Rich. Baxter's review of the state of Christian's infants whether they should be entered…

The next Text tells us that we must take up our Cross and follow Christ, &c. And what thence? Ergo we must make our own Cross, and take up that instead of Christs? Or, Ergo, Christ sinned in avoiding the Cross so oft before? Or, Ergo, R. B. must go into a Prison that he may give over Preaching the Gospel? I deny all these. What kin are they to the Text? Have all the Anabaptists and Separatists lived all this while in sin, that lived out of Prison? or that have had maintenance and quietness, while R. B. hath been laid in the common Goal, and hunted by one sort, and reviled by the other? Why will not the persecution of your Pen or Tongue prove a comfortable suffering for the Truth, as well as if I pleased your Spleen in preferring a chosen Prison before a Pulpit?

The next Text tells us, that the Hireling deserts the Sheep by fleeing. Thus the Quakers also talk to me when they call me Hireling. But, Sir, I am not so much as a Hireling? much less the owner of the Sheep? I would I knew which of these two you judge your selves to be? for my part I am neither. Christ is the Owner? I am not so much as the Pastor of any Flock: And (that I may not discourage your contempt, I add) nor ever, that I remember, called to be such these 13 or 14 years: Nor have I so long taken any Hire. And did Paul flee like a Hireling when he went from places of less liberty to other more commodious places to Preach? Did not Pain, Weakness, and want of Money ⟨p. 63⟩for so chargeable a work disable me, my Conscience would command me (by the motive of Experience) to go about Preaching from place to place, though every d•g in the streets where I pass, should bark nothing but [Hireling, Hireling.]

The last Text is against Separation; The Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses his seat; all therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do, but do not ye after their works, for they say and do not, for they bind heavy burdens, and grievous to be borne, &c. And what from hence? Ergo I should not Preach in the Parish Churches? Or is it, Ergo I should have bound heavy burdens for my self? Or is it, that I should not ave made such for others? This is the likest sense; fr the best way of expounding Authors is by similar passages. And were not this an untruth it would be non-conformable to the rest aforesaid.