JOI. Thou hast rehearsed the chief and principal foundations of the Anabaptists, that have any show or appearance, but this is no new thing unto us, which have learned and red in histories, that above three hundred, xlviii. years ago that is to say, in the year of Christ. M.C. lxxxii. there have been heretics,1 that have taught the same doctrine. But because, that ye do lean upon a weak & brittle foundation, your foot shall easily be subverted & overthrown, in all your doctrine ye do most urgently beat this into mens heads, ye baptism is a sign of the faithful ⟨image 21⟩or of them that have faith already. Infants or young babes have no faith. Ergo baptism ought not to be ministered unto infants. In very deed (if the words be well and truly expounded and understanded) we do gladly grant this thing unto you: That baptism is a sign of the faithful people. But we do not define, circumscribe,2 or limit the faithful, as ye do: for if no man should be baptised but they that believe truly, and from a sincere heart, Judas, Simon, of Samaria, Demas. and other hypocrites, had never ben baptized. Let no man thus take my sayings, although I would have baptism to be ministered unto them, whom it is manifest and plain to be infidels, but mine intent is to show, that by this word, fidelis, faithful, some what more is to be understanded, then the Anabaptists do express,
IOI. Thou hast rehersed the chief and principal foundatyons of the Anabaptystes, that haue anye showe or appearaunce, but thys is noo newe thynge vnto vs, whych haue learned and red in hystories, that aboue three hundreth, xlviii. yeares agone that is to saye, in the yeare of Christe. M.C. lxxxii. there haue bene heretykes,1 that haue taught the same doctrine. But because, yt ye do leane vpon a weake & brickel foundatiō, your fote shal easely be subuerted & ouerthrowen, in al your doctrin ye do most vrgently beat this into mens hedes, ye baptisme is a signe of ye faithfull ⟨image 21⟩or of them that haue faith alredy. Infantes or yonge babes haue no fayth. Ergo baptisme ought not to be ministred vnto infantes. In very dede (if the wordes be wel and truly expounded and vnderstanded) we do gladly graunt this thinge vnto you: That baptysme is a sygne of the faithfull people. But we do not deffyne, cyrcumscribe,2 or limite the faythful, as ye do: for yf no man shoulde be baptised but they that beleue truly, and from a sincere hearte, Iudas, Simon, of Samaria, Demas. and other hipocrites, had neuer ben baptized. Let no man thus take my sayinges, although I would haue baptysme to be ministred vnto theym, whome it is manyfeste and playne to be infydels, but myne intente is to shewe, that by thys word, fidelis, faythfull, some what more is to be vnderstanded, then the Anabaptistes do expresse,
- 1The sum of the Anabaptists arguments.The sum of the Anabaptistes argumēts.
- 2This word fidelis, faithful or fidel ought not to be limited as the Anabaptists will have itThis word fidelis, faithfull or fidel ought not to be limited as the Anabaptists wil haue it
