Selected quad for the lemma: christian_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
christian_n	day_n	let_v	sabbath_n	1,174	5	9.6962	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A97212	Caleb's inheritance in Canaan: by grace, not works, an answer to a book entituled The doctrine of baptism, and distinction of the covenants, lately published by Tho. Patient: wherein a review is taken, I. Of his four essentials, and they fully answered; ergo II. Dipping proved no gospel practice, from cleer scripture. III. His ten arguments for dipping refuted. IV. The two covenants answered, and circumcision proved a covenant of grace. V. His seven arguments to prove it a covenant of works, answered. VI. His four arguments to prove it a seale onely to Abraham, answered: and the contrary proved. VII. The seven fundamentals that he pretends to be destroyed by taking infants into covenant, cleeered; and the aspersion proved false. VIII. A reply to his answer given to our usual scriptures. For infant-subjects of the kingdom, in all which infant-baptism is cleered, and that ordinance justifyed, / by E.W. a member of the army in Ireland.	Warren, Edward, Member of the army in Ireland.	1655 (1655)	Wing W956; Thomason E856_2; ESTC R9139	117,844	134

truth by us maintained Now then to sum up all the premisses considered and that upon the advantage the Spirit of God puts into our hands in explaining what is meant by the word house himself who is a better Expositor then Mr. Patient or any else We see the whole Catalogue or Cloud of Family-Witnesses and Examples in Scripture do give in their Light and Testimony to Abrahams Infant-seed And that when the Scripture speaks of Housholds baptized it is meant Parents and Children and when a Master of a Family was converted and became the son of Abraham as Zacheus though a Gentile his Seed or House also were taken visibly into Covenant Luke 10 3 6. So that by this time we see the vanity and self-confidence of this Author to speak such bitter words of Gall and Wormwood as he doth in page 23. against a world of people who as he saith from Custom and Tradition run headlong after this Idol of mans invention By which it is evident That whosoever embraceth not this new doctrine of dipping which hath already been proved not Apostolical he is no otherwise look'd upon or esteemed then yea called an Idolater And thus not onely the Truths of God and Priviledges given to all Gods people suffer but also the Powers and Authorities of these Nations come to be undervalued slighted and contemned for practising or countenancing such Idolatries Thus the dark-side of the Cloud by this appears onely to such spirits when the Israel of God i e Abrahams Seed have light within their dwellings Ye therefore who have upright hearts to God and his ways that have been hitherto led in these untrodden paths and so have lost the way enquire after the footsteps of the flock and have more pity to your own bowels Cut not off their entail to Grace by losing your visible right and title to the Covenant in which the invisible part thereof is conveyed What though they are born in sin and iniquity yet the Promise reaches them whilst yong as it reached Isaac when a Childe If you are not wanting in your duties your children have a Gospel-right the Seed of the Jews had it yea they shall have it again to the same Covenant Take heed least your Children cry our against you at the last day and say their cruel Parents took away their Bread and gave away their birth-right for nought Let me therefore say with the Prophet It hath and shall be for a lamentation to see Christians kick against their own mercies And let me leave this with you Mr. Patient Ro. 2.22 thou that abhorrest an Idoll doe not commit sacriledg by stealing away a Church ordinance from those to whom God hath given it Thus far his four Essentialls are weighed over which we may write that superscription Daniel 8.15 Mene Mene tekel vpharsin thou art weighed in the ballance and found too light CHAP. VI. Page 23. 24. Is a preludium to the subsequent chapter touching the Covenant WEE are now come to view that passion of Weakness that lies in those two Pages and first of his distinction given of Idolatrie which though I grant to be good yet he still mistakes in application for hee comes again to tell us that in the room of this precious Ordinance of God the dipping of beleevers which Christ hath confirmed by his blood is set up an Idoll of mans invention namely the sprinkling of Carnall poor infants and doubtless if there be an Idoll in the world now set up amongst men this must needs be one in his sence because he hath learnt this to be an Idoll either the worshipping a false God or the true God in a false manner c. Answ Let any reader Judg whether this man of the waterie element doth not speak with as high a piece of