm -, for 
 « they plunged the whole Body into the Water; theUfe 
 « is now, (faith he} that the Minifter caft a few Drops on- 
 « ly upon the Body, or upon the Head. So that Mr. 
 Calvin cot^{ti\cs their Pradice, and the Antients about Bap- 
 tifm, were very different. r> r-^u 
 The Aflcmbly of Divines, upon Atts 8. 38. faith. 
 They went down into the Water; and they were wont to 
 dip the whole Body. . . 
 And upon Rom, 6. 4. they call it the Antient way of 
 Baptifm, which was, to dip the Parties baptized, and^ 
 as it were, to bury them under the Water for a while, and 
 then draw them out of it, and lift them up, to reprefent 
 the Burial of the Old Man. . , r i 
 And on Mat,:^,6. (on the words) were baptised, fayJ 
 they wafhed by dipping in Jordan. „ n. J 
 And the Common-Prayer, or Rubnckj direfts, He ItiaH 
 dip in the Water, difcreetly and warily. ' 
 And Mr. Viodate, in his Annotations upon Rom. 6. 4. Uitli> 
 (yi':Q In Baptifm being dipped in Water, according t(j 
 the Antient Ceremony. 
 
(37) 
 
 Mr.ThmaimfmmhKDimmayyraith, "To baptize is 
 
 1 ? ir'Pr '"^ .^^'"' °f P'^nge <">«: nto the Water 
 
 ' tized, doth not work Grace. And again faith more 
 
 « t^^;j„7*^<=°""»^''«'inentof Chrift, in the Name of 
 
 Mr. 7J«»^ Gwitham, in his Friendly Epiflle to the Bi- 
 
 fS^i^j^Cr?"^ "' *^ <^'"-^''°' e'^«> has the 
 
 A Letter long fincc fent Mr. 7. r»»fo, b. D. upon oeca- 
 fion of h,s learned Difputation, concernin/Z fc 
 wr^^K °^>,"°l^ ^P"''™ '° "' Primitive nfe; and 
 Snn„r ^*''/ R^^^fwdM" Dr- B^f'^w, now Lord 
 Biftop of Lmcok i which verbatim is as follows. 
 
 li^li^f " T ^"''"^ ?'"" ^ ''"^^ i>"^>>. Chough 
 Ut&^ f ^'-i' '^" « ' ^'"'0 ""d to yo^ opinion L, Z 
 
 Si^n !JT1I-ff\ ^^ i^'tikJlC^om. And Na- 
 Brptz i Z ^^"''''"'""'' "'^ '*^' IIIuminati,!r 
 
 \»t:i^tuAt:r'^^'"' ''''■'''''• ^"^^^^ 
 
 r, Z I J ^^Tf ?'"f> ' '"^ '" "'^ Thi,-d Id Fourth 
 Z LKtf^ ff Teemally; and defended^ 
 ^.I'JTl "'"'^"'t (.ere^y mfinderftood-} John 1 7 
 
 ■niinis, mi) m tht Gei^ and Latin Churches com%unkJi 
 fans fd eivethe^ the Lord's Smir; bHtldocZTtZ 
 
 D 3 /,^^„„^ 
 
(#) 
 
 fetew, end timiht if k^jd f' w ''»,-•/«« Augufhne wastk 
 MM that tvv fnii it rtas mctffary, inde durus Pater Infan- 
 „m 1 havifnn ^Ut mj Uamd and Worth, Fnmd Dr. 
 Hammond, Af.. Baxter, and otkrs, /"> i" f /'"« "i " '„ ""^ 
 jmM^ Iwouer not a littU, that Mtn «/ (uch Farts jhouU 
 %y [omuch to jo little (urpli, for I have not [m any tkng like 
 an Argument jor it. 
 
 And Dr. Taylor tells us, There is no Primitive Tradition 
 for infants Baptifm. See his Viff^afive jrm Pof^. 
 AndMr.B/«r,averyem.nentM=npfyourWay, and 
 
 a great Afferter of Infant Baptifm, in hts Book called, The 
 (tmd UStmtion oj Right to Sacra.mts, Pag. H9^l?°- 
 in his i6th Argument, he fpcal<ing of the Comm.ffion. 
 mu.l faith?the firhis to'make Difciples or BclKvers 
 ^d then the fecotd Work is to baptize them, and then 
 to teach in the farther kno«ledg of Chr.ft: ^'•5' "^ *»;" 
 ther faith, that to contemn this Order, is to contemn all 
 
 ''"And" fuSmore faith, that in my Confcience it is one 
 fonof faith, evenfaving, that murt g° before Bapufm,, 
 the Profeffion whereof the Adramiftrator ■""<*/»?«*; 
 Nay and that it is ridiculous and impious to admit any 
 without it; nay, a high Proftnatioii. _ ,.. , 
 
 And in his plain Scripture Proof, ''^«' ^^.,,1 er'p e- 
 wonders that Men dare go in a Way that hath neuher Pre- 
 cept nor Example in the Scripture to warrant «• 'f°'" « 
 Way that hath full Cutrentcf both :, yet they that admit 
 
 Members otherw.fe than by ^'f "?'"« *"^,^!'*' t.^ '. 
 Wr.Baxtir in his Saints Rrit, ^''« 'vf ''^ M f'^?' 
 f.ith thefe words (vi-..') "That TirtuUm, 0)«f» anc 
 gllJwhoZed fftithV) i-hefecond^d third Cen 
 " 'tury do all of them attirm, that m th^J^""''"^ 
 « Times none were baptized without an exprefs Covenan 
 « iie wherein they renounced the World, the Flefh an. 
 .< JhfCn,and engaged themfelves toChrift, andpromi- 
 
 " fed to obey him. ,o A;rVi "Chrit 
 
 Andinhis iot& Argument.P^^t Ii7,ii8.fa«h, U"" 
 « ha" hinftituted no Baptifm, but what, s a fign of P^«<^ 
 " Regeneration, therefore he hath mftituted no Baptifi 
 « robeadminiftredtofuch, and he quotes 7* $• $• T' 
 
 " ?• S- An 
 
(?9) 
 
 And in his 20th Argum.to Mr.Blal^e,ia thefe words, « here 
 «« note, faith he, ("fpeaking of the Ennuck's not being admic- 
 « ted to Baptifm till he made a Profefllon of his Faichj 
 
 " I. Baptifm as received is the Seal of our Faith, ("how 
 « much foever denied by Mr. Blakl as it is the Seal of 
 « God's Promife. 
 
 '^' 2. The conftant Order is, that Baptifm follow-Faich. 
 
 *' 5. That it is no better than an impious Profanation 
 
 * of It if It go without Faith, that is, firff, if the Party 
 *• fcek it without the prefcnceof Faith 5 and fecondly, if 
 '* the Paftor adminifter it without the Profeffion of Faith. 
 
 And again in his Book, Scripture-Prooj, &c. ([vfhich is m 
 Contradiaion 10 the Title of his Book) Page:^. hecon- 
 fefleth that Infants-Baptifm is not piamly determined in 
 the Scriptures, 
 
 And Dr. Towerfin, in the Explication of the Catechifm of 
 the Church of England, Par.^, Pag. 20, tho he was a ftrong 
 Affcrter of Infanrs-Baptifm,faich thus, " One other Particu- 
 " lar there is, in which Baptifm is intended as a Sign, and 
 " that is in refpeft of the manner of Applicatm ufed, I mean 
 « the Dipping or Plunging the Party Baptized in it ; a fig- 
 
 * nification which St. Paul will not fuflfer thofe to for- 
 *^ get, who have been acquainted with his Epiflles j for 
 « with reference to that manner of Baptizing, we find 
 « him affirming, Rom. 6, 4. that m an Buried with Chrifi 
 by Bapnfm into Death 5 that like as Chrift was raifed up from 
 the Dead, by the Glory of the Father, even fo we a!fi (hould 
 walk, m newmfs of Life. And again, ver. 5. that as we htve 
 been planted together in the li^enefs oj his Death, we (hall be 
 alfo m the Ukenefs of his Kefmeaion. To the fame purpofe 
 or rather yet clearly doth that Apoftle difcourfe, where 
 he tells us, CoL 2. 1 2. that we are Buried with Chniiin Bap- 
 tifm, fo we do thtrein Rife alfo with him in the Faith of the Ope- 
 ration oj God, who hath raifed him from the Dead: for what 
 " IS this but to fay, that the defign of Baptifm was to 
 
 obhge Men to conform fo far to the Death and Refur- 
 « redion of Chrift, as to die unto Sin, and live again unco 
 " Righteoufnefs, fo it was performed by tne Ceremony of 
 « Immerfion,that the Perfon immerfed might by that Cere- 
 " mony (which was no obfcure Image of a Sepulture) be 
 " mjodedof the precedent Death, as in like manner by 
 ;: ni§ coming again out of the Water, of hisrifing from 
 i> 4 ^ « thac 
 
(4?) 
 
 '« that Death to Life, after the Example of the InfHtutcr 
 " thereof. 
 
 And then he tells you, '* The Antient Church added to 
 « the Rite of Immerfion, the Dipping the Party three 
 ^« feveral Timc» . 
 
 But by Antient Church he cannot mean the Primitive 
 Church, for that he faith they added the Rite. 
 
 But a little after he puts a (^ueftion about Bapcifm, how 
 it ought to be applied, vii, 
 
 " Whether it ought to be applied by an Immerfion, or 
 " an Afperfion, or Effufion. 
 To which he gives anfwer. 
 
 " It may be a more material Queflion than is com- 
 " monly deemed by us who have been accuftomed to bap- 
 ". tize by a bare Effufion and Sprinkling of Water upon 
 « the Party. 
 
 " For things which depend for the force, on the meer 
 "« Will and Pleafure of him who inftituted them, there 
 «' ought no doubt great regard to be had to the Com- 
 <' mands of him who did fo, as without which there is no 
 " reafon we fhould receive the Benefit ot that Ceremony 
 '* to which he has been pleafed to annex it. Now what 
 '* the Command of (Zhni\ vvas in this particular cannot be 
 « well doubted of by thofe who (hall confider, firft, the 
 «* words of Chrift, Mat. 28. 19. coacerning it, and the 
 *« Praftice of thofe Times, whether in the Baptifm of 
 " Jfobn or cur Saviour •, for the words of Chrift are, that 
 «* they fhculd Biptize or Dip thofe whom they made Di* 
 *' fciples CO him , for fo no doubt the word 
 " properly fignifies: andvvhichis more, and not without 
 " its weight, that they fhould baptize them in the Name 
 " of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft ; 
 ** thereby intimating fuch a wafhing as fnould receive the 
 ^' Party Baptized with, in the Body of that Water, which 
 ." they were to baptize him withal ; tho if there could be 
 " any doubt concerning the Signification of the words 
 " themfelves,yet wculd chatDoubc be rcmov'd by confider- 
 ^« ing the Pradiee of thofe Times, whether in the Baptifin 
 *' of Jobn^ox our Saviour ; for fuch was the Praftice of thofe 
 " Times in Baptizing *, fuch in reafon we are to think our 
 " Saviour's Command to have been concerning it, efpeci- 
 <« ally when the words themfeives inchnc that way, there 
 ' • r ;* being. 
 
