Light Broke Forth in Wales Expelling Darkness, Chapter 23
CHAP. XXIII.
In anſwer to Mr. James Owens 19th Chapter wherein he gives advice to Children, with an anſwer to his Queries, that he would have the Antipedobaptiſts to reply unto.
CHildren, bleſs the Lord for the priviledges of your Baptiſm, God hath taken you into Covenant (ſay you) with your Parents, he hath prevented you with the bleſſings of goodneſs, and made you nigh, who being by Nature a far off, ye are no more Strangers and Foreigners, but fellow Citizens with the Saints and the Houſhold of God, Eph. 2. 19.
1. Anſw. Muſt they bleſs God that their Parents deceived them with falſe hopes of priviledges, which neither they nor your ſelves know what they are, or for putting a cheat upon them to make them think their State is better thereby, and yet cannot prove it from Gods Word ſo to be. How doth God prevent them with bleſſings of Goodneſs, by your Rantizing them? doth your pretended baptiſm inſuſe grace or gracious habits unto them, or what to …, or is …t the bleſſings of that Vow you brought them under voluntarily, without any authority from God.
2. Are you not afraid to affirm that Children by their baptiſm are by the Lord made neer unto him, and made thereby Children of God, who were by Nature Children of Wrath, and no more Strangers and Foreigners, &c. If this was ſo, ſhall they not be all Saved? Can any thing bring Children near to God, and make them fellow-Heirs and Citizens with the Saints, but a Sacred Work of God's Spirit upon their Souls, and doth your Baptiſm do this.
2. Can ſuch that are no more Strangers to God, &c. ever periſh? Is there a poſſibility of Final falling from a State of true Grace; and if it be thus ought not your Children to have all the priviledges of the Houſhold of God, the Lords Supper, &c.
3. Will you attribute thoſe High and Sublime Priviledges that belong to believers, who are only born of the Spirit, to your poor Babes that yet remain Children of Wrath and unrenewed by the Grace of God, is not this a ready way to blind the Eyes of your Children, and ruine their Souls if they ſhould believe you herein.
You are under that Gracious Providence (ſay you) which watcheth over the Church, &c.
1. Anſw. You muſt firſt prove them Members of the Church; and not only Members, but all of them elected Perſons, for they are ſuch Members, that the ſpecial Providence of God is over.
2. You ſay they have a ſhare in the daily prayers that are put up for the Church of God. Pſalm 72. 15. Prayers ſhall be made for him, and daily ſhall he be praiſed. Pſalm 51. 13. Do good in thy good pleaſure to Zion and build the Walls of Jeruſalem Gal. 6. 16. As many as walk according to this rule, peace on them, and mercy on the Iſrael of God. If you had been without baptiſm, you ſhould have been without, and ſo without any ſhare in theſe prayers.
Anſw. I have put ſome of the Texts of Scripture down at large that you cite, and doth that Text in Pſalm 72. 13. not relate to Jeſus Chriſt perſonally conſidered, if not only ſo, yet Chriſt miſtical, viz. the elect Seed, and not to all the Members of the viſible Church as ſuch, and ſo alſo in the other Scriptures, and dare you thus abuſe the Sacred Scriptures, applying theſe prayers and promiſes to all your Infants.
2. Do your Children as ſuch, walk according to that Rule Gal. 6. 16. are they all new Creatures, read the Context or do you not falſly apply and interpret theſe Scriptures.
3. And if all unbaptized Perſons be without any ſhare in thoſe prayers, you your ſelf are without them, for you was only Rantized. But what ſtreſs do you lay upon Baptiſm? Are none Membes of Gods Myſtical and Spiritual Sion, but ſuch who are baptized.
4. Alſo how do you go about to blind, and deceive the Souls of your Children in cauſing them to believe they are Members of Gods Sion, and have part in thoſe prayers, when it may be 'tis falſe, or no ſuch thing, they being (ſome of them when grown up,) wicked or ungodly.
3. (Say you) as you are Members of the Church of God, you have a particular right unto the promiſes, the inheritance of the Church are the promiſes, they belong unto her, and not to others, as formerly the promiſes belonged to the Viſible Church of the Jews, ſo now to the Viſible Church of the Gentiles, Rom. 9. 4. Gal. 4. 23.
1. Anſw. I have proved that our Children as ſuch, are not Members of the viſible Church; no, nor ought any of the Children of Believers to be taken into it, but ſuch that believe that repent, or that are born again.
