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

§. 12. He addeth, And I dare be bold to say, hath given more general offence, and lost Mr. Baxter more amongst his Friends^*, than any thing he did in all his life.]

1. *Not so much as Mr. Tombs is among the Anabaptists for writing for Parish Communion.Not so much as Mr. Tombes is among the Anabaptists for writing for Parish Communion.

Answ. 1. The offence which Christ dreadfully condemneth, which is scandalizing the weak or laying snares or stumbling-blocks before them, to tempt them to think ill of Christ, or Godliness, or to commit any sin, I would avoid as carefully as I can, And to avoid it I have written that which offendeth you. But the offence which is but Displeasing dissenters, yea mistaking men, I little regard on my own account. And your talk of my loss (or being lost) doth savour so rankly of a humane hypocritical temptation, as maketh me remember what Christ said to Peter Math. 16.23. that would have had him save himself from suffering, though I will not speak out such unpleasing words to you: But your words savour too much of the flesh. O Sir, it is but a few moments more, and you and I shall be in a world, where the thoughts and words of mortals, of us, will be of small importance to us! And themselves are hasting to the day when all their thoughts perish. O cease from man whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of? Would you tempt me to look to the hypocrites reward? the ⟨p. 296⟩approbation of man? O miserable reward▪ Were not that book odious to you, I would refer you for my Reasons to the two Chapters of Man-pleasing and Pride: If Gods approbation seem not enough for us, why call we him our God?