(41) 
 
 ^ « beiflgnototherwifeany Means either forthofe or fu- 
 '*< ture Times to difcover his Intention rotjcerning it, 
 « Now what the Prafticeof thofe Tiines were as to the 
 « particular, will need no other Proof, than the refortin^ ' 
 t " to Rivers and other fuch Receptacles of Warers for thi 
 « Performance of that Ceremony, as that becaufe theri 
 «« was much Water there • for fo the Scripture doth only 
 *' affirm concerning the Baptifm of John^ Mat. 5. $. 
 « John 3. 29. but doth not intimate concernir,'? ':hn which 
 *' our Saviour adminiflred in Judc^, becaufe making John's, 
 « Baptifm and his to be fo far forth of the fame fort, 
 « John 5. 22, 23. and exprefly affirming concerning the 
 <« Baptifm of the Eunuch, which is the only Chriftian 
 *« Baptifm the Scripture is any thing particular in the De- 
 « fcription of j the words of St.Lukf, ABs8, 38. being 
 *« that both Philip and the Eunuch went down into a cer- 
 <« tain Water, (which they met with in their Journey) 
 « in order to a baptizing of the latter. For what would 
 " there have been of the BaptiftVreforting to great con- 
 « fluxes of Water, or oi Philip's and the Eunuch's going 
 ** down into this, were it not that the Baptifm both of 
 « the one and the other was to be performed by an Im- 
 « merfion ; a very little Water, as we knew it doth with 
 «' us, fufficing for an Effufion or Sprinkling? Butbefides 
 <« the x^ords of our Elefled Saviour, and the current 
 " Pradice of thofe Times wherein this Sacrament wa» 
 *' Inftituted, it is in my Opinion of no Icfs Confideration, 
 " that the thing fignified by the Sacrament of Baptifm, 
 « cannot otherwife be well reprefenced, than by an Im- 
 " merfion, or at leafl by fome more general way of 
 « Purification^ than that of Effufion or Sprinkling; for 
 « tho the Pouring or Sprinkling a little Water upon the 
 « Face, may fuffice to reprefent an internal Wafiiing, 
 « which fecms to be the general end of Chrift's making 
 " ufe of the Sacrament of Baptifm^ yet cannot be thought 
 " to reprefent fuch an inrire Wafhing as that of new- 
 «' born Infants was ; And as Baptifm may feem to have 
 " been intended for it, becaufe reprefented as the Layer 
 " of our Regeneration, Tit. 5, 8. that tho it do require an 
 *-* Immerfion, yet requiring fuch a general Wafhing at 
 *' leaft, as may extend to the whole Body, as other than 
 ." which cannot anfwer its Type 5 nor yec the general, tho 
 
 " * cernal 
 
(42) 
 
 *' internal Purgation which Baptifm was intended to r^ 
 
 *' prefent. The fame is to be faid vet more upon the 
 ^' Account of our conforming to the Death and Refur- 
 ' region of Chrifi, which we learn from St. Paul to have 
 *' the defi^n of Baptifm to fignify •, for tho that might 
 «' and was well enough reprefented by the Baptized Per- 
 *' fons being Buried m Baptifm, and their rifing out of it 
 « yet can it not be faid to be fo, or at leaft but very im- 
 « perteaiy bv the bare Pouring out, or Sprinkling the 
 " baptifmal Water on him. But therefore as there is fo 
 " much the more Reafon to reprefcnt the Rite of Immer- 
 " (ion as the only Legitimate Rite of Baptifm, becaufc 
 " the only one that cananfwer the Ends of its Inftitucion, 
 « and thofe things which were to be fignihed by it i fo e- 
 « fpecialty, if (as is well known, and undoubtedly of 
 *' gre^t force]) the general Praftice of the Primitive 
 *' Church was agreeable thereto, and the Greek Church to 
 " this very day 5 for who can think either the one or the 
 ** other, would have been fo tenacious of fo troublefome 
 « a Rite, were it not that they were well affured, as they 
 '' of the Primitive Church might very well be, of its bc- 
 ** ing the only Jnftituted and Legitimate one ? 
 
 Thus you fee this Learned Man is forced to confefsa- 
 gainft himfelf, that the Inftitution of Chrift was to dip, 
 plunge, or bury the whole Body in the Water, and only 
 of fuch as made a profefTion of their Faith ; and that 
 Sprinkling could not be intended for the Baptifm of Chrifi, 
 nor that Infants could be the Subjedls of it. 
 
 And in the very next Paragraph tells you, (yii-') " How 
 « to take off the force of the Arguments altogether, is a 
 " thing I mean not to confider, partly becaufe our Church 
 ** (fee the Rubrick in the Office of Baptifm before the 
 « words,/ baptise tkeyccm to perfwade fuch anlmmerfioni 
 «* and partly becaufe I cannot but think the forementioned 
 ^ Arguments to be fo far of Force, as to evince the ne- 
 " ceffity thereof, where there is not fome greater neceffity 
 " to occafion an Alteration of it : for what Benefit can 
 «' Men ordinarily expcd from that which depends for its 
 ** Force upon the Will of him that inflituted it, where 
 ^* there is no fuch Compliacce at the leaft with it, and the 
 *• Command of the Inftituter, as may anfwcr thofe Ends 
 " for which he applied it ? 
 
 I 
 
Iprefumemany may give credit to that learned and 
 Pious Man Dr. D>,-Vtil, who writ a literal Explanation of 
 the^ffio/ the APofilts iaUzm, and tranflatad it into Eng- 
 i(h i6»4. And upon >1S^ the 8tb and ^T-'^'ft^o^l'^- 
 " lievcft that the Eunuch was not permitted to be bap- 
 « tized, unleft he had profeffed a fincere Faich in Chrifl, 
 .. do'th fufficiently enough C.feith he) declare how 
 «' truly great Bafil has fpoken mhis Book o!. the HolySf,. 
 « ".Chap- ■2- Faith and Eaptifm are the two Means 
 « of Salvation, infcparably cleaving together ; for Faith 
 » ts perfeaed by l^ptifm, but Baptifm is fo»"''f ^ by 
 « Faith, and by the fame Names both things are fulfilled. 
 .' For as we believe in the Father, Son and Holy Spin , 
 « &c. indeed there goeth before a Confeffion, leading us 
 « to Salvation ; but Baptifm follows, fealing ourConfef- 
 
 " SSraXe, If t^o. tHUv^fi, &c. after he had 
 fnoken to that, adds, "With all the Heart, that is, wuh 
 S't earneft Defire'ofthy Heart, and unfeigned Faith. 
 And after that faith, « Thou mayeft : Hence may we ga- 
 " ther f faith hel how abfurd their Opinon is, who 
 » hink^hat by Baptifm, Faith is produced ^nlnim..^ 
 " born, and deftituteof the ufe of Reafon; for if Bap- 
 .' tKm cannot do itinthofethatare come to Years « cat. 
 « much lefs do it in Infants. Neither can it be faid, ex- 
 « «pt very abfurdly, that they do believe in Chrift, or 
 « in his Gofpel, when there does not even aPP^« h= 
 « eaft (hadowof Faith in them ; they do not know their 
 « Pa ems by any Token, and know not what difcrencc 
 " there s between Right and left Hand; how then are 
 « they able tounderftand the k»ft*,ng of the Myfter.es of 
 " theKingdomof Heaven, which are the Objeas of out 
 " Faith" They do not confent to any Humane things, 
 « ran thev then affent unto Divine things? 
 
 Vcr^S "And thiy y^ent both do^n into the Wan, both 
 « Ph iip »<i the Emuch, ( i. O bo* he that was to bap- 
 » tize, and he that was to be baptized, roent dom tm 
 » L mtr, becaufe he ought not only to fpHn^'^ '"<" 
 « „,th Wa'ter, but to dip him in the Water, Chriftcorn- 
 « manding /3a^1/«-(*iv Dipping, but not p«nr<r(A».' Sprink 
 ^' ling. 
 
 But 
 
(44) 
 
 But I may fay, as Mr. Jmis doth in Vdg, 22. toward- 
 the latter end, « I grow weary of writing^ and ndeet 
 
 this IS the great Mifchief Mr. P^.//. harh done me, he 
 * hath created me fome Trouble, and many Thcugh^ 
 
 ^-j^^^^^^^^myHadds are full enough of Work, the Work 
 
 I ^T ^f^'^l ^?""'^y' '"^ ^ Trade alfo, and yc 
 find time for Difputmg, Printing, and what not, ob-l 
 Sir, Had not you created this Trouble to vourfelf and 
 
 rw' J^'^^i^^^iS'^ P"°^ ^"^ P"'^Ji^ fo the World 
 thofe grofs and fcandalous Slanders which you can never 
 prov^, you might not have heard of me nor wearied 
 your felf to write on this Matter , for it was you that 
 gave the Trouble to thofe that were at Peace And 
 v^hereas you fay, your Hands are full enough of the' Work 
 of your Miniftry, why did you not keep to it ? It is to be 
 feared, that bemg Idfe, you became Wanton, and were 
 willing to play Tricks with your Neighbours, to fhcw vour 
 Parrs, that the World mig'ht fee hlv much ou excel o- 
 thers ; Lutthis pleafmg Comedy may end in a Tragedy, 
 unlefs you mourn for your Folly. Had you taken the A- 
 pome/^^«/s Advice and [liftruaions be gave to the Elders 
 of £;kM Aas 20. 17, to the i6th Verfe, you might have 
 been much better imployed, than to have been fendino 
 and proving amongfl your Neighbours, and to charge 
 Crimes upon fuchas you are difpleafed with, when vou 
 cannot prove any Matter of Faft; Yet, faith he, I can do 
 It, but mufl not let you know their Names, for that mav 
 be injurious to thfem. Which if it be fo, pray t^ke it all 
 aponycur felf, and fee who will believe you. 
 
 Sir, I remember you told meat A^ord, that this Mat- 
 ter might difparage or difgraceyou Cor Words to that 
 cffcft) to Pofterity. And indeed I doubt it may, with- 
 out a better Vindication : Yet if you lay afide your Levity, 
 orlightnefs of Carnage, and becon^e more grave and cool 
 
 '^l^^T'K'^ '"'^ ".°' ^""^'^ '°^ haughty, but of an 
 humble Djfpofition, and not anfweiing with Contempt, 
 but with foft Anfwers appeafe Wrath; and hi mtleto^ 
 rpardsaU Mm, msel^ly inftr,m>i^ thofe that oppofi thmfdves 
 2Tim. 2.5^4,25. and this is the Duty of an ordained 
 Minifter, as you fay you are : then as a BiOiop, take the 
 ©ver-fight of your Flock j and as an Elder, fee chat you 
 
 rule 
 
U5; 
 
 rule well *, and as a Paftor feed the Flock, all which being 
 well done, you may keep your felf fully imployed, char 
 you might not difturb your Neighbours ; and then thc!^ 
 Concroverfy might die in time : And had you not too 
 much infulted, and boafted of your great Learnings 
 flighting and condemning others with opprobrious Lan- 
 guage, as not only ignorant, but foul and unfair, bold, im^ 
 pudeht, lying, and what not j but ufed better Language, 
 you might and would have much better adorned your 
 Difcourfe. But by, that time you come to my Age, I 
 hope" you will learn more Modefty, and get more Soli- 
 dity : but young Men are full of Blood, which caufes 
 Heat 5 and a Novice may be lifted up with Pride, if great 
 heed be not taken. 
 
 But Mr. Jamts(mhy « He is not fo happy as many, to 
 «* mind a Flock, and Family, and a Trade alfo. Which 
 indeed if he had, he might not have been fo wanton : 
 For had he had a Trade, and been diligent, he, like the 
 Apoftle, might have coveted no Man's Silver, or Gold, or 
 Apparel; but his Hands might have miniflred to his Nmfttiss^ 
 and them that were with him, Afts 20. 5?, 54. & i Cor. 4. 
 12. we fee the Apoftle wascxpofed to hardihip for the 
 Gofpefsfake, l^er, ir, 12. Having no certain dwdling-fUcs ; 
 labour, working with our own Hands, &c. And in i Theg, 
 2. 9. For ye remember. Brethren, mr Labour and Travel : for la-- 
 bomng Night and Day, tecaiife we would not be chargeable unto 
 any of you, we peached unto yuu the Gof^el of God. Likewife in 
 2 Thejj. ^^2i9» Ntither did we eat a^.y Man's Bread for nought^ 
 but wrought with labour and travel Night and Day, that we 
 might not be chargeable to any of ym: Not becanfewehavenaft 
 Power, but to ma^e our [elves an EnfmHe unto you to follow 
 Its. Thus you fee, that Tradefmea that can preach and 
 pray, and ferve theChiirch, and follow their Trades coo, 
 and diligently do fo, follow FauFs Example ', chat fo la- 
 bouring they may fupport the Weak. And C blelTed h^ 
 God ) I have known fome among us fo happy as to do fo, 
 tho not Tent' makers like Faul, yet Taylors and other 
 Tradefmen, whofe Sincerity and Integrity, with great di^ 
 hgence, have carried them tlirough gr'eat Difficulties m 
 theServiceof God j and by the Blcffing of God, have ex- 
 ceeded many Wife and Learned Men, chat would anfwer 
 oiily widi Coctcmpc. 
 