2. If any others, viz. ſuch that are not regenerated are taken into the viſible Church, whether Infants or Adult Perſons, 'tis not by God's appointment, and therefore ſuch have no right to the Special and Spiritual promiſes of God, which are the peculiar inheritance of the elect of God.
3. The viſible Church of the Jews as ſo conſidered, had many external promiſes belonging to them, that is not deny'd, which the Gentile Church hath no right unto; but the whole Jewiſh Church, or all her viſible Members had not a right to the Spiritual Promiſes of God, They are not all Iſrael that are of Iſrael, Rom. 9. 6. neither becauſe they are Seed of Abraham, are they all Children, verſ. 7. that is they are the Children of the Fleſh, theſe are not the Children of God, but the Children of the Promiſe are counted for the Seed, verſ. 8. You mention the 4 Verſe, but mention not the Verſes I have cited, which open the 4th verſe, and thus you go about to give a falſe Expoſition of the Scripture, and deceive the underſtanding of your poor Children, and others alſo.
But ſay you, though the whole Members of the viſible Church, be not partakers of the Grace of the Promiſes, Heb. 4. 1. which are given to the elect only, yet all the Members of the viſible Church have more right to this Grace then others that are without, it being their own Fault if they refuſe it.
Anſw. You in the firſt place ſpeak right here, but what you ſpeak in your next Words are utterly falſe.
1. You ſay the whole Members or all the Members of the Viſible Church be not partakers of the grace of the promiſes; this is right, but why do you ſay that all the Members of the Viſible Church have more right to the promiſes then thoſe poor Souls who are enquiring the way into the Viſible Church in all ſincerity of Heart. 'Tis I fear dangerous for people to ſet under ſuch a Teacher. I affirm that the State of ſuch that are let into the Viſible Church, who are unſound or carnal Perſons, is worſe then the State of others: neither are they under the promiſes of grace above others: for
1. Firſt, they conclude perhaps all is well with them and that they are converted, becauſe the paſtor of the Church, nay, and the Church her ſelf ſo judgeth of them, and from hence they look not after regeneration or true Convertion, but look upon themſelves to be Holy, or Saints of God; now the promiſes of Grace do not run to theſe, as they do to thoſe, that ſee themſelves loſt and undone Sinners, being far from God, and out of the pail of the viſible Church, therefore you do your Children great Miſchief and hurt, in taking them into your Churches, unleſs they are Converted and truly gracious, 'tis no bleſſing nor benefit to be falſe Members of the viſible Church? but what do you mean by the laſt Clauſe, is it the Sinners ſault if he is not elected, or can Men obtain Grace if they will. True, they ought not to refuſe God's Call.
(Say you) your baptized Children ſeek a clear underſtanding of that Obligation, and the Vow of your baptiſm, Learn of your Parents and Miniſters to know the ſignification, and need of your Baptiſm, ye are given unto Chriſt, and are not your own, ye are bound to renounce the Devil and all his Works, to renounce the pomps and vanity of this wicked World, to renounce the pleaſure, and luſts of the Fleſh, you are bound to take God the Father to be your God and chief end, taking the Son to be your Lord and Saviour unto you, and God the Holy Ghoſt to be your Sanctifier, &c.
1. Anſw. Thoſe that are baptized ſhould underſtand the Nature of that Obligation before they enter into that Covenant.
2. The end of Baptiſm was Ordained by Chriſt to ſhew that the Perſon baptized is born again, is dead to ſin, not that he ought, or is bound afterwards to be Born again; no no, but after he is baptized he is obliged thereby to walk in newneſs of life. You by baptizing Infants invert the deſign and end of Baptiſm; how ſhould your Children underſtand this Obligation, when their Parents and Miniſters are ſo ignorant about the nature of that Obligation themſelves?
3. Believers do thus take God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt in baptiſm, to be their God, but ſo do not Infants by any appointment of God.
4. It appears that you approve of the Church of Englands Catechism, if ſo all your Baptized Infants are according to your Doctrin in Baptiſm regenerated and have thereby renounced the Devil and all his Works, &c.
3. As ſoon as ye come to Age and Underſtanding renew your Covenant with God, the Lord hath received in his Covenant the Faith of your Parents for you in your Infancy, but now ye are of Years, if ye your ſelves will not believe and repent, and take God to be a God unto you, your baptiſm will not longer benefit you, &c.
