1. In general, Any sober unbiased Christian may be satisfied, that the main (or one main) design of it, is to render all that are nicknamed Anabaptists as odious as he could) I am sorry for it, that so good a look should have so bad a design: but he is no unbiased Christian who asserts it: and it is strange that that worthy man, whose charity hath been so large to such men (as is well known) should be thus ⟨p. 25⟩guilty, and if he be, truly it is very unhappy. But divers that have […] the Book, cannot spy it; I fear it is a suspicious […] censorious slander. For his Arguments, It's Answered, they are no new ones] And I like them the better; verissimum est antiquissimum: Had he brought novel pleas, I had suspected him, as I do (for that reason) the Anabaptists: nay, he tells us, (page 2.) he intends old Arguments, and no other. But what then? they must have no new Answer, being sufficiently confuted already. I am glad of that, he saves me some labour by it. He blames him not for disputing for what he believes) nor I neither, but think he deserves commendation, and God hath blessed it to the reclaiming of several that way inclined, and settling many more in the truth. But why should Mr. Mather wickedly injure holy men, by arguing, An Opinion must needs he bad, because the Professors of it have miscarried.) But Mr. Mather hath expressly declared against any such conclusion. (Page 25.) This is the sum of his Argument. That Opinion which hath been attended with signal judgements on the first and chief assertors of it, and generality of those that have (especially at first) embraced it, is to be suspected as Erroneous. And is it any harm for men to suspect themselves, when God seems to frown on them? do not the Anabaptists allow this Argument; and therefore plead that God kept and increased them under persecution, (page 2) and wonderfully preserved them in times of sickness, (page 12.) which they desire may be observed; (though this is of little weight, because these are not the first, nor the chief.) And do not the generality of the Orthodox, improve this Argument against Heretics? doth not John Russel use it against us? (page 15.) what befell Corinthus, Manicheus, Arius, &c. Dr. Beards Theatre of Gods Judgements, Mr. Clark's Examples, and others may speak for this. Nay, was it not thus with Korah, with Ananias and Sapphira?
1. In general, Any sober unbyassed Christian may be satisfied, that the main (or one main) design of it, is to render all that are nicknamed Anabaptists as odious as he could) I am sorry for it, that so good a look should have so bad a design: but he is no unbyassed Christian who asserts it: and it is strange that that worthy man, whose charity hath been so large to such men (as is well known) should be thus ⟨p. 25⟩guilty, and if he be, truly it is very unhappy. But divers that have 〈…〉 the Book, cannot spy it; I fear it is a suspicious 〈…〉 censorious slander. For his Arguments, It's Answered, they are no new ones] And I like them the better; verissimum est antiquissimum: Had he brought novel pleas, I had suspected him, as I do (for that reason) the Anabaptists: nay, he tells us, (page 2.) he intends old Arguments, and no other. But what then? they must have no new Answer, being sufficiently confuted already. I am glad of that, he saves me some labour by it. He blames him not for disputing for what he believes) nor I neither, but think he deserves commendation, and God hath blessed it to the reclaiming of several that way inclined, and settling many more in the truth. But why should Mr. Mather wickedly injure holy men, by arguing, An Opinion must needs he bad, because the Professors of it have miscarried.) But Mr. Mather hath expresly declared against any such conclusion. (Page 25.) This is the sum of his Argument. That Opinion which hath been attended with signal judgements on the first and chief assertors of it, and generality of those that have (especially at first) embraced it, is to be suspected as Erroneous. And is it any harm for men to suspect themselves, when God seems to frown on them? do not the Anabaptists allow this Argument; and therefore plead that God kept and increased them under persecution, (page 2) and wonderfully preserved them in times of sickness, (page 12.) which they desire may be observed; (though this is of little weight, because these are not the first, nor the chief.) And do not the generality of the Orthodox, improve this Argument against Hereticks? doth not John Russel use it against us? (page 15.) what besel Corinthus, Manicheus, Arius, &c. Dr. Beards Theater of Gods Judgements, Mr. Clarks Examples, and others may speak for this. Nay, was it not thus with Korah, with Ananias and Saphira?