In Pag. 24. you feem to take care of your People, be* 
 ing (as you fay) fet for the Defence of the Gofpel, 
 ( with mmy other Words that I pafs over for brevity's 
 fakeji but if >ou fo preach the Gofpel, (that is, gUd 
 tidings of Peace to all Men) and keep the Ordinances, as 
 they were delivered in their Primitive Purity, I hope we 
 fliall give you no interruption; But then be not angry 
 with fuch who obey the Truth, as you feem to be with 
 E. G, " Who was but a little while under your Care, and 
 «' was fo fuddenly gone, that you were fcarce aware of 
 «* it, (as you fay") and it was but once you had oppor- 
 « tunity to fpeak to him before he was dipped, and then 
 « he utterly refufed my Offer to difcourfe with thofe Ana^ 
 « bapti(ls mhh prefence, for his fake, &c. And this you 
 offer as part of your Vindication. 
 
 But E. G. faith, he fpoke to you feveral times before he 
 was dipped, and never refufed to difcourfe, and is ready 
 to jufiify the f^me ; Nor was he rafhly dipt, but upon 
 mature and ferious confideration, being fer.fible of his 
 Duty. Now if this be fo, this mightily weakens your 
 Vindication in this Point ; and that he is in the right, and 
 you in the wrong, he is ready to juftify at any time. 
 
 But it feems there was another of your Hearers ( who 
 as you fay ') *' beiiig dipped, lamented with Tears, that 
 " fhe muft leave fuch good Preaching. I pray ho v came 
 yoM to fancy fo ? your faying fo, moved me to ask her the 
 <^eftion j and take her own Teflimcny, which is thus ; 
 
 *' I do fay, I knov^ nothing that ever I fpake to Mr. 
 «' Jams, (fmcel w::s baptized) or any thing like that, 
 *' of being any-w2ys troubled to leavf: his Preaching i but 
 "am well fatisfied ever fince I was joined with them, of 
 " what I have done, (meaning the Baptifts) j neither was 
 •' I, nor could I be fatisfied in my Confcience, whilfl I, 
 « were a Hearer of Mr. ]^ames, feeing he could not fatisfy 
 *' me from the Word of the Lord, that Infants Sprinkling 
 «* was fufficient Bapcifm : Tho I do not fay but I liked 
 " his Preaching well, but all his Reafons did not fatisfy 
 ** my Confcience. And further [aid *, It. was neither Fa* 
 ** thcr nor Mother troubled me, nor caukd Tears from 
 *' me, but my own Confcience, and God's Word, per- 
 *' fwaded me to leave Mr. Jamesy and pradlife vvha; I 
 
 "did 
 
« did believe before ; tho I would fain have gone with my 
 «' Husband, but I had no Peace in my Confcience fo to do. 
 « Andthislteftify, M,R, 
 
 Thus doth one that was your Member, and another that 
 Was your Hearer, fomewhat weaken your Vindication. Buc 
 why all your Hearers (hould not be your Members, if they 
 pleafe, I know not ; for their being fprinkled in their In- 
 fancy, makes them Members. 
 
 In Pag,2<^, Ui.Jmtsimh, "One thing more and I 
 « conclude : Whereas Mr. Wells makes a Challenge to 
 •< difpute with me, in his Rt^ly, efpecially in his pri- 
 ** vatc Letter, I am afraid it would be but a fpending 
 ** Timeidely, to argue with that Man, who knows not 
 " how to put the Quefkion fairly he would difpute upon. 
 Sir, Pray what doth difcourage you, feeing you deem 
 me a Man fo weak ? had you roc the greater Advantage to 
 make me appear to be fuch as you imagine ? Alas L this 
 Sham will never take with a judicious Reader. 
 
 In the next place Mr. Jamis faith j " His fecond Offer 
 " is this ; Secondly, We are ready to try the Caufe, Whe* 
 " ther Dipping or Sprinkling be moft Antient. 
 
 I confefs I put the Queftion fo, and I will fland by ic : 
 And the Queflion is fairly put. If you pretend to make 
 Sprinkling as Antient as Dipping-, or if you fay Dipping 
 h a new Doftrine. 
 
 You told me at A^foid it was not fit to be difcourfedj 
 nor would you difpute it y allowing ( if I underhand you } 
 Dipping to be moft Ancient: And fince you do allow it, 
 that may be laid afide •, but then let it be remembred, 
 that you give us the Point, that Dipping is mofl Ancient. 
 
 This was indeed the fecond Propoiition j But how came 
 you to lofe the Firfl ? Which we are not willing to pafs 
 over y and to bring it to your Memory, ic was thus ; That 
 we do demand Satisfaftion of you, for the feveral Scan- 
 dals and Slanders that (_we fay} you have unjuftly laid up- 
 on us, and this ought to be done firfl. And the Second 
 being laid afide on the Terms aforefaid, let us come to 
 the Third, which is, Thac we deny fprinkling of Infants to 
 be the Baptifm of Chrilf. And, ^tbly^ that we are ready 
 to prov€ that Dipping is Baptizing, and that by Chrifi'.s 
 Inflittttion. 
 
 Buc 
 
But fince Mr. James has fee me afide for my Weak- 
 nefs, I fhall endeavour to oblige him with a better Scholar, 
 that can diftinguifh well between Bapti\o and Ranti\o,Qj.) 
 Dipping and Sprinkling. 
 
 But Mr. James further faith ; « But what, I pray, would 
 " this come to ? Who fpeaks againft the Antiquity of Dip- 
 '^ ping ? But was it a total Immerfion, a Dipping the 
 " whole Per fon? 
 
 Yea, fure, for Baptifra istodip, and you grant it j and 
 the Scripture calls it a Burial^ Rom. 6.4. Col. 2. 12. Now 
 can you be faid to bury a Perfon, if you leave out a Hand 
 or a Foot, nay, the whole Body, and only fprinkle a little 
 Dud on the Face ? The moft ignorant and weak, that have 
 but any Senfe, will not fay that is a Burial. But, faith 
 Mr, James^ "If Chrift gives his Churches liberty to bap- 
 " tize, by pouring on Water, or other Application — 
 That was well put in, // be do fo : But where will yoA 
 find that? I confefs i\\tQ\\\ktchoi Rome doth fay, He has 
 left chat, and many other things, to the Difcretion of the 
 Church J and they profefs to baptize their Infants upon 
 no other fcore. But I believe them no more than I do you. 
 And when you find Sprinkling, or other Applications, to 
 be the Baptifm of Chrif^, fhew a Word of the Lord for it, 
 and you fhall be believed. But why fhould a little Water 
 be applied to the Face only ? why not to the Hand, or the 
 Foot, or any other pare of the Body (if at liberty) ? But 
 this is piteous Stuff to imagine. 
 
 I have feen the Lexicons^ Mr. James^ and there 'tis pro- 
 perly to dipy as you grant, and that it is the beft way of bap- 
 tizing ; For thefe are your own words, Dipping might be in 
 Chrifi's Timey jea^ and that the be(i way of ifapti\ing. Now 
 this is honeftly faid of Mr. James, that 'tis the beft way of 
 baptizing. But how is it that Mf. James doth not, or will 
 lot ufe the beft ? For fhame never feek for any other than 
 the beft, for that muft needs be worfe, and will make ^ 
 void the Commandment of God. And as in Marl^ 7. 8. 
 For laying afide the Command oj God^ ye hold the Tradition of 
 Mn, And in the ^th Verfe, Full well ye reject the Com- 
 mandments oj Godi that ye may i^eep your own Traditions, 
 And mMat, 1$. 9. But in vain do they tvorfhlp me, teaching 
 Jor Do6lrine the Co'mmandmmts of Men, (^which is worft}. Biit 
 Mr. James grants Dipping to be the beft way of Baptizing ; 
 
 And 
 
U9; 
 
 And the truth is he h in the right of it, for any other mitfl 
 be the Tradition of Men ; for there is but one Lerd^ om 
 Faiths one Baptifm, Ephef. 4. 5. 
 
 Yet Mr. James fays, '* In fome Cafes of Necefllcy things 
 " may be done that are not lawful -, (Jo that it feems tho 
 Sprinkling be not lawful, yerNecefTity may make it fo^ 
 " in Cafe of Neceflicy Men might break the Sabbach, and 
 •' cat the Paflbver on another Month and Day than Go^ 
 " inftituted it; and foin Cafe of Dipping. And indeedl 
 the Church of England doth fay, If it be wdl certified, 
 that if the Child be weak, tiiey may pour Water on ir, 
 but not elfe, (^but you hear of never a Word of God for 
 itj : Yet upon this Liberty it feems all arc weak nojvj foic 
 I have not heard of a Child that has been dipped by the 
 Priefts for many Years, nor Water poured upon it, but 
 by Sprinkling, which is bi^t forry pouring of Water. 
 
 But was the Woman weak chat Mr. James fprinkled, 
 who was about forty Years of Age ? But fiie might be {o^ 
 for ought I know, and all the reft that he fprinkles, for I 
 hear of none that he has dipped, tho he allows it may be 
 the beft way of Baptizing. 
 
 And truly it is. very unhappy, and great weaknefs too, 
 that the beft way of Baptizing ftiould be wholly laid a- 
 fide. I pray God forgive them» and bring them to the 
 antient Purity of the Gofpel^ and to the good old Way^ 
 that they may walk therein. 
 
 But to the fourth Propofition v We are ready to prove, 
 that Dipping is Baptizing ; and that it is according to 
 Chrift's Inftitution. mr. James ^1% "This indeed will 
 ** require no great proof j and Mr. Wel^s may manage 
 " this no doubt I thank Mr. Jams, that he will aliovv, 
 that a Man of fuch weak Parts as I am, may manage this 
 undoubtedly: Well, having granted that, 1 have no need 
 to prove any more in this Point. Yec Mr. James calls to 
 mind the third Propofition; and that is, Whether Sprink- 
 ling of Infants be the Baptifm of Chrift. And this faich 
 Mr, James, " Mr. Welis roundly denies, and indeed I do fo. 
 But then Mr, James faith,- " I think i; will not be worth 
 " my while to difpute with Mr. Wells, of whom I do not 
 " know (^nor doth he make it appear) that he has the 
 ** leaft Learning that raighc be a means to keep him m 
 ** order, &(;. 
 
 E Sj, 
 
Sir, I dare not boafl of my Learning*, but you know 
 as much of me, as I do of you : And the Truth fears no 
 Strangers, nor feeks no Corners, nor need it be aftiamcd 
 to appear publickly, whenever there is occafion ; And if 
 I am bold and confident, it is the Truth makes me fo, for 
 otherwifc I am timorous enough-, but have experienced 
 hew the Truth has holpen me in time part, to deal with 
 as great and as learned Men as Mr. JfmeSy no difparage- 
 ment to him : And I am apt to think, I have managed 
 as many Difputes as ever Mr. James hath done ; and he 
 that convinceth me of Error, I take to be my bcft Friend. 
 
 But (ince Mr. James hath mc in contempt to fo great a 
 Degree, 1 hope to plcafe him with a greater Scholar, fuch 
 an one as chat Greek and Hebrew may not found harfti in 
 his Ears, (li he defires it) and I wi(h their Scholarfhip 
 keep them in good Order : But if your Qualifications in 
 Grace, Humility, Meekneff, Sobriety and Moderation, 
 with all due fubmiiTion to the Truth, when made appa- 
 rent, will not keep you in good Order, without Heats and 
 PaflioriS, I doubt all ycur Art and Skill in Learning will 
 not : For tb^re be many Learned Men that are haughty, 
 proud, and imperious j and being Scholars, are lifted up 
 with Pride, and boaft of tlieir Learning j and thofc thac 
 will not believe what they Uy to be true, they hold in 
 Contempt, as not worthy to be difcourfed with. But 
 alas ! what muft the unlearned, and weak, and fuch as 
 want Education in Schools of Learning do? Muft they be 
 flighted and contemned for want qf Art, and Skill, and 
 Learning in the Tongues of La in, Greek, and Hebrew, 
 and the like ? furely th s would be very unmerciful and 
 unreafonable. But God be hlefled, he hath Mercy on 
 the Ignorant, the Poor and the Weak, that are unskilful 
 in ^. res, and are not Logicians by Art, nor can fophi- 
 ftically fee m to be what they are not ; yet God hath made 
 them reafonable Souls, and many of them receive the 
 Truth of the Gofpel, and obey tlie fame, when the Wife 
 and the Learned hold them in contempt, and rejcft the 
 Truth, as tke Phalftis and Lawyers Ytje^td the Counfel oj 
 God againft tbemfelves, bang not baptised oj John, Lu^ey, 
 50. 
 