Anſw. I anſwer if it be thus your Children are not much beholding to their Parents Faith, nor to Covenant Grace, you tell them when their Parents believed and were ſaved, all their Children were ſaved, and in covenant with them; but it appears now this only ſerved for their Infant State, they may fall out of the Covenant of Grace, and be damned, notwithſtanding their being once in the covenant of Grace, and ſaved with their Parents; unleſs they do actually believe, &c.
2. But if they had dyed in their Infancy, perhaps they would have periſhed, had not their Parents believed, is this your meaning; certainly if they are ſuch that are Elected they ſhall be Saved, tho' they had dyed in Infancy, tho' their Parents believed or not believed, doth the Parents believing procure their Salvation, and the Parents not believing obſtruct their Childrens Salvation, and ſo bring on them Damnation, if ſo the Salvation and Damnation of their Children in Infancy, is put into the hands or Faith of their Parents.
3. And if this be ſo, wo to the poor Babes of unbelievers, muſt they be all Damned? Can't Chriſt ſave ſuch Children by his Merits and Righteouſneſs, nor Sanctifie them that die in their Infancy, unleſs their Parents do believe, and baptize them; and dare you ſay he will not, what ſtrange Doctrine is this; and by what authority do you aſſert thoſe things which your Doctrine leads you out to do.
4. True, all our Children are Obliged by the Lord, when they come to Years of underſtanding, to remember their Creator, and to Fear, Love, Believe and Serve him, by the Authority and Command of his Bleſſed Word, but not by virtue of any Baptiſmal Vow he hath appointed for them in Infancy, to come under, or enter into, the State of Children in Infancy, may through Chriſts Merits be faſt enough, if they Die then, whether their Parents believe or not, and it apppears the Priviledges and Bleſſings of their Parents Faith doth them no good any longer, but only whilſt they continue in Infancy.
4. You bid your Children that are grown up to live anſwerable to their Covenant.
5. Say you, give not place to Temptation, in denying your Firſt Baptiſm.
Anſw. Let your Children take heed that they are not blinded by your pretended baptiſmal priviledge, ſo as to think they are any ways the better for that. Young Men and Women, 'tis not your Patents Faith will intereſt you in the Covenant of Grace, there is a twofold being in that Covenant.
1. Decretively. 2. Actualy all Gods Elect ones are Decretively in the Covenant of Grace, but no one Soul, either Man or Woman, is actually in it, untill they have by Faith Union with Chriſt. O! labour after this Union, you are all the Children of Wrath by Nature, and your Infant Baptiſm alters not your State, nor had you any right to baptiſm when you were Infants, but if you do believe you may and ought to be Baptized by vertue of Chriſt's Commiſſion or Authority of God's Word. Let not your Faith ſtand in this matter in the Wiſdom of Men, but in the Power and Authority of the Word of God; to walk according to the Rule of the Holy Scripture herein, is not to give way to Temptation; but to the dictates of God's Spirit, let Mr. Owen ſay what he will.
You bid your Children to ask ſuch, who deny Infant baptiſm theſe following queſtions.
1. Say you, ask them, Can they prove from the Scripture that the Children of the Faithful were caſt out from the Covenant of Grace. Let them ſhew us a plain Scripture for that: for if they are not caſt out of the Covenant of Grace, then baptiſm, the Seal of the Covenant belongeth unto them.
1. Anſw. Young Men and Women, pray ask Mr. Owen, whether all the Children of the Faithful (or their Children as ſuch) were, and are in the Covenant of Grace.
2. If he ſays they all were, and ſtill are in that Couenant, ask him whether then it doth not follow that they ſhall all be ſaved, becauſe the Everlaſting Covenant of Grace is well ordered in all things and ſure, 2. Sam. 23. 5. and the promiſe of the eternal. Life ſure to all the true Seed of Abraham, Rom. 4. 16. confirmed by the Promiſe and Oath of God. Heb. 6. 13. to the 19th. verſe.
3. Ask him, whether the true Spiritual Seed of Abraham, are not all Elected to Salvation, or the Elect of God.
4. Ask him whether there is any final falling away out of the Covenant of Grace, or poſſibility for one of God's Elect, eternally to periſh.
