A Forerunner to a Large Review of the Dispute Concerning Infant Baptism, Treatise · Section 8
SECT. VIII. More personal matters which the History of Mr. B. hath made crooked are set straight
THe next part of the History is about the occasion and mannaging of the dispute, to most of which an answer may be gathered out of my letter to him Sept. 10. of which so much as is needful is printed at the end of this writing. To call being baptized in the name of Christ Apostasie, contrary to the Ancients language, and in effect to call white black. Divisions that happen, if the saddle be put on the right horse, are to be charged on them that oppose the reformation of the corruption of infant-sprinkling. I think I answered Mr. Bs. letter sufficiently in mine of Sept. 10. 1649. If I had a designe to answer his arguments in my Review it had been an honest designe, and hansomer then Mr. Bs. printing my answers to his arguments afore he had them from me in writing. Sith Mr. B. is unwilling to be put in the crowd among the rest he shall have an answer (so far as it is fit) by himself, that he may not complain of being sleighted by being yoked with the vulgar. My dealings with Mr. M. were such as none can justly expcept against. Personal things were fully answered in my Apology: the dispute it self at large I reserved for the Review: onelyonly sect. 15. I gave arguments to prove Rom. 11. 17. &c. to be meant of ingrasfing by giving faith into the invisible Church, and sect. 16, 17. pointed at some of the chief things wherein Mr. Ms. d…fence was defective. I professed not a full answer to Mr. Blake, but gave short advertisements in my Postscript with reasons why I did so, which I yet count sufficient for answer to that piece, however Mr. B. imagine of it. I slubber'd over nothing (as Mr. B. and one Mr. George Milward in a letter to one Capt. Freema charge me). If I do not write so quick as M. B. Mr. M. &c. it is from my unsettled condition, ministeriall imployments, the multitude of them that write against me, though I earnestly intreated that I might see the strength of all together, (which motion had been fit for them that were desirous to have truth take place, and not make use of advantages to hinder the cleering of it) the difficulty and charge of printing, which Mr. B. can easily perhaps have done, people being averse from the truth I hold, and willing to sell or buy or reade any thing against me, but not what is for me. That in my Sermons at Bewdley I culled out the weakest arguments, is most false: to the best of my skill I produced the best arguments I met with in their strength, and as much as I could in the Authors words. Mr. Cobbets book being a loose discourse for the most part, having many passages, and expressions proper to the way of N. E. filled with dictates unproved, much of it against f. S. H. D. &c. whose speeches and arguments I am not engaged to maintain, I do not bind my self to answer. If I might be allowed to passe my judgement freely, notwithstanding Mr. Cottons, Mr. Thomas Goodwins, and Mr. Bs. conceits of it, I should say, that I do not perceive in the matter of it any such strength as needs much answering, and that the method and expressions are such as that it cannot well be answered without lopping off many superfluous branches, enquiring into his meaning in many of his expressions which are cloudy (which would be extreamly tedious to the answerer and reader, and liable to much exception) and reducing it into a more scholastical forme; were it by himself shaped into a succinct treatise like Mr. Nortons to Apollonius, and should be willng to answer it, if I found any thing in it, which I had not answered before: But I would not have the Reader expect me to answer that again, which in some of my writings is formerly answered, and in which he might by reading heedfully satisfie himself: Yet I did answer the chief of his arguments in those Sermons, and I intend to answer what else I meet with in them, that is opposed to my Examen, and what ever else I shall conceive is necessary to be answered. I little expected to satisfie Mr. B. who I found had prejudice in him, which was not denied by him. Mr. Bs. name was used with respect onelyonly in citing his words in his Aphorismes, which I never dreamt would be taken for an injury. His censuring mens writings and confuting them in pulpit without naming them or citing their words as it is lesse offensive, so it is lesse edifying. Mr. Bs. prosperity and my conceived failings at the dispute (which will appear to be Mr. Bs. mistakes in the answer of his arguments in print) were ordered by the Almighties providence for humbling me, and discovery of Mr. Bs. spirit then (which must be refereed to the judgement of the hearers) and since (which Readers may perceive) yet I hope according to the strange-windings of his providence, as in Josephs case, for the advancement of the truth he opposeth. The Ministers about Mr. B. at the dispute were all of Mr. Bs. party sent for up and down all the Countrey, such as they were, if they may be reputed Ministers, or men that mind the things of Christ: of whom no marvel Mr. B. was cried up, I taunted with dulnesse, it serving for their ends to keep up their esteeme: one or two of better account sate further off, yet of Mr. Bs. judgement. That I did not bearken to Mr. Borastons motion for Mr. Bs. preaching, it was because I knew it would be likely to stirre up passion, and settle prejudice in the people (in which I find by that he hath printed chap. 1. 