 But Mr. Ja:m faith j « If Mr. Welis have To much leifure, 
 " and his Zeal be lo grcac as to bring him to Afhjord, and 
 
 '*my 
 
(50 
 
 « myCircumflances fairly admit it, I will not fay but I 
 ** may meet him upon this Score. 
 
 Sir, My 2eal was fuch^ and to oblige you, I did come to 
 Ajhford y and after a few Days I fent to you to let yon 
 know I was at your Service if you defired it, to difcourfe 
 thofe Matters, to which I have made fome Reply, in an- 
 fwer to your Book. Upon which you immediately fenc 
 for me, and I did accordingly attend on you : But your 
 Reception was not fo affable and friendly as I might jiave 
 expcfted j for your Countenance was auftere, and your 
 Words foul, faying, I had printed Lies j with other un- 
 kind Refleaions : Which I praife God I can bear, thol 
 thought my Age Q if not my Learning ) might have re- 
 quired a Cmoothcr Carriage. 
 
 But, in ftiort, your Anfwer was, Your Book was in the 
 Prefs j and if that were not a full Anfwer, you would 
 difpute. I asked you when I might have it 5 you faid 
 you expeaed it next Friday, but you were not certain : 
 And I ftaid about a Month, there, and there-abouts, and 
 dcfpaired of it, that is to fay, at lead while I was there : 
 But as I was mounting my Horfc, you fent your Book; 
 which I received, and went out of Town, being Friday, and 
 returned the Monday following ; in which time I could 
 not much confiilt your Book. But fince I have, I find 
 your Anfwer (or Vindicationy as you call it J very foul, 
 fcandalous and unfair j in which I am greatly afperfed and 
 befpattered, and am rendred the moft infipid piece of Ig- 
 norance that ever printed j and to fpeak Truth, 1 have mec 
 with more civility from the Scolds at Biliinsfgate, than from 
 Ut. Jama: Yet I think not my felf dif-jaraged thereby: 
 let it return from whence it came, I am no way provoked 
 thereby to be uneafy, nor the Icfs friendly to Mr. Jmes, if 
 it (hould fall in my way to have any Convcrf^tion with 
 himj only I take it for granted, that lam fetafi e by Mr, 
 Jmes for a Difputant, or for fo publick a Difcourfe as I 
 cxpeaed. But I hope I may be there, and have the Ho- 
 nour to hear the Difpute, if any fuch thing fhould happen* 
 And when Mr. James (hall defire it, I hope I may obtain 
 the Favour of (ome Gentleman that is a Scholar fucabic 
 tQ his Quality, if that will pleafe him better. 
 
 Mr. James cannot perfwade himfelf chac I am any ways 
 fie to difcourfe hiii\. Take his own Words for it ut,. 
 
 E2 - ' "Tq 
 
« To give him an Aofwcr : But ftill I muft profcfs, I 
 
 *' am yet afraid of this, and cannot but perfwadcmyfelf, 
 
 « that if it fhould come to atrial, Mr. WiUs would ar- 
 
 «« guc much after the fame manner he writes C%. i.) 
 
 «* poorly and fouly, not handfomely nor honeftly, being 
 
 « over-confident of what he hath no ground for j and fo 
 
 « he would create abundance of trouble to me, and per- 
 
 « plex the Matter he takes in hand. . ^ . 
 
 Dear Mr. James, whyinfuch an Agony? andwhyfach 
 
 a Dread upon your Spirits, as to profefs to be afraid, and 
 
 toperfwade your felf that you fhould meet with fuch ill 
 
 ** ^NowTd^^'as ferioufly profefs, and do perfwade my 
 felf, that had you come to a Trial, you would not have 
 out-done me for Moderation, and coolnefs of Tempers 
 Nor fhould I have pcrplext you, if your own Paflions 
 did not. And why fouly ? not handfomely nor honcltly. 
 Why furely you have a very prejudicate Opinion of me . 
 But if I am thus prejudged by you, it will be hard for 
 Mr. James to believe me, when I fpeak the Truth j but I 
 hope I have not, nor fhall not give Occafion to any to be 
 thus cenforious of me, whatever Mr. Jmes may think 5 
 and he doth but think fo yet, for had he tried me, he 
 might have known me better. ^ 
 
 But m. James (I thank him^ prevents the Trial ot 
 it, that it migh: not create abundance of trouble, and l 
 find Mr. James is not for any trouble but what he maKes 
 himfelf. I am fure he hath given me a great deal, and I 
 Ihould not chink ic worth my pains, but for the TrHth sjai^e , 
 for rather than that (hould fuffer by Mr. James s Slanders, 
 fliehtines and contempt of an innocent People, and to be 
 ridiculed in general Terms, to the Difhonour of God, 
 and the Truth that we profefs, I fhall yet have more at 
 his Service if occafion be, to bring him to dilcoter tne 
 Offenders fif anybe) thatthey may bead monilhcd, ana 
 deak with as the Merit of the Caufe requires ^ which is 
 all that we defire in that Cafe, that fo the Innocent may 
 be acquitted: And until this is done, Mr. James ftands 
 charged, unlefs he make a publick Acknowledgment*, 
 which is highly reafonable, (whatever he may think of 
 it ) for he only occafioned this Controverfy, and has 
 charged upon the Bapip the things he cannot ( or a^ 
 
!,,« Jnrh not"^ orove. And until he doth it, muft be ac. 
 cofnttd ah^sKmptionin himtodifturb and abufean 
 ^ f„,L™;fc. diat are willing to be at Peace with him 
 '^^nT^^u"c^oto9^cdm± the Truth; at 
 
 tth\f»'^^lbeofendedwe^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 MifcfmZi^ Mf^4i'i i" Cr4Ms,^or handling the 
 wSouAlly, hut h mnmatmojthtTmh cm- 
 
 '^^orUed Religionis.not apiecc.of Wit and Subtilty. 
 but accordine to the plan Declaration of the Golpei ot 
 Peac^ for'fis not placed in the Clouds of Imaginaaon, 
 ^ "w a?"p in MyLal Clothing, b« 's eafy and - 
 tellisible tothe Weak, and was preached by P'^er-nien 
 Md Mechan cks without inticing Speeches, ^d v^'" Spe- 
 culations addreft to Babes and Plebeians, and defigned to 
 '^ve rn^e Willsof the HoneftandSincere : I fayit uno^ 
 i Piece of Wit or Subtilty to be a Chriftian, it is no to 
 ex«c^e theWitsof the Notional and Curious, nor will it 
 exerciicincYvii Relgbnwemuft and 
 
 require much ftudy to learn inc «J"» . 
 
 ouiht to praaifei get but good »"j^ hojft "e"ts, 'nd 
 be trulv humbled for your Sins, and fmcerely repent ot 
 the fame bdieving in the Lord Jefus Chrilbaccording to 
 hhGofoei, and thin obey, and this brings us under the 
 Pomife that faith. He that bel.eveth and is bapc zed fha 1 
 ™ed-, but the direful Doom of the unbelieving is. 
 that he that believeth not (hall be Damned, »-^th=Scub- 
 tan and Rebellious, to whomChrift will come in flaming 
 F?re takina Vengeance on them that know not God, and 
 S not th^Gofpelof our Lord JefusChrift, 2 7l,.p.8,9. 
 Mr" r-<ffl« concludes the 26ti.Page inthefe words, "I 
 « do forgive Mr. m& the wrong he has done me, only 
 <' def ring him not to aafo ralhly for the f«ure Hgmg 
 "aOufeandcondemningaPerfonheisfowhonyaStran- 
 
 « ser to. As for my Neighbours who ftirred him up, and 
 » fvereo eager forime Body to print againft me, and 
 « oavefuchfalfeWitnefs, I freely forgivethemalfo, only 
 « Se them to mind their own Bufinefs and be quiec, 
 « above all to beware how they be concerned in printing, 
 '• left they prejudice their own Caufe, and bring Sharne 
 E 5 *"" 
 
(54) 
 
 «* ana Difgrace upon themfclves and their Brethren alfo. 
 
 1 l^onM IV°" t'^'''?^ "?f ^?y ^'^^"g I had done you, 
 I fliould have taken ic kindly, but you have not affipned 
 any in your Vindication that carries any weight with it; 
 lo"unr^"i^'^ niany foul things, and that very fcurri! 
 My, without any jufl Grounds: Nor did I ad or iud« 
 raflily m any Matter or Caufe that concerned you; for tho 
 you were a Perfon wholly a Stranger to me, yet I were not 
 • ^hn7.T?/T^?,°^ which you hadpubhfhed to the 
 ivhole World, that all might read it that pleafed, and which 
 i did i and upon the Perufal of the fame, I found juft 
 i-auleto enquire after fuch as you charge with grievous 
 
 the B.;t.#. but who they are of them you do not .f- 
 ^1^, nor indeed can you, for ought that I can find as 
 deor^r^K you do, you may acquit your felf to fome 
 P^frff ' °"§^ "^^ ^"^^>'' ^'^^^"g befpattered the whole 
 
 SSv^hirrS^j^ 
 
 ijntnw '''^"/■^7,o»'- Neighbours, that you fay flirred me 
 up,and gave fuch fal(e Witncfs,you freely (forgive them alfo 
 And truly, were there Truth in what you faid, in 
 giving falfe witncfs, I hope they would take it kindly 
 alio. But your pretended Kindnefs is to make the World 
 Dciieve they had done you much Wrong, in bearing 
 ftlfe Witnefs againft you : All which is a great Piece of 
 ucceir, for I had no Occafion of them for Evidence to 
 prove how you had (landered an innocent People, your 
 Book being fo full of itj and the Wrong you pretend to 
 
 sltlf ^ '^ ^'^''1^'^ 'PP""^^ "° °^her yet but a lewd 
 Suggeftion of your own. And whereas you defire them 
 to mind their own Bufmefs and be quiet, I prefumethev 
 do mind their Bufincfs, and would be glad to be quiet; 
 and had not you difquieted them, byabufingofthem, you 
 might not have heard of any of the Controverfy now de- 
 pending: But you have kindled the Fire, and blown up the 
 Coals into a Flame; and if you pleafe to quench it, you 
 ;?-!!,. i^ prove your Charge, or acknowledg your Mifcar- 
 nage, whether it be wilful or thro miftake, f%r they need 
 not ^ar prejudicing their own Caufe, and bringing Shame 
 and Difgrace to themfelves and their Brethren, by printing. 
 ^0 difcover Truth; and that is all we demand ^Satisffl 
 
(55) 
 
 An Answer to 
 Mu James s Poftfcript. 
 
 't Come now tocxamine W.Jm^s\ Vftfcri^t, in which 
 
 j^r. Wells';R'f;yV»»t /»«/ ^"/■«'««''. &c. And .hen be- 
 
 «' «tn his Epiftle to the ^^^"i^-^ '"'^l^il^^ll 
 .' ka Sarcaftical Paffage, reflefling upon the F.Cii'>tfH- 
 « L in general- But tt it be hard, yet be.ng nothing 
 «« to our Purpofe, only a Piece of Railery, &c. 
 
