Thirdly, Another is this, The great Adversary of Christ and his Church, seeing how earnestly the Spirits of good Christians were set for the Reformation of the Church in all Points, according to the Holy Scriptures which we profess, to hinder this work, by dividing of Christians, and raising Animosities one against another, used this for one Engine. Baptising of Infants of Believing Parents, being the Opinion and Practise of such Christians, they must now be thrown by, because in the Scriptures we can no where read that Christ gave command to his Apostles to Baptise Infants. While I was answering this Book, word was sent me, That there was one who would Dispute with me in the Congregation, expecting his coming, and knowing he had thrown away Water-Baptism; for an Introduction to my work, I laid down Ten Arguments to prove that Water-Baptism was still an Institution of Christ, obliging all that professed Faith in him, to practise, to hear what he would say to them, judging it a silly act in him, to ⟨p. 13⟩come to oppose me in Infant-Baptism, who had renounced Water-Baptism altogether: but that day which he said he would come, he did not. About three Weeks after he did, and this was all he had against me [what concerned others I regard not] Where did Christ give command to Baptise Infants? To this I had spoken several times before, that this was no New thing to the Congregation. There was no such express command in those words I granted, but there was a command to Baptise Infants, implied, included in that command of Christ to his Apostles, to Baptise Disciples, Matth. 28.19. I framed my Argument, but the Man could not tell which Proposition to deny: but after some words [little to the purpose] civilly departed.
Thirdly, Another is this, The great Adversary of Christ and his Church, seeing how earnestly the Spirits of good Christians were set for the Reformation of the Church in all Points, according to the Holy Scriptures which we profess, to hinder this work, by dividing of Christians, and raising Animosities one against another, used this for one Engine. Baptising of Infants of Beleiving Parents, being the Opinion and Practise of such Christians, they must now be thrown by, because in the Scriptures we can no where read that Christ gave command to his Apostles to Baptise Infants. While I was answering this Book, word was sent me, That there was one who would Dispute with me in the Congregation, expecting his coming, and knowing he had thrown away Water-Baptism; for an Introduction to my work, I laid down Ten Arguments to prove that Water-Baptism was still an Institution of Christ, obliging all that professed Faith in him, to practise, to hear what he would say to them, judging it a silly act in him, to ⟨p. 13⟩come to oppose me in Infant-Baptism, who had renounced Water-Baptism altogether: but that day which he said he would come, he did not. About three Weeks after he did, and this was all he had against me [what concerned others I regard not] Where did Christ give command to Baptise Infants? To this I had spoken several times before, that this was no New thing to the Congregation. There was no such express command in those words I granted, but there was a command to Baptise Infants, implyed, included in that command of Christ to his Apostles, to Baptise Disciples, Matth. 28.19. I framed my Argument, but the Man could not tell which Proposition to deny: but after some words [little to the purpose] civilly departed.
