to be widened I could upon this account be content most gladly to be silent but my own defence and your security will excuse my Vndertaking But truly I had rather appear among you in the Pulpit than in Print and had rather speak five Words to Edification than ten thousand in a way of endless Controversie As for you my Brethren believe the Promises observe the Institutions and obey the Words and Commandments of our Lord Jesus Christ and keep your selves pure that none may be able to speak evil of you or to reproach your good Conversation this will give you Peace and end in your everlasting Happiness For this I make my Prayers to God for you as also that he would stablish strengthen settle you hoping to approve my self a faithful Minister of Christ unto you in all things desiring and endeavouring your eternal Salvation as I am Your Friend and Servant in the Work of the Ministry THOMAS JAMES From my Study June 25 1695. A VINDICATION c. ON May 21. I received a Letter with a printed Book inclosed being entituled A Reply to that part of Spira's Despair Revived in which the Baptists in general are concerned but more especially those at Ashford in Kent c. Upon reading of the same I find it such as may if unanswer'd turn to my great Disgrace and Contempt yea and not only so but it may be a means to invalidate that Evidence which I have brought in that Spira revived for the Truths of the blessed Gospel witnessing against the Atheistical Principles of this Age And yet further this shameful Reply for so it shall quickly be detected is dedicated to the Honourable Lord Wharton seeking Patronage from so great and worthy a Person and so abusing of his Name These things have such weight with them besides what else I shall offer toward the Conclusion that though some are for my silence altogether it being hardly worth while to answer such ignorant and clamorous Persons my own integrity through the Grace of God being well known and no ways obnoxious to their Slanders being not likely I mean to suffer any dimution in my Credit and Reputation here upon yet I cannot forbear being so nearly concerned and especially for the Truth 's sake to write a few Lines and publish a short Answer in order to so just and necessary a Vindication Now that I may not be tedious being indeed under a Temptation thereto writing in so just a Cause in defence of the Truth and my Credit which are exposed in a shameful manner by that Reply I will confine my Pen with in these narrow Bounds to write but of three things one concerning the Person who makes the Reply and the manner of it thâ—â— next concerning the Charge which is brought against what I formerly published in that Spira so far as it respected the Anabaptists which consists of two parts one concerning the poor Melancholy distracted Man R. M. and his tragical end which gave me occasion to reflect on the Anabaptists as those that did him some wrong troubling him with their Notions about the necessity of Rebapâ—â—zation or being Dipped which prov'd injurious to him in his weakness and strange confusion of Mind The other concerning what I have written of their practising the like upon many others in much like Cases troubling the weak and unsetled Christians eagerly urging them to be dipt and as I said making it a Salve for every Sore In doing this I will consider the most material Passages in that Piece laying open the Ignorance and Injustice of the Publisher the several Slanders Falshoods and such other things as make it appear to the World that what I wrote of the Anabaptists so far as I had knowledge of them was true and sincere and that their Reply is a mere Slander and bold and impudent Denial and Contradiction whereas they have nothing to object in Truth and Sobriety The first thing which I consider and is very material is the Person who makes the Reply and goes about to lay grievous Matters to my Charge as though I had wickedly forged all I have written against the Anabaptists In the Conclusion p. 23. he writes thus of himself and the Matter Sir I am a Stranger to you N. B. and to the whole Matter any otherwise than as I meet it in your Book and some Friends â—ear you gives some Account which hath loaded us with a greater weight â—han is fit to be born Now surely this is a strange thing and most unrighteous unjust and it may be unparalell'd for a Person who owns himself a perfect Stranger to me as indeed he was and is upon the reporting a Matter to him to Write and Print at â—his rate against me What a Stranger to the whole Matter and yet to Print at this confident rate aspersing and slandring me for what I have written and yet he knows not