 Sxx, Sarcamca! is a'hard word, and k '^'^ much* » 
 fay a biting Taunt, or fcoffing nipping y i wb.ch if do fo, 
 let the Reader iudg : My Words are tliefe, But if all this 
 w 1 not do, it s to be feared he is of the rigid fort o 
 p "K nd no Man need fay worfe._ And ch.s Mr. 7^*^ 
 Sis a Reflefting on the Pmb,mms in 8^""»1' "^en m 
 exorefs Terms ! refer to tiie rigid Sort only; which are 
 thofe of a perfecuting Spirit, fuch as CaMy, who pro- 
 c„?Id °he burn ag of sLm^ ; and f^ch rigid Ones as 
 ^okm Ner,.E»gLd, that have imprifoned and whpd 
 theLpVeven to death ; and this 1 hope will not. nclude 
 he Fmi>(^m« in general, for I P'^f™^ ^^".^ f f ,[° ' 
 of them thatare zealous tor the Truth, '» *■; ^e t of the r 
 Knowledg, and not of that perfecutmg Spirit, but fober, 
 or" ve and temperate, doing as they would be done unto : 
 And wilh m.p»>" had made as good a Diftina,on of 
 die Bt^^^^^n-i^ccufed only the Criminals, Of^^^^y be) 
 aid who they are, for we would as gWly find them out 
 
 • " BW w&ft this be called . Pku oj RaU>ry / You are 
 verv unkLd and provoking in this, and many od.e. 
 IhiJgsrwiKreinyoMhave ricUculedme; all which I b^^ 
 
( 5^ ) 
 
 God lean bear: And were ic not that the pure Primitive 
 Ufc of the Ordinances of Chrift, and the People thatprc^ 
 stme'.nTR' ^^^^^ ^^ufed by you, and 'expofed^ S 
 Shame and Reproach in print, and publiOied to the great 
 difhonourof God, and the Truth we profefs, I fhould not 
 have given my fdf the trouble that I have undertaken; 
 butlthink rny felf obfiged, and in Duty bound, to con- 
 tend earneflly for that Faith that was once delivered to 
 the Saints. ♦ v*-" lu 
 
 '< f^'^^^'-^Ti" '^'' =^^^ P^g^ ^^^fh, "Who would 
 
 <c i.I ^^'^'. 5"^' I wrote this Piece to reproach the ^. 
 
 nab^njis .''No, it was Tar from my Heart and Thoughts. 
 
 fhctild be mifunderaood ; but if he be Innocent, great 
 vvashis Ignorance, to put his Matter in fuch Terms as 
 
 R.JT''^'^ '^'"''' ^°'" '' '' "^^ ^ Keproach upon the 
 Baptifts, v^htn you tell the World they are the People to 
 t)e mentioned ; and then charge them with afting fo in- 
 *:onfiderate y and doing fomuch Wrong ; and that they 
 late in wic.i him, and told him the way to have Peace 
 and Comfort, was to be dipped ? which I prefume vou 
 
 ^^"ch'ULr' '"'^""' '"^^'^^^^ °^ ^°"^ -"' 
 
 And then ycu farther fay •, '' That if a Man, or Woman 
 ^ come under Trouble of Mmd, and they fpy it out j or 
 'c "/"y °"^ ^^''^^y ^e pined to their Fellow-Diffenters, 
 \, °/. ^^.^'^'* Opinions, immediately cliey fet upon them. 
 
 tninking now is their time co profelyce them to a Party! 
 
 T'- J X - ^^^'"^' c^'at if you know any fuch that 
 arc fo mduftnous, and that by any irregular Means, do fet 
 upon your New Converts, or fuch as are newly joined unto 
 you, andtmnk to profelvte them toa Party, let us know 
 wlio they are, for we are really ignorant of the Matter 
 
 Luc you farther fay 5 " And they urge Dipping, and lay 
 
 fuch a ftrcfs upoa that, they make it a Salve for every 
 L t^;Vf"^^?^ff'3"d make all Religion in going into the 
 
 Water: And thus they take Advantage of the bodily 
 .^ Weaknefs and Infirmity, and Confufipn of their Mindc 
 
 to win Perfons, or rather draw rhem to a Party. And' 
 \ you tell us, this they are guilty of to your knowledg. 
 
 Now If this be fo. Sir, why will you not difcover them, 
 and dear your felt I But if you will nor, or canuof, you 
 
 ought 
 
(57) 
 
 ought to forbear reproaching of us without Caufc. Now 
 if all this be not a Reproach upon the Baptiflsy Imuft con- 
 fefs my fetf to be as ignorant as Mr. James reprefcnts me. 
 
 But till he proves all thefe things to be true that he has 
 charged upon them, it is, and muft be accounted, an a- 
 bominable Slander*, and the Shame and Reproaches mud 
 return upon himfelf. And as you have it in Pfd, 7. 14, 
 l^yi6, Bebfldylktramlethwith Iniquity, and bath conceived, 
 Mfchief, and brought forth Fal^ood. He hath made a Pit^ 
 and digged it, and is fallen into the Ditch he made. His Mf 
 chief [haU return upon his own Heady and his violent Dealing 
 [haU come down upon his own Pate, And this is the Fruit 
 and Effeft of Back-biting, Slandering, and Evil-furmi- 
 
 iings. 
 
 But what, muft no one fpeak with thofe that are trou- 
 bled in Mind, faveonlyMr. ^tfw^^, but that theymuft do 
 him wrong? Nay, if any did R, M. any wrong, in dif- 
 courfing of Baptifm, 'tis probable he was the Man j for 
 R. M, fhewed his dillike to what he had faid about Sprink- 
 ling of Infants, efleeming it as a filly thing, which Mr. 
 James put fo much value upon, as if a poor innocent In- 
 fant could not be faved without it, tho Chrift himfelf fairh, 
 oj fuch is the Kingdom oj Heaven, And when we do, by the 
 Importunicy of any, difcourfe of the Primitive Infticu- 
 tion, which was Dipping of Believers, and fuch as were 
 in trouble of Mind too-, as did the Apoftle Peter, in A^s 
 2.g6, 37,38. when he had laid open their Sin in cru- 
 cifying the Lord of Glory, that was both Lord and Chrift -, 
 which when thsy heurd, they were pricked in the Heart, and faid, 
 unto Peter, and the reft of the Afoflles, Men and Brethren^ 
 what [hill we do ^ And Peter faid unto them. Repent and be 
 baptised, every one of you. Now chefe were prickt to the 
 Heart, and in trouble of Mind \ and in this Confideration 
 cry, What [hall we do? And whilft they had this Ter- 
 ror in their Souls, the ApQftle to give them eafe, direfts 
 them to repent 'and k baptised, for the Remifm oj their Sins, 
 And another Inftance you have in the Cafe of the Jaylor, 
 who in a mighty Agony came in trembling, A^s 16, 29, 
 
 50, 31,32* 33* ^ j.^ . , ^ ,. 
 
 But it fecms we mud not difcourfe thefe things, left we 
 
 be ridiculed by Mr. James. But is not this very hard, 
 
 chat if a Perfon that is in trouble of Mind, fhould ask any 
 
 1 Quefiions 
 
(5S) 
 
 pueAions in religious Matters, and with fear aod trem- 
 bling fhould fay, What fhall we do ? muft we, like Mr. 
 Jmss^ anfwer only with Contempt ? God forbid. No^ 
 we ought, with all fobriety, to inftrua them in the Way 
 of God more perfedly, as AquiU and PrifcilU did AfoUo. 
 And this I take to be a Duty, and to give a Reafon of the 
 jfiffpg that is inuSy with mee^nefs and fear, i Pet. g. 15. And 
 yet not for any Man to think of himfelf more highly than 
 he ought j but to think foberly, accotding as God hath 
 dealt to every Man the Meafure of Faith : And not to de- 
 fpife the Day of fmall things, nor prefume to be wife a- J 
 bove what is written. 
 
 But Mr. /ames, Pag. 41. recites my words in my Book, 
 where I do fay, 'Tis very hard and unkind to befpatter us 
 all, with the mifcarriage of a Perfon, or Pcrfons, if any 
 be. And Mr, James s anfwer is ; " How little need there 
 *' is of this Refleaion, may appear by what I have writ- 
 <« ten in my Vindication. 
 
 And to vindicate himfelf, he fays. He has proof in a- 
 bundance, but will not let you know who they are, nor 
 name Perfons. Now if this be Vindication, let the Judi- 
 cious )udg. 
 
 He further ridicules me for my Ignorance, and asketh , 
 thisQueftion 5 '* But why that Parenthesis, (_if any fucjji 
 •-'' be?) 
 
 Why, Sir, my Anfwer to that is this 5 I find it was a 
 very neccflary (<ueftion ; for if any fuch be, you that ac. 
 cufe, ought to difcover them ; which if you do, you fhall 
 fe« how well we acquit our ftlves ; and if we cannot, we 
 muft then confefs there was much in what you have faid ; 
 But I dcfpair of your Difcovery, and am ferry you have 
 brought your felf into fo great a Vilemmay by a peevifl] 
 and froward Humour. 
 
 Yet you further fay ; " Verily, I had not written (o^ if 
 <' I had not known it, or could not have proved it. 
 
 Now if you do know it, and can prove ir, why is it 
 not done ? that would clear the whole Matter, and acquit 
 yon very honourably, and we might be mide eafy : For if 
 you lay your Charge upon fuch as you know, and can 
 prove to be guilty j if you would, do ic, we might acquit 
 the Innocent, and deal with the O^ienders, as the Merit of 
 •the Caufe (hould requ=re. 
 
 Dear 
 
( 59) 
 
 Dear Sir, let this be done, and it may go a great way 
 •owards the ending of the Controverfy : But to ftand by 
 /our Charge, and not to prove it, will not do. 
 [ But you are pleafcd to recite my words, which are, 
 « We dcfire you to aflign the Guilty, that we may clear 
 ^« cu- felvesof that foul Scandal, or elfe we prcfumc all 
 " is a Fidion of vour own Brain. 
 
 Now T think this is not ill propofed ', But Mr, James s 
 Anfweris; « For affigning the Guilty, I have already an- 
 " fvvered at large, and done enough towards that (_I 
 « doubt not 3 to clear my felf thit it was no Fiftion of 
 " mine, much lef^ a malicious Defign. 
 
 And is this the affigning the Guilty, by faying you have 
 done it at large ? &c. 
 
 Certai ly }our faying fo is no good Proof*, and if you 
 can fav no more, we cannot expeftany good Proof will 
 ever be made of what you accufe us of j but it muft remain 
 upon you, as a Fifti jn of your own Brain, till it be made 
 appear othcrwife. . -n.- • 
 
 But Mr. Jfames faith •, "Is not this very unchriftian m 
 <' MrMeUs tofurmife thus, and fuggeft fuch foul things 
 *« as thefe ever and anon ? -r r a 
 
 Why really, Sir, I am not willing to furmife or fuggclt 
 by any evil Imagination: But you, if you will not prove 
 the Matter you charged upon the Baptiftsy what can we 
 fay more or lefs, than ,that you cannot ? There is no need 
 of any foul Suggeftions, for you have faid enough in 
 words adength: Recal, or dii'iiiifi them fairly, and it ends 
 
 the Matter. , . , ^ r. ,. /• 
 
 I am forry Mr. Jamis fhould think that I fagged thefe 
 Slanders, and cake the liberty to write any thing m this Mac 
 tcr, as he faith I do in P^^. 29. .^ « 
 
 No, Mr. James, I will rake no liberty to mifconftruc 
 your. Words, to alter your Senfe i for I fee no mighty My- 
 (lery in them ; But as you have in words at length laid the 
 Charge, fo you may difcharge them if you can. 
 
 And you farther fay; « No Man I think will underftand 
 « me, that I faid they told him, in totidem Verbis, but m 
 « Senfu, that they perfwadcd him to this as a Way to 
 « have Peace and Comfort. 
 
