A41329:11
The plea of the children of believing-parents for their interest in Abraham's covenant, their…
The plea of the children of believing-parents for their interest in Abraham's covenant, their right to church-member-ship with their parents, and consequently their title to baptism. The cause of publishing this discourse after so many learned men have laboured in this province, is declared in the preface to the reader. By Giles Firmin.
London: printed for Tho. Simons, 1683
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
THE PREFACE TO THE READER.
IF the Reader demands a reason, why after so many Books written by other Men (far more able then my self) upon this Subject, that now I should appear? my answer is ready. I had as few thoughts of writing, as any Man could have of reading any thing of mine upon the Subject. But hearing of a Book against Infant-Baptism, very much cried up, and observing some discourse about Anabaptism this Spring, more in the Town then ever I heard before, I sent to borrow the Book, I took a brief view of it, and the Book was sent for again. To spend the Lord's-Day so much as one Exercise upon any Controversy, I did ⟨image 4⟩much dislike it, yet I thought I was bound to say something to it, and did borrow a little time, before I went on my other course.
IF the Reader demands a reason, why after so many Books written by other Men (far more able then my self) upon this Subject, that now I should appear? my answer is ready. I had as few thoughts of writing, as any Man could have of reading any thing of mine upon the Subject. But hearing of a Book against Infant-Baptism, very much cryed up, and observing some discourse about Anabaptism this Spring, more in the Town then ever I heard before, I sent to borrow the Book, I took a brief view of it, and the Book was sent for again. To spend the Lord's-Day so much as one Exercise upon any Controversie, I did ⟨image 4⟩much dislike it, yet I thought I was bound to say something to it, and did borrow a little time, before I went on my other course.
About […] Weeks after I had done, come• down an Anabaptist from London, to a Town Seven […] Miles distant from me, and writes me Letter, informing me, That he was one that d walk in Gospel-Communion with Col. Danvers, (sometimes he stiles him Esq Danvers) then writes to me thus. You have cast the Odium of Falsehood and Forgery upon his Book to your Auditory: If it was to deter your Hearers from reading his Book, it doth demonstrate the badness of your Cause, in that you are not willing it should be inspected. If you design thereby to degrade the Gentleman, as infamous, though unknown, you have therein greatly erred,—therefore I request you on the behalf of Col. Danvers, that you be pleased to do him the common Justice, as to publish to the World in Print, what you have spoken in your more private Meetings, by way of detection of his Forgery,—and not only to Print what you have traduced him