i.A^-.'--;; 'ns ^i^^ i4,n 'o6r^ Srom t^e feifitar^ of (profe66or ^amuef OXiffer in (glemot)? of , 3ubge ^dntuef (glMffer QSrecftinrtbge ^teeenfeb fil? ^amuef (gltffer Q0recftinr(bge feong to f ^ feifitati? of (princefon C^eofogicaf ^eminarg /7^ 4 -Ut. ^ ^'Mt^ ^^^ /^-H^ REFLECTIONS Mr, Walh HISTORY OF JtdmtMptitu In JeVeral Letters to a Friend. Jo B vi. 24, 25. Teach me^ and I will hold my tongue : an4 caufe me to underftand wherein I have erred. How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing re f rove ? LONDON: Printed, and Sold by J. D a r b y in Bar- tholomew^Clofi. MDCCXI. Advertifement. THERE wou'd have been no need to tell the Reader that the following Let- ters were written in the Years 1705, 17060 but that, there having been two Editions of Mr. Wallas Hiftory^ he might fee the Reafon why the firft of thefe is made ufe of, and conftantly refer'd to. And as thefe Letters were originally de* fjgn'd for the private perufal of a Friend, fo it is not to be thought ftrange that they were not publifli'd fooner, but rather that they are pub- lifh'd at ail : for the Author, tho he was urg'd to it pretty early, had no Thought nor Incli- nation, in the leafl:, to have given the Pub- Mck this trouble. He hopM a more learned Advocate wou'd have been engaged in this Controverfy : But it feems that Gentleman did not think it neceffary, fince Mr. Wall had not pretended to reply to his Jnfrver to Mr. RulFen ; and had alfo been convinced by him in private Converfation, that he was miftaken in charg- ing him with a Mifreprefentation of a Paffage out 0[ Dr. Alkx'^s Remarks on the Antient Church of Piedmont, which he promised to redify, to^ gether with fome other Inadvertencies, in his, fecond Edition. It not being known therefore that a direfl Anfwer to Mr. Wali''^ Book v/as defignM by any other Hand, the Author's Friends reprefented to him how much the Paedobaptids on all Oe- eafions boafted of that fuppobM unanfwer- A 2 abli Jdvertifement. able Performance, which has indeed been highly recommended and extolFd by the moft learned among 'em, and by fome in Print. Mr, Reeves^ fpealcing of the Hiftory of Pe- lagius, fays, || *' 'Tis treated of by Dr. Forbes^ *• Du Pin, and efpeciaily by the learned Mr. *' IValt^ in his excellent Account of Infant- *^ Bapufm ; which laft I particularly recom- *' mend to the Englifh Reader.'' Dr. Stanhope, fpeaking of the pretended "^ewifb Baptilm, fays, " * It is fet in a very *^ clear Light, by the late excellent Labours of ** a worthy and learned Divine," referring to Mr. W^^//of Infant- Baptifm, in the Margin. And above all, the whole Clergy in Con- vocation have in a particular manner approved and commended the Book in the following Vote pafs'd foon after the Publication of ir, to (hew how very acceptable it was to "em, teh. 9. 170^-6. *' Ordered^ That the Thanks ^' of this Houfe be given to Mr. Wall^ Vicar *' of Shoreham in Kj^^y for the Learned and " Excellent Book he hath lately written con- ** cerning Infant- Baptifm ; and that {a) Dr. B. '' and Mr. R. do acquaint him with the fame.'* Nay, Dr, At terburji^ the reputed Author of the Proceedings in the Convocation, A, D. 1705. faithfully reprefented, fays, (J?) The Hillory of Infant- Baptifm was a Book '' for which the '' Author deferv'd the Thanks, not of the II Apologys, Vol.2, p. 9$7. not. * Paraphrafe, (^Vc. on the Epiftles, ^c. Vol. 4. p. 540. (4) The two Pro^hrs for the Dioceis. (b) Pag. 35. *' Englifh Jdvertifement. " Englijh Clergy alone, but of all Chriftian •« Churches." Thefe things, together with the Importu- nity of the Author's Friends, did at length prevail with him to fufFer the Publication of the following Reflexions, to inform the Pub- lick, that the Jj^abapti/is, as they're calPd, not- withftanding the Noife Mr. IVallh Hiftory has made, and the Reputation it has gain'd, are ftill fafe and untouch'd by him : and likewife to let thefe learned Gentlemen know, that they have been much too hafty in their Judgment, and that this Hiftory is not by far what they take it to be. The C at dlogue of Authors added at the end of thefe Letters, was drawn up with a Defign to have fet down what Editions are made ufcof, in order to prevent any Miftake that might otherwife happen ; which is done with regard to the Authors of greateft Confequence in the Difpute : but all the Books couM not be con- veniently come at juft when the laft Sheet was to be printed ; and therefore the Editions are not always noted, which the Reader is defir'd to excufe. The Author however promifes to be anfwerable for all his Citations, which are none of 'em taken at fecond hand : and if any are fought for in one Edition, and not found, they may be met with in another. A J THE THE CONTENTS, H Letter I. EATS among Chriflians imon/ijient with their ProfeJJion>j and a great Di/honour to Chrtflianity^ p. 3. 7*^15 RtfieCiion occafion'd hy a Letter the Author received, very unbecoming the CharaBer of his Friend that fent it^ p, 4. The Author endeavours to find an Excufe for his Friend^ ibid. We are generally more fuhjeCt to PaJJion in Matters of Religion^ than in other Things ^ ibid. His Friend's great ref^e(i to the Church of England, which he thinks to be the hefi conftituted National Church in the Worlds fome fort of Excufe for him^ p. 5. We have no infallible Judg on Earthy p. 6, Nothing can ex- cufe unreafonabk ExceJJes of any kind^ ibid. Hard Names y &c. no real Prejudice to our Caufe^ p. 7. Mr.VJaWs Moderation only pretended^ p. 8. The An- tipadobaptijls hearty Friends to the prefent Govern- tnent^ p. 9. They who make the greatefl Outcries of the Church's Danger^ known to be her greatefl Efft^ tnies^ ibid. Ferfccution for Religion^ direBly contrary So our S AV 10 VR ^s Do^rine and Example^ p. 1 1. Arguments frcm Scripture^ the proper Means to con- vince Mcny iUd. The Antipicdobaptijls open to In- fl ruff ion J The CONTENTS. jiYuBion^ p. 1 2. A/r^Wairi H'tjlory not fo formidable as vs pretended, p- 1 3 • f^^ ^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^ depended oHy p. 1 4. //w re^/ Aim and Defign was only to eflablifh the Baptifm of Infants \ as appears by confi- dering hvs Pretence from Juft in- Martyr, p. 1 5. j4no- ther from St. Cyprian, p. 16. Another from the Apoftolical Conititutions, p. i p. He takes all occa- (ions to blacken the Jntipadobaptifis •, difguiftng his Dejigns with pretences to Moderation^ p. 20. 7 hvs Charge not inconftjlent with Charity^ p. 22, Learned Men are befl able to judg of Matters^ p. 23. Mr. Wall endeavours to poffefs hvs Readers with an Opinion of hvs Learnings by fever al needle fs Digreffions^ on the Decretal Epiftles, p. 23. On the Hiftory of Pelagi- anifm, p. 24. And in th'vs^ on the Lawfulnefs of Oaths J and pofejfmg of Riches^ ibid. On the l^irgi- nity of our LORD's Mother^ P-^S- ^« the Sooiy nians, and tfeeTritheiim they charge on the Fathers^' ibid. Thvs a SuhjeB too difficult for A/r. Wall, p. 16. His ridiculous Reflexion on Mr. Stennett noted^ p. 27. jinother Artifice to gain Reputation^ by quarrelling with feveral of the greatefh Men for Learnings &c. p. 28. As Archbifhop Tillotfon, ibid. Bifhop Bur- net, ibid. Rigaltius, p. 29. Gregory Nazianzen, Father and Son^ ibid. St. Chryfoftora, p. 30. Mr. LeClerc, p. 31. Difference in Opinion no war- rant to difpenfewith the Rules of Charity^ ibid. Afo- ral rertues more acceptable to GO D^ than fpeculative Notions., p. 32. Afr. LeClerc wo Arian, Photinian, or Socinian, p. ^3, yi/K.VVall alfo quarrels with Gro- tius, p. 38. The Scnfe of a Paffage in St. Gregory fet rights which Mr ,W 2i\\ had mtfreprefented^ p. 40. the Scnfe of a Canon of the Neocsefarian Council re feud from the Force yiir.Wall put upon it, p. 42. As alfo the'vVords 0/ Zonaras and Balfamon in rela- tion thereto, p. 4 3. St. Aultin and Pelagius fpeak of the End, not of ths Subjcds of Biptifm, p. 45. He A 4 f^^^ The CONTEKTS, that tales fo much Liberty with fuch Men^ wiU take fnore^ in aU probability^ with the Anufadobaftifts^ ib. iJ^r. Wall ha/i not aHed the Part of a faithful Hifiorian towards us, ibid. He feveral times^ on no ground at aU, tales for granted fome things, merely hecaufe they favour his Defign^ p. 46. And charges the Antipa- dobaptifis with whatever he has^ heard any one among ^em to have believ'd or faid, ibid. Letter II. THE private Opinions of a few not jufily inferted in the Hifiory of the whole Body, p. 50. There are probably ill Men among us, o/s well as among others, p. 52. Some of our Author^ s invidious InfinU' ations, ibid. Our Adverfarys, infiead of railing, Jhou'd endeavour to convince us from Revelation, or Rea^ fon, or Antiquity, p. 53. // their Refiedions were true, our Reputation can't fuffer much, p. 54. We are not guilty of the hated Opinions i?l/r,Wall loads us with, p. 5 5. Our Separation eafy to be jujlifyd, p. 57. ^^'.Wall has not fufficiently fhewn wherein the Sin of Schifm confijls, ibid. He only explains it in general by Divifion, Separation, &c. ibid. The true Notion of Schifm, p. 58. It may either be lawful or unlawful, ibid. Who are Schifmatich, ibid. Not they who go out from a Communion they were before joined with, but they who unmceffarily give or tale the Occafion ^ or continue feparate without jufl Caufe, p. 59. It being lawful in fame Cafes, and unlawful in others to feparate ', his examin'^d what will jufiify a Separation, p. do. Mr.WaWs Diftin^ion between Fundamentals and Non- Fundamentals, the good in it felf, ts infuffi- cient^ unlefs he had determined what are Fundamentals, an4 The CONTENTS. and what not^ ibid. A Rule to know tbcfe^ p. 6i. CHR 1ST alone can determine what vs neceffary ; and what be has not expre/ly madefo^ is not fo^ p. 62. Tis ufeful to difiingwjh between things neceffary to SaU vation^ and things only neceffary to the Confiitution of a true Gofpel'Church^ ibid, ibi^ Difiin&ion weU-ground- ed, becaufe the Qualifications of a Chriftian and of a Church are very different^ ibid, ^n Error in what is effential to the Conflitution of a Church only^ afuffi- cient Warrant to feparate from a Community in fucb Error, p. 6$, Which is alfo confirmed from fome of Mr.WsiWs own Words, p. 66. Agreement in the Fundamentals of Religion, not a Sufficient Re af on againfi Separation, aiMr,Wa\\wou*durge it, ibid. Turned againfi himfelf^ p. 67. Therefore his Arguments tend to nothing fo much as Confufion, p. 68. 7ho it fhoWd be allowed, that we ought to fubmit all things purely indifferent, to the Determination of our Superiours -, this wovHd make hut very little, if at all, in A/^.Wall'j Favour, p. 69. It does not follow, that Perfons who think they ought not to renounce Communion for fmaller Matters, mufb therefore conflantly conform in thofe things, and negleB what they think is better, p. 70. If the Ceremonys are not of fo much Confe^uence, as to juflify the Diffenters in their Separation -, neither wiU they jufiify the Church in fo unneceffarily infifling on ''em, p. 71. Thefe things, faid to be indifferent in themfdves, by being the Occafions of Divifton, ceafe to be indifferent, and become unlawful, p. 72. The Dif^ [enters are verily perfuaded, the things for which they diffent, are not fo indifferent as they are pretended, p. 73. The churches Power of making Laws for its own Government, of no fervice to A/r.Wal), p. 74. Things in themftlves lawful, may he fo circumflan- tiated, as to become unlawful, p. 75- ^i the Cafe flands at prefent, the Diffenters are obliged to diffent from the National Churchy ibid. The uncharitable Ob- fiinacy The CONTENTS. ftimcy of our Mverfarys^ ibid. The Separation of the j^ntipadohaptifts particularly defended^ p. 75, ^r.Wall pretends^ that tho they are right^ they have fio ground to feparate^ p. 77. The Antipaedohaptift^s Notion fiatedy ibid. The Time and Manner of re- ceiving Baptifm^ fo far as it relates to our prefent Dif^ ftfte^ are Fundamentals^ p«78. That can^t be true Baptifm which differs from true Baptifm^ p. 79. Our Separation jujlify'd by the Definition of a Churchy in the 19th Article of the Church 0/ England, p. 80. l^e ought not to unite with Perfons unbaptixJd^ p. 8 1 . True Baptifm necejfary to Church. Memherfhip^ p. 82. The Words of the Inflitution^ the befi Rule to judg what h true Baptifm^ 83. We refuje to communicate with the Church of England, for the fame Re a f on for which flje refufes to communicate with Perfons unhaptizJd^ ib. Mr,V\l^\Vs Terms of Vnion very partial and unreafo- nable^ p. 84. We are obliged to the Toleration for the general Forbearance ^^r.Wall boafts of^ p. 85. ^nd deftre to remain in the Hands of Her Majefly and Par^ liament under GOD, who have hitherto fo kindly fe* cur^'d uSy ibid. u4 fair Propofal in order to eftabli/h Vnity among us, p. 8(^. ^r.Wall a Friend to Per- fecutionsfor Religion^ p. 87. The Conclufton, p. 88. Letter III. ANother Jnftance of M'. Wall'j Vnfairnefs^ p. 90. The Difpute between the Englifh Padobaptifis and us cajl under two Heads, ibid. Ws fircinge^ things fo clear fhoud be capable of fo much Difpute^ p. p r . So far as the Scriptures are clea>', our Pra&ice vs allowed to be exaBly agreeable therewith^ ibid. Therefore if we err^ we arc^ however^ on the faftr fide. The CONTENTS. fide^ p. 92. GOD has reveaPd hvs Will with fuffi- cient ckarnefs^ in all material Points^ ibid, ^nd he 'bos not left it doubtful in what Manner^ or to what Suhje^s Baptifm fhould be adminijlred^ P- P3- ^ trifling Remark ofMr.W?i\Vs noted^ ibid. 'Tw better not to pretend to baptize Perfons, than not to do it as CHRIST requires it fhould be done^ p. 94. The Greek Word for baptize alx^ays fignifys to dip only into any manner of things ibid, 5'oLycophron, p.95. ^«^ Sophocles, ibid. But more commonly^ ^tisus'd for dipping into Liquids^ ibid. So Homer^ P. 96". Metaphors include and borrow their Beautys from the thing from whence they are taken^ p, 97. . P-iodar-YiWii hvs Scholiaft,^ p. 98. Euripides and his Scholiafts^ p. 100. Ar\^o^\\2Lntsin many Places^ p. loi. The Words in Difpute frequently apply^d to the Dyers Art ibid. And they colour things by dipping "em^ p. 102. Several Paffages wherein the Word alludes to the Art of Dyings confider'd^ ibid. 7he improper Vfe of Words in metaphorical Paffages^ can't be fuppos^d to alter their Signification^ p. 105. Figurative Forms of Speech^ are only abbreviated Similes^ p, 1 06, ^Tis no Ob]e(Iion to fay^ if Words are always literally under^ ftood^ Authors will be made to f peak Nonfenfe^ p. 107. Figurative Sentences not literally true^ astheyftandy but being defective ^ the Senfe mufi befupply'd^ p. 108, Wefhou'd diftinguifh between the Senfe of a Phrafe^ as it includes fome Words not exprefs'd ; and the Senfe of the particular Words ftngly confider^d^ jufl as they ftand^ ibid. Words have no more than one Signi- fication^ p. 109. Words are always to be taken in their literal Senfe, ibid. The Vfe of thefe Obferva- tions in the prefent Difpute^ p. 1 10. A^ore Inflames /rom Ariftophanes, p. ni. uKvvq is to wafh by dippings p. 113. More Inflames from Ari- ftotle, p. 115. Frow Heraclides Ponticus, p. 117. from Herodotus, ibid. Frow TlKocritus, p. 118. From The CONTENTS. From Mofchus , p. 119. From Aratus, ibid* Frow Callimachus, p. 120. From Dionyfius Hali- carnaflTeus, p. 122. From Strabo, p,i23. From Plutarch, p. 124. From Lnchn^ p. 125. From the Emperor Marcus Antoninus, p. i25. The Metapho^ rical Vfe of the Word in difpute^ when applfd to the Mind^ confidtr^d and explain^ d^ p. 127. Other In* fiances from Pollux, p. 129. From Themiftius, ib* That Lexicographers and Criticks render the Word by lavo, is no Argument they ever underftood it to mean lefs than to dip, p. 130, Letter IV. CRiticls conftantly affirm^ the proper and genuine Senfe of ^xttI'^q is immergo, &c. p, 132. So VoIIius, Gonftantine, and Stephanus render it, ibid. A Teftimonyfrom C^[sL\ihon, p. 133. His poor Eva^ (ion^ p. 134. Another from Gxoi\\i%^ p, 134. Ano^ ther from Dionyfius Petavius, p. 135. Tii needlefs to coUeCi more, ibid. Mf. Wall confcious^ notwith- ftanding his Pretence^ that the Opinions of learned Men are againjh him, p. 136. Whereas M^- WaW appeals to the Scriptures for the Senfe of the IVord, ''tis /hewn largely to be never there uid in his Senfe, hut the con* trary^ p. 1 37. Levit. xiv. 6. confider'd, ibid. That the Word does not always neceffarily fignify to dip all over, is the moji that can he infer'd from it, p. 138. Befides, here it means to dip aU over, p. 1 39. Ifai. xxi. 4. Ezek. xxiii. 15. Dan. iv. 33. ^«^ v. 21. confideid, p. 140, &c. Hot Climates very dewy, p. 143. The Syriack l^erfion confirms our Senfe, p. 144. Eccluf. xxxi. 16. 2 Mace. i. 21. Eccluf. xxiv. 16. confider'^dj p. 1 45, &C. Tlje Purification enjoined for touching The CONTENTS. touching that which is dead^ to be perform'd by Sprinl' ling^ p. 145. Together with Dipping^ ibid. The Msi" hometans purify in fuch Cafes by wafhing all over^ p. ♦^49. Wafhing was the main part of the Purification among the Jews, ibid. For which reafon the Son of Sy- rach ufes this Word to intend the whole Ceremony^ p. 150. Luke xi. 38. confider'^d^ p. 152. Afr.Wall pretends the Jews always wafh'd their Hands ^ by ha^ ving Water pour'' d on 'em^ p. if 3. Which is falfe^ p. 1 50. The Priefis wafh'd their Hands and Feet by dipping 'ew, ibid. Our Lord wafh'd his Difciples Feet fo likewife^ p. 156. The Authority of the Rah'» bins not to be depended on^ p. 1 57. Dr.Pocock allows^ the Jews were obliged fometimes to wafh by dipping^ p. 158. And from thence accounts for the ufe of the Word ^oLTrlili^oci^ Mark vii. 4. p. 159. Mr.WaWs next Injlance^ which is Mark vii. 4. conJider'*dy p. i<52. They that came from the Market did wafh by dipping^ p. 153. Se&s among the Jewsw/jo wafh'd themfelves frequently^ p. 1(^4, The Words may refer to the things brought from the Market ^ p. 167. Heb. ix. 10. and Matth. xxvi. 23. conjider'd^ p. 168, &c. The Sacramental Wafhing being exprefs'd by Words which ftgnify any kind of Wafhing^ does not prove it may therefore be adminifterd by any kind of Wafhing^ p. 1 72. Words^ like our Ideas^ have their Genera and Species, p. 174. Words of a more particular Senfefhou^d ex- plain the more general, and not the contrary , p. 175. Letter V. To appeal to the Scriptures only for the Senfe of a Word^ very unreafonable, p. 179. ^Tis not* withflanding prov'd from them, that the Greek Word muB The CONTENTS. ntufl always fignify to dip, f. 180, What Pajfages may be argii'd fronij ibid. Luke xvi. 24. /6/J. John xiii. 25. p. 181. Rev. xix. 13. ibid. The vulgat Copys have lofl the true Reading in the laft^ ibid* Metaphorical Pajfages make for^ not againft mj Op- nioYiy p. 182, Languages don't exatily anfwer to one another^ p. 184. J f the Word jiaTrli^G) were other* wife ever fo ambiguous^ yet as it relates to Baptifntj h'vs fufficiently determined only and necejfarily to mean to dip, p. 186. By the DoBrine and PraClice of St. John, p. 187. Of the holy J^oftlesj p. 188. Of the fucceeding Church for many Century:^ which urg^d a trine Immer/ion^ p. 190. Learned Men in general allow this Mode of Baptifm^ p, 1 92. Mr^ Wall pre- tends^ tho the Antients did generally baptiz^e by Im- merfion, they likcwife us'd AfFurion,or the like^ p. 194^ But this was not aUow'd in common Cafes ^ p. 195. jifperfton^ how at firjl admitted^ p. 195. ^Tis unrea-^ fonable to argue that the general Senfe of a LaWj is the fame with the Exceptions that are made to it^ p. 197. The antient Church of the firfi Centurys did not prac' tife Affufton^ &c. p, 200. St. Cyprian'j Plea for jifperfion 'very triflmg^ p. 2cr. All who were baptizj'd in the ApojlWs Times ^ were bapuz!d by Immerfion^ p. 204. The Clinical Ajfufions don't appear to have been introduced till about 250 Tears after C h R i s T, p. 2o5. At which time^ they very much doubted of their Fali^ dtty^ p. 207. Sy the firji Patrons granted to be pre^ fumptive^ p. 209. All allow Jmmerfion was infijled on antiently as the only regular way^ in all common Cafes atleajl^ p. 213. A humble Remark on the Bifhop of Salisbury '5 Plea for changing the manner of admini- firing the Sacrament here in England, p. 2ij. The Clergy pretend they would gladly revive the antient Pra^ice^ but don^t tale the f roper Methods ; and in reality obfiruH: its being reviv'd^ p. 216. bocttIq and {hairVlo) fynonymous^ p. 217. L Et T ER The CONTENTS. Letter VI. THE other chief ArticlB^ in Difpute between the Bap* tifts and their Adverfarys^ p. 220. They conti- fsnaUy repeat the moft trifling Ohjeliions^ tho they have been fairly anfwer''d over and over^ ibid. Which has made it necejjary to fay a great deal to what has been well enough anfwer''d already^ and concerning things which are very plain of thetnf elves ^ ibid. The late handling of this Controverfy ha^ convinced the World^ the Baptifls are not that unreafonable SeCl they re ere re» prefented to he : and ^tis not to be doubted but the revi^ ving the Difpute at prefent may go far to open Peoples Eyes yet much more in their favour^ ibid. ^Tispityfome friendly Meafures are not tahen to compofe the Differ rence^ which is not fo impracticable 06 fome fancy ^ p, 221. Mr, WaWs Attempt^ tho the beft in its kind^ falls veryfhort of anfwering the Beftgn of it^ ibid. His Scheme^ ibid. He firft allows it cannot be made ap-^ pear from Scripture^ that Infants are to be baptiz?d^ ibid. And therefore recurs to thefe as the only Expedients : I. To the Pra^ice of the Jewifh Church : 2. To the Practice of the antient Chriftians^ p. 222, Some Re^ fieClions which overturn all he fays as to his main Con* clufion^ tho he fhould prove thefe two Points ever fo fo^ lidly^ p. 223 . From his Concejfion^ that it cannot be proved from Scripture^ it unavoidably follows ^ that Uis no Inflitution of Christ, ibid. And to fuppofe it may be included in fome of the more general Exprejftons^ is only to beg the thing in difpute, iz^. Vnlefs he can fhew us Infant 'Baptifm is fo much as mentioned in Scripture,^ we fhan't believe it^s inftituted there, p. 225. Our Author makes the Scriptures the Rule of Language •, which The CONTENTS. which he therefore ought with much more Reafon to male the only RuU of his Faith and Praifice^ p. 227. The Baptifm of Infants is unlawful if CuB^isr has not inftituted it, ibid. True Proteftants fhou'd adhere to the Serif turcy as the only infallible Guide in aU religious Controverfys, p. 229. They who do othcrwife, feem to be too near the Church of Rome, as to the Article of Tradition at leaft j which is an Inlet to aU the reft^ ibid. Our Adverfarys ad very inconfiftently in reje&ing Tra* ditiortj in their Difputes with the Roraanifts, while they recur to it as their main Refuge in the prefent Dif. pute with us, p. 230. That Infant -Baptifm ought not to be praCiis^d, is proved from cur Juthor^s Principles^ compared with the Articles of the Church, ibid. It gives the Romanifts a Handle to weaken the Reformation with too much Advantage, p. 231, The Articles of the Church direCily againft Ti^aditions, p. 232. The Scriptures ftlence as good an Argument againft Pado^ baptifm, as can be defir'd, p. 233. We find a ftrong Tendency in our Minds to depend upon the Scriptures only, ibid. We are obliged by any fort of Law ^ &c. only to the Particulars the f aid Law exprejfes, p. 234. This illujlrated by Inflames, and by an undoubted Maxim from Tertullian, ibid. Apply' d alfo to the prefent Dffpute,and illujlrated by more Injiances, p.235. Some build the Eccle/iaflical Hierarchy mainly on that very Foundation on which the baptizing of Infants is oppos'^d, p. 237. Mr, Wa\\ fometimes argues in the fame manner as the Baptijls do againfi Fadobaptifm^ p. 238. The Ob]e£iion, that C hr^i s t no where for,, bids us to baptiz^e Infants, anfwer*d^ p. 239. IVe are forbid to teach the Traditions of Men for Command- ments of God, f . 240. The Padobaptifts Argument enervated by TertuUian, ibid. Tho the Scriptures 5;- lence may fometimes, it does not always leave it fo much as lawful to do what it does not mention, p. 242. Letter The CONTENTS. Letter VII. ^Hat the Scripture does not leave Infant- Baptifra fa mdetermind as fomewou'd pretend^ is largely /hewn from Mattb. xxviii. 19. p. 247. uiU Laws e^ qually oblige in all Particulars mentioned in Vw, ibid. lljis apply d to our prefent Difpute, p. 248. The Com- mijfton neceffarily obliges to teach all it intends /hou'd be baptizJd^ p. 249. Therefore Infants cannot be in- clnded in that Commijfion, p. 250. The Commijfion alfo requires^ that all of whom it fpeaks fhou'd be firfi taught J and afterwards haptiz^dy p. 251. Theridicu* lous ObjeQion of fuch as fay^ Infants alfo are to be taught^ anfwer'd^ p. 25- 4. Some wou'd evade itsforce^ by confejfmg^ this Commijfion relates particularly to the Adult \ which is direBly giving up the Argument^ p. 255. iVbat the Padobaptijls urge from the Words all Nations, anjwer'd^ p. 255. 'Tis not faid all of all Nations, ibid. Illufirated by a parallel Infiance from Matth. iii. 5, 6. p. 257. ^'^^^ Dorrington cenfur'd^ p. 258. ''Tisprov'd^ the Commijfion moft dire^ly ex* eludes Infants, ibid. What the Padobaptijls urge con- cerning the GvQQk Word MocOviT/Jtrccft, anfwer'^d, P.2f 9- Br. Hammond cenfur' dfor fo grofly contradimng him^ felf in this Point, ibid. Men of thegreateji Learning difown the Criticifm of the Padobaptifis, p. 2^0. A Paff age from the Bijhop of Sarnm, ibid. Another from Dr. Whitby, p. 161. M(x3hT&v is conjiantly m'd to fignify nothing lefs than to teach, ire. p. 262. The Senfe of the Word prov'd from its Etymology, p. 253. The Primitive, and all its Derivatives, include teach- ing, ^c. ibid. No room for an Antiphraiis, which is now exploded by the bejl Grammarians, p. 2^4. Thg The CONTENTS. Pretence from the Termination^ that Words in ivco are to be interpreted by fum in Latin, is gromdkfs^ ibid. Plutarch ufes the Word to ftgnify to teach, /?. 266. j^nother Inftance from St. Ignatius, p. 267. Another from the famey p. 268. Another from the fame ^ ibid. Some from 5t. Clemens Alexandrinus, p. 269, One from St. Juftin Martyr, p, 270. The Meaning of as TO oi'o/xa, p. 271. Another Injlance from St. Juf- tin, p, 274. The Word imQ^nvav^ even in its fup^ pos'^d Neuter Acceptation^ notwith (landing the contrary Pretences^ always includes teaching, ibid. Matth. xxvii. 57. conftder'dy p. 275. Infiances wherein the Word ftgnifys to teach, &c, even when conflru&ed with a Dative Cafe^ from Plutarch, p. i^j6. From Origen, p, 277. From St. Irenaeus, expounded by a Paffage of Socrates *, and from Clemens Alexan- drinus, p. 2.78. Ihe true Senfe of the Word farther iUuflrattd by fynonymom Words^ p. 279. Infiances 0/ ^^/(^ua), /row Plutarch, ibid. From EA'ian^ ibid. From Plato, p. 280- Infiances of daico, from Pin- dar, ibid. From Diogenes Laertius, p. 281. From Plutarch, ibid. An Injlance of §j-(xk^O!> from Plu- tarch, p. 282. A very remarkable Injlance of the Senfe of ^a0n75U£n', from Clemens Alexandrinus, ibid. Another from the fame^ p. 284. One from Origen, p. 285. Be fides ^ if what our Adverfarys advance were rights it can be of no Advantage to 'fw, hecaufe the Word in the Commijfion w allowed to be tranfitive, p. 287. Bifciplejhip necejfarily includes teaching.^ ibid. MaStiftiico means to teach fuccefs- fully *, and therefore is indeed confequmtiiilly to make bifciples, ibid. Letter The CONTENT! Letter VIII. D^. Hammond explains |U(x0nT£u<3-aTe, Matth. xxviii. ip. by John iv. i. without^ if not con^ trary to all Reafon^ p. 292. Hi^ Vnfairnefs notedy ibid. A Pajfage of the Bf/hop of Sarum in favour of theAntipadobaptiftsSenfeoftheWord^ P'25?3. Ano^ ther from Mr, Le Clerc, ibid. What Mr, Wall urges from the Notion of a Difciple^ con/ider^d^p.^g^. mocSmttj; is only faid of fuch as are at leaji capable of being taught^ ibid. Mr,Wa\Vs groundlefs and unfair Attempt upon Ads xv. 10. to prove the contrary^ examin^dj p. 295'. 77?^ IVords relate only to Adul: Ferfons^ ibid. u4 Difciple^ in common Difcourfe^ ever fignifys one that's taught^ &c. p. 296. So it does likewife among the Latin Authors ^ from whom we borrow it^ p. 297. Proved from the Etymology of Difcipulus, ibid. By Inflames from Cicero, ibid. From Juvenal, p. 298. From Terence, ibid. Front Cornel. Nepos, ibid. AH the World have had the fame Notion of a Difciple^ ibid. Inftances in the Eaftern Languages^ p. 299. In the Anglo-Saxon^ ibid. No Inftance that Yvs us'd otherwife in any Gx^t\i Author^ but many of the Senfe the Antipado^ baptifts plead for^ ibid. One taken from John ix. 27. ibid. 0/7^/?ow Ads xviii. 23. ibid. Another from Dionyfius Halicarnaflkus, ibid. lUuflrated alfo by fynonymous Words^ p. 300. Inflances of 'ak^occhic^ ibid. From Diogenes Laertius, ibid. From Plu- tarch, ibid. An Inftance of AH,pocouev<^ from Plu- tarch, p. 3c I. Of 'Ait^g'HS from iEUan, ibid, from Dionylius HalicarnaflTseus, ibid. This tUuflra- ted by Inftances from Roman Authors^ ibid. From Cicero, ibid. The Inference from all thvs in the pre^ a 2 fcnt The CONTENTS. fent Difpute^ p. 302. ^ P^Jfage from Lucian,' wherein he explains the Phrafe to make Difciples, p. 303, Difciple and Teacher uid 06 Correlates^ ibid. £y Themiftius, p. 304. By Cicero, ibid. This apply d to the pre fent Difpute^ ibid. The tnolr Judi* cious have always allowed, that the Word in the Com" tniffton particularly ftgnifys to teach and inflru&^ ibid. As Conftantine, p. 305. Stephens, ibid. Leigh, ibid. Turretine, ibid. Epifcopius, p. 305. Lim- borch, p. 307. Cameron, ibid. Martin Bucer, ibid. Rigaltius, p. 308. Erafmus, ibid. Groti- us, ibid. Lucas Brugenfis, p. 309. This proved to he the Senfe of the Place from the fever al Fcrfions^ p. 3 1 o. 7he Hebrew, p. 311. Syriack, ibid. Arabick, p. 312. Perfick, ibid. Etiiiopick, ibid. Arias Montanus, p. 31^. J^ulgar Latin, ibid. That of Sixtus V. ibid. Beza, ibid. Erafmus, ibid. Caf- talio, ibid. The Italian, ibid. Spanifli, ibid. French, ibid. Dutch, ibid. Danifli, ibid. Sax- on, ibid. Vulgar Greek, ibid. The Fathers of the Primitive Church always under jiood the Word in the Commijfion ftgnify'd to teach, ibid. Thus Clemens Alexandrinus, p. 3^4. Origen, ibid. ^^ Juftin, p. 315. Eufebius, 316. Apoilolical Conftitutions, ibid. St. Clement, ibid, Epiphanius, p. 3 17. St. Bafil, ibid. Tertullian, ibid. Clarus, Bi/hop 0/ Mafcula, p. 3 18. 