An Apology for Two Treatises Concerning Infant Baptism, License – Dedication
HAving peruſed this milde Apology, I conceive that the ingenuity, learning and piety therein contained deſerve the Preſſe.
Iohn Bachiler.
An Apology OR PLEA FOR THE TWO TREATISES, AND Appendix to them concerning INFANTBAPTISME; Publiſhed Decemb. 15. 1645.
Againſt the unjuſt charges, complaints, and cenſures of Doctor Nathanael Homes, Mr Iohn Geree, Mr Stephen Marſhall, Mr John Ley, and Mr William Huſſey; together with a Poſtſcript by way of reply to Mr Blakes anſwer to Mr Tombes his letter, and Mr Edmund Calamy, and Mr Richard Vines Preface to it.
Wherein the principall heads of the Diſpute concerning Infant-Baptiſm are handled, and the inſufficiency of the writings oppoſed to the two Treatiſes manifeſted.
By IOHN TOMBES, B. D.
GAL. 4. 16.
Am I therefore become your enemy, becauſe I tell you the truth?
LONDON, Printed for Giles Calvert, at the Black Spread-Eagle at the Weſt end of PAULS. 1646.
To the right worſhipfull my much honoured Auditors, members of the Honourable, Houſe of COMMONS, and Societies of the Temple.
AFter other meanes duly but without ſucceſſe tried, for the publique good, to wit the vindicating of truth, and conſequently for the preventing of the eſtabliſhment of an errour and corruption of the moſt ſolemn ſacred rite of the Chriſtian profeſſion, and the oppreſſion of them that oppoſe it, I conſented to the publiſhing of two treatiſes in December laſt about Infant-baptiſme. It ſeemed good to ſundry perſons of note preſently to cry downe my aſſertions, and to load me with unjuſt accuſations, which I take to be rather a baffeling of the Author, then an anſwering of his writing. Yet the truth hath gotten ſo much ground (however ſome eminent men pretend otherwiſe) that the Doctrine of the Directory is diſavowed by two of the moſt eminent of my Antagoniſts, as is ſhewed § 9. pag. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. of this Apology, the chiefe argument of my prime Antagoniſt, is proved to be either nugatory or fallacious, §. 10. pag. 44. 45 46. 47. 48. of this Apology, ſundry confeſſions are drawne from my Antagoniſts, which in my judgement, and I thinke in the judgement of any that knowes what belongs to diſputes, do yeeld the cauſe, as thoſe that I mention §. 18. pag 97. 98. 100. 101. 102. & §. 5. page 28. of this Apology. And as for the accuſations againſt my ſelfe, I ſhould ſleight them, were it not they had a great influence upon the cauſe, and therefore have been neceſſitated to vindicate my ſelfe; and therewith the truth in ſome meaſure by this Apology. The great prejudice againſt me in Point of antiquity, I have alſo in this Apology endeavoured to diſpell, ſpecially that from the teſtimony of Auguſtin, Serm. 10. de verbis Apoſtoli, tom. 10. which upon examination I find not to be an hiſtoricall narration from good records, but a meer hyperbolicall ſpeech, Rhetorically aſſerting a thing by conjecture from preſent uſe in a Sermon to the people, §. 15. pag. 81. 82. 83. 84. of this Apology. And for the teſtimony of Tertullian concerning federall holineſſe, it is ſhewed to be impertinent, §. 15. pag. 84. 85. That the preſent Synod or reformed Churches are againſt me ſhould be no more prejudice againſt me, then it is againſt the Synod, and reformed Churches that they oppoſe the Doctrine of Infant-baptiſme, as it was taught by Cyprian, and his councill of 66. Biſhops, Auguſtin, and many Synods, and Churches all along till the fifteenth century, and the Auguſtan confeſſion art 9.
The danger of troubles upon a reformation of this corruption ſhould make men wary how they introduce them; I thinke they that are bound by Covenant to reforme, yet are not bound to do it with procipitation, and without prudence. But however men muſt take heed how they eſtabliſh an errour and corruption by a Law, and oppreſſe men for holding a truth, leſt they kicke againſt the Pricke.
As for my owne particular, the hard dealing I have fo…nd doth not alienate me from my brethren, nor I hope ſhall make a ſchiſm between us; if it muſt happen, my indeavour is, that it may be neceſſary, not voluntary on my part. What hath happened I looke upon it, however meant by men, yet as ordered by God for good, to wit the clearing of the truth, the trying and humbling of my ſelfe. That I ſuffer in the repute of men, or my outward peace moves me not. It's not to be expected children ſhould be born without travail, nor truth without ſuffering; yet to leave ſo intelligent an Auditory, with ſo much advantage of the fruite of my labours, is no ſmall grievance. However I have choſen you for depoſitaries, in whoſe hands I may leave this Apology; that you may not be ſtrangers to this buſineſſe, nor forget him who is
Your reall ſervant in the things of Chriſt, JOHN TOMBES. From my ſtudy at the Temple in London, Auguſt 20. 1646.