 Now, I pray Sir, let us try this, and fee Pag. 42. of 
 lyoMtSfkaj your words are, (yk.) "There were ajorc 
 
^^°j HI 
 
 ** of People aboui him, who finding this poor Manio 
 ** Trouble, thought to make a Profclyte of him j and 
 *« prefently fate in and told him, his way to have Peadl? 
 ** and Comfort was to be dipped. ^ 
 
 Do you not fay this, in totidm Verbk ^ that is, in plain 
 Terms, that they, finding him in Trouble, took that 
 Advantage, to make a Profelyte of him ? And then 
 do you not in plain Terms fay, " And they prefently 
 ^ fat in and told him, his Way to have Peace and Com- 
 " fort, was to be dipt. Why do you feek to evade this, 
 and make as if your words were mifconftrued ? I pray af- 
 fign them that did all this, and then you fix the Matter 
 right j and we fhall uke it kindly, that fo we might warn 
 them that are unruly ^ i Theff.^ 5. 14. Or if a ^an be over- 
 uktn in a Faulty that fuch might be reflored in the Spirit cf 
 Mee^nefsy Gal.6,1. that is, by being made fenfible of his 
 Error. And it is the great Bufinefs of Religion to redify 
 Diforders j and it is the Duty of Brethren to take care one 
 of another: And we think it our Duty to find out fuch Of- 
 faiders, as Mr. James doth affirm we have among us, that 
 \vc ?fdght purge out the old Leaven^ i Cor. $. $, d, 7. 
 
 But if he charge and accufe us in general, and yet mean 
 but forae in particular, and will not aflign who they are, 
 tliis muft be but a fcandalous Report, as fome evil People 
 did of old, Jer. 20. 10. F»r I have heard the Defaming ofjj 
 jitAnyy fear on every fide j Report, fay they, and we will report 
 it: All my Familiars witched for my halting, fayi'ig, Pir^d^^ 
 ventm be will be enticed -, and we fball prevail againfl him^ 
 tJid we fhall take our Revenge onhim. 
 
 But to the Matter aforcfaid, you fay ; '< Now this I did 
 •* hear*, though not fpokento him, yet by a Kinfoaan of 
 " his, (_ic feems you were told it.) 
 
 How, Mr. Jamis ! Then it feems >o» print by Hearfay j 
 but this you charge upon me as very criminal. It were 
 much better, not to condemn that in another, which yon 
 allow in your felf. 
 
 But you fay farther j " I heard fo much from his ownj 
 « Mouth, that fatisfied me that it was even fo ; and J 
 ** have proved it Q i pofleriori^ in the former Vindication % 
 ** and there were fome that did a^ thus. 
 
 Sir, Let it appear that it was even fo, and that diere 
 were fome that did aCt thus i in order to which I confcfs 
 J ou do aflign H.L, Q. f .") I prefume /ienry Longley, I 
 
\^Ol J 
 
 ,p„y h«' -h'C^SineS «d declare, that 
 
 .. Spiritual Comfort rf,^l°^^l'Zi\^c Baptifm, in 
 "^'^^''''Z'^^f^AS^'^ though I do 
 " °PPr1*r«as once .^Xally in his Company, when 
 confers I «as °k| 5^^' J Woman that hved wuh 
 « I called to f« h' SiUer^a p ^^^ ^ y 
 
 « him i «''''''/''';„ -.We, and argued with him, that 
 « Mr./iwMhad been ^i'"J?i°i...%oadefiredmyOpi. 
 » his iifam's B»P« j;™«^-S;;"'^^^^^^^^^ aboJ t|^t 
 
 « nion »>»« '''^•?"'1'„ Mr VS«* had told him. To 
 « Point, asalfo ""^ »hat Mr. J^>»w na ^ ^„ 
 
 « which defire I returned '''"fyi^^X knowing him 
 « the scripture, but ^tu,Tgmg^h.m;o^^ 
 
 « not to be in %(''"}]^.'^?^((^\htOtdmr>cc, 1 Ihould 
 « andhadheofferedhunWf for theOK^^^^^^ 
 
 « Tiot in that State have m™'™ ° "™ !,, "j ^jth a Perfon 
 
 <' I had as much and mof e reafon t° P'=" Gof ,. 
 
 ; « thatcametome.obe.nto dconcerm^^^ P.^ 
 
 , « ordinance of dipping Behevers,whidi is v 
 
 [ " the Scriptures of Truth, f » Mr. 7«^ "^ P^ ^^ 
 
 I « with Perfons for '" ^"» .f™ 'brinJ'^Bne plain 
 
 ' « Believers Baptlfm; for he rannoc ^ »,. r I 
 
 « Scripture-Precept or E^amplefont. But I rj | . 
 
 , » never «rged the faid A. ^•J° .°1 ^^„ ^e was almoft 
 « efpecially «'hatunfeafonabletun^ ^ ^ 
 
 « in defpair and efpecH% wuhout ,^ p^^^ ^^^ ^^_ 
 « change of Life, and Faith in v. r 
 « ferlngs, ^dRefurrea.on, which fits m^^^^^^ 
 « tifro, and cannot be fit without it. wu ^j^ ^^^^^^ 
 
 ^'^^°'"- /I J n.v vnu did acquit him and two 
 
 And I muft needs fay you ma a ^ .^^^^.^^ 
 
 n,ore, ^^[V'V^" "\ ^^;f ,1^ " 1 woS for what End or 
 you at Afford i and therefore 1 wona r ..^^ 
 
 Purpofe YOU put them mto your Book, tor 
 Sdo'you where you do recite chem. ^^ 
 
V"^7 ■^ 
 
 Bat 10 the next place Mr. fames recir« mv ». j ' 
 JP^. JO. wv "But that DippingToufdTa Lrn* 
 
 zed in Infancy; is indeed, new Doftrine. ^ 
 
 rW.![' i.; t ™' 'i"^ '"'•"'" >"" fprinWe are not ban- 
 
 And Mr. jmis farther faith, "Which of the AntienK 
 rt"'r'''°/'"=- Who ever pleaded for it tfllofYe^ 
 
 « any o]: hf r^i"^ y^'"^"-" 'his be ftew d by 
 any of the Baptifls; though Dipping be Baptizing 
 
 ftncy. Cor by pouring on of Water) is aSewCoarin^ 
 
 Volume do ye read it? Indeed one or two r Jh i 
 ;never raw niorequoted) were againftBSg^?„1J 
 
 And i-ecaufe 1 am not wiJJing to fv/eU rhic i.v.u d- 
 
 whercia 
 
Lhercin he cives an Hiftorical Acconnt of Bai^tifm, as 
 S itwaf upon theProfeffion of Faith, owned to be 
 t>raaifcd by the Teflimony of Antiquity, both m the 
 M as well as in the following Centuries, Fag, 45 to the 
 B7ffeofhisBook. 
 
 But I pafs over fome of your infignificatit Matter, and 
 tome to the latter end of yo«r jijiPagc, where you re- 
 
 l^^«^nrthat the world may be fare to know who you 
 « mean, you repeat (fay you) Anabapi^s, as you falHy 
 <« put upon them. 
 
 And the word n^tit you carp at, and I confefs you 
 mav ; yet the overfight is not mighty great, for they 
 were the- Perfons intended', which afterwards you 
 reoeat^ feveral places, and give us the Appellation of* _ 
 aL^s, whichlftill deny that we are fo i for there 
 is hxxiiM Lord, one faith, one Baptifm; and we allow of 
 but one paptifm of Chrift, and all other is of no Force 
 
 ^^'^Bw'^^ou.fay, *' Surely Anabaftijl and Buftifi are not one 
 « and the fame Name. , , ^ , . . 
 
 And fou fay true^ and therefore you abufe us when 
 you cz[U»^Ana.baptiji; for Anx is agdn, huz we bap- 
 tize but wci and that we truly and orderly, accord- 
 ing to Chrlft's Commiffion and the Apoftles Praftice 
 Andallo^Bapcifmis invalid and of no Force j nor is 
 yburSprimng, orRantizing, Bapnfra. ^ 
 
 Bu/you align a feeming Neceffuy why you muftcall 
 
 '^'^For fay YOU, « If we call you not Anahaptift, we do 
 « inaVortdifownourown BapciCn and Principles a bouc 
 
 " ThisisTut'aforryfhift, to nickname us to Oipport your 
 
 Principles i fuch Props will ft and you but m little ftead: 
 
 1 Yet you feem to tell us, as if you could ufe us more 
 
 coarny, but that you are not for long and hard Names.. 
 
 And vet vou put them in, and fay, 
 
 ' "^S^^^^i^ ^^'^^ ' °^ ^^^' ^ ^'^ ^^'^ '^'' ^'"'"''^ 
 
 I *^ Catapoedobaptift, 
 
 U 
 
Sejci.^ifedaliaverbaurt wofh of z Cubic, or a fobc am 
 half long; and yet you fay yoo arc not for long and han 
 Words. And as to C at apx do bapH^, iti«a long hard worcf 
 too, the ftgnification of which is^gainfl f nfant-Bapcifm ;* 
 and in this you do not wrong us, «id therefore If you tell' 
 m this in down-right Englifh, we will not take it jf] • For' 
 wcareagainft Infant- Baptifin. becaufe there is norrecept 
 or Example m the Scriptures for it ; fo that if you fhould 
 baptize them, it would be of no Force or Value And 
 when you do but (prinkle, it i$ not baptizing, as'is verv 
 apparcm m my Friend-s Treatife prcfixt to this Book, to 
 which i do refer you if you pkafe to pcr«fc ir. 
 
 ^.^ 
 
 tr. 
 
 I 
 
 FINIS, 
 
 F>: 
 
( I ) 
 
 A Cautionary Epiftle 
 
 ^ fd all thofe beloved Souls over rvhom the 
 J' Lord hath conjlitntedme an Overfeer. 
 
 Dearly Behvei^ ^ 
 
 IAm bound in Duty to watch for your Soul^ 
 Security , and do therefore think it neceffary 
 to write unto you at this time, to admoni(h 
 and ftrengthen you, that you may hold faft 
 the Profellion of your Faith without wavering, and 
 not be beguiled by fair Pretences and gilded Gloffcs, 
 to turn away from the Truth of the Gofpel* 
 
 Dear Souls^ I am not wholly ignorant (through 
 Grace) of Satan^s Devices to undermine and dc* 
 ceive you^ watching to rob your Souls, either of 
 that Salvation held forth in the Gofpel, or of the 
 Truth and Comfort of that Gofpel that brings you 
 Salvation. It is not eafy to reckon up the multi- 
 farious Methods of that Politick Adverfary^ where- 
 by he feeks to dcftroy our Souls, or eclipfc out 
 Comforts, and hinder our Spiritual Communion 
 with God. I intend no large Difcourfe of this Sub- 
 jed at prcfent 5 but I may fay, in the Words of 
 the Holy Apoftle, 1 fear left by [^any'] meatiSy m 
 the Serpent hegmled Eve through his SHhtilty^ fo 
 your Minds Jhottldhe corrnf ted from the [SimfU^^ 
 city'] that is in ChnJ}, 
 
