Vindication of a Late Treatise on Infant Baptism, Title page – Preface
Vindiciae Vindiciarum; OR, A VINDICATION of a late TREATISE, entituled, Infant-Baptism Asserted and Vindicated by Scripture and Antiquity. In Answer to Mr. HEN. D'ANVERS his REPLY. To which is annexed, The Right Reverend Dr. Barlow (now Bishop-Elect of Lincoln) his Apologetical-Letter. ALSO An Appeal to the Baptists (so called) against Mr. Danvers, for his strange Forgeries, and Misrepresentations of divers Councils and Authors, both Antient and Modern.
By Obed Wills, M. A.
He that is first in his own cause, seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
Prov. 18. 17.
London, Printed for Jonathan Robinson, at the Golden-Lion in St. Pauls Church-yard, 1675.
The Preface.
THe Wise Man tells us Pro. 17. 14. that the beginning of strife is as when one setteth out Water, therefore leave off, saith he, contention before it be medled with. The Original is big with an Emphasis, and is rendred by Arius Montanus, [Aquas aperiens, or qui aperit aquam] that is to say, Opening the Bay, or making a gap in the Banks for the water to run out; so that at first, though the matter may seem inconsiderable, yet the Waters widening their passage, become impetuous, grow stronger and stronger, carry all before it, drown the Country, and cause great Devastations: In like manner from small beginings of Controversy, Breaches are enlarged, Animosities fomented, the World filled with Variance, Noise, and Clamour: so that he that first starteth the same, without being compell'd thereunto, especially if it be about Theological points, and those Circumstantials and Punctilio's, shews himself to be a man of little judgment, and less affection to the Churches Peace. For though disputes about Religion are sometimes Necessary, yet are they alwayes Dangerous, too often emptying the heart of Christian Charity, and filling it with Carnal Zeal, and Passion: upon which account few there are to be found, who are fitly qualified to manage such undertakings, which are usually carried on with more heat than any other Subject. For that besides Reason, Learning, Reputation, Confidence of Verity, and Interest, which warm men in other Polemical encounters, they are in this inflamed with a Zeal for God, and the Impulse of Conscience to appear in his Cause, and for his Truth impugned. The Concurrence of all which, or some of them, have perhaps induced Mr. Danvers to appear once more upon the Stage, and thereby given the Ansa, or occasion of another Duel, between him and me, who both being of no great Strength, might well have given place to others, as fitter Champions for the Truth, on which side so ever it be. I must therefore acquaint thee, Reader, that my Antagonist having formerly published a Treatise for the Baptism of Believers only, I presumed to declare my Dissent from him, and in my Preface to the Answer have expressed the Reasons that obliged me thereunto. And besides my endeavours to refute all his Arguments against Infant-baptism, I did more especially detect his failings in the Historical part of his Discourse, and how extreamly culpable he was in his Collections, and in perverting the sense of Authors, contrary to their intentions: And though some thought it was impossible for him, not to be convinced of the offence he had done Antiquity, yet instead thereof, and an ingenuous acknowledgment of his Aberrations, he hath attempted to vindicate himself, and by all Artifices imaginable to cover or guild over his Defects; and for a pretext to hide them, hath as much as in him lies, insinuated a disesteem of my labours, making use of the politick Engine of Repercussion, retorting and bandying back the charges which I bring against him, with a sufficient Talio, and large requital. Herein much resembling Verres, who when Tully framed an Oration against him for Thievery, he knew no better way to discountenance the same, than by accusing Tully, a true man, that he was a Thief. But this will prove but a poor Salvo; for when the Vanity and Injustice of such a procedure appears, will not his face be covered with redoubled Shame? I am sorry he hath obliged me to consume more precious time with him, and am not willing to say any thing that may disturb the tranquillity of his Soul, and that because he is deeply touch'd at what is past; for however he pretends to Patience, and Suffering, 'tis easy to observe in him the marks of a great Animosity and Discomposure: And can any man blame him? since he (as he tells us) had formed his Treatise in a new Method Preface to the Reply.for the Benefit of this Age, and consequently might expect it should have been a Standing-book for the whole Nation, to be universally received without contradiction. But instead thereof, to have the Mummery discovered, the Mask and Vizard pluckt off, to have his darling Child, his first born in this kind, Anatomized, it's unsoundness and rotten parts laid open, and exposed to Shame, Censure, and Loathing, this must needs exasperate a great Spirit. This was such a Provocation, that his fancy hath been more busily imployed in