but it may be all true as indeed it is and will be made appear But Mr. Wells for I think he that is a Preacher and is entrusted to Print on the behalf of his Brethren may deserve this Title though what he is or his Quality or Calling I know not was told what I had written was all false and of this some Friends gave him an account What then is Mr. Wells's Pen become Mercenary And will he be a Champion for his Friends right or wrong though perchance he fight against the Truth How is it otherwise than so seeing he knew not the contrary never hearing but one side but surely Charity should have believed better and â—oped better of a Man of whom he knew nothing and I have reason to think that no Crime was laid to my Charge by his Friends and mine Adversaries save only I charged them thus and thus and I cannot else imagine how he comes to give me that honest Title of Worthy Sir Strange that he should Print against me and declare peremptorily to the World that I was guilty of all the Evil he says of me and not first vouchsafe to send a few Lines and enquire whether I could make any defence for my self or had any thing to say before he pass'd Sentence and openly condemn'd me What did he think I had nothing indeed to say not one Word no Evidences to be produced nor any Proofs of what I had alledged That good old Sentence Audi alteram partem which was ever esteemed so necessary a Rule in Judgment is quite laid aside and not at all regarded it seems Mr. Wells never thought of it and to speak the truth I vehemently suspect he never knew it Should a Judge sentence a Man upon report only of his Accusers never examining him nor hearing what he had to say for himself it would no doubt be construed the greatest piece of Injustice and Cruelty Such as that of King James the First who coming out of Scotland to London to take the Crown of England first discover'd his Disposition to Arbitrary Government
suggest Falsehoods in so saying For his very Title confutes him it is this A brief Reply c. wherein the unjust Charge of Mr. Thomas James against them i. e. the Baptists is removed N. B. is removed What doth this imply but that he hath clear'd the matter fully proved his Party innocent convincing me of Falshood in all I have written making me a Slanderer a Lyar and what not But more fully yet after the Preface to the Reader in the Title again A Brief Reply c. wherein he hath falsely charged them N. B. as will appear in the following Discourse I pray in what Page or Line is this Appearance found Where are the Proofs Is there any thing shewed but only confidently said and a gainsaying of what I had written Let impartial Readers judge if Mr. Wells's Book do not center in this and all he brings be only a contradicting the matters I published and averring that I wrote not a Word of Truth If his Title had run after this manner and he had kept to it A Challenge to Mr. J. to prove what he hath Printed against the Anabaptists about Ashford it had been tolerable but to talk of making all appear is like the rest of his Piece Thus he stumbles in the Threshold and that is very ominous for him for he falls worse and worse ever after beginning with a very Foul Lye as I shall shew by and by and ending with a Passage that overthrows all he writes Just so it is with his dealing with the Text of Scripture a Text in the very next place which he â—ets before the main Work I hope he handles his Texts to more purpose before his Congregation Prov. 18. 17. He that is first in his own Cause seemeth just but his Neighbour cometh and searchâ—th him A mighty search and because my Neighbours gave him â—ome Account very pat to the case in hand no doubt But for the â—earch if Mr. Wells had come to Ashford he might have searched â—ut somewhat enough I am sure to have stopp'd his hand but â—o search this matter at London was ridiculous He search'd it â—eems with his Friend's Eyes and Ears and so he finds just as â—uch as they of the matter i. e. whatever they would have What a stranger to the whole matter and yet search it out For â—ame Mr. Wells write to be believed I thought hearing a Reâ—ort was not searching At this rate we may search out many things 〈◊〉 these times of War with a great deal of ease what is done in â—landers France Spain Turkey and where not But if you trust Reports you may be miserably deceived though the News be told as confidently as your Friends could tell you this matter One cries Victory and makes Bonfires and sings Te Deum and yet it may be comes off with the loss Another saith nothing was done and it may be it was a great Action I think when we search to know the truth we do more than hear