2. especially in the very beginning I was not mistaken) and I hoped to bring the dispute to writing, which is the best way to clear truth, and I suspected (as I had cause) Mr. Borastons and the then Magistrates, and those reputed godly persons devices and motions, which were then by many conceived to be contrived for the Parsons endes, the continuing his power and profits by keeping up that rite which ingratiates the profane and formal persons to him. Whereunto that Mr. B. hath been subservient is the grief of many, and might well befit Mr. B. to repent of. When I saw I could not get Mr. Bs. arguments in writing, I got what notes I could of the dispute from others writing or my own memory; and knowing that vauntes were given out of Mr. Bs. victory, I did as well as I could summe up his arguments, and answer them Jan. 20. and after went to him upon his motion Jan. 25. to confer with him, which was friendly on both sides; yet that which I hoped and I conceived he promised, that though he would not send me his arguments in writing (which I again moved) yet he would transcribe them for such as should come to him to be resolved in that point, after sundry puttings off was not obtained: But instead thereof in March the weeke afore I removed from Bewdley I met with the passage in his Epistle Dedicatory to the people of Kederminster, to which I after opposed my Valedictory Oration in Bewdley chappel March. 17. 1649. and printed the same in effect in my Antidote in May following. Now Mr. B. alleadgeth he had reason for his not sending his arguments to me to keep me from erring they being not desired, for my self, but my people, I remained very confident of my self, that when I sent to him I heap'd so many untruths about matters of fact I knew, that he durst not answer me lest the very naming my untruths might cause me to say, he reproached or railed, that his conference was with me in private, because he thought my pride of spirit would not permit me to confesse truth openly, that he wrote the passage in his Epistle to Kederminster out of zeale for God, compassion to mens souls, my opinion and preaching being like to do more hurt against the Church of God, then drunkards and whoremongers, and therefore he had cause to be bitter in his writing. To all which speeches I reply, He had reason to conceive I desired satisfaction for my self by my desiring his Animadversions, and by my letter to him Sept. 10. If not, yet to have given them in writing, which he had as he saies before, at Coventrey preached and were ready by him, had been a neighbourly part to men that were his frequent hearers. But his prejudice against my opinion and uncharitable conceit of my pride (as heretofore Mr. M. and Mr. Ley interpreted my most equal motion in humility of spirit in the end of my Examen to be the challenge of a braving Goliath, so now any opposing what's determined by Synods and leading writers must be condemned as comming from pride) are a sufficient reason not to gratify me, but to do what he can against me, and this must be counted zeale for God, and his insolent bitternesse justifiable, as being in pretence against a pernicious sin not yet proved, but indeed against a truth discovering an error, whereby the prime ordinance of Christianity is miserably corrupted. He speaks of a fearful passion a feaver of passion I was in when I first read the passage in his Epistle against Anabaptists, such as he would not be infor all my revenues, if I had not a free vent for my spleen in pulpit and presse he doubts it might have spoiled me. 'Tis true when I first read it unexpectedly in Mr. Ds. house, I was stirred in my spirit out of the sense of the wrong done to me and the truth by it, and not meeting with the book before, I wrote out the passage: but that by word or carriage I shewed such passion as he speaks of I am certain is his tale-tellers addition, whose conscience may perhaps one day tell him of his ill Offices in opposing truth, and nourishing differences between me and Mr. B. Mr. B. hath a jerke at my Revenues, by which he would have the world believe it is very great, and such as were desirable for himself: whereas his outward estate considering his being an unplundered, or not much plundered single young man heir of a good estate in Land, besides his sequestration is more likely to suffice his uses then my estate my uses, though I blesse God it is better with me through the favour of some eminent persons sensible of my hard usuage, then it would have been if the party opposite to me had prevailed, and I could reasonably hope; when for no other cause but the publishing of my Examen my remove from the Temple in Londen with my wife and children above a hundred miles in the middest of winter was necessitated. Not content with this jerke about my revenewes page 202. He tells me in print of being Parson of Rosse, Vicar of Lemster, Preacher of Bewdley, Master of the Hospital of Ledbury, besides meanes of my own, and yet complaining of want I and my family might be put to in my bookes, and he addes, You made so light of having no