5f. Hierom, ibid. Laftly^ nis is proved to be the true Senfe of the Place by the Authmty of the Sacred Scriptures themfelvesy p,3I9. The Prailice of the Apoftles^ p. 320. Pa- rallel Places^ P» 32T. The Sum of the Evidence y ibid. From all it follows^ that the CommiJJion obliges to teach all that are to be baptized : and therefore that the Scriptures are not fo ftlent concerning the Baptizing of Infants as the Padobaptifts woiCd have us thinly ibid. So that f/y^r.Wall fhou^d prove the ]ews and ChxiRi- ans^ did baptize their Children^ we have ftill reafon enough not to admit tbePra^ice^ p. 322. Letter The CONTENTS. Letter IX, MR.WaH'j Jttetnpt founded en Mi ft ah ^ p.*324 His Pretences from the Jews examined: which he has coUe&ed from the Learned Men who heft under^ fiood their Writings, p. 325. Their Authority of no weight : the Reafons they go upon being too weak^ ibid. T« without fufficient ground that our Author ajferts^ the Jews make it plain they baptized their Profelytes before CHRIST'S time, ibid. His Authority s too late J p, 3 2d. Great Alterations introduced in a fhort time^ p. 327. The Pajfages produced by Mr, Wall don^t fo much as intimate that the Jews baptized Profelytes in our SAf^lOV R^s time^ p. 328. There is no nece/Jity to underftand the Words in /^r. Wall'f Senfe^ ibid. The Jews us'*d to baptiz.c for the Pollution contra&ed in Circumcifion : which may be the Baptifm fpoken of in the Talmud, p. 329. Some of the Rabbins plainly fhew us they neither knerp nor allowed of any initiatory Baptifm^ ibid. They ri- dicule our Baptifm as a fanciful Ceremony^ a/s appears from the antient Nizzachon, which fixes the rife of the Pradice in C HRl ST^ and mentions it as an Ini- tiation peculiar to Chriftians\ and oppofts to it the Jevvilh Circumcifion only^ p. 330. It appears farther from Rab. Ifaac, p. 332. So that the Jewifli Wri- tings^ if any things prove contrary to our j^uthor's Opinion^ P« 333. The Authority of the Rabbins very inftgmficant, and never to be depended on^ p. 334. Their Writings in general fluffed with very foolifh Romantic Tales ^ P- 3 3 5- Tbeir fabulous and ridiculous way of accounting for CHRlSTs Power of Miracle Sy from Toldoth Jefchu, ibid. More Inftances of their ridiculous Whimfys from the Talmud, p. 338. Their a 3 foolifh The CONTENTS. foolifh Ml f application of Scripture^ p. 340 . Their im- fiom Reprefentations of G O Dy p. 342. A fabulous Account of the Origin of Rome, p. 343. Another concerning R. Eliezar, in Confirmation of their Tra^ ditions^ ibid, Tloe Pirke of Eliezar, p. 344. uino- ther Reafon vohy the Rabbins are not to he rely^d on is^ that they profefs to follow their Dolors in aU they affert^ tho ever fo ahfurd^ p. 345. They prefer their Tal- mud and Traditions before the Scriptures themfelves^ ibid. The CharaEier of the Rabbins, p. ^4fi. Their .exeeffive Pride ^ ibid. Their way of interpreting the Scriptures J p. 347. The Sanhedrim^ tho made up of their bejl Men^ confifled only of Magicians^ as them- felves ajjert^ &c. ibid. They have endeavoured to corrupt the Scriptures j p. 348, AU learned Men give the fame Chara&er of the Jews, and their Writings, p. S49- 5o A/r. Le Clerc, ibid. yl/K.Du Pin, ibid, jUfr. DodwcWj ibid. Scaliger, p. 350. Naucle- T us, ibid, Buxtorf, ibid. Lightfoot, p. 3 5 1 . And the fame Charader is given of ^em by CHRIST himfelf too^ who cenfures ^em more particularly on ac- ^ount of their Walkings^ ibid. Their Traditions were many and mifcbievous^ P* 35^- -^^ ^^^fi things ap- ply'd to the prefent Vifpute^ ibid. Letter X. ARrian, from whom Mr. Wall next argues^ toa late to determine the Matter^ p. 35 S* -^^ ^^7 perhaps only fpeak of the Purifications for Pollutions, ibid. The Pagans frequently confounded the Jews and Chrijlians together^ as appears from Themiftius, p. 3 $7. From Arrian hiwfelf^ p. 3 59. Ffom Lucian, p. 35 r . From Tacitus, ibid. From Suetonius, ibid. And Rigaltius uvderflands Arrian'i IVcrds fo too^ p, 352. As do alfo Petavius, Lipfius, and Barthius, ibid. Mr. The CONTENTS. Mr.WaWs Argument from Gregory Nazianzen ex^ amirid^ p. 363. this Father livd too late to deter^ mine our Dif^ute '^ and does not fp ok of an initiatory Baptifm^ p. 36'4. 77?^ Scripture makes no mention of an initiatory Baptifm in tife among f^e* Jews, p. 365. Exod. xix. 10. makes nothing to the Purpofe^ ibid. Maimonides, his Rule of Interpretation falfe^ p. 367. 77?^ Rabbins very bad Interpreters^ p. 368. Sandify does not neceffarily imp^ly wajlnng^ ibid. Nothing in the Words which fo much as intimates the Body was to hewafl?d^ P* 3'^P* There is no mention of an initia" tory Baptifm in any authentic antient Hifiory i even tho they had the fairefi Occafions^ and ought not to have omitted it^ if there had been any fuch Vfage^ p- 370. This illuftrated by fome In fiances from Jofe- phus and Ganz, ibid. ^Tis on many Accounts very improbable that-th^ Jews had any fuch Ceremony^ p. 371 . Proved from St. FauVs Words^ ibid. From Gregory Nazianzen, p. 372. Fro»^ 5f. Peter, ibid. Several Authors of Reputation^ and efpeciaRy the Art- tients^ do in eff'eEh deny they knew of any initiatory Bap^ tifm among the Jews, ibid. Thus St. Barnabas, p. 373- Juftin Martyr, p. 374. Tertullian, p.37<5. Origen, p. 377. St. Cyril of Jerufalem, ibid. Many Writers fay our Baptifm came inflead (not of Baptifm among the Jews, bin) of Sacrifice j as the Recognitions, p. 378. Or of the Wajhingsfor Pollu- tions^ ^/r/7f ApoftoiicalConititutions //rfff;*?^, ibid. And Mr.iilW fpeah to this Purpofe^ p. 379. Others more commonly fay it fucceeds in the Place of Circum^ cifion^ ibid. The Conclufion from thefe Obfervations^ p. 380. Tho the Jews coud be proved to have bap' tizjd their ProfelyteSy this does no fervice to the Caufe ofPtedobaptifm^ ibid. For^ i . It does not appear that Infants were admitted^ ibid. 2. If the Jews had fuch a Baptifm as is pretended^ it is no Rule to Chrifii- ans: otherwife the Socini2it\S^ &c. have a good handle to lay afide the Vfe of Baptifm^ ibid. And thtre is 34 no The CONTENTS. ns mafiner of Analogy between the Jewiih, and th^ ChviGiian P(edohaj>tifm^ p. 382. 3. U^e need only gO back to the Baptlfm of St, John , which there is more reafon to think was the Pattern of C H RI ST^s than a Jewifh Ceremony^ p. 383, ^f. John, CHRIST^ and his Apofiles baftizjd no Infants^ ibid, v^ Paffage of Jofephus to this furpofe^ p. 384, Another from Origen, p. 385. Another of St.? 2i\x\^ ibid. 4. At befi this fupfos d Baptifm of the Jews ps only a Traditi-- mary Ceremony from the Rabbins, p. 386. Their quoting Texts for it no proof of its divine hflittition^ ibid. The Kabhias don t pretend to find an initiatory Baptifm in the Scriptures^ ibid. But confefs it is only a Tradition of their Elders^ p. 387. This prov d from the Words of the Talmud, ibid. Which are explained by fame Rules of M^imonidcs^ ibid. Exod. xix. lo. Cited only by way of Accommodation^ p. 390. *T/> therefore great Prefumption to draw a Rabbinical Tra^ dition into a Precedent for the Chriftian Churchy p. 3 9 1 , Thefe things applfd to the prefent Difput^^ ibid, 71?^ Conclufion^ ibid. Letter XL WHA T is to he the particular Bufmefs of the following Letter Sy p. 395. The Authority of the Primitive Fathers more to he valued than Daille, andfome others fuppofe^ ibid. ''Twoud he eafy to de- fend the Credit of the Fathers from the Cavils of thefe Aien^ p. 395. They were^ doubt lefs^ faithful in the Relations they were well cjuaUfy'^d to give of Affairs in their own Churches and Times ^ ibid. And fo far their Authority is of Confequence^ ibid. But yet this is net fujficient to ground y^rAVall'j Attempt upon^ tho they fiioud afford ever fo m^nyfull Citations^ ibid. Tioey The CONTEKTS. Tl^ey were fometimes in the wrongs p. 397. 7%« two only ways to prove Infant-Baftifm are infufficienty even tho the Arguments our Adverfarys make ufe of be allowed all the Force they are pretended to have^ p. 398. 'TV J probable^ the ear Heft Churches praBis^d only what they receiv'^d from the Apoftles^ ibid. Mr^ Wall tahs no notice of St, Barnabas^ becaufe he makes againft Infant- Baptifm in feveral Places^ p. 400. The Palfages from St. Clement examin^d^ p. 401, MriSSf 2^5 Argument from ''em flat ed^ p. 402. The main Point on which it turns agroundlefs Miftake^ viz. that Baptifm is neceffary nniverfally to all thatjhall be fav^d^ p. 403. Baptifm does net appear to have been defigrid to wajh away Original Sin^ ibid. By this fame Argument^ it might as certainly be prov'^dj that all the AntlpAdobaptlfls now are for Infant-Bap" tifm^ p. 404. The Paffages from Herraas confider*d^ p. 405. In the Pa f ages citcd^ this Father fpeaks only of Adult Peyfons^ ibid. Johniii. 5. confiderd^ p.408. Kingdom of GOD doe^ not neceffarily mean the King^ dom of Glory^ p. 410. 77?^ Words cannot be taken -univerfally^ p. 412. Ti$ has no relation to Infants in any Place of Scripture^ p.413. And here relates only to the SubjeUs of whom our LO RD fpeaks^ p. 41 4. Who are only Adult Perfons who have heard the Word preacWd^ ibid. As appears^ l, Becaufe fuch only can be expelled to comply with the Inftitutiony to whom only it is truly given^ p. 415. 2. Becaufe fuch only can be fav'd by it^ according to 5f.P^ter, p. 415. Whofe Words the Padobaptifts have never yet fairly interpreted^ ibid. Dr. Whitby 'j EvafoH conftderdy p. 41 7. 3- The fame Form of Speech ifual^ when Infants are not included^ p. 418. As they feem not to be in this place j by our SATJOVR's Words in the Context^ p. 420. 4. The Words vnder Confi- deration cannot be true of Infants^ p. 421. 5. Some- thing in the Words themfelves limits 'em to Adult ferfonsj ibid. M^hat it is to be born of the SPIR IT^ p. 422. The CONTENTS. p. 422.. Dr, Whitby'j judicious Ohfervations on the Text^ p. 423' Another Pajfage of Hermas cotjfi- derdj ibid. He only defcribes Vifiom^ and therefore is not always to he taken literally^ p. 424. He can^ not meanj that Terfons in their fefarate State were or coud he hapizjd with material Water ^ p. 425. He fays nothing however of Infant -B apt ifm ^ but ra- ther excludes Infants in this very Taffage^ p. 426. Befides^ to give tif all our Adverfarys can reafonably defire here^ it woiid only prove Infants fh all be baptized in their feparate Eft ate after Deathj which is nothing to our Difputcj p. 427. Another Pajfage of Hermas, p. 428. That Infants are efteemd ofGOD^ no Argument they ought to be bapti^Jd^ ibid. This Paf- fage makes rather againfl Infant -B apt ifm ^ p. 429. iiQVmsiS fays feveral things inconfifient with it^ ibid. Matth. xix. 14. confider^d^ p. 430. It has no rela- tion to Baptifm^ ibid. Z)r.^A^hitby'J Improvement of the Pajfage examin*d^ p. 43 1 . ^Tis probable the Chil- dren were brought to be heal^d^ ibid. It does not follow from thefe Words^ that they are fit to be de- dicated to CHRIST by Baptifm^ p» 432. The Bijhop 6>/Salisbury'j JJfertion noted^ and difprovd^ p. 433. Conclujion, ]p. /\.s$' Letter XII. WHat Mr' Wall produces from the Writings of the fecond Century^ examlnd^ p. 439. A Pajfage in St, Juftin confiderd^ ibid. Which makes nothing for Infant-Baptifm^ ibid. Neither does it fpeak of Original Sin^ as our Author pretends^ p. 440. Mr. Wall has perverted the Words, ibid. His Tranflation of ^em -unintelligible, ibid. 'Atto 7^ 'AcTix/^ means from Adam, p. 441. Another Mif^ confiruEllon noted, p. 442. Tioe Phrafe explain d by a Pajfage in Dioiiyfuis Halicarnaflkus, ibid- And another The CONTENTS. another in Thucydides, p. 443. Another Paffage from St* Juftin conflder^d^ ibid. He does not call Baptifm Circumcifion^ p. 444. He coud not mean Ba^tifm by the ffiritual Circumclfion he /peaks of^ ib. What he vnderftands by fpiritual Circitmcifion^ ibid. Other Writers of the Primitive Church talk in the fame manner^ P* 447« CololF. ii. 11, 12, confiderd^ p. 448. l^he Scrip ure no where calls Baptifm Cir- cumcifon^ ibid. The Words in themfelves are not ca- pable of the Senfe our Adverfarys give ^em^ p. 449. 'The Antients did not call Baptifm the Circumclfion without Hands ^ as Mr^WaW pretends^ p. 451. Mr. WallV Argument from the Parallel between Circum- clfion and Baptifm^ frnwn to he groundlefs^ ibid. The Principle on which ^tis founded^ evidently falfe^ p. 452. Some of the Confequences of it : as that Baptifm muft be admlnlfterd only on the eighth T>ay^ ibid. That Females mufi not be haptl^Jd^ p. 453. As the Apoftles did not make Circumclfion their Rule in relation to Baptifm , fo neither jhou'^d we^ ibid. Another Pajf age from 5f. Juftin, p. 454. '^Tis not to he imagined he jhou^d forbear to mention Infant- Bap- tlfm^ ifithadbeenthenpraBis^d^ ibid. Or however^ he ought not to have fpoken fo as is inconfifl-ent with that PraBlce^ p. 455. The Pajfage is dlreUly again fl Infant' Baptifm^ p. 455. The Reafons why Mr,Wa\\ cites this Pajfage ; tho he confeffes it makes nothing for fnfant' Baptifm^ p. 457. The firfi- Reafon makes ^- galnft him^ ibid. His next Reafon^ that Regeneration is put for Baptifm^ groundlefs^ p. 458. St. Juftin never tinder fiands Regeneration fo^ ibid. Baptifm not Regeneration^ hut the Symbol of It^ p. 459. The third Reafon contradicts his former Affertlon^ p. 450. Another Paffage from 5r. Juftin, ibid. Which Mr. Wall draws to his fide by a very unfair Tranflation^ p. 461. ^h-/. TTociSluV fignifys from their Childhood, ibid. Ilhftrated by hftances from Cicero, p. ^61, From Laertius, ibid, from Plato, ibid. From Plu- tarch, The contents; tarch, ibid. From Origen, ibid. From Theophi- lus Antiochenus, p. 463. From the Scriptures^ ibid. Mr. Wall himfelf tranflates a Fajfage of St. Bafil thus on another Occafion^ p. 464. The famous Faf* fage from St. Irenaeus conjider^d^ ibid. ^Tis not genuine y p. 465. Cardinal Baroriios obfirves^ the latter fart of the Chapter contradichs the beginnings ibid. Petavius'^ Anfwer to this proves nothings p.465. 7lje Author of the lafi part of the Chapter attempts to confirm a manifefi Falfhoody by the Authority of the Antients from St. John, which St. Irenxus coud nc ver have done^ ibid. Mr. Dodwell'j Fretence^ that St^ John, &c. judged of our L o a d 'j Age by his Count en.'ince^ too weah^ and groundlefsj p. 467. They coud not but know the time of our L o R D 'i Birth more exaBly^ ibid. St, Irenaeus coud not think C H R I ST arrivd to near fo much as his 40/-/; Tear : the contrary being fo evident from the Cenfual Rolls then in beings and from the Difputes with the Adver- farys of the Chrifiian Religion^ p. 470. iVky, it ap- pears from St. Irenaeus'^ own Words^ that he was not in fo grofs an Err or .f p. 47 1 . He fixes the time of the L o R D 'j Birth^ ibid. The time of his Pafilort computed : From the time of Pontius Pilate'^ Govern- menty and Tiberias'/ Reign^ ibid. From the Fie- firu^ion of JQVd^ikmj &c. p. 472. ^^r. Dodwell'j Attempt to excufe the Extravagance of this fpurious Pajfagej wholly vfdefs^ p. 475. Beftdes^ the Pajfage zs taken only from a very bad Tranflation^ as learned Men confcfs^ viz. Scaliger, /?. 475. Du Pin, ibid, Mr. Dodwell, p. 477. Dr. Grabe, ibid. This may alfo appear^ by comparing it with the remaining Frag- ments of the Original.^ ibid. Again ^ the Word Re- generated in this Pajfage^ does net mean Baptiz^^d^ p. 480. The Jews did not give Rife to this way of fpeakingj p. 48 1. The Scripture Notion of Regene- ration^ p. 482. John iii. 5. co-nfider'^d^ p. 483. The Regeneration there mention^d^ ccnfifis in the Opera- tions The CONTENTS. tUm of the Spirit J of which Baftifm is the Sign and Sealy ibid, ^nd this appears from ovr L o r d 'x exvn Words following^ p. 484. Titus iii. 5. confi" der^dy p. 485. That the Antients never mean Bap" tifm^ but an internal Change by Regeneration^ jhewn from Clemens Alexandrinus, p, 490. Tertullian, ibid. Origen, p. 492. Clemens Romanus, p. 493. St. Barnabas, tbid. And St, Iren^eus no where ufes the Wordy as our Author pretends he always does^ p. 494. The Inference from thefe ObfervationSy p. 498, A ContradiBion of Mr* Wall'j, ibid. Another Ex^ ception to the Pajfage cited from St, Irenxus, is^ that Infantes does not necejfarlly mean fuch young Children as the P^edobaptifis admit to Baptifm^ p. 499. Om- nis iEtas does not always include Infant s^ ibid. As appears by an Infiancefrom St. Cy^irisinj ibid. The Recognitions, p, 500. Dionyfius of Alexandria, ibid. Nor does the Enumeration of the fever al Ages make it necejfary to under ft and futh Infants as are not capable of Reafon^ ibid. Infancy^ according to St, Irenasus himfelf reaches to ten Tears ofAge, p. 501. As Mr. Dodwell alfo thinks^ p. 502. The Inference^ ibid, Perfons under Ten^ capable of In^ ftriiShion and Baptifm^ p. 503. Recapitulation and Conclufiouy ibid. Letter XIII. A TV Argument again ft Infant- B apt ifm^ drawn from PolycratesV better to Vidor, p. 507. Tertul- lian no Friend to Infant -Baptifm *, which makes Mr* Wall begin his Citations from him^ with decrying his Authority^ p. 508. His general Exprejfions no Ar* gument for P^edobaptifm^ ibid. Tertullian'j fteddy Meaning is eafy to be come aty without i^/r-Wall'^ ex-- travagant GueJfeSy p. 509. Tertullian'i mentioning Infant- The CONTENTS. Jnfant^Baftifm^ no Argument it was jraEiis^d in his tinte^ hut only that fome were endeavouring to bring in the PraBice^ p. 510. Tertullian does not fimfly ad* vife (as Mr» Wall pretends) to defer the haptiz,ing of Children^ but argues againfl it^ as a thing that ought not to be done^ p. 511. The reading of the Paf- fage on which Mr* Wall grounds his Suppofition^ aU together impertinent and abfurd^ ibid. Tertullian'j DoBrine concerning Baptifm-f inconfifient with Peedo'- haptifmj p. 512. Hii Expofitien of I Cor. vii. 14. not in favour of Pdtdobaptifm^ p. 513. Not one Au' thor of the fr ft three Century s^ who under fiands that Text of Baptifm^ ibid. Mr' Wall'j Endeavours to prove that a}4(^, &C. mean wajh^d^ &c. inejfeBual^ p. 514. The Senfe given by the Bijhop 0/ Sarum, and Dr. Whitby, cannot be the true one^ p. 515. The befi Interpretation which can be made upon our Author^s own Principles.^ is what he fo much defpifes^ viz. that by Holinefs is m€a?n Legitimacy^ p. 516. This prov'^d to be the true Sefjfe^ p. 517. Holy ne- ver fignifys baptiz'd, tbid* When Mr. Wall comes to Origen, he cites fome Pajfages which arc plain to his Purpofe^ p. 519. But they are only taken fromhditm TraTiJlations^ ibid. The Paffage fome cite from the Greek Remains of this Father^ {as Mr. Wall himfelf confeffes) proves nothings ibid. The Latin Tranfla- t ions from whence the main Citations are taken .^ are very corrupt and Ucentiom^y p, 521. Several learned Men confefs it^ ibid. As Grotius, p. 522. Hue- tius, ibid. Daille, ibid. Du Pin, ibid. Tarinus, p. 523. Which is alfo abundantly provd^ by com- paring the Tranflation with the Greek Fragments^ as now extant.^ ibid. St. Hierom was not more faithful in his Tranflations than Ruffinus, p. 524. ^Tts very probable they took this liberty in all other things^ as well as in thofe particularly for which Origen was que- ftion^d^ ibid. Ruffinas, notwlthftandwg what Mn Wall fays to the contrary., took as much liberty with the The CONTENTS. the Efiftle to the Romans as he did with other Boohj p. 525. He exfrejly fays^ he had added many things^ p. 525. Befides-t that Commentary was very much in^ t erf dated before Ruffinus took it in hand, p. 527. y4s to the Pajfage taken out of the Homily s on Jolhua, it'^s at beft doubtful whether he fyeaks of Infants in Age^ ibid. In one fart of thefe Homily s he has inferted^ tho it be not in the Original^ this Pajfage particularly^ which is the Ground of the Ptcdobaftifrs Argument ^ p. 528. In St. Cyprian'j time Infant- Baftifm was fratiis*d in Africa j and f rob ably firfi took rife there^ together with Infant -Communion^ ibid. The Africans, generally Men of weak Vnderflanding-i p. $29. Tfce Greek Churchy probably^ had not yet admitted the Err or ^ ibid. The Inference from the whole j p. 530* ji Recapitulation-f ibid. A Reafon why fo much only of Mr. WallV Hiflory as relates to the firfi Century s^ is examind^ p. 54I. How Infant- B aft ifm was at fr^ brought in vfe^ p. 542. Errors ffrung vf in the Church very early^ ibid. This of Infant-Baftifm not brought in all at once^ but by degrees^ p. 543. And was occaftond in fame meafure by their Zealy which was not always according to Knowledge as fever al other things were^ ibid. .A Parallel betwixt this Practice and the PofiJIi Notion of Tranfubflantiation^ ibid. When John iii. 5. was tinder flood to relate to Infant s^ as well as others^ no wonder Infants were baftizjd'^ p. 545. Vfon juft fuch another Miftake of our S aVi- our'j Words ^V? John vi. 53. the earliefi Padcbap- tifts admitted Children to the L o R D V Suffer^ p. 546. Conch/ion^ ibid. ERRATA, ERRATA. PAg. X4. Lin. 16, dele one. P. 25. 1. 24. for Liturgy, read Lethargy. P. 5$. 1. 6. r. he aflures us alfo ; and 1. 11. r. he is in no, fyc, P. 42. 1. 29. r. // /^ «of veryflrange that, eb"*-*. P.44. 1. 27. r. KoldTi^vkt. P. 95. 1. 22. for )>. r. r. P. 97. L 17. r. as //it, ^^r. Ibid. not. lin. i. r. ct^rS dohaftijl^ I add, or Paedobaptill either, who having better Mmns^ of Knowledge is convincd that any of thefe Arguments have really no force^ and yet does vrge ^em on the more ignorant Feofle^ aBs very difingenuoitfly towards ^em^ and is a Prevaricator in the tioings of God, For to vfe any Argvment with an Intent to deceive^ has in it (tho there be no Propofition ■zttter'^d that is fdfe in Terminis) the nature of a Lye : which as it is bafe and unmanly in human Affairs^ fo it is impious when ^tis pretended to be for God j as Job fays^ ch. xiii. ?• How little Mr. Pfk// is to be rely 'd on, appears farther, if you obferve how induftrioufly he takes all Advantages to blacken us, and reader us the Objeds of Refentment and Contempt, by many » Part 11. p. 95o. t Part II. p. 3^2* .L things Let. I . Hijiory of Infant-^aptifm. 2 1 things which are carefully fcatterM thro his whole Book : That a Man who fets himfelf to write with this Temper and Defign, will fay any thing that favours his Intention, a common Knowledg of the World will acquaint us by infinite Examples. When an Author once makes it his Bufinefs to expofe and defame his Adverfary, he never fails to mention every thing that may difcredit him : Old Storys^ tho ever fo falfe and fcandalous, arc repeated anew ^ all former Wounds tore open a- frefh, and rak'd into to the very Bone j and thofe Animofitys, which had been happily extinguifh'd and effac'd by a more charitable Temper, or elfe confiderably worn out by Time, are again revived, and perhaps with new Improvements of iMalice. He gives his own Caufe the molt pleafing Co- lours, and infinuates himfelf into your Belief with fpecious Pretences of Argument, and an Air of Probability and Aflurance : For, as Tully obferves, * There is nothing fo abfurd and incredible^ hut may be refrefented fo as to look very probable. But this is not all \ there is another Invention, and that is, to alTume an Appearance of Impartia- lity and Equanimity, and talk much of it \ and under this Difguife, to infert fuch Innuendo's and Expreffions as will provoke the PalTion of hafty Bigots againft his Antagonifts. Thus to make 'em look like Criminals and dangerous Perfons, 'tis pretended, they are liable to the Lafh of the Law, but are fpar'd out of Generofity and Ten- dernefs*, that their Principles and main Defign are to overturn both Church and State ; that they have fome pernicious Intereft to carry on, fome Ambition or fome PalTion to gratify ^ and are a ^ Paradox, cap. i. Nihil eft tarn incre when at the fame time he allows, and we don't ask him to prove it, they are fpurious, and forg'd J Parti, p. 17$. C 4 by 24 ^fleBions on MrWsXVs Let.t. by an ignorant Romanift, viz,, all of 'em before Sirlcius'Sj who came to the Chair about 385. As fuperfluous to the full is his tedious and partial Hiftory of Telagius^ and the Herefy which takes its Name from him, which reaches quite thro that long 19th Chapter, and fills near a hundred Pages of his firft Part, which contains but 36G in all, including the Title, Preface, and Introduftion. He offers, 'tis true, to excufe the DigrefTion ^, but I think very indifferently : for whatever he may think of the matter, it neither illuftrates nor enforces his Arguments in the leafl:*, which wou'd have been as clear and valid, tho he had fav'd himfelf and his Reader all that trouble : but then he wou'd not fo well have gratify'd his Ambition to be thought a Man of more than ordinary Learning and Application. 1 wonder he did not with the fame Excufe, draw in more fuch Hiftorys at every Turn, which offer'd as fair, and might have done him as much Service as thefe : for I can't fee, how the Senfe of the other Tlaces cafl be apprehended better than thofe of St, Avguftw') &c. unlefs he had taken the fame Pains as largely to (hew on what Occafions they were ffohn likewife. But even in this DigrefTion, which was long e- nough in Reafon without it, it falls fo luckily in his way, he mufl needs treat of the lawfulness of an Oath, and pofTefling great Riches without gi- ving all to the Poor •, both which, 'tis faid, the Velagians held were damnable. This is perfeft Excurfion, when a bare Narration had fuffic'd, efpecially confidering he was out upon the Ram- ble already^ and that neither thefe things, nor what gave him occafion to mention 'em, have any relation to his Subjed. » Pref. p. 5, Let. I. Hijlory of Infant-^aptt/m. ij A little after, he lanches out again ^ and will by no means allow the BlelTed Virgin to have been without Sin, fince he found the Pelagians made the Belief of it a neceflary Article. But I mull once more remark to you, all this is nothing but Trifling ; for whether ftie was the immacu- late, adorable Virgin, the Papifts idolatroufly maintain, or only the holy Mother of our Lorp according to the Scriptures, how is the prefent Controverfy afteded by it ? Infants may or may not have as much Right as Adult Perfons to Chriftian Baptifm, which-ever of thefe Opi- nions is true. But I'm weary with following our Author thro things of this nature, and therefore will only add, out of a multitude, one more of hisf Sallys, becaufe it is very long and very imperti- nent. 'Tis in the Second Fart, and employs no lefs than twenty Pages, viz.. from a hundred to the end of the Chapter. He takes occafion there feverely to fcoarge the Socinians^ and ail that he fancys favour 'em any way \ and, as al- ways when he touches this Point, which is pret- ty frequently, he difcovers abundance of Heat, and I think is conftantly tranfported even be- yond the Bounds of Civility and Good Man- ners. Whether the Fathers held a Numerical or only a Specifical Union in the Div'me Nature^ has been warmly difputed by feveral confidera- ble Men •, and is a Branch of one of the molt celebrated and intricate Controverfys in Divi- nity : this might tempt Ux^Wall^ perhaps, to think it a fair Opportunity for him to fhew his Abilitysin determining a Matter of this nature. But it had been more to his Honour, if he had us'd a little Moderation, and not been altoge- ther fo Dogmatical, which has too much of the Preceptor t6 (^fleBions on Mr.WallV Let. i . Preceptor to pleafe any but the Ignorant, who are mightily taken with Noife and Confidence, which is always to fuch the belt Reafon and the befl Eloquence. But yet I can't fee any great Execution Mr. Wall has done : for tho I'm as far from Socini- anifm, or Tritheifm either, which he believes is charg'd on the Fathers by Mr. Le ClerCj &c. and which I'm perfuaded they are perfedly clear of j tho I'm as far, I fay, from thefe two Ex- tremes as any Man living, yet I can't help think- ing, there are fome Difficultys too great for Mr. Wall to mafter, if we may be allow 'd to judg from the Specimen he has giv'n us of his Skill. And it muft be confefs'd, either thro "^ Incaution, or whatever elfe may be fancy'd the Reafon, there are PafFages in the Antients which require a curious Headpiece to excufc. After all, he cou'd not exped to win much Reputation by tranfient Reflexions on fo copi- ous a Subject ^ for at befl, thofe (hort Sketches can lignify but very little : and therefore, fince the matter is fo very extenfive, and very intri- cate too, I wifh he had not meddl'd with it here ^ for one can't forbear enquiring, to what purpofe? and how it is brought into a Dif- courfe of this nature ? I don't fee any other Reafon that cou'd prompt him to it, than only an indifcreet Ambition to magnify himfelf, and his Learning. 'Tis this, perhaps, makes him run fo much upon the Socinians in feveral pla- ces, who, by his Leave, are not fo defpicable a fort of Men as he wou'd have us think ^ wit- nefs, befides other things, CrelHus'shmous Trea- tife, De Vno Deo Patre : which, after all his O- * Part II, p. 115, »^^' vations Let. 1 . Hijlory of Infant'^a^tijnu 27 vations and Triumphs, yet wants a Tibl^antial Anfwer*, and I'm glad to find fo learn'd a iMai as Dv. Whitby of the fame Mind. Not but that Tm perfuaded, all that is there fo ingenioufly and advantageoufly urg'd, might be cftedually confuted to general Satisfadion, if the Dodor, or fome other learned Hand, who is furnifli'd, like him, with all neceflary Qiialifications, wou'd in good earnefl fet about it. I mention thefe things, Sir, to convince you, Mr. Wallh Digreffions are neither neceffarily brought in, nor skilfully handl'd ^ which ren- ders him the more inexxufable : for who can be prevail'd on to think well of the Condud of that Man, who, without any kind of Kecefiity, takes fuch a world of Pains to expofe himfelf ? And I believe, by this time, you are ready to grant it ^ and that I have alTign'd the molt pro- bable Reafon of it. How ridiculous and mean mufl it then appear, for him, of all Men, to refled fo unjuftly on Mr, Ste-rwetty as if he had needlefly tranflated fo many Pages of French^ only to fhew his ^ Vein of fine Language^ of which he is a Mafter ^ when 'tis certain the whole Paflage was directly and very much to his purpofe ? while this Man's own DigrelTions are longer, and utterly foreign to the matter in hand. But he knew what kind of Influence thefe Me- thods wou'd have on the People of his Party, and has, without doubt, found his Account in fitting his Calculations to that Meridian : which brings to mind an Obfervation of his own, 77?