Infant Baptism Asserted and Vindicated, Title page – Preface

Infant Baptism Asserted and Vindicated · Title page – Preface

Infant-Baptiſm ASSERTED & VINDICATED By SCRIPTURE And ANTIQUITY: IN ANSWER To a Treatiſe of Baptiſm lately publiſhed by Mr. HENRY DANVERS: Together with a full Detection of his Miſrepreſentations of divers Councils and Authors, both Ancient and Modern. WITH A Juſt Cenſure of his Eſſay to Palliate the horrid Actings of the Anabaptiſts in Germany. AS ALSO A Perſwaſive to Unity among all Chriſtians, though of Different Judgments about Baptiſm.

By OBED WILLS, M. A.

Ʋt Chriſtus Infantes ad ſe venire juſſit, ità nec Apoſtoli eos excluſerunt à Baptiſmo, & quidem dum Baptiſmus Circumciciſioni aequiparat, Paul. Col. 2. apertè indicat, etiam Infantes per Baptiſmum Eccleſiae Dei eſſe inſerendos, &c.

Magdib. Cent. 1. l. 2. c. 4. p. 354.

LONDON, Printed for Jonathan Robinſon at the Golden Lyon in St. Paul's Church-yard, 1674.

THE PREFACE.

THere is a New Treatiſe come forth concerning Baptiſm; the Deſign whereof is to prove the Baptiſm of Believers, and to diſprove that of Infants. There is great Cracking about it, and ſome cry it up for a None-ſuch; that it is unanſwerable, and as I hear the Author himſelf, Ixion-like, falls in love with his own ſhadow, and being Philautia nimis inflatus, puffed up with the excellency of his performance, glories much, and pretends that he hath not only proſelyted many of the Vulgar ſort, but ſome alſo of the Miniſtry. And it is very certain, that at its firſt appearance laſt Summer, divers perſons were Dipped in theſe parts, and as I have been informed, 7 or 8 in a day in the City of Briſtol; and in all likelyhood we may hear of many more this Summer: for thoſe who are inclinable to the Way, are now grown ſo politick as not to profeſs their Faith till warm Weather. This I do aſſure the Reader, that the Book (as to any thing material in it) hath been many times anſwered before ever it came forth, and that's the reaſon belike we have heard of no Reply ſince it hath ſeen the light, which is now about twelve Months. All the Mediums he uſeth to maintain his Opinion, are ſuch trite and out-worn things, that they have been in effect trampled upon, and confuted again and again. Nevertheleſs ſuch is the Clamorouſneſs of ſome men, that they affect to have the laſt word, when in modeſty they ought to be ſilent, and conſider, that it is their duty to unlearn a darling Errour, and no diſhonour to ſtrike ſail to convincing Reaſon. Great Endeavours have been uſed to undeceive the Antipaedobaptiſts; and 'tis the unhappineſs of many Godly and Learned Divines, inſtead of meeting with anſwerable ſucceſs, to have their Pains contemned, and their Perſons loaded with Aſperſions. The Author of the Treatiſe I am to examine, hath only affixt H. D. to the Title-page, that is, as appears by a Second Edition lately come forth. Henry Danvers; although in regard of the principal Materials, the Book hath more reaſon to pretend to J. T. that is, John Tombes, for its Author. For although H D. hath for ſome years lived a ſolitary contemplative Life, and hath had opportunity for ſtudy, yet owneth he not ſo much Scholarſhip (if they ſay true that know him) as to compoſe ſuch a Piece; nor is he ſo well acquainted with Fathers, Councils, Schoolmen, had not moſt of it been prepared to his hand. Indeed I find he is ſomewhat vers'd in the Magdiburgenſian Hiſtory, though he hath made very ill uſe of it; But for the Argumentative part, eſpecially the Oppoſition made againſt Infant-Baptiſm, both the Method and Matter of his Treatiſe declares where he hath been fiſhing; for I find very little in it, beſides what is borrowed from Mr. Tombes his Exercitation and Examen, long ſince anſwered by