what Parties in the Case say and interested Persons say of it Not that I think it is impossible to know the truth by one Party and examining Witnesses on one side but when Life or Credit are at Stake it is highly unjust to go this way to believe all that is said and then boldly tell the World in Print I have searched out the whole matter and he is a Slanderer c. There is one thing further concerning Mr. Wells's Carriage which I observe and then dismiss this Head sc how unchristianly how uncharitably he carried it Why should he being a stranger to me and the whole matter believe his Ashford Friends against me altogether when he saw my Design in writing that little Piece was good and that wherein I reflected on their Carriage it was done so candidly as though I were unwilling to say what I said out of a respect to them Let the Reader consider it if I did not write candidly and express'd the matter with moderation These are the Words I began the Reflection with 'T is beside my purpose to make Reflections upon Persons of any Opinion or Persuasion in Religion besides Atheists who are its avowed Enemies The Anabaptists or Baptists as they rather chuse to call themselves are Men to whom I bear no such Grudge or Envy as to bring up any evil Report upon them as a Calumny or unjust Accusation God forbid that while I am writing for Christianity I should act so contrary to one of its Principles as to do thus They are Christians and will I doubt not espouse this Cause of our Lord with my self and there are some of them my worthy good Friends pious judicious Persons but this I must publish upon this sad occasion and I pray God the Guilty would consider it c. If this were not Courteous Candid Charitable what is Yea Mr. Wells doth own it sometimes though he forgets what he writ at other times for he calls it Flattery and a meer Pretence p. 16 17. which shews what he could not but think of it that it was very fair only he judges my Heart and acts uncharitably rendring me Evil for Good For I seriously protest I wrote this out of good Will and not fawningly But because this is the proper place I cannot but take notice of his Ignorance also in quarrelling and thinking to fasten a Reproach upon me for pretending Christian Friendship to the Anabaptists and stiling them my pious and judicious Friends and yet at the same time publishing such matters against them this he observes p. 16 17. once and again Now this I say is gross Ignorance in Mr. Wells or worse that he could not or would not distinguish and see the difference I made between some and others of the Anabaptists between the Innocent and Guilty and those who were my Friends and others I said plainly thus They are Christians c. and then I declare of some of them thus And there are some of them my worthy good Friends pious and judicious Persons then and I pray God the guilty would consider it Now all this he jumbles together and makes all the Anabaptists my worthy pious and judicious Friends and then Wonders that I dealt so by them as to accuse them thus and is not this tragical saith he to cut the Throat of your Friends Reputation But surely Mr. Wells is no Logician or the meanest ever known who cannot distinguish nor perceive a difference in so plain a Case not to apprehend that some hath others for its opposite yea that some imports a few out of many in such Sentences as these But whether he knew it or no he hath hapned upon an unlucky Fallacy in Logick which is his natural Logick it seems and I would not have him proud of it to compound what should be divided to huddle all together and so to impose a wrong Sense whereas it is true taken distinctly and apart as it â—ought And what is more common than to speak
7. and at the cleansing oâ— a Leprous Person Levit. 14. 7. From the Apostle I will learâ— the meaning of this Word rather than from any Baptist But Mr. Wells with his Learning would teach us thus p. 12. You cannot be ignorant but that Baptiso is to dip and is allowed and approved to be so by the Lexicons Dictionaries and all approved Authors that are Orthodox 'T is well he did not say only to Dip for then I know what he had said and 't is rare to find a Scholaâ— so weak as not for to allow it Truly 't is rare to find a Baptist though he cannot read one Word of Greek or understand Latin and yet not to talk and write of the Sense of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as though they had consulted Lexicons Dictionaries and whaâ— not But is not this a fine begging of the Question Whâ— ever denied Dipping to be Baptizing But Mr. Wells's Friendâ— at Ashford might be ashamed to say that no other application