^^ there is a fort of People^ that take a malicious Tlea^ fure in trying how broad Affronts the Vnderftandings of fome Men will bear. I Part II. p. 287. Another 2 8 (I(efleBms on Mr.WzWs Let. i . Another thing our Author fo induftrioufly improves to the fame purpofe, mult not be omitted : 'Tis an ill-natur'd Vleafure indeed he takes in arraigning and cenfuring very fe- verely fome of the greateft Men for Wit and Learning that have appear'd. Ko body can read him without obferving, how liberal he is of his quarrelfom Criticifms, and how free he makes with their Charaders, without any Defe- rence to their Station : doubtlefs, defigning to place himfelf above them, and to be underftood to be a Perfon of much better Apprehenfion ^ or, at leaflr, to have div'd deeper into the Know- ledg of Things. I'm unwilling to bear too hard upon Mr. Wall^ and therefore won't fay he defign'd a Refieftioa on that worthy Man Archbifhop Tdlotfon^ when he gives him an inferior Title, barely ftyling him ^ Bljhof ^ whereas he never was a mere Bifhof in his Life : it looks therefore as if he queftion'd his Grace's Title to that high Dig- nity he was fo defervedly rais'd to ^ or elfe dif- allow'd of the Order of an Archbifhop, tlio o- therwife, indeed, I fee no reafon to think him an Enemy to the Ecclefiaftical Hierarchy. Bat iny Lord of Sarmn is more apparently vilify'd. Mr. Wall does not name him indeed, but every one knows who is the Author of the late Ex^ofi- tion of the XXXIX Articles of the Church s i AHy not only as of a Afany but in the very fame Terms as of God the Father, and afcribe to H I M the Creation of the World : whence ^tis plainly they in no wife looked on Him as a Man only^ but as united to the Di- vinity in fo clofe a manner^ that we may truly afcribe to H J Ai thofe things which were done by G OD long before HE was horn. But no Aian can define the manner of this Vnion^ and form a clear Idea of it. What^s to be done then in this Cafe •* We fiwud acquiefce in the general ohfcure Idea we can collet from Script urCy and not go about to explain what we dont undeYfiandy nor impofe a Neceffity of believing our particular Explications upon other Men. Reafon teaches us that God created the World cut of Nothings hut no body can comprehend the manner of that divine AB ion. This may fuffice in behalf of Mr. Le Clerc^ tho more might be added from his Writings : but I think nothing can be more plain and exprefs than this. By which you may obferve, Sir, what a Liberty our Author takes : and I muft confefs, 'tis not without fome Indignation I fee all thefe learned Gentlemen I have mentioned, together with others, fo fcornfully and unhandfomly treat- ed. And when Learning and Piety, Innocence, Dignitys and Honours are thus vilify'd and tranipl'd on \ who can fee it unconcern'd, and withhold himf elf from fpeaking ? fifpecially if we add to the reft, his barbarous Ufage of the incompa- D 3 riible 38 Iarrorvnefs of Sovl^ by which fome Fiople are inclind to do any mean and foul things to favour a Side^^ or fet -up a Party » 'Tis a high Imputation you'll fay, Sir^ on fo great a Man ^ but if Grotius is really fo bafe, it muft be acknowledged he is beyond Excufe, and Mr. Wall has been very kind to him ^ and his Learning and Station ftiou'd not fecure him from a harfher Cenfure : And on the other hand, if it prove a bare Allegation, and not true, let his Impeacher look to that, and prepare to anfwer it as well as he can, before that jult Judg, who loves. Righteoufnefs, and fees to the Bottom of our moil; f^crct Defigns. I am tempted to be- lieve^ (and what lie fays in another place, viz,. Part II. p-2i5 &c^ bears me out in it) that his own Coafcience tells him he wrongs G'rofiw^. Per- haps he does it. on purpofe to have an Opportu- nity to criticize on him, and let the World fee how much he is an Over-match for him : But judg of his Succefs by the fequel. The Words of Grotius which Mr. IVall parti- cularly refers to, are thefe : * The Senfe (viz- of a Cita- * Xnmt, in Mattb. 19. 14. Senfus eft, ,veniant ad Chnr- turn ut inftituantur, noji ut baptizentur, nifi poftquam vim Baptifmi intellexevrnt, Nazianzcnus agens de iis qui fine Bap" Let. 1 . Hijlory of Infant-^aptifnu 39 Citation from TertullUn) is^ Let them come to C H R I s T ro he taught'^ tiot to he haptiz^^dy till they can tinder ft and the Force of B apt ifm. Kazianzen /peaking of fuch. as dy'*d without Baptifm^ inflances in fuch as were not haptiz?d^ J^ioc vm^ioThTzt^ hy reafon of their Infancy, And the fame Kazianzen himfelf^ tho a Bijljop^s Son^ and a long time train d up under his Father"* s C^.re^ was not haptiz^d till he came to Age ^ as he tells us in his own Life* Grotim begins this Annotation with -obrerving, that the Cuftom of baptizing Infants was groun- ded on thefe w^ords of our Saviour, among others ^ Suffer little Children to come vnto me: and that it appears from St. Auftin^ St. Cyprian^ dec. to have been pradis'd by the antient Church ^ but withal remarks from Tertidlian^ that the pre- cife Age it was to be adminifter'd at in his time was undetermin'd, and left to every one's Dif- cretion. And here immediately follow the words I have jufl now tranfcrih'd. Now can it be pretended from hence, that Gro^ tius went ahout here to difprove the antient TraBice of Infant 'B apt ifm j when 'tis plain he firlt pleads foritsLawfuInefs and Antiquity, and even after- wards can mean no more than that it was not thought fo indifpenfably neceflary, but it might be defer'd, if the Parents pleas'd, to a more advanc'd Age ? And that they adtually did fo, he has put beyond all Contradidion by the fingle In- ftanceof Naz.ianz.en the Elder, if he had brought no more. And Mr. Wall confefTes this is all GrO'> /xwj intended, when he fays, Grotius did not rhain- Baptifmo decedunt, exemplum ponit in iis quibusBaptif- mus non contigit ha. v^irioTATdL. Atque is ipfe Nazianze- nus, Epifcopi cam effjc Filius, Paths Tub cura diutiffime educarus, baptizatus non fuit rtifi cum ex ephebis exiiiTet, ut ^pfe- in Yita lua nos docet. ^- • * D 4. tain 40 ^fleBions on M-WslVs Lct.i. tain there was ever any Churchy or any time in which Infant' Baptifm was not us*d. Pray obferve how un- fairly Mr. Wall deals with him. But Crotim had fo exprefly declar'd his Opinion, that 'twas im- pofTible he Ihou'd be mifunderftood *, for the gene- ral Conclufion he at laft draws from all his Argu- ments which oppofe Infant-Baptifm, is this : ^ But as all this fljews the Liberty^ Antiquity and Dif^ ference of the Cvftom^ fo it argues nothing at ally for refufwg Baptifm to hfants whom the Parents offer* How couM Mr. Wall^ after reading this, fay, he went about to difprove Infant-Baptifm ? If Mr. Wall underftood the Greek as well as Grotim^ and had but a fmall fhare of his Penetration and Sin- cerity, he wou'd not have taken this occafion to cavil, notwithftanding he finds fo great a pleafure in it. Whoever h-4S an Opinion of GrotiusV Sincerity^ Mr. Wall fancies, muft blujh to read that PaiTage in St. Gregory^ together with his Annotations on Mat. 19. H* But he is very much miftaken. Sir, for an Excvfe may without any Difficulty be made for him^ and need not fuppofe he took the Quotation from Somebody at fecond hand neither^ viz. by fliewing that St. Gregory^ by the Phrafe in difpute, at leaft might intend fiich Children as chanc'd to mifs of Baptifmthro their Parents Fault ^ who being al- low'd to fufpend it, on account of their Infancy, to a later Seafon, perhaps abus'd this Liberty, and fometimes put it off fo long, that by one means or other the Children dy'd without it. Crotim might think it reafonable to underftand him thus, from St. Gregorys way of exprefhug ^ Mnotat. Mattb. yiiy:. 14. C^terumifta ficut libertatem, vetuflatem & confuetudinis differentiam indicant, ita ni- hil aiferunt cur repudiandus fit Baptirmusinfantiuin,quos Pyrenees, &c. conlecrandos oifcrunt. himfelfj Let. I. Hifiory of hfantSa^tifm. 41 himfelf ^ for 01 is$i ucrlv b h^'jxfxei t« Si^xc&c and that \ the old Here- - ^ Rufhworth. Vol, \. p, 1^4. ** lor^ Clarendon, t Part II. p. 222. !j lb. p. 265. E 4 ticb , 56 ^feHions m MrAVall'^ Let.i. tich^ fome of \m^ denfd Him (viz. CHRIST) tohe G OD'^ and others of V w denyd Him to he frO' ferly Man : But thefe^ fays he, deny both^ and fay^ He is neither GOD, nor -proferly Man* 'Tis ftrange, any one fhou'd have the Face fo boldly to afHrin this, when himfelf, and all that are acquainted with us, know it to be utterly falfe. There are fuch, I know, in the Church of England^ tho Ihe defervedly difclaims 'em ^ and there may fecretly be fome with us \ and fo iu all Partys : but they are fo uncommon, or fo con- eealM, that I don't know fo much as one among us. And I need only appeal to our Author him- felf, to jallify us from his own Calumny \ for at another time, when he's not in quite fo ill an Humour, he confelFes, that tho we || have fome Socinians who creep tn among vSy yet I have not heard, fays he, of any Church or Congregation of '^777, that makes Profejfion of that DoEirine ', but on the contrary j that they that frofefs it openly^ are rejeBed from their Commimio:^, And pray, what can we, or any Church in the World, do m.ore to cleanfe our felves of that Leprofy ? and yet he cou'd fuffer himfelf to accufe us of holding thofe very Opinions, he here owns we endeavou^i' to root out. Can this. Sir, and the other things I've been noting, flow from an honeft good Mind ? I wou'd omit other Miftakes, &c. o^ lAr.Wall', as his charging PeLigUnifwy and holding the Mor- tality of thv Soul^ upon us ; v^hich are very falfly imputed, in order to come to the grand Queftion between us : but what he fays of the Non-Necef- fity a-rid Unreafonablenefs of our Separation muft ilot be paiVd over without a Reflection, it feem- ing to be defign'd to render us odious, by infinu- l Part II. p, 275. ating, Let. 2. Hifiory of Infant-'Bdptifm. 57 ating, how much our cenforious quarrelfom Spirit delights in Fradions and Divifions. Tbe Kecefllty and Reafonablenefs of a Separa- tion from the Eftablidi'd Church, you kaow, Sir, have been copioufly treated by feveral eminent Men 7 and I think it no hard matter to vindicate ours from the ftrongeft Objedions rais'd againft it: But this is not the Place, 1 (hall therefore on- ly make a fhort Reply to what Mr. Wall urges, becaufe his Reprefentation of the Thing may polTibly too much have its defign'd EfFedb> and do us a prejudice with your felf, Sir, or others, into whofe Hands thefe Letters may fall. Mr. Wall begins his laft ^ Chapter, which he- calls a Dijfuafive Jrom Separation ^ with an Account of the great Sin and Mifchief of Schifm, which, he obferves, all Men allow to be of a very hei- nous ISJature ;, and he ought in Charity therefore, to fuppofe all Men as follicitous to avoid the Guilt of it as himfelf ^ and kindly in afTifting 'em to fiee from the Wrath which is to come^ he fhou'd not only warn 'em of the Evils it produces, which they are already convinced of, but plainly fhew wherein the Sin conlifts, that they may ihun it the better. He has not done this diltind- ly enough, but conftantly exclaims againfl Schifm, without ever giving the true Notion of it, and proving particularly what it is, which was the Bulinefs of the Chapter. Had he clearM up this, and then convided us of it, he had triumph'd^ andwewou'd have immediately put an end to our Separation. Inftead of this, he only explains it in general, by Bivifion^ Separation^ and breaking the Vnity *, and, to make all Separatifts from himfelf as black as may be f, wou'd have this Separation in general * PartU. p. 382, t Part II. p. 585. believ'd 5 8 (^flcBwns on Mr. Wall V Let. 2. believ'd no better, than what Sr. Taul calls Here- fy. And yet certainly he wou'd not have us un- derftand all Divifions, 6'r. are culpable Schifms ^ for he fuppofes it lawful to feparate on account of Difference in Fundamentals, tho even then (which looks like a Contradiction) there is]] a Sin he feems to fay in the Separation. So that he leaves the thing very obfcure, and, by feme Paffages, feems to think he may lawfully fep:^ratQ from all who don't agree with him •, but they^ on the other hand, can't forfake him without a great Sin. Hence you fee, Sir, how neceffary it -was to fix the right Notion of Schifm, if our Au- thor had intended his Dilfuafive ihou'd have had any Succefs. Briefly to fupply this Defect : Tho S;)/cr/-^oe,you l^now, Sir, fignifies literally a bare Rent or Divifwn^ yet in the Ecclefiaftical Senfe it either relates to the bilTenfions among the Members of the fame parr ticular Church, as i Cor. xi. 18. or more comr monly, as alfo in our prefent Difpute, '^tis us'd for a needlefs and unjuft occafioDiiig the Body of Chrift's Church, which is but one, to be torn inr to different Communitys. 'Tis not fo much th^ a6:ual feparating, as the unjuftly cauHngit, :is the Sin. Schifm, ' in the large Senfe of the WorcJ^ may be lawful or unlawful, as 'tis apply'd to one or t'other Party \ for the Divifion or Separation is rfvjtual, and relates equally to both Sides that dlf- 'agree. Now Mr. Wall ufes the word undctermi- Lately^ and, which renders what he fays per- plex'd, confounds the different Meanings of it. That we may proceed more clearly, I intend by Schifmaticks flich as unnecellarily caufe Divifions, and by Schifm 'th^ great Sin fuch are guilty of In this Seafe only Schifin is to be condemn'd as '-^ - "■'*' ' unlawtitl ; Let. 2. Hiftory of Infant-^aptt/m. 5 9 unlawful*, and thus St. P^m/, by a Peripbrafis^calls Schifmaticks not Separates barely, but "^ fuch as cavfe Divifions. This I take to be the peculiar and proper Import of the Word, as it has been, and is now usM in the Church. Hence it follows, that not fo much they who go out from a Communion they w^ere join'd with before, are the Schifmaticks, as thofe who rafhly and unjultly either give or take occafion fo to fc- parate. Thus if the Church of Rome^ by her Ido- latrys and other Corruptions, makes it juft and neceflary to divide from her, Ihe commits the SchiHn or Separation, by rendring the Terms of Communion founfafeand impradicable, and not our Forefathers, who wifely follow'd the Apo- Itle's Counfel, to -f- come out from among ^em. In like manner, if any Church, thro length of time, and the Prefumptions and Mifmanagemcnt of her Governors, degenerate into dangerous Er- rors and Corruptions, and a few Perfons obferv- ing it make proper Application to have 'em re- drefs'd, and no Care is taken upon it^ thofe few wifer and more confcientious not only lawfully may, but are indifpenllbly bound to renounce the Communion of fuch unreafonable Bigots. The other Side, tho, as it generally happqns, by far the Majority, are the Schifmaticks, in' adhering fo obilinately to their Corruptions, which are incompatible with the Purity of a Church of Christ, and refufing to join with the others in a Reformation of thofe Abufes, and endeavour- ing to reduce themfelves to a nearer Conformity with the Primitive Church. The Cafe will be much the fame in regard to thofe who never were in Union, if they continue feparated upon infufficient Grounds from a 5o- ^- Rom. xvi. 17. f aCor. vi.i^. ciety. ^o (^efleBions on M'.WallV Let. 2. ciety -, which, if compar'd, has more Propertys of a Church than themfelves. This is formal Schifm, which, as I faid, is being feparate and di- vided, without juft Caufe, from a true Church. And this will make it difficult for feveral Mem- bers, the Church of England is troubled with, to clear themfelves from the Guilt of Schifm, in ac- knowledging that at Rome for a true Church, and yet fcparating from her, if they are feparated, and not, as many fufpecl, her real Friends, and recon- cile to her in their Heart ^ tho for Deiignsbell known to themfelves, they affed to appear other- wife^and fo reproach her with Schifm underhand, in fuch manner as may not expofe 'em to her Cenfure. To return : By what has been faid, the Mat- ter is brought to this Iflue, that thofe who un- juilly give^occafion to feparate from the true Church, and thofe who unjuflly take it, with fuch alfo as continue ununited without fufficient Caufe, are alone Schifmaticks in the Scripture- S<:R^t^ which is the right ^ and are therefore fair- ly reckoned Enemys of the Crofs and Catholick Church of Chris T. But now fmce 'tis lawful in fome Circum[lance$ to renounce Communion, and fmful in others, it concerns us to examine what thofe Circumftances are, which may make Separation Schifmatical or not '^ and indeed here the main Difficulty lies. Mr. W'^^// offers to explain it, by diftinguifhing between fundamental Points, and fuch as are not of the Foundation. An Error in the Fundamen- tals of Religion^ he fays ■^, does pit a Bar to our Communion with thofe that teach it> But for Mif- takes in matters of lefs moment, he thinks we have St. Paul'j DireHion and Order to bear with one another^ and receive one another into Communion^ not- I Part II. p. 3^5. withflanding Let. 2 . Hifiory of Infant-^ aptifm. 6 1 withfianditig thofe Differences \ which indeed it muft be allow'd are not fuflicient to warrant fo del^ perate a Remedy as Separation* But this Diftinc- tion, tho good in it felf, will however do little Service in the Cafe before us, becaufe we are ftill to determine which are Fundamentals, and which are not *, and 1 don't remember Mr. Wall has touch'd upon this : Neverthelefs, I obferve, he has made fome Articles fo, which I and Thou- lands befides can by no means grant him. Til not iingle 'em out, becaufe they fignify little to our prefent Difpute ^ but I mention'd the thing in grofs, to fhew how requiute it was for him to have taken fome care to fettle this Matter. The Subjed is too large for me to handle it thorowly: I fhall therefore fatisfy my felf with laying down but one Rule, which I believe will not be controverted, and perhaps might eafily be ihewn to be a very certain univerfal Guide to direct us at all times to diftinguilh Things A^fc-^/l (ary and Effential^ from Vfeful only. Not all things plainly contain'd in the Scriptures, as fome €xprefs themfelves too generally, but fuch aUm as exficitely^ or by very flam Confeq^eme^ fo as all Men^ even the mo ft ignorant and fmfle^ by fairly read- ing and confderivg^ may difcern them to he decUr'd neceffary in the Scripture^ which is our only infallible Guide on Earthy are aU the fundamental and necef- fary Articles of the Chriftiun Church and Faith. To illuftrate it by an Example ^ 'tis faid diredly, that after they had fung an Hymn^ they went out int^ the Mount of Olives ^ and, in ajiother place, that Saul was confenting to Stephen'^ Death : neither of which is a neceflary Article that will endanger a Man's Salvation who queftions it, or is ignorant of it, or, if it cou'd befuppos'd, Ihou'd mifun- derftand it. But when the Lord fays, i:his is Lfe Eternal^ that they might know Thee the only true 6t ^flecliom onMr.W^lYs Let. 2. true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thouhafi fern ^ and again, Vnlefs ye eat my Fleflj^ and drink my Bloody ye have no j>art in me ^ and, without faith it is im^ojfihle to fleafe Gov: Konc can be fo blind as not to fee that thefe, and many other fuch Paflages, are Points abfolutely neceflary to Salva- tion under the Gofpel. Our Lord, and He only, can teach us what things he indifpenfibly requires of all to whom his Gofpel is preach'd •, and we having' no way to know his Will but by fearching the Scriptures, it can't be queflion'd but their Authority muft be enough to determine the Things, which really are, and ought to be accounted neceflary or not neceflary by us ; for no Power can alter what our Lord has there eftablifli'd. 'Twill be convenient here, to diflringuifli be- tween things necefi^ary only to Salvation, and thofe which are necefl^ary to the rightful Confl;i- tution of a true Gofpel- Church : for thefe are far from being one and the fame. It wou'd be needlefs to go about to fhew that, this Diftinc- tion is well grounded ^ but Mr. Wall feeming not appris'd of it, or not to own it, 1 will venture to fay fomething to confirm it. In order to this it may be obferv'd, the Qiiali- fications which make a true Chrifl:ian, and which conftitute a true Church, are difi^erent. The Fun- damentals of Chrifl:ianity may be found in a lin- gle Man, but a Angle Man can't have all the Eflen- tialsof a Church : And farther, a Body of Men rnay be good Chrifliians, Orthodox in all Funda- mentals, and yet not able to form themfelvesinto a Church. 'Tis necefls.ry indeed, that Church-Mem- bers be true ChriRians, and free from funda- mental Errors •, but this alone does not conftitute Vm a Church, which is not only a Body of faith- ful IVxn abd Wonien, but they mull be united to- gether Let. 2. Htftory of Infant'^aptifm. 6 3 gether in Chri si's Name, fo as that among them may be orderly pertorm'd the feveral Dutys required in a Chriftian Church. : Thus the Parliament for inftance, and all our pther Civil Society s, we'll charitably fuppofe, are good Chriilians^ that hold the Truth in all God- linefs and Honelly •, yet no body fure can pre- tend, when they are aflembled in their Houfes finder their Speakers, their fole Heads as Parlia- tnents, they are then a rightly conftituted Church, where the Ecclefiaftical Offices may be legally exe- cuted. So that tho Perfons may hold all the necef- fary Articles of Chriftian Religion, by which they are, according to the New Covenant in Christ's Blood, intitled to Salvation ^ yet on fome other accounts they cannot be thought to conflitute a true Church. The Confequence therefore is unavoidable, that the Fundamentals of Chriftian Religion, and a Chriftian Church, are not altogether the fame : And 1 think 'tis prov'd ^Ifo from the Authority of the Church of England^ which makes the due Admifliftration of the Sacraments eflential to the Being of a true Church, and yet charitably grants that of Rome to be in a falvable State ^ tho, for fome Reafons, their Salvation cannot but be thought very hazardous, and muft'be fo as by Fire. One of the neceftary Qualitys of a true Church is, the Edification of the Meml)ers, which is our Lord's great end in founding Churches on Earth. If therefore all other Kecellarys are re- tain'd, and by fuperititioufly adding fome things, and prefumptuouily altering others", the Conver- fion of Sinners, and the Edification of Believers is not promoted but hinder'd, that Church can- not be counted a true one. I Ag;iia : ^4 ^fleclions onMr.W. different, than by retaining 'em, to endanger and break the Unity of the Church, which they find is impoffible to be preferv'd while they are re- tained. 'Tis ftrange Men can exclaim fo bitterly againft Schifm, (and God knows the Sin is black enough) and at the fame time know in their Confciences^ they prefer their Humours and Opinions about external indifferent Matters, before the impor- tant Concern of the Peace and Edification of the Church. There are feveral publick Defences made, by which all Men may fee how far they can juf- tify themfelves, who difown the Church of Erig- Lwd^ even upon thefe trifling accounts, as they are thought ^ and on what Grounds they think it cannot be their Duty to yield to the National Church in her impofing things which are really indifferent : But whether they are able to make a rational Defence of themfelves or no ^ nay, let us fuppofe that fome can't, and yet are refolv'd to continue their Separation ^ if fuch unreafona-blc niiftaken Men, or what you'll pleafe to call 'em, are found among us, this will not leffen the Church's Guilt, in fo tenacioully continuing to throw the needlefs Occafions in their way. Be- fides, 'tis to be bellev'd, all the Churches, and the greatelt part, if not every private Man of the Diffenters, are fatisfy'd in their Hearts, that the things they diffent for, are not fo indifferent as 'tis laid, nor can be receiv'd without corrupting the Purity of the Chriftian Religion. This 7 A ^flefiions on Mr.WalYs Let. 2. This confiderably enhances their Fault, who ia Matters they confefs to be indifierent, thro no iNjecefllty, but from the Motions of an arbitrary Temper only, will bear fo hard uj^on the Gon- fciences of fach as cannot have the fame Opi- nion, and drive 'em to the defperate Dilemma of conforming againft their Confciences, or break- ing the Unity of the Church. A more Chriftian and becoming Difpofition in the governing Par- ty, might have remov'd the whole Difficulty, without any Inconvenience at ;alJ, by kindly not infilling on thofe things which fome of their weaker Brethren coa'd not digeft, and which they themfelves likewife are under no manneii.Qf Keceffity to adhere to. ) :?.5j,.:r Every Society has Power, under the Supreril'fe Authority, to frame By-Laws for it felf, to which all its Members are bound, and may be oblig'd to fubmit. So the whole Church, un*- doubtedly, and every particular Part of it, may rightfully claim a Power, as far as CHRIST the Supreme Head permits, to make fuch Orders and Conftitutions as they Ihall judg proper for go-^ verning their feveral Bodys. And this is all that, with any face of Reafon, can be demanded. But this will be of little or no Service in excufiug the Church, or condemning the DifTenters, if we con- jider, that this Pov^er is not unlimited : but as the Laws of any Corporation are null, when re- pugnaint tottie general Inllitutions of the Nation-^ fo all Prefcriptions in the Church are of no force, and unlawful, when contrary to any which Jes.u s C H R r s T, our great Legillator, has ordain'd ^ -or when fhe exceeds the lawful Bounds of her Power. And therefore, even thofe who can allow the Church is poiTcfs'd. of a Legillative Power in. Mat- ters purely indifTercnt, and are willing to fuppofe, that her Members are oblig'd to comply with ( :'i ; her j Let. 2 . Hifiory of Jnfant''Ba[)tifnu y 5 her-, infer notwithftanding, that if thofe things, which are indifferent in themfelves, are circum- ilantiated, as it often happens, fo as to deftroy any of our LORD's Precepts, we are difcharg'd from Obedience to our fubordinate Ecclefiaftical Governors, and fuch her Decrees are /p/o faB:o void. Kay they farther affert, that tho the Cliurch might lawfully exercife fuch Power as is pleaded for in Matters of Liberty, yet as the Cafe ftands at prefent, the Di (Tenter sin JE^T^te^, fomeof'em at leaf!:, are oblig'd to feparate from the Natio- nal Church, who, as they think, by mifufing her Power, has render'd the Terms of Commu- nion unlawful: or if the Terms are not fo them- felves, yet they are^pt to fuppofe fhe is as much to blame as the Diflenters, if by arbi- trary Impofitions fhe breaks in on Fundamental Laws, and exceeds her CommiiTion ^ and by nar- rowing the Gate, prevents many from entring into the Church, to her own great Injury, whofe Growth her Governors are bound, by all lawful Means, to advance. Peace and Unity are flridly enjoin'd, and Ihou'd be the particular Care of thofe whom the Holy Ghpfi has made Overfeers of the Flock *, and yet fome xMen deliberately and with pleafure ftudy ii.- flexibly to maintain and impofe thofe things, which they know by Experience confound the U- nity they preach, and Ihou'd preferve. 'Tis a chief Part of their Office, with Tendernefs, to inftrud and relieve the Confciences of the Peo- ple^ but they, on the contrary, opprefs and perplex 'em, beyond what they are able to bear. Is this agreeable to Charity, thus deliberate- ly to conflrain us to what they count a Sin, and againft which themfelves pronounce Damnation? Pivijions^ Sphifmsj SeDarations^ and ivhatfoevcr breaks the 7^ ^fleFliens on Mr.WdVs Let. 2 . the Vnity of the Churchy are plac'd, they fay, -^ by St. Paul in the Roll or Catalogue he gives of the Sins which are certainly damning , which they that pradtife^ fhall not inherit the Kingdom of G 0 D^ Gal. v. 1 9, 20, 21. And notwithftanding this, they are fo far from helping us to avoid the Danger, that they willfully lay the unnecefTary S tumbling-Blocks before us, which they are aflur'd will, and do make us fall, in dired oppofition to the Apoftle's Coun- fel and Pattern -f*, who fays, But when ye fin fo againfi- the Brethren^ and wound their weak Confid- ence^ ye fin again fl CHRIST. Wherefore^ if Meat male my Brother to offend^ I will eat no Flep while the World ftands^ lefi I make my Brother to of- fend. How vallly different from this tender Re- gard and Confideration of the Infirmitys of others, and of ho v7 different an Original, is the inflexible Temper of fome now-a-days, who rather than part with any thing they have once receiv'd, will endanger the Salvation of thofe who can't fubfcribe to it, even tho it fhou'd prove the c- ternal Ruin of Thoufands for whom Christ died f I have faid more on this Occafion than at firft I intended ^ but Mr. Wall had fupprefs'd fo many Particulars, in his treating this Head, that 'twas needful to fapply'em: for they are material, and give the Cafe of our Separation quite another Af- ped. I might here make feveral Dedudions from the Obfervations I have made, and apply 'em to the Condition of the Church in E?igland ^ but I wave it, and only defire you to compare what I have writ with the lall Chapter in Mr. Wall. After he has declar'd the Mifchief and Sin of Divifions, &c, he addreffes himfelf to the Anti- * Part II. p. 385. t I Coy. viii. 9. Kom, xiv. 1 5« ^ Cqu viii. 1 2, 13. p«do- Let. 2 . Hijlory of Infant^^a^tifm. yy pcedobaptifts : and ilnce Vm oblig'd to follow him, let us briefly confider the Point, Sir, between the Church of England and them. And firft, I mull de- iire you always to remember, Mr. Wall argues on the Sappolition that we are Right, and t'other fide in the Error \ and undertakes to ihew, we have notwithftanding no fufKcient Ground to fe- parate : an Attempt which appears too extrava- gant for any but a very partial Man to engage in. Wou'd you have thought it poffible. Sir, with- out this Inftance, that a Perfon of Senfe and Read- ing fhou'd afiert, 'tis unlawful to feparate from a Church, which fo freely prefumes to innovate in the pofitive Inftitutions of our Saviour, and impofe her own Alterations inftead of 'em ? And that you may fee this is really the Cafe, and judg better how Mr. Wall has acquitted himfelf in his Undertaking, Til prefent you with our ISIotion of the Point. When our Lord fent out His Difciples to preach, and inftituted the holy Ordinance of Bap- tifm. He commanded, that all Perfons fliouM be firft taught to believe in Him, and then be ad- mitted into His Church and Covenant, by being dip'd into the Water, in the Name of the Fa t h e r, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. None therefore can be true Members of the Chrif- tian Church the Apoftles were then fent forth to gather, unlefs they are accordingly firft taught, and afterwards regularly receiv'd, according to our Lord's Diredion, by dipping 'em into the Water, and pronouncing that Sacred Form of Words He prefcrib'd. Now, our Author fuppofes us in the right in all this ^ and yet fays, it i* not fufficient to juftify our Separation. The Strefs of what he urges lies in this Poiition, That the Difference is not about Fundamentals \ if it were, he acknowledges, we ought 7 8 (^fleBions on Kr. Wall V Let. 2 . ought to feparate ^but the Agq or Time of re- ceiving Baptifni cannQt be fuch^ But whatever it may be in his Opinion, 'tis a Fundamental with us in the Conftitution of a Church : and if he can think, the true SubjeQ:, and the ji^ft Manner of ad- ininiftring this Ordinance, aye. not of its Eflence, but wholly indifferent, and what there is no need to be curious in •, I allure you, we are of another Mind *, and have niore Reverepce for our LORD's Inftitutions, than to efleem th^ due Performance of 'em fo light a thing. 