M. Marſhal, Dr. Homes, Mr. Gerce, Mr. Blake, Mr. Baxter. But foraſmuch as the Conteſt hath taken a Nap for about 20 years, it was thought fit to give it one luſty jog more, and awaken it again. And in regard thoſe Polemical Diſcourſes are rarely found in Vulgar hands, but are thrown aſide into Corners, and lie ſolitary, as neglected things, in Studies, and Bookſellers Shops; the Author, and his Coniederates (out of their dear love to their Darling Opinion) thought meet to make ſome good improvement of the late Liberty granted by his Majeſty's gracious Declaration, and to take up the Gantlet again, and fall to the old Trade of Wrangling. For ſome men are of a reſtleſs Spirit, and if their Hands be tied up from fighting, they will do it with their Tongues and Pens. The Preface is made up of Invectives againſt the Aſſertors of Infant Baptiſm, but moſtly againſt Mr. Baxter, by reaſon of ſome Paſſages of his in a late Book called The Chriſtian Directory, againſt which he ſeems to have a very great zeal, but I fear his envy againſt his Perſon doth exceed it. For do but compare the Preface, with the Epilogue of our Authors Treatiſe,, and you will find he ſeems to entertain a better opinion of John of Leyden, then of him. I underſtand Mr. Baxter will ſpeedily write ſomething for his own Vindication, and I long to ſee it, that ſo nothing that he hath ſaid in his Chriſtian Directory may prove a Stumbling-block to the Weak, and more confirm the Antipaedobaptiſts in their Errour. The truth is, thoſe people are very ſenſible how much he hath wounded their Cauſe, and are glad with an occaſion of wounding his Reputation. But I profeſs, I could not but ſmile, to obſerve how he ſeems to bewail the Indiſcretion of Mr. Baxter, and rebukes him for Printing his Judgement in ſome Points that refer to Baptiſm, and other things, at ſuch an unſeaſonable time; as if he had hit upon the foreign, or the fitteſt opportunity to declaim againſt Infant Baptiſm. But doth he take this to be a fit time of the day (to uſe his own Phraſe) to widen Differences, and ſet us at farther diſtances, when we are almoſt ſinking under fears and daily expectations of troubles? Is it a fit ſeaſon for us to be wrangling, when Gods Rod is ſhaking over all our Heads? Muſt he at ſuch a time enter upon the old Obfolete Controverſie, and inveigh againſt Childrens Baptiſm, which evermore hath occaſioned heart-burnings and fruitleſs contendings, eſpecially when 'tis diſputed againſt with a lofty, bitter and diſdainful Spirit, of which we perceive too much in this laſt attempt. Ah! what a reſtleſs Genius is there attending ſome Opinions, and how careleſs of the Churches Peace are the Abettors of them? What the Author himſelf ſpeaks, pag. 308. from Clopenburg's Epiſtle, of the Anabaptiſts, heretofore in Germany is too true of ſome of thoſe in England, viz. That they ſuffer not the pure Reformed Churches to be edified without daily conflicts. For not only heretofore in times of Liberty, but even now under reſtraint, ſome hot-ſpirited Perſons, publiſh their Tenents, with ſuch a rigid and condemning Spirit, that it proves the greateſt hinderance of Union and Conjunction amongſt us in this Nation. The Opinion of Antipaedobaptiſm, having been (as Mr. Sydenham obſerves) always Ominous, and of a wonderous ſtrange influence to deſtroy Ʋnity, and Peace amongſt Chriſtians, accompanied alſo with the moſt Retinue of Errors, ſince the firſt Embrio of it was brought forth; Whether by a ſecret Judgement of God, or from the natural and ſecret Connexion with other Principles of Darkneſs, I will not, ſaith he, determine: Only God hath ſhewed ſome black Characters of it in every Nation where it hath prevailed; though we cannot but ſay many Saints are under the power of it. Yea, and I do alſo farther