A41334:414
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
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.
MY reply to Mr. Cawdrey was ready for the press within seven weeks after his answer came out, but by the ill dealing of that Bookseller who had my Copy first in his hand, it comes to be thus long before it came forth: I heard not of Mr. Blake a long time after he came forth, and have possessed his book no longer then to have but one whole day to review him, and draw up my reply, which I would have done [Greek or Hebrew], but that my Bookseller is unwilling to venture the charges for the printing in these days. I have not read ever any more (as yet) then what concerns my self, and for his courteous handling of me without scorn, I kindly thank him. I have liberty to mention but two or three things, which I shall do with as much brevity as I can.
MY reply to Mr. Cawdrey was ready for the presse within seven weeks after his answer came out, but by the ill dealing of that Bookeseller who had my Copy first in his hand, it comes to be thus long before it came forth: I heard not of Mr. Blake a long time after he came forth, and have poss•ss•d his booke no longer then to have but one whole day to review him, and draw up my reply, which I would have done 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, but that my Bookseller is unwilling to venture the charges for the printing in these dai•s. I have not read ever any more (as yet) then what concerns my selfe, and for his courteous handling of me without scorne, I kindely thanke him. I have liberty to mention but two or three things, which I shall doe with as much brevitie as I can.
1. He observes,1 I am diffident rather then confident of my opinion. Sir, I did write as a man who was troubled about it, my Arguments at present casting the scale on the negative side, though I had not such down weight as I desired: but truly Sir I see nothing as yet to ma•e me recall my opinion, for all that is said (excepting Mr. Cawdrey's notion of Adoption in which your self are not clear) I knew before. 2. I observe sometimes you dress my Argument with such a fashion that I cannot know it to be mine, but disclaim it, then you find fault: p. 439. where have I mentioned the power of godliness as a requisite in him who claims Baptism? but to bring up a child in it is a harder matter: I have not liberty to enlarge. 3. Sometimes your answer is a bare laying down your own Judgement, with a Similitude added for illustration. P. 441. We now cll for Scripture and reason from thence; Similia at pompam non ad puguam. 4. For my fist Argument for the negative, p. 449.450. which you say was Mr. Blackwood's. I never saw any thing of his, but I took it from our Brethren's practise, and it was that (with one thing more) which led me into my practise: for when I saw the Presbyterial Brethren keep back half or three quarters of their Churches from the Lords Supper, and that for divers years together, yet did so constantly baptise their children, I thought with my self, where have these men a ground for this practise? in all the New Testament I could not find one, nor reason for it, but rather against