A Forerunner to a Large Review of the Dispute Concerning Infant Baptism, Title page – Epigraph
PRAECURSOR: OR A FORERUNNER To a large Review of the Dispute concerning INFANT-BAPTISM; Wherein many things both Doctrinall and personal are cleared: about which Mr. RICHARD BAXTER In a Book MOCK-TITLED [PLAIN SCRIPTURE-PROOF OF INFANTS CHURCH-MEMBERSHIP AND BAPTISM] hath darkned the Truth.
By JOHN TOMBS B. D.
LONDON, Printed by H. Hils, and are to be sold by H. Crips and Lod. Lloid in Popes-head Ally, T. Brewster and G. Moule at the three Bibles at the West end of Pauls, 1652.
To the right Honourable Bulstrode Whitlock, Richard Keble, Serjeants at Law, John Lisle Esq Lords Commissioners for the Great Seal of England, Major General Thomas Harrison, Edmund Prideaux Esquire, Atturney General for the State of England, Denis Bond Esquire.
THrough the influence of the favour of many of you as instruments of the Lord for my liberty to preach the Gospel and peace at the Temple in London, I enjoyed sundry years in the late tempestuous times an unexpected calm, until a new storm arising by reason of the violence of men bent to bear down dissenters from the determinations of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, by reason of the publishing my Examen of Mr. Marshals Sermon for Infant-baptism, I was necessitated to leave the harbour I had at the Temple, and to remove a great distance from London, to the place of my nativity, in which I hoped for a setlement, which I found not. For partly by the States selling my lands out of which my maintenance there arose, and partly by reason of the alienating of mens spirits from me through the distance between me and the Antagonist I here answer, I was in a great measure frustrated of my hopes. But it pleased the Lord nevertheless to order things so, that by the means of some of you as Patrons, and others as helpers, I enjoy a comfortable supply for my maintenance, together with that which is dearer to me, the liberty of holding forth the truth of the Gospel, where I laboured many years heretofore. In testimony of my thankful acknowledgement of that ample favour which it pleased some of you to vouchsafe me by your appearing for me, and bounty to me at the Temple, and testimonial of me at my departure thence, the readiness of you all either to invest, or to setle me in the maintenance I now enjoy, & that there may be something in your hands to vindicate me from injurious aspersions, under which my self with the truth I avouch do suffer much, I humbly presume to present this writing to your hands, and praying that you may honor God in your places who hath raised you up to do him service, I subscribe my self
Your Honours humble and real servant, JOHN TOMBES. Lemster, December 26. 1651.
To the dearly beloved, my Auditors formerly the Inhabitants of Bewdly in Worcestershire.
THe fame of the dispute between Mr. Baxter and my self at your Chappel, Jan. 1. 1649. was at first spread over the land by Mr. Bs abusive passage in his Epistle before his book of The Saints everlasting rest: to which I opposed an answer in my Farewell-speech to you, and that it might be communicated to the Nation printed it with some additions in my Antidote, which I intended in the first place for your use. After this Mr. B. printed a large book for Infants-baptism, framed in manner of a Sermon as intended, and accordingly tendred in an Epistle to you. In which how injuriously he hath dealt with me, and how weakly he hath opposed the truth I taught you, will appear in part by reading this Forerunner to the rest of the answer that is to come after. I did presently upon my first reading of Mr. Bs. book in a set speech briefly shew you Mr. Bs. grounds, and the reason why they were unsatisfying. Yet neither my Antidote nor that speech do I find much regarded by many of you: nor perhaps will this writing take much with you. However I have conceived it necessary to tender this writing to you, that it might thereby appear, how vain the excessive boastings of Mr. Bs book have been; how justifiable their receiving the truth, who have yielded to it is; and how inexcusable they are that persist in Mr. Bs. way. What ever you think or speak of me, yet I do, and shall study your good, and committing my labours for you and among you, to the blessing of the Lord, I rest,
Your loving Countreyman and servant in Christ, JOHN TOMBES. Lemster Oct. 1. 1651.
The Contents.
Sect. I. OF the necessity and occasion of this present writing.
Sect. II. That the Title of Mr. Baxters book, is a mock-title.
Sect. III. Mr. Baxters citations from Fathers, advantage him not.