oâ— Water is Baptizing and that this Woman was not Baptised For I pray what learned Man ever rendred the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 only to Dip exclusively to all other significations I have noâ— search'd as before-times Lexicons and Dictionaries and finâ— the Word rendred indeed to Dip but also to Wash yea anâ— to Sprinkle there comes in an Item là vo abluo And surely 〈◊〉 is a significant Word as well as Imprimis Every Tradesman knows this Indeed at the rate some Baptists writ and report the Words of the Learned they would perswade silly People all the learned Men were almost Anabaptists yea and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Self-condemned being as they are in Opinion though of a contrary Practice They make some speak a few Words and say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is to Dip to plunge in Water but then as it were stop their Mouths and cry hold whereas good Men might they go on they would add to Wash to pour on Water to Sprinkle And their Quotations are much of this kind very deceitful per saltum and keeping back a material part and so making them to speak very favourably for them the very thing we are upon proves this Mr. Wells saith Baptiso is to Dip as Lexicons c. say as though that were all and it is needless to make a Digression to shew it by their Quotations of Zanchy Piscater Calvin Poole c. But I would fain know who can prove our Lord Jesus Christ himself was Dipped or Plunged in his Baptism or that any of those Baptized ones spoken of in the New Testament were so Dipped or Plunged Not a Word that ever I yet read did prove I say soundly prove it Probability is no proof of this Degree Opinion is not Faith An immersion there might be and yet not a total one or it may be some other application as by pouring on of Water That Baptism was oft performed of old by Dipping I gainsay not but that there were other ways is certain also Pray let Mr. Wells construe these Words Fundere aquam infundere and sometimes Javare abluere found oftentimes in the Writings of the Antients yea and sometimes Aspergere for Baptizing Also let him unriddle how they Baptized some in Prisons and in their Beds sick of Feavours in Sweats c. as Augustine tells us at large of a Friend of his If this were not done by some other way than by Dipping the whole Body let Mr. Wells declare how that could be But shall we call in question at this day the Baptism of all those in former Ages who were not Dipp'd and strike so many Saints and Martyrs out of the Roll of the Baptized who are now in Heaven An horrible boldness to speak at this rate But let them take heed for how as I said can they prove our Lord himself was so Dipped I am sure one ancient Writer was of another mind and surely he was not alone even Aurelius Prudentius who sings thus of it being a famous Christian Poet flourishing about thirteen hundred Years since Perfundit fluvio pastus Baptista locustis i. e. John the Baptist poured some of the Water of the River on him our Baptist would teach him to say Immergit fluvio c. but it seems he knew better or at least thought otherwise And Bernard a later Writer by far and yet not very late neither for he lived about five hundred Years ago and hath the Honour if I mistake not to be called by some the last of the Fathers hath this notable Expression Infundit aquam capiti creatoris creatura-nobilior Dei verticem mortalis dextra contrectat contingit i. e. John the Baptist that noble Creature poured Water on the Head of the Creator and the Right Hand of a Man touched and handled the Head of God I do not produce these Testimonies as though I would maintain that our Lord Jesus was not Dipped but only to shew the boldness of those Persons who cavil at the Baptism of all such as are not plunged in Water and do by crying up Dipp'd or Damn'd trouble the weak and drive them into a dangerous Melancholy Yea what if the Eunuch went down into the Water Acts 8. 38. or Christ came up out of the Water Matth. 3. 16 Mark 1. 