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

§. 3. But it is now grown the custom among Papists and Sectaries and almost all the wranglers that trouble the world, to scribble somewhat sense or nonsense against that truth which they have not wit, or will, or humility enough to learn, and then say to those that would make them wiser, you are answered; and it goeth for a victory to any foolery, if they can but say, such a one that hath written against you is unanswered: As if we dealt on such terms with the world in writing, as that he that speaketh last, (that is, that liveth longest) must be supposed to be in the right. Or as if we knew not when we write against the grossest ⟨p. 212⟩heresy or error, that as many words may be said or written for it as against it!

§. 3. But it is now grown the custom among Papists and Sectaries and almost all the wranglers that trouble the world, to scribble somewhat sense or nonsense against that truth which they have not wit, or will, or humility enough to learn, and then say to those that would make them wiser, you are answered; and it goeth for a victory to any foolery, if they can but say, such a one that hath written against you is unanswered: As if we dealt on such terms with the world in writing, as that he that speaketh last, (that is, that liveth longest) must be supposed to be in the right. Or as if we knew not when we write against the grossest ⟨p. 212⟩heresie or error, that as many words may be said or written for it as against it!

§. 4. And O what pity is it that with the vulgar sort of well-meaning people, number goeth for weight, and he seemeth to be in the right to them, who is nearest them and hath best opportunity to talk to them a few smooth deceitful words for his opinion, and to belie and vilify those that are against him! Not but that there are great fundamental Truths which manifest themselves, which I hope these honest souls would not be drawn from by an Angel from Heaven: But verily no true Charity can be so blind as to deny it, that in lower controverted points, the knowledge of the vulgar Religious people is so low, that he that is lower than an Angel, or than a well-studied Divine, or than a man of sober solid reason, may deceive them (having first been himself deceived) if he can but speak zealously, and reproach others impudently, by the spirit described and exorcised in