The Storming of the Anabaptists Garrisons, Title page – Dedication
THE STORMING OF THE ANABAPTISTS GARRISONS, VVith a brief diſcovery of the weakneſſe of the ſame, & of the inconſiderableneſs of the Sconces and Forts of all the other Sectaries, in deſpight and contempt of all the which, any Chriſtian Souldier may ſafely march to Heaven, without the leaſt danger;
The ſerious thought of the which alone, may for ever ſerve for the ſetling of his judgement, and for his comfort in life and death, and therefore worthy of his moſt deliberate conſideration.
In a word, In the inſuing diſcourſe, the vanity of all novell opinions is diſcovered, the ignorance of all the which can no way hinder any mans happineſſe: And the Baptiſme of little Children borne of Chriſtian Parents, whether Iewes or Gentiles, is proved by the word of God, to be lawfull, and that there are both Precepts and Preſidents, and as good authority for the Baptiſme of little Children borne of believing Parents, as for the baptiſme of growen perſons, and that from the Commiſſion and practice both of John the Baptiſt, and Chriſts Diſciples, who Baptiſed both men, women, and children, as the following Treatiſe will declare, which was written at the earneſt deſire of a well-wiſher to the truth, and in anſwer to the Letter following.
Iohn 3. 22, 23.
After theſe things came Jeſus, and his Diſciples into the land of Judea, and there he tarried with them and Baptiſed. And Iohn alſo was baptizing in Anon neere Salim, &c. And they came and were baptized.
2 Cor. 13. 8.
For we can doe nothing againſt the truth, but for the truth.
By John Baſtwick, Doctor in Phyſick.
LONDON, Printed by T. W. for Joſhua Kirton, and are to be ſold at his Shop, at the ſigne of the white Horſe in Pauls Church-yard. 1647.
To his much honoured friend Mr. Iohn Baſtwick, Doctor in Phyſick, at the Golden Ball in great Woodſtreet.
Worthy Sir,
HAving read over your Booke intituled, The Utter Routing of the whole Army of the Independents and Sectaries, &c. And found in your anſwers plenary ſatisfaction to whatſoever was objected againſt your arguments in your former Booke intituled, Independency not Gods ordinance; I could not ſo content my ſelfe without ſignifying unto you the ſame, and r…turning you many thankes for the great paines and indefatigable diligence you have uſed therein, being perſwaded if all thoſe who are ſtaggering between Independency and Presbyteri…, would but read it ever with an impartiall eye, it would fully ſettle their judgements. Nay if thoſe of the Congr…gations called joyn'd Members, would but read it without prejudice, I am confident they would not only harbour a better opinion of the Presbytery, but ſee ſuch faylings in their owne way, as juſtly to relinquiſh it. But I behold not that charity in them, that they would perſwade the world they are indowed with, nor that love to their brethren that is to be deſired in thoſe th… make profeſſion of the Goſpell, and ſpeake ſo much of love and charity as they do. The time was that they bad honourable thoughts of you to my knowledge, and ſpake as much in your praiſes as in any mans now living, before you declared your judgement for the Presbyters: but ſince that, their hatred it ſufficiently knowne, for their language and practice doe manifeſt it, not only by all ſhamefull revi…ing of you, and by diſparaging both you and your books, by all manner of contumelies, but by pulling down the Titles of your Books whereſoever they are ſet up, … h…ndering the publiſhing of them by all their abilities, which apparantly … their inveterate malice againſt you, which dealing of theirs, as it is very unchriſtian, ſo it ſhewes what liberty of Conſcience wee might expect at their hands, if they were once our maſters. Neither may they pretend that you aid provoke them by your writings: for before ever you had put Pen to paper, or writ any thing againſt their opinion, they only underſtanding that you were of a contrary judgement, did then as deſpightfully uſe you in all manner of ſcurrilous language as now they doe as can ſufficiently be proved. It is only your opinion, in that you differ from them that makes you odious to them, for they liked your mery humour at other times againſt the Prelats: But they ſeeme to have ſome ground for it if they may be beleeved, for th…y have been often heard to affirme, that you were once one of them, and it was told me by many, that thoſe women that accompanied J…hn L…lburnes Wife to the