Truth Defended, Preface
The Preface.
MR. VVills in the Prologue to his Appeal, (that the world may ſee he walks by pattern) produces the Example of the Quakers Appeal to the Baptiſts againſt Mr. Hicks as his Precedent. And I confeſs he has in ſome things exactly followed his Copy: For as the Quakers with great Outcry and Conndence provok't the Baptiſts to examine the Controverſy then in hand, and to paſs their Sentence; ſo with like heat and vehemence Mr. VVills falls into the ſame ſtrain of raſh and unrighteous accuſation againſt Mr. Danvers. And as the Quakers (when a juſt Sentence was paſt againſt them, evidencing their Clamours to be Calumnies, yet) like obſtinate, and incorrigible accuſers, fall foul upon the perſons they themſelves had before inveſted their Judges, and with great wrath and ſeverity arraign and condemn them, for ſpeaking Truth: So Mr. VVills with Quaker-like inſolence, becauſe the perſons Appealed to, did not pleaſe his Spleen in condemning Mr. Danvers, right or wrong; brands them with Ignorance and Partiality in a Paper lately publiſhed, Intituled, Cenſura Cenſurae.
That the Baptiſts acted with Chriſtian equity and fairneſs in their Examination of the matter in Controverſy, and with great care end pains ſearch't into the Authors quoted, I am as ſure of, as I can be of any thing, being an eye-witneſs to, and aſſiſtant in that work. And that their Anſwer to Mr. VVills was ſo Modeſt, that it is beyond the exception of a ſober man, the thing it ſelf impartially conſidered will evidence.
If it be enquired why the Subſcribers of the Anſwer to Mr. VVills do not all concern themſelves in a Vindication? I anſwer. — That they have already done what's needfull in giving their Judgement in the things they ought to take cognizance of; And I know no Law, that oblidges them to the drudgery of confuting the Cavills of ſuch an inconſiderate decuſer. They are perſons ingaged in a greater and more neceſſary work, and to give themſelves any further interruption in ſuch a conteſt, is thought to be a needleſs task, and an intrenchment upon their more weighty Affairs. Having ſomething elſe to do, then to attend the drudgery of drawing the ſaw with ſuch a lamentable trifler.
I am (I confeſs) the weakeſt of them, yet Providence has been pleaſed to caſt this task of their Vindication upon me. And Mr. VVills himſelf has given me a particular challenge and provocation, in making ſome exceptions againſt me, (diſtinct from the reſt) which I am oblidged to ſay ſomething to. And I hope, if what I offer be demonſtrative, the Reader will expreſs ſo much equity as to judge of the matter in diſpute from the evidence and reaſon of it, and not from the Authority or Number of the parties contending. To choſe an opinion by voices is not ſafe. Error, when it becomes the darling of a man of parts (and ſuch are frequently its Patrons) is ſet off with all the imbelliſhments, which the Schoolmen and Sciences can furniſh him with, which gaudy paint makes it often cheat, (and paſs for the truth with) vulgar eyes, who (gazing on its ſuperficial dreſs) ſeldom diſcern Counterfeit from Current. Hence it happens that ſuch become Heterodox; few receiving the naked and unadorn'd Truth when rival'd with aſplended and ſpecious error. Sophiſtry is but perverted logick; and that perſon that in his Diſputations borrows his keeneſt weapons from it is to be ſuſpected as being ſcarce ſound. I have often found the Advocates of a bad cauſe (as Ribera expreſſes …it— Curam habent nitoris, cultuſque verborum, venuſtatis & numeroſitatis ſententiarum) carefull of their Cadencies, and the Handſomneſs of their ſtile; that what's wanting of Native Beauty, may be made out with a ſupplement of Paint.
How far Mr. Wills has contracted the guilt of playing the Sophiſter, let his diſcerning Readers determine: For my part I think his greateſt Excellency lyes there, as far as appears to me in his publiſhed Treatiſes. And that he is a meer Word-pecker, is very obvious: For if he finds one miſplac'd, miſinſerted, or by chance miſapply'd (as oft happens with the moſt accurate, through the Tranſcriber or Printers fault) he gloryes and inſults, as if he had gain'd an Olympick prize: Though his own Writings are obnoxious to the ſame Correction, as I could abundantly ſhew if needful.
It is worth notice, that the main thing in Controverſy (viz. the Antiquity of Infant Baptiſm) is quite given up and forſaken by Mr. Wills, it being evident by Mr. Danvers, &c. That for the firſt 300 years, The Baptiſm of grown perſons profeſſing faith, was univerſally owned and practiced; and no Record of credit that aſſures us, that Infant Baptiſm was at all owned as Chriſts ordinance. The moſt that can be ſaid, is, that it was Creeping in, in the third Century, when Tertullian oppoſed it, and got ſome ſmall footing by degrees, from the opinion of its neceſſity to ſalvation (and that from a fatal miſtake of John 3.5.) And in the year 416. received its inſtalment by humane Authority; being impoſed by a dreadful Anathema at the Milevitan Council. Certainly had it been the practice of the univerſal Church, Tertullian (the ancienteſt Latine Father) could not have oppos'd it, uncontradicted. And it is paſt doubt, that it was diſlik't and cry'd down by many, when that Council ſate, elſe their Canon was ridiculous and vain. The Eclceſiaſtical Empire was then upon its erection, and Paedobaptiſm was thought a neceſſary pillar to ſupport it therefore was the oppoſite party from time to time cruſh't with theſe terrifying Canons and Curſes. Now Mr. Wills having loſt his Garriſon, with incorrigible obſtinacy, mans his Outworks, and Approaches, pouring out Contempt and Appeals, as if he would carry all by noiſe; but how ſuch a re-attack ſhall prevail, is eaſy to be conjectured.
Had Mr. Wills accepted of Mr. Danvers's modeſt endeavours, to give him ſatisfaction in a private way, with promiſed aſſurance, that he would publickly recant any mistakes, which the cloſeſt ſcrutinie of indifferent perſons, mutually choſen could bring to light; it had been a ſtrong argument that he had ſought to clear and defend Truth, not purchaſe Applauſe, &c. And had ſaved a great deal of labour and trouble.
But in Print he muſt be; yet has not the ingenuity and common honeſty to retract, or repent for his own Noterious miſtakes and falſehoods (ſo fully detected and enumerated by Mr. Danvers in his Writings, particularly in his Rejoynd. from p. 49. to 77. whilſt he has the confidence (not to ſay impudence) with ſo much ſeverity, to take by the throat, and exact from him the utmoſt mite, yea and that for miſtakes of his own making too which he ſo unjuſtly Fathers upon him.
Diſcovering hereby his folly and ſhamful partiality, that whilſt as concerning his own errors, he can overlook Beams, ſwallow Camels, and leap over Mountains, He can with ſuch an Eagle eye diſcover the Motes, ſtrain at the Gnats, & magnify the Male-hills of others.
The notority whereof you will find further Exemplified in the following pages by
Tho. Delaune April 20. 1676.