'Tis. of important Confe-, quence, we think, to retain hi^ Methods pundual- ly^ and not deviate i;i the leaft Particular; iQv]tps^ highly fut able ,tothei nature of things^ to believe j as my Lord Bifliop of 5^r;/«2 , judicioully obferves, "^ T^hat our S a v i'<> V R>' who has. inftituted the Sacra:-. mefJt^ has alfieitfjer infiltuted tU Form ofity or given iis fiich Hmsy-asto lead us very near, it * And there- tore, if It were not in reality aFundamental, yet while we believe itns, itha^-tl\e intiuence of one upon our Confcieiyre?, and.vve ]:;ave the fame rea- ion to ieparate. , ;; • . : .; .;- ^■' J ^f the Church has ; a greater 'Lititude, I appeal to. you, SiVp^ whAch- is molt 'expedient and juft ^ that fhc fliou'd dole the Rupture, by yielding to the TenderpeJ^, of our Conlpences,,^^^^ give up y;hat flie efteems fo very iiidiperent/, or that we who are not fo at liberty, (hou'd. ad againit our Confciences, and comply with her ? !. But I will endeavour to prove, Sir, that what we dlv.idefor, is a Fundamental ,^ and, without the help of a ijuppofition, that the.Eftablifn'd Church is polTibly in the Error. To c;ut this aiort (for I wou'd fain have dpne with this 3vib)ea) 1 will not give the Reafons our Author ufqs here, a partic|a- lar. Examination ;, they are fafficiently aafwer'd ->'*. Export. Articles, p. 26.:. by Let. 2 . Hiflory of Infant-^ al)tijnu 7 9 by the foregoing Diftin(flion, between Fundamen- tals of Religion, and Fundamentals in the Con- ftitution of a true Chriftian Church. All he at- tempts to prove, is, that it is not a Fundamental Article of Faith, without which none can be fav'd \ which is nothing to the purpofe : for, as I (hew'd above, there are other Caufes which not only juf- tify^ but alfo neceflltate a Separation from a Church. Befides, he can never evince this Nega- tive from his own Principles. He owns Baptifm it fclf is a Fundamental^ and wou'd be under* Ibood, certainly, to mean true Chriftian Baptifm, and not every Invention of Heretlcks in antient or modern Times : He mull comprehend, then, all that is elfential to true Baptifm,or elfe 'twill bs im- perfed \ and if thefe fuppos'd Circumftances fhou'd be found to be of its EfTence, it will follow from himfelf, that thefe things are Fundamentals, as being efTential to what is allow'd to be fo. Baptifm, I grant, is of great NcceiTity *, and tho I dare fix no Limits to the infinite Goodnefs and Mercy of God, which I am confident he will give mighty Proofs of, in great Inftances of Kind- nefs towards all fincere, tho miftaken Men *, how- ever, the Gofpel-Rule is, according to the Doc- trine of the Apoftle, to rc^ent^ and he havtiz^d^ for the kemiffion' of Sins, We (hou'd be very cau- tious therefore of making any Change in thefe things, left: we deprive our felves, thro oar Pre- fumption, of that Title to Pardon, without which there is no Salvation. But Mr- Wall coiifcfles this *, and, 1' think, 'tis as clear, that nothing can be Chriftian Baptifm which varies from Christ's Inftitution. That only is Baptifm which He appornte'd,- and theretore That which differs from what He appointed, dilfers from Baptifm ^ and to bring in Alterations is to change the thing, and 8o (^fleSlions onMryK/^iiYs Let. 2 J and make it not the fame, but another. This is felf-evident, and beyond a Queftion. The only Pretence, I think, that can be devis'd, is, that our Lord's Inftitution is not fo ftri :tly pundilious, and confin'd in the particular Cir- cumftances of it. But Mr. JVali can have no bene- fit from this Evafion, becaufe, as I faid before, he fuppofes our Opinion, in this Cafe, is the true, and all he fays is to proceed on this Suppofition. ButasBaptifm is an Ordinance of Christ, it mull of neceflity be celebrated exadly as he ap- pointed : and fince to the very Being of Baptifm, aSubjeft to whom it muft be adminifter'd is necef- fary, and a Mode of adminiftring, without which it wou'd be only a ISJotion in the Brain ; thcfe Things, therefore, areas neceflary as Baptifm it felf. And hence it follows that the true Subjects, which are profefs'd Believers only, and the true Mode, which is only Dipp/?/^ into the Water, are necefFary to true Baptifm ^ and confequently a Difference in thefe Points is a Difference in Fun- damentals, and fo by Mr. Wall's Conceffion a juft Caufe of Separation. 'Tis fuperfluous, I think, to fpend more time to fhew thefe things are as proper Fundamentals as Baptifm it felf, and effential to it, without which 'tis impoffible it (hou'd be Baptifm, and wherein its very nature confifts. I will go on, therefore, to manifeft how juft and unavoidable our Separa- tion is. I don't know what Mr. Wallh Notion of a Church may be ^ but if he takes it from the Thirty Nine Articles he fubfcrib'd to at his Ordi- nation, it will be plain : for the ipth Article fays, The J^ifihle Church of Chrifi is a Congregation of faithful Men^ in which the Sacraments he duly adminifier'd, according to Chrijfs, Ordinance in all things^ that of Nccefflty are requifite to the fame, Now LeM. Htftory of Infant'(Baptifm. 8 t Now, if Baptifm can't be duly perform'd ac- cording to Christ's Ordinance, (as we believe, and Mr. Wall fuppofes it true) but by dipping Be- lievers into the Water on the Profefiion of their Faith *, then that Church, ivhich adminifters it o- therwife, cannot be fuch a Church of Christ, as the Article fpeaksof: and if fo, 'tis hard to imagine why it fhou'd be unlawful to decline her Communion: For her Baptifm, being wrong, be- comes no Baptifm, and perhaps fome may carry this fo far, as to queftion whether fuch a Congrega- tion is a Vifible Church. For if, as I will prove here- after, her Baptifm is not true, that is, if ihe have no Baptifm (JoxTertuUians Maxim will hold good, * They who are not d^uly h(!ftiz?d^ are certainly not haftiz^d at aU) tho we don't aflert fo much, yet to fome it will, it may be, feem a little probable, that (he may perhaps have no Bifhops, Presbyters, C^r. no lawful Ordinations; and (if this fhou'd be allow'd) neither of the Sacraments can be duly adminifter'd. And then from thefe Suppofitions, and by the Authority of the Article cited, the Clergy of the Church of England in general teach us to infer, that fuch a Congregation can be no more than a pretended Church, and that we ought to feparate from fuch an one. And if, as both Sides agree, Baptifm is a ne- ceflTary Initiation into theChriftian Churchy and if none are baptiz'd but Believers dip'd into the Water^ (which you remember, Sir, Mr. Wail fjp- pofes) then nothing can be more evident, than that fuch as are not fo baptiz'd, are not rightly initiated \ and have no Title therefore to Church- Memberlhip, but fhou'd be difclaim'd. "*• De Baptifmo^ cap, 15. ])ag, 230. Baptifmum cum rite aon habeant, fine duUio non habent. Q Before 8z (^efleaionsonMr.W^lYs Ltui] Before I leave this Head, I beg leave to obferve, hoAV unhandfomly Mr. Wall ads, in fuppoilng us right in our Opinion^ and yet pronouncing our Separation unlawful ^ and telling us, we ought to unite with Perfons we are perfuaded are not baptiz'd. Wou'd he follow fuch Advice himfelf, and admit any into the Church, if he believ'd they were without what he efteems Baptifm ? It mull be an abfurd thing, upon Mt» Wall's own Principle, to receive Perfons to the Koly Eucharift, before they have giv'n themfelves to CHRIST, and according to his Appointment, w^alh'd away their Sins. This he'll think v/ou'd be to abufe the Sa- cred Ordinance ^ and therefore the Church of England refufes to admit any to the Communion, unlefs they are firft not only baptiz'd, but alfo con- firmed ^ as is refolv^d at the end of the Order of Confirmation. I know iMr. Wall wou'd fay, he acknowledges Baptifm it felf is a Fundamental Article^ and therefore it has been inferred into fome antient Greeds : but Modes and Circumftdnces are not fo material *, and for that Reafon, fhou'd not be made a Pretext for Divilions. I have fufficiently an- fwcr'd this above: but I add, IVIr. ^^// can't ima- gine Baptifm in general^ (which in truth I don't know what to make of, nor how it can be admi- nifter'd , for to baptize with Baptifm in general^ looks like a Contradidion) Mr. Wall^ I fay, can't imagine, that Baptifm in general, without any regard to fome Conditions and Circumftances, is any Baptifm at all. IMor can I believe, when he makes Baptifm necelTary, he wou'd be underftood to mean, that fome kind of Baptifm or other is neceflary ^ but that all Modes, Circumftances, and the like, are wholly indifferent, and at the dif-~ cretion of every Perfon, or Church either : for then the impious Cuftoms of the antient Here- . - : '. ticks Let.z. Hijiory of Infant' ^aptiffn. 85 ticks wou'd be as authentick, as the Sacred Form our LORD commanded his Difciples. But it has been univer&lly allow'd in the Church from the beginning, and our Author feems to infift on it too, that if the Perfon baptiz'd has an erroneous and not a true Faith, according to the Scriptures, concerning GOD the Father, and JESUS CHRIST, and the HOLY GHOST i and if the Baptifm is not adminifter'd in that only regular Form of Words which the Inftitutor pre- fcribM, in the Name of the Holy and Ever-blef- fed T R I N I T Y •, that Baptifm is ipfi fa^ia null and vacated : nay, St. Cyprian^ and the Council Mr. IVall is fo fond of at another time, make even the Orthodoxy of the Adminiftrator neceflary. From hence it appears, that he mult be under- Itood to mean true Baptifm is neceflary ^ which is what we fay, and is therefore a fufficient Caufeof our Separation ; which thus, you fee, our Author himfelf unwarily juftifys. ^•' Since he owns CHRIST'S prefcribmg the Words of the Inftitution, is the only fufficient Authority to fix the Form, 1 can't but think we fhou'd ftridlly follow the fame Words of the Infti- tution, as the only Rule we can be direded by ia all things elfe relating to this Ordinance : and then all other parts of Baptifm, efpecially the true Subjecl: and Mode of Adminiftration, are as necefl^ary as the true Form of Words •, and if on- ly that Form is true which is there prefcrib'd, then thofe only are the lawful Subjeds, and that the right Mode which is there likewife fpecify'd : ond thefe are, therefore, of the Foundation, as well as the Form of Words ^ and without either of thefe, the Baptifm is invalid. In Ihort, we refufe to communicate with the Church of E-dgUnd^ for the fame Reafon that (he refufes to communicate with Perfons fhe cannot G 2 eltcem 84 obfcurely, and perhaps not at all taught in 'em. That the Apoftles and the Primitive Church did dip when they baptiz'd, is plain ;, but that they us'd Sprinkling or Affalion iikewife, is not: And^ that they baptiz'd Adult Perfons who declar'd^ their Faith in our Redeemer, is clear , butj that ever any Infant was baptiz'd by 'cm, is agaifli confefs'd on all hands not to be fo evident. As far as we go, then, we have the Scriptures undoubtedly juftifying us ^ but where they leave us, we {top, not daring to venture beyond their Direction, as thinking it fafer to walk by their Light, than to wander in unknown Paths. If this be a Fault (as I can't tell how to think it one) 'tisi a Fault however on the fafer hand : for what can poor fallible Mankind do better, than wliere two things feem to claih, to follow that which is clear, rather than uncertain Conjedlures, or even the faireft Probabilitys ? which (to fuppofe mor^ than is true) is the molt that can be urg'd iojiimt Adverfarys. ,. tM*.;-;! -^^^cri -i Thefe Confiderations alone, if nothing . elle cou'd be added, wou'd render our Cafe fecure, and far the more eligible. But we have infinitely Aiore to fay in our behalf: For God has trulv. reveal'd his Will with Clearnefs, and not couch'a it in ambiguous I'erms and myfterious Forms of Speech, like the Oracles of the Heathens^ he de* fign'd to be obey'd, and has fpoke fo as to be un;? derftood : And we can't but think, to deduce a Senfe from the Words which was not intended, is very difficult, and requires Artifice and Vior lence *, whereas the genuine meaning wants no fuch Labour, bat is natural and cafy : And what- ever Senfe," therefore, appears conftrain'd, Qught, at lealt, to be fufpected as foreign from the tru^. For Let.?. H'lflory of Infant-^aptifm. 95 For tbefe as well as other Reafons, Sir, which I Ihall lay before you in the Profecution of this Difcourfe, we cannot believe it is fo doubtful in Scripture, as many pretend, whether Dipping on- ly be Baptifm, and whether Believers alone may lawfully be bapti^'d. Thefe are the chief Ques- tions in Debate between the P^dobaptifts and us, which, if they can be amicably determin'd, will go far towards putting an end to the Separation, But. Mr. Wall's Management is not likely to have fo good Succefs : the Point muft be treated with more Temper and Modefty, as well as ftronger Argu- ment, if it be really intended to gain us •, but nei- ther his Arguments, nor any other, which yet have been produc'd, will prove what they are brought for, as 1 will now endeavour to (hew : and I'll be- gin with the words ^ixr.Til6b znd fbocTnccy for they are fynonymous,as Mr. Wall himfelf likewife feems to allow •, and therefore I (hall promifcuoufly cite the Inftances wherein one or the other word occurs. Our Author, to make us look very inflexible and cruel, begins what he fays upon this Head, with this frightful Remark, That we are fofefs'd with an Opinion of the abfolute Necejfity of diffing the haptisi'd Perfon over Head and Ears into the Watery fo foTy as to let any Man, tho ever fo fick, die un- \^ haftizjd^ rather than haptiz.e him by Affupony &c. Which you are to imagine is a great piece of Bar- barity, becaufe in fo doing 'tis fuppos'd wechufe to expofe a PeiTon to the hazard of being damn'd, rather than recede from our fix'd Method. But Mr. WaH might have fpar'dthc Refledion, fince himfelf allows the Defire of Baptifm is fufficicnt, where Baptifm it felf can't be had ^ fo that the Confequence of our refuling to adniinifter that Ordinance in fuch a manner, is not fo terrible as he inlinuates. Beiidcs, 94 ^fieBions on ^fr. Wall V Let. 5.^ Befidcs, we think it better to do thus, than to . delude dying Men with falfe Performances, and let 'em go out of the World,as Pagdobaptifts do, with- out real Baptifm, or even a Defire of it, which doubtlefs is much worfe than what we are charg'd with. But to make a Shew of Tendernefs and CompalTiOD, fuch generous Men as our Author and his Party have found out an Expedient, ra- ther than fuffer Perfons to go into Eternity, with- out being firft baptiz'd for the RemifTion of their Sins, to baptize, u e. dip 'em by AfFufion or Sprinkling. But notwithftanding the Inventions which in- genious Mea may be fond of, I am honeftly for fitting down with the Simplicity of the firft Chriftians, and keeping to the good old way: the fine Improvements introduc'd fince are too cu- rious and fubtle for me to comprehend 'em ^ and 1 can't fee but "^ the word Baptize neccjfarily hi' eludes Dipping in its Signification^ and that Chrifi by commanding to baptize^ has commanded to dip only* Mr. Watt indeed tells me this ^ plainly a Miftakc ; but 1 have no great Opinion of his Judgment, and won*t take his Word : on the contrary, I hope to make it appear plainly to be an unavoidable Truth, and no Miftake. In order to this, I mult defire you. Sir, to confider how the word is us'd among the Greeks^ by the Particulars which follow. 1 have carefully obferv'd it a confiderable time, as it occur'd in reading, and aflure you 1 never found it once usM to fignify to pour or fprinkle^ or any thing lefs than Dipping ^ and I may chal- lenge any Man to fhew a fingle Inftance of it, except in fome Ecclefiaftical Writers of the latter corrupt times, who retaining the words of the Inftitution, and altering the thing, do, in this * Par. U. p. 219, Cafe LcL 3 . Htjiory of Infant'^dptifin. o j Cafe indeed, but no other, extend the word into a wider Senfe : But profane Authors, who lay- under no fuch biafs, have made no fuch Altera- tbn* 'Tis evident from them, the primary mean- ing isfimplyr^ dlfy not only into Water, but any Matter. Thus Lycofhron^ reprefenting Cajfaudra prophe- fying how Oreftes fliou'd punifh Clytemnefira for her Parricide, fays ■^, the Child^ difcovering his Fa- ther's Murder^ fliall, with his own Hand (P;a4«) thruft his Sword into the P^iper^s Body j or, as the great ScaUger has more literally tranflated it, mer* get^ Jha/l plunge his Sword into the Viper's Bowels j that is, run her thro. It can't be pretended that this is a figurative ExprefTion, for the Senfe of the word plainly appears to be natural and dired, and to contain no Metaphor in it. Exadly the fame Phrafe is that of Sophocles f, (t|boc4as) Thou haft dip'd or thruft thy Sword into the Grecian j4rmy :, and Plonger r Epee^ in this ve- ry Senfe, is common enough in the French Tongue. Mr. Dryden likewife exprefles the Poet's Senfe thus, in the 7th Eneid^ p. 638. Thus having faidy her fmouldring Torch^ imprefsU With her full Force ^ Jhe plunged into his Breaft. I might multiply Examples to this purpofe, but ^oL-nTilcc is more commonly us'd to fignify to dip into Liquids 9 not from any neceflity in the wor^ but becaufe Liquids are molt proper for this Ac- tion, which alfo is moftly perform'd in 'em* Twou'd be endlefs to colled all the Inftances of this kind in Authors, who frequently ufe the word * Caflandr.v.ii2i. Ei; CT^clfxy lyiS^m twiix!»g 0^4^ t Ajace, v. 95. "E^^^tfj ty^cf tS" t^^V dfynu? rfceriv^. ^6 (^fleSlions on Mr.WslYs Let.^. in this Senfe, but never once to fignify Wafhin^ in general, or Sprinkling, Nay, I don't remember one Paflage, where all other Senfcs are not neceC- farily excluded befides Diffing^ as may be fecn from thefe Quotations. Homer (for we'll begin with him as the moft an- tient, and trace it down to the latter Period of the Grecian Empire) defcribing Vlyfes with his Companions putting out Polyphemms Eye with a burning Brand, and what abundance of Blood iffu'dout, and quench'd the Brand with a loud hifling, illuftrates it with this Simile, ^ As when a Smith to harden a Hatchet or maffy Vole ax (jJxXTrTej) dip ^em in cold Water, If any one can doubt what the word imports here, any Blackfmith's Boy will fet him right by an ocular Demonftration. And in his Batrachomyomachia (if he be the Author of that excellent ludicrous Poem, and not Pigres^ BvothQV to Arteme/iaySiS Plutarch is inclined to be- lieve) when one of, the Champions is flain on the Bank of a Lake, he fays, \\ He hreathlefs feil^ and the Lake was tinged (ilbxyvJ iTo) with Blood. I the rather mention this, becaufe if any Place is brought to prove Psoctttq and jiavrTi^^) do not al- ways fignify to dip, 1 fancy this will be one- But, whatever fome may do, you underftand the nature of Languages too well. Sir, to make it an Exception ^ and all who have made any Obferva- tions of the Ufe of Words in their Mother- Tongue, rauft be fenfible it is not againft what I alTert, but for it. ThePhrafe, we muft coniider, is borrow'd from the Dyers, who colour things by dipping them in their bye : and to this the Poet ,lB,\v liJkTi 'ivyjf^ Ca-ZIh^^c,. Odyil- i» v. 392. jl Y. 218. KaWsCI cT', «X AfiViV^.Y iJ/5*V7s7B J^' eSfifJLATi plainly Let. ^ . Hlftory of Infant-^aptifm. ^7 plainly alludes ^ not that tiie Lake was actually dip'd in -Blood, but fu dcc|)ly Itaiii'd, that to heighten our Idea, he cxprefl'cs it, with the ufual liberty of Poets, by a Word which lignifys more than what is i|:r idly true, which is the natuieof all Hyperboles. Thus the lits-^ral Senfe is, The Lake wasdifdin Blood -^ but the Figure only means, it was coloured as highly as any thing that's dip'd in Blood. I am apt to think co'cTre^, coo-avl/, C^c. are to be underllocd here to qualify the feeming Extrava- gance of the Exprefhon •, as alfo in all Hyferholesy ^ which I- take to be fo many Ellypicd Phrafes in which a Word is wanting : now if we fuppofe the Poet, as 'tis natural enough, fupprefles feme Par- ticle, and we fupply it by inferring obo-mpy the Senfe will run very clear thus. The Lake wks. as it had been difd in Blood, Whether yGu'U, allow this Criticifm or not, you can't but fiiy,. nothing cou'd render the Paflage more exprefllve, or the Si^ii'ic more natural and eaf\' . Every Metaphor, you'll remember. Sir, in- cludes the ThiniMVom whence 'tis borrow'd, re- ceives its whole Force from it, and muft have its Senfe dctermin'd by it. To give an Inftance from the fine Language of Thucydidcs : Pericles^ in an Oration there, reminds the murmuring A- thenians^ that they ought to labour to fupport the Dignity of the Commonwealth, by maintain- ing the Independent Pov;er and Command they were all fo proud of, ^ and either -not fiy from Dangers^ or not furfue after Honours. In the Word ^euye/v, to fly '.^ and ^/o^kuv', to ^iirfue\ is an Al- iufion to the Fortune of a Battel, v;hcre one ^ Lib. 2. c. 6-^, Tjk t« rToMed<; y^iV £i)t5< rrj 77fy.<^ji'Wo) cL'Tq ^^X-'^ (eyV-Brep a.'7ZdLv]ii etythhlS^i) (^Oil^khj r^ f'.W fiy'je/J' TVi H Side 9 8 (JiefleBlons on Mr.W^W's Let.j: Side is worlted and flys, and the other purfues 'em : and thus underftood, the Words have a mighty Emphads in 'em *, but otherwife, no Meaning at all, but are Soloecifms both in Lan- guage and Senfe too. To fpeak but of one : Sicj^eiv fignifys only to purfue, as a Conqueror does a flying Enemy ; and when transfer'd to another Cafe, it continues to fignify the £ame thing, in forae refped or other : * 'tis a fhorter kind of Simile, where feveral things are imply'd which are not exprefs'd ^ at leafl: the Beauty of it lies in comparing the pro* per Import of the Word, with what it is us'd to fignify by the Figure. Thus the Eagernefs and Vigour with which a vidorious purfues a routed Army, is apply'd to that Pafllon for Glory, which was fo confpicuous in the Athenians. And to bring it clofer to our purpofe : The Effed being as it were the fame, Homer ^ by putting the Caufe for the Effed, defcribes the Lake's being thorowly itain'dby a Word, which fignifys a Dyer's dipping a thing to colour it. From all this it appears, that the Senfe of C^ttT^s even in this place, is to dij^y and nothing elfe. I have infilled the larger on it here, be- caufe I don'c know whether 1 ihall care to take the fame pains with all other metaphorical FafTages. It you find any which feem material, and 1 fhou'd let 'em go unobferv'd, examine 'em by what is here adv;inc'd, and I am perfuaded the Difficultys will prefently vanifh : if they don't, pray acquaint me with 'em, and I will conllder 'em with all Im- partiality and Attention. But to proceed. The next Author 1 Ihall mention, is Pindar-^ who upon his Enemys bafely afperfing him, de- * Ariftor. Poetic, c, 22. T© y6 \v (/.{jctp^uvy ro Qy.orjf 4- fciibes ^ytu^tiv ecj L et. J w Hiftory of Infant-^aptifm. p^ fcribes his Contempt of their impotent Malice by this Simile, which as literally as I can render it in Erjgl'iflfJ^ is thus : ^ As when a Net is cafl into the Sea^ the Cork fwims above ^ fo^ (ijhdivli^(?i- , am not I funk^ viz. in their Reproaches. And by the way, this place confirms what I a little before advanc'd, that Figures are but a fhort imperfed Simile^ for aj^raTrl/g-©^ here is full as metaphorical as that which I cited from Homer : (and Horace feems to imitate this of Pindar^ Lib. i. Epilt. 2. Affera mult a Tertulit^ adverfis Rerum immerfabills Vndis.) To cpiKK(^^ the thing whence the Simile is taken,' being added, the Senfe is very clears and the Word, 'tis evident, intends, that the Cork, while the Net (inks down into the Sea, cannot it felf be forc'd down, but will float above. This is fo plain, that I think it neither wants nor can have an Explanation : but the Words of the antient Greek Scholiaft on the place, tending fo much to confirm my AfTertion, I will tranfcribe 'em : For like the Cork of a Net in the Sea^ I fwim, and (^ ^OL-nllloixcci) am not funk. As the Corkj tho loaded with the Tackle^ does not finkj i lAuVe/ j fo I alfo am immerfihle^ d^,cl.-7v\i^^^ like it^ and not to he overvohelrnd. They rail atme^ indeed^ fays he: hut AS when the Net is cafi^ and funk under Water ^ the Cork remains ^p^ctTr"^! $"©-', immerftble^ and fwims on the Surface on the Sea^ being of a nature which a€a7rTjcr(^ cannot fink ; in like manner cannot I ajict'Trlig-i^, fmk or he overwhelmed in the Calumnys * Pyth. 2. V. 139. "Aji y6 iivAKicv Tizvcv o H 2 ani I oo (^fleSlions on Afr.WallV Let.3 ^ and BetraEhions of others \ for fm of another nature^ and as the Cork is in a Fijhing-JVet. Thus the Scholiaft, you fee. Sir, by his ufe of the Word, leaves not the leaft room to imagine it ever fignifys to fprinkle or j)our^ or any thing but to dip^ or pvt under^ or into. And 'tis very remarkable, that he feems to have thought no Word more proper than this to exprefs what you fee plainly is his Senfe : but as often as he repeats the fame thing, which he does ad naufeam^ tho it had been needful to vary the Word, and avoid thatunpleafantnefs of the Repetition, he changes it but once, and then he has Mm inftead of it, which you know. Sir, fignifys to fwk^ tho not fo emphatically as jia-zsTi'^co, witnefs Tollux in Ono- mafi. In the next place, give mc leave to cite £//n- fides- The Grecians had facrificM Polyxena to the Gholl of Achilles \ and after the Solemnity, they permitted Hecvba to bury her Daughter's Body : in order to which, according to the known Cuf- tom of her Country on fuch Occafions, (he de- figns firfb to wa(h and purify the Corps: for which purpofe, (he calls out to her Servant, ^ Go^ take the Water-Pet^ my good old Maid^ and jhoi\\a6\ dip it in the Sea^ and bring it hither, &c. for the Sea- Waters were thought naturally more clean- Ting than others, as f Didymus and |1 Evjtatltius tell us. Bavfft/v -zrovTO^ a\©^, the Phrafc the Poet puts into Hfczii'^'s Mouth on this occaiion, can have no T£y "*• Hecub. Aft. ?. V. 609. tot. Dram. ^ St>' /' av^ ^ttCvffa. fiv^Q-y i^')^idL hdrei^ Jidi'\>s/.ff\ hifni cT.iufi^ ^rovjUf dhoi* ^ f D id ym" ad Iliad, ^.v. 314. *uVf/ /ft to uye and other colouring Mat- ter : Thus Plutarch ^ diftinguifhes between yi^d- fuLol^oL and bccix^juocIol *, and Pollux f does the fame j g^diJi^oi fignifying only that fort of Colouring into which any thing is dip'd, according to the Senfe of the Word, as I fee Stephens \\ alfo has re- mark'd. And there is a PalTage in Seneca *^ very clear to this Purpofe : Jnterefi^ quam diu macerate fit^ crajfius Medic amentum an aquatius traxerit^ ft- plus merfa fit & excoEia^ m femel tin^a* There is a difference alfo^ how hng it lies infused *, whether the Dye be thick and grofsj or water ijh and faint \ and f- De difcernend. Amic. & Adulat. p, 94. med. f Onomaft. lib. 7. c, 23. jl Ad Voc. %f%«. ** Quajft. Natural, lib* 1. c 3. p. 484. H 4 whether ? 04 %eflefitons on Mr.WaU'^ Let.;' Tohether it he /^i-p^d very often and boird thorowly^ or only once tificiurd. A nd "^ Fhiivorinvs and -{- Polhfx uk •f(j/l(y.^clzf\cdVy which on all bands is allow'd moH emphatically to f'g.Dify dippings plunging^ imme'-fiiig^ as a fynonymoiis Word for p^ocTrTcov and X5''^v'a's, u^ Ef^glijh a Dyer, This makes it neccfiary to fuppofe they dy^dhy dipping ', as well a? another word us'd among 'em in thefe Cafes, viz^. e-jr-JV to boil ; || They boil it in Kettles^ fays Arifiotle\ — — and when the Flowers are boiPd long enough together^ at length all becomes of a purple Colour. And Hefy chins and Tolhx inter- pret the fame word of Dying. iNow if they us'd to boil the Things they dy'd^ undoubtedly they hrft dip'^d or put ''em into the Liquor. But enough of this. There are other Paffage?, fomewhat a-kin to thefe, which feem however to leave a little more room for the Objedions of our Adverfarys ^ where, tho indeed the Word is us'd, it appears by other Circumftances, that the Writer cou'd not mean dip by it. We may fee Inftances of this in Arifto- phanes *, as where he fays A^fagncs^ an old Comick of Athens^ us'd the ^^ Lydian Muftck^ jhav^d the Face., and fmear^d it over (^fbccTi^ o f/jijuQ-') with tawny IVafoes. He fpeaks of the homely Entertainments of the antient Theatre, where the A6:ors daub'd themfelves with Lees of Wine, and any odd Co- lours, before Efchylus reform'd it, and introduc'd the ufe of Mafques and Vizors. Ariflophanes ex- prefles this by Qx7i\6jj^(Gt^ fbocl^xdos^ j not that t Ono'.Tia!iic. lib. 7. c. 2:;. II D^ Colv)ribus, c. 5. ''E^'^^^tv \v rali yyTftm ;^ tots ^^ 'IiTiK, Ad. I. Seen. ^. p. 300. Kit/ Av/j^«yy, ;^ ^^t- he Let. 5 . H'lftory of Infant-^apti/nu i o 5 he fuppofes they dip'd their Faces into the Go- lour, but rather fmear'd the Colour on their Faces. He has alfo "^ €oc7rT®^ o^vjs for ^ coloured Birdy not implying it was dy'd by Art, but only denoting its natural Colour by that Epithet. In like man- ner, Arlfiotle fays, f // V/j prefs'd^ it dyes (QccTilti) and colours the Hand ^ and Plutarch^ || That which is black of it felf^ is not (SecTrfov) dyd or coloured by Arty but by Nature^ &c. But thofe Perfons who wou'd depend upon thefe PalTages to prove, that QcLi\o^ lignifys fomething elfe befides dippings mult confider, there is a mani- feft Allufion in thefe and all fuch, to the Art of Dying. And if the Word is borrow'd from thence, as none can be hardy enough to deny, they muft allow it is us'd there improperly, and meta- phorically y and that its true primitive Meaning only is ftill refer'd to, and imply'd. What I faid above upon the fecond Citation from Homer, which is exadly the fame Phrafe with thefe, may therefore equally ferve to explain all fuch Paifages : and 1 defire you wou'd carry it along with you. Sir, in reading, to fave me the trouble of repeat- ing it. If in all alluUve metaphorical Expreflions, we fjppofe the Senfe of Words to be alter'd, there will be the greateit Gonfuficn in Languages ima- ginable, and much beyond that of Babel. All Words haid a determinate Signification there, in themfelves •, and the People were miraculoufly render'd incapable of underftanding one another, not by the various Significations of the fame Word, but, as 'tis generally believ'd, by new ones being "^ Op^'/9. p. $26, fHift. Animal. lib, «5. cap, 15. p, 64^, QKi^o^cvQ- cAl, ^ 11^ Quift. Rom. 26. p. 482, 489. To M AvTox^>iV (M^clv, ^x 'Cssni TiX^ni (i?M 0uV$/ ^A'vfi, i/jL[hoi'la. To underftand this, it will be necelTary to obferve the Poet introduces fome Perfons about to facrifice to the Goddefs Peace j and, among other Ceremonys, he mentions this of the Torch as one : Now if you pleafe to re- member. Sir, the antient manner of purifying a-, mong the Grecians^ by a lighted Torch, you'll grant it was perform'd by dipping the Torch in Water, and fo fprinkling the Perfons or Things concern'd ^ and 'tis to this effcd the Greek Scho- liaft explains it, as does Florent, Chrifiianm in his Note on this Place, who was the learned Precep- tor to Henry IV. of France^ and is honoured with a very handfom Elogy by the admirable Monfieur de Thou, There is another PalTage in Ariflophanes very flrong to the fame purpofe, which however fome perhaps may fancy favours the contrary: 'tis in his Parliament of Women* \\ Firfi^ fays he, they ^ Nc^sA. Aft. I. Seen. 2. Ki^v Jicnii^a^, g»7a rnv 4^'a- t E/f*?