5. Ask him if God did not make a Covenant with Abraham's fleſhly Seed as ſuch, that peculiarly appertained to them, in which the whole Houſe of Iſrael were taken into an External, Legal, and Typical Church State, and ſo was a National Church, and had many External Priviledges, which our Children have not.
6. Ask him whether the whole Houſe of Iſrael, both Parents and Children, were all in the Covenant of Grace, and ſo God's People by way of Special Love and Eternal Election.
7. Ask him whether the Carnal Seed of believers as ſuch, are to be taken into the Viſible Church in the times of the Goſpel, as they were under the Law. If ſo, ask him why John the Baptiſt did refuſe them.
8. Ask him how he can prove that the fleſhly Seed of believers as ſuch, are the true Spiritual Seed of Abraham.
Tell him that Mr. Airſworth, a Man that he Quotes, and a Man of great Learning, and tho' a a peao-baptiſt, ſaith, on Gen. 12. 7. (thy Seed) That is all the Children of the promiſe, the Elect, who only are accounted Abraham's Seed, Rom, 9. 7, 8. And in Chriſt, and Heirs according to the promiſe, Gal. 3. 29.
And tell him that Dr. Owen in his Book called, The Doctrin of the Saints perſeverance. cap. 4. ſaith that the effectual Diſpenſation of the grace of the Covenant, is peculiar to them only, who are the Children of promiſe, the Remnant of Abraham, according to Election, with all, that in all Nations, were to be bleſſed with him, and in his Seed, i. e. Jeſus Chriſt, Iſhmael tho Circumciſed was caſt out. Thus Dr. Owen, and ſay I, as Iſhmael was caſt out tho' Circumciſed, ſo Paul ſaith the bond-woman and her Son is now caſt out, that is, the Old Covenant and Carnal Seed of Abraham as ſuch, See Gal. 4. 30.
Tell him that Amelius de ſpraedeſt. chap. 8. Serm 6. A Learned Man ſaith, There are many of the Seed of Abraham, to whom the word of promiſe did not belong then, the rejection of many Jews, who are of the Seed of Abraham doth not make void the word of promiſe; from whence, may we not ſafely conclude, That if the Natural poſterity of Abraham were not within the Covenant of Grace by Vertue of the promiſe, Gen. 17. 2. then much leſs are our Natural Poſterity, but the former is true, therefore the latter.
9. Ask him whether the Covenant of Grace, ſimply in its ſelf gave right to Circumciſion, if ſo why was not Lot and Melchiſedec Circumciſed, were they not in the Covenant of Grace?
This being ſo, ask him if he can prove that the Covenant of Grace, ſimply conſidered in its ſelf gives any a right to baptiſm, ſince 'tis a meer poſitive Command of Chriſt.
10. Ask him whether ungodly Parents that ſpring from Abraham's Loyns by Iſaac-in their Generations, were not as much obliged by God's poſitive Command to Abraham to Circumciſe their Male Children, as the Faithful and Godly Parents were obliged to Circumciſe theirs, this being ſo;
11. Ask him why all ungodly perſons and unbelievers ought not now to Baptize their Children, as well as believers, ſhould baptize theirs.
2. You bid your Children ask ſuch that deny Infant Baptiſm, can they prove from Scripture that Chriſt came in to the World to make the condition of Children worſer then it was before.
Anſ. Tell Mr. Owen he hath had this Queſtion anſwered in this Treatiſe, over and over, viz. Tell him, the Spiritual Priviledges of Children now are more then theirs were under the Law: So that our Children loſe no Divine and Spiritual bleſſings or priviledges, which the Children of the Faithful once had. God hath the ſame love to, and care of our Children under the Goſpel, as he had to theirs under the Law; but the Temporal bleſſings of the Jewiſh Children, and their External or Earthly priviledges, then were more then our Children have in Goſpel times, the Goſpel Church being eſtabliſhed upon better promiſes, theirs were under the promiſe of heaping up Gold and Silver, and poſſeſſing outward peace, and to enjoy a Land that flowed with Milk and Honey.
True the external or outward diſpenſation of the Goſpel Covenant, which our Children are under, far exceeds theirs for the clearneſs of Light and Revelation of Chriſt, and for other Spiritual priviledges ours excells: Beſides no doubt, but the Children of believers under the Goſpel far exceed the priviledges of unbelievers by the bleſſings of a Godly Education and the like. But we ſay it was not the Covenant of Grace that gave right to Circumciſion under the Law, but the poſitive Law and Command of God, ſo 'tis not the Covenant of Grace that gives right to baptiſm, but Chriſts poſitive Command, which runs not unto our Children untill they do believe; and bid Mr. Owen prove that Infant baptiſm doth make the condition of Children, any ways better then the condition of our Children, who never were baptized.
