A Precept for the Baptism of Infants, Title page – To the reader 1
A PRECEPT FOR THE Baptiſme OF INFANTS Out of the NEW TESTAMENT.
Where the Matter is Firſt proved from three ſeverall Scriptures, that there is ſuch a word of Command.
Secondly it is vindicated, as from the exceptions of the Separation, ſo in ſpecial from the Cavils of Mr. Robert Everard in a late Treatiſe of his intituled Baby-Baptiſme routed.
By NATHANIEL STEPHENS Miniſter of the Goſpel at Fennie-Drayton in Leicester-ſhire.
London Printed by T.R. and E.M. for Edmund Paxton, Nathanaell Webb and William Grantham; and are to be ſold in Pauls Chaine neer Doctors Commons, and at the Greyhound in Pauls Church-yard. 1651.
Imprimatur.
Edm. Calamy. January 13. 1650.
Chriſtian and Conſcientious Reader,
THough Preſſes in the preſent age are much oppreſſed, and many fools will be medling, that they may be fools in Print; Yet we think this Treatiſe ſhould have much wrong, and ſo ſhould Chriſtian Infants, if it ſhould be concealed from publick veiw. For this we hope may muzzle their mouthes, who have long cryed out, give us a Precept for Infant-Baptiſme. If ſuch do not winke, here they may ſee it. And if their wits be not quicker to deviſe ſhifts, then their conſciences to receive truth, here we conceive is ſatisfaction ſufficient.
For Mr. Everards Paſquill (no nick-name for ſuch ſheets of Satyrical invectives) how can it but be nauſeous to all ſober minds? If a truth ſhould be ſo diſguiſed, it would look unlovely; how much more his error? Which error of his is ſo abundantly refuted by this ſober and judicious tract, which makes the way ſo clear for little Children to come to Chriſts Baptiſme, as they did to his armes, and bleſſing: that unleſſe their adverſaries bluſh to recant and repent, (as the Emperor Heraclius did, when the Hereſie of the Monothelites, with which he was tainted, was condemned,) they will henceforth waſh thoſe children with teares, which they have craftily and cruelly kept from Baptiſmal waſhing.
To returne to this Book, we apprehend that the ſubſtance and argumentative part of it doth ſincerely and ſoundly hold forth the truth: and that in the evidence or power of the ſpirit of truth. If there be now and then redundance of words, let it be looked upon as the Authors affection to make the matter clear to the meaneſt judgments.
And glad we are that in this reply to Baby-Baptiſme routed, the Reverend Author hath followed the Apoſtles rule, 1 Pet. 3.9. and not rendred rayling for rayling. We can be confident that as it ſavours much of the Spirit of God, ſo it will have the more influence upon the ſpirits of Gods people.
Our own experience hath found this in our anſwering the challenge made us of diſputation in this point four years ſince by Mr. Knollis and Mr. Kiffin. Which challenge we received and anſwered (may we ſpeak it with modeſty) with moderation towards them from whom we received provocation enough. And with what happie ſucceſſe, we can comfortably referre to thoſe thouſands who heard the diſpute, but chiefly to the happy ſtanding faſt of our own great people in this truth of Infant-Baptiſme. Though we confeſſe we daily fear the lot of other great places, that ſeducers will creep in amongſt us.
We have ſometimes heard that our Antagoniſts at their returne gave thanks in their Congregations for the good ſucceſſe of their long journey. But if deſervedly, as to the point diſputed, we wonder then, that we within a monethmonth ſending them a copie of the diſputations, written by their own ſcribe Mr. Coppe, and withall the Preſſe all this while keeping open doores, they have not committed it to publick veiw and vote: nor ſent us their hands that we might do it, according to Articles before the diſpute.
What wrong they have done us and the truth by clancular and defective narratives of the buſineſſe, as we have cauſe to fear, ſo we leave to their own boſomes to judge. Reader, let not this convenient digreſſion tire thy patience in the peruſall of this Reverend Authors work, whoſe worth, we already aſſure our ſelves, will with much clearneſſe appear to thee, as it does to us; and we doubt not will to thoſe of his oppoſites who (as Syneſius Biſhop of Cyrene his expreſſion was) had not rather loſe their hearts then their conceits. Now, together with the book, we are thine in the truth as it is in Jeſus.
John Bryan. Miniſters of Coventry.
Obadiah Grew. Miniſters of Coventry.