^. p. 662. iti^iS^ liS'j.Siov roS'llA^ct^eo ^^CaJv. \\ EKyM7tct(. p. 6f6. rif^Ttt /mV -py T^excL ^ ^ wajh^ Let. ^ . Hiflory of InfantSaptifm. \ 1 3 wajhj p:>Oi'nl^(Tt^ or dip the Wool in warm Water^ ac- cordiTig to old Cufiom- Here the word implies Wajlnng^ as Mr. Wall wou'd have it \ and no doubt if he knows of this Place, he thinks it mightily for hispurpofe, and efpecially if he has but found that Suidas ^^ and Thavorinus f interpret it by ttAuv^o-/, which TUny^ on another occafion, ren- ders elumt^ i. e. they wafi ovt *, and Stephens II fays, it iignifies Uvoj and is peculiarly fpoken of Gar- ments, &c» as A^OD is of the Body, and vi7rT(i) of the Hands and Feet. Thefe things may feem of great force, and pleafe Mr. Wall^ it may be, and a great many more *, but I believe you underftand this better. Sir, than to lay any ftrefs upon it. Mr. WaM indeed finds ^ the Sacramental Wajhing is exprefs^d hy Words^ which fignify Wajliing in the or- ditiary and general Senfe ^ and therefore he infers, baptiz^e is not to be limited in its fignification to dip only : much more then will he infift on this of j4rifiophanes^ which in it felf plainly fpeaks of Wafhing, and is by the Greek Lexicographers in- terpreted by a word which is always fo us'd. But you mult needs perceive. Sir, inftead of prejudic- ing, this will be found greatly to confirm my Caufe : For in Wafhing, Wool is and mufl be dip'd and put into the Water ^ and that this is the Senfe of the word here, I appeal even to Sui- das and Phavorlnusj whofe Glofs 1 am very well pleas'd with. For tho ttKvvco (from whence perhaps comes our Englijlj word plunge) does fignify to wafli, 'tis fo far from excluding, that it necelTarily implies ^/p- ping •, and accordingly we fee it is appropriated to Clothes, &c. which are dip'd into the Water when they are wafh'd. Homer has a Verfe very ** Ad voc. iS*VT«^/. t P^g. 352.x Ij Ad voc, TM/Ve firft put ■ into the Water v',igrteable with thi^-TrAuiTfioe is a • iVaOierwoman, 6t. Lau^idrefsy m^PoHpx'* ^ It ap- fjpearsnovv j^lainiy' enWgh from all this^'that if the woixi doe's tlgnify to wafh here, 'tis only ex ro^/f^wf?if/,.and lireansfuch a Wafliing is imply s Dippings and is perfor m'd by if, and therefore this cad be of no Service to Mr. 1^^//, unit fs to convince "him of his Miftake. ;' " -^ '; '-••-V-/* 'V'Befides thefe Paflages, //;irporr^f/o;7 '^ has pre- fery'd.a Fragment of one of Arificfhaneis Com^- dys, which are loft ;, the words ar« thefe: When I *^ have dip^d^ 7 will' cite the Stranger before the judges. This PaGage wouM have been very ob- fcure, and I don't knpw whether any thing wou'd .have given Light to it,' if 5W^ had not attemp- ■■tfed,'it ^ for I tal>e' this rn be the tallage he refers ■|:o,^ wheii he fays, -{-f IVhsH I have- dip^d- the Oar^ &c." which helps u's to/ the fenfe of the word jJixdas in this Place, tho it does not clear up the whole ; or pei'hap^i fays he, it may be a Afetaphor taken from the Dyers ^ who fay ^ for infi^ni'e'j ril'd'ip ?>, and make it a black:' Athendius ha's- preferv'd twb Other Fragments of the fame Author, in *** ' ^' ''■ 7 . J 1 1 -' '' JVj '. ■ ... ' tOiyfe f. 'v. <'l • '111^(1.7.92. * Ad voc.Nfiiyrcr./x^^f. - -'/.i: ., ' .. Y" -j- which Let. 3 . Hiflory of Infant ^aptifn. \ ^ ^ which this word occurs ^ one is, IVhat ^ Wretch am I to he thus dip^d over Head and. Ears^ oc'niQx', ^^ i-rouiveov ol T>«/V8 d'^tcf. ■ *■ Euterpe,^ p. 68.^'"Tj' /s 'AiyvVltv yuA^ov i^ybxijai byfiav Hl'Jti' }y T^TV /J^J, hJj T,i -vJ^uVll dvTCdV TTCtftCOV vU^AUJOKTl TSt' Cri\ucJLrio!<{iv TO fm ^i?i%tf eiiTiov }(^Ti^- tI hv t<^v 0 ^vKofJiM x.iyctv j ha fiance : Let, 3 • Hijlory of Infant-^aptifm. i z 5 fiance : Being eager to have their ^Children early ad* mir*d^ and excel in all things^ they lay Burdens on Vw that hear no froportion to their Strength^ and only ferve to offrefs and jade ^em> And when they are th'U-s fatigu*d^ ^tis imfojfihle their Minds JIjom d im- prove : for as Plants thrive and flourifli^ when they are moderately water d^ hut wither and fine away if you drench ^em too mvch ^ fo the Mind if moderately ex- ercis*d with Lahours proportionable to its AbilitySy grows more vigorous '^ hut too much ToUy ^ccsff i^tTou, as it were drowns and overwhelms it* If this PalTage fhou'd fecm to be a little obfcure, I muft refer you. Sir, to what I have faid before, which will effedually take away all the Difficulty, and which I need not repeat. Bat I will give an- other Inftance from Plutarch^ that (hall be evident enough. Relating the Stratagem of a Roman Ge- neral a little before he dy'd of his Wound, he fays, that ^ he fet up a Trophy^ on which having dipt^ Ca-sff/Vas, his Hand in Bloody he wrote this In* fcription^ d>CC. I have almoft tir'd my felf, and will mentioa bat two or three places more. Take one fiom Lucian'j who defcribing the cruel inhuman Difpo- iition of Timon^ that monftrous Athenian^ who bore a profefs'd inconceivable Hatred to Human Kind, makes him exprefs hiixifelf thus: f Shou'd I fee any one^ fays he, in the midfi of raging Flames^ jull ready to take hold on him •, and jhou*d he ear- neftly beg me to put out the Fire^ fd pour on Pitch and Oil : If a Man were hurry^d down a rapid Stream^ — — — ^ . ■ ■ . - ■ _ . -J * Parall. Gragc. Rom.^ p. 545. Kat iU Ta cfc?fc* Ttw^uef. t Lucian. Vol. I. p. 139. *£/ , therefore^ by accuftoming ■ yourfelfto fuch Thoughts as thefe^ &C. In the fixch Book, and I think the Word occurs no oftner in all. thefe noble Meditations, the Emperor fays, . II . §♦. . 4v p. 1 7. T pj' '^Av^^u-Tffov Ayj^¥-^v {i/oi'coy , at^utov %W [^.; ■* Lib'. e,,^.i6, ]^. /^i'''^OidL alv '^Khdiu; ^dLv-ryL^Ai-t /rzicLV-m Let. 3 . Hijlory. of. hifantr^Bapti/??!. 1 1 7 ^^vDcn't mah thefqrmr Emperors the Pattern qP your ABions^ Ufi',^p{Cpy:Sj you are in feEl^d or fiaind or as it were^dip'd ;ind dy'd,. viz^, in MilUkcs or Vices. Tlie Period, is extremely Ellyptical, and vftaads in need of tbefe or fuch Supplements to \*niake but. the Sen/e ia another Language, wherein '(that defedive Form is not in ufe. \s.\ I don't fee any Advantage our Adverfarys can ■ poflibly preteAd to from thefe or any the like Paflages : That they are metaphorical, none cafi qui^ftion ^ nor,, in my opinion, can it be doubted^ hut they neceifarily allude to, and impjy Mppim ; for only in that Senfe of the Word can the Me- taphor be juftify'd, which, according to Cicero's -Rule :| , is natural, and not too licentious. ... But to pafs this, I wou'd only note, that PI at 0^ 7vtn his admirable Commentarys concerning Govern- 'ment, has purfu'd this Metaphor very clofely, ■ and.thereby fliewn us the Propriety of it, and how exprelTive it is ^ for which reafon I will tranfcribe oMm U large, r: 01 MXhe Dyers^ when they are ahouttadip.a.QvdM' 2'Jtityof,Wool to make it of a purple Colour^^, -iull out T^fMhitefi.ttf'th^ Fleece J and pre^ar^ and worl it with ouuX 'jii: 0; .rx, ,. ♦ • - ^.V^• a ■^'TTtE-7f7—-r^ — : — '■ -— r- Ollf -^'' ' ^^^^"- ^'^- ^* ^' 57- Tranllatipnem pudentemeffe afrpffere, ut cum ratione in confimilem rem tranfeat, ne -''flrte'dVfeau temerci& cupide videatur in diffimileia traaf- -cmxiffe. ^. _ ,;. 'ksjr.-^'' F-^^-^^-^^ Republica, l^b. 4. p. 6^7, E." or/Sct^gV? Ytt^/Z^V ^ %'''^''' f^ '^'^'^ 'H, ^''''^■^ ^ >i7a>J'ii Cct'TTr.icn' '^ 0 {jl6.i;a9 ; ar cLvd,jviJ.ucl.nxoi>^ "^j^ ^.erat pviji.uu70)V d\lvet.Tctt ctVTzav i^dLV^Q- ■j^ they never look well ^ without this V reparation they take hut a nafly Colour ^ and that is eaflywajWd out too. And thus in like manner our chufing Soldiers^ and inftruEling ^em in Mufick^ and thofe Exercifes which confifi in Agility of Body^ you mufi imagine our Defign is only to make ^em the better receive the Laws^ which are a Kind of Dyc^ that their Tempers being forrnd by a proper Difcipline may befix^d and unalterable by Ter^ ror^ &C. and fhoicplw^ their TinBvre may not be waJJj^d out by any Medicaments of the moft powerfully expelling Nature *, a^ Pleafure which is ft ranger to this JEffe^^ than any Lye^ as is likewife Griefs Fear or Defire^ and the like. The Figure, you fee Sir, is maintain'd quite thro the PafTage, by applying the Dyers Terms to the Things of the IVlind. 1 find Gataker alfo has tranfcrib'd this Place a little more at large, together with feveral others from Seneca^ &c, to the fame Effed, in his Learned Note on the Words above cited, in the 4th §. of Antoninm\ Third Book ; which if you think it needful you maybe pleas'd to turn to, for they confiderably illuftrate my AfFer- cvTcic^ cvjT^ n e/b'Jrt yifvono )^ mex J^eiveov xj Tnei r oiKKuVi «^a To ir\jjj T5 (^\icnv x} Ttou T^tplw i'mmS^eiAV d'^yjivdu' jy c4CKAvi^eS li ^dL^ii<; fntsii^'''^^es^.VTii ttvcfmeovv^ )y /uaif^k'^oKct yiviftian^kyttv li^iTztKov' r avTov o thjiio- OTTZC^ ACM, &C. ^ t Moral. Tom. 9. Galba, p. 1504. Koj mvi^Kt^Muv ixvcl' II Onoraaftic. Lib. i. c.^. Td JV W3« oyTzo^ olv «Vo/?. vaSmi-, &c. '^"^ Orat. 4. p, 1 5 5.^00' 7t 0 yjuCi^VfiTtH, u c^^n hi irS "^^^ K Thus 130 (^fleBions on Mr.WdVis Let.^. Thus I put an end to my laborious Task: You fee, Sir, how many Examples 1 have produc'd, and I might eafily enumerate as many more, from the Authors I have nam'd, and likewife from thofe I 'have wholly omitted ^ but I'm wearied with heaping up dry Sentences, only to get at the Senfe of a Word, which I think fufficiently clear already, and altogether as plain of it felf as any thing in the World can make it. Your expreily obliging me to this Service is a very good Excufe j and yet I can hardly forbear thinking I had need fay fomething more, but that I conlider it was apparently neceflary to do as I have done , fince fome Perfons fo confidently pretend, and withal fo very unreafonably, that jJ^a-sfliVo) do's not always fignify to dip ^ and among the reft Mr. Wall is one. He takes the Liberty to fay, yl/r. Walker has largely fiiewn from the Greek Authors^ and Lexicographers andCrlticks^ that be/ides the figni- fication Immergo, they give It that of Lavo In ge^ neraU Whereas you fee, Sir, I have fully baffled all that is alledg'd from any Paflages in the Gre- clan Writers : As to Lexicographers and Cri- ticks, were it fo material, I cou'd eafily prove him to be very much miftaken there alfo: The 6'r^f;^ Lexicographers aiford him no ground at all for his Pretence^ and the moft Learned of the others, if they do interpret the word by lavo^ don't mean, as. he pretends, any wajhlng in general, but only fuch as is perform'd by dlppt?7g: for they may render it well enough by lavo^ the general Word, which comprehends mergo the particular. I know it fignifys to wajlj^ as a Confequence of Dippings but fo likewife it do's to wet, colour, dye, drown, and to poifon: it alfo fignifys to put on C k R I s T, and to be bury'd with him, as the . Apoflle himfelf teaches us. But what I have fur- ther to fay I hiuft leave to my next. Jatn^ &c. .J, LET- Let. 4- H'lftory of Infant-'^aptifm. \ 3 1 Letter IV. Critich confiantly affirm^ the proper and genuine Scnfe of fboi'ifiilcd is immergo, &c. So VoUius, Coji- ftaiitine and Stephanus render it. A Teftimony from Cafaubon. His poor Evafion. Another from Grotius. Another from Dionyfius Pctavius. 'Tis needlefs to colleEt more. Mr. Wall confcioufy notwithfi-andmg his Pretence^ that the Opinions of learned Men are againfi him. Whereas Mr. Wall appeals to the Scriptures for the Senfe of the Wordj ^tts fijewn largely to be never there vs^d in his Senfe ^ hut the contrary. Lev. xiv. 6. confiderd* That the Word, does not always neceffarilyfgnlfy to dip all over^ is the mofi that can be infcr^d from' it \ befides^ here it means to dip all over. Ifa. xxi. 4. Ezek. xxv. 15. Dan. iv. 33. & v. 21. confider'^d. Hot Cli* mates very dewy. The Syriac ^erflon confirms our Senfe. Eccluf. xxxi. 25. 2 Macc. i. 21. Eccluf. XXxiv. 2(5. confider^d. The Purification enjoin d for touching that which is dead^ to be performed by Sprin^ kling. Together with Dipping. The Mahometans purify in fuch Cafes by waflnng all over* Wafh- ing was the main Part of the Purification among the Jews. Por which reafon the Son of Sirach ufes this Word to intend the whole Ceremony, Luke xi. 38. confider'd. Mr. Wall pretends the Jews al- ways Wdfi'i'd their Hands^ by having Water poured on ''em. Which is falfe. The Priefls wafha their Hands and Feet by dipping ^ em. Our LORD wafij^d his Difciples Feet fo likewife. The Autho^ rity of the K2Lhbins not to be depended on. Dr.Fo- cock a/lows^ the JCYiSwere obligd fometimes to wafh K 2 by 1 11 '^fleclions on Mr.Wall'^ Let.4, by Dlppirig. y4nd from thence accounts for the tife of'the word ^OLii\l{^c^i^ Mark vii. 4. Mr. ■ Wall'j^ next Inftance^ which is Mark vii. 4. co'afi- der'^d* Thofe that came from the Market did rva(h by Difving. Se^s among the Jews who wajh^d themfelves frequently. The Words may refer to the thi?jgs brought from the Market* Heb. ix. 10. /fW Mat. xxvi.23. confider^d. The Sacramental Wafhing being exfrefs^d by IVords-^ which fignify a,ny kind of tVajhing^ does not prove it may there- fore be adminifterd by any kind of Waging. Words^ "' like eiir Ideas-^ have their Genera and Species. ■ Words of a more particular Senfe jhoud explain the more (reneraly and not the contrary. SIR, TH E proper and genuine Senfe oi ^az^ilo^^ the Crlticks (^Qnftantly affirm, is immergo^ mergo^ .61C, Conftantine armoft always renders it fo,and Ste- phens never fails to doit, and explains it to ligni- • fy "^ to dye^ ovwaflj by dipping '-, till in another Pe- riod he inclines to fhewa little Favour to the Au- thority of the Church, and her Pradtice, and to that end indeed interprets it by lavo^ abluo^ &:c., But he confirms this Expofition by no Examples, except two from Scripture, Afark vii. 4. and Luke - xi. 28. which we Ihall examine by and by, and fbme from the }ateir Ecclefiaftical Writers. And yet, at the fame time, he can't forbear blaming fuch as ufe thofe words in relation to the Chriftian Sacrament, and fays exprefly, That ']' TertuUian rendered it more properly by mergitare, "^ Ad voc. f6A'7f\i(^co^ ut quce tingendi aut abliieadi gratia •aqua? immergimus. t Ad voc. (ict^li(et). Tertullianiis de Corona Militis, ma- gis propric interpretatus eft mergicare, fervata propter tri- nam immerfionem, forma quain trequentativam Gramma- tiei vocant. Let.4« Hiftory of Lifant-^aptifm. ;l 3 3 on account of the trine Immcrfion in Baftifm-^ retain- ing what the Grammarians call the frequentative Ter- mination, The great Vojftus fpeaks exadly to the fame pur- pofe, and indeed almoft in the fame words ^ for without ever taking the leaft notice of iavoy or the like, he exprelly fays, "^ Tho ^oLt^Cj^ and p.^ocvi-- Ti^Cd are rendered by mergo or mergito, and tingo, yet they properly fignify mergo ^ and tingo only hy a Metalepjisj i. e. as tingo implys mergo : and there- fore he adds, '\' Tinging follows Immerfion^ and is done by it, Alfo in his Treatife of Baptifm, as well as here, he tranllates the Greek word by mer- go^ and fays again, that's its proper fignification ^ and, farther than this, that particularly when it relates to the Chriftian Sacrament, it fhou'd of choice be render'd by mergito^ as you may fee in his Etymologicon at the word Baptifmus. Cafaubonj no inconuderable Judg in matters of this nature, is very exprefs in his Note on Matth, iii. 6, which being fo remarkable, Til tranfcribe the whole Paffage : || For the manner of Baptiz^ing^ fays he, was to plunge or dip ''em into the IVater^ as even the word fbxzrii'l'civ it fe If plainly enough fiews^ which as it does not fignify S^Xi'iW^^ to (ink down and periJJj^ neither certainly does it fig-nify '^^TToAa^efV, to fwim cr float a-top ^ thefe three words ^ b^7n)/\a^£ii', jioczzr- "n'^e/V, J\uv£(V, being very different. Hence it ap- pears^ ^ Etymologic, in Voc. Baptifmn^. Etfi autem f^d^'jM & /Setrr^ rl'^co, turn mergo^ ve\ mergito, turn tingo transferri foleanc ; proprie tamen wer^o notat, & y/.<{]dLK;]7fliyMiy tingo. t Ibid. Nam pofterior eft Immerlione Tinftuia, quia hacc Iminerlione fit. II Hicenim fuit baptizandi Ritus, ut in Aquas immerge- rentur : quod vel ipfa vox (ici7f\i^c-iv declarat fatis \ qux- uc non ligniticat Jl»>,wi/, quod eft jufUum petere cum jua pernicie, ita profe^o non eft ^nrirohA/c-iv, Diftcrunt enim hsac tria. M4 %efleclions on Afr.WalF^ Let.4. pearsiy that ^twas not without reafon that fame have lo'ng fwce i?jfifted on the Immerfion of the -whole Body in Baftifm^ for which they urge the word pjazff/^eiV. Bt^t their Opinion is juftly long (Ince exploded^ the Force and Energy of this facred Aiyfiery not con- filling in that Clrcumfhance, A very poor Evafion for lb great a Man, after he had grai;ted fo much : He allows Baptifm was adminifter'd by Immer- iion, and that Christ, when he commanded to haftlze^ commanded to Immerfe or plunge, for that, he fays, is the Signification of the word : And now, after thefe Concellions, heand all thofe who make fo free with our LORD's Inftitu- tions, as to pretend it is not neceflary to perform them juft as he has direded, fhou'd confider how they will be able to anfwer it, and whether it does not look a little too much like mocking him, when they deviate from what they know to be his Command. Grotlus^ than whom no Man ever knew better, gives it on my fide, in his Annotations on the fame Place, Mat. iii. 6, "^ That this Rite rvas wont to be ferforrnd by Immerfion^ and not by Terfufion^ appears both by the Propriety of the Word^ and the Places chofen for its Adminlftratlon^ John iii. 23. Adsviii. 38. and by the many Allufions of the Apo- files ^ which car?t be refer'' d to Sprinklings FvOm. vi. 3, 4- PrnnroKcL^^.V:, ^t^.Tr'iii^eiv, Ib'mv. Unde inttflligimus non effe abs re quod jamprideni nonniilli difputarunt de toro Corpore immergendo inCeremonia Baptifmi : Vocemenim ^ct^']i'(^/)r/4«i aA Magi num. Qiiod auteni t'wgere pro baptiT^ure ufurpant Latini vete- res mirum videri non debet, cum latine tmgendi vox & propne & plerumque idem valeat quoi merfare. Pag. 102. \^'Dogmat.Thiohgic. iib.2. de Pjinitentia, cap. i. §. n. ac fane immenio proprie dicicur /g^eT^/cr^o;, cum hodie fatis habeamus aquain- c^piti affundere, qtiod Greece dicitur K 4 thefe 1 3 6 (^fleBions on Mr.WzWs Let.4.^ thefe Letters : Mr. Stemetty I fay, has furnifh'd us with fo many Inftances, both Antient and Mo- -dern, of this nature, fome of which are taken from the greateft Men of the Church of England naw living, or lately dead, that he makes the thing evident almoft to Demonftration ^ fo that -I'lti in no fear of being contradifted by the Learned, vivho acknowledg all I plead for in this Cafe. And indeed you may be pleas'd to obferve, Sir, -(tlK) Mr. Wall ventures, with fuch an Air of AfFu- irance, to affirm, || ^tis fUinly a Mijiakelo fay, that haptiz,e means only «Vp, and that it appears to be fo from the Greek Writers and Criticks, &c.) that he is certainly' under fome Apprehenfion on this Point, by his paffing over this part of the Argument fo willingly : And, which is fomething ftrangc,and does not argue abundance of Ingenuity, MwWaff^ you may remember, produces the Suf- frages of feveral learned Men, and pleads ftrong- -ly himfeif for immerllon, in the ninth Chapter of i his Second, Part, where he confefles Immerfion is the more regular and convenient manner, and ttnoilagveeible to" the Example of Christ and c the Primifive Church. Bat to qualify this Con- , cellion, he a<:ids indeed, that Immerfion is not fo ' neceflarv toBaptifm, but it may be adminifter'd 'by Aff.ilion, &c. which looks to me like a Con- tradiclioa of what he allow'd before : for nothing certainly fhou'd be done in this Cafe, but what ' is mol^ icg'ilar and agreeable to the Pradice of "Christ a^id his Apoftles ;, nothing fliou'd be or- ' dinarily pridis'd now, which is not fo well as what was ordinarily praftis'd then. But to leave this : Pray whence did Mr. Wall •receive his Knowledg, that Baptifm may be ad- minifter'd by /^crr/V;^, 5^c? I have already large- ll Pa: til. pag. 219. Let.4- Hifiory of InfantSaptifm. i ; 7. ly, and, I think, beyond Contradidion, prov'd, that, with the Greek Authors, and other learned Men, the word is never Us'd to fignify Pourings but always Dippwg, But it feems our Author was aware of this, and therefore tells us, ^ What the Greek Writers andCriticks^ &c. fay^is not much to the Furpoje *, for the Senfe of a Scrlptvre-Word ts not to be taken from them^ but from the ufe of it in Scripture \ from whence he pretends it may be plainly determin'd to fignify to wafl) in general. But, notwithftanding he takes the liberty to aiTert this, I hope to prove he is in an Error, and to fortify my Proofs from the conftant ufe of the Word among the Greeks^ with the Authority of the Scripture too \ and to Ihew it was thus only that the Apoltles and Primitive Chriftians under- ftood the Word, and pradis'd this facre^ Ordi- nance. In the Seventy's Tranflation of the Old Tefta- ment, and the Apocrypha too, 1 can find but twenty five Places where the words occur, and in eighteen of 'em they do undoubtedly mean to dif^ as you'll allow, if you read over the Verfes cited below f : For I don't think you are likely to make fuch a trifling Remark on any PaiTage, as Mr. Wall has on Lev. xiv. 6. He was endea- vouring, if you remember, to fliew from the Old Teftament, that the word does not necefTarily fig- nify to dip \ and quotes this Place of Leviticus^ than which nothing cou'd be more diredly againlt him, and obferves thus : l| The xoord is fboc-^^r, and the * Part II. p. 2 1 9, 220. t Exod. xii. 22. Lev. iv. (5, 17. Chap.ix. 9. Chap, xi, 32. Chap.yvi t6, 51. Numb. xix. 18. Deut. xxxiii. 24. ^^ Jo(h. iii. 15. Ruth ii. 14. 1 Kii^sxiv. 27. & 2 Kings v. 14. jZ^..^^ Chap. viii. 15. Job ix.31. Pfal. Ixviii. 23. Judith xii. 8. II Part II. p. 221. Engliflj 138 5. and ■^f?y^'5i. in th^ fame manner, vi;^, overnmmng Water \ and Jonathan's Targum too tranflates botti in the fame words^ W^. in Blood and in Water ^ it's plain they underftood the two Hebrew Fhrafes to exprefs the fame thing. I might confirm this account of the thing by ^the Teftimonys of the Jewifl) Viodiors^ if they were of any Authority ^ but as they are a very trifling fort of Interpreters, of no Credit, and never tq be depended on, I rejea: 'em, and argue only from the Reafon of the thing, and the plain Import of the Words themfelves, compar'd with K tofut into any things as t Sum, xvii. 49- fignifys to immerfe or dip^ but never once, that 1 know of, to TF^jJj, or fprinklcj or fimpiy to wn. And in thefe Verfes the fame Word is always us'd in the fame Senfe ; which makes it very plain, how thofe Interpreters underftood it, and that they thought that manner of Expreffion very pro- per and futable to the thing intended. And now, from all thefe Con fiderat ions I think 'tis very plain, what is the true Senfe of this place, and that it makes nothing againft me. For the Interpretation I give, is grounded on the cer- tain allow'd general Senfe of the Words ^ is very agreeable to the Nature and common Ufe of Languages*, and withal, exadly conformable to the Defign of the Writer , aad (trongly counte- ■ ■ • " nanc'd Let.4- Hiflory of Infant-^aptifm, 1 4 5 nanc'd by the original Word, and the heft: Tranfla' tions : and nothing more than all this can bede' lir*d to jaftify any Interpretation whatever. Bat after all, it notwithllanding what has been faid, any can pofllbly judg this Senfe of the place which I have given, not fo neceflary as I pretend, the Objeftion Mr. Wall raifes from it, is however efre(^ually enervated : For, if it is in it fclf fo un- certain and obfcure, as to afford no neceflary Ar- gument for my Opinion ^ he and all Men mult however grant, they can draw no necelfary Con- fequence from it againft me. For it v/ill be al- low'd, that the Words are, at lead, capable of my Expofition, without any Abfurdity or Gon- ftraint at all. I have now but one Pallage or two more to take notice of from the Old Tcftament and Apocrypha. Eccle/Jafiicus XXXi. 30, but in the EngHjh 'tis ver.ld". The Furnace proves the Edge i?2 the teryfering^ tv €c;c4>>i, by diffwg. This is juft like the firil: Qno- tation from Homer ^ and what I have faid there may ferve to illuftrate this, efpecially if we add Didymus^s Kote on that place, that ^ Red hot Jroriy by being difd into cold Water^ becomes very hard* The Word is us'd again, 2 M.ucab. i, 21. to fig- nify drawing Water^ viz. by dipping a Bucket, &c. And this Ufe of it 1 have largely confider'd before, and therefore (hall need add i3ut one Remark here. That 'tis neceflary the Word fhou'd lignify to dip in this place, becaufe the W^ater is faid to be at the bottom of a deep Pit, P^er. 19. Kow 'tis certain the Water cou'd not bedrav/n up, as our Tranilation reads it, without dipping the VelTel into it : fo that the Force of the VVoVd can't be ^ exprefs'd 1 46 (J^fleElions on Mr.WdYs Let.4ii exprefs'd more exaiftly than by our BngUflj Phrafe, to di^ a Pail or Bucket of Water. . But of all the Texts which caa be. produced , fome think Ecclefiafticus xxxiv. 26. the moft con- liderable by far ^ and indeed they may. give it a very plaufible Appearance* The Words are in our Tra Dilation *, He that waflieth him f elf hecaufe of^ a dead Body^ and toncheth it again ^ what availeth his, wajhrrFg ? B0i7i\il6(!A/jQ^ is the Word *, and 'tis, here us'd to fignify that walhing which the Law enjoin'd upon all who had been defil-d by touching a dead Body. Now, the manner of Purifica- tion in fuch Cafes, is thus defcrib'd, Ni^mb.xix. 1 8. ^nd a clean P erf on foail take Hyjfop^ and dip it (by the way, you may obferve, the Word iiere is |la4«*, and plainly fignifys to dip^ tho perhaps 'twas not dip'd all over, no more than our Author thinks the living Bird, &c. were, in an Inftance we con- fider'd before) intheWater^ and fpr inkle it upon the ^ Tent^ 6vC, and upon him that touched a Bone^ or one ^ flain^ or one dead^ or a Grave, There are other Pafiages to the fame purpofe, which either men- tion this fprinkling, or plainly enough allude to it ^ as Verfe 9. A'rid it (viz. the Holy Water) ^)all he kept for the Congregation of the Children of Ifrael^ for a Sprinkling-Water, Thefe and fuch-like other places, which make Sprinkling necelFary, may feem to put the matter beyond difpute ^ and I remember the time^ when I thought this a very formidable Inftance : but I foon found and correded my Miftake j and I think 'ris exceeding clear, to any who are wil- ling to fee it, that a farther walhing is necefTary befides thefe fprinklings, and that this wafhing w'as the finilhing of the Ceremony. The defil'd Perfon was to be fprinkl'd with the Holy Water on the third and on the feventh Day, only as preparatory to the great Purification which was 4- to Let.4- Hiftory of Infant'^aptifni. 1 47 tobe by wa filing the Body and Clothes on the {e- venth Day, with which the Uncleannefs ended. Thus, Numb. XIX. 19. 'tis faid exprelly, j^nd the clean Perfon jJiall ffrinkle vpon the unclean on the third Day-y and on the feventh Day : and on the ft^ venth Day he fiall purify himfelfj and wafJj his Clothes^ and bathe himfelf in Heater j and pidl he clean at Even. That the Word here us'd in the Hebrew is l^rn, can be no ObjcLlioii^ for befides that 'tis faid, Levit.x'^. \6. fthonotin the fanne particu- lar Cafe) Then he fiiall wa^J all his Flejh in l^P'ater^ the Word always includes r^ipp/;?^, and never iig- nifys lefs. Thus 'tis us'd, in the Story of Na^^ man., 1. Kings y, more than once *, and is explain'd, at laft, by Naamans Adioa related /V/'e 14. and by the Word '^2^-, which 'tis exprefs'd hy in the Hebrew^ and which the Seventy -have rea- der'd there by p;«7rT/<^t(v: and all this evidently fhews, that Naamanj the Hiftorian, and -thefe Tranflators, underitood it to mean to wafh bry dipping.. -r ;• ; Some, indeed,, are pleas'd to fancy, the Words which command bathing, are not fpoken of the unclean Perfon who had touch'd the dead, but of the Prieft officiating ;, and they fortify this Sur- mize by the 7th and 8th Verfes preceding, where the Prieft is exprelly commanded tozv.^jh his Clothes^ and bathe himfelf in Water. 'But it does not follow, becaufe this place relates to the Prielf, that the other does fo too \ nay rather, 'tis abfurd it ihou'd, for it interrupts and confounds the Senfe of the place : befides, in the very next V'crfe but one, viz.. 21. 'tis order'd, that he whofprinkles the Water of Separation^ Jl)all wafi) his Clothes^ &c. plainly intimating, that was not the Defignof the Words almofl; immediately foregoing; Bclides, it can't be reafonably imagined, that the.Prieft by L 1 barely 148 ^fleElions onMr.W2i\ys Let.4: barely purifying the unclean, fhou'd need Co much greater a Wafhing and Purification than the un- clean himfelf. Thisalfo, I think, will farther appear, by com- paring this place with Leviti xi. 31, 32. which fpeaks of the fame thing, viz., of Pollution con- traded by touching that which is dead ^ and fays, the thing fo polluted mufi be put imo Water. And here it may be noted again by the way, that the Seventy have chofe jiacpHcrsTca, as the moll pro- per Word to comprehend the full Senfe of the Hebrew Phrafe t<2V CD^M, than which (the Verb being in the Form they call Hophal) no Words can more ftridly and emphatically fignify, it jhall be put into Water ^ and therefore 'tis very furprizing to Rnd that Dr. Pococli couM poflibly fufFer himfelf, on another occalion, ^ to tranflate thefe Words C^'M *in* N^2*^, manus aqua perfuAerit^ diredly contrary to the true obvious Senfe. 