3. Were not little Children (ſay you) the firſt Martyrs that loſt their Lives for the ſake of Chriſt, Mat. 2. 16. If God Honoured them to be the firſt Witneſſes for Chriſt, being baptized in Blood, will he deny them water Baptiſm.
1. Anſw. Were they only the Children of Believers that Herod Murthered, how will you prove that? but ſuppoſe it was ſo, doth it follow from thence, that we ought to baptize them without a Command; why do you not ſay, and will not Chriſt allow our Children the Ordinance that holds forth the Shedding of his Blood, as well as Baptiſm, that holds forth he was Buried, &c.
4. If the Baptiſm of Infants be evil, why doth the Devil (ſay you) Tempt Witches or Sorcerers to deny that Baptiſm? And what is the reaſon that Satan cannot have any power over them, until they renounce their Baptiſm, and after that they have not any ſtrength to reſiſt him any longer, as ſeveral of them confeſſed. Park. of Witches Vol. 3. page 640.
1. Anſw. Ask Mr. Owen, why the Devil doth not love, nor can't endure Popiſh Holy-water, or is ſuch a fearful enemy to that as the Papiſts ſay it hath often been manifeſt? is the Conſecration of Water therefore of God's appointment. Why may we not give credit to the Papiſts, as well as unto Witches and Sorcerers?
2. Becauſe he cannot prove Infant Baptiſm from Arguments from Heaven will he go for Arguments to prove it to be Chriſts Ordinance taken from Hell?
3. The Devil is a crafty and ſubtle Adverſary, doth not he do this to make People love and approve of their Infant Baptiſm, which no doubt Chriſt never appointed.
4. However this Teſtimony is given only by Witches and Sorcerers, and what ground have we to believe them?
5. Ask them will they give you aſſurance that you will be better Chriſtians, by receiving of their baptiſm, if they ſay you will be the better, anſwer them, that you ſee ſeveral of them growing worſe after their re-baptization.
1. Anſw. Ask Mr. Owen, whether there are not more People that were Baptized, or rather Rantized in Infancy, that prove vile and ungodly, then among them that were baptized upon the profeſſion of their Faith.
2. What aſſurance can he give to Infants, or to their Parents that the Children they baptize ſhall be better Chriſtians thereby? Alſo how will he prove that the Children of believers who were baptized in Infancy, prove generally better Chriſtians then the Children of thoſe Believers that did not baptiſe them in their Infancy.
3. Ask him if the baptiſm of believers upon the profeſſion of their Faith (as Chriſt commanded) be the worſe becauſe ſome, like Simon Magus, take it up, and prove ill Members and ſcandalous in their Lives.
1. Say you, tho' they are Members of a Congregation, walking by the Rule of the Goſpel, before they had their re-baptization, they after break the Unity of the Body they were Members of, by ſeparating themſelves, Baptiſm is an Ordinance of Unity, but re-baptization is the breaking off the Unity of Churches.
1. Anſw. Why do you uſe ſuch Tautologies and needleſs repetitions, you had this before, and I have anſwered it, we deny our baptiſm to be re-baptization, and have proyed your Rantiſm is no Baptiſm at all.
2. Infant Rantiſm, 'tis true, Unites National Churches, and Churches Built upon that, or the like Conſtitution, and ſo it Unites many falſe and Anti-chriſtian Churches I muſt confeſs, as the Church of Rome, and ſome others in the World, much of the ſame nature; but 'tis the baptiſm of Chriſt, viz. that of believers that Unites together, according to the order of the Goſpel, all the Members of a true Goſpel Church; and the denying of Infant baptiſm, and being baptized upon a profeſſion of Faith, does but break the Union of Churches of the Saints, that are formarly true and orderly gathered, according to the Inſtitution of Chriſt, and the rule of the Goſpel: For was not the firſt Goſpel Church at Jeruſalem, gathered out of the National Church of the Jews, of Perſons that repented, believed, and upon the profeſſion of that Faith Baptized, that is Dipped in Water, in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghoſt; alſo the Church in Samaria, Acts 8. and that in Acts 10. and that at Corinth, Acts 16. and that at Epheſus, Acts 19. and ought not all Churches ſo to be gathered to the end of the World? ought we not to ſeparate from ſuch Churches, that do not hold the Ordinances that appertain to Church Conſtitution, as they were firſt delivered to the Saints, and from ſuch who are guilty alſo of an Human Innovation, ought we to partake of other Mens Sins, or ought we not to keep our ſelves pure, Touch not, Taſt not, Handle not, which all are to periſh with the uſing after the Commandments and Doctrines of Men, Col. 2. 21, 22.
