A41334:394
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.
1. You say if one Minister will not baptize, another will, [let others do as they please, I must give account of my Stewardship not his] it will increase divisions betwixt Ministers, by others intermeddling with their charges. [I was never yet offended with any man who did Baptise the children of such as dwell in our parish: I thought intermeddling with other folks charges had been no offence to the Classical Government, which will excommunicate a person in another mans charge.]
1. You say if one Minister will not baptize, another will, [let others doe as they please, I must give account of my Stewardship• not his] it will increase divisions betwixt Ministers, by others intermedling with their charges. [I was never yet offended with any man who did Baptise the children of such as dwell in our parish: I thought intermedling with other folkes charges had been no offence to the Classicall Government, which will excommunicate a person in another mans charge.]
1. It will make the next generation, no better then Infidels being unbaptized.
1. It will make the next generation, no better then Infidels being unbaptised.
This may prevent abundance of sin and ignorance, making parents look about them, working (as experience hath proved in N. England, to real conversion (as in charity we may judge) at least to knowledge and outward conformity in divers here also in England, in your own shire: the proof is made, a godly minister that lives there told me, he will not baptise without a good account given him, and to this day (he told me at the Commencement) two in his parish were unbaptized; the people observing this, he told me they bestir themselves to get knowledge, and give better account.