The Bonds of Baptism, Title page – Preface
The Bonds OF Baptiſm: SHEWING, I. That thoſe under the Goſpel, ſhould ſeek Baptiſm for themſelves and their Children. II. When thoſe Baptiz'd in Infancy, grow up to Years of Underſtanding; they ſhould renew their Covenant with GOD
By Benjamin Wadſworth, A. M. Paſtor of a Church of CHRIST in Boſton, New-England.
Mat. 28.19, 20.—
Teach all Nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, & of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoſt; teaching them to obſerve all things whatſoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world.
BOSTON: Printed by B. Green, Sold by B. Eliot, at his Shop. 1717
Preface.
WHat I briefly offer in the following Pages, I was moved to by the Reverend Mr. George Corwin, late Miniſter of Salem. He liv'd greatly and juſtly beloved and deſired, and I think died as much lamented. He was an Able, Faithful, Laborious Miniſter of the Goſpel; and a lover of Souls, and I believe is now gone to his Everlaſting Rest. When he was last in Town a few Months ago; he deſired me to write ſome ſhort thing, to ſhow that Perſons ſhould ſeek Baptiſm for themſelves & Children; & that Baptiz'd Perſons when grown up, ſhould renew their Covenant with God. He deſir'd (if I Remember right) that what ſhould be written might be adapted to the Capacity of the meaneſt; and might be Short alſo, that ſo it might be the more eaſily bought, and charitably diſtributed, where it might probably do good. If he had not died ſo ſoon, I believe I ſhould ſcarce have begun to write ſo ſoon as I have. But quickly after I heard of his Death, this motion reviv'd in my mind, and put me upon fulfilling (in ſome poor meaſure) the will of the dead. I have here made a brief Eſſay without looking into any Author, but only conſulting the Bible. Indeed long before his motion, I had written a Dialogue about the Lord's Supper, (tho' 'tis not publiſh'd) and another about Baptiſm, tho' 'tis not yet finiſhed, each of them much larger than this. Let what is here offer'd, he compar'd with the Scripture, try'd by that; if in any thing it diſagrees thereto let it ſo far be rejected: But if it agrees with Scripture, and is yet diſregarded by any, … ſuch their neglect, they must anſwer to God the Judge of all. So far as this brief Eſſay, anſwers the deſire of the worthy Mr. Corwin; I ſay, ſo far, tho' he be dead, he yet ſpeaks in it. Let thoſe who were once under his Faithful Miniſtry, Remember how they have heard; and live agreeably to the truths of God which he Inculcated on them. Indeed all under the Goſpel, ſhould believe it and obey it; if what is here offered ſhall be Instrumental of quickning any thereto, let God have all the Glory; and the unworthy Author be remembred in their Prayers.
Benj. Wadſworth. Boſton, Decemb. 4th. 1717.