Vindication of the Interest of Children of Believers, To the reader
The EPISTLE To the Candid and Impartial READERS, Eſpecially thoſe unto whom the following Sermons were Preached.
WE live in a day, and Age of Wonders, in which the Divine Providence, produceth many ſtrange things; behold here is preſented unto your eyes, the ſubſtance of two poor Sermons with conſiderable enlargement, that are expos'd (through great importunity) to the open light in the World. I have been very averſe to contribute to the grieved and groaning Preſs, that is overcharg'd by ſuch Writings, which were only fit (after they have been utter'd in the Pulpit) to be adjudg'd to the perpetual Grave of Oblivion; ſuch I readily confeſs are theſe Sermons, and deſerve no better Cenſure: It is a Prodigy to my ſelf, that I ſhould be prevail'd upon, to ſuffer theſe Papers to appear with an open face, and to be expos'd to the view of many. I ſenſibly, and feelingly find cauſe every day, more and more, to bewail, and to bluſh at my own ignorance and incapacity, for the work of the Miniſtry, though I have not been vacant of many Solicitations, accompany'd with the Tears of ſerious Chriſtians, that I would admit ſome of my Labours to be Printed: But at the ſame time a cold damp hath ſeiz'd my Spirits, from a deep conviction of my inſufficiency for ſuch an undertaking; judging it to be my Duty, to be like the Deaf Adder, not to hearken to ſuch Charms, but to be inexorable: You may then demand, how comes it to paſs, that theſe two Sermons have obtain'd more than all the reſt ever could?
I have not only conſider'd the Importunity of dear friends, (I did formerly withſtand) which of it ſelf could never have prevail'd; but am fallen under a Conviction, that the providential Call of my Lord and Maſter doth oblige me, by reaſon of the great diſhonour, that is brought to his moſt ſacred and pure Name, from various infamous Doctrines, that have been divulged amongſt us; and that with ſuch heat and fervor, that we are upon this little ſpot in an Inflammation, yea near unto a Conflagration; inſomuch that out of conſciouſneſs of Duty, and the importunity of thoſe whoſe hearts do bleed within them, I could forbear no longer, but went unto the Sanctuary, to fill my ſhallow Bucket, with ſome of the cooling and quenching waters, that iſſue from under the Threſhold thereof. Oh! that there might be a bleſſing attending this my Eſſay; we are ſo ſet on fire round about us, (by a man of a vehement Spirit) that ſeems to threaten all about him, oppoſite to his Principle, quickly to be conſum'd and reduc'd to aſhes; God be pleas'd, graciouſly to allay his heat, and quench his falſe fiery Zeal.
It is well known, that for ſix or ſeven years, I have born with his unparallell'd Confidence, in his frequent inveighing againſt Infants-Baptiſm, with many inſufferable reflections upon us that are in judgment and practice different from him. He hath, (beſides his frequent Excurſions) an anniverſary day, (ex propoſito) to batter us with his Rams to the ground. A long time we have made no reſiſtance againſt him, (as many of you that attend upon my Miniſtry well know) but have patiently receiv'd the furious fire of his Broadſides: Good Chriſtians have repair'd unto me, begging me to lift up the Standard of Gods Word againſt him; but my reply to them was, Wiſdom ſhould reſt in the Boſom of ſome, and that I knew not how ſhort-liv'd (conſidering the various Threatnings of a Divine Providence, for a multitude of crying Sins that abound among us; particularly the animoſities and diſſentions of the Profeſſors of the Goſpel) our preſent enjoyments might be; adding, that I judg'd the Will of my Lord was, that I ſhould improve that little Talent he hath pleas'd to intruſt me withal, (to the utmoſt of my power) in preaching upon the weighty and moſt neceſſary Truths of the Goſpel, whereby (through Grace) I might ſave my ſelf, and thoſe that hear me, 1 Tim. 4.16. Some of his followers waxed bold, looking upon what he delivered, to proceed out of the mouth of an infallible Oracle, crying out of me, why doth he not anſwer Mr. C. and preach up his ſprinkling of Infants; if he had any thing to ſay, he would not be ſilent. Yea, ſome have been ſo impudent, as to ſay, that what he doth, as to the baptizing of Infants, is againſt the light of his own Conſcience: To ſuch bold Accuſers and Boaſters, I ſhall only return in the words of the Apoſtle, Rom. 14.4. Who art thou that judgeſt another mans ſervant? to his own Maſter he ſtandeth or falleth.