1 won't pre- tend to guefs what cou'd move him to this, but I confefs this rendring fervcs his Turn belt. This is not wholly foreign to the Ehifinefs in hand, tho it may be mifplac'd, and therefore 1 have juft hinted it. But to return. Thefe two Paflages, 1 fay, compar'd together, muftbeof conilderable Force, fince 'tis plain from 'em, that all Velfels (except earthen, which were to be broken, Levlt, xi. 33.) that had been pollu- ted by the touch of a dead Body, were not only to be fprinkled, as Numb. xix. 18. but they were alfo to he put into the Water^ Levit. xi. 32. Now fince it can't be thought, the Pcrfon touch- ing the dead was lefs defil'd than the Veflels which touch'd the fame, or were only in the Tent w^ith |t, or that he wanted a lefs degree of Purification \ >tis very natural, and I think neceflary to under- » Nor.Mifcellan. cap. 9. pag. ^83.' .L ftand Let.4- Hljlory of Infant'^apttjm. 1 49 ftand Numh.xh. ip. to befpoken of the unclean^ who, I infer, therefore, was not only to be fprin- kkd on the third and feventh Days, but was alfo to bathe, dip, and wafh himfelf in Water, as is plain too from Numb, xxxi. 21, &c. And if Dr. Pocock'% way of arguing from the Mahometans in fuch Cafes as this, be good, the thing perhaps may be yet fet in a ftronger Light : for 'tis be- yond queftion, that they purify Perfons defil'd by the dead, by Immerfion and wafhing all over; as 1 might fliew from the Alcoran, if it were at hand, and feveral other Writers. But inftead of all, let this fuffice, from the judicious Compendium of the Mahometan Religion, firft publifh'd from the Manufcript by the ingenious Mr. Rdand of Vtrecht : The Author, fpcaklng of that kind of Purification by Water which they calFd 6"^/?, in which, he fays, the Water muft touch ^ every Hair of the Body, and the whole Skin all over *, tells us, this manner of wajhing the whole, Body is necef- fary in order to Purification after Circumcifion^ &c; and in cafe of Tcllution by the dead. And this, -]- Strabo informs us, was in ufe a- mong the Babylonians', whether the J^ipj borrowed it from them, or they from the Jews, And in- deed, to the Jews this was the chief part of the Purification, and may alone be caJl'd (imply the Purification ^ as the feventh Day is caiPd the Day of Purification, or Cleanfing, Numb. ix. 5. be- caufe the Purification was completed on that Day ; or principally, becaufe then this Waihing or Ba- thing, which was the great as well as the con- cluding part of the Purification, was performM v from which, as the principal part, that Day takes its Denomination. And by this, which was the chief * M.^^.l. I. f Lib. 16. M.1081. L 3 partj 1 5 o ^fleFlions on Mr.W^ilYs Let.4 • part, is the whole Ceremony intended, Levlt. xxii. 6. where 'tis fiid of the Priefts, particularly o{Aaro'r7 and his Sons, they fhail not eat of the holy things, after contrnfting any Uncleannefs, mlefs they w^iP^ their Flefj in Water^ i, e. purify them- felves regularly according to the Law. In which Cafe, the chief thing to be done, was to wafh their Flelh in Water. And Levitt xi. 32. fpeaking of putting the VeiTels into Water, it's faid, fo they jljall he cleans^ d» 'Tis the fame in other Cafes : As for Inftance, in that of Leprofy, many things were requir'd for feveral Days, but the chief and mofl efTe&ual on the Eighth • which is therefore call'd the Day of Cleaning *, and the Offerings are order'd to be brought for hisCleanfin^^ Levit. xiv. 23. as if the whole, or, at leaf!:, the main Efficacy were afcrib'd to them. Thefe Confiderations necefTarily oblige us to be- lieve, bathing and wafhing the whole Body in Wa- ter, was not only a necellary, but likewife a chief part of the Purification. And after ail this, cer- tainly there can remain no Difficulty in Ecde- Jtafiicusjixxiv. 16. For hence 'tis very plain, Syracidcs by €(X'STT/^d/^ev(^ in that place, means bath'd, dipp'd, and waffi'd ^ for you fee, the Law requir'd no lefs, and no lefs was pradis'd by the Jews^ in cafe of {Iich Pollution by the dead. And 'tis ^afy to fee the reafon why he mentions, and more immediately refers to the bathing only, viz^, becaufe, as 1 before noted, that was tl>e chief part, upon which Cleannefs immediately follovv'd, all the reil being only neceffiary Preparations. And fo we may find in many Iiiftances, Lev, xv, and elfewhcrc, the walhing only is exprefs'd, tho the Holy Water was likewife to be fprinkl'd \ for it was kept for a Water of Separation, and a Purification for Sin, Numb,..xi:i> 9^ and viii. 70 Aac} Let.4- Hijiory of Infant-(Bapti/m. 151 And fo the wafhing only is mentioned in this very Cafe of Pollution by a dead Body, Levit. xxii. 5. as before noted. And Eleaz.(ir^ Numb. xxxi. 23. orders all which abides not the Fire^ ye jhall make go thro the Water \ not adding, the Water of Separation was to be fprinkl'd on thofe things : tho he there intimates it miift be fprinkl'd on the things which were to pafs thro the Fire \ and we are affur'd, from Numh^ xix. 18. it was likewife to be fprinkl'd on the VefTels of Wood, &c^ which cou'd not bear the Fire, but were to be wafli'd, or put into the Water, Levitt xi. 32. But befides, 'tis ufual, in fpeaking of the Whole, to mention a Part only \ which may very well be thought the Cafe in hand, feeing 'tis prov'd that dipping was to be one part of the Ceremony ^ and 'tis allow'd by all, that the Word does almoft conftantly, and I think always, fignify to di^^ -plungCy or fut into. Which Conliderations render the Synecdoche very eafy \ for thus the Word may be us'd to fignify fuch a wafhing as includes di-^- png^ notwithftanding fprinkling be alfo one part of the Purification : but then it does not fo much exprefs the fprinkling as the dipping, on account of which particularly the Word is apply'd to this Purification. Thus I have now revis'd all that can be urg'd from the Old Teftament, at leaft all that my own Obfervations and Kircher% Induftry have fur- nifh'd me with \ and, notwithftanding Mr.^^^//'s needlefs Appeal to Scripture, have difcover'd ma- ny undoubted Inftances there, of the Senfe of the Word, as us'd, in direct oppofition to what Mr. ^Fk// aiTerts : while no one PalFage can be found to be on his fide ^ atbeft, he can urge but twocr three, which are very doubtful and obfcure ^ and after all Improvements on 'em, conclude no- thing. For whatever real or imaginary Difficultys L 4 may 152^ d^flcFtms on Mr.WzlYs .Lct.4. may appear in 'em^ you fee. Sir, I have fairly remov d and accounted for 'em all. Let us now, if you pleafe, turn over the Kcw Tefliament, and fee what mighty Proofs that af- fords in our Adverfary's Favour. In thefe molt venerable Records, which are the unerring Rule of our holy Religion, the Word p^ocsjllloi is often us'd, but moft commonly con- cerning the Baptifm &{John^ or theChriilian Sa- crament, which is the Subjed of our Difpute *, but 'tis often without any Circumftance which may determine how we mull underftand it : which, if it proves anything at all, fliews the Word is us'd in the common S^^St only, and according to the general Acceptation *, for elfe it had been neceifary to have appris'd us of the new and particular unufual Senfe ; and nothing of this being done, it feems reqfonable to give it the fame Signification in all thofe places as it has every where elfe. I think this is plain and undeniable ^ but Mr. Wall believes he can prove, by other Inilances, that it does nor, every where elfe, fignify fo dif. To that purpofe, he mentions only four, which he calls flain Instances \ and to remove all ima- ginable Difjicultys, I will omit none he might poilibly have added, except fuch as are plain- ly metaphorical, which therefore no Man can jaftly argue from, and they may all be ve- ry eaiiiy accounted for by what 1 have faid a- bove. The firfb, and which he enlarges moft upon, is ^x.. Luke \\. 38. which our EngHflj reads thus: ^?id when the Thanfee faw It^ he marvelled that he hdd not frft rvajhed before Dmrier. The original Word, he notes, is t€(X7iTtc&M ^ and comparing this T^iace with Su A/ark vii. 5. which fpeaks particu- .larly of wajJnng of Hands ^ he infers, this is a fliilfi Infl.ince^ that they vs'd the Word to baptize for Let.4- Hiflory of Infant'^a^tifm. i 5 j for any ordinary Wafhing^ whether there were dlpfiria in the cafe or not* ^ To make this Conclufion pafs more fecurely, he had infinuated before, that "^ their way of that Waflmig was this : They had Servants to four the Water on their Hands ^ 2 Kings iii. 1 1. who pour'd Water oa the Hands of Elijah^ i. e. who waited on him as a Servant, He fays no more to prove this Cuftom, but thus (lightly overpafTes a Point which deferv'd and unavoidably requir'd greater Examination, confidering the whole Strefs of his Argument de- pends entirely upon it^ for, if they wafh'd their Hands, as we ufually do now, by dipping 'em into the Water, no body need be told his Inftance turns againft him, and makes con fiderably for us. ^ To fhew then, how little Service this does him, give me leave to remark thefe things to you : In the firll place. There is a vaft Diftance of Time be- tween the Period refer'd to in the Book of lOngs^ and our Saviour's Time; and the Words he cites, at moft do butdifcover what was the Cuftom near a thoufand Years before, and fignify nothing to the Tiipe when the Words, which are the Ground of his Inference, were fpoken. And who does not know what great Alterations might happen, or rather muft have happened in fuch a Succeffion of Years ? The great Revolutions in the States and Kingdoms of the World fuffici* ently lliew the Power of Time ; a Multitude of Ex- amples of this kind may be found in all, and even in our own Nation. But not to mention any of thofe Cuftoms, which once univerfally prevail'd among the antient Britaim^ and are now quite worn out 1 will inftance in Baptifm it felf, which all Men know was us'd to be adminiftred in England by Dipping till Queen Elizabeth's Time, fince which, f Part II. p. 220. that 1 54 ^fleElions on Mr.WsWs Let4^ that pure Primitive manner is grown into a total Difufe, within little more than loo Years ^ and Sprinkling, the moft oppofite to it imaginable, introduc'd in its ftead. The Matter of Fade is notorious, or otherwife, I think, it might feem much more incredible, than to fuppofe a People who once wafh'd their Hands by having Water pour'd on 'era, cou'd pofTibly looo Years afterwards, inftead of this, wafh 'em as we do now, by dipping 'em into the Water : Efpecially, confi- dering how often they had been conquer'd, led into captivity and difpers'd, and were even then adu- ally under the Roman Yoke -^ for fuch Revolutions always bring great Changes in the Cuftoms and . Humours of a People, along with 'em : and the Jems had • actually fo chang'd their Language in NebemlahhDays^ that they did not underftand the Scriptures in the Hebrew Tongue. Add to this, -that Christ himfelf has alTur'd us, they w^ere an obftinate, bigottedRace of Men, aftif-necJidGe- neratiort^ as their Prophets ftil'd 'em ^ and tho they valued themfelves extremely on their Law, yet our Saviour aflures us likewife, that they had introduc'd abundance of Innovations in their Re- ligion, fo far as to deftroy its EfiTence, and vacate the grand Points of that very Law they were {o proud of^ and that particularly in the Wafhings it prefcrib'd: and yet this is certainly much harder to conceive them capable of doing, than that they ihou'd make an Alteration in the Manner of wafh- ing their Hands. But Secondly, ' I obferve the Words don't prove what Mr. W^l cites 'em for: As our Tranflation reads 'em, they appear, indeed, to countenance his Suppofition, that about £//;^/?'sTime they might perhaps wafh their Hands after that manner •, but if you read -the Original^ Sir, you will allow the Place mi^ht be. altogether- as well rendred, -who fourd out Wn- tcr for, not upon, the Hdndi^of .'iXi\A\ ^ the He- brew Let.4- Hiflory of Infant-^ aptijm. i 5 5, brew Particle Sy ^ often (ignifying for^ in this. fenfe, as Pfalm xxxii. 6. rnXT ^y, /or r^/V Caufe Jhall every one that is godly pray to thee^ &c. And tjius it is us'd very frequently, as in all thofe numerous Inftances where 'tis join'd with ]^^, fo for Example, Gen^n. 24. p — *7j;, hiyjiv rir^^ according to the Seventy : and perhaps our Lord from them, Matth-xix, 5. For this Caufe ^ fay our Tranflators, fljall a Man leave Father and Mo- ther^ &c. So again, Gen. xi. 9. p— 7J?, ^^ t^tz j for this Caufe, or, therefore is the Name of it call d BaheU And once more for all, Trov. xxviii. 21. ZZiVh — nS— -7^, in our Tranflation, for a Piece of Bread^ that Man will tranfgrefs. 'Tis plain from thefe Inftances, without adding anymore, that the Words naturally admit a dif- ferent Senfe from what Mr. Wall wou'd fix on 'em, and therefore can avail him nothing. But, Laftly, If 'tis worth while to enquire what was the Cuftom fo long ago, in a Matter of this nature, 'twill with little fearch appear at lead very probable, that their religious Wafhing of their Hands and Feet was perform'd by dipping ''em. into the Water. For when Afofes receiv'd diredions from God concerning the Utenfils of the Tabernacle, he was commanded, among other things, to make a Laver of Brafs, in which Water was to be kept between the Tabernacle of the Con- gregation and the Altar, for the Priefts to wafh their Hands and Feet before they enter'd the Ta- bernacle, or when they approach'd the Altar to offer ^ fo they jhall wafh their Hands and Feet that they die not ^ Exod. XXX. 21. The Word here us'd by the facred Penman, in the Original is 'ini't which, as I before noted, generally, and I think always, includes dipping in its iignincation, and therefore too makes it at leaft probable, they were to wafn their Hands and Feet by dipping 'em into thp Water. Had p2f> bceo us'd here, as in 2 Kings 1*^6 ^fleSiions on Mr.WsWs Let.4. iKin^si^.^. above-cited, which (ignifies to pour^ Mr. Wall wou'd fcarcc have omitted this PalTage, but have thought it very convincing and ftrong on his fide, as now, 1 think, it mult be allow'd to be againft him. The fame Word, we may obferve, is us'd 2 Chrori. iv. 6. about the vail Brazen Sea, Solomon caus'd to be made, which held 200 Baths, that is, near iodo Barrels of Water: the Bulk of it argues, the Priefts were to go into it; the Words exprefs it alfo, the Sea was for the Triefis to wapj in *)D. So again, in another inftance, Exod. xxix. 4. concerning the Confecration of the Priefts, which Jonathan renders ^:3to> thou fhalt dip 'em in 40 Meafures of Spring Water. Farther: That this was the Way our Lord took, when he walh'd his Diiciples Feet, John xiii. 5. feems very certain, both from the Propriety of the" Words, and the Manner in which 'tis related : After that^ he fours Water into a Bafon^ and began to map the Difciples Feet^ &:c. We fee the Water was not pour'd on their Feet, but into the Ba- fon, before he came to 'em, where their Feet were to be waih'd. The Book that goes under the Kame of the Apoftolical Conftitutions, relates the Adion thus : ^ After that^ he fourd Wa- ter into a Bafon^ and 04 we fat^ he came to us^ And waflj^d our Feetj and wifd ''em with a T'oweL The Bafon here is vi-syTw^, which fignifies a VeiTel to waih in; from whence it has its Name, as the. Water they wafh'd with, was alfo from thence call'd v/a/x-iKKe^ uA'f «? r viiPiY\^a: ;^ v\^v t Pag. 1401. xi^fiCa, ii -Ttt sk P(5/f*j vifjiLuc ^i^a^ofjt^ei,. Let.4- Hifiory of Infant'^aptif??!. 157 cut for^ not upon, the Hands ^ by which their Cuftom, as well as the Senfe of the Words, is cxprefs'd. And to all this we may add, that Mark vii. 3. unlefs they wajhy 'rr/f/xJ?, up to the Elbow oxWrifi^ muft \n\\A^ dtffmg. But, belldes what our Author had faid hirafelf to fupport his Opi- nion, he refers us alfo, in his Margin, to Dr. Po-* cocky who he fays, has largely frov^d^ in his Not. Mifcell. from Maimocides, and others ^ that this was the Jews way^ and then, not very fairly adds a Piece of a Sentence, which wou'd make any one think the Dodor meant that the Jews never wafh'd but by Affuflon, which feems not a fair way of dealing with the Authority he cites in his De- fence y or does he think none have read the Dodor's Writings but*himfelf ? That Learned Gentleman, I know, has taken a World of Labour to explain feveral Particulars relating to the Walhing of Hands, according to the Sentiments of the Jewi^ Dodors \ and has ihewn himfelf very well vcrs'd in the Rahhini* cal Writings, which he underflood, perhaps, as well as ever Maimonides did. But really, Sir, I ihou'd have honoured his Parts and Learning much more, if he had trufted lefs to thofe fanciful Authors the Rahhies^ whofe Commentarys are fri- volous and impertinent \ and, in fhort, 'tis im- poiTible to ered a firm Building on fo uncertain a Foundation. As for Maimonides^ whofe Autho- rity, Mr. Wall is careful to inform us, is usM by Dr. TccGck in this Affair, perhaps, to intimate that the Matter is therefore grounded on unexcepti- onable Evidence^ 1 confefs, he was one of the greateft and molt: judicious that ever appear'd gmong the Rahhins^ but a true Rahhln notwith- ftanding, and perfedly befotted to the idle Dreams, in which their boalled Knowledg chiefly confifts ♦, and confcqucntly, even He cannot be much de- pended on : Befides, he liv'd not above 600 Year$ 1 5 8 (J^fleSlwns onMr.WzWs Let.4: Years ago, that is, about || 11 00 after Christ, and therefore cou'd know what was pradis'd in our Saviour's Time no better than many can now \ and yet he is, by far, the belt Authority of any Dr. Pocock makes ufe of, I wou'd not be thought to flight the Teflimony of the Rahhins thus, becaufe they are againfl: me in this Point, or that I'm fo hamper'd with what the Doftor fays, that I can anfwer no other ivay but by lelTening their Credit \ for neither they nor the Doftor are fo much againft me as Mr. Wall pretends : befides, they have not this Charader from me alone, but from all who are acquainted with 'era, even thofe Perfons that follow and depend on 'em fo much, which is fome- thing ftrange. But I fhall have otcafion to fay more of 'em in another Place, where I may give fome Reafons for my Opinion. But becaufe our Author refers, not fo much to the Rahhins themfelves as to Dr. Pocock^ a Man of very great Reputation, efpecially for his Skill in thefe things^ in deference to him, I will take notice of a Line or two in the Chapter Mr. M^all has cited ^ which may difcover how much he abufes the Dod^or, who very fully grants all I need defire: for he allows jbocinlliSvci fignifys more than x^^v/Trfetv, to wajh the Hands ^ fo that poi-nWtiStii mult fignify more than barely any Manner of w^alhing 'em , and he can mean no lefs than to dip 'em: For his "^ Words are-, Thefe things abundantly confirm what I afferted in the Beginnings viz. that 72tO {which anfwers to jiagfT/^£a5ai in the Greekj fgnifys a farther Degree of ii R. David Ganz. ^ Not. Mifcell. cap. 9. pag. 999. In his qua? produx- imus eft quod ea quae initio diximus abunde conlir- niet, effe fcil. ^3tp (quod (tfinfli^i^t fignificat) ulteriorem purgationis gradum quarn is qui per *7K>3 feu ^irW^iv in- " teiligitur. Let.4- Hiflory of Infant'^aptifm. i 59 &f, Pvrificationy than 7t33, or y^Q^viitl&v^ yet not fo as riecejfarily to imjfly an Immerfion of the rvhole> Body.'-) for the gre-atefi and mofi notor'iom Vncieatt" nefj of the Handi reached hut to the Perek, or the- Wrlft^ and was cleans'-d by immerfmggr Mppw^ V/w jtp fo high. . r. . , ; ►, How different is this from our Author's Re- pj-efentation of the Dolor's Opinion, that the Jews do not wajh their H(znds^ but by having Water fvur^don'^em? Whereas, you fee, the Dodor fays^ he has been abundantly proving, that ^y^ or fSocTrT/^tf&ou does fignify more than iimply to wafli the- Hands •, and the following Lines, wherein he explains what he .means by more than ^^^e^viVTav, fhow clearly that .he means to immerfe or dip, a9 appears by the Inftance, and the exprefs Words he rnakes ufe of; And therefore alfo affigning the Reaftn why g^oL-zslili^cu. is us'd, Mark-^iu 4. he recurs to this 'Cudiom of dipping their Hands into the Water, from which alone, he thinks, the Exprefiion is to be juflify'd ^ intimating, or ra^ tter.aflerting, that the Word is us'd there and m the parallel Places, with a particular regard to that ?V2iddQQ.. So Tiv* Hammond underltands him?, and determines this to be the Sta^t of the Fiace too ^ for he .fays, the Word (ignifys the ^. Wafloin^ of any Part., as the Hands here.^ by way of Immerfion in Water., as that is opposed to j^Jfufwfi or fouri'fig Water on them* But Dr. Pocock\ Words are thefe : 'f* III give you my Opinion : for their common crdi- telligitur, nee tamen totius corporis Merfation-m necenano indigitare, cum vel grav-nTima ac m.inifein/rima manuum immundities ttJ Perek, feu ea qus ad Brachiale eft junfta- ra finiatur, & manuum eoufque Merfatione tollatur, ace. ' ^ Annot. in Marl^^H. ^, f Not. Alifcell. c. 9. p. ^97. Dicamquod fentio ; cibum ordinarium cap:aris liberum erat five manus Aquarum juft» Menfur^ conceptaculum, vel foncem immergere, five eaf- dem \6o ^fleBionson Afr. Wall'j LCC4; nary Meals^ they were at liberty^ either to immerfe or dip their Hands In a Springs or a Bafon which held a certain qvantlty of Water^ or to wajlj ^em In the manner J defcrlVd^ by four ing Water on^em* Since then they might wajh which of thefe ways they pleas^d^ and ^tls likely enough fome who pretended to a more than ordinary SanStltyy &c — ■ — might chufe that which was reckon d the chief'-) ^tls not without great re af on ^ that a Word is tis^d which jhoud comprehend both ways ; for tha fhocifj il^odtci does indeed principally agree to the Immer- fion^ yet that It does not neceffarlly and only fignlfy that^ I think Is plain from Luke xi. 38. I add thefe laft: Words, becaufe in them the Dodor feems to declare agaiiifl: me, by inftancing in the Place under confideration, to prove that (bot7rTi'^6) does not always mean to dip. But, - Firft, 'Tis no good Argument, but downright' begging the Qpeftion, to inftance in the very Cafe difputed. And Secondly, The Dodor having, juft before, allow'd that the Jews did wafii by Dipping as well as by Affufion, and that the Word does properly and principally fignify fuch a wafli- ing as is perform'd by Dipping, and withal ac- counting from thefe Confiderations for the Ufe of it in Mark vii. 4. which is parallel to this in Luke xi. 38. it appears not only reafonable but necelFary to underftand the Dodor's Mean- ing to be, that the Word does not neceffarlly and anly fignify to dip \ for fo his Senfe is conliftent dem eo quem defcripfn-nus modo Aqua affusa lavare : Cum ergo utram mallent harum lotionum adhibere poffent, & fans probabile fit ex iis qui majorem fan^iimonias fpeciem prae fe ferrent, fuiffe qui, &c. earn quae graviffima putabatur obfervarent, non fine magna ratione ufurpatuni videarur verbum quod utramque comprehenderet. Nam quamvis ^ct/xli^Sf^/ ei revera, quae immerfione fit pracci- puc competat, non tamen de ea folum, vel neceiTarib dici patere arbitror ex illo. Quodoccurrit Luc* xi. v. 38. with Let.4« H'tjiory of Infant'^aptijm. 1 6 1 with what he had faid before, and is indeed all he intended to prove by it: tho, at the fame time, I muft fay again, even this is but begging the Queltion. Thus much then may- be fairly gather'd from the Dodor's Words, that in Luke yi\. 38. and Marl vii. 4. pj^-srT/^eo^ / does naturally, and prin- elf ally ^ fignify to wafh the Hands by Dipping 9 , which is all I defire, and directly contrary to what Mr. Wall cites him for. He fuppofes, in- deed, that 'tis us'd to comprehend the other way of Wafhing too \ but this is an arbitrary Suppo- rt ion, which feems to be made only to ferve a Turn : nor does he fo much as go about to prove the Word is ever once us'd fo ^ the only reafon he has to think it, are the Sayings of the Rahhins. But I wonder a Man of the Dodor's Parts fhou'd (contrary to what he granted was the proper and general, and I add the conftant Ufe of the Word) wreft and (train the facred Text, to make it com- ply with the fenilefs Fancys of thofe chimerical Men. In hae ^ what the Dodor fays from the Rahhins^ we fee, is of no great Weight 3 and if it were ever fo confiderable , yet it makes nothing for Mr. Wall^ but rather againft hi^. For lince 'tis beyond difpute, that the Word properly and generally (ignifys to dif^ and that the Jews did, at kail:, fometimes wafh by Dippings and that Dipping alfo was thought a more perfed: Purifica- cation, which therefore, at leaft, fomc of the fuperltitious Pharifees very Itridly adher'd to : 'tis very natural, and even neceflary, to believe the Word means nothing lefs in the Place before us, efpecially if it be conlider'd, 'tis a zealous Pharifee who is there fpeaking, who alfo, per- haps, look'd for Signs of the fevereft Sandity in a Perfon who fee up for a Ccnfor and Re- M former \6i ^eflcclions on Jfr.WallV Let.4. former even of the Seft of the Pharifees them- felves^ wh^ made fuch mighty Pretences to, and had gain'd fo great a Reputation for HoUnefs, ere Add to all this, that if any heed is to be given to Words themfelves, the plain Letter of the t: oly Text, which implys to dif^ is on my fide ^ while, on the contrary, Mr. Wall produces no one thing to make it probable, in the kail degree, that the Pharifecy or if you pleafe St. Luhy did not mean to dip. But I have run too great a length on this Paflage; and will therefore endeavour to contraft on thofe 'which remain. Tlie next Inflance Mr. Wall makes ufe of is Al^i'fk Yil 4. which he brings as an undoubted Proof for his Purpofe : and, as if it needed or was capable of no Improvement, he only remarks, that what is trunjlated the Walhing of Pots, &c. is in the Original the Baptizing of Pots, &c» And what is there faid^ when they come from IMarket, except they walh they eat not, the Words ^/5n Mark arc^ except they be baptiz'd, they eat not. Profound Obfervations ! Any Man of a different Difpofition from Mr. Wall^ wou'd have taken this for a very clear Inflance againft him •, or to be fure no other Man could have cited thefe Words, but he would at leaft have thought it neceflary to fay fomething how- ever, to fnew which way they fo flrangely and v;onderfully prove j3-a7rTi'^fc does not llgnify to dif, I can't but wonder what it is Mr. Wall means; for, as to the VeiTels, if we know any thing of the matter, they were to be cleans'd by fvtting ^em into the Watcr^ at leaft if we may take the exprefs Word of God for it, Lev. ii. 32. And Dr Hammond fays, |[ The Baptlfm of Cups is 11 An not, in Mar^siu 4. putting Let.4- Htflory of Infant^^aptifm. 1 6 5 flitting hito Water all over^ rinfng them. And as to the Perfons, whether they wafh'd by dippings and whether they wafh'd all over, or fome part on- ly, deferv'd to have been a little more enlarged on *, but why do I fay a little more, when he has faid nothing at all to it, but has taken it for granted, without the lealt hefitation? as if it was a felf-evident firft Principle, that 'tis very diredt and ftrong in his favour, notwithftanding he has allow'd that the Jews did immerfe the Thing or Ferfon to be wafh'd "^. And here again our Author refers you to his Margin, to one Line or not fo much, which he has tranfcrib'd from Dr. Pocock^ in thefe words *, '} They who wajlj'^d at coming from the Afarket^ did 'twt dip their whole Bodys : Which Words Mr. Wall brings in with a very magifterial Air in thefe terms. This was 7iot dipping. But, by his and the Dodor's leave, 'tis a Miftake : for they, when they came from Market, did wafh by dipping *, and thefe dogmatical Aflertions won't be thought to go a great way to prove the contrary. The Dodtor, indeed, fets himfelf with all his might to juitify his Opinion^ and to that end calls in the whole Body of Rabbins to his aflift- ance, fuch as it is, light and inconfiderable enough in reafon^ but never attempts, as I remember, to give one Inftance that the Word is fo us'd as he pretends : which, neverthelefs, would have carry'd fomething more of foUdity in it, than thus to build all on the Authority of a thoufand Rab- bins^ who make Reafon and Revelation the leaft part of the Rule they fpeak by *, and yet thefe Men only does the Doctor oppofe to the univerfal * Pare ir. pag. 924. f Lavantes a tbro totum corpus non raerfabant. Mifc. cap 9. M 2 Acccp- 1 64 ^fleFlions on K^.WallV Let. 4. Acceptation of the word, and the venerable Au- thority of the facred Text. What Refped can fuch Perfons have to that awfd Pillar and Ground of the Truth, who induflrioufly make it bend and yield to the filly Whimfys of thefe Men? Buta- gainlt them and the Doftor I produce Vatahlus^ a Man fo fingularly vers'd in the Rabbinical Wri- tings, that even the Jews themfelves, as Monfieur de Thou tells us, greatly admir'd his Ledures, and attended 'em when he was publick Hebrew Profcflbr at Park. VatMus fays, -\ Theywajh^d themfelves all over. And to pafs by others, 1 will only add the Authority of the admirable Grotlus^ who ought never to be nam'd without a Mark of Honour •, he fays on Mark vii. 4. [] They were more folUckoits to clean fe themfelves from the De- fAcmcnt they had contratled in the Market ^ and there- fore they not only wafj'd their Handsy hut immersed their whole Body. Thefe Authority s are valtly beyond Mr. Wallh Quotation, and proportionally determine the thing againft him : but as confiderable as they are, I don't defire you ihou'd truft to thefe alone neither ^ for it will likewife appear that Antiqui- tv, and, above all, the facred Text it felf contra- di(^>s him alfo. That 'twas cuftomary to purify themfelves by wadiingthe whole Body, atleaftin fome Cafes, is fliewn before ^ and the Priefts were particularly forbid to eat, unlefs they firft wafh'd their Flefli in Water, Lev. xxii.