atteſt, that there are ſome very worthy Perſons, and eminent Chriſtians of that way, whom I exceedingly honour for their Gifts and Graces, Moderation and ſweetneſs of Spirit, and Liberality towards all Chriſtians; ſuch as theſe I prize as much as any Chriſtians in England that are Paedobaptiſts, and could as willingly imbrace them and entertain Chriſtian Fellowſhip with them, as with any that are of my own Judgement in the point of Baptiſm. We ought to put a difference between humble and heady Men, between factious Perſons that affect Singularity, and decline Communion with us, becauſe we differ from them in ſome Circumſtances about an External Adminiſtration; and ſuch as diſown Infant-baptiſm out of ſimple Perſwaſion, looking on it as a Corruption, and without Scripture ground,Mr. Gerce Vind. Paedobaptiſmi. and ſo cannot ſubmit unto it, leſt thereby they defile their Conſciences (as they conceive) with Will-worſhip: when notwithſtanding, if other Chriſtians be of another mind, they can own them as Brethren, and not divide in regard of Chriſtian Affection and Communion. Some ſuch there are, though few: and ſuch a frame of ſpirit was there in that Man of God (Mr. Jeſſey) as may be ſeen in his Book intituled A Store-houſe of Proviſion in ſundry Caſes of Conſcience. He, to my knowledge, was an Antipaedobaptiſt of long ſtanding, as holy, I conceive, as any of that Judgement, of good Learning, and of a very tender Conſcience, and of ſo healing and uniting a Spirit, that he eſteemed it his Duty (and preſs'd others to it) to keep up Chriſtian Communion with thoſe that feared God though they differed about Baptiſm: We have his Arguments for the ſame publiſhed in Print, and grounded upon Rom. 14.1. which are ſo clear, and have in them ſuch ſtrength of Evidence, that I never yet could hear them anſwered, nor do ever expect it. I wiſh there were more ſuch Antipaedobaptis as he, and have good ground to believe many of them would come off from their Rigidneſs (were they not afraid of offending their weak Brethren, and fettered with ſome engagements at firſt entrance into their Churches) and would readily afford us the right hand of Felloſhip. I know what a dangerous thing it is to be foreign, an accuſer of the Brethren, and whence that Spirit comes, and can appeal to Heaven that I now appear in the defence of what I conceive to be the Truth, without a malevolent mind againſt any of our Diſſenters. I have had an intimate and friendly Correſpondency with many Antipaedobaptiſts, both in this place where I now inhabit and elſewhere; by reaſon of which ſome have thought I comported with them in their Opinions: But this is a miſtake: I own what I ſee of God in them, and in all Profeſſors of Religion whatſoever, and would have none to engroſs Religion to themſelves. And if I know my own heart, where ever I ſee aliquid Chriſti, any thing of Chriſt, it attracts my Affection; God's People being all alike equally dear to me, as they are his, and have a Converſation becoming the Goſpel. My Love is not confined to a Party, but extenſive to all Saints. And though ſome may count me an enemy for telling them the truth, and withdraw their Affection, it is no more than I expect, and ſhall encourage my ſelf with what I long ſince learned from a Heathen, viz. Amicus Plato, amicus Socrates; ſed magis amica Veritas. I foreſee how likely I am to purchaſe the diſpleaſure and diſpraiſe of thoſe that cannot endure to have their Opinion ſpoken againſt; at which I hope to be no more dejected, than elated, if others ſhall own my poor performance under the Notion of Approbation: well knowing that all Polemical and Controverſial Diſcourſes carry a face like that of a Picture, ſuitable to the ſituation and light the Beholders ſtand in, or are guided by.