It is common amongſt us, for thoſe that underſtand not the right hand from the left in any great point of the things of God, to judge and condemn the moſt judicious and pious, that are not of their Meaſures about Baptiſm; let but a man renounce his Baby ſprinkling (as they ſcornfully call it) and paſs under the Water, he is an excellent Chriſtian. If ſome of their Preachers be never ſo raw, crude …nd illiterate, and can lay about them with abundance of Confidence, though mingled with a great quantity of Nonſenſe, yet they are admir'd by them being for dipping, without which what is all the Learning, Experience, Piety, Pains, and ſincere endeavours of faithful Miniſters in ſerving ſouls? It may grieve any one that hath a ſerious conſideration of the worth of Souls, and the weightineſs of the work of the Miniſtry upon his Heart, to hear, how all that thoſe deliver, that decry the Baptizing of Infants, is magnified, as flowing from the Spirit of the Lord, though much that is vented, is but the apparent (proles) or off-ſpring of Pride, Ignorance and Confidence. Oh! let not my ſoul enter into their Secrets: who is ſufficient for theſe things? I wiſh that there be not only contempt heaped upon the Word of the Lord and his Miniſtry, but alſo blaſphemy upon the Spirit: Let men take heed of being too bold in fathering their paſſionate Sallies, and Invectives againſt their Betters, upon the Holy Ghoſt; Oh! that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for theſe things!
To compleat all, the high place in the Congregation is not ſufficient to diſcharge the conception of the ſtomach againſt us, but the Preſs muſt alſo groan to bring forth, that there may nothing appear but dung and filth upon our faces, and all the beauty of Religion, and Evangelical Order of the Goſpel we walk in, may be totally defac'd. From the Preſs hath been ſent into the midſt of us, two Pamphlets, like unto Sampſon's Foxes that were join'd in the Tail with fire-brands betwixt them to burn down all our Field; as if nothing leſs than the total deſtruction of our Vineyard could ſuffice. With what care muſt theſe Prints immediately be diſperſt into all quarters? not only at the publick Meeting Houſe, the Bookſellers Shops, but ſome of them muſt be ſent up and down in blank Papers to ſeveral Perſons by the Penny-Poſt, and others carry'd to Coffee-Houſes, and openly laid upon the Tables, that every one that comes to take a Pipe and drink a Diſh, might feaſt upon and admire this none-ſuch Author, and not only the ſober, but the wet Drinkers ſhould be baptized into his opinion. Theſe Books (ſuch as they are) muſt be diligently in all places ſcatter'd, that if it be poſſible every hand might be furniſht with a tool and weapon to beat and cut us all into pieces: what a ſpirit is this man poſſeſt withal, as if he would be a common troubleſome. Ghoſt; to haunt every houſe and heart, near unto him? Surely we are greatly ingag'd, for our peace, and quiet, (by all lawful means) to do all that we can to lay him; for it is he that hath been the great troubles of our Iſrael, I do ſincerely deſire him in the cool time of his ſpirit, provided, when his eyes are opened, he doth ever enjoy ſuch a ſeaſon, ſolemnly to conſider the deſcription that the wiſeſt of men doth give of a publick annoyer, Prov. 26.18. When I firſt caſt mine eyes upon his. Books, I could not but admire them for Pride, Ignorance and Confidence, never yet ſaw I any thing ſince I was able to hold a book in my hand for theſe qualifications ſo excellent; this hath been the opinion of many, that have been much more able to judge, than ever he will be to write.
