A47448:18
A counter-antidote, to purge out the malignant effects of a late counterfeit, prepared by…
A counter-antidote, to purge out the malignant effects of a late counterfeit, prepared by Mr. Giles Shute ... being an answer to his vindication of his pretended Antidote to prevent the prevalency of Anabaptism, showing that Mr. Hercules Collins's reply to the said author remains unanswered : wherein the baptism of believers is evinced to be God's ordinance, and the baptized congregations proved true churches of Jesus Christ : with a further detection of the error of pedo-baptism : to which is added, An answer to Mr. Shute's reply to Mr. Collins's half-sheet / by Benjamin Keach.A counter-antidote, to purge out the malignant effects of a late counterfeit, prepared by Mr. Gyles Shute ... being an answer to his vindication of his pretended Antidote to prevent the prevalency of Anabaptism, shewing that Mr. Hercules Collins's reply to the said author remains unanswered : wherein the baptism of believers is evinced to be God's ordinance, and the baptized congregations proved true churches of Jesus Christ : with a further detection of the error of pedo-baptism : to which is added, An answer to Mr. Shute's reply to Mr. Collins's half-sheet / by Benjamin Keach.
London: printed for H. Bernard, 1694
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.
If I or my Reverend Brother Collins, have in any Writings of Ours used hard Words, we have cause to be troubled, for the Truth never gained any thing that way: 'Tis not hard Words, but hard Arguments that must do the Business; A soft Answer (as Solomon saith) turneth away Wrath.
I must say, I had rather have to do with a Man that hath more Argument and less Confidence than I can find in his Writing, or Spirit.
I am sorry he had no better Counsel, or followed no better Conduct, at such an hour as this is▪ it sure concerns us all to study the things that make for Peace, and that by which we may edify one another; the Breach is too wide already. O what want of Love is there in Christians to each other, who are all Members of the Mystical Body of Christ, and Children of one Father, and Heirs of the same glorious Inheritance! Sure we shall love one another when we come to Heaven; and I hope His Reverend Pastor (whom I have more cause both to love and honour than ten thousand Instructors in Christ, he being the blessed Instrument in my Conversion all most forty Years ago) gave no Encouragement to him thus to write and abuse his Brethren. I would he had considered the Text, He that hateth his Brother, is in Darkness Joh. 2. 11. For my part I hope I can say I love them in whom I see the Image of God, that differ from me, in the like degree as those of mine own Opinion. I am persuaded the want of Love to one another is one of the greatest Sins of this Age, and that which is a high Provocation to God; and if that which this Man hath done is a fruit of Love, or tends to promote it, I am mistaken. True, I have (may be) wrote as much of late as another on the Subject of Baptism; but never without Provocation, by means of divers Persons who have of late times wrote against us. I have not begun the Controversy, but have still been on the defensive Side; nor can any justly blame us to clear our selves, and defend that which we believe to be the Truth of Christ when urged to it.