Nor do I ſo much as hope to reduce any of our Oppoſites: for the men of their Way are inflexible, and ſeem to be as much aſſured the Truth is on their ſide, as they are of the divine Athority of the Scriptures. I have heard of ſome Quakers that have been turned, but could never yet hear of one of them that changed his Opinion, unleſs he happened to fall into ſome worſe Errour.

And certainly it is a ſtrange Preſumption, no leſs Ʋnchriſtian than Prodigious, for men to aſſume a Prerogative of judging thoſe to be in the dark (as is the common humour of our Oppoſites) that differ from them in this point of Baptiſm, when they cannot but confeſs, that in other things they are of more clarified Intellectuals than themſelves, and have a deeper inſpection into Scripture: And yet their Ʋnderſtandings at leaſt muſt be condemned, whilſt they impoſe the ſcanty Meaſure of their own, as an unqueſtionable Standard, for others to ſubmit to. Forgetting in the mean while, that many who were of their own Judgment, have (at the long run) eſpouſed ſome groſs Errors, and renounced Water-baptiſm, as a low, contemptible Ceremony, and owned no other Baptiſm but that of the Spirit. It was long ſince obſerved that ſome of the hotteſt Zealots againſt Infant-baptiſm, have grown ſo cold, as to turn Seekers, and to deny the lawful Adminiſtration of Ordinances. So common is it for men to run from one Extreme to another.

But though I deſpair of gaining over to us any of thoſe who are ſo rivetted in their Opinions (conſidering withal how ſucceſleſs politer Pens have been) yet do I hope, by what ſhall follow, to put ſome Remora and ſtop to weak and wavering Souls, that they be not over-haſty in coming over to the Tents of our Oppoſites: and to eſtabliſh and confirm others that are at preſent ſatisfied in the practice of Infant Baptiſm.

And becauſe ſome of both Parties may take offence at what I have done; for as Ariſtotle ſaith, foreign. It is difficult, if not impoſſible, to pleaſe all, I am obliged to ſignifie ſome Reaſons amongſt others that moved me to enter the Liſts of a publick Diſpute.

1. Becauſe the Pompous Treatiſe of my Antagoniſt being put into my hand, by one of his Judgment, and cried up for an incomparable and unanſwerable Piece. I read ſome part of it curſorily, and confeſs I was amuzed at the Multitude of Quotations, from Fathers, Councils, ancient Doctors of the Church, School-men, beſides Modern Writers; together with the Teſtimonies of Waldenſes and Old Britains; and all againſt Infant-baptiſm, and being ſhortly after upon ſome occaſion at Oxford, I took the opportunity to examine his Quotatitions in the Publick Library, and upon ſearching found it ſo fallacious a Piece, that I thought my ſelf bound in Conſcience, for the honour of Truth, and Love to my Country, to make diſcovery thereof, that the Credulity of illiterate and well-meaning Perſons might not be impoſed upon by ſuch Forgery.

2. I have been ſomewhat provoked to bear Teſtimomony to the Lawfulneſs of Baptizing the Children of Believers, by the Audacity of one, that ſometimes preacheth amongſt the Antipedobaptiſts who told me to my Face, that I could ſay nothing for Infant Baptiſm, to whom I ſaid but little, as judging him uncapable of underſtanding the ſtrength of an Argument.

3. After I had communicated a few Sheets to ſome Learned Men, they did album calculum addere, and incired me to proceed.

4. Becauſe no body elſe had publiſhed any thing to confront this daring Champion; and I ſee no cauſe to repent of my Undertaking, unleſs it be that I have not defended the Truth as it ought to be.

I was never before engaged in theſe Olympian Games, nor do I delight in ſuch Exerciſes, and do find by experience that theſe Polemical Conteſts are but barren things, and cannot but much approve of the Saying of Zuarez, who (though a Jeſuite) profeſſed he found more benefit in that time which he did every day ſet apart for the examining the State of his Soul, than in all the Voluminous Books of Controverſies which he had written.

I would now advertiſe the Reader, that my Anſwer refers to Mr. Danvers his Firſt Book, it being in the Preſs before his 2d. Edition came to hand; in which I find no Retracting or Rectifying Miſtakes, but in ſtead thereof a numerous Addition of more: ſome of which, I have taken notice of in the Recapitulation of the Magdeburgenſian Hiſtory, concerning Infant Baptiſm, affixt to my Anſwer.

