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

§. 30. His next witnesses are [the ancient Britons that having received the Christian doctrine and worship from the Apostles times did entirely keep thereto — whom Austin the Monk would have engaged [especially in Christening children and keeping Easter, but inasmuch as they utterly refused to be seduced by him therein &c.

§. 30. His next witnesses are [the ancient Britains that having received the Christian doctrine and worship from the Apostles times did intirely keep thereto — whom Austin the Monk would have engaged [especially in Christening children and keeping Easter, but in asmuch as they utterly refused to be seduced by him therein &c.

Answ. This is a witness (being such a body of witnesses) of great importance (as that of the Donatists and Novatians was) if it were true: But it's all false still: And must our own Country, yea all our Christian Ancestors be thus slandered? Whether Britain received the Christian doctrine and worship from the Apostles time (if he mean in that time) is very doubtful and nothing to our business: we have no sufficient proof of any such thing: The Reason of the case maketh me conjecture that Christianity was first brought hither by Soldiers, of the Roman Legions; especially since I read in Bede that the first Temple I find any mention of was built at or near Canterbury by such Soldiers. But who ever brought it, it's like they were of the Asian and not the Roman opinion, (whether Soldiers that had been in the Asian Legions, or who else, is not known) and it is certain ⟨p. 256⟩that they were not against the observation of Easter: For both they and the Scots that concurred with them against the Romans, did strictly keep it: But all the question was of the due time.

Answ. This is a witness (being such a body of witnesses) of great importance (as that of the Donatists and Novatians was) if it were true: But it's all false still: And must our own Countrey, yea all our Christian Ancestors be thus slandered? Whether Britain received the Christian doctrine and worship from the Apostles time (if he mean in that time) is very doubtful and nothing to our business: we have no sufficient proof of any such thing: The Reason of the case maketh me conjecture that Christianity was first brought hither by Soldiers, of the Roman Legions; especially since I read in Beda that the first Temple I find any mention of was built at or near Canterbury by such Soldiers. But who ever brought it, it's like they were of the Asian and not the Roman opinion, (whether Soldiers that had been in the Asian Legions, or who else, is not known) and it is certain