IT may possibly be a little wondered at, that I should write at this time any thing upon this Subject, which may seem to revive the Controversy, of which little has been written of late Years; it may therefore seem necessary I should speak something by way of Apology for my self. First of all, I must tell you, that this Treatise was wrote the last Summer, although it had no Birth till now, and many know what Provocations I had about that time to write in behalf of our Practice in respect of Baptism: having heard how a worthy Minister (whom I respect and honour) who liveth not far off from me, had publicly preached up the baptizing of little Babes, bearing very hard upon those of our Persuasion; and could I have had a friendly Conference with him, 'tis like this had not seen the Sun. Besides, we were challenged to dispute the Point with some Ministers of the Church of England much about the same time, not far from London: But tho they had rendered us as odious as they well could (and as if we had nothing to say for our Practice, viz. for baptizing Men and Women) yet when all came to all, none of them would appear to defend what they had spoken, ⟨image 3⟩which caused some to conclude it did behove me, or some other to write something about it. Moreover, a godly Friend (of some Eminency in London) sent for me to his House (who, tho a Baptist, yet walks with our Brethren called Independents) and desired me that I would be pleased to write a Sheet or two upon Baptism, chiefly to show what it was, sith he perceived many good People were mistaken therein, and did, as he conceived, take that to be Baptism, or Baptizing, which was not the thing, he having examined what the Greek word [Greek or Hebrew] Baptizo did signify, and found by Lexicons, and by conferring with Scholars, it did not signify Aspersion, Sprinkling, nor pouring, nor any other Washing than Immersion, or total dipping of the Body in Water; and therefore did conclude it necessary this thing should be further opened, and would have me to confer with one able Person who well understood the Greek Tongue about it, which I was willing to do: Nay, and besides all this, when we wrote our Key to open Scripture-Metaphors, we promised the Reader we would write something concerning this very matter, as you may see if you read Pag. 38. Part 2. which, though it be above six Years ago, we never performed till now.
IT may possibly be a little wondred at, that I should write at this time any thing upon this Subject, which may seem to revive the Controversie, of which little has been written of late Years; it may therefore seem necessary I should speak something by way of Apology for my self. First of all, I must tell you, that this Treatise was wrote the last Summer, altho it had no Birth till now, and many know what Provocations I had about that time to write in behalf of our Practice in respect of Baptism: having heard how a worthy Minister (whom I respect and honour) who liveth not far off from me, had publickly preach'd up the baptizing of little Babes, bearing very hard upon those of our Perswasion; and could I have had a friendly Conference with him, 'tis like this had not seen the Sun. Besides, we were challeng'd to dispute the Point with some Ministers of the Church of England much about the same time, not far from London: But tho they had rendred us as odious as they well could (and as if we had nothing to say for our Practice, viz. for baptizing Men and Women) yet when all came to all, none of them would appear to defend what they had spoken, ⟨image 3⟩which caused some to conclude it did behove me, or some other to write something about it. Moreover, a godly Friend (of some Eminency in London) sent for me to his House (who, tho a Baptist, yet walks with our Brethren called Independents) and desired me that I would be pleased to write a Sheet or two upon Baptism, chiefly to shew what it was, sith he perceived many good People were mistaken therein, and did, as he conceived, take that to be Baptism, or Baptizing, which was not the thing, he having examined what the Greek word 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Baptizo did signify, and found by Lexicons, and by conferring with Scholars, it did not signify Aspersion, Sprinkling, nor pouring, nor any other Washing than Immersion, or total dipping of the Body in Water; and therefore did conclude it necessary this thing should be further opened, and would have me to conser with one able Person who well understood the Greek Tongue about it, which I was willing to do: Nay, and besides all this, when we wrote our Key to open Scripture-Metaphors, we promised the Reader we would write something concerning this very matter, as you may see if you read Pag. 38. Part 2. which, though it be above six Years ago, we never performed till now.
