A Confutation of Errors Maintained by the Anabaptists, Title page – To the reader
AN ANSWER, OR CONFVTATION OF Divers Errors Broached and Maintained By the Seven Churches of ANABAPTISTS Contained in thoſe Articles of their Confeſſion of Faith Preſented to the PARLIAMENT, and other groſſe Opinions held by them againſt the cleare light of the GOSPELL.
By THOMAS BAKEWELL.
2 TIM. 3.8, 9.
Now as Jannes and Jambres withſtood Moſes, ſo do theſe alſo reſiſt the truth: men of corrupt mindes, reprobate concerning the faith. But they ſhall proceede no further: for their folly ſhall be manifeſt unto all men, as theirs alſo was.
Imprimatur John Downham.
LONDON, Printed for Henry Shepheard and William Ley, and are to be ſold at the Signe of the Bible in Tower-Streete, and at Pauls-Chaine neare Doctors Commons. 1646.
The Contents of this Boooke.
CHAP. I.
THis Chapter containes a confutation of many errours, mentioned by the Anabaptiſts in their Articles of faith, defended againſt me by one of their Teachers.
CHAP. II.
This Chapter containes other wicked errours of the Anabaptists, mentioned againſt me: Firſt, that the bodies of men conſiſting of fleſh and bones, is their ſoules, and that they have no other: Secondly, that the breath of men and beaſts is their ſpirits, and that it is immortall, and liveth when their bodies are dead: Thirdly, they hold that in the Reſurrection, the bodies both of men and beaſts ſhall riſe againe, and their breath ſhall be againe infuſed into them.
CHAP. III.
This Chapter containes wicked errours, mentioned againſt me by the Anabaptiſts: who hold an Univerſall Redemption by Chriſt; if not of beaſts, as was mentioned in the former Chapter, yet of all men although they be already in hell torments.
CHAP. IV.
In this Chapter, they hold it unlawfull to uſe that Prayer of Chriſt, Math. 6.9. as a Prayer, by the godly, and the ungodly; with a briefe confutation of that errour.
CHAP. V.
This Chapter containes a diſputation, with the Anabaptiſts about the Magiſtrates power, in commanding thoſe of a contrary judgement, to conforme in publicke worſhip, or to puniſh them in caſe of refuſall.
To the Reader.
CHriſtian Reader, The Apoſtacy of others ſhould be as a warning to us: that as we have ſet our hand to the plow of profeſſion, we may not looke backe. Luke. 17. but goe on unto perfection, and preſſe toward the marke, and for the joy that is ſet before us, we ſhould endure the Croſſe, and runne with patience the race that is ſet before us: and never turne to the right hand nor to the left, but goe on thorough the narrow gate, along the ſtraight way to Zion, with our forces thitherward: and encourage our hearts to the Lord by that everlaſting Covenant, that ſhall never be forgotten: and we ſhall obtaine if we faint not; the end of our faith, ſhall be the ſalvation of our ſoules; if we hold out to the end, we ſhall be ſaved; being faithfull to the death we ſhall have the Crowne of life; then I ſay Good Reader take heede of Apoſtacy, doe not beginne in the ſpirit, and then end in the fleſh: for then your former righteouſneſſe ſhall never be remembred; but for your ſinne you ſhall dye: but to thoſe that perſevere in the way of righteouſneſſe, all their former ſinnes ſhall be forgiven, and never remembred more, but they ſhall be caſt into the bottome of the ſea, and blotted out of the book of remembrance, and they ſhall be eſteemed as perfectly righteous, having no ſpot nor wrinckle nor any ſuch thing; then keepe thy garments, for thou must walke with Chriſt in robes made white in the blond of the Lambe: pure religion will keepe thee from being ſpotted by the world; and that thou mayeſt ſo doe, keepe thy ſelfe from the fornicatours of the world, yea from both ſcandalous and erroneus perſons: doe not inquire, ſaying, how doe they ſerve their Gods, Deut. 12.31? Come not among any erronius perſons. Iſrael living amongſt them ſoone learned their workes. Pſal. 110.35. enter not into their paths, goe not with with wicked men, avoyde it, paſſe not by it, turne from it, and come away. Prov. 4.14, 15. If they ſay, loe here is Chriſt or there, beleeve them not: for there ſhall ariſe falſe Chriſts and falſe Prophets, that if it were poſſible, would deceive the very elect. Wherefore if they ſay, behold he is in the deſart, goe not forth, behold he is in the ſecret chambers, beleeve it not. Math. 24.24.26. If they preach any other Goſpell, then that the former Saints have beene taught, let them be accurſed. Their new Lights is but Satans deluſion, when he transforms himſelfe into an Angel of light. The old way is the good way, our Fathers walked therein, and were not confounded. Pſal. 22.44. Then if they bring not this doctrine, receive them not into thy houſe, nor bid them God ſpeede. 3 Jon. 3.10. Pertake not of other mens ſinnes, keepe thy ſelfe pure, and he not carried about with every winde of doctrine, The ſlight of men, and cunning craftineſſe whereby they lie in waite to deceive with fairs words. They deceive the hearts of the ſimple, and carry away captive unſtable ſoules into deſtruction: then it is a good thing the heart be eſtabliſhed with grace. Be ye rooted and built up in Chriſt, and ſtand faſt againſt all the wiles of the divell: be not like the Athenians, deſiring to hear…, have not itching cares after novelties: labour to have godlineſſe with content, and a ſetled minde upon the truth of the Goſpell, ſo ſhalt thou ſtand in theſe perillous dayes, When iniquity abounds, and the love of many waxes cold: labour to love the truth, and thou ſhalt not be given up to beleeve li…s: labour to doe the will of God, and thou ſhalt know his doctrine whether it be of God: and receive nothing for truth till thou haſt weighed it in the ballance of the Sanctuary: let not thy affections be faſtened on any thing, before thou hast tryed it: receive nothing for the love of men, nor reſpect of perſons, but ſearch the ſcriptures, and ſee whether thoſe things be ſo, and follow Paul, but as he followes Chriſt: and if ſinners entice thee, conſent thou not; if they ſay come let us heare ſuch a Tradeſ-man preach, goe not with them, leaſt thou be ſnared to thy deſtruction. Then doe not tempt the Lord, nor preſume of thine owne ſtrength to ſtand in ſuch temptations, but take heede leaſt thou fall: be ever jealous of thine owne heart, for it is deceitfull above all things; keepe it with all diligence, and leane not to thine owne understanding; and if thou deſireſt ſatisfaction in any point in controverſie, acquaint thy Paſtor with it before thou give conſent to any thing new come up, or to walke in a way not caſt up from the ancient pathes, reads this Book, and let the Scripture be thy Judge, and if it ſatisfie thee in any thing, give God the prayſe, and let me be remembred in thy prayers, and I ſhall remaine thine, in all Chriſtian duties to be commanded,
THOMAS BAKEWELL.