A41334:13
A sober reply to the sober answer of Reverend Mr. Cawdrey, to A serious…
A sober reply to the sober answer of Reverend Mr. Cawdrey, to A serious question propounded viz. whether the ministers of England are bound by the word of God to baptise the children of all such parents, which say they believe in Jesus Christ, but are grossly ignorant, scandalous in their conversations, scoffers at godliness, and refuse to submit to church discipline ... : also, the question of Reverend Mr. Hooker concerning the baptism of infants : with a post-script to Reverend Mr. Blake / by G.I. Firmin ...A sober reply to the sober answer of Reverend Mr. Cawdrey, to A serious question propounded viz. whether the ministers of England are bound by the word of God to baptise the children of all such parents, which say they believe in Jesus Christ, but are grosly ignorant, scandalous in their conversations, scoffers at godliness, and refuse to submit to church dicipline ... : also, the question of Reverend Mr. Hooker concerning the baptisme of infants : with a post-script to Reverend Mr. Blake / by G.I. Firmin ...
London: printed by J.G., 1653
To the reader: TO THE COURTEOUS READER.To the reader: TO THE COƲRTEOƲS READER.
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 Searcher of hearts knoweth with how little pleasure I appear in this Controversy, and what little content I have in refusing to baptise the children of such as the question mentions: it would have become a man of a more holy spirit (as well as stronger parts) because it pleads for purity of an Ordinance: but for an impure heart to plead for a pure Ordinance is a most loathsome thing. Had not such persons as the question mentions, pleaded the examples of other Ministers as their strongest ground, (telling me that other Ministers laughed at me for my practise) and also publicly opposed me when I had dealt with them lovingly in private before, I had never appeared in print, which I did with an eager desire of satisfaction, supposing that Ministers would not laugh at others, unless they had strong grounds for their own practise, which now I hoped to see: the practise being not mine alone (for then I had justly deserved blame) but of many others before me who baptise not all.
THe Searcher of hearts knoweth with how little pleasure I appeare in this Controversie, and what little content I have in refusing to baptise the children of such as the question mentions: it would have become a man of a more holy spirit (as well as stronger parts) because it pleades for purity of an Ordinance: but for an impure heart to plead for a pure Ordinance is a most loathsome thing. Had not such persons as the question mentions, pleaded the examples of other Ministers as their strongest ground, (telling me that other Ministers laughed at me for my practise) and also publikely opposed me when I had dealt with them lovingly in private before, I had never appeared in print, which I did with an eager desire of satisfaction, supposing that Ministers would not laugh at others, unlesse they had strong grounds for their owne practise, which now I hoped to see: the practise being not mine alone (for then I had justly deserved blame) but of many others before me who baptise not all.
As for Mr. Cawdrey who hath pleased to undertake the answer [for which I really thank him] I saw not his piece against Mr. Hooker till I had printed; but now I have read over that Diatribe and his answer to me, I confess I am still unsatisfied: yet small matters would carry me to that which my own will chooseth most readily (God is my mitnesse I have no sinister respect in my practise) and which would be to my advantage in several respects if I might baptise all.