Concerning Baptism and Communion of Churches in New England, Title page – To the reader
THE FIRST PRINCIPLES OF NEW-ENGLAND, Concerning The Subject of Baptiſme & Communion of Churches.
Collected partly out of the Printed Books, but chiefly out of the Original Manuſcripts of the Firſt and chiefe Fathers in the New-Engliſh Churches; With the Judgment of Sundry Learned Divines of the Congregational Way in England, Concerning the ſaid Queſtions.
Publiſhed for the Benefit of thoſe who are of the Riſing Generation in New England.
By INCREASE MATHER, Teacher of a Church in Boſton in New-England
Deut. 32.7. Remember the dayes of old,—Aske thy Father and he will ſhew thee, thy Elders & they will tell thee.
Pſal. 102.18. This ſhall be written for the Generation to come.
Nihil mihi Authoritatis aſſumo, ſed quae ab alijs diſperſa velut in ordinem Epitomata, Conſcribo. Veget. L. 1. C. 8.
CAMBRIDGE Printed by Samuel Green, 1671.
To the Reader.
COncerning the enſuing Collection of Teſtimonies, which are expreſſive of the Judgement of the firſt and chief of the Fathers in the New Engliſh Churches (as alſo of ſundry others that are Pillars amongſt thoſe of the true Congregational way) about the Subject of Baptiſme and the Communion of Churches, if any ſhould have Scruples about the truth thereof, they may eaſily in part ſatisfy themſelves, by having recourſe to the printed Books out of which theſe paſſages are faithfully excerped. And as for thoſe things which are (as moſt of the ſubſequent Collection is) taken from Manuſcripts, I have by me the Original Scripts, only ſome few of them are in other hands, who are ready, to ſhew them unto ſuch (if any ſuch there be) as ſhall heſitate touching the Fidelity of this publication. As to that matter therefore no more ſhall, or needs to be ſaid. My deſigne at pr ſent is only to Commend a few things to the ſerious and Chriſtian Conſideration of the Antiſynodalian Brethren. Brethren I was once of your perſwaſion, and thence can with the more Love and Compaſſion ſpeak unto you. What the Arguments were which cauſed me to be of another mind, is not here a place to relate, but it ſhall be done (if God permit) elſewhere. For the preſent, let it ſuffice to be ſaid, that Study and Prayer, and much Affliction hath brought me to be of another belief, then once I was of touching the Controverted Queſtions. And unto you that are ſtill of the Antiſynodalian perſwaſion, I would in the bowels and love of Chriſt ſay theſe few things.
1. Conſider that it is poſſible that you may be miſtaken in your Apprehenſions. Many things might be mertioned to you, which ought to Cauſe an humble jealouſy in you, least ſo it ſhould be. Were there that only Conſideration, that ſo many Learned and gedly men are oppoſed, it ought to Cauſe Trembling, and an holy fear in you, leaſt your Notions ſhould be Erroneous It is a Chriſtian Speech and Spirit which bleſſed Burroughs hath in his Excellent Itenicum (pag. 89.) where he ſaith, He that differs in his Judgement from gedly learned men, had need to ſpend much Time in Prayer and Humiliation before the Lord There is a notable Expreſſion of Baſil cited in an Epiſtle of Luther to the Miniſters of Norimberg, who were at variance variance one from another, He who will ſeparate from his Brethren, had need to Conſider many things even to anxiety, he had need break his ſleep many nights, and ſeek of God with many Tears the demonſtration of the Truth. Thus, He.
Remember that thoſe you differ from were under greater Advantages and Probabilities to underſtand the Truth then can be ſaid concerning your ſelves, For that many of the members of the late Synod called to Anſwer the Queſtions concerning the Subject of Baptiſme and Conſociation of Churches, (beſides their eminent Piety and inlarged underſtanding and Capacity in thoſe reſpects to diſcern the Truth) had beſtowed much Time and pains in ſeeking and ſearching after the mind of God about theſe Queſtions, cannot be denyed. For the moſt part, when godly, learned men miſs of the Truth, it is in points which either they have not at all, or not throughly and Impartially ſtudied, when as the Leaders in the Synod mentioned, had most induſtriouſly, and not without prayers and Tears laboured to know the will of the Lord, concerning theſe Affairs of his houſe, and Kingdome. Nor is it to be forgotten, how the Lord did in his Providence ſignally own that Aſſembly. For at the Time of their ſecond Seſſions there was a ſore and threatning drought on the Land, whereupon that Synod ſet a day apart to ſeek the Lord by Faſting and Prayer, and Immediately upon thoſe Prayers did the Lord give Rain from Heaven, whereby he did from Heaven own both his Servants, and the work which they were about. And therein likewiſe we may obſerve a divine Confutation of thoſe Spirits, who impute our droughts, blaſtings, &c. to that Aſſembly, or to the Doctrine by them aſſeried and propugned. Remember alſo that there have been very worthy men (amongſt whom I who am Conſcious to my ſelf, that I am the chief of Sinners, am no way worthy to be mentioned) who were againſt ſuch Inlargement of Baptiſme as the Synod pleads for, yet upon ſecond and wiſeſt thoughts (foreign) have ſeen