The fifth of these Propositions, and what was most contested was, That Church members who were admitted in Minority, understanding the Doctrine of Faith, and Publicly Professing their Assent thereto, nor Scandalous in Life, and Solemnly owning the Covenant before the Church, wherein they give up themselves and their Children to the Lord, and Subject themselves to the Government of Christ in the Church, their Children are to be Baptized. But there were several Eminent Persons in that Venerable Assembly, who were Jealous lest the Sacred Ordinance of Baptism should come to be Applied unto such Unmeet Subjects, as would in a while put an End unto New Englands Primitive and Peculiar Glory of Undefiled Administration: And some of these made very Public Exceptions, to the Synods Decisions. One of these was the President of the College, the Learned Mr. Charles Chauncey; who Published a Treatise, Entitled, Antisynodalia Americana; Which was Answered by the Worthy Mr. John Allin. On the same side, with his president, was Mr. Mather; who had (with his Generous, Magis amica veritas) the Infelicity at the same time to Dissent from his own venerable Father: However such was the Wisdom and Goodness on both sides, that there was no Diminution of their Delight in one another. The Famous Mr. Davenport wrote in Opposition to the Synod, what he called, Another Essay for Investigation of the Truth. But it was Accompanied with An Apologetical Preface, Written by Mr. Mather; wherein every one ⟨p. 53⟩Confessed, the Best was done that could be done, on the side so Appeared for. They said,—Si P•rgama Dextra Defendi poterant, etiam hac […] fuissent. Now, to Answer Mr. Davenport, they Appointed Mr. Mather the Elder; who did it, like himself Solidly, Nervously, and with such a Respectful Usage of his Antagonist, as to be, what I have heard my Good Old Mr. Higginson remark upon it, A Pattern for all Ansibe•ers to the End of the World. But as a Match for Mr. Mather the Younger, they pitched upon that Matchless Mr. Mitchel, of whom our Great Baxter said, That if there could be Convened an Ecumenical Council of the whole Christian World, that Man would be worthy to be the Moderator of it: And he did his part also, like himself, incomparably.
The fifth of these Propositions, and what was most contested was, That Church members who were admitted in Minority, understanding the Doctrine of Faith, and Publickly Professing their Assent thereto, nor Scandalous in Life, and Solemnly owning the Covenant before the Church, wherein they give up themselves and their Children to the Lord, and Subject themselves to the Government of Christ in the Church, their Children are to be Baptized. But there were several Eminent Persons in that Venerable Assembly, who were Jealous lest the Sacred Ordinance of Baptism should come to be Applied unto such Unmeet Subjects, as would in a while put an End unto New Englands Primitive and Peculiar Glory of Undefiled Administration: And some of these made very Public Exceptions, to the Synods Decisions. One of these was the President of the College, the Learned Mr. Charles Chauncey; who Published a Treause, Entitu•ed, Antisynodalia Americana; Which was Answered by the Worthy Mr. John Allin. On the same side, with his praesident, was Mr. Mather; who had (with his Generous, Magis amica veritas) the Infelicity at the same time to Dissent from his own venerable Father: However such was the Wisdom and Goodness on both sides, that there was no Diminution of their Delight in one another. The Famous Mr. Davenport wrote in Opposition to the Synod, what he called, Another Essay for Investigation of the Truth. But it was Accompanied with An Apologetical Proeface, Written by Mr. Mather; wherein every one ⟨p. 53⟩Confessed, the Best was done that could be done, on the side so Appeared for. They said,—Si P•rgama Dextra Defendi poterant, etiam hac 〈…〉 fuissent. Now, to Answer Mr. Davenport, they Appointed Mr. Mather the Elder; who did it, like himself Solidly, Nervously, and with such a Resp•ct•ul Usage of his Antagonist, as to be, what I have heard my Good Old Mr. Higginson remark upon it, A Pattern for all Ansibe•ers to the End of the World. But as a Match for Mr. Mather the Y•unger, they pitched upon that Ma•chless Mr. Mitchel, of whom our Great Baxter said, That if there could be Convened an Occumenical Council of the whole Christian World, that Man would be worthy to be the Moderator of it: And he did his part also, like himself, incomparably.