inventing Charges against me, then in clearing himself. He hath mainly improved his Study (in conjunction with what help he could get from the Wits of his Party) to disparage my Book, vilify my Person, and to render both odious, and to be suspected. And what a noise doth he make in the Preface, with the remarkable exaggerations of my Curtilations, Misquotations, Mistranslations, Misapplications, when all this while he looks upon what I have written through the Multiplying-glass of prejudice, taking Mole-Hills for Mountains, and Peccadillo's and little escapes for unpardonable Crimes; and what is wanting in Weight, he makes up in Number. Never did any Momus more industriously set himself to carp; and some of his Accusations are so trivial, that they may be brought against the exactest Writer living. And yet after all these Exclamations, having compared notes with him, and examined Quotations, I find my self little more concerned, then in the mistake of a Name, a Century, and a passage of Cassander. And since my Antagonist hath the confidence to refer matters in debate between us to the Tribunal of the Reader, I willingly joyn issue with him, not doubting (if he hath Honesty and Ability to judg) but that he will find me Innocent, and this Accuser a Delinquent. There is no way to try our metal, but to bring it to the Touch-stone of the Original Authors, from whom we pretend our Authorities. There are some things in debate▪ that they who understand only their Mother tongue, cannot possibly be competent Judges of which side the Truth lieth: some other things are obvious to the unlearned, and they that have read only P. Perin in English, and Mr. Foxes Book of Martyrs have wondred at Mr. Danvers errors. In respect of these I have the less need to vindicate my self from some of his charges. And truly if the satisfying some mens importunity, that I would endeavour to disabuse credulous Souls, had not been more important than any fear of suffering my reputation by this Satyrist, I should have been altogether silent: For though it be certain, there is nothing so far from Truth, which a craftily composed discourse cannot make to appear probable, yet my private thoughts were, that I might have saved this labour: Since the Learned are well satisfied of the Truth of what I have written, and the more illiterate that are Paedobaptists are not over-forward to believe what Mr. Danvers saith, and for his own Party, many of them will boast still. Partiality and Prejudice will not suffer them to believe what is said in opposition to him, and from them I must expect no milder penalty, then what I suffered for the first Piece, viz. to be looked upon with a Squint-Eye, and wounded in reputation. But methinks there should have been so much nobleness in Mr. Danvers, being a Gentleman, and a Christian, as to have forborn his Invectives, and instead thereof, have attacqued some of our Arguments for Pedobaptism, against which he hath brought no other Weapons than what every Zantippe can afford, viz. the Sword of the Tongue, and the Arrows of bitter words. But I must expect an after-clap of Thunder, for he saith he hath much to reckon with me for mistakes in the Doctrinal part. I would advise him rather, first to take off the exceptions I have made against his Historical part of Baptism, which he cannot but be convinc'd of, unless he wink hard. Let him clear his Accounts with me in respect of that, before he enters upon new work; or rather, which is most ingenuous, let him publish a Retractation of his Errors, and so desist: for experience at tests the Truth of that Maxim, Veritas non quaerenda in cristicis. Moreover he cannot be ignorant that the Nation hath taken a Surfeit of these Baptismal-Controversies; there is more said already pro and con, than we are able to speak, and few have patience to read any more, and if we fall to it again, doubtless our Books will prove waste paper. And I must further acquaint Mr. Danvers that he having treated me with so much rudeness in what is past, I have little heart to have any more to do with him, (unless I see better cause) and do hereby promise him Security, as from me, from all contradiction, when-ever he lets fly. There is no Gaping I find before an Hot-Oven; and silence is accounted the best Answer to such as super-add Contumacy to their mistakes: For when men are grown so tenacious of an opinion which once they have espoused, as never to admit of a Divorce, though by conviction they find it Adulterate, all disputing is to no purpose: such were anciently condemned, quos non persuadebis, etiamsi persuaseris. If Mr. Danvers be not to be numbred amongst them, I should be glad; For what ever he hath said of my malignity against his person (altogether unknown to me) I here declare before all men the contrary, and that I love him as a Brother, though erring, and had mu…h rather convince, than shame him, heartily advising him to cease tossing the Ball of Contention; to be humble and loving to all Christians; to mortifie his passions, and follow peace with all in every place that call on the name of the Lord Jesus.