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

§. 14. On all these accounts I still say as Paul, The servant of the Lord must not (needlessly) strive, nor meddle with those wranglings which minister Questions rather than godly edifying which is in faith: For the end of the Commandment is Love out of a pure heart, and a good Conscience and faith unfeigned: And the high pretenders are too often [proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words; whereof cometh envy, strife, railing, evil surmising, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth.

§. 14. On all these accounts I still say as Paul, The servant of the Lord must not (needlesly) strive, nor meddle with those wranglings which minister Questions rather than godly edifying which is in faith: For the end of the Commandment is Love out of a pure heart, and a good Conscience and faith unfeigned: And the high pretenders are too often [proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words; whereof cometh envy, strife, railing, evil surmising, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth.

§. 15. II. But yet for all this, as Politicians use to tell Tyrants, that if God and man did but secure them from all resistance, men would fly from them as from Tigers or Crocodiles, and suppose their boundless uncontrolled pride and cruelty would be insatiable; so I say of Heretical and truly Schismatical Contenders, that If they were once secured that whatever folly, heresy, or ungodly mischievous conceits they vend, and that with the greatest industry and turbulency ⟨p. 192⟩to deceive the people, no man yet must contradict them, nor open their folly that it may be known to all, and go no further, for fear of being taken for a man of disputation, controversy and strife, this would so embolden them to attempt the seduction of all sorts of people, that no place would be safe or quiet.

§. 15. II. But yet for all this, as Politicians use to tell Tyrants, that if God and man did but secure them from all resistance, men would flie from them as from Tigers or Crocodiles, and suppose their boundless uncontrouled pride and cruelty would be insatiable; so I say of Heretitical and truly Schismatical Contenders, that If they were once secured that whatever folly, heresie, or ungodly mischievous conceits they vend, and that with the greatest industry and turbulency