The Paedobaptists Apology for the Baptized Churches, Title page – To the reader
THE Paedo-Baptiſts Apology FOR THE Baptized Churches, Shewing The invalidity of the ſtrongeſt grounds for Infant Baptiſm out of the works of the learned aſſertors of that tenent. AND That the Baptiſm of Repentance for the remiſſion of ſins is a duty incumbent upon all ſinners who come orderly to the profeſſion of Chriſtianity.
ALSO The Promiſe of the Spirit …eing the ſubſtance of a Sermon on 1 Cor. 12. 1.
To which is added A POST-SCRIPT. Out of the works of Dr. Jer. Taylor in defence of impoſition of hands as a never failing Miniſtery.
By Tho. Grantham.
Mr. Perkins on Gal. 3. 27.
Baptiſm alone is no mark of Gods Child, but Baptiſm joyned with Faith, for ſo muſt the text be conſideres. All the Galations that believe are baptized into Chriſt.
Printed in the Year. 1671.
To the Reader.
Friend,
I Have a few things to ſay before thou read this enſuing Apology, and firſt,
The occaſion of it is from the late unkind uſages which the Baptized Churches have received from the Paedo-Baptiſts, by violently diſperſing their Aſſemblies, by defacing and taking away their meeting places, by impriſoning their perſons, ſeizing and waſting their Eſtates, by injuring them in their Trade by means of excommunications, by Writs de Capiendo and other penall proceedings both confining their Perſons and expoſing them to great inconveniencies. And all this only (as I conceive for their conſcionable obſervance of the will of God in Preaching the Goſpel to ſinners …r the obedience of faith, and for adhearing to that form of Doctrine once deli…ered to the Saints Heb. 6. 1, 2. In which Doct…ine and ſufferings being through the mercy of God a pertaker with them, I thought I might lawſully write an Apology for them, or at leaſt for the Truth profeſſed by them. And that I might the …ore effectually do this I choſe to ſpeak …o their adverſ…ries by the learned …ens of their own Doctors.
2. My deſign in writing this Apo…ogy, is to abate (if it may be) that great enmity which hath appeared generally between the parties concerned; and more perticularly that ſpirit of oppoſition and diſreſp…ct which too much appears in the more refined ſort of the Paedo-Baptiſts, againſt ſuch as labor to reform (or rather to reſtore) the Doctrine of Baptiſm, to its firſt integrity and eſtimation among all that profeſs the name of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, under what Epethets or den… minations ſoever. And me thinks th… truth ſhould prevail with all that do conſider the authority and force thereof to be ſuch that men are conſtrained (as it were to ſpeak for it though to the overthrow of their deareſt errours, ſo that we may ſay their Rock is net as our Rock, our enemies being judges.
3. I have not injured the ſenſe of my authours, and where I have added any thing for explycation of any word or paſſage, I have diſtinguſhed the ſame partly by a different Letter, and partly by this Character [] nor have I ſaid much in the Apology, as indeed it was not neceſſary, conſidering the evidence of the word of God for us, and the Record which our oppoſers do bear in favour of our Cauſe; and beſide they that will may ſee what may be further ſaid in the caſe depending, if they pleaſe to peruſe the Learned works of thoſe of our way, viz. Denn his Anſwer to Dr. Featley, Tombs, his Antipaedo-Baptiſt, Fiſher his Chriſtianiſmus Rediv…vous, and many others.
4. The ſecond part intitled Of the Promiſe of the Spirit, I though fit to be annexed, becauſe Acts 2. 38, 39. ſuch as are Baptized with the Baptiſm of Repentance for Remiſſion of fins, have the promiſe of the Spirit made to them, which being ſought for in the way ordained of God, ſhall be received according to his will for he is faithfull that promiſed.
Thy ſervant in Chriſt, Tho. Grantham,