lesse then four market-townes to lie on your shoulders as if it were nothing, and then sath Pious sober men think it his duty to say what he did. To which I reply. Mr. M. is taken for a pious sober man, yet in his Defence of his sermon page 3. he accused me most deeply of a Socianian plot of questioning all conclusions inferr'd by consequence from scripture; the injury of which I shewed in my Apology sect. 11. yea his own words in his Defence pag. 205. You neither there nor here deny this argument from a consequence to be sufficient for practice of some things in the worship of God, which are not expressely laid down in the N. T. refute this calumny, yet to this day I never found that he did any thing to right me. The like may I say of Mr. Robert Baillee of Glasgow in Scotland notwithstanding his false criminations before mentioned, and my writing to him about them. How Mr. Geree used me is shewed in my Apology sect. 6. yet his Vindiciae vindiciarum was presently after published without any shew of remorse of conscience for what he did. And now Mr. B. tells me, pious and sober men advise him to say that which as he puts it down is false and exceeding injurious to me, to wit, that I had foure market-townes on my shoulders, which every one will interpret to be 4. beneficial places under my charge together, besides meanes of my own, and yet complain in my bookes of want I and my family may be put to. Whereas the truth is, there are no words that have a shew of complaint (which yet indeed are not querulous but onelyonly narrative) but those in the close of my Examen and Apology, and neither of them, when I enjoyed any thing at Lemster, Bewdley, Rosse or Ledbury; but the former was anno 1644. when all my estate was in the enemies power, and my small stipend at Eanchurch withdrawn by reason of my not practising Infantbaptisme; the other when I was to leave the Temple for publishing my Examen anno 1646. when the Counties to which I had relation, were but newly reduced to the obedience of the Parliament. And then I assayed to returne to Lemster, where I had been almost totally plundred anno 1642. and yet so great was the Antipathy of some men against me, that I could neither get reparation for my losses, nor allowance for building the Ministers house, nor any augmentation, but onelyonly kept the bare title till the end of the year 1649. 'Tis true some pittying my condition gave me the rent of the rectory of Rosse anno 1646. which having a Vicar endowed, and the Rectory leased out with the Rectors house, they gave it me with expectation of preaching only some sermons there as I could; but being invited to Bewdley I accepted of the invitation, and though the maintenance were but finall, and the years dear, and my charges great in refurnishing my house and study, yet I rested contented therewith till the Deane and Chapter of Worcesters landes being to be sold, out of which the best part of my maintenance did arise, the providence of God cast on me the Mastership of the Hospital of Ledbury, which doth not tie me to the charge of soules, much lesse puts the market-towne on my shoulders. and then presently I yielded up my interest in Rosse though some of the godly there were very unwilling I should. And when my pay ended at Bewdley the Lord opened a way for my returne to Lemster, and provision was made for me there. By which it may appear, that it is most injuriously suggested as if I had 4. beneficial places together, yea 4. market-townes on my shoulders, and those that know not the truth imagine me very covetous, and my revenues very great, not knowing my condition what it is and what my losses have been. Me thinks when the people of Bewdley, Rosse, Lemster, were all satisfied (so farre as I could discerne) with the equity of my actions, Mr. B. and those other he meanes might have been so likewise, and possibly had been an Assembly-man it would have beene no disparagement to me to have been a Master of a House in the University, to have had a Lecture at London, a sequestration or presentation in the Countrey, besides pay for sitting in the Assembly at the same time: but might have in Mr. Bs. bookes bin stiled neverthelesse a learned, holy, experimental, iudicious, humble, heart-piercing Preacher. I cannot but be sensible of the great wrong I receive in my name, and perhaps in my estate by Mr. Bs. calumnies; and therefore am necessitated to write this which I conceive had been fitter for private audience. I do not take on me to know Mr. Bs. heart: but I wish Mr. B. would consider of what spirit he was, when he vented his jerk at my revenues, and whether the phrases of offering a sacrifice to Mars, and keeping holy-daies for killing the Saints in his Epistle to the people of Kederminster likely is a most profane, and bitter passage. His quip. pag. 67. members of this Kingdome, or (to please you) Common-wealth pag. 136. of baptizing naked maides in Bewdley pag. 245. your feete will take cold or your heart heat, &c. savour not more of an heathen Satyrists vain wit, then a Christian Preachers zealours spirit. He saith that he perceives by one passage in my Antidote pag. 21. I am offended at him for diminishing my esteeme: for I complain, &c. But the words there are no complaint, and if I imagined amisse I am sorry that I did so surmise.