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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A46634	A vindication of that part of Spira's despair revived which is challenged by the Anabaptists, and shamefully callumniated by John Wells, a Baptist preacher : wherein also some things are handled relating to infant baptism and dipping in baptism : particularly it is evinced that dipping is not essential to the sacrament of baptism / by Thomas James, author of Spira's despair revived.	James, Thomas.; James, Thomas. Spira's despair revived.	1695 (1695)	Wing J437; ESTC R32366	32,972	42

7. and at the cleansing o● a Leprous Person Levit. 14. 7. From the Apostle I will lear● 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 Schola● 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 wha● not But is not this a fine begging of the Question Wh● ever denied Dipping to be Baptizing But Mr. Wells's Friend● at Ashford might be ashamed to say that no other application o● 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 no● search'd as before-times Lexicons and Dictionaries and fin● the Word rendred indeed to Dip but also to Wash yea an● to Sprinkle there comes in an Item làvo 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 see● 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 cu● Christi institutione signi natura optimè congruere i. e. Infan● Baptism's agreement with Christ's Institution and the nature of the Sign The first Words are these Quoniam autem hoc s●culo phrenetici quidum Spiritus ob Poedobaptismum graves excitarunt i● 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

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 ●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 search●th him A mighty search and because my Neighbours gave him ●ome Account very pat to the case in hand no doubt But for the ●earch if Mr. Wells had come to Ashford he might have searched ●ut somewhat enough I am sure to have stopp'd his hand but ●o search this matter at London was ridiculous He search'd it ●eems with his Friend's Eyes and Ears and so he finds just as ●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 ●ame Mr. Wells write to be believed I thought hearing a Re●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 ●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 ●ought And what is more common than to speak

and cry out That I will give no Proofs or Satisfaction I appeal to those few present at that time when they attended me to use Mr. Well's own Words p. 9. after the publishing my Book I appeal I say to the Consciences of their Three Teachers whether I did not name several guilty of the things I laid to their Charge But to clear all at once and to satisfie their longing desires so far as is any ways meet and ●it of assigning Persons both those who were troubled and almost distracted by the Anabaptists urging it upon them to be Dipp'd as ever they hoped to go to Heaven and be saved and those who did trouble them laying this mighty stress upon Dipping I say to put an end to all that I may clear my self and shew how able I am every way to vindicate my self from the foul Slanders cast on me and to make my Charge good to a tittle let Mr. Wells know that I have several Depositions of Persons by me which fully prove the matter in Hand subscribed freely and which will be readi●y attested and solemnly upon just occasion Behold one in Form ●s I have it by me with so me others I N. N. do own and testifie That N. N. hath divers times and to my great Vexation and disquietude urged me to be Dipped setting forth the absolute necessity thereof to Salvation inveighing against those who practised Infant Baptism as Antichristian and urging me to be Dipped as ever I expected to enter into the Kingdom of God Witness my Hand N. N. But alas should I go about to lay open the Practises of the Anabaptists about us and reveal what many poor weak Christians have told me with great bitterness of Spirit how burthensome their very Life was to them by reason of their importunate Sollicitations to bring them to be dipped and their Desperate Speeches striking an Horrour into their Minds vexing their Souls continually it would I doubt sound very strange to many Readers But so it is in truth and yet forsooth these Persons would fain be counted innocent and cry out of the wrong I have done them One instance I cannot but produce and that a little largely it being so material and I am glad as the Case is to take the opportunity to let the World know it and judge thereof And because Mr. Wells hath sprinkled here and there a little of the point of Controversie and his Ashford Friends make advantage of his Reply such as it is to scatter their Books among us and surely the like was never known for to this Book of his they have tack'd another stitch'd them together yea and more than so at the end of his Reply there are these few Lines Printed to couple them together And as to the point of Baptism we refer that to the following Treatise formerly written by another Hand intituled The Reason why c. Good Mr. Wells why did you not send me a perfect Copy But I suppose you thought I should hardly be caught with your Chaff and therefore a few Books were provided for my self and such as could better judge what was written Truly this was civilly done not to trouble me with any more Books than your own and now it seems I have nothing to do to answer any thing but your Reply this is a kindness I acknowledge I say because Mr. Wells hath scattered up and down somewhat of Controversie I think it convenient to give a touch or two to the same to prevent Mistakes and Error and to send forth an Antidote for others as well as a Vindication for my self The instance by which I take occasion to write this was this A Woman aged near Forty Years came to me to be baptized Upon instructing her in the Principles of Christian Religion and her answering to such Questions about the same as seemed to me necessary first having consulted the Practice of other Churches in like Cases and professing her Faith and Repentance I baptized her on a Lord's Day in the Evening before the Communicants Now quickly upon her being so baptized the matter being noised abroad she was set upon by the Anabaptists even as I have represented the too common Practice of some of them and one of them in their Communion which they cannot disown did exceedingly perplex this poor Woman with Questions and Cavillings asking her what Faith she had in what was done and speaking against it as no Baptism seeing she was not dipped This really disturbed her so that she lamented it to me not that she was unsetled or believed them but because they followed her with such Discourses giving her no rest Yea at the very time of writing this which is now about two Years since her being so baptized the Design is carried on very busily to proselite her She declares to me how she is continually disquieted by that Party she now tells it me with Tears that she is wearied by them and hath desired them to let her rest being well satisfied in her Baptism But that which is yet more considerable is this At the time when those three Teachers were with me about about my Book among others whom they press'd me to name and instance in I named this Woman and represented the Evil of this Practice in going about thus to disquiet a poor weak Woman who was baptized so authentickly as one would think all Christians should allow being an adult Person having profess'd her Faith and Repentance before the Administration of the Sacrament Hereupon one of them had the confidence to tell me it was indeed no Baptism Monstrous Doctrine What will become of Christians at this rate and what hope can Millions have to whom it hath been applied in any other way than that of the Baptists What can a Mode destroy the Essence of the Ordinance and shall the Application of Water in a less quantity render it altogether ineffectual and destroy its end and efficacy When the Name of the true God Father Son and Holy Ghost is put upon the Person and the true Element of Water is used and the principal end of its application signified which is washing the Soul with Christ's Blood and purifying it by the blessed Spirit and all is done by a Minister ordained to that Office Is not this Baptism O but she was not dipped and that is Baptism and that only Poor ignorant confident Men thus to cavil The Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 chosen by Christ and the Holy Ghost doth signifie to wash as well as to dip it signifies a washing with Water not only a total immersion but a partial not only a Dipping but other applications of Water to wash Yea it is certain that some of those diverse Washings under the Law spoken of by the Apostle Heb. 9. 10. which he calleth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were not total immersions but partial of one par● of the Body and another and even Sprinklings as at the Consecration of the Levites Numb 8. 5 6