Sect. IV. Mr. Baxters citations from my writings, advantage him not.
Sect. V. Mr. Baxter unduly suggests many things in his Epistles.
Sect. VI. The chief points of Mr. Baxters book are very briefly touched.
Sect. VII. Many personal occurrences are cleered: by relating of which Mr. Baxter hath (in his History) sought to create prejudice against me.
Sect. VIII. More personal matters, which the History of Mr. Baxter hath made crooked, are set straight.
Sect. IX. In my alleging Peter de Bruis and others as Antipaedobaptists 500. years ago, is no untrath.
Sect. X. That Mr. Baxters charge of accusing and of disputing my children out of the Church and Covenant of Christ, is vain; and some inquiry is made, how they are in Covenant.
Sect. XI. About Mr. Baxters 4. Texts, urged impertinently to prove Infants visible Church-membership.
Sect. XII. That Mr. Baxter unjustly chargeth me to be a Sect-Master.
Sect. XIII. That it is not a right way to judge of the truth of doctrine, by strange accidents, though wonderous.
Sect. XIV. That Mr. Baxter doth not rightly expound Christs rule, Mat. 7. 15, 16. nor is unholiness of men a note to know fals doctrine by.
Sect. XV. Mr. Baxters insinuations of the wickedness of Anabaptists, is Calumniatory, and vainly alleged to condemne their doctrine of Antipaedobaptism: Anabaptists, and with them my self, are vindicated from charges of Schism, neglect of the Lords day, &c.
Sect. XVI. The ground of my opposing Infant-baptism, is confirmed by Mr. Baxter himself.
Sect. XVII. The gross absurdities, to which Mr. Baxter vaunted I was driven in the dispute.
Sect. XVIII. The gross untruths Mr. Baxter chargeth me with, are not such.
Sect. XIX. The 6. imagined errors charged on me by Mr. Baxter are cleered from his censure.
Sect. XX. Many learned men (with the Oxford Convocation) of former & later times, take Infant-baptism only for an unwritten Tradition.
Sect. XXI. Many things are cleared about my Conformity, Anabaptists necessity to be baptized, the manner of dipping used by them; their standing to their confession of faith, &c.
Sect. XXII. The speech [that no one Countrey is gathered into Christs visible Church] containes no malignancy to-Christ, but is a manifest truth.
ERRATA.
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Mr. Richard BAXTER in the 2. Edition of THE SAINTS EVERLASTING REST, part. 1. chap. 8. sect. 5. pag. 1795. in the margin, hath these words.
ANd in the primitive times none were baptized without an expresse Covenanting, wherein they renounced the World, Flesh and Devil; and engaged themselves to Christ, and promised to obey him; as you may see in Tertul. Origer, Cyprian, and others at large. I will cite but one for all, who was before the rest, and that is Justin Martyr; speaking of the way of baptizing the aged, saith, How we are dedicated to God, we will now open to you. As many as being penswaded do believe these things to be true which we teach, and do promise to live according to them, they first learn by prayer and fasting to beg pardon of God for their former sins; our selves joining also our prayer and fasting. Then they are brought to the water, and are born again (or baptized) in the same way as we our selves were born again. For they are washed with water in the name of the Father, the Lord and God of all; and of our Saviour Jesus Christ; and of the Holy Ghost—Then we bring the person thus washed and instructed, to the Brethren, as they are called, where the Assemblies are; that we may pray both for our selves and the new illuminated person, that we may be found by true doctrine and by good works, worthy observers and keepers of the Commandments, and that we may attain eternal salvation. Then there is brought to the chief Brother, (so they called the chief Minister) Bread, and a Cup of Wine (washed;) which taking, he offereth praise and thanksgiving to the Father by the name of the Son and Holy Ghost. And so a while he celebrateth thanksgiving. After prayers and thanksgiving, the whole Assembly saith Amen. Thanksgiving being ended by the President (or chief guide) & the consent of the whole people, the Deacons as we call them, do give to every one present, part of the Bread and Wine, over which thanks was given; and they also suffer them to bring it to the absent. This food we call the Eucharist, to which no man is to be admitted but onelyonly he that believeth the truth of our doctrine, being washed in the Laver of Regeneration for Remission of sin; and so liveth as Christ hath taught: Apol. 2. This then is no new overstrict way you see.