Light broke forth in Wales, expelling darkness, or, The Englishman's love to the ancient…Light broke forth in Wales, expelling darkness, or, The Englishman's love to the antient…

I doubt not (saith he) but, contrary to our Church's Intention, this Error having once crept in, is maintained still, by the carnal Ease of such, as looking more at themselves than at God, stretch the Liberty of the Church in this case, deeper and further than either the Church her self would, or the Solemness of this Sacrament may well and safely admit. Afterwards he saith, I confess my self unconvinced by Demonstrations of Scripture for Infants sprinkling.

I doubt not (saith he) but, contrary to our Church's Intention, this Error having once crept in, is maintain'd still, by the carnal Ease of such, as looking more at themselves than at God, stretch the Liberty of the Church in this case, deeper and further than either the Church her self would, or the Solemness of this Sacrament may well and safely admit. Afterwards he saith, I consess my self unconvinced by Demonstrations of Scripture for Infants sprinkling.

The truth is, the Church gave too great Liberty; she had no Power to alter in the least matter, but to have kept exactly to the Institution. She says dipping [or sprinkling] that spoils all, that Addition gives Encouragement: Who will dip the Person, that can believe the Church that sprinkling may serve? And O! how hard is it to retract an Error which hath been so long, and so generally received, especially when Carnal Ease and Profit attends the keeping of it up! and also when the true way of baptizing is reproached, and looked upon to be so contemptible a Practice, and those who own it, and dare not act otherwise, vilified and reproached (by many) with the scurrilous Name of Anabaptists, &c. although we are as much against rebaptizing as any People in the World can be.

The truth is, the Church gave too great Liberty; she had no Power to alter in the least matter, but to have kept exactly to the Institution. She says dipping [or sprinkling] that spoils all, that Addition gives Encouragement: VVho will dip the Person, that can believe the Church that sprinkling may serve? And O! how hard is it to retract an Error which hath been so long, and so generally received, especially when Carnal Ease and Profit attends the keeping of it up! and also when the true way of baptizing is reproached, and look'd upon to be so contemptible a Practice, and those who own it, and dare not act otherwise, vilified and reproached (by many) with the scurrilous Name of Anabaptists, &c. altho we are as much against rebaptizing as any People in the VVorld can be.