 A Now 
 
(O 
 
 Now amongft many other ways whereby you arc 
 in danger to be beguiled, there is nothing more 
 prevalent, or more likely to feduce you at prefent, 
 than Mr. Calvin\ Dodlrine of Eledion and Repro- 
 bation^ which fome among you have heartily cfpou- 
 kd^ with the pernicious Confequences thereof; 
 who notwltbftanding do endeavour, with all wi- 
 ly (ubtilty to keep you ignorant of what they 
 hold, lell the dreadful and amazing Cfcnfequences 
 of it (hould affright your Sculs from a cordial im- 
 bracing the Dodrine it (elf. And inafmuchas you 
 have intimacy with them, and cordially love them 
 for the Truth that is in them, fo you are in the 
 greater danger by them i for a profefTed Enemy, 
 or one that you only fufpedt for a Deceiverj cannot 
 have that influence upon you, as a profefTed Friend 
 that you entirely love. Not that I blame you for 
 loving of them s only beware, confidering your 
 danger, that you be not beguiled by them. For 
 my part I love them, and pity them, and (hould 
 rejoice to be a poor Inlhument in the Lord's Hand 
 to undeceive them. In the mean time I cannot 
 chufe but blame them, 
 
 i/?. For their Negligence, in liot feeking for a 
 timely Refolutionof their Doubts, when this Do- 
 drine began firft to invade, either in Reading or 
 Conference. Doubtlcfs if rhey had been diligent 
 in this Cafe, before their Minds had been corrup- 
 ted, they might have been rightly informed, and 
 more fully conhrmcd in their profefTed Faith. No 
 queihon but there is help to be had in (ii^'h Cafes, 
 cither from the tixed or travelling Miniftry, ^i from 
 their Convention in fome General AiTembly, Bat 
 I obfcrvc one thing which is of dangerous Confe- 
 
 qucncc^ 
 
(3) 
 
 ouence' tlist is, when People think themfelves fo 
 S harthey'neednoCounfel, orfo abletore- 
 folve Doubts, that they neither care for, or aave 
 AeASiwWthe Brotherhood or Mm.flry|^^^^^ 
 temning others in refped of themfelves, as if the 
 Smbefsof the fati^e Body need no help one from 
 another, or that the Miniftty was an ufelefs Page- 
 antry, or infignificant Cipher. ■..;„„„- 
 X. 1 tnuft needs blame them for iheir impru- 
 dent and unjuft Separation. J- j^P!'"^,^"'' J^I 
 caufe it grieves the Brotherhood, difqmets the 
 Church, rejoiceth the Enemy ftumbles the Weak, 
 and may hinder enquiring Souls. 2. Unjuft, foe 
 who gave them Caufe ? They were ft Excom- 
 municated for their Opinion, they might have kept 
 their Places and Memberfliip amongft us, it they 
 had kept their Faith to themfelves before God, and 
 had not difquietcd the Church with it •, nay, when 
 \ it might have been orderly for their Conveniency. 
 ' they (to their own Comfort and out Satisfadion) 
 might have been difmiffed from us, and ,omed to 
 foine orderly Congregation of the fame Faith with 
 them, if they could not have been convinced of 
 their Enor, or had no comfort to continue m out 
 Communion. But nothing lefs than preaching a- 
 mongft us, to difquiet the Merribers,orleve« them 
 with their bodrine, would fatisfy thern and fave 
 their turn, but they refufe all other friendly Propo- 
 fals, and make a Schifm. How they will acquit 
 themfelves I know not; either we are no true 
 Church of Chrift without their Opinion, or they 
 are Schifmaticks : Take to which they pleafe -, it to 
 ' the laft, they have great reafon to humble them- 
 fclyes brfoie th« Loid, and to take Shame fox fuch 
 
 A % ' fo"* 
 
<4) 1 
 
 foul Difoider : but if rhey fay wc arc no true 
 Church, we are willing to defend ourfelves. 
 
 3{>'- I ^hink them blanae-worthy for hiding 
 their Opinion. If there be no difference in our 
 r aith, bat rhat they and wc hold the fame Thing, 
 Cas they fometimes pretend to weak Members,: 
 when they have a mind to beguile them; then] 
 why ^o they ieparatc from us, and fet up Meet- 
 ings by themfelves ? Doubtlefs fomething is the: 
 matter, or elfe they would never be To bold to make 
 a Separation from us ^ I think it muft be fomc- 
 tning, and a great matter too that will warrant a 
 Separation from a true Church. 
 
 But to proceed ; There is a Difference in Point 
 of Faith, though they are not willing you fliould 
 know the Bottom of it till they have won you to 
 their Party ; for when I have perfonally blamed 
 them for feeking to hide their Principles, have they 
 not (old me to my Face, in words to this cffed", 
 That there are feme things that it is not proper or 
 profitable to divulge to weak Chriftians ? And did 
 not D. T. own it in a Brother's Houfe at Bonrne^ 
 that he fpake to that effed ? And did not T. J, 
 juftify the Saying, by referring to the Pradicc of 
 Chrirt and his Apoiiles, who (pake the Word to 
 the People as they were able to hear it ? And what 
 is this but to tell us, that they intend to re- 
 ferve a full difcovery of thefe things till a fitter 
 Opportunity, when the People are better prepa- 
 red to hear them, and entertain them ^ And yet 
 they are not fuch profound Mylieries neither, but' 
 they may conveniently cnou^ be divulged to 
 fome young Converts. 
 
 My 
 
<5) 
 
 My dear Friends, beware, for they lie in wait 
 o deceive and beguile you. They will tell you 
 thrift died for all, they will iecm to own it as 
 veil as you -^ and you, in the plainnefs of your 
 learts, think verily that they mean, as you mean, 
 ^enafide^ plainly and in good Faith *, you perceive 
 lot the Deceit that is laid up within thenn, for 
 hey niean, Chrift died to purchafe Salvation on- 
 y for the Eledt. The Benetit that nioft Men 
 lave by the Death of Chrift, is only the good 
 Things of this Life, (and alas poor Hearts! fome 
 f them have little enough of that) with the Ad- 
 ition of a (hort Reprieve from helliih Torments \ 
 Dr thither they mull go, by the Almighty and 
 inchangeable Decree of God, made bctore they 
 verc fo much as born, or had a Being, yea, be- 
 Drethe Foundation of the World-, only becaufe 
 f Chrift's Death fudden Wrath doth not fall 
 ipon them. Some of thefe are T. f, his own 
 vords in his Pap^ers to me. To which we may 
 dd another of his Sayings, To make Redemp- 
 ion larger than Eledion, is (faith he) an over- 
 lying the Foundation. So that it is evident^ 
 lat their Dodrine excludes all from the Benefit 
 f Redemption, who are not hril in the Elcdion. 
 luch to this purpofe is plainly delivered in a Book 
 fhich one of thenj lent me, and 
 ^hich fome of them fay hath con- ^, ^^^f' ^^^^' 
 incedthem^ which Book I refer ^''.'f pt,T 
 
 in the Margin : from whence I ^ '' ^' ' ' ^' 
 frceive they have not only their Notions, but alfq 
 3rrow many of their very Words and Exprcili- 
 is. ' 
 
 A 3 They 
 
(6) 
 
 They will alfo tell you, That God loves all 
 
 Men : And you think they mean, that God woul4 
 
 have all Men to be faved •, but they aic of another 
 
 mind, for their Faith is, That God hath decreed 
 
 the Deftrudion and Eternal Damnation of moft 
 
 Men, without any Remedy : and God's Love to 
 
 all Men, extends no further than the Death oi 
 
 Chrift for all Men, which is tobefiow a few Tern- 
 
 poral Blcffingsupon them: and peihjps too, U 
 
 you found them to the Bottom, all thefe good 
 
 Things arc but to do them a Mifchief withal 
 
 even to aggravate their Condemnation. So thaJ 
 
 when all things are put together, it is but a vcr) 
 
 diminutive Degree of Love which God bears to al 
 
 IVIcn by their Account. 
 
 Again they will tell you ftifly, That they hol( 
 
 . no perfonal and abfolute Reprobation, tho the 
 
 hold perfonal and abfolute Elc^ion. But thei 
 
 ask them what becomes of the Reft? Why, no 
 
 reprobated > no, by no means, this is enough t< 
 
 fright People ; But what then? Why, they ar 
 
 left •, for thefe are T. J. his own words, iWher 
 
 there are any chofen, fome muft needs be refufed t 
 
 leff]. But now what become of thefe Leaving 
 
 and Rcfufe of the People ? Why the Author ( 
 
 ■the aforenamed Book refolveth this Doubt, Ta^ 
 
 3 and 4. Ke is there declaring what God decree 
 
 before he made the World ^ and an)ong(l the rel 
 
 this is one thing (as he faith) that was then di 
 
 creed of God, namely, '^ That to make knovi 
 
 « the Power pf his Wrath, and his juft Difple 
 
 ^^ fure againft Sin, he would [leavej the [rcftj 
 
 *' that State of Perdition they would bring ther 
 
 ^^ felvcs into : That of thcfc VcfTds of Wra 
 
 *' ^^at: 
 
'' CSatanbimfelf] (hould be th^ Head and Ru- 
 
 So that the [Reft] that are left out of the E- 
 kdion, arcVclTrlsot Wrath,tobe left to the De- 
 vil himfelf, to be guided by him as their Head and 
 Ruler, that fo they may tin, and bring thcmielves 
 into Perdition, And indeed I know not how it 
 ftiould be otherwife, but that Men muii neeas iui 
 themtelves to Hell, if they be left to the Devil to 
 guide rhem. Here is Reprobation with the high. 
 efi Aggravation. O horrible Doarine ! O mile- 
 rableDodors! How dilhonourable to God, and 
 pernicious to the Souls of Men are Rich Nonons as 
 
 thcfe 1 
 
 Now if this Author could read me fuch a De- 
 cree out of any Autheiit'ck Record, out oi the 
 Sayings of Chrili, the Prophets, oi Apoltlrs, then 
 1 iliould be dumb with Silence, becaule the Lord 
 did it, and fnould ceafe to move my Pen or 
 Tongue againit it : hi the mean while 1 (hall fay 
 in the Words of one of the Antients, I bdisve k 
 noty bccaufe I read it noU 
 
 And thus they do not hold Reprobation, but 
 they hold that fome Mtn are left as VelTcls of 
 Wrath, to be ruled by the Devil himfclf, and to 
 go with him to Bdl. 
 
 But to proceed : I ^o well hope that thefe Men 
 have a Godly Meaning (fome of them at the leaft) 
 in the whole of this Bullnefs, and doubtlefs think 
 verily they are in the right on't •, and it is their 
 Zeal to that which they believe to be Truth, that 
 makes themufe fuch crafty Methods to win others 
 to.their Opinion, though I think a little plainer 
 Dealing would lopk more likeGpdly Simphcirv, 
 A 4 ^'-^^ 
 
But wc will cpvcr them with all the Love that we 
 can, and we will fuppofe they want fome of 
 thacChrillianPiudence which we, all want-, and 
 if they could think of Ways n:iQre futable to the 
 Gofpel, they would ufe them. 
 
 And as to their denying of Reprobation, wc . 
 mull: conllder them as Pupils, Minors, and Babes in 
 their New Opinion, but newly initiated , and 
 fcarcely know themfclves what they hold as yet : 
 But doubtlefs they hold with others that deny 
 General Redginpticn •, for why? they do own 
 fuch to be of their Faith, and the aforcfaid Book 
 £0 be the inlhumental Caufe of their Convincc- 
 ment. To be fhort, my Advice to you all is, to 
 pity and pray for them , but withal, beware you 
 be not beguiled by them. 
 
 But now that { may be further ufcful and in- 
 flrumental to prevent your being beguiled with 
 fpecious Pretences and crafty Devices, I (hall cau- 
 tion you agaiuft that Book that hath had fuch a 
 powerful Influence upon our Brethren, to capti- 
 vate their UnderOandings, and draw them frora 
 their profeffed Faith ^ and may have the like EfTed: 
 upon others if they take not heed. Now 1 fhall 
 Ihew you fome Reafons of the Prevailing of that 
 Book. 
 
 I/?. It hath the Approbation and Commenda- 
 tion of fome Learned Men, which no doubt wrote 
 ^hofe Epiflles in Commendation of it, only for 
 that End, to make it more acceptable to the Rea- 
 ders. This is one Bait, aq4 it tnay be had fonae 
 influence upon them. 
 
 2/y, One in a Letter to the Author, profcfTcth, 
 Th^c he hath rec^ivfd gre^t Sati?fe(Sw, (^om^;, 
 
 an4 
 
\ y J 
 
 and Content in thje reading of if, Aiid this may 
 jje another Lure, and doubtlefsVor that End was 
 placed in the Front of the Book. 
 
 sly. The Objedions againft his Dodrine are 
 thought, by thefe Learned Approvers,' to be |]re- 
 puoully refuted : And unwary Readers are notable 
 to difccrn the contrary. 
 
 4/> It is managed in aSpidtof Meekncfs, and 
 jherelore it is more likely to obtain its End. 
 
