The first principles of New-England concerning the subject of baptism & communion of churchesThe first principles of New-England concerning the subject of baptisme & communion of churches

1. Consider that it is possible that you may be mistaken in your Apprehensions. Many things might be mentioned to you, which ought to Cause an humble jealousy in you, least so it should be. Were there that only Consideration, that so many Learned and godly men are opposed, it ought to Cause Trembling, and an holy fear in you, least your Notions should be Erroneous It is a Christian Speech and Spirit which blessed Burroughs hath in his Excellent Itenicum (pag. 89.) where he saith, He that differs in his Judgement from godly learned men, had need to spend much Time in Prayer and Humiliation before the Lord There is a notable Expression of Basil cited in an Epistle of Luther to the Ministers of Nuremberg, who were at variance ⟨image 3⟩variance one from another, He who will separate from his Brethren, had need to Consider many things even to anxiety, he had need break his sleep many nights, and seek of God with many Tears the demonstration of the Truth. Thus, He.

1. Consider that it is possible that you may be mistaken in your Apprehensions. Many things might be mertioned to you, which ought to Cause an humble jealousy in you, least so it should be. Were there that only Consideration, that so many Learned and gedly men are opposed, it ought to Cause Trembling, and an holy fear in you, least your Notions should be Erroneous It is a Christian Speech and Spirit which blessed Burroughs hath in his Excellent Itenicum (pag. 89.) where he saith, He that differs in his Judgement from gedly learned men, had need to spend much Time in Prayer and Humiliation before the Lord There is a notable Expression of Basil cited in an Epistle of Luther to the Ministers of Norimberg, who were at variance ⟨image 3⟩variance one from another, He who will separate from his Brethren, had need to Consider many things even to anxiety, he had need break his sleep many nights, and seek of God with many Tears the demonstration of the Truth. Thus, He.

Remember that those you differ from were under greater Advantages and Probabilities to understand the Truth then can be said concerning your selves, For that many of the members of the late Synod called to Answer the Questions concerning the Subject of Baptism and Consociation of Churches, (besides their eminent Piety and enlarged understanding and Capacity in those respects to discern the Truth) had bestowed much Time and pains in seeking and searching after the mind of God about these Questions, cannot be denied. For the most part, when godly, learned men miss of the Truth, it is in points which either they have not at all, or not throughly and Impartially studied, when as the Leaders in the Synod mentioned, had most industriously, and not without prayers and Tears laboured to know the will of the Lord, concerning these Affairs of his house, and Kingdom. Nor is it to be forgotten, how the Lord did in his Providence signally own that Assembly. For at the Time of their second Sessions there was a sore and threatening drought on the Land, whereupon that Synod set a day apart to seek the Lord by Fasting and Prayer, and Immediately upon those Prayers did the Lord give Rain from Heaven, whereby he did from Heaven own both his Servants, and the work which they were about. And therein likewise we may observe a divine Confutation of those Spirits, who impute our droughts, blastings, &c. to that Assembly, or to the Doctrine by them asserted and propugned. Remember also that there have been very worthy men (amongst whom I who am Conscious to my self, that I am the chief of Sinners, am no way worthy to be mentioned) who were against such Enlargement of Baptism as the Synod pleads for, yet upon second and wisest thoughts ([Greek or Hebrew]) have seen Cause to change their opinion. This is true concerning some now at rest with Christ, and sundry (amongst whom as I said I reckon not my self) yet surviving. Yea, it is true concerning some Judicious of the Congregational way in England as well as in New-England. It is a good Observation which I remember Mr Cotton hath in his Letter to M. Williams. (pag. 12.