confidence as if he had a spirit of infallibilitie to judg our practice by hee tells us that dipping of beleevers was an ordinance confirmed by the blood of Christ therefore sprinkling of Children must needs be an Idoll his Allegatitions have been examined in all the parts thereof and we still find notwithstanding any thing he hath said to the contrarie that Childrens Baptism remains an Ordinance That dipping is not the way of the Gospel and therefore I must tell him that dipping was never confirm'd by Christs blood Ergo He speaks untruths in the name of the Lord neither is it an Idoll of the first or second magnitude no Image of Baptism set up in the room thereof by mans invention which are terms by him used to bespatter the truth But the contrary is proved The Administrators Right a person qualified and ordeined the manner by sprinkling or pouring out water Right the form of words Right and the subject Right And therefore an Ordinance that shal stand mauger al the malice of men as a pretious Ordinance of Iesus Christ so long as the Sun Moon endures And therefore instead of your appealing to men since there hath been enough said If you and I had never written let us appeal to God and let all those that own their childrens right in the Covenant say Amen In Page 25 he concludes again that Infant Baptism is corrupt in the four Essentialls aforementioned Answ First then by his own words t is not anihillated but onely Corrupted and that a person though corruptly Baptiz'd ought not to be Baptiz'd that being already prooved But Secondly He reckons without his host and therefore must come to a new accompt They are not Essentialls nor any of them as laid down by him but whimsies of his own brain therefore The next thing we are to follow him in is the business of the Covenants with its distinctions and extent from which he undertakes to prove that Infants are not subjects of Baptism Though we have hitherto built upon a good Foundation yet if hee shakes down his main pillar it will be time to forsake the house But before wee can come to his Arguments we must passe by many falsitis and prolocutions and goe through many impertinencies which must be born withall amongst the Patrons of Error The first thing he deals with is A pretended false consequence which he saith wee draw from scripture to maintain Infant-Baptism It runs thus The Covenant of Grace is made with beleevers and their seed Therefore the seale of the Covenant belongs to them To disprove which he tells us 't is against the Law of the new Testament Answ The new Testament is Christs last will to his Church in which hee shews forth more love then he did in his first Testament which was made to the same Church and the Covenant of Grace in the spirituall part thereof is the same in both If therefore in the old Testament which was his first Legacie hee took Children into his kingdom and yet now his bowels should be shut against them who are not then called into libertie but a greater bondage then before But grace in the Covenant being unchangeable therefore Children

counter-truths abroad that Christians may not mistake the one for the other and run up and dovvn like Samsons Foxes in days of heat when so much combustible stubble is abroad to set all in flames Methinks the most acceptable news in these Athenian days to all good men would be to hear our fallen Brethren reclaimed and dissenting Protestant friends united in one Faith under one Lord in one Baptism That hearts and hands being joyned against the common and publike enemy of the truth the work of our Generation may the better go on and prosper Division and dissention is but the Divels bone of hatred and strife cast amongst Brethren who well knows that nothing is more like to obstruct Gods work in every generation As that wise man tells us how can two walk together except they are agreed When persons are disjoyned in heads and hearts be sure they will fall short of the end Our Lord Christ himself well knew the danger of such Doctrines when he applyes it to Kingdomes and Families and tells us they cannot stand Look upon that Image of the four Monarchies in Daniel the second that hath ruled the world It is division hath been their ruine when Gold Silver Brass Iron and Clay have been mixt It is the glory of the Fifth Monarchy that shall stand as long as the world lasts that it is but one stone cut out and then it is like to be a swelling one when the other shall be Babel'd being smote on the divided Toes and Feet Look into Germany and Savoy the streets of the great City are not the Witnesses killing there that are to lye dead three days and a half If that be so stand upon your Watch-Towers Christians and see Romes doom approaching the expectation of their Isles is mounted to behold what God is a doing let all the earth keep silence before him the hope of Israel is at