There are many egregious Faults I charge Mr. Danvers with, which are made good in the Anſwer. For I quote the Chapter and Page of the Authors that he abuſeth; that ſo thoſe who are Scholars, if they pleaſe, may ſee whether I wrong him. The Books are extant, and we have no Index Expurgatorius here in England to relieve him.

1. He hath much injured that famous Hiſtory of the Magdiburgenſes in very many places, by miſrepreſenting what they ſay; as that they tell us that in the firſt Century, the Apoſtles baptized Only the Aged, which is falſe; for he hath himſelf added the Word [Only] as is ſhewn Capt. 7. Part. 1. pag. 2. of our Anſwer. Then he ſaith they tell us that the Cuſtom of Dipping the whole Body into water was changed into Sprinkling in the 3. Cent. See this pag. 113. and cites the Magdeburgenſes for it, Cent. 3. pag. 125, 126. where they ſay no ſuch thing, but the contrary, and gives Cyprian's Teſtimony for it (who is calculated to live in the days of thoſe that ſaw the Apoſtles) that Baptiſm is valid whether it be by Immerſion or Sprinkling Cent. 3. c. 4. and Chap. 7. part. 1. pag. 8. of the Anſwer. Look the Examination of the Magdiburgenſiam Hiſtory and there you have the reſt of his Miſrepreſentations.

2. After the ſame manner hath he ſerv'd the Fathers both of the Greek and Latino Churches; Quoting ſome Paſſages out of them as if they had been for Believers Baptiſm, in oppoſition to that of Infants, when not one of them was ſo, no not Tertullian or Nazianzen abſolutely, but both for it in caſe of danger of death; yea, the latter without reſpect to that. See Chap. 7. Part. 1. pag. 13. of the Anſwer, and the 3. Century in the Recapitulation at the end of the Anſwer.

There be two ways he takes to blind the Reader with reſpect to the Fathers.

1. By Traducing that which is ſpoken in reference to Pagans, and miſapplying of it againſt Infant Baptiſm: thus he ſerves Chryſoſtom and Auſtin, p. 76. of his Treatiſe, whom he brings for his eminent Witneſſes for Believers Baptiſm; and then again the ſame men to be for Infant Baptiſm, pag. 121. of his Treatiſe. See how this Contradiction is reconciled in our Anſwer to his 2d. Chap. part. 2. About Infants Baptiſm. 2. By curtailing and leaving out part of the Sentence, as pag. 65. where he cites theſe words of Bazil; Muſt the faithful be ſealed with Baptiſm?— Faith muſt precede and go before. There Mr Danvers ſtops whereas he ſhould have gone on with what follows, Quid de infantibus ais?—num & illos baptizemus? Maximè — Theſe are the next Lines to what we have above. —What ſay you to Infants which know nor good nor evil, muſt we baptize them? Yea, &c. See Chap. 7. part. 1. p. 13. of the Anſwer.

3. The Councils have no better meaſure from him; for he quotes thoſe 3. the Bracaren, that of Conſtantinople, (he writes it Conſtance) and that of Toletan. All which, he produceth for Believers Baptiſm in oppoſition to that of Infants, p. 78. of his Treatiſe, and quotes the Magdiburgenſes for it, Cent. 7. p. 146. Whereas they give us to underſtand that they were for Infant Baptiſm, Chap. 7. part. 1 pag. 29, 30. of our Anſwer. See this more fully in the Recapitulation affixt to the Anſwer, under Century 7.

4. He brings in the Doctors of the Romiſh Church very ridiculouſly, as eminent Witneſſes for Believers baptiſm, that is, in oppoſition to Infant Baptiſm, or elſe he ſays nothing; As for Inſtance, Haimo, Rabanus, an Abbot, Remigius a Monk, Smarugdus, &c. See how little truth there is in this, Chap. 7. part. 1. p. 33. of the Anſwer, and much more fully in the Recapitulation at the end of the Anſwer, under Century 8, 9, 10. Here our Author hath uſed his wonted ſubtilty in quoting ſome paſſages out of theſe Popiſh Doctors for Believers Baptiſm, meant by them only in reſpect of Pagans.