I ſhall briefly tell you, what was my vehement provocation and prevailing inducement to preach the following Sermons, vid. his audacious cruelty in his Book, offer'd to our Children, to the Seed of all that have the ſingular priviledge of being in Covenant with the Lord. He could not in his writings content himſelf (as many of his Brethren do) only to exclude them from their right to Baptiſm, but muſt proceed upon ſuch wayes, and means, that do inevitably ſhut them out of the Kingdom of Heaven, if ſo be they expire in their infancy, Hinc illae Lachrymae! What pious and tender Parent, that hath a ſerious concernment upon his heart, for the eternal ſtate of his Child, can hear ſuch Doctrine, and his ears not to tingle, and his heart not to tremble?
I confeſs, to have ſuch wild and cruel Doctrine to be not only deliver'd, but lick'd up and admir'd amongſt us (as if it was one of the choiceſt Truths of Grace, that our Lord and Maſter ſends his Ambaſſadors to proclaim) did cauſe a little zeal for Truth to wax warm within me, and engaged me to draw up ſome cautions againſt, and make ſome mild reflections upon, ſuch Infant-deſtroying matter: therefore when I preach'd (as the Lord did inable me) concerning a ſound and ſaving knowledge of Chriſt in the uſe of this truth; I did blame ſome that were chiefly concern'd about other knowledge, little reſpecting this; adding, That there was ſuch a knowledge of Chriſt, as to the object of it, but was not that which was moſt neceſſary to Salvation, as for inſtance, that of Baptiſm, as to the ſubject of it. Thus I gently deliver'd my ſelf, ſaying, that there be ſome Pulpits that reek with a blind Zeal againſt Infant-baptiſm; but pray take notice, that what I am going to ſpeak is neither for, nor againſt the baptizing of Infants, only I cannot but take notice of a Pamphlet, lately riſen up in the midſt of us, that in its decrying Infants-baptiſm, does proceed upon ſuch Mediums, that muſt unavoidably ſhut thoſe that dye in their Infancy out of Heaven, and ſo a terrible ſentence of condemnation is denounc'd againſt them all: this bold Writer doth preſume to lay it down as one of his infallible poſitions, that no Infants are in Covenant with their Parents that are Believers, nor capable of habitual Faith, one great branch of Sanctification, and the new Creature, indiſpenſably neceſſary to Salvation. This he is ſo confident of, that in a ſcornful way, he doth rank that odious Doctrine of Antichriſt, Tranſubſtantiation, with Infants being in Covenant with their Parents, and their being capable of habitual Faith; it ſeems they be all of the ſame import with him: He being ſenſible what a foundation he hath laid to build the perdition of Infants upon, that he might lick this illſhapen Monſter into ſome pleaſing ſhape, acquaints us, that he hath found out a way to ſave Children notwithſtanding: One would wonder what this curious invention ſhould be, it is this, vid. thoſe Children that ſhall be ſaved, ſhall ſo be by an imputed righteouſneſs; thus we ſee, what it is to be a ſagacious Divine. I believe all the brains of the dull Schoolmen, could never find out ſuch an exquiſite notion, as this topping Preacher hath not only to ſend our poor Infants by ſwarms to Hell, but alſo can recall them and reverſe the doom that he hath denounc'd againſt them; as if the power of Life and Death were in his hands: The worſt of it is, here is nothing to prevail upon us to imbibe his new invented way, but his own Authority; his ipſe dixit, will not ſatisfie thinking men, tho' it may go ſmoothly down with his own admirers.