the doors and e're long Abrahams Covenant will be the voice of the people Those that divide here so as to cast off this Covenant are undone and ruined those that unite upon Covenant-terms and own the Conditions are and shall be as Mount-Sionn ever removed Look toward the Wilderness How goodly are thy Tents O Jacob and see the Church coming out leaning upon her beloved there will not be an Infant left behinde It is pitty then to see those who cry out the Temple of the Lord to carry on the Dragons design in making war against the Churches seed It hath been his project from the days of Abel If they are let alone the Church will soon grow too numerous therefore Pharaoh will play his part and Herod his part That the voice of Rachel may be heard in Ramah weeping for her children because they are not If I am thought too hot in the following discourse let it be considered that to give an Answer to that book is to work in the fire It being so full of Taunts and heats against the Truth Reader This Item I shall leave with thee Study Controversie so far as to finde the Truth but take heed of losing thy hear● therein get as much experience as thou canst but do not blaze it to the world It is a word of advice from him who desires to be Thy Christian friend ED. WARREN CALEB'S Inheritance in CANAAN By Grace not Works CHAP. I. The Doctrine examined raised from 2 Act. 37. IT is the saying of the Holy Ghost 2 Tim. 3. that in the last days perilous times should come and amongst the list of dangerous persons he tells us there should be false accusers despisers of those that were good and yet they should be such as had a form of godliness And after he hath laid down what they are in themselves he also gives a further description of them in their actions what they should do and who they should be like Now as Jannes and Iambres withstood Moses so do these men resist the Truth men of corrupt minds and reprobate concerning the Faith But because the people of God would be fearful what the issue of such things would come to therefore in ver 9 he comforts them in this That they should proceed no further for their Folly shall be manifest to all men as theirs also was As if he had said the way to put a stop to such persons is to lay open their folly and to shew the world that their accusations are false this course did Moses take with those Egyptian Priests The person with whom I am to deal in this Reply hath shewed himself in Print to come in the number of those false accusers declaring to the world that our practice of Infant-Baptism doth fight against and destroy seven fundamental points in the Christian Religion by which we may see his Charge mounts very high and either he must make it good or else he will fall under the guilt of his own folly and blindness if not wickedness so to affirm And will be also thereby brought under that following description to be a resister of the Truth Co-partner with those false Priests before mentioned I have therefore dealt with him not only in those particulars wherein the accusation lyes but have begun and ended with his whole piece to unvail and discover the rottenness and deceit thereof that so such who through weakness have been ready to embrace this error in their hearts may in time dislodge it These are the days wherein men heap to themselves teachers having itching ears for what is writ in this book called The Doctrine of Baptisms is no more then what long since he publikely taught as may be gathered from his own words But doubtless if a man should desire an account of his Ministerial Authority by which he entitles himself a laborer it would appear to be more from men then God and that he was never ordained to such a work But is rather in the number of Jeroboams Priests who was made of the lowest of the people in the fullest extent of that word In pag. 5. We have the ground-work and foundation of all the ensuing discourse laid down in this Doctrine That it is the duty of all that believe and repent to be baptised which though it be truly raised yet 't is falsly applyed I shall therefore examine this Doctrine in the application of it For as 't is true that he that believes and repents being converted from Judaism or Heathenism ought to be baptized As such were they to whom the Apostle preacht in this Act. 2. from whence this Author takes his Text I say as the application of this Doctrine is true to such that never yet imbraced the Gospel and so never practised that Ordinance so on the other side to apply it in such universal terms to those that have embraced the Gospel and have been baptized is unsound For though a Doctrine be never so truely rais●d yet if it be not as truely applyed it is a wrenching and abusi●g the Scriptures which is easily

