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

2. But what doth he mean by [sheltering my self in a storm in their tents]? I cannot imagine what, unless sense and truth at once forsook him! When a storm fell on the Nonconformists, were their tents a likely place for shelter? Had not the Conformists tents been likelier? Did the Nonconformists shelter me? From what, and how?

3. And what hole was it that I came out of, with their Indulgence? Are such men as this the Vindicators of Gods Truth against the Christian world, that pour out untruths at such a rate, in despite of the most public notoriety of fact? Do I need to tell the Reader (only for the sake of youths and foreigners) that when the Nonconformists cause was at the bar, when speaking had any room and hope, they set me in their forlorn, and engaged me (with my Conscience and desire to have prevented that which I foresaw) in the tasks of writing and speaking which would most exasperate and offend the Bishops; till I was I think the first among them that was forbidden to Preach. I continued after that in London a year, where I never had place or flock, but was a stranger: sickness then forced me to remove into the Country. The Tents I was sheltered in, were Gods protection in my own habitation; which if a hole I thought good enough for me. I Preached to such as would hear me, till, being near the Church door, and the people numerous, Clergy-envy caused me to be sent to the common Gaol, among malefactors; As soon as I was out, another warrant ⟨p. 301⟩was put into the Officers hands to apprehend me again, and send me to Newgate for six months; Upon which I removed my dwelling to the next Village out of the County: I refused none there that desired to hear me, of my Neighbours. The writings which he revileth, show that I lived not idle; And I think he could wish I had done less and spoken to fewer. I came not out of that hole of many months after the Indulgence was granted: I stayed on reasons of Self-denial, because I would fore-stall no London Ministers, nor hinder their Auditories, and therefore resolved to stay till they were settled: I came on terms of far greater Self-denial, to the great abatement of my health, (to say nothing of my greater cost,) which now hath again forced me at present to retire. You see now at what rate these men inform the world, and how far they are to be believed.