2. You ſay, before they had their re-baptization they we more Charitable in their Judgment, but afterwards they are uſuall… of a ſtrict and narrow Judgment, Judging hard and uncharitably of them that are not of their perſwaſion; therefore this Opinion that quencheth Love, is not of God, 1 Cor. 13. I do not ſay of them all, that their Love to the Brethren waxeth colder, when they are baptized, but of the greateſt part of them, the virtue of the Grace of God, overcometh the vertue of this Opinion, and keepeth them from falling into the ſame Temptation of uncharitableneſs with others.
1. Anſw. None of us were ever re-baptized, pray ceaſe your hard and uncharitable Pen and Tongue.
2. Our Charily is greater far then that Mans, whoſe Opinion about Infant Baptiſm, leads him to caſt all out of the Holy Catholick Church, who diſown Infant Baptiſm, and are baptized as Believers.
3. We have ſo much Charity to all godly Chriſtians that are pedo-baptiſts, that we own them to be our Brethren and Members of the Myſtical Body of Chriſt, and have the like Love to them as to thoſe who are of our own perſwaſion in the point of Baptiſm, even to all where we ſee the Image of God.
4. If any among us are too uncharitable, yet aſſure your ſelf it is not this Ordinance of Chriſt, which they own that naturally leads them forth ſo to be, but 'tis from the corruption of their own hearts, therefore you do very ill to Father it on their Opinion.
5. But as to Communion at the Lord's Table, we believe we are limited and bounded therein by the rule of God's Word, and 'tis not for want of Charity to your Churches we cannot have Church Communion with you` (tho' all other Communion of Saints we can have with you) but 'tis becauſe we would walk orderly as God directeth us in the Goſpel, and I ſhould be ſorry to hear any of my Brethren to be of another mind, I am for Catholick Communion, and Charity with all Saints, tho' not for Church Communion with any that are unbaptized, as I believe you all are that have only had Infants Rantiſm.
3. There are others ſince their re-baptization, (ſay you) go further, and have fallen from one deluſion into another, ſome ſet up free will, others denying the Chriſtian Sabbath, others againſt Catechizing of Children, &c.
1. Anſw. 'Tis very uncharitable in you to reflect upon the whole party of Baptized Believers from the errours of ſome that are of our Opinion in reſpect of Baptiſm.
2. You may ſee a Confeſſion of our Faith, and a late Narrative of the reſult of a General Aſſembly of Paſtors, Miniſters and Meſſengers of 107 Churches, in which we Teſtifie againſt free-will, and do abhor that Notion, and own the Chriſtian Sab…, viz. the firſt day of the Week, and vindicate the Catechiſing of Children, have alſo publiſhed a Catechiſm to that end, and do bewail the neglect of that great Duty where ever it is found to be neglected, either among us, or others.
2. But are there no free-willers nor Baxterians among you, whoſe principles are much the ſame, if not ſomething worſe, why then do you thus reflect on us?
Require plain Anſwers (ſay you) from them unto theſe Queſtions, and cauſe them to prove all from the Holy Scriptures, the God of all Grace ſettle you in the preſent Truth, that ye might bring forth Fruits meet to your Baptiſm. Thus you end your Book.
Anſw. You have had plain Anſwers unto all your Queſtions, and many other Queſtions for you to Anſwer, and we have proved all we ſay from the Scriptures, from whence you will never prove your Practice of Infant Baptiſm whilſt the World ſtandeth. And now the good Lord open your eyes; and the eyes of your Sons and Daughters, to ſee their Error, and ſhew you the Ancient Footſteps of the Flock, that you and they may feed beſides the Shepherds Tents, and increaſe Love and Charity among us all, which is too much wanting. O where is the power of godlineſs. Many can ſpy the Mote in their Brothers Eye.