were in the sea for though God wrought a miracle to divide the waters that Israel might march upon dry ground yet was it in the Sea As when a man hath been in a shoure of raine Is it improper to say he hath been in the rain because it is not proper to say he hath been dipt into a cloud I shall therefore refer this to the consideration of the most judicious of that Judgment of which there are many What ground of Reason there can be for such a construction as is made of that place by this Author and shall also leave that place Exod. 15.4 5. to be thought of as an example That when the Egyptians marched into the Sea they were baptized in his sence i. e. Dipt dowst and drowned but not Gods Israel take heed therefore of your too eager pursuit of Abrahams Seed who as they were then so still are baptized by pouring or sprinkling Fifthly In Page 10. the next place he brings for dipping is in Acts 8.38 39. Philip baptized the Eunuch they being both in the water he dipt the Eunuch as John did Jesus Matth. 3.16 Answ And much at one that is the Eunuch was as much plunged as Christ was plunged for they were neither of them so baptized It hath been already proved that Johns manner of baptizing was not by plunging but pouring out water and therefore that Text Matth. 3.6 stands for a cypher in this particular A man may as properly be said to go downe into the water and come up out of the water though not wet-shod as if he had been dipt all over So was Israel in the Sea properly and yet not dipt besides Philip was as much in the Water as the Eunuch and in that construction they must be both plunged but not a word is here of the mode of Baptism onely he baptized him the manner must be pickt out of other Scriptures which may be easily gathered from what hath been already spoken There may be other Reasons also given why it could not be by dipping as that the Eunuch was upon a journey travelling homeward and therefore neither he nor Philip provided with garments suitable for such a work it being accidental to them both For if it be a Gospel Ordinance it must not be done they being both naked for so it would have been an action of no good report contrary to Pauls rule And indeed take it in the most serious manner as now practised yet there is no shew of carriage or deportment suitable to the Majesty of the Gospel of Christ which may easily appear to any sober Christian whose eyes are not darkned by ignorance or blinde zeal For what gravity can there be for a Minister who is Gods Ambassador to the World 2 Cor. 5.20 to put off his shooe's and stockings and to lead a Gentlewoman by the hand into a River and throw her on her back Is this a deportment fit for Ambassadors that come from God whose holiness is such that will not permit a Woman to be uncovered or unvailed in the Church and shall we think then he will own such inhumanities Methinks the very naming hereof should be a sufficient confutation which is enough to make a modest face to blush Also considering that either Subject or Administrator and perhaps both may be of so tender weak and feeble constitution as they are not able to undergo the cold Many such considerations falls in that were it practised amongst Heathens that do by nature the things contained in the Law that very light amongst them would condemn it Sixthly He argues in Page 10. from Johns Baptism his work being to Baptize he remained near Jordan and afterwards at Enon near Salem because there was much Water in that place Ergo He baptized by dipping Answ It hath been already proved from Mark 18. with Acts 1.3 and Chap. 2.17 which relates to Joel the second That Johns Baptism was not by dipping but pouring out Water and therefore this cannot be the reason why he chose that place namely Because there were many Waters to dip Other Reasons must be therefore given as That because the work of baptising a whole Region was very great and John not onely baptising himself but very likely having made Disciples which he taught more immediately Luke 11.1 2. John 4.1 2. Matth. 11.2 3. Luke 7.18 as Christ did his Disciples He also might ordain and appoint them to the work that so when the whole multitude of people came together they might have each a share of the work and conveniency of place accordingly because there were many waters when other parts of the Country were very scarce thereof as not onely History but Scripture mention track Israels march from Egypt Surely had this Author of the Doctrine of Baptisms lived in Spain or in many parts of Zona-torida where they sell Water as we do Beer not having enough to drown a man in a Country he would have been of a more sober judgment Adding this also thereto That when John baptized a whole Region both men and women rich and poor either he must send out O●ders to all the Country ●o bring suitable Garments which the poor it is likely could not do or else promiscuously he must dip them naked or in such G●●ments as they wear the unworthiness