Cauſe to change their opinion. This is true concerning ſome now at reſt with Chriſt, and ſundry (amongſt whom as I ſaid I reckon not my ſelf) yet ſurviving. Yea, it is true concerning ſome Judicious of the Congregational way in England as well as in New-England. It is a good Obſervation which I remember Mr Cotton hath in his Letter to M. Williams. (pag. 12. where he argueth, that the way of the Rig… …epa…tion is not of God, becauſe thoſe who in Simplicity and tenderneſs … Conſcience have been drawn into the error of that way, yet when they have grown in grace, they have alſo grown to diſcern the error of the Separation. The ſame thing …e may ſay in this Caſe; ſome who did once Conſcientiouſly and humbly according to their preſent light diſſent from the late Synod, yet as they have grown in wiſdome and grace, and ripeneſs for Heaven, the Lord hath given them for to ſee, that their Rigidity in this particular was a failing. Moreover ii is a Rule as true as Ancient and Common, that whatever Opinion doth drive the maintainers of it to any abſurdities is to be ſuſpected and rejected as erroneous. It's Everlaſtingly Certain, that a falſe Concluſion can never be drawn out of true Premiſſes, ex …ero nil niſi verum. Now ſome that with the higheſt Confidence have oppoſed the Doctrine of the Synod concerning the Subject of Baptiſme to uphold their No ions, have been forced to embrace ſuch things as are very Irrational. Al… theſe things being put together are enough to br…d an humble, and an holy Jealouſie over your own Apprehenſions. That then is the firſt word I would ſeriouſly and affectionately Comm…nd to your Conſideration. The ſecond word is this, Conſider that if you be miſtaken your Error hath, as things are Circumſtanced, no little evil and danger in it. For if you be miſtaken, then you oppoſe a Cauſe of Divine Grace, which to do is ſad, ſince God looks upon his Grace as his Glory, Eph. 1.14. As Gods holineſs is dear to him, and thence any way to oppoſe that is dangerous, the ſame is to be ſaid concerning his Grace. And if you be miſtaken, you o…poſe a Cauſe of Gods Covenant, now Gods Covenant is marvellous dear unto him, and no man can daſh himſelf against an Intereſt of the Covenant without great haz…d And if you be miſtaken, you oppoſe an Intereſt, yea, and a great Intereſt of Chriſts Kingdome, now that muſt needs diſpleaſe the Lord, It is very ob…v…ble, t…at Chriſt was never ſo angry as his own dear Di…ciples, as the…, when …h…y did rigidly withhold ſom… that were Children o… th… Kingdom…, from being brought to him, foreignMark. 10 13, 14 why ſo? even becauſe his own Intereſt was th…rein Concerned, me… are ſoon mov…d when their own Intereſt is ſtruck at, ſo was the holy heart of Chriſt much moved, becauſe when Children, …e…e k…t from him, his own Intereſt was prejudiced. Brethren▪ if ſo it be, that th… Doctrine of the Synod he Truth, you that oppoſe it, do what in you be opt ju…ce an Intereſt of Chriſt, and if ſo, Chriſt is not well pleaſ…d …ith you for this thing. There is not a more awful Scripture in all the Book of God, the… that where it is ſaid concerning Chriſts Kingdom, that whoſoever ſhall fall on this ſtone ſhall be broken, M… 21.44 Brethren, one word let me in the Bow…s of the Lord ſa…o you, And I ſpeak it not with a deſire to grieve or …ffend any of you, but if my heart deceive me not, Loy… to Christ, and to you, and to the ſucceeding Generation in New-England cauſeth me to ſpeak it, it is only this, oh tremble, leſt this very Error of yours prove the breaking, and the ruine of your poor Poſterity. They are Solemn and weighty words, and I muſt Confeſs have alwayes had an aweful Impreſſion upon my Conſcience, which the Elders have in the Preface to the late Synod Book; (pag. 12.) ſhould (ſay they) the Church education of your Children be by the want of your hearty Concurrence rendred either infeaſable or ineffectual, ſhould they live as Lambs in a large Paſture for want of your Agreement to own them of the Flock; we beſeech you Conſider how uncomfortable the Accompt hereof will be another day. Truly when I think, (and I often think of it) ſeriouſly and ſadly with my ſelf, that in a Plantation of Religion (for ſuch New-England was) the Generality of the Inhabitants ſhould be in the Condition of Infidels, that the Poſterity of a People profeſſing Godlineſs, yea, of the moſt eminent Profeſſors in the whole World, ſhould in our Age be as Infidels even not ſo much as within the Compaſs of the viſible Church, or have the Livery and Character belonging to Chriſtians upon them, whereby ſuch are diſtinguiſhed from the Infidel and Pagan World, what it ha's to others I know not, but to me it ha's a moſt formi…able appearance, Remember alſo that the light ha's been forth, in which reſpect, Now for you to oppoſe the Truth, after that Convincing Teſtimonies have been given to it by the Lords Servants, will be farr more dangerous and provoking to the Lord, then in former Times amongſt us, when theſe things had not been ſo fully enquired into, as of late through the good hand of Divine Providence it ha's been. A third word which I would ſay is, ſtudy well the point of Infant Baptiſme. Acquaint your ſelves with the Scripture