I am more concerned about you, than any other People; because you seem to pull down with one Hand, that which you Build with the other. Our Brethren with whom you Walk, may be more Excusable than you can be, because they are faithful (I would hope) to their Light; they will not have communion with any Persons, whom they judg in their Consciences are Unbaptized; but you believe those who have been only Sprinkled in Infancy, are all Unbaptized Persons, or otherwise why were you Baptized afterwards? Who can justify you in this Practice? I am persuaded our Brethren cannot, will not do it, if they rightly consider the light or dictates of your Consciences in this Matter: 'tis not what they are in their own Sense, but what they are in your Judgment. Speak, are they Baptized? Or, is not that they call Baptism, in your Consciences a Nullity? Nay, worse, a Tradition of Men? nay, a profanation of the Sacrament of Baptism? How then can you justify your selves in such a Practice? I have as much charity for our Brethren, I hope, as most of you have, and love and honour them, yet dare not transgress or invert Christ's holy Laws, and Gospel-Order; and therefore take heed what you do. If there were ⟨p. 182⟩no Baptized Churches with whom you might have Communion, somewhat might be said in your Justification. (For upon a case of necessity that may be lawful, or be permitted to be done, which otherwise is utterly unlawful.) Besides, I hear some of you (daily confess) they believe they are not such Orderly Churches as the Baptized Congregations are, (and that is the sum of what I say and believe concerning them) why then do you choose to have Fellowship with them? Ought you not to follow the best and highest Reformation, and clearest Discovery of God, and to be in the most perfect and complete Order of the Gospel you are able to arrive to the knowledge of? Yet are not you contented to lie short in doing this according to the Sentiments of your Minds and Understandings? Is this the way to that longed-for Reformation? Is not Truth and Righteousness to be joined with Peace and Love? Nay, and doth not my Love run out to our Brethren in a cleaner Channel than yours, (who resolve my Affections shall never pilot my Judgment or Understanding?) I have as great reason to love and honour some of the Congregational Way, as any one Man this day in England;
I am more concerned about you, than any other People; because you seem to pull down with one Hand, that which you Build with the other. Our Brethren with whom you Walk, may be more Excusable than you can be, because they are faithful (I would hope) to their Light; they will not have communion with any Persons, whom they judg in their Consciences are Unbaptized; but you believe those who have been only Sprinkled in Infancy, are all Unbaptized Persons, or otherwise why were you Baptized afterwards? Who can justifie you in this Practice? I am persuaded our Brethren cannot, will not do it, if they rightly consider the light or dictates of your Consciences in this Matter: 'tis not what they are in their own Sense, but what they are in your Judgment. Speak, are they Baptized? Or, is not that they call Baptism, in your Consciences a Nullity? Nay, worse, a Tradition of Men? nay, a prophanation of the Sacrament of Baptism? How then can you justify your selves in such a Practice? I have as much charity for our Brethren, I hope, as most of you have, and love and honour them, yet dare not transgress or invert Christ's holy Laws, and Gospel-Order; and therefore take heed what you do. If there were ⟨p. 182⟩no Baptized Churches with whom you might have Communion, somewhat might be said in your Justification. (For upon a case of necessity that may be lawful, or be permitted to be done, which otherwise is utterly unlawful.) Besides, I hear some of you (daily confess) they believe they are not such Orderly Churches as the Baptized Congregations are, (and that is the sum of what I say and believe concerning them) why then do you chuse to have Fellowship with them? Ought you not to follow the best and highest Reformation, and clearest Discovery of God, and to be in the most perfect and compleat Order of the Gospel you are able to arrive to the knowledg of? Yet are not you contented to lie short in doing this according to the Sentiments of your Minds and Understandings? Is this the way to that longed-for Reformation? Is not Truth and Righteousness to be joyned with Peace and Love? Nay, and doth not my Love run out to our Brethren in a cleaner Channel than yours, (who resolve my Affections shall never pilot my Judgment or Understanding?) I have as great reason to love and honour some of the Congregational Way, as any one Man this day in England;
