Other some of them are not of a simple and honest nature, but malicious, troublesome, envious, covetous, which all their life time have been unquiet and obstinate, ever loving contention, and so falling into that error, do amongst themselves, raise up broils, stir men against their Magistrates and Preachers, against oaths, against judgement and punishment, against taxes, rents, and tiches, and many other things: furthermore they stir up contention between man and wife: and yet notwithstanding, they cloak and smooth themselves with a certain glorious & hypocritical kind of speech, to the end they might seem to be far honester men, than they are in very deed. For what they would do, if they might have free liberty, we have good experience in the Monkish Anabaptists. If therefore these men which are so malicious, might be freely suffered, & no punishment done unto them, the common wealth would quite be overthrown, as experience doth teach us. And these men ⟨image 98⟩being the heads of this faction, abusing the simple sort, do in like manner stir them up to be contentious and raise tumults. Whereupon being thus instructed, although they be manifestly overthrown by the truth, yet leave they not their error, nor will receive any godly instruction, but despise the gentleness and mercy of the Magistrate, never keeping touch, though they promise and swear never so much, having no regard to honesty, never cease to molest and trouble the congregations with their rash and seditious dealings. And touching these men, what both Gods law and mans, doth decree of them, it is manifestly known: wherefore, we do not go about to excuse any such, neither have we any fellowship with them, or with their teachers, nor yet by Gods grace mind we to have. Touching the baptism of infants, it1 hath his authority from the scripture. For because we all confess that Baptism is, a sign of the covenant and people of God: and that it cannot be denied that infants are in the covenant ⟨p. 88⟩of God, and are numbered with his people: therefore baptism which is the sign hereof, cannot be denied unto them. Again, S. Peter in the Acts teacheth,2 that they ought to be baptized, which have the holy Ghost:
Other some of them are not of a simple and honest nature, but malitious, troublesome, enuious, couetous, which all their life time haue bene vnquiet and obstinate, euer louing contention, and so falling into that error, doe amongste themselues, raise vp broiles, stirre mē against their Magistrates and Preachers, against othes, against iudgement and punishment, against taxes, rentes, and tiches, and many other things: furthermore they stirre vp contention betwene man and wife: and yet notwithstanding, they cloke and smoothe themselues with a certaine glorious & hipocritical kinde of spéeche, to the end they might séeme to be farre honester men, than they are in very déede. For what they would doe, if they might haue frée libertie, we haue good experience in the Monkishe Anabaptistes. If therefore these menne which are so malitious, might be fréely suffred, & no punishmēt done vnto them, the common wealthe would quite be ouerthrowne, as experience dothe teache vs. And these men ⟨image 98⟩being the heades of this faction, abusing the simple sort, do in like manner stirre them vp to be contentious and raise tumultes. Wherupon being thus instructed, although they be manifestly ouerthrowne by the truthe, yet leaue they not their erroure, nor will receiue any godly instruction, but despise the gentlenesse and mercy of the Magistrate, neuer kéeping touche, though they promisse and sweare neuer so muche, hauing no regard to honestie, neuer cease to molest and trouble the congregatiōs with their rash and seditious dealings. And touching these menne, what bothe Gods lawe and mannes, dothe decrée of them, it is manifestly knowne: wherefore, we doe not goe about to excuse any suche, neither haue we any felowship with them, or with their teachers, nor yet by Gods grace minde we to haue. Touching the baptisme of infantes, it1 hathe his aucthoritie from the scripture. For bicause we all confesse that Baptisme is, a signe of the couenaunte and people of God: and that it cannot be denyed that infants are in the couenaunt ⟨p. 88⟩of God, and are numbred with his people: therfore baptisme which is ye signe heereof, cannot be denyed vnto them. Againe, S. Peter in the Actes teacheth,2 that they oughte to be baptized, which haue the holy Ghost:
- 1Baptism of infants.Baptisme of infantes.
- 2Acts. 10.Actes. 10.
