A41334:148
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
A SOBER REPLY TO A SOBER ANSWER, &c.A SOBER REPLY TO A SOBER ANSVVER, &c.
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.
Here I must stay a while, having occasion given to look back into your Epistle. What do I hear of contradictions again? you have a strange Art in finding out contradictions: but how come this about? it seems I require an explicit Covenant: But Sir, are you sure the word explicit is in the definition? nay, you are sure tis not: Can there be no Covenant in a Church but explicit? I suppose yes, and I suppose you think so also, so do Apollonius, we will hear him speak presently; is this fai•e dealing to force a word upon me when I have clearly before expressed my self another way? I am far enough then from contradictions, or from unchurching the faithful Congregations of England though they have not an expl••• Covenant: your self p. 25. mention the external Covenant of the Church, but what you mean by it I know not.
Here I must stay a while, having occasion given to looke back into your Epistle. What doe I heare of contradictions againe? you have a strange Art in finding out contradictions: but how come this about? it seemes I require an explicite Covenant: But Sir, are you sure the word explicite is in the definition? nay, you are sure tis not: Can there be no Covenant in a Church but explicite? I suppose yes, and I suppose you thinke so also, so doe Appollonius, we will heare him speake presently; is this fai•e dealing to force a word upon me when I have clearely before expressed my selse another way? I am farre enough then from contradictions, or from unchurching the faithfull Congregations of England though they have not an expl••• Covenant: your selfe p. 25. mention the externall Covenant of the Church, but what you meane by it I know not.
You are a passage in my Boistle which is this [Some Ministers scorn the notion that an explic•ie Covenant is the form of a Church visible, and some professors are so rigid for it that without it, they deny all Churches] of the latter sort is Mr. Hooker, say you; Sir, you wrong him exceedingly, and I wonder a man of your grace should do thus when he hath so expressly declared his mind to the contrary; to your knowledge the next words you mention show as much, and in his Epistle p. 11. he speaks as plainly. But of him anon.