That Caution given to us about falſe Teachers, Gal. 1.8. cannot but ſtick with me; I am certain here is another Goſpel, and that in a ſubſtantial point of our Religion, and Articles of Faith. I confeſs (in the hearing of many of you) I did ſay upon this unſcriptural Notion, what I ſee no reaſon as yet to retract that to talk of an imputed Righteouſneſs, without a Covenant of Grace, & without an imparted Righteouſneſs, was but Mountebank Divinity. I underſtand it to be the judgment of all our Divines, that Juſtification, and Sanctification, tho' different in their Nature and uſe yet are never ſeparate as to their ſubject; for thoſe whom God doth juſtifie, them alſo he doth ſanctifie, neither do I understand how without a Covenant of Grace, we can be made partakers of either of them: but here is an incomparable man, that can divide theſe great bleſſings, and can make Infants happy with one, tho' they are not capable of the other; ay, and that notwithſtanding they be not in the Covenant of Grace with their Parents. I wonder where my good neighbour learnt this Doctrine; he is ſuch a Profeſſor of Divinity, as that he hath made a Catechiſm, which he hath diſpers'd among his Diſciples I have not yet ſeen it, but fear, when I ſhall obtain a ſight of it (as now I do intend) I ſhall ſcarce find him more excellent, and ſound, than what was the product of that judicious Aſſembly that ſat at Weſtminſter; alas they could find out no ſuch way as here is preſented unto us, of condemning and abſolving Infants: to mention this Mountebank Divinity with caution and tenderneſs, was all that I did preſume to do for many years; I thought at this, no well temper'd and ſober mind could ſuffer a recoil, conſidering my long and many provocations. But what a noiſe did this make? What a dust did this raiſe? Nay, into what a frisk did this put our admir'd Author? How was he nettled? that any of his Doctrine ſhould, (that was much admir'd by ſuch that were juſt as able to judge, as he to write) be call'd into queſtion: Notwithſtanding all that was ſaid, neither his venerable name, nor either of his Books was ſo much as mention'd, that which was ſpoke, did not carry any direct oppoſition to his Believers Baptiſm (as he calls it;) yet he (as if he was the only Soveraign upon this Spot, and was inveſted with a deſpotick power, taking upon him to rule as with an abſolute Authority) was put into a terrible commotion and convulſion; and many of his Devotaries were prejudicially poſſeſt, as if ſome great Treaſon had been committed againſt their Ruler and Guide: Why, but what is the matter? A poor man that lay bury'd for ſix or ſeven years in the Grave of patience and ſilence, upon whom they had long trampled, and over whom they had long inſulted, the top-mould of his Grave did a little diſcernibly move, and what ſhall we do, provided there ſhould be a Reſurrection? Oh! how were all hands (tongues) called to help? How muſt the mouth of the grave be diligently watch'd that he creep not forth? leſt our tottering foundation be diſquieted, our hightower'd magnificent Structure be ſhaken, our direful Principles about dying Infants be detected and diſprov'd, and the fatal Sentence that we have pronounc'd be revers'd; Little can any one ſuppoſe or conceive what a tumult was rais'd from ſo ſmall an alarm, all muſt be upon the defence; but with what Weapons muſt that be made? Out of what Porge or Mint muſt they come? Surely out of that Infernal One of Hell; that which I muſt be accoſted withal at the firſt Onſet muſt be Lyes, as if nothing elſe was their Armour of Proof, and Weapons of Deſence. It is wonderful that ſo many of thoſe, that would be thought the moſt Excellent, if not the only People of God amongſt us, ſhould themſelves give us their true Erymology, and diſcover what Lineage and Stock they be of, the Lord help them to conſider, who is the Father of Lyers, and whoſe Children they are that make Lyes; Is this conſonant with the deſcription that is given of Gods Children? Iſa. 63.8. For he ſaid, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie. Let thoſe that would be thought the greateſt Inhabitants of the New Jeruſalem, and to have their Names wrote in the Lamb's Book of Life, be careful they do not deceive and expoſe themſelves by this Sin to a fearful Excluſion, Rev. 21.27. I have a Black Catalogue of Lyes committed to Writing, which I had