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

SIR,

I Perceive you are a man so extremely subject to mistakes, that I have small encouragement to deal with you. I only said (before witness enough) that if the Papists had as plain express Scripture for their Religion, as that Deut. 29. was for proof that all did enter the Covenant there mentioned, I would gladly turn Papist; and you most unworthily feign me to say (if the Papists had as good arguments as those were which I brought for Infant-baptism) in general.) For the thing you desire, 1 you heard what I said. 2 You have not answered my reasons against voluminous disputing: 3 I am persuaded by some to publish our Dispute; but truly I am loth so far to disgrace you. But if I do, you will see my arguments. 4 Seeing you have most unworthily and unbrotherly traduced me four times in public, whereof three in pulpit, I desire you to dispute these four points first. 1 Whether any truth must be suspended for peace (which Mr. Davis saith you bid him tell me was an untruth.) 2 Whether the Magistrate be under Christ the Mediator, (yea as Mediator) which you said was of dangerous consequence (as I hear.) 3 Whether the Covenant be made to any but the elect (for which you brought my book clean contrary to my whole scope.) 4 Whether I dealt unbrotherly and unchristianly in not animadverting on your papers. Sir I never knew sober Minister use such kind of preaching to traduce his brethren, and stuff Sermons with mens names without once speaking or sending to them first about it privately. I have a great desire to dispute the foresaid Points with you if you please in writing ex tempore together, and shall take your yielding thereto as a great favour, and yet your flat duty, having first accused me.

I Perceive you are a man so extreamly subject to mistakes, that I have small encouragement to deal with you. I only said (before witness enough) that if the Papists had as plain express Scripture for their Religion, as that Deut. 29. was for proof that all did enter the Covenant there mentioned, I would gladly turn Papist; and you most unworthily feign me to say (if the Papists had as good arguments as those were which I brought for Infant-baptism) in generall.) For the thing you desire, 1 you heard what I said. 2 You have not answered my reasons against voluminous disputing: 3 I am perswaded by some to publish our Dispute; but truly I am loth so far to disgrace you. But if I do, you will see my arguments. 4 Seeing you have most unworthily and unbrotherly traduced me four times in publick, whereof three in pulpit, I desire you to dispute these four points first. 1 Whether any truth must be suspended for peace (which Mr. Davis saith you bid him tell me was an untruth.) 2 Whether the Magistrate be under Christ the Mediator, (yea as Mediator) which you said was of dangerous consequence (as I hear.) 3 Whether the Covenant be made to any but the elect (for which you brought my book clean contrary to my whole scope.) 4 Whether I dealt unbrotherly and unchristianly in not animadverting on your papers. Sir I never knew sober Minister use such kind of preaching to traduce his brethren, and stuff Sermons with mens names without once speaking or sending to them first about it privately. I have a great desire to dispute the foresaid Points with you if you please in writing ex tempore together, and shall take your yielding thereto as a great favour, and yet your flat duty, having first accused me.