5. By the ſame Artifice are ignorant perſons deluded with the ſayings of the Schoolmen, which were ſo great and ſtiff aſſertors of Infant-baptiſm, that they aſcrib'd too much to it. See how we have diſcovered the Authors Sophiſtry, Chap. 7. part. 1. pag. 34. of our Anſwer: But more fully this is ſpoken to, in the Recapitulation under the 12th Cent.

6. His great Witneſſes againſt Infant-baptiſm, namely Waldenſes, Novatians, and Donatiſts, and Ancient Britains fail him.

1. For the Waldenſes, he hath brought 4 Confeſſions, as againſt it, when they have not a word of that import, as any ordinary Reader may perceive. See pag. 282, 283. of his Treatiſe; and how fully we have made it appear by other Confeſſions that they were expreſly for it: See Chap. 7. part. 2. of the Anſwer.

2. Neither were the Novatians for it, though they denyed Original Sin, and were for Rebaptization of ſuch as were baptized by Hereticks (though there were few greater than themſelves;) and therefore Novatus the Head of them was condemned by 66. wiſhops, in the year 255. Fox, Act. Monum. vol. 1. So the Magdiburgenſes ſpeak of his being condemned by a Council at Rome for his Hereſies, Cent. 3. c. 9. p. 193. They write of his Hereſies, and among others, that he did de Deo prophaniſſimam doctrinam ſubintroducere, introduce moſt prophane Doctrines concerning God; but not a word of his denying Infant Baptiſm, Cent. 3. cap. 5. p. 99. De Haereſs Novatiorum. Neither doth Danaeus, in Auſtin's Catalogue of Hereſies, make mention of any ſuch thing, Danaei Opuſc. p. 678.

Nor did the Donatiſts deny Infant Baptiſm, as appears from the Magdiburgs, Cent. 4. cap. 5. p. 375. De Donatiſtarum haerefi; though they were for Rebaptization of ſuch as were baptized by Hereticks, yet there is not the leaſt hint of their being againſt Infant-baptiſm.

3. The Ancient Britains were not againſt it; and the Miſtake of the Author is grounded upon Fabian's paraphraſtical Tranſlation of Bede, as is ſhewn in our Examination of the Hiſtory of the Britains.

7. He hath manifeſt Contradictions to himſelf; firſt ſhewing ſuch perſons to be for Believers Baptiſm, and then afterward citing the ſame men for Infant-baptiſm: thus we have him mentioning Bede Pro and Con p. 7. and p. 78. of the firſt part of of his Treatiſe compared with p. 130. Thus he ſerv'd Auſtin and Chryſoſtom, as was noted before. And ſo he leaves them to claſh, and his Reader, in the dark; whereas the Diſtinction of Eccleſia Collecta and Colligenda would reconcile all very well. In the ſame manner hath he dealt with many of our Modern Divines, as Calvin, Piſcator, Perkins, Paraeus, &c. as we have ſhewn Chap. 1. part. 1. p. 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. of the Anſwer.

8. Notorious Plagiariſm; for I have noted him borrowing from Mr. Tombes his 2 Books, Exercitation and Examen in no leſs than 49 places, and all the while concealing his Name, contrary to the Laws of Ingenuity. But that which is moſt prodigious, and for which he deſerves to carry away the Bell from all Plagiaries, is (as we have noted, p. 154. of the 2. Part. of our Anſwer Chap. 2. beginning at his Exceptions againſt our Argument from Federal Holineſs) that for 43 pages together he hath taken the Subſtance of it all out of Mr. Tombes his Exercitation and Examen, excepting what he quotes from Dr. Owen and Dr. Taylor. And I muſt acquaint thee, Reader, that he hath ſerv'd others in the ſame manner, tranſcribing out of their Books very la6rgely, without taking the leaſt notice of their names: for I have met lately with a Terra incognita, ſince part of my Anſwer was printed; one Book put out by William Allen called Some Baptiſmal Abuſes newly diſcovered, and the other by Henry Haggar, named The Foundation of the Font: but I muſt ſpare him for the preſent, or my Preface will be too large. I ſee if every Bird had his own Feathers, Mr. Danvers would be left naked.

