Truth Defended, Preface 2
PREFACE.
IT would appear to me ſomewhat ſtrange, had I not ſeen a late example in the forwardeſt Champions of Paedo-baptiſm (even Mr. Baxter and Mr. Wills) that a man of ſo exuberant an invention as Mr. Whiſton, and ſo copious in venting his Notions, ſhould yet ſhift off his Antagoniſt with ſo diſingenious and unſcholar-like a Return, as he gives Mr. Hutchinſon in his Poſtſcript. Whether he be ſuch an admirer of his own clocution, that ſtudying to diſplay his faculty, he has neither leaſure nor Candor to give his adverſary any other anſwer, then Contempt, or Naked Gainſaying? Or whether the evidence of truth has not ſo ſubſtantially ſilenced him, that (yet loath to ſeem ſo) be is forced to betake himſelf to ſuch Evaſive Subterfuges, I will not determine. But I have juſt cauſe to think the later; for can any man imagine that one of his Forwardneſs, Acquiſition and Leaſure, (being as he ſayes, Poſtſcript, p. 250. Free from all Family entanglements, &c.) had he any thing to the purpoſe to offer, would fail to publiſh it ſo ſeaſonably in vindication of the cauſe he manages. How unconvincing ſuch a method of diſputation as he takes, is, he cannot be ignorant of, and ſuch as will be impoſed upon thereby, may quietly enjoy that liberty for me. And I would have Mr. Whiſton know, that the notice that I take of his Books, is not becauſe I think he has done more then others of his perſwaſion, nor that I apprehend any ſtronger authority in his ipſe d…ir, then in the Dictates of his Predeceſſors: But becauſe he ſeems (as he tells us in the Preface to his Eſſay) to tread a new Path, and proceed in another Strain, then either the Prenitive Fathers, or the Maior … …ound out: For of the firſt he tells in the Language of an Oracle; That wherein they diſſent from him, they themſelves diſ…nted from the Truth: And of the later, That their miſtakes need Rectiſying.
But to prevent the ill influence this his new ſtarted Argumentation may have upon the well meaning and enquiring Chriſtian Mr. Hutchinſon indeavoured in ſome late Animadverſions upon Mr. Whiſtons anſwer to Mr. Danvers, to make him ſenſible how unrighteous and lyable to exception his ſaid undertaking was. And therein did not proceed upon bare Dictates, but plain and ſolid Demonſtration from Scripture-evidence.
And though the ſingleneſs Mr. Whiſton appears in, be a juſt motive to us to ſlight his new ſtampt Divinity, eſpecially ſince it conſiſts of little more then meer Affirmations; yet he was oppoſed with ſuch ſtrength of Demonſtration, that I ſee he is loath to encounter it, but in that New way of Poſtſcripting Mr. Baxter taught him, viz. To Anſwer Books by general Negations. Therefore I ſee no Reaſon but it may be taken for granted, that he is drawn to the Lees of his Ratiocination.
And whereas he complains of Mr. Hutchinſons overlooking the firſt Treatiſe of Infant Baptiſm, p. 251. Mr. Whiſton may conſider, it was Mr. Hutchinſons work then to detect and refel his injurious Cavils againſt Mr. Danvers. And truly I muſt inform him for my part, that it is a ſervice of no grateful reliſh to me to take in hand and peruſe foreign, ſo tedious and incoherent a Diſcourſe, and upon which with more truth and honeſty, that Character he gives Mr. Danvers his Treatiſe, may be retorted, viz. That it carry's ſufficient Antidote againſt its own embracements. — But to prevent his glorying; I ſhall only take a Brief Survey of that Piece, and leave a few Remark. upon it, with the Reader.
And as to his quar…lling with Mr. Hutchinſon for taking no notice of his Intimations given by … liſhing ſome thing further, concerning this Controverſy: I cannot conceive how he can frame any juſt Charge thence againſt Mr. Hutchinſon, unleſs he fancy'd him to have Mr. Baxters faculty of Prophecying, what his adverſary is impre…nate… with. But ſince no man beſides Mr. Baxter is maſter of ſuch aforeknowledge, few beſides Mr. Whiſton would blame an Antagoniſt for that neglect, viz. Of anſwering a man, before he hears his Arguments. Or if Mr. Whiſton would have no Anſwers made him, till he publiſhes all he has to ſay — It will be found an Impoſition of two Majeſtical an Aſpect. And in my opinion, it had been more Conſonant to the general Reformation he beſpeaks, (not only from us, but from thoſe Paedobaptiſts, that hold up that practice upon grounds different from his) to have publiſhed his labours in an intire Tract, then thus by parcels. But ſince he is in the humour of Writing, as we know not when it will be over, ſo he muſt give us leave, (without ſtaying for what's behind) to ataque his forces already muſtered, and incounter the reſt (if worth any oppoſition) as they come on. Yet from me (who am by the laſt Commands of Mr. Hutchinſon, (now with the Lord) oblidged to give Mr. Whiſton this Return to his Poſtſcript, which Mr. Hutchinſon ſaw a little before his Death) I think fit to let him know, that I have more value for my time then hereafter to conſume it upon the refutation of his Dictates, already ſufficiently defeated.
And though in Mr. Hutchinſons Animadverſions, p. 54. he was earneſtly called upon, that if he thought himſelf concern'd to appear further in this Conteſt, he would lay down his Theſis diſtinctly, and ſet down his Arguments Syllogiſtically, Yet how little notice he hath taken thereof, and how like a Dictator be appears in his Eſſay, is left to conſideration.
And ſince he over paſſes the Arguments oppoſed againſt their practice, inſinuating as if Mr. Hutchinſon had miſtaken the right ground thereof, ſince he does but a…d Dictates, to Dictates: And his Eſſay is but a … built upon a foundation already overture …: ſince be takes thoſe 3 prepoſitions for granted, p. 3. b… by; and upon that ſuppeſition feigns thoſe high priviledges of the ſeed of Believers, thoſe glo… benents and advantages which he tells us p. 244. have been aſſigned to them, as in Covenant, and having the token thereof (he means Baptiſm) applyed to them; ſince (I ſay) theſe tedious branches of his Diſ…ſe ſprang from an unſound Root, or meer figment, viz. A ſuppoſing that the Covenant of Grace is made with Believers, and their natural ſeed in their generations, and ſo have a right to Baptiſm: We might ſpare the labour of confuting ſuch fancyes afreſh.
Therefore the method I ſhall uſe in this Return ſhall …e. 1. To Refor the Reader for an anſwer to the Argumentative part of Mr. Whiſtons Books to ſuch places, where they are ſoundly confuted already by the late Writers of our way. 2. I ſhall wholly wave his impertinent fictions in his Eſſay, concluding that in the overthrow of thoſe points he takes for granted, p. 3. Thoſe glorious priviledges he dreams of will vaniſh into guilded Chyme…'s, or the meer apparitions of a beguiled …. 3. With ſame Reſt…ions upon his Poliſcript (a Cant way of conſuting Books, by the Argument uſed againſt Belamine) I ſhall leave all at the Tribunal …f the Reader.