of which practice is already shewn Therefore it is much to think that a person who pre●ends to Preach the Gospel as this man doth should be so purbsinde having his eyes shut against the truth But that God deals so by men in a way of Justice when they set up idols in their hearts he answers them according to their idol● Ezek. 14.1 3 4 5. a place by himself afterwards quoted though falsly applied Page the eleventh and twelfth contains his seventh eighth and ninth Arguments which may be all put together because all alike and the confutation of one answers the rest where he tells us That Baptism ought to be by dipping is proved from the nature of the Ordinance and from the Analogy it hath with the Death Burial and Resurrection of Christ many places he brings but to every little purpose And therefore I answer with Mr. Sidenham 1. That plunging cannot represent it is most clear for when Christ was buried he was not plunged into the Earth but laid in Josephs Sepulchre cut out of a Rock Matth. 27.6 which was the manner of burials amongst the Jews and if covering all over though in a Rock was sufficient to cause such a resemblance by dipping then had Christ been covered in a House or Coffin for three days it must also have been so resembled 2. Neither doth it answer to the mode of burying amongst Christians in Europe or elswhere For the Earth by which the person is covered is applied to the subject and cast upon him so that the applying of water to the subject in Baptism as John did in those places before quoted I indeed baptize you with water c. doth more

in what age or time who was the first Author it was not set up by Antichrist he is little more then of 1200 yeers standing And as M. Cobbet in his answer to Denn and Blackwood with several others who have laboured to finde out the first rise cleers it to be the practice of the Churches for hundreds of yeers before Antichrist rose to conclude this if it be a Tradition it was received from the man Christ Jesus who tells us of such is the kingdom P. Pag 147. He brings Lev 10.1 2. and compares Infant-baptism to their offering strange fire to God which he had not commanded for which God burnt them with fire from heaven A. T is a very good lesson well learnt but by that rule he would be put by as a person not fit for a Minister of the Gospel how much strange fire hath he cast up and down these Nations such by which he hath at least endeavoured to burn down whole Churches And how much strange water hath he overwhelmed poor weak Christians by to the dishonor of God and his ways God is gentle in driving his flock and the tender Lambs he carries in his bosom and gives them rest and tells them his yoak is easie but his opinion and practice is to perswade the people of God that they serve a hard Master c. That be they never so weak and tender yet must they stoop to a destructive practice and that in the sharpest seasons as if men and women were made of some other mettle and not flesh and blood But methinks the Scripture he brings should make him see his error If Nadab and Abihues sin was offering up such fire which he commanded not then it seems God expected they should pick out his meaning by comparing things rationally together for they had no express command not to offer such or what fire they should offer but fire they were to offer by which we see if God gives but the hint of a truth he will have his children to finde out the whole so that had we onely the hint of Gods minde touching Abrahams covenant how it took in believers and their seed under the Old-Testament and it being a covenant of pure grace and therefore unchangable reaching to the Gentiles and such an example as he gave in Zacheus a Gentile calling him a son of Abraham and therefore salvation was come to his house I say such hints as these had we nothing else to say were enough for us Gentiles to pick out the rest that if they had Abrahams covenant and blessing given then in the same extent and surely the seal must follow I onely touch this by the by It hath been before cleared that every part and parcel of Gods word is for us to justifie our practice of Infant-baptism But suppose his own sense of this place were to be understoōd concerning Nadab and Abihu as a reproof to us for practising things without a command in so many express words or syllables then also it is offering up strange fire in his sense for Christians under the Gospel to keep the Sabboth because it is not so expresly commanded in the New-Testament which without any peradventure must upon the account he pleads be his judgement and were it not for a curbing power I doubt would quickly be his pract●ce But take heed M. P. that your heart be not rotten in this lest strange fire or strange water make you a like example with those persons before mentioned P. Pag. 148. He applyes these Texts to our practice Jer. 9.13 14 15. 