More proofs of infants church-membership and consequently their right to baptism, or, A second…

§. 1. THE occasion and time of these Letters is long ago published by Mr. Tombs himself in the third Part of his Anti-Paedobaptism, page 353. and forward; where he printeth the said Letters without my consent: Had I found his Answers satisfactory, I had changed my judgement and retracted that and other such writings long ago. But I thought so much otherwise of them that I judged it not necessary, nor worth my diverting from better employment to write an answer to them.

§. 1. THE occasion and time of these Letters is long ago published by Mr. Tombes himself in the third Part of his Anti-Paedobaptism, page 353. and forward; where he printeth the said Letters without my consent: Had I found his Answers satisfactory, I had changed my judgement and retracted that and other such writings long ago. But I thought so much otherwise of them that I judged it not necessary, nor worth my diverting from better employment to write an answer to them.

§. 2. And whatever the singular judgement of that ⟨p. 2⟩learned and excellent Professor of Theology mentioned in his Preface, was or is concerning the arguments that I, and many before and since have used for Infant Baptism, and notwithstanding his opinion that it was introduced in the second Century, &c. yet so many wiser and better men than I, think otherwise both of the cause, and of Mr. T's writings, that I hope the modest will allow me the honour of having very good company if I should prove mistaken.

§. 3. No sober Christian will deny but that Godly men of both opinions may be saved: And then I think no such Christian that is acquainted with the History of the Church, can choose but think that there are now in Heaven many thousands, if not hundred thousands that were not against Infant Baptism, for one that was against it: And while we differ de jure, yet without great ignorance of the state of the world, we must needs agree that de facto, the number in the Church of Christ in all Nations and Ages that have been against Infant Baptism hath been so small, as that they make up but a very little part of the Church triumphant: which though I take for no proof of the truth of our opinion, yet I judge it a great reason to make me and others very fearful of turning rashly and without cogent proof to the other side. I know the Churches have still had their blemishes; but that they should all universally so err in the subject of Baptism and Christianity it self, is not to be believed till it be proved.