10. though by the way 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is only he came up from the Water not out of it What doth this prove Dipping a total immersion Surely they that say this may say any thing But now we are speaking of Baptism I cannot but take notice of Mr. Wells's Confidence to call Infant Baptism a Scriptureless Notion p. 14. and p. 13 14. he saith Sprinkling of Infants is a new Doctrine a Scriptueless thing that is not to be found from the beginning of Genesis to the end of the Revelations What a new Doctrine Let the famous Calvin be heard whom I chuse to quote because I have seeâ— him quoted in their Books as one that wrote for their Opinion 'T is in that Chapter which he calls his Appendix to the forme of Baptism written on purpose against the Anabaptists as the Title and the first Words declare The Title this Poedobaptismum cuâ— Christi institutione signi natura optimè congruere i. e. Infanâ— Baptism's agreement with Christ's Institution and the nature of the Sign The first Words are these Quoniam autem hoc sâ—culo phrenetici quidum Spiritus ob Poedobaptismum graves excitarunt iâ— Ecclesia turbas c. i. e. Whereas in this Age some phrensical or enthusiastical Persons have raised great stirs in the Church about Infant Baptism and do not cease at this day to cause the same Tumults I cannot but subjoin this Appendix to restrain their Fury Now the Passage I would quote out of this notable Chapter is this Quod autem apud simplicem vulgum disseminaret longam annorum seriem post Christi resurrectionem praeteriisse quibus incognitus erat Poedobaptismus in eo Foedissimè Mentiuntur
sent nor sought occasion but was invited and importuried and then how could I do less out of respect to my Office as a Minister of Jesus Christ I went not with a design to make a Proselyte as Mr. Wells hints p. 10. saying You could not prosclyte him yet if Mr. Wells's Friends had not been with him presently after me 't is probable my Advice might have done more good but now it is in vain to guess at it 〈◊〉 for if I did him any good it seems they quickly marr'd it If that Salve of Sprinkling in his Infancy were applied to him for his Spiritual Sore it might very well distract him What if it were not applied then here is just nothing said a Reply to no purpose But what a dreadful consequence doth Mr. Wells draw from thence supposing it were so then it might very well distract him A dreadful Reflection indeed a terrible Charge against Infant Baptism For my part I reflected only upon the unadvised Carriage of some Baptists and their rash Zeal to promote their Opinion and to make Proselytes their indirect and evil Practices their bold and bitter Speeches but I should have been ashamed to have branded their Doctrine thus Where Mr. Wells's Moderation is I know not it doth not appear in his Reply But I hope he doth not mean a perfect Distraction but only a little hurry of mind and that his next Words are exegetical and lessen the Sense as it follows and he nâ— suffer a little by such inconsiderate and blind Zeal Let it bâ— so taken even in the best Sense for the other is very foul anâ— grose And that the World may be sure to know who you mean you repeat the name Anabaptists as you falsely put upon them and say whâ— they rather chose to call themselves Baptists Good Mr. Wells how did you read this Methinks you read as badly as you writ How could you say I repeated the Name Anabaptists What did you mistake Atheists in the Lines before for Anabaptists For I never repeated this Word Read Anabaptist twice if you can and surely Anabaptist and Baptist are not one and the same Name for you write your self a Baptist yet say I falsely put the Name Anabaptist upon you But why falsely put upon you 'T is the proper Name of those of your Opinion though it may be you like it not and if we call you Baptists it is a Favour which Favour I was willing to shew you I mean those of your Opinion but you acknowledge it not but are angry yea if we call you not Anabaptists we do in a sort disown our own Baptism and Principles about that point For we say and doubt not we are able to prove it that Infants are truly Baptized as well as the Adult But you Baptize such as were so Baptized in Infancy and therefore are Anabaptists and the Name truly agrees to you which signifies Rebaptizers For my part I am not for long and hard Names Sesquipedalia verba or else I had us'd that Name of Caâ—apaedobaptists but I judged the other both proper and best known and I do not see why it should be a matter of Offence to you to use it I am sure 't is of no great Moment however I used these two promiscuously Anabaptist and Baptist not designing to reproach you by the Name no nor any otherwise seeking occasision so to do as you have too oft suggested but only to write most properly which is according to common speech and as may be best understood FINIS Reader I Would desire thee to be so Candid as to correct the Faults thou maist find and not to censure me too hardly for the â—ame for I could not be present at the Press and I am sensible that as I have suffered in this kind already so I may still suffer notwithstanding all the Care and Precaution I have used BOOKS Printed for John John Lawrence at the Angel in the Poultrey