1 Sam. 13.12 13. Jer. 8 9. Because they have forsaken my Law and walked after the imaginations of their own hearts therefore I will give them to feed on wormwood and give them the water of Gall to drink and will consume them Again therefore the wise are dismayed and ashamed they have rejected the word of the Lord. Therefore will I give their wives to others c. They have built the high places of Tophet in the valley of the son of Hinnom to burn their sons and daughters in the fire which I commanded them not A. What could th●s Author say more and how could the Scriptures be more abused and the powers of the Nations be more strook at his voice speaks nothing but Gall and Wormwood and consumings and giving our wives to others and telling us we sacrifice our children to devils offer them to our own inventions set up our posts by Gods posts and our selves in the room of God Is there not think you a young Pope sprung up in these Nations who begins to throw fire out of his sleeve to terrifie the world Magistrates are you all a sleep I am sure you are not all Anabaptists you own the Ordinance of Infant-baptism Why will you suffer it to be reproacht and Christ therein Do you not see the language he gives you for offering your children to God which he calls to the devil for such are Idolaters devil-worshippers Rom. 9.20 1 Cor. 10.19 20 21. Deut. 32.17 Psal 106.36 37. is Satan ever the more to be hugged in the bosom for his bringing of Scripture when it is onely to hide the Serpents sting in the tayl Awake awake put on strength O thou Arm of the Lord. Consider what your duty is touching the first Table and remember honest New-England P. The Scripture by M. P. quoted against us is 2 Cor. 26.14 15. of Vzza who fearing the fall of the Ark put his hand to it to bear it up without a command and King Vzziah who medled with burning Incence without Authority from God And being wroth with the Ministers of God the leprosie rose up in his forehead and Gods wrath brake forth upon him A. If these Texts by him cited are not applyed to his own heart it is a sign he is obdurat and some sad judgements are like to befal him for the places are directly parallel to his own practice what did Vzza do that M. P. doth not Hath he not put to his hand to stay up the Ark of God without a command or call to the Ministery yea rather is he not endeavouring to his utmost to pull it down What did Vzziah do that he doth not It appertaineth not to thee Vzziah to burn Incence to the Lord Go out of the Sanctuary for thou hast sinned And it shall not be for thine honor from the Lord God ver 18. Did God punish a King and shall it be unpunisht in a mean man who not onely intrudes but also strikes the faithful Ministers and servants of God with his Censor I mean with a reviling tongue but it shall not be for his honor from the Lord God Remember the judgement of Vzza and Vzziah and apply it inwardly P. He comes now again to appeal to such as fear God and advise them to take heed of such an Idol And to any that is not blinded with the stumbling block of their iniquity by reason of Satans sub●ilty to

CALEB'S INHERITANCE IN CANAAN By GRACE not WORKS AN ANSWER To a Book Entituled The Doctrine of Baptism and distinction of the Covenants lately published by Tho. Patient Wherein a review is taken I. Of his four Essentials and they fully answered Ergo II. Dipping proved no Gospel practice from cleer Scripture III. His ten Arguments for dipping refuted IV. The two Covenants answered and Circumcision proved a Covenant of Grace V. His seven Arguments to prove it a Covenant of Works answered VI. His four Arguments to prove it a seale onely to Abraham answered and the contrary proved VII The seven Fundamentals that he pretends to be destroyed by taking Infants into Covenant cleered and the aspersion proved false VIII A Reply to his Answer given to our usual Scriptures For Infant-subjects of the kingdom in all which Infant-baptism is cleered and that Ordinance justifyed By E. W. a Member of the Army in Ireland Joh. 1.46 Can any good thing come out of Nazareth come and see Rev. 16 15. Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his Garments lest he walk naked and they see his shame Zach. 13.4 5. And it shall come to pass in that day the Prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision and he shall say I am no Prophet I am a husband-man For man taught me to keep cattle from my youth London Printed for George Sawbridge at the sign of the Bible upon Ludgate-hill 1656. The Author to the Christian Reader especially such who are his Comrades and Brethren in the Armies of this Commonwealth I Shall tell thee no long story of experience to draw on thy belief to embrace either truth or error nor do I think that an Argument sufficient to perswade men besides their reason and Conscience T is that