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

§. 16. It is a foolish pretence of peaceableness and quietness, to stand by in silence for fear of our own or others trouble, and see well-meaning people seduced, Christ and his truth and name abused, and God dishonoured, and his Churches shaken, and made a scorn and scandal to the world, and all for fear of being accounted contentious. If it be lukewarm (as they say themselves) to hear daily swearers, cursers, scorners, and such other profane sinners, and not give them a close reproof or admonition, so much more is it to see or hear hurtful falsehoods published as the precious truths of God, and not to contradict it, nor endeavour to save mens souls from the infection. If Satan's work must be done without resistance as oft as a mistaken well-meaning man will do it, there will be little safety for the flocks.

§. 16. It is a foolish pretence of peaceableness and quietness, to stand by in silence for fear of our own or others trouble, and see well-meaning people seduced, Christ and his truth and name abused, and God dishonoured, and his Churches shaken, and made a scorn and scandal to the world, and all for fear of being accounted contentious. If it be lukewarm (as they say themselves) to hear dayly swearers, cursers, scorners, and such other prophane sinners, and not give them a close reproof or admonition, so much more is it to see or hear hurtful falshoods published as the precious truths of God, and not to contradict it, nor endeavour to save mens souls from the infection. If Satans work must be done without resistance as oft as a mistaken well-meaning man will do it, there will be little safety for the flocks.

§. 17. When Paul fore-told the Ephesians of two sorts that would assault them, viz. Grievous devouring wolves, and men arising among themselves that would speak perverse things to draw away disciples after them, his conclusion is [Therefore watch]: And what that watching is he tells Timothy, The mouths of such deceivers must be stopped: not by force, for that Timothy ⟨p. 193⟩had no power to do; but by evident truth. And Truth hath a power in its evidence, if it be but rightly opened and managed. And were it not that God in all ages had enabled some of his servants, faithfully and clearly to vindicate truth, and defend sound doctrine, and hold fast the form of wholesome words, and stop the mouth of ignorant pride that wrangleth against them, what had become of us long ago? And though ill disputes have done much mischief, and too often disputing succeedeth more according to the Parts, interests or advantages of the Disputers, than according to the evidence of truth: Yet for all such abuses, Truth must be defended, and it findeth something even in nature (as bad as man is) to befriend it; few love a plain falsehood, unless where interest greatly bribeth them: And upon trial Truth will at last prevail, where sin doth not provoke God in judgement to leave men to the delusions which they choose.