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

§ 10. I have thought by this weakness of some singular people, that, if God should but let us have a King and other Rulers that were Antinomians, and against Infant Baptism, and against singing Psalms, and against the use of the Creed and Lords Prayer, and such other things, and withal were themselves of wicked lives, and would make Laws for their own way, and impose it on the people, so that the ungodly multitude did fall into this way, it would presently cure most that are now for such opinions: And though the Godly and the wicked must be greatly differenced in the Church, yet before we are aware, our secret Pride sets in with this desire of discipline, and maketh us much desire to seem eminently Good, by a more notable and conspicuous difference from the common sort of Christians than God in Scripture or reason doth allow.

2. And how much Ignorance hath to do in all ⟨p. 190⟩our controversies, would soon be acknowledged if the question concerned not our selves: For every disputer accuseth his adversary of Ignorance: If they be of ten minds (inconsistent) nine of them must needs be erroneous, and therefore Ignorant, and yet every one chargeth it on the rest, and thinks that he alone is free. Alas, that mans soul, which here must act in such a puddle of brains, and in so frail a receptive engine as it here useth, should have such high and confident thoughts of its own untried and undigested conceptions that will not let Ignorance be acknowledged or cured! Most certainly we are all so dark and weak, that it is but a few Great necessary things, or such as are very plain, which we have cause to be confident of, without all suspicion of mistake. Most certainly natural dullness, or short and superficial studies, through sloth or diversions, or want of right teachers, or an early reception of wrong methods or opinions, leading unto more, and many such causes, doth and will keep not only most Christians, but most Teachers of the Church in so low a measure of Knowledge, as unfitteth them to master and manage very difficult controversies: And yet sad experience telleth us, that he that is least able to speak, is oft least able to hold his tongue; And it's too rare to find a man that is not Ignorant of his Ignorance, and that chargeth not him with Pride that will presume to contradict him. What wonder then if disputes be endless?