<5. And we have frequent mention among the Antients of the HemerobaptiJl^s^Yjho were fo call'd from their Practice of wafhing themfelves in this manner every day j as in the Apoltolical t Ad Marc. vii. 4. Se totos abluebant. li Majori cura fe purgabant a fori conta£lii, quippe ndn manus tantum lavando, f^d & Corpus merfando. Gonfti- Ler.4. Hlflory of Infant-^apti/jn. 1 6 5 Conftitutions 'I", where 'tis noted, that unlefs they're fo wafh'd, they eat mtj for without vvafh- ingthey thought they cou'd not be fav'd, accord- ing to that Renunciation, tranfcrib'd by Cotelerins "^ from the Regius Co^.ex^ 1818. They are infer- red in the Catalogue ofjewiflj Seds by Hegefi^^us |; ; and Juftln Martyr^ mentioning feveral Seds alfo of the Jews^ names thefe among the refl:, and calls 'em ^^ Baj}tifi^j from this lignification of the word : and thefe Wafhings are what in the ar/- ftitutions 'W are intended by p:avlT/(T^u:tTf^^rfjii- pivtov, daily W-afljwgs^ as may be farther confirni'd by that account given us of one Sed of the Jews by >y^pto||||, who liv'd in the Apoftolical Times, and is of infinitely more Credit, and more to be rely'd on than all the Rabbins^ he expreily men- tions, more than once, their Wafhing of their Bo- dys. TertulUan too plainly intimates, the Jews us'd to wafh their whole Bodys, when he fays, Tho the Jews daily wajh every fart of the Bodyy yet they are never cUah, 'And Rabbi Benjamin^ iiji his: Iti- nerary (^) mentions the Chzuhites or Samaritans'Z' bout Naflofa^ formerly S/c/a.-^^, between Geraz.im and Ebal ^ and fays, they Itill waQi thejr^ficcljs every day. And what elfe but this wafliing of the whole Body can be the meaniag of the facred. Text:, when 'tis fo plain, and beyond all pofiible Ambi- guity, that the Wafliing of the Hands is men- tion'd in the words immediately preceding, and t Lib. 6, cap. 6. "Oi\ivc^ ka^' Ikcc^v v\ijA^.v^ \'^v [J.h Cclt^ ^I'jcovlcLt iiK io^i *Tis I thinl" much more reafonable to fay, that Words, to' which common Ufe has appropriated a more par- ticular Senfe, (hou'd be allow'd to determine what any others have exprefs'd more generally and at large; the words of a more determinate Senfe giving a more particular and exad account of liend the Particular, not wholly, but only as they alfo.fignifytowafhi for the latter mean fome- thing more than barely to wafh, and reftrain it to this or that manner of Waniing. If it is but Walhing, let It be Dipping or Pouring, or any thing elfe, it may well enough be exprefs'd by the general word, tho thisor that particular Mode ot Wafhing can only anfwer the Import of the particular Word. Tiius tho all Dipping is Walh- ing, and as fuch is contain'd under the general word A»a, which Cgnifies fimply to wafh ; yet it does not therefore follow, that all Wafting is Dipping, or that all Waftings may be exorefs'd bythe word which properly fignifiesto d'p' nor rirf '" '\° '"'^' ''' "^^ concerning tS fame thing, as here A^, they are .Vo- J^mx/Axi, and altogether of the fame Import as our Author wou'd ftrangely infer. ^ ' For thus * Homer fpeaks of Stars being n>ajh'd in the Sea, ufmg the fame word Mr. WM\,txt irgues from ; and yet muft be underftood to mean, their preffion of the Poets. And therefore when Vir. £/is fpeaking of the greater and leifer iJ.^r., and ! liiad. E. V. 5. They 1^6 ^flcFlious onMr.W2L\ys Let.4.^ Thcjr^ ^ ■■ by Fat ir Decree^ Abhor to dive beneath the Southern Sea : Tingo here, and cr-uv6o in a thoufand Inflances in t\\^ Grecian Poets, mufl be interpreted to mean any manner of Wafhing, and may as well figni- ^y ^^ fprinkle^ as to dip or put into, I need not repeat the Obfervations of Logi- cians about thtiv Genera and Species '^ yet give 233 e leave only to tranfcribe one Canon from Ari- fiotle : The '|' Species includes the Definition of the Genus, and all that is in it^ hut not vice veiTa. pipping includes Wafhing, but Walhing does not include Dipping ^ for there may be a Walh- ing by Pouring, &c. Thus the Cbriftian Sacra- ment, which is to be adminifter'd by Dipping, which is one kind of Wafhing, may very well be call'd by the general name [}Vafir.ng-^ but it will in no wife follow, that therefore this general word does not therefore comprehend all that is fignify'dby the m.ore particular one, or ferve pro- perly to interpret it. Thus you fee, Sir, how little there is in what our Author fays, to make it plain that ^clt^tiIg^ does not necefiarily and always fignify to dip. I hope I have aded very uprightly in examiniirg all his Inftances, and allow'd every thing its due w^eight, in his behalf. Befides thofe he mentions, I have likewife conlider'd all other Inftances that I cou'd imagine might polTibly be pleaded for him, which he took no notice of, without con- "^ ' — — Perque duas in morem Fluminis Arftos, ArOos Oceaiii metucntes aDquore T I N G I. Georgk, lib. i. v. 245. t Top. lib. 4. cap. I. AnAo;/ «> qti -m a^^// hVh ,w£7?'%« ^^ ysm* Tx /i yirv, "^Z hMy V. ' ' V ccaling Let4- Hijlory of Infant ^aptifm. 177 cealing any one. And no Man, I fancy, will think there are others behind which may be urg'd with any Colour on his tide ^ for fuch me- taphorical Paflages as Mat^ xx.22. Are ye ahlcj &C. to be hapnzj^d with the Baftifm that I am bap^ tiz.^d with? and fuch like Places, are fo manifeftly figurative and obfcure, that they can't be thought to furnilh any Argument either way, and there- fore 1 pafs'emby. And what I have farther to add upon this Matter, i muft refer to my next. I am, S I R, Yours, &c> N Let t'e r 78 (^fleBions onMr.W^lYs Let.5 Letter V. To appeal to the Scriptures only for the Senfe of a Wordy 'Very unreafonahle, "^Tis notvoithfl anting proved from them that the Greek Word mvfl always fgnify to dip. What Pajfages may he argued from, Luke xvi. 24. John xiii. 26. Rev. xix. 1 3. The vulgar Copys have loft the true Reading in the laft* Metaphorical Paf" fages make for^ not againfi my Opinion* Languages doat exaElly anfwer to one another. If the Word praTrTi^co were otherwife ever fo amhiguom^ yet as it relates to Baptifm^ ^tis fujfciently determined only and neceffarily to mean to dip. By the DoElrine and TraElice of St. John. Of the Holy Apoflles. Of the fucc ceding Church for many Centurys^ which ur£d a trine Immerfton. Learned A I en in general allow this Aiode ofBaptifm, Air, Wall pretends^ tho the An- ticnts did generally haptisie by Immerfion, they like- wife tu'd Affufion, or the like. But this was mt allowed in common Cafes. Afperfion^ how atfirfi ad- mitted. ^Tis unreafonahle to argue that the general Senfe of a Law y is the fame with the Exceptions that are made to it* The ant lent Church of thefirjl Cen- turys did not praBife Ajfufion^ &€. St. Cyprian'j Plea for jifperfion very trifling. All who were baptized in the Apoflles timcSy were baptized by Immerfion. The Clinical AJfufions dont appear to have been intro- duced till about 250 Tears after Christ: At which time they very much doubted of their Falidity, By thefrfi Patrons gra77ted to be only prefumptive. All allow Immerfion was inffled on antiently as the on(y regular way-y in all common Cafes at leafi. What to be thought of thofe Perfonsy who at the fame time acknow^ Let. 5 • Hiftory of Infant-^apti/m. 1 79 aclnowledg this^ and yet plead for what is fo cer- tainly and demonftrahly falfe on all accounts. An humble Remark on the Bljhop of Salisbury^ Flea for changing the manner of adminifiring the Sa-- crament here in England. The Clergy pretend they xvoud gladly revive the antient Pra^ice^ but they dorit take the proper Methods : and in reality ohftruth its being rwvd, BaTrTo) and psOC'Trfl^Cd fymnymons, S J Ry BY what I have already faid in my former, I believe, it fufficiently appears, that there is nothing in the Scriptures which any way juftifies Mr. Wallas Suppofition ^ and that what- ever he has produc'd is of no Confequence at all : But that you may fee. Sir, how much reafon wc have to infift upon it that the Word fignifies only to dip^ I wou'd add a farther Refledtion on this Head before I difmifs it. Our Author, that he may evade the Force of all that might be faid otherwife, appeals to the Scrip- tures concerning the Word, and will be deter- min'd by them only in this Qaeftion ; which is fo unreafonable a Fancy, that I admire any Gen- tleman of Underftanding Ihou'd be guilty of it. For the moft accurate Greek Writers, fuch as the Poetsi the Grammarians, &c. can undoubtedly give us the true Senfe of a Greek Word as well as the Scriptures themfelves, and are as much to be depended on in that refped : unlefs it be fuppps'd the Scriptures have ftrangely alter'd and wholly chang'd the Greek Tongue, and fram'd a Language to themfelves which wou'd unavoidably render them very obfcure and unintelligible, and fo make them unfit for a Rule of Faith j becaufe this fhou'd be plain and evident to the utmolb that the nature of the thing will admit, efpecially ia the moft eflcntial Points. And fuch an un- N i affeacd I So (I(efleElio}is onMr.WsXYs Let. 5. affeded Perfpicuity illuftriouily adorns the facred Oracles, whatever Mv^Wall may imagine to the contrary. But if our Author pleafes, I will join ifTue with him here, and agree, that whatever fhall be found to be the plain fenfe of ^cci^lla in Scripture, that only fhall pafs for the fenfe of it in relation to the Cafe before us, the Sacrament of Baptifm. 1 have already gone thro all thofe Places which can be produc'd from Scripture in favour of Mr. IValFs Opinion, and abundantly prov'd from the Old Teftament, that the Signification of the Word is always to dip* Let us now make as ftrift a Scrutiny thro the Kew, and obferve, iince lb plain Mr. Wall's Senfe is not favour'd there, whether any thing appears in it for mine. Almoft all the PalTages where the Word is us'd in the New Teftament, relate to the Sacrament of Baptifm, and therefore can be of no fervice in our Inquiry ^ for theQueftion is about the Senfe of it in thofe Places. However, when 'tis accom- pany'd with any Circumftances that may fix the Senfe, 1 fhall think it fair enough to urge it on my fide. All Metaphorical PafTages alfo are out of doors , becaufe of their ambigu- Gufnefs and obfcurity *, tho, if they prove either way, they are againft Mr. M^Ji: And thofe Paf- fages which relate to the Jervijh Wafhings, ha- ving been already examin'd-, 1 will not repeat ^em, but go on to give you all the Inllances that may;be jullly cited in this matter, and they are only thefe that follow, by which therefore the Senfe of the Word mult be concluded. I begin with Lnkexvh 24. which contains the rich Epicurean % Prayer to Abraham in Heaven, to fend Lazarus that he may dip the Tip of his Finger in Watcr^ and cod his Tongue* The Greek is p^oc^if. And it can never bequefti'on'd, without renouncing .J, commofl Let. 5. Hljlory of Infant'^aptifrn. 1 8 1 common Senfe, that 'tis well rendrcd in our Tran- flation by dip. ; Another Inftar^ce as full and clear as this, is John xiii. 26. He it is to whom Ijhallgive a Sop when I have dip^d it *, and when he had dip d the Sop^ he, gave it to Judas Ifcariot. In the former part of the Verfe 'tis p^a^^s '-) but in the Alexan- drine Manufcript e/vt/ia^cis, as 'tis alfo in the latter part of this Verfe, and in the parallel Places, Matth. xxvi. 23. Mark xiv^ 20. It can no more b« queftion'd what is the meaning of thefe Words m the Original, than what is the fenfe of the EngUjh Word dip J by which they are fo properly tranflated. 'Tis trifling to enlarge on thefe, and therefore I go on. The next is Rev.xix, 13. ^nd he was cloth' d with a Veflure dip^d in Blood ^ and his Name is caWd the Word of Go D, This ExprelTion ns fo manifeftly taken from the Dytrs Art, that ther© can be no difficulty or uncertainty in it: for no- thing can appear more natural than to under- Haad -St- John- as reprefenting the Perfon in 4iis Vifion to have been cloth'd with a Vefture which was dip'd [or as it were dip'd] in the Blood of his Eaemys. But this I fay only upon the fup- pofition, that the vulgar Greek Copys retain the true Primitive Reading. There are feveral Rea- fons indeed, to make us think the contrary, and thit the Word is chang'd ^ particularly the Au- thority of Origcn^ whofe-Writings are older than any Copys of the iSJew Teftament we can boaft of ^ and therefore what he tranfcrib'd from Antienter Copys, mult be more confiderable than any we have. Now he, in his Commentary on St.Joh?2*s Gofpel, I] cites thefeWords from ver. 1 1 . to ver. 1 6. inclufively, almoil: verbatim^ as they are la out* Editions ^ but reads ep^^vW^vov fprinkled^ in- ftead of ^i^oiixfjiimj dip'd j which makes this II P4S. 51. • N 3 PalTage iSx ^fleclions on Afr. WalFx Let. 5. PafTage nothing to our purpofe. However, 1 fhou'd not think this fmgle Authority of Ori^en fufficient to juftify my altering the Word j but I have like- wife obferv'd that the Syriac and ^thiopic Ver- lions, which for their Antiquity muft be thought aimoft as valuable and authentick as the Original it felf, being made from Primitive Copys, in or very near the Times of the Apoftles, and ren- dring the PafTage by Words which iignify to fprin- kby muft greatly confirm Origens Reading of the Place, and very ftrongly argue, that he has pre- fcrv'd the fame Word which was in the Autografha^ But befides, if the latter Word ftands, the Senfe is evidently what I alTert. Thefe are all the Inftances 1 know of in the New Teftament, where the Word is us'd accord- ing to the vulgar Application of it \ but there are feme, where 'tis apply'd to Baptifm, that are confiderably in my favour, and fhall be taken notice of by and by. In the mean time, you fee. Sir, our Author's Rule of interpreting a Scripture-Word, by its ufe in Scripture, is more to my Advantage than his ^ and certainly I have laid enough now to fatisfy any Man in the World, who has the leaft pretence to common Senfe and Reafon, that the Word ^.oL-nMlcii does always without Exception (ignify only to dip. I have confirm'd this at large from the Writings of the Greek Authors, from the Opinion of the beft Criticks, and from the conftant Ufe of it in the Scriptures themfelves too ^ and fince all confefs this to be its general and moft proper Signifi- cation, we fhou'd never, without manifeft ne- cclTity, depart from it. 1 believe 1 have given fufficient Reafons alfo, why Metaphorical PalTages don't determine againft me: for it no more fol- lows from them that ^a-nVlfji does not (ignify to d'fp^ than that mmergo does not lignify fo, bccaufe Let. 5- Hijiory of hfant-'Baptifm. \ 8 3 becaufe LaB:antim for Example ufes that Latin Word to fignify being given up "^ to Wickednefs: which Phrafe he borrowed perhaps from Origen^ who ufes the fame exadly in his Commentary upon St. John f. Befides ,^ this Metaphorical Ufe of the Word is very frequent among the Fathers, as well as among the profane Authors, as I obferv'd before ^ for thus Clemens Alexandrinus fays, [1 They who thro Drunkennefs are difd in (^6ciT' hlpfjd^oi ds \^vov) or overvphelrnd with Jleep. The fame fenfe Flrgil thus emphatically expreffes by a Word which properly iignifys to bury. -)f^ Their Forces join V invade the Town^ o'erwhelm'd with Sleep and Wine* And Clemens in another Place, which is very re- markable, fays, '|"{^ And we who were once polluted with thefe things are now wajli^d and cleans a. But thofe who wajh them/elves in Intemperance^ from So^ briety and a decent Behaviour^ they immerfe (jbXTT^ Ti'^^otJ dip intOy or gi'Ve themfelves vp to Fornication^ ji^dging it good to indulge themfelves in Pleafure and Ibices. And Gregorius Thaumaturgus ufes the Word much after the fame manner, in this Faf- fage of his Panegyrick upon Origen ||ll ^ And reach* ing his Hand to others^ he delivers all^ drawing ^em out ( vi^, of the Dillicultys, &c.^ in which they * Lib. 7. de VitaBeata, pag. 649. Vitiis immerfi. t Pag. 552. luv 7mvv\izjv -f Ka.yJa.i x,diTuCiCa^'\i^7ff/tg nmif *Iof ^'^^ ^^^ Bclgic DOOpen, do as dearly make out that Fra^tice^ as the Greek word I'll give you but one Citation more, which is too remarkable to be omitted. 'Tis Dr. Whitby^ Annotation on Rom^ vi. 4. It being fo exprejly de- clar'^d here^ <^W ColofI'. ii. 12. that we are bury'd with Christ in Baptifmx, by being burfd under Water : And the Argument to oblige us to a Con^ formity to his Deaths by dying to Sin^ being taken thence J and //7/V Immerfion being religioujly obferv^d by ALL Christians for xiii Century s, AND APPROVED BY OUR ChURCH, ANDTHE Change of it into Sprinkling evek without any Allowance from the Author of its Institution, or any Li- cence from anyCouncil of the Church, being that which the Romanift ftill nrgeth to jufiify his refufal of the Cup to the Laity \ it were to be wijl}^d that this Cuftom might be again of general Vfe. What follows concerning Afperlion being not to the purpofe, I omit it. If you f^ieafe you may fee more Inftances of this iiature in Mr. Stcmct\ Anfwer to Rujfen^ and par- ticularly thofe taken out of Sir John Floyer ^ but thefe, i think, are enough to put it palt doubt, that, the Apoftles and primitive Chriftians did bapfr/.e only by Immerlion^ and that this Rite c^ntinu'd in tlic Church for many Centurys. To evade the Force of this, Mr. Wall is w^il- lin^^, to compound the Matter with u?, and al- lovvs, they did generally baptize by Immerfion : had then in fomc Cafes, as in danger of Death, rj?c. he pretends they thought Afruiion or Sprink- Let. y. Hijiory of Lifant'Sapti/m. 1 9 5 Sprinkling fufficient; and that in fuch Cafes it was adtually permitted. In anfwer to this, 1 fay : I . Suppofing thefe Exceptions to be well grounded, and that Afperfion was fufferM i.i Ga- les of NecefTity ^ yet even then, it mult follow, that according to the Sentiments of the Antients, 'twas utterly unlawful to ufe Afpcrfion in any common Cafes, or at all, but in fuch Neceifity : For they never .thought themfelves at liber- ty to adminifter this Sacrament in what man- ner they woa'd, as our Author pleads ^ and that to baptize, as he will have it, is to waQi ia any manner: and it is ttill plain, that a general, and much more then a total difufe of Immerlion, is the greateft Affront to thofe. pious Saints, and the whole primitive Virgin Church, that can bc well offer 'd ; and it muft be no fmall Prcfump- tion, to fancy Christ did not enjoin what they {o itridlly and univerfally pradtis'd. 'Tis not to be imagin'd, the pious primitive Fathers, and the whole Church of that Time^ cou'd be guilty of the abfurd Folly, of tying themfelves up fo unneceffarily, and even contrary to what, according to Mr. Wa/l^ they knew to be theSenfe of the Word, and the Defign of Chrjst. This is not at all confiftent with his pretended Veneration for the Fathers, nor his building his darling P^edobaptifm fo entirely on this Foun^da- tion. I can't think they wou'd commit fuch la- novations fo early : But if G h r i s t had intended^ and the Word He exprcfs'd Himfelf by had sm- ply'd, that Baptifra might be regularly admini^ fter'd by one kind of W^aOiing as well as another, they wou'd, doubtlefs, have fiaod fafi in that Li- berty^ for fome time, at leaft ^ whereas^ €Ysa tho Mr. Watt\ Suppolition be true, that in fome Cafes of Neceffity they did difpenfe with Immer- lion, yet 'tis plain, they held Dipping the only Q 2 gens:: 1 96* ^jiccllons on A//r.Walli Let, 5. general regular way, which nothing but endan- gering a Man's Life cou'd make 'em fuperfede. This appears from St. Cypriarj^ the earlieft Advo- cate for Afperfion *, which neverthelefs he pleads for only in extraordinary Cafes. And it feems at firft to have been admitted upon this Kotion, that GOD will have Mercy and not Sacrifice j which they underftood to mean, that all pofitive Inftitutions mult give way to the eternal Obligation of moral Dutys. So David^ from the Keceflity of preferving his and his Followers Lives, made free with the Shew-Bread, in oppofi- tion to the pofitive Command *, and our Saviour Himfelf vindicates his Difciples from the fame Principles, and from this Example of David^ Matth. xii. This Foundation is certainly very good ^ and they might from hence juftify their forbearing to adminifter this Sacrament at all, in fuch Cafes, where 'tis apparent it cou'd not be adminifter'd without violating fome unchangeable moral Duty, But the Antients who introduc'd Sprinkling or AfFufion, feem'd unwilling to carry the Mat- ter fo far. In prefent danger of Death, they thought it neceflary that all fhou'd be made Par- takers of the Salutary Illumination, without which, they imagined, it wou'd be impoffible to obtain Salvation \ and yet they fear'd, left bap- tizing 'em according to the Inftitution, might, confidering their Weaknefs, occafion their Death, and fo they fhou'd become guilty of IVlurder. To •avoid both Inconveniences, they thought it belt to divide the Difficulty ; and rather than difpenfe with the whole Sacrament, to make this Akera- tion in the Manner of its Adminiftration only; which, after at), was in reality no better than nullifying the whole : For if C h r i s t command- ed only to dli-t as themfelves vehemently urge, in Let. 5^ . Hi [lory of Infant' ^aptifm. 1 9 7 in all Cafes where it can be fafelv comply'd with, then nothing but dipping is obeying the Infti- tution. But they thought 'twas better to retain fome, tho but a diilant Shadow, than to part with the whole Ceremony, in. hopes God wou'd indulge 'em in this Change, which they were driv'a to by KccelTity, as they thought ^ and that He wou'd annex all thofc fpiritual Advantages tp it, which fhouM have attended a more regular Adminiftratian. At molt, they only pretended AfFufion might ferve where Immerfion cou'd not, as they imagin'd, take place fo well. And this is formally to acknowledg, that, ftri£lly, the In- flitution required Immerfion only ^ as molt natu- rally follows from their rigorous infifting on it in all ordinary Cafes, and allowing Affufion as an Exception to the Rule upon fomq Emergence, where the Ruk cou'd not be fo conveniently obey'd. - -' • • ,; ■ Islow, no ferious reafonable Man can be fo much overfeen, as to think it juft to i'nterpret a Law by the Exceptions that are made to it, any farther than to infer the Exceptions are different from th€ Law, and oppofite to it,, the true Senfe of w^hich fliou'd be determin'd by the ordinary Cafes 'tis fuppos'd only to refped. Tho the thing is plain enough in it felf, yet ha- ving found by Experience, how unreafonably fome Men can cavil as to this Point in particu- lar, I thought there was need enough to dwell fo long upon it, and make fuch frequent Repeti- tions. On the fame account, 1 muft take the li- berty to illuftrate what I faid in the lafl VVords^ by an Example, which, if pofllble, may yet make it more plain what 'tis I mean. Your good Senfe and Candor, Sir, I am fenfible wou'd fave me the trouble ^ but you tell me my Letters fiiall be fhewn, and 1 don't know who may be my Rea- O 3 ders: ip8 ns on Ur.WzW's Let. 5. ders : Out of Precaution therefore, if any of 'em fhou'd think the matter not fufficiently clear, I d^fire they wou'd confider, Whether becaufe the OiJak'ic'rs by a Claufe in fome Ads, are excus'd from Swearing, they can think the Defign of the Law was to make it indifferent in all Cafes, whe- ther any Man in general took an Oath, or only made the Affirmation*, and that it fhou'd be at the liberty of every one to choofe ? The Tole- ration-AQ: binds all Pcrfons whatever, not to moleft the Proteftant Diilenters in the free Exer- cife of religious Worfliip according to the Di(f^ates of their Confcierices": ;but at the' fame time, by a Claufe purpofely iilferted, it provides, that no Papifi or Popijh Recufant whatfoever^ or any Perfon that jh all dcny^ in his Preaching or Writings the Doc- trine of the B L E s s E p T R I N I T Y, fliall have any Eafef Benefit^ or Advantage thereby. Now, can it be imagin'd from hence, that the full Senfe and Tenor of this Aft is /that thofe who are in Pow- er, have liberty hereby giv'n 'cm, either to tole- rate or diftarb, as thev pleafe, Perfons diflenting from the Eftablifh'd Church ? I will compare thefe Inflances, to ihew they are exadly parallel. I. The Fathers (on whofe Practice we are now t hictiy arguing) for fome Centurys, made Im- nierhon neceflary and indifpenfible in all ordi- r.ary Cafc^. This is fo undeniable, that our Adver- larys allow it ; and that fo far as the Practice of the primitive Church is our Rule, we are oblig'd, la ali ordinary Cafes, to baptize by Immerfion. To this, in the Indance giv'n, anfwers the gene- ral Tenourof the Ad, viz.^ That Proteftant Dif- fentcrs fhali be tolerated in the free Exercife of leligious Worihln accordiiig to their own way. a. The Let.y. Hijlory of Infant-^aptifm] 199 2. The primitive Chureh, as 'tis fuppos'd, has made a a Exception to this her general Practice, and allows of Aftulion, to thofe who are in prefent danger of Death, inftead of Immerlion. So the Ad excepts, together with Pa^ifis and Popifh Re- cufants^ all fuch asJJjall deny^ in Preaching or Writings the DoEhrine of the Blessed T k i n i t y *, to whom it means no Protedion. Since the Cafes then are fo far parallel, I might conclude, 'tis as unreafonable to argue from the Exception the antient Church is fuppos'd to have made in fomc Cafes of NecefTity^that they therefore thought themfelves at full liberty always toadmini- fter this Ordinance by any kind of wafhing, (which is Mr. WaU\ Argument) as all the World knows, it wou'd be, becaufe of that Exception made in the Ad, to infer, that the Delign and true Mean- ing of it is to oblige all Perfons to tolerate the Diffenters, or difturb 'em, as they pleafe. At the fame rate it will argue farther too, that if thofe who deny the Trinity, in whatever Com- munion, are not to be tolerated, therefore none is under any Obligation to tolerate any of that Communion ^ then the Church of England her felf can't fo much as make any Pretence to To- leration neither \ for there are fome of the rankeft Socinians in her Bofom, that ever appear'd. See what ftrange Work Mr. Wall\ Art of Reafoning wou'd make : but I will leave it to be ftudy'd and pradis'd by himfelf 'only. As it wou'd be no- thing but bantring the Ad, and the Royal Au- thority which gave it Sandion, to argue upon it at this rate *, fo it muft needs make that Man ap- pear very ridiculous, who can ferioufty pretend to argue, that becaufe the antient Church thought Baptifm might be adminifter'd by Afiufion in fome Cafes, therefore they thought it might as well be adminifter'd fo in all. O 4 The 200 ^'fleclions on Kr.Wall'^ Let. 5. The antient Church fufficiently intimates, the Stridnefs of the Law requir'd Immerfion, and that fhe uaderftood this to be the Senfe of CHRIST in this Commifilon He gave to His Apoftles ; fince they had no other Authority to urge for making Immeriion fo indifpenfible in ordinary Cafes. And as to that Exception, 'tis beyond all Con trover fy, they doubted the Validity of it themfelves^ and 'tis certain, there is no room for it in the Com- niiflion, if the Command to baptize can't be o- bey'd without Immeriion, as they declare it can't in ordinary Cafes. Nor does this fame Command allow Afperlion, or direft to it : and we know of 310 Exception made in the Text, nor of any Com- mand befides this general one. The Church of England^ and, if our Author be right, which I muft examine hereafter, the Apo- ftles, and primitive Chriflians too, always admit- ted Infants to Baptifm, without requiring of 'em a perfonal Profeffion of Faith, fuppofing them to be excepted when CHRIST commanded to bap- tize thofe that believe. JSJow, if this fliou'd be granted to be true, wou'd any Man be fowild as to infer, that therefore it is indifferent, whe- ther jiny^ believe and make a Profeffion of their Faith before they are baptiz'd •, and that CHRIST has left it entirely to the Difcretion of every one, whether he will require a publick Profeffion of Faith from all he baptizes, or from none^ or from foms only? This is moft exadly Mr. Wall's way of arguing. Bat thus far I have gone upon the Suppofltion that the Apoftles and primitive Church did ufe Afperfioa : In the next place, I fay, 2. This Suppofltion is utterly falfe and ground- Icfs ^ on which account, there is ft ill much lefs, or rather no force at all in the Objedion. No Man living, I am fare, can Ihew me any Founda- tion Let. 5 . Hijlory of Infmt'^a[nijm. 2 o i tion for it ia Scripture: Mv.lVall does not at- tempt it •, but only inlinuates in general, that notwithRanding 'tis plain from the Example of St. Joh'^\ baptizing CHRIST, &c, that * they did in thofe hot Country s bapti^Le ordina- rily by Immerfion *, it docs not follow, that in Ctfes of Sicknefs^ or other fuch extraordinary Occafionsy they never h^ptiz^d otherwife. So refoiv'd he is tO hold his Opinion, that he dares make even the Si- lence of Scripture an Argument for him. He forgot, 'tis likely, his own Rule to judg of the Senfe ©f a Scripture- Word, by its ufe in Scrip- ture •, for by the fame Reafon that the Scripture is thought to be of fufficient Authority to deter- mine the Senfe of a Word, 'tis much more of Authority to determine what was the Pradice in relation to an Ordinance of C H RIST ^ and we ought to acquiefce in the account it gives, and not raffily fuppofe v^^hat is not fo much as in the leaft hinted at. To the Words above-cited, our Author imme- diately adds, Of this I floall fpeak in the next Chap- ter. Thh fiU'd me with Expedation of fomething which might have an appearance of Probability at leaft:, but when I came to the place, no body was ever difappointed more ^ for I met with lit- tle elfe but Inftances from the later Genturys : Mr. Wall feems to have forgot his Promife, and never goes about to prove that any were bap- ti2'd in the Apoftolical Times, otherwife than by plunging. St. Cyprian^ indeed, in his Letter to Magnus^ endeavours to juftify Af- perfion by feveral Paflages in the Old Tefta- ment, after a very frivolous manner ^ and what but tenacioufnefs of an Opinion cou'd put any one on the extravagant Method of determining * Part II. p. 219. the 20 2 (I(efleBions on Mr.WslVs Let. 5. the manner of adminiftring a Chriftian Sacrament by obfcure PafTages in the Prophets, and by Words in the Law, which manifeftly relate no- thing at all to the matter ? Kay, which makes the thing ftill worfe, from thefe Paflages alone, he determines the matter not only without, but dirc6\ly contrary to the whole tenour of the Kew Teftament. Obferve here, that this Conduct of St. Cyprian isaveryplainconfefllon, that there is nothing to favour his Notion in the Kew Teftament* and that the Senfe of the Word in our LORD's Com- niilTion, and other places, is limited fo as not to admit of pour or fprmUe : for otherwife Mag- nus cou'd not have made a Qiieftion concerning the Validity of AfperGon ^ or if he had, the An- fwer had been very ready and natural, without recourfe to the myfterious Types and Allufions of the Law and the Prophets, vItl. to have faid. That the common Pradice of the Apofbles,^ &c. fufE- ciently jaftify'd that manner of Adminiftration, and more efpecially, that the general Significa- tion of the Word iisM in the Commiffion, com- prehended that manner as w^ell as any other. 