MR. Lorimer's Apology for the Ministers who subscribed only unto the Stating of the Truths and Errors in Mr. Williams's Book in Answer to Mr. Trâ—â—ls's Letter to a Minister in the Country 4 to An Answer of Mr. Giles Firmin to Mr. Grantham about Infant Baptism 4 to Some Remarks upon two Anabaptist Pamphlets By Giles Firmin 4 to Mr. Firmin's Review of Richard Davis his Vindication 4 to A Proposal to perform Musick in perfect and Mathematical Proportions By Tho. Salmon Rector of Mepsal in Bedfordshire Approved by both the Mathematick Professors of the University of Oxford with large Remarks By John Wallis P. D. 4 to Mr. Stephens's Sermon before the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London at St. Mary le Bew. Jan. 30. 1693. Mr. Shower's Winter Meditations Or a Sermon concerning Frost and Snow and Winds c. and the Wonders of God therein 4 to Mr. Slater's Thanksgiving Sermon Octob. 27. 1692. 4 to His Sermons at the Funerals of Mr. John Reynolds and Mr. Fincher Ministers of the Gospel 4 to The Jesuites Catechism 4 to Dr. Burton's Discourses of Purity Charity Repentance and seeking first the Kingdom of God Published with a Preface by Dr. John Tillotson late Archbishop of Canterbury 8 vo Remarks on a late Discourse of William Lord Bishop of Derry concerning the Inventions of Men in the Worship of God Also a Defence of the said Remarke against his Lordship's Admonition By J. Boyse 8 vo The Works of the Right Honourable Henry late Lord Dâ—â—amere and Earl of Warington consisting in Thirty two Original Manuscripts under his Lordship 's own Hand 8 vo Bishop Wilkins's Discourses of the Gift of Prayer and Preaching the better much inlarged By the Bishop of Norwich and Dr. Williams 8 vo Mr. Samuel Slater's Earnest Gall to Family Religion being the Substance of Eighteen Sermons 8 vo Mr. Addy's Stenographia Or the Art of Short Writing compleated in a faâ— more Compendious way than any yet extant 8 vo The London Dispensatory reduc'd to the Practice of the London Physicians Wherein are contained the Medicines both Galencial and Chymical thaâ— are now in use Those out of use omitted and those in use and not in the Latin Copy here added By John Peachey of the Colledge of Physicians in London 12 o. Mr. Hamond's Sermon at Mr. Steel's Funeral 8 vo History of the Conquest of Florida 8 vo Mr. Aâ—kins's English Gâ—ammar Or the English Tongue reduced to Grammatical Rules Compored for the use of English Schools 8 vo Mr. John S 〈…〉 r's Discourse of Tempâ—ing Christ 12 o. His Discourse of Family Religion in Three Letters 12 o. Mr. Daniel Burgess's Discourse of the Death Rest Resurrection and Blessed Portion of the Saints 12 o Mr. George Hamond's and Mr Matthew Parker's Discourses of Family Worship Written at the Request of the united Ministers of London 12 o. Miscellana Sacra Containing Scriptural Meditations Divine Breathings occasional Reflections and Sacred Poems 12 o. Monro's Iustitutio Grammaticae 8 vo Sir Jonas More 's Mathematical Compendium The Third Edition 12 o. Mr. William Scoffin's help to true Spelling and Reading Or a very easie Method for the teaching Children or elder Persons rightly to Spell and exactly to Read English c. 8 vo The Triumphs of Grace Or the last Words and edifying Death of the Lady Margart De la Musse a Noble French Lady aged but Sixteen Years in May 1681 12o The Map of Man's Misery Or the Poor Man's Pocket-Pook Being a perpetual Almanack of Spiritual Meditations Containing many useful Instructions Meditations and Prayers c 12o Man's whole Duty and God's wonderful Intreaty of him thereunto By Mr. Dan. Burges 12o Advice to Parents and Children By Mr. Daniel Burges 12o Mr. Gibbons's Sermon of Justification 4 to Scala Naturae Or a Treatise proving both from Nature and Scripture the Existence of good Genii or Guardian Angels 12o Graaf de Succo Pancreatico Or a Physical and Anatomical Treatise of the Nature and Office of the Pancreatick Juice 8 vo Dr. Packs Praxis Catholica Or the Countryman 's Universal Remedy Wherein is plainly and briefly laid down the Nature Matter Manner Place and Cure of most Diseases incident to the Body of Man 8vo English Military Discipline Or the Way and Method of Exercising Horse and Foot according to the Practice of this present time With a Treatise of all sorts of Arms and Engines of War c. 8 vo Orbis Imperantis Tabelle Geographico-Historico-Genealogico-Chronologiae c. Curiously engraven on Copper Plates 8 vo Clavi's Grammatica Or the Ready way to the Latine Tongue Containing most plain Demonstrations for the regular Translating English into Latin fitted to help such as begin to attain the Latin Tongue By F. B. 8 vo 〈…〉