Letters that passed between Mr. Baxter and Mr. Tombs concerning the disputeLetters that passed between Mr. Baxter and Mr. Tombes concerning the dispute

To the Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter Preacher at Kidderminster, these present.

SIR,

Some of my Neighbours conceived it would be their best way to resolve their doubts about baptism, to know what arguments you could bring for Infant-baptism, and against their being baptized, notwithstanding the pretended baptism they had in Infancy. Whereupon with my privity came one to you, upon whose relation of your answer to him, I wrote to you, and upon receipt of your Letter to me I think good to let you understand that I said not I utterly refused open dispute, but that I affected it not, it being fit for schools and not for common Auditories, entered into usually with animosities and eagerness to obtain a supposed victory, managed with heat and multitude of words with Answers and Replies, not so deliberate as were requisite to settle any ones judgment, and usually misapprehended by Auditors, who commonly take him to have the better who speaks most, ending usually in some wrangling or something like it, followed with misreports, accompanied with disorderly throngings, confused noise, and many other inconveniences; in so much that except in case of betraying truth by declining it, I can hardly bring my self to yield to it. And whatever you conceive of my advantages, you may if you will, and perhaps do know that you have such advantage in your ready wit and speech, and the favour and general acclamation to any thing that is said for the superstition of Infant-baptism, as to bring things so about that the event shall be crying down truth, and disgrace of my person. Nor have your disparaging speeches of my Writings without animadversions on them communicated to me, or your carriage at, or not long after the receiving of my Letter, encouraged me to hope for all candour from you in this matter.

SOme of my Neighbours conceived it would be their best way to resolve their doubts about baptism, to know what arguments you could bring for Infant-baptism, and against their being baptized, notwithstanding the pretended baptism they had in Infancie. Whereupon with my privitie came one to you, upon whose relation of your answer to him, I wrote to you, and upon receit of your Letter to me I think good to let you understand that I said not I utterly refused open dispute, but that I affected it not, it being fit for schools and not for common Auditories, entered into usually with animosities and eagerness to obtain a supposed victory, managed with heat and multitude of words with Answers and Replies, not so deliberate as were requisite to settle any ones judgment, and usually misapprehended by Auditors, who commonly take him to have the better who speaks most, ending usually in some wrangling or something like it, followed with misreports, accompanyed with disorderly throngings, confused noise, and many other inconveniencies; in so much that except in case of betraying truth by declining it, I can hardly bring my self to yeild to it. And whatever you conceive of my advantages, you may if you will, and perhaps doe know that you have such advantage in your ready wit and speech, and the favour and generall acclamation to any thing that is said for the superstition of Infant-baptism, as to bring things so about that the event shall be crying down truth, and disgrace of my person. Nor have your disparaging speeches of my Writings without animadversions on them communicated to me, or your carriage at, or not long after the receiving of my Letter, encouraged me to hope for all candor from you in this matter.