which Gods word condemns in that boasting Church who to intice and allure others cryed out she was rich and indued with substance and wanted nothing when yet she was poor and miserable and blind and naked He that hath faith in this sense let him have it to himself before God and happy is he that condemns not himself in the things he allows These are boasting days wherein men in false ways under false Ordinances pretend to have much communion with God A day is coming when their works will be manifest whether wrought in God or not when wood hey and stubble will be burnt up the work is already on the wheele and a poor doubting Christian then wil lye neerer Christs heart then fleshly boasters it is not mens pretences to be acquainted with the depths of God that will make them sound Christians such there were in the first times of the Gospel that would be talking of depths but the holy Ghost calls them Satans depths I could heartily wish that the Author of the new Doctrine of baptism had no cause to doubt of the currantness of his coin I mean of his principles for heaven but this I am bold to say that did I pretend to be such a master in the school of experience I should not onely question all my teaching but learning also especially when it comes with such high swelling words against the ways of God and let me tell thee though I have no cause to boast of any thing yet in this I will lay my experience against his rejoyce and boast with much confidence and assurance that those Ordinances which he calls counterfeits and cryes down for error c. and stamps such a black brand of reproach upon throughout his whole book shall stand and triumph as the glorious truths of Jesus Christ in matter of worship when all his mists and fogs shall be dispelled with the son of righteousness The Reasons of my undertaking this task are these which follow 1 First Because I thought men of parts and abilities as they would look upon the piece to be weak feeble and inconsiderate and to deserve no answer so their time was better imployed then to spare it to such a work 2 Secondly Lest any on the other hand out of ignorance should think it unanswerable as I hear many that cry it up who are ready to mis judge that our silence gives consent thereto 3 Thirdly Because most of his Arguments I perceive are such as I have lately seen in pieces long since publisht therefore the answer of him doth answer others of the same strain 4 Fourthly Because the standing for this truth for the interest of Infant Church-seed in the covenant is a sprig of generation work as the holy Ghost witnesseth Gen. 17.9 which yet is opposed by our dissenting friends I have therefore used this Trowel with those in Nehemiah 4. 5 Fiftly And to let good men know there are a few names in Sardis that have not defiled their garments who are apt to think the contrary 6 Sixthly And to give a hand to pull them out that are fallen into Rivers to reclaim their practice by informing their judgements or at least to cause them to make a halt and to go no further in error but remember from whence they are fallen and repent 7 Because the name T. P. is lookt upon as the chief in this moist clymate that bears away the bell and therefore fittest to be answered his name being so well known amongst us as also because though there hath been never so much said yet if it comes not forth as an Answer by name there is but few that will vouchsafe to give it the reading As if the most part of that judgement were resolved to act from implicite Faith or to bolt out the truth and shut out the light that shines in so many choice and learned pieces that are publisht both touching the covenant and baptism I cannot but think there are many censorious spirits who will be ready to smite with a reviling tongue because they are even ready to call the Master of the house Belzebub much more therefore a mean servant It is the common language of the children of Belial in these days that if a man do but speak a word for the Ministery and servants of God imployed in that work of double honor as I am here necessitated to do there goes a Priest-ridden fellow All I shall say to such is to remember what Paul saith of scoffing Ishmael Gal. 4.29 30. The spirit by which his book was penned I shall speak little to it here because occasion will be offered to meet with it so fully in the Answer onely this I will say that from one end to the other I have not met with one Scripture by him quoted but hath been most shamefully abused either in Explication or Application and if that large story of his experience were right vvhich he speaks of in his Epistle it is strange that a man so pretending should not hit the right mark of any one Text. God direct us to understand his Minde and Will that so vve may knovv the truth and hold it fast in erring days vvhen there are so many deceitful