proofs for that Ordinance, I muſt acknowledge that that ha's been no ſmall Confirmation to me. This I find that there is haraly an Argument produced against ſuch Inlargement, as is by the Synod aſſerted, but what the Antipaedo-Baptiſts wake uſe of to ſerve their tu…n. Alſo that the Arguments which do demonſtrate Paedo-Baptiſme in general, do (for the moſt part) prove that Baptiſme ought to be Adminiſtred in the Latitude which the Synod pleads for. The laſt word which I ſhall ſay is this, uſe all means of Gods app…inting, that you may come to underſtand the Truth in this matter. There have been ſome to my knowledge (and becauſe I know there have been ſome, I am apt to think there may be many more then I know of) that have exclaimed much againſt the Synod Book, as if it were an Apostacy and Impurity, &c. That yet upon Examination have Confeſſed, that they never read the Book, much leſs have they read other things written in defence thereof; and how farr then have they been from reading theſe things, with Prayers and Tears, and Humiliations before the Lord, oh! if Brethren would prove all things, and pray unceſſantly over what they do, and add deep Humiliations to their Prayers, and depend upon Chriſt for light, we might hope that God would either diſcover his Truth to them, in the very things they are ſearching after, or in ſome other matters better for them to know, and in the mean Time help them to carry it with that Chriſtian moderation that becometh Saints, Prov. 2.3, 4, 5. Ezek. 43.11. Phil. 3.15, 16.
As for the Reaſons which have induced me to this enſuing Collection, beſides thoſe general motives mentioned in the Introduction, the ſpecial Conſiderations which hauehave prevailed with me were, Firſt, that I might pleaſe God in obeying the fifth Commandment by vindicating the honour of my Fathers. (2 dly.) in that a ſpecial Advantage ha's been put into my hands for this undertaking, by Reaſon of my Acquaintance with the Manuſcripts of both my Fathers, (I mean my Father Cotton, and my Father Mather) from whence theſe Testimonies are for the moſt part produced. [3 dly.] My Father when he was leaving the world, did Commend it as his dying Counſel to me, that I ſhould endeavour the good of the Riſing Generation in this Country, and in ſpecial, that they might be brought under the Government of Chriſt in his Church, and when grown up and qualified, as is in the late Synod Book expreſſed, have Baptiſme for their Children. What Impreſſion thoſe words, ſince they were the words of a Father, and of ſuch a Father, and dying words alſo, have had upon my heart, is known to the Father of Spirits, who only ſearcheth hearts, and Converſeth with the Souls of men, nor am I able to utter it. [4 ly.] It is known unto thoſe few in the world, that have any knowledge of ſo obſcure and inconſiderable a perſon as my ſelf, that I have of late been near unto Death, God having brought me back again, as it were out of the Grave, I muſt needs have had many thoughts with my ſelf, what I ſhould do for God, and for his people? yea, for his People, whoſe Prayers have ſaved my Life. Now I would fain hope what is here done will be a Service for Chriſt, and for theſe his Churches, and for that Generation whereof I am, when I ſhall ſleep with my Fathers.
There is alſo publiſhed herewith, the Subſtance of a Letter written by Mr. Mitchel, late faithful and famous Pastor of the Church in Cambridg. Although I cannot ſay but that I was [albeit he knew not that] when that Letter was ſent to me, inclining to the ſame Apprehenſion about the Subject of Baptiſme, which at preſent I am of, yet the Arguments therein ſuggeſted, were I muſt Confeſs weighty and powerful Conſiderations with me, and I believe will be ſo to others that duely weigh matters in the Ballance of the Sanctuary, for which Cauſe principally, I have thus expoſed it to publick view. Alſo I have partly done it honoris gratia, that I might teſtify my deep reſpect to that bleſſed man, concerning whom I may ſay as ſometimes B…za concerning Calvin, Now Mitchel is dead, life is leſs ſweet, and death will be leſs bitter unto me.
Once for all, let me deſire the Reader to take notice that I do not by this Collection, concern my ſelf in the defence of every Notion or Argument, or Principle, that is by any of thoſe Worthies inſiſted on, but my only deſign therein is, to ſhew that ſuch Inlargment of Baptiſme, and that Conſociation of Churches, which is in the Synod Book aſſerted is no Apoſtacy from the firſt Principles of New-England, nor yet any declenſion from the Congregational way. Now the Lord Jeſus who hath promiſed that the Spirit of Truth ſhall come, and ſhall guide into all Truth, fulfil his good word, even the Lord ſend out of his Light and his Truth, and let them lead us. Let him grant that there may be Peace and Truth in our dayes, and not only ſo, but that the Generation to come may praiſe the Lord, that it may appear, that his Righteouſneſs is for ever, and his Salvation from Generation to Generation, Amen, and A men! This is the hearts deſire and Prayer of him
From my Study in Boston N.E. 1. of 3 d MonethMonth. 1671. Who is leſs then the leaſt of all Gods mercies and Saints. Increaſe Mather.