 5/;', It is managed with abundance of Subtilty, 
 imitating the wily Coy-man, endeavouring to 
 keep himfejr out of fight in that Part that may 
 affright his Game, till he have them fure in his 
 Net. As touching the Point of Reprobation, he 
 ^oth very fparingly exprcfs it, tho he conftantly 
 implies it. But inftead of the words Reprobate 
 and Reprobation^ he frequently ufeth fuch Words 
 as thefe, nam^el^, the t^^ftl they that were 
 [^ Left 2, God did £ Leave 2^ were £not£le5t^ 
 ed'] znd[^Non'Ekttton'], or fome fuch-like Phrafe 
 of Speech. And altho the Negative Part of his 
 Dodrine excludes moft Men from the Favour of 
 God, he dqth as it were leave that, or very light- 
 ly touch upon It, but rather endeavours to fecure 
 the Affirmative Part, which gives fome Men fuch 
 a firm Intereft in Salvation, that their own Un- 
 worthlncf^ or Averfenefs cannot make ypid or 
 hinder that gracious Intendment, as he faith. 
 
 And thus^he leads poor Souls into a Labyrinth of 
 Error, or e're they are aware, with this deligh/ul 
 Charm, an4 pleafjng Appreheniion, that the Rea- 
 der himfelf is one of thefe Eled Perfonsthat muft 
 fnvinciblj be faved. When alas^ poor Heart ! he 
 
 is 
 
i, never the near •; for if he be one that hath a 
 firm Faith in Chrift, and endure to the End, he 
 (hall be faved, if he never read that Book, nor re- 
 ceive that Opinion. But if upon readnig that 
 Book, he(ho«ldtrufttothat unfrulirable Salvati- 
 on, and negkd his Chvifiiar. Diligence, he may 
 niifs of his Expedition for all that Op.njon 
 
 6ly. That he itiay prevail againlt the Doanne 
 of General Redemption, and conleqaently endear 
 Men o the contrary Opinion, he endeavours to 
 Some OMu. upon the P-fe^ors of .t a.,^^^^^ 
 fatten fome Abfurdities upon the Dodrme it ielK 
 As touching the Profeffors of .t, they are (as he 
 faith > the generality of Men ni Nature. Wha 
 hemeavsby^M.. .» NamrO I do not well. 
 fL^rrtlnd except it be unconverted, profane, 
 Snf S'Met 'But he add, ^though you -« 
 thmk he hath a very ill Opinion of this Judg- 
 n,ent vet the Profeffors of it are ^o-fetohke, 
 tor heip^tof them, than the Judgment it 
 K Anci thus he faith, of the [«.<./] the 
 Jais;nentis better than their Prad^e So ta 
 this is his Chaiader upon L '""f' 3 «< .'' e Prolel- 
 ISs ofSeneral Redemption, their Opinion is bad, 
 
 thing, thonotdireaiytoptovei. Buafistng^ 
 
 .11 be retorted back upon himftlf-, fori* that U- 
 
 ' ;J„LSh hath thTgenetality of Men.nNa- 
 
turc for Patrons and Abetters of it be falfe, then 
 we (hall foon come to queftion the Being of God^ 
 for moft natural Men do ftifly maintain this Glo- 
 rious Truth, and with full Confent do own that 
 there is a God» 
 
 And as for the Practice of thofc of his own 
 Judgment rcfpediting Eledion, I have not yet (etn 
 them exceed the contrary-minded, thol confefs 
 there are many bad People that own the General 
 Point ; fo, no doubt there are alfo of the Particu- 
 lar Perfwafion, And alfo there are flncere and 
 godly People of both Sorts, and pity it is that in- 
 folent and ill Men (hould alienate their Affedions 
 one from another, and fow fo much Difcord a- 
 mongft thefe faithful Brethren. 
 
 And now what hath he gained by this crafty 
 Infinuation, and refled:ive Odium ? And I very 
 well approve of his refledting Reproof upon thofe 
 fordid and dilnigenuous Spirits, who hold for a 
 general Ranfom, and yet ftudy nothing lefs than 
 to anfwcr its Ends, as he faith Pa^, 135. 
 
 But he endeavours to lay the Dodrine it felf un- 
 der abundance of blame, as thoit were a Carnal 
 Dodrine, and fet up Man more than is meet y 
 ?nd refledcd DiQionour upon Chrift, and I ktiow 
 not what, abundance to this Purpofc : Fromi 
 which unjuft Accufations this bleifed and comfor- 
 table Dodrine hath been fully and fufficiently vin^ 
 dicated in Times paft-, by one hand or other, and 
 may be again in due Time and Place. 
 
 But by fuch ways as thcie, he intinuatcs his O- 
 plnion into the Hearts of his unwary Readers, pre- 
 tending that his Dodrine afcribes the whole of 
 our Silvatioii unto God, and exalts his Free 
 
 Grace ; 
 
(12) 
 
 Grace -, which oqrs he reckons doth greatly ble- 
 midi: and tenier Chriftians who dread to rtfiec^ 
 
 the leart DiQionour upon GoH, arc 
 Imptrfwaded ^ery fubjea: to be taken with this 
 thit this Lure r r> ^ j i i 
 
 fciffc tike^ our ^^^^' ^"^^ "P^" 3 dehberatc exa- 
 Bmhm. miiiatioii it will be found, that it 
 
 is his Dodrine that rctlcds Dif- 
 honour upon God, and not ours. 
 
 The qth and laft Reafoii which I fhall urge for 
 the prevailing of his Book, is. There is much 
 Truth mixed v/ich his Errors, many Scriptures al- 
 ledged, and much godly and comfortable Dif- 
 courfe (well worth every good Man's reading) is 
 aptly handled, in a very proper and commendable 
 Stile, which of it felf has fan Attradive Virtue i 
 (bmetimes whole Paragraphs together are generally 
 wholfome Truths. So that it requires a compe- 
 tent Underftanding to diftinguifti between one and 
 the other, fo as to feparatc the Gold of Truth 
 from the Drofs of Error. 
 
 And now I would caution you againft fome- 
 thing which the contrary- minded have frequently 
 charged upon the ProfelFion, and Prdfeflbrs of 
 General Redemption •, that as the ProfeiTion it 
 felf is innocent and cle^r from their Charge in 
 this Matter, fo I would that you may be clear ajfo ^ 
 which if you he, there is no great danger of your' 
 being inticed or beguiled by them *, yea, I doubt 
 Kot but you arc clear in a great meafure in this re- 
 fyt(k. But indeed I fear that thofe that are tur- 
 ned afjde, have been a little tindured themfelves 
 with that which they would charge upon others^ 
 or cifc I cannot think how the contrary P^fwafion' 
 i^puld fo caiijy prevail s^ainft thci.n. 
 
 That 
 
That which they charge upon us, is, Leaning 
 to our own Works for High teoufnefs, Jfufiificati 
 on, and Acceptance with God ; and Leanine to 
 our own Strength and Ability to perform them 
 Both which arc very falfe, and you can bear me 
 witnefs, that againft thefe two dangerous Do- 
 ^nnes of Stlf-Righteoulnefs, and Self-Confi. 
 dcixe, 1 have laboured with all my Might ac 
 cording to my poor Ability, to refel and refute 
 them. 
 
 And now I fay again, beware and take heed, 
 Firft^ Of Self-Righteoufnefs, know that it is 
 Chritt that muft prefent you faultlef^ in the Pre- 
 fence of God, and not your own Works i no* 
 not your bcft Works, and moft holy Duties 
 they may be acceptable to God by Jeius Chrift' 
 but it is Gbd that makes you accepted in his be! 
 loved Son. Therefore lean not to your Works 
 your Duties h perform them, and then deny them - 
 take them all up in Point of Performance, but lay 
 them all down in Point of Acceptance: confider 
 when you have done all, you are but unprofitable 
 Servants, and have done but that which was your 
 Duty to do •, look for no thanks for them as any 
 due defert for you have merited nothing at the 
 Hands or God, 
 
 Stcondly, Beware of Self-Confidence ; confider 
 that you have no Ability of your felves, or from 
 your felves, to do any acceptable Duty to God 
 no not to think, nor to will, nor to do : ivj 
 thMwe are frffidm of om fihei, to think anv 
 thing as of our fdve,, but our fufficiency is of 
 pw, J Cor. 3. 5. Ftr it is GtJ that work£th in 
 
(14) 
 >,«, t» will mdto do of his good TUafwre, Philip. 
 
 *' Therefore kt us ftrive to aft every Duty with 
 all our Spiritual Mig.ht that we have received -, 
 but when all is d<,ne, look upon our felves as 
 unprotitable Servants, and learn to live upon the 
 Lord ChrilUs our Righteoufnefs and ReU, Feace 
 and Propitiation, AlfiHancc and Acceptance, out 
 Ml, above AH, and in All. . 
 
 Yet withal conlider, that" the gracious Opc- 
 lations cf God's good Spirit in our Hearts 
 whereby l.H*iH us up to Conf.derat.on, and the 
 Duties ol Rchftion •, this free and unlought-for 
 Graic, doth only make Men able to do good, but 
 not un ..Mr tc do Evil. . . ^ / /- j 
 
 A,.;i uv:hrr confidcr, that this Grace of God 
 Ihatepihks Men to look up unto him, and to 
 fees lor BUllitigs where they may be had, is a 
 U and free Fountain of Grace for all Men. I 
 wilh.ot lay. all Men have it in like Meafuie, not 
 at the fatne^Time of their Lives, nor yet one Man 
 at the fame Opportunity that another Man may 
 have it communicated to him, nor after the fatne 
 manner, nor by the fame nifn^' for God work- 
 eth diverdy with the Children of Men. But aU 
 Men, one time or other in their Life-time by 
 ^,e means or other, in one meafu- or other 
 have a real Offer of Grace v yea, m fuch a inea 
 fure, and in that degree to fave thera, if weH 
 hufbanded and improved by them: for God 
 does not diflemble with Men, ^n<l '"'J^^^^T 
 ine, but real Offers of Grace -, though not fo 
 ,xc«ding f««bly, but that M«n «.ay, and of- 
 
ten do icfift it, to their own juft Condcmrta: 
 tion, and eternal Dcfirudion i for if the Olicr of 
 Grace was not real, Men could not be left without 
 Excufe. 
 
 Bat fiill the Scorner delights in his Scorn- 
 ing, and Fools hate Knowkdg. And of this 
 Sort there are that call this Grace I fpeak of 
 Free Win Grace • kt them if they pleafe. * 
 
 r. It is Grace, from God's Free- Will, and 
 Good- Will to the Children of Men. 
 
 And, 2. it works a Free- Will m the Crea- 
 ■ ture to ad that which is well-pleafin2 to God 
 by Jefiis Chrift. ^ , 
 
 And fo I care not, let the Scorner call li Free-. 
 Will Grace as long as he pleafes, and fo will I : 
 for God (hall thereby be honoured, the Scorner 
 reproved. Saints comforted, and unrcclaimable 
 Sinners lett without Excufe. 
 
 And .now, dear Friends, to conclude, I could 
 heartily wifh, for the bcneht of Chrift's Church 
 the Englifli Nation, and your Souls, that th^ 
 Book I fpakc of was anfwered ; for I perceive ic 
 IS hugg'd as a wonderful choice Piece, and is 
 thought by fomc to be unanfwerable. Now I 
 confefs that I am a Man of mean Parts, and not 
 io able to difcufs and refolve difficult Points a$ 
 many of my Brethren are : But 1 am able to fee, 
 ( by the Grace of God ) that the Author of that 
 Book, whoever he was, hath greatly erred, and 
 gone afidc from the Truth, in the main Scope and 
 Dcfign of his Book. And as you are bound, by 
 Gofpcl-Rult^s, to be icady to every good Work, 
 
 fo 
 
(16) 
 
 fo I would pcrfwade you to promote and enco«. 
 
 age this needful Work, that a d'j 'f Anfwer 
 mav be given in print to the afotefa.d Book , that 
 fo Truth may be advanced. Error unmasked, 
 humble penitent Sinners encouraged, thebaith 
 of weak Chriliians ftrengthened, feme that arc 
 beguiled again recovered, the Churches eftabl.Qi- 
 Kd God's boundlefs Love inChr.ft Jefus to 
 
 the Sons of Men be tnagnitied, which is the 
 
 End of this EpilUe. 
 
 Aug iftDay, From your faithful Friend,- 
 
 ,^5,4. affedionate Brother, and 
 
 bounden Servant for Jefus 
 
 ti&Ri 
 
 JOSEPH HOOKEt 
 
 itN is. 
 
¥' 
 
 I