Parliament upbraided you to your face before all the people that you had been once one of them and called you an apoſtate, and perſecutor of the ſaints. This information makes me the more bold to requeſt a ſmall fav…ur from you which is this, that I might have it under your hand whether you were ever in your opinion an Independent, Sectary or Anabaptiſt, &c. that I may ſatisfie others about it; for I heard they were all ſuch that did abuſe you. Now, if you were not. I ſhall deſire you with as much brevity as ſo weigh…y a buſineſſe will ſuffer you to uſe, to give me your judgement, what you conceive of all thoſe new opinions lately hatcht amongſt us: and as you have largely writ againſt the Independents, ſo that now you would furniſh me with ſome arguments againſt the Anabaptiſts, which is now become one of the chiefe Sects, and for multitude (if they may be credited) the greateſt and moſt prevalent in the Kingdome; for I know you will deale candidly in the whole buſineſſe, and ſo good an opinion I have of you, that you will doe nothing for diſputation ſake, but for truth and conſcience ſake. Withall, I ſhall deſire you in the whole diſcourſe to uſe no humane authority, but as you have in all your writings confirmed your opinion by the word of God you would ſtill uſe the ſame weapon to defend the truth, and oppoſe errour, which I ſhall take for a ſingular Chriſtian kindneſſe, and according to my ability, if it ſatisfies my expectation, I ſhall labour that others may alſo partake with me in the truth, and be preſerved from the errours of the times. I wiſh from my heart, that …ry family in this City, nay in the whole Kingdome, that deſires to know the ſtate of the controverſie between us and the Independents would downplay ſome of th…ſe … they uſually ſp…d in their retreat … in the reading of your …ſt Booke, … the Utter Routing &c. that ſo both they and their … …ight b… preſerved from the cunning craftineſſe of thoſe that lie in wait to deceive. I having read no Booke ſince the broching of this new tenent of Independency, that comes ſo neere and full to the buſineſſe. Neither would I diſparage … this; but I ſpeake according to what I have …xperie…ce of, and from the benefit that others have received by peruſing of it▪ who have acknowledged that the reading your Booke did not only ſeule them, but many hundreds of others that have from it. And which is yet more ſome Independents have acknowledged, that they were convinced by reading of your Booke which I conceive, to be one of the principalleſt cauſes that makes them ſo much maligne you, and hinder the publiſhing of it. And others of them upon the reading of your booke, have writ out of the Countrey to ſome of their fraternity here in London, telling th…m▪ that they had read your Booke, ſaying moreover, that they could witneſſe that you had writ nothing of them and their practices, but what they could witneſſe to be true and therefore earneſtly exhorted them to mend their manners, and carry themſelves ſo as beſeemed the Goſpell, all this can bee abundantly proved which induces me to believe, that if that Book were but knowne amongſt the people they would either ſpeedily be undeceived if they were ſeduced, or bee preſerved from the errours of the times. All that I have now to ſay unto you beſides my good wiſhes is this; You have had great experience of Gods love unto you, who hath hitherto preſerved you, and delivered you out of ſo many dangers and from ſo many deaths, and from the fury of ſo many enemies and preſerved you in the truth; who with all their fury, rage, and reproches, have never in any thing beene diſmayed; I ſhall therefore earneſtly deſire you to conſider that you ſerve the ſame maſter ſtill, who is the ſame All ſufficient Jehovah, be conſtant therefore to maintaine his cauſe and truth to the death, and be not diſcouraged with any thing any enemy can doe unto you; which words I utter not as in the leaſt doubting of your reſolutions, but out of my hearty deſire of your honour and happineſſe which your ſ…ability and conſtancy will crowne with a L…rell of i… mortall praiſes manger all enemies. I pray ſir, faile no… with the ſ…neſt to let me receive th…ſe Arguments I deſire, and to heare of your health and happineſſe, and the welfare of all your…, and you ſhall …ch … and rejoyce … who is
Sir, Your aſſured Friend in What I may in the Lords quarrell. RICHARD SMART. From my houſe in Scalding Alley, at the Hand and Pen, this 25 of March, 1647.