thought at this Time to have preſented you withall, but forbear till another ſeaſon. I ſhould have been very glad not to have been concern'd in this controverſie, but ſince I have ſuffer'd ſuch a violent arreſt out of my grave of durance and ſilence, where I ſhould have been glad to have reſted all my dayes, and finding my Pillow to be extreamly uneaſie, being ſtufft with piercing and pricking thorns; I could not but offer this little Teſtimony for the Truth I am contending for. When I did diſcourſe in my Pulpit about the Covenant ſtate of Infants with their Parents, I did not intend that what was deliver'd ſhould ever fall under the weight of the Preſs; what hath been ſpoken hath not been altogether deſtitute of a Bleſſing (through grace) unto many that heard it: the next Sabbath after my undertaking in this affair, my good neighbour (that he might ſhew the rancour of his Spirit) produc'd in his Pulpit a Paper againſt me, which he read in his Congregation, at the tail of which he diſcover'd his ſting, which was an open challenge that he pronounc'd againſt me, to diſpute me openly, either in his, or my Meeting Houſe; thus the Gantlet (I do not ſay the Club) was caſt; the ſame week he did diſperſe abroad that upon the next Lords day, he would preach upon my Text, and confute me. I had thought to have acquainted you what an excellent confitter he is (having his confutation Sermons by me taken from his mouth, by the Pen of a ready Writer:) but upon ſecond thoughts, I ſhall ſuſpend that until another occaſion be offer'd. This Champion that he might triumph, in his moſt triumphant and ſtately Chariot, hath publiſhed another Challenge againſt me in his Pulpit, after he had (as he judg'd) confuted my Doctrine about the Covenant. If it had been any of my Brethren that he had thus confuted and challenged, I ſhould have wondered what manner of Spirit this Man had been of; one would have thought that if he had had any True Call to the Miniſtry, (which many queſtion) the conſideration of his Education might have ſomething ſuppreſſed the proud Elation of his Mind, which in theſe Things doth eminently and too apparently diſcover it ſelf, and that he might not have thought himſelf to have been a Star of the Firſt Magnitude. I remember I have read of a King that was advanced to the Throne from a mean Deſcent and Calling, being a Potter by Trade, that the Canker of Pride might not approach nor corrupt the Royal Diadem, would have all his Proviſions for his Table ſerv'd with Earthen Veſſels, that ſo he might frequently have ſuch an Object in his Eye, that might keep him humble. I ſhall leave my good Friend and Antagoniſt to make the Application. I have oftentimes thought in my grieved and ſorrowful ſilence, that if it had pleaſed the Divine Providence to have placed ſome of my Anabaptiſt Brethren (whom my Soul loveth dearly) in this Mans Poſt; we might have dwelt like Brethren, might have taken ſweet Counſel, and have walked unto the Houſe of God together, yea, might have carried on the Work of the Lord with one Hand, one Shoulder, and one Heart. I can (Chriſtian Readers) truly ſay, that what I have here put into your Hands to read in the following Sermons is wrote and deſigned for the Honour of God, the Grace of his Covenant, to interpoſe a little between our poor Children and Little Ones, and that Soul-amazing Doom that is pronounced againſt them, to reprove the raſh and furious Zeal of our Adverſary, to Anſwer the vehement Importunities and longing Expectations of many of my good Friends, to commode all that hear me, in inſtructing them in this great and comfortable Truth of the Goſpel that I contend for, to give a check to that Lying Spirit that is got looſe among us, to ſatisfie any that are ſtumbling and doubting about Baptiſm, and to reduce (if the God of Peace ſhall ſee good) this poor troubled Place to a peaceable tranquil Compoſure. Oh! cry to God, that this my Ʋndertaking, ſincerely proſtituted to the good of Souls, may meet with ſome ſuitable Bleſſing thereunto, and that all my poor Labours in the Work of the Goſpel, may obtain good ſucceſs. The Lord be with you, and bleſs you, and cauſe his gracious Face to ſhine upon you, guiding you into the Way of Truth, and conducting you to his Eternal Glory: My Hearts deſire and prayer for you all is, that you may be ſaved. I am
Your Affectionate Servant in Chriſt, Fran. Mence.