9. Shameful Oſcitancy, ſuch I think as the like was never known: We have it p. 209. of his Treatiſe, where he brings Calvin, upon Gen. 17.7. interpreting the Seed to whom the Promiſe was made, to be the Spiritual, and not Carnal; when he ſpeaks no ſuch word, but all along to the contrary; as, Clara eſt Pauli doctrina de naturalibus Abrahae filiis — St. Paul's doctrine, Rom. 11.16. is evidently to be understood of the Natural ſons of Abraham: and again; Nihil certius eſt, quàm Deus foedus ſuum paciſci cum filiis Abrahae, qui naturaliter ex eo gignendi, Nothing is more sertain, than that God's Covenant was made with the Natural Off-ſpring of Abraham. And indeed the words which he fathers upon Calvin, are Estius the Jeſuite's, ſpoken againſt the Interpretation of Calvin upon Gen. I have ſhewed how Mr. Danvers came to be guilty of the miſtake, pag. 196. of the 2d part of my Anſwer.

10. He doth vilifie and contemn all that ſtand in his way, Epiſcoparians, Presbyterians and Independents, yea fearfully reproaching thoſe who are Antipaedobaptiſts that are come off from their former Rigidneſs, and for a large Communion with all Believers as Believers. As appears by his dealing with Mr. Bunion, Mr. Allen and Mr. Lamb in his Poſtſcript.

Notwithſtanding all theſe Piacula, and more that may be named, the Credulous Party will believe nothing againſt the ſuppoſed Incomparable and moſt Authentick Piece of Mr. Danvers: I muſt prepare for their Cenſures, and begin to hear already the inſultings of ſome of them over me, that I ſhould dare preſume to encounter ſuch a Goliah; they are many of them illiterate, and incapable of examining the things written in the Latin Tongue, and it cannot be expected they ſhould believe me before ſuch an Anteſignanus. But ſince it cannot be remedied, I ſhall leave them to their Credulity, to be edified by his Melody. I know the Learned, upon ſearch; will acquit me from Slander, and for the reſt I am of Austin's Mind, Non curo Ceuſores, qui vel non intelligendo reprehendunt, vel reprehendendo non intelligunt. Reader, I have only two things more to adviſe thee of.

1. That having received ſome Sheets, I find the Printers Errata are many, which I hope thou wilt … charity correct, ſome of which thou wilt find taken notice of. I hope thou art not of Mr. Danvers …is mind, who taking the Printers Errata to be Mr. Baxter's, and not taking notice that Mr. Baxter deſired the Reader to correct them, reflects odium upon him, and makes this ingenious Apology for himſelf being told of it, viz. That no man is bound by any Law that he knows, to read and ſtudy Errata's; you have it …n his 2d. Edition, pag. 383. I ſhall therefore be beforehand with him; (for I hope he will read my Preface if he makes a Reply) and do hereby ſignifie that …here is a great Error pag. 7. of the firſt Chapter of my Anſwer, where the word [only] is wanting; for it …hould be thus—It can never be proved that this was the Only manner of the Jews Baptizing. This by the way …o prevent Carping. Likewiſe the Sheets are not rightly paged, ocaſioned by being Printed at two Houſes.

2. That notwithſtanding all the Flouriſhes Mr. Dan…ers makes, and the numerous Quotations he hath …etched from the Magdiburgenſian Hiſtory, Chapt. 7. From the firſt Century to the end of the 12th, there are but two Perſons to be found againſt Infant-baptiſm, Adrianus and Hincmarus; the latter appears to have recanted, and was again reſtored to his Biſhoprick: …nd for the underſtanding of Church-hiſtory about infant-baptiſm, I refer thee to the Recapitulation at …e end of the Anſwer, which contains ſome things …at were omitted in the Anſwer, and I aſſure thee is …ithfully collected.

Farewell. O. W. …vizes, June 20. 1674.