'Tis matter of Wonder to me, that St. Cyprian fhou'd fo mifapply thofe Texts, and that the lear- ned Dr. Beveridge iliou'd fo eafily give into the Error, and venture to fay, that -|- St. Cyprian had largely provd^ and that from the Scriptures themfelves too^ that Baptifm might he rightly admimflerd by Af- perfion. I will lay one of that Father's Proofs before you, Sir, that you may judg of the force of his reafonings. He quotes Numb* xix. 1 3 • Whofoever touches the dead Body of any Man that is dead^ and purify s not himfelf^ defiles the Tabernacle of the LO RD'j and f In Canon. Apoftol. 50. />. 468. b. med, that Let. 5 . H'tjlory of Infant-^jptifm. 205 th^t Soul fliall he cut ojf from Ifrael, hecaufe the Wa* tor of Sevaration was riot fprtnkled upon him. What Man that ever Uv'd, of a common Imagination, nay or of the moft luxuriant Fancy, cou'd have iuppos'd that thefe Words have any refped to a Chriftian Sacrament, or infer from 'em that it fhou'd be adminiller'd by fprinkling? But I confi- der, warm zealous Men often fee with Eyes very different from what other iMen fee with, efpecially fuch as are myftically given ^ for they makeMyfterys of every thing, and fee every thing in their My- fterys. So fome great Head-pieces, of a molt- pro- found Invention to be fure, have difcover'd both Sacraments in the Words of the Spoufe, Canticles vii. 2. Thy Navel is like a round Goblet^ which want' eth not Liquor ^ thy Belly is like a heap of Wheat fet about with Lillys, A Gentleman v;ho is one of the zealous Wri- ters of our Time, has improv'd this in a very furprizing manner^ and fince he has yentur'd to publifh it to the World himfelf, it can be no Crime in me to tranfcribe the Paflage in a pri- vate Letter to a Friend : |) And by the by^ fays he, here is a great Controvcrfy folv^dj namely, between vs and the Anahaptifts^ who are againft the baptizing of Children^ becaufe they are not come to Tears ofVn- derfianding. Let it be remember^ d^ from what is fug" gefted to tis here^ that Infants (according to the No" tion which prevailed in thofe Days) receive IVouriJli^ me?it by the I^avel^ tho they take not in any Food by the Mouth ^ yea-^ tho (according to the opinion of thoje Times) they did not fo much astife their Mouths. So it is no good Obje^-ion again ft baptizing Infants^ that they are ignorant^ and -underftand not what they do \ and that they are not able to take in the fpiritual Nou* jl Dr. Edwards'^ Exercittt. on Canticles vii. 2»p,i^6, 137. rifljment 2 04 (^fleFlions on M'- Wall V Let. 5 • ri^iment after the ordinary way ^ if it may be done (as "'tis fdid here) by the Navel^ by that federal Knot or Link which ties ^em fafi to their Chrlftian and be- lieving Parents ; which^ according to the befi Divines^ is an unanfwerable Argument to prove the Validity of hifant-Baptifm : for they belong to the Covenant as they are the Offspring of the Faithful ^ and thence are pro- nounc'^d Holy by the /^poflle^ I Cor. vii. 14. And here alfo. we fee farther the Congruity of the Expreffion here vs'^d by the wife A'fan'i for the nfe of the Navel is not only to convey Nutriment to the FcetuS, but to fafi en the Foetus to the Mother : which denotes that intimate vnion and conjunSlion with the Church of CHRIST, our common Mother^ that is made by the baptifmal Ferform^rnce. Whatever the Dodor may think of this fine In- vention, barely to repeat fuch Chimejas is to confute 'em v and I believe we (hall none of us think it worth while to take any farther notice of this mighty Solution of the Controverfy. Tho L have a great Refped for the primitive Fathers, and all learned iMen^ yet their loofe Ex- poutions and rvjifapplications of Scripture are not to be endur'd. The Citations in St. Cyprian^ befide the unfairnefs of 'em, run counter to the Hillory cf the New Teltament, and the primitive Church j for as to the Apoltles themfelves, they declare, that all who were baptiz'd in their time, were baptiz'd by Immerlion. Nothing can be more ex- prefs to this purpofe than Rotn. vi. 3. As many as were baptizjd^ i. e. all, without Exception, who were baptiz'd into Jesus Christ, were bap- tized into His Death *, and this he calls, Ferfe 4. being bury'^d with Him by Baptifm* So that 'tis as plain as Words can make it, that fo many as were baptiz'd into C H R I S T, were bury'd with him by Baptifnf^ and none, I believe, are hardy c- nough to deny that this means, they were plung'd into Let. 5 . Htftory of Infant'^aptifm. 205 into the Water in their Baptifm. Dr. Whlthy^ in his Annotations, judicioully obferves on the Place, that, the Argument to chl/ge vs to a Con- formity to His (CHRIS T'j) Deaths by dying to Sin J is taken from hence, that we were hury'^d with him in Baptifm^ by being bury^d under Water, Now as he, from this and other Reafons, advifes to reftore the Antient Manner of adminiftring the Sacrament among us, I infer from it alfo, that as the Duty of conforming to CHRIST'S Death^ by a death to Sin, obliges all in general \ fo the Argument to enforce it, and perfaade to it, fhou'd extend to all in common: and the holy Apoflles, undoubtedly, accommodated their Reafonings fo as to be conclufive to all. And fince the whole Strefs of St. Taul\ Argument lies in the Proprie- ty of the Reprefentation of G H R I S T's Death and Burial, made in Baptifm, his Logick wou'd not have reach'd to any who had been baptiz'd by AiTufion, and the like. But as he feems plainly 'to defign, from the Confideration of their being bury'd with C H R I S T by Baptifm, to perfuade all in general to conform themfelves to his Death *, fo it feems neceflary to fuppofe from hence, that all were then, and, that the Argument may not be rendered ufelefs, Ihou'd be now, bury'd with HI M by Baptifm, by being plung'd into the Water : for on no other Suppoiition can the A- poftle's Words be confiftent with good Senfe,or of any force to u.s now. It may be faid, tho the Apoflles, and Chriftians of their Time, did not baptize except by Immer- fion, yet their immediate SuccefTors in the whole Church did, and allow'd of AfFufion, at lealt ia fome Cafes. To this I anfwer : I. That tho it were true, as 'tis far from being fo, yet having gain'd this Point, that the Apoftles themfelves, who were the Mafter-Builders of the '' "-''' true 2o6 ^fleElions on Mr. WalF^ Let. 5. true Church under Christ, never authoriz'd it, we arc fafe enough in refolving not to vary from their unexceptionable Pradice. We defire to be Followers of them, even as they were Followers of C H R I s T ^ and we prefer their Authority to all their SuccefTors, in oppofition to 'em: and therefore if Mr. Wall fhou'd be able to make out his AiTertion, that the whole Church, after the Apoftles Time, did allow of AfFufion, we may neverthelefs think our felves oblig'd to withlland it as an antient Corruption j for Error fhou'd not be privileg'd by Age. But, 2. The Afiertion is not true ^ and Mr. Wali^s way of proving it wou'd make one think he knew it was not : for he never attempts to cite any Inftances till about 250 Years after Christ, which is 1 50 after the Apoftles, according to his own Computation ^ that is, from the Death of St. John^ who liv'd till more than a hundred Years rfter the Birth of Christ. So that in all this Space of Time, he points us to nothingv, from which it can be fo much as fufpeded that Baptifm was adminifter'd by any other way than Immerfion. "^Dx.Beveridge^ I know, quotes Tipr- tullUn^ who dy'd about Anno Dom. 220. but this is not early enough neither \ and befides, 'tis very plain to any one that reads the PalTage, that it does not fpeak of Baptifm : Cujuflibet Aqu£^ is an in- vincible Bar againft that Senfcj which (ignifys any fort of Water, in oppofition to that of Bap- tifm, and not the Water of Baptifm it felf j for the Senfe lies manifeftly thus : Ton are fo far, fays the Father, from being fit to he admitted to Baptifm', that no body vpoud gi've even a Sprinkling of common Water to a Man of fuch fallacious and uncertain Pe- * In Apoftol. Can. 50. nance^ Let. 5 . Htjlory of Infant^^aptifm. 1 07 ^rnnce. I find liigaltlus takes it much to this pur- pofe too, and adds, that "^ 'TVi af^arent trifling to tinder fl and thefe Words of j4fperfan in Baptifm : For wherever he /peaks of Baptifm^ he vfes the Words^ Lavacrum, Tingere, Intingere, Ablui, Mergitari,' and Immerfio, which dont at all fgnify j^fperfion. This, if it be confider'd, is an Argument that Tertullian knew of no Cuftom in his Time, of bap- tizing by Afperfion, or any thing elfe but Dipping, And the other Fathers deliver in as full Evidence on our fide. Afterwards, indeed, about the middle of the third Century, I own there is mention made of this manner of adminiftring, or, to fpeak more properly, of eluding the Sac^rament. Mr. Wall f inftances in the Cafe of Novatian^ near 250 Years after Christ; and confefles this is (| the mofi antient Inftance of that fort of Baptifm^ that is now extant in Records* This Acknowledgment is pretty fair, and in effed to own, he has no rea- fon to fay this i^acrament ifras adminlfter'd by Perfufion, ire, till about 250 Years after our Sa- v'louR. But to have been truly impartial, he fhou'd have given notice, that even at that Time, they much doubted of the Validity of this Mode, as evidently appears by the very PafTage Mr. Wall cites ; which ihews the Judgment of. that Time was, that one who had been baptiz'd by AfFufion in Sicknefs on his Bed, cou'd not be law- fully admitted to any Office in the Church : which is the fame thing as to fay, he was not on a level with others who were baptiz'd more regularly. * Splendide nugantur qui hsec Verba de Baptifmo per Afperfionem accipiunt. Nam ubicunque de Baptifmo fer- fnonem facit, Lavacrum dicit, & Tingere, & Intingere, & Ablui, & Mergitari, & Immerfionem, qu» fane Adfper- fionem minime fignificant. t Part IL^ 392. |ilb.;. 2P5. Our lot ^fletlms onMr.WslYs Lct.^. Our Author fetches the reafon of this from a Ca- non of the Council of Neocafarlay which however was not made till 8:) Years after, and therefore can't be juftly brought as any, much lefs the only reafon of an Opinion that prevailM fo long before. On the contrary, 'tis clear, as J^defius notes, that this Bapifm was thought imperfect for fever at Rea,- fons. Petavius fays, "^ Such were thought irreguUr- ly haptiz^d^ and were never admitted into holy Orders ^ attributing it to their Perfufion. There is a remarkable PafTage relating to this mat- ter, which an unbyafs'd Writer ought not to have omitted *, but it fhews the Judgment of that Time was not very agreeable to our Author's Hypo- thefis. Cornelius^ the fitting BiHiop of Rome^ after inentioning Novatia'ri\ Cafe, who had been bap- tiz'd in his Bed by Perfufion, (/or they feared he woud inftantly die^ fays the Letter) very frankly adds, by way of Caution and Diftrult, -j' If fuch a one may he fald to he haptizjd\ which intimates he made a queilion o^it, and that he had no good opinion of that manner of adminiftring the Ordi- nance. And any one wou'd think, this was the reafon why he afterwards fays, |1 it was not thought Lawful for any who was haftizfd in his Bed^ hecaufe cfSicknefs^ hy Terfufion^ to he admitted to any Charge in the Church. And this is confirm'd by the lear- ned Bifhop oi Oxford^ when he fays, '\']- Nov at i an was obnoxious on two accounts : Firfi^ hecaufe he had * Ve Pcemtent. lib, 2. cap, i. §. n. Ea Le^e ut qui fie baptizati fuerant irregiilares haberentur, nee iinquamin Sa- cros Ecclefise Ordines adniitccrentur. t EuTeb. Hift. Ecclef. lib. 6. cap. 43. "Et yi -^^ri 7Ayiiv ^ ft In Cyprian. EpiJ}» 69, /•297. Dupllci nomine obnoxius videbatur Novatianus ; primo, quod in caufa Lapforum v^cliifma fecerit : fecundo, quod in Le^to perfufus non au- tern baptizatus fuerit. made Let.5. tltfiory of Infant-^aptifnL 209 wade a Svhifm on account of f/;our'd on him in Bed^ yet he wasnot ba^tiz^d* ConfJ-antine the Emperor feems to have beea unwilling to tnift to the Validity of thefe Clini* calPerfufans^ as we may gather from Eufcbius\ Ac- count of his Baptifm. And tlie pious Prince him- felf, in his Speech to the Bifhops, wherein he de- iires'em to baptize him, tells 'em, he had hofd to have been made Partaker of the Salutary Grace in the River Jordan-^ bat a violent Fit of Sicknefs, which he rightly apprehended wou'd concUide his Life, Blade him look for that Happinefs now no longer. But notwithftanding the danger of the Diftem- per, which adually kill'd him in a few Days, the Hiftorian alTures us, ^ he was not baptiz'd in his Bed, but, as was ufual, in the Church, call'd MartyriumChrlfti^ in the ordinary way, h^ Evfe- ^/MjBilhop of Nicomedia'j and with great Tran- quillity of Mind foon after expir'd. But can it be imagin'df if Perfufion or Afperfion was at that time thought fo well of, as it is now^ pre- tended, that in fo dangerous a Cafe, that good Emperor, tho an old I\lan, fhou'd, without any Care or Tendernefs, be baptiz'd in that way they accounted the moft inconvenient and unne- ceflary ?. Ko, doubtlefs, the great Refped the Bilhops had for him, wou'd haveenclin'd'em to perfuade him to receive Baptifm in the fatteft way imaginable. I obfervM, that Comelivs^ in the above-men- tion'd Letter to the Bifhop of Antloch^ adds, as the fole reafon of their taking the Liberty of baptizing by Perfufion , their Suppofition that Novatian wou'd quickly die, and not a direct PermifTion in Scripture ^ which is the fame Excufe St. Cyfrian palliates this Pradice with : '<■ Vit. Conftant. Itb. 4. wi>. 61. p an4 2 1 o ^fleBions on Mr. WallV Let. 5 . and tho he pleads fo much for it, he only pre- tends it was to be allow'd of "^ m cafe of urgent. Neceffity \ hoping to come off v/ith this Fancy. But this way of baptizing was even then fo rare and uncommon, that Magnus^ tho a f dili- gent Enquirer into religious Matters, was perfect- ly ignorant of its having ever been ufual or al- lowed in the Church ^ and rather feems to take it for granted, that this Cafe had occur'd before : and therefore he only asks St. Cyprian % Opinion about it, what he thought belt to be done in it, lince neither the Practice of the Church, nor the Scripture, afforded any Rule. Accordingly, Su Cyprian anfwers only as from his own private Opinion, which he feems to give as in.a dubious Point, as appears from his Words, which Mr Wall tranflates thus : || Tou enquire alfo^ dear Son^ what J think of fuch as obtain the Grace in time of their. Sicknefs and Infirmity^ whether they are to be accoun-. ted lawful Chriftians ^ bccavfe they are not wajh^d all over with the Water of Salvation^ but h^kjeonly fome of it poured on Vw. In which matter^ ri\t(nid ufe fo much Afodefly and Humility^ as not to prefcribe fo pofitively^ but that every one jhou^d have the freedom of his own Thought^ and do as he thinks beft : I do^ iiccording to the beft of my mean Capacity^ judg thusy &c^ 1 his Anfvver, fure, is far from determining- * Urgente NecefTicate. t Cyprian. Epift 6^, initio. Ij Cypian. Ef'ift, 69- p. 297. Q>U3cfifi:i etiam, Fili CariiTmie, quod mihi de illis videatur qui in Infirmitate & Languore Gratiam DEI confequunrur, an habendi lint legitimi Chriftiani, eo quod Aqua Saluiari non loti lint, fed perfuii. <^ua in Parte Nemini Verecundia & Mode-ftia noftra praeju- dicat, quo minus unufquifque quod putat, fentiat & quod" IVnferit facia t. Nos, quantum concipic Mediocritas noftra, aeftimamus, &c. ' . as L er. 5 • Hijlory of Infant-^apt't/m. 1 1 1 as if the matter were notorious and certain : and the whole fum of all he fays to the purpofe^ is, that GOD may, in urgent NcceiTity, difpenfe with the Stridnefs of the Law ^ for he adds, when, as it were, he draws up the Conclufion : 'f* In the Sacraments of SAlvAtio7i J the jljortefi Methods of Performance^ under a prejfmg Necejfity^ (not elfe, by the way) do^ by G O D^s gracious Indulgence-^ confer the whole Benefit- I think 'tis confiderable, and well worth our notice, that Cornelius and Magnus faw nothing in Scripture to abet this Pradice, nor undcrftood our LOR D's Inftitution;:or any Words or Phrafes, to be of a Latitude to;tountenance it \ nor that Clinical Affufions were ever us'd or favour'd ia the Hiftory of the Apoflks, or of their SuccefTors. If they had, they cou'd not have qucftion'd their Validity : and Sx.Cyprlan^ fo willing as he is to have the thing admitted, does not argue from any of thefe Heads, which is particularly to be obferv'd. For it's known he was a warm Man, and a great Friend of the Power of the Clergy ^ of a lively Genius : and therefore certainly wou'd never have negleded thefe mighty Arguments, which are fo diredly to the purpofe ^ and have contented him- felf with only fpeaking doubtfully of the matter, and citing a Text or two, to fhew, that Afper- fions were in ufe under the Law : and then, after all, refer it to the Determination of every one, who, he fays, might lawfully think and ad in the Cafe as he fhou'd judg fit^ which is placing the whole Validity in the Bifhop's Determination. Ko, this is not like St. Cyprian at all ^ he, doubt- lefs, wou'd have pleaded the Pra3:ice of the A- i: Pag. 298. In Sacramentis Salutaribus, Neceflitate ur- gente, & DE O indulgentiam fuam largicnte, totum Cre- dentibus conferunt Divina Conii)endia. J:» 2 potties. 2 1 1 (^jicHlons on Kr. Wall V Let. 5 . poUles. With what a Grace and Energy might he have replyM to Magnus^ in the Words he ufes on another occalion : f Jf wc look back to the Head and Origin of divine Tradition^ the Errors which are of hi4mane Original will ce.ife \ and from thence^ the Nature of the ceUftial Sacraments being well under- fioad^ whatever was obfciird with Afifisy and hid in Clouds of Darlinefs before^ will then appear in its true Light, And a little after : Thus it becomes the Priefis of G 0 D to do^ who woud keep the divine Law* If the Truth at any time be fliaken^ or vncer- tain J let iis look back to the Divine Evangelic k Oricrin^ ^nd Apofi click Tr adit ion y &c. And farther, he woa'd not have failM briskly to urge our Savi- our's Meaning, and the' large Senfe of the word /ta-sfT/^o;, hid he found 'em to be on his fide. This had been founding the matter to the bottom, and folving the thing at once, in the moll dired way that cou'd bethought of, and beyond any pofTible Reply, But that he IhouM wholly negled this, and reafon only from the Sprinklings under the Law, hunting out far-fetch'd Inferences, doubtful Prefumptions, very little or nothing to the pur- pofe, and then leave the Cafe fo uncertain at laft, IS an Argument to me, that neither CHRIST, nor the Apoftles, nor the Church, were believ'd, even in Si.Cyprianh time, to have known or per- mitted thefe Clinical 4fufw?is, &c. But I am the more confirm'd in my Inference, from this Confi- T ^M^ 74- P'^&' 9^7, gi3. Nam li ad Divlnse Traditionis Caput *5: Onoin-m revertamur, ceiTat Error humanus ; & Sacrarut^ntorum co-lcitiam Ratione perfpeda, quicquid Tub Caiigine a< Nube Ttriiebrariim obfcurum lacebac, in Lii- cem Veriratis ap^-ritur. Et paulo posl : Qiiod & nunc facere gportet DEI SaQcrdotcs Pr^cepta Divina ie-rv^ntes ; ut fi ahqiio nutaverir aut vacillavcrnc Veritas, ad Originem Do- minicam & Evangelicam, & Apoftolicam Traditionem re- vertaniur, ^c, deration, Let. 5 . Hiftory of Infant- (Baptifm. 1 1 5 deration, that the reft of the Church, and all the Fathers that have liv'd in it, as well as St. Cy- frian^ till lately, have had the Ingenuity to u'avc thofe other Topicks, and defend Affufion, &c. a- lone by the hope of G O D's Indulgence to- ward'em, in altering that Circumfta nee only in a Cafe of NecelTity •, and never dar'd attempt to juftify it from Scripture, or the Pradice of Christ and his Apoftles, as now for fome time has been done. For Mr. Wall can't find an antient Wri- ter who will pretend, with him, that Baptifm may be adminifter'd indifferently in any man- ner ^ much lefs any who argues from the Sig- nification of the Greek Word, or any Paf- fage in the Chriftian Canon, that Affufion, or the like, is good and regular Baptifm : On the contrary, it appears, they always infilled much upon Immerfion ^ and in a very antient Council, held here in England^ under Kenwolfe King of the Mercians^ Anno 8i5. 'tis exprefly order'd, that Baptifm fhall not be adminifter'd by Sprinkling, but by Dipping. But what need is there to urge this, fince our Author allows that the Opinion of the Keceffity of Immerfion, at leaft in ordinary- Cafes, continu'd in moft Parts of the World, efpe^ cially in England^ for a long time^ and ftill pre- vails in the Gree\ Church, and, as he obferves, wherever the Pope has had no Power *, feeming to attribute the Alteration to the Liberty which he took and taught ? By this. Sir, I wou'd fatisfy you, that the Church, even when it had admitted Affufion, which it did only in Neceffity, never pretended, as Mr. Wall does, to ground it on the Words of Christ, or on Ecclefiaftical Pradice : and this im- plys, that they do in effed deny, againft our Au- thor, that it cou'd be defended from thence. Sa that we have the Reafon of the Thing, and the P 3 Telti- 2 1 4 l^efleFlions on Kr. WallV Let. 5 . Teftimotiy of all Antiquity, as -f- Petavms fays^ with the concurring Authority of the whole Church for many Ages, againft our Author in this Point. Thus I have made it plain, from the conftant Ufe of the word ^omMlGi in the Greek Author?, the Seventy, and the New Tellament, and from the Authority of the beft Criticks and moft learned Men, that it always fignifys only to dip or phme^ &c. and likewife that St.john^ our S a- V I o u R, the Apoftles, and the whole primitive Church, conftantly taught and pradtis'd accord- ingly ^ and that afterwards, when the Church took the Liberty to admit Sprinkling or AfFufion, it was thought imperfect and irregular, and al- low'd in Cafes of neceflity only, on a bare Prefump- tion of God's Indulgence. To which I added, that the Church never went about, till lately, to 3uftify Affulion, &c. by the Dodrine, or by the PraSice of C h r i s T, the Apoftles, and primi- tive Times. From all this therefore, it ftrongly follows, that Baptifm ought conftantly to be ad- minifter'd by Im.merfion or Dipping only ^ and that AfFufion, Sprinkling, or the like, are ground- lefs, unwarrantable, and very dangerous Corrup- tions : and that 'tis as good Senfe to fay a Man is dip'd, when only a drop or two of Water falls on him ^ as to fay he is baptiz'd, when he is only fprinkled. Suffer me to put the Queftion here : Since the Clergy allow, in general. Dipping was the anti- ent manner, univerfally pradis'd by St. Johtj^ by Christ, his Apoftles, and the whole Church, for a long time together, and infifted on as the lawful and regular way, neceflary in all common Cafes at leaft ^ and that the primary Senfe of the t Loco fupra laudato. Greek Let- 5- Hiflory of Infant-^aptifm. 1 1 5 Greek Word is to dip : nay, fince they have wifh'd this Cuftom might be again reftor'd among us here in EngUndy as it continu'd till about Qiieen EH" 7Laheth\ Time ^ Why, after all thefe Concefllons, &c. do they pretend 'tis indifferent, and that Bap- tifm may be rightly adminifter'd any way *, pre- fuming, with '|- Cafanhon^ the Eorce and Energy of this Sacrament is not f lac* d in the manner of its Ad- miniftration ? and why do they continue in the conftant Ufe and Pradice of Afperfion, &c* and defend it, in oppofition to Immerfion ? Here I am neceflitated humbly to take notice of the Excufe which the moft judicious and learned Bifhop of Sarum has thought fit to make, for changing the manner of baptizing by Dipping into that of Sprinkling. His Lordfhip is pleas'd to obferve on the 27th Article, that the primitive way of adminiflring Baptifm, was to lead ^em into the Watery &C. and firfi lay ^em dov n in the Water^ &"C. then they raised ''em up again^ &c» which is a moft exprefs Acknowledgment, that Immerfion was the true primitive manner : but yet afterwards, on the 30th Article, Tag. 345. he fays, The Banger of Dipping in cold Climates^ may he a very good Reafon for cha^iging the Form of Bap* tifm to Sprinkling. This Excufe is now become very common, and, however infuificient it may feem in it felf, has gather'd confiderable Force by being us'd by Men of his Lordfhip's good Senfe and Learning. But however great and honoura- ble the Patrons of a Miftake may be, they are but Men *, and the Authority of Christ, and the Refped and Obedience we owe to His Commands, fhou'd counter-ballance all other Confiderations : And his Lordfhip's own Words, a little after, a- t In Matth. iii. 5. Cum non in eo pofita fit Myfterii hujas Vis & "i.yi^yiiet. ' ^• P 4 gainfl 2 1 6 ^fleFltons on MrWAYs Let. 5. gainO: communicating in one .Kind only, had been much more futably apply'd to the Sacrament of Baptifm, than thofe above-cited, and are a full Anfwer to 'em. 'Tis with abundance of Pleafure I learn from his Lordfhip, that ^ an Infiitution of CHRIST^s mufl not he alter d or violated^ upon the account of an Inference that is drawn to conclude it needlefs. He who infiitutcd ity knew befi what was moft fittin^j and mofi reafonahle ^ and we mufl choofe rather to acquiefce in His Commands^ than in our own Reafonings. Thus does his Lordfhip admirably argue, with that Force and Solidity that eminent- ly appears in all his Lordfliip's Writings, 'Tis pretended, the Clergy wou'd gladly revive the antient Prudice, and defire, according to the Diredion of the Kubrick, to baptize by Dipping all that are willing to receive it in that manner, and able to bear it. But if this Pretence be real, why don't they take proper Methods (unlefs they think it a Trifle not worth their. Gare) to recover it, and put down Sprinkling*, to reform an Error, which will but grow llronger, and increafe by continuance ? For when no other Argument cin be found. Antiquity and Cuftom will be plead- ed. If the Clergy wou'd, according to their dc- clar'd Judgment in the Cafe, heartily endeavour to recover the true primitive Pradice, I am well aillir'd they cou'd not poflibly fail of Succefs \ for I know that many, and 1 believe the greateil Part of the Church of England^ take their Opinion of Afperfion from the Authority and Pradice of the Reverend Clergy ^ it being obfervable, this is the main Thing they urge in its Defence. So that notwithilanding their Pretences, 'tis tobefear'd the Clergy are a great Caufe of the Corruption, and its Continuance. And how they will, ever , be able * Page 547. to Let. 5- H'lflory of Infant'^aptijm. 2 1 7 to anfwer this to God or their own Confciences, I know not, but heartily wifh they wou'd take it timely into Co nil deration. I don't know, Sir, whether you will except a- gainft my taking the Words jlot'/rTco and jiaTrTi^O) for fynonymous. Some have formerly made a wide difference between 'em, allowing the firft indeed to fignify what we contend for, but maintaining that ]ia7f[/^65, being a Derivative with a Termi- nation which they call a Diminutive, does not fig- nify fo much as ^(hi\c^ : But I think 'tis plain from the Inftances already mention'd, that they are io-ocfVuvalUa;, exadly the fame as to their Significa- tion \ tho fome (as Tertulllan feems to have done when he render'd it by Mergitare, and F'ofu-t^ and Stephens) take it for a Frequentative, which iig- nifys more than the Derivative, and not lefs, as in Englifflj^ to dip over and over again* Befides, Mr. Wall feems to allow 'em to be fynonymous, becaufe he argues promifcuoufly from both. But I need not enlarge upon this *, for all who are any thing acquainted with the Greek Tongue, know the common Criticifm to be nothing but a ridicu- lous Piece of Pedantry. 1 will however fubjoin a few Inftances in the ^ Margin, to fhew, Deri- x'atives in ^6) fignify the fame as their Primitives^ which you may examine at your Leifure. 1 am, S I R, Yours, &c* vJay c^xJI^etf, 'AA5^, dud, and of his unfhaken Loyalty and Faithful- nefs, and indefatigable Indultry in the Service of his Queen and Country, and the whole Proteltant Intereft. The bare mentioning his Grace, toge- ther with his Heirs, without mentioning any o- ther, appropriates this Honour to his Grace'^s Family only, and to his Heir after him, who alone, of all the Children, wou'd be entitl'd to the Honour, notwithftanding the reft are not exprefly mention'dj and denied it : And theReafon which excludes the reft, is only becaufe they arc not men- tion'd in the Patent ^ and fo, exactly on the fame account, Infants are not to be baptiz'd, viz.. be- caufe they are not mention'd in thofe Claufes of our Scripture-Patent which relate to the high Pri- vilege of Baptifm. Again, every Man of but common Senfe will allow, that all Obligations bind only thofe Perfons who are mention'd, and upon thofe Conditio qs only which are exprefs'd. If I am bound in a Bond of Ten thoufand Pounds for Let. 6. Hlflory of Infrnt^^Baptifm. 237 for my Friend's Fidelity in any Poft •, I fhall not be accountable on any other Pretence, as of his un- fitnefs for the Place, or the like ^ nor is any other Perfon anfwerable for his Frauds, c^c, no other Condition being mention'd in the Bond befide his Fidelity, nor no other Man made a joint-Security with me. Juft for the fame reafon to a tittle, we think Baptifm fhou'd not be adminifter'd to Infants : for 'tis beyond Difpute, that the only Perfons mention'd in the Baptifmal Clatifes of Scripture, are the Adult, and the only Condition, Faith and Repentance. By all which, Infants feem to have been as delignedly excluded this Sacrament, as cou'd well be. And tho the Inference in this par- ticular Cafe will be pinching, and therefore un- grateful enough to our Author^ he will never- thelefs readily allow, in fome Cafes which agree with his Syftem, that negative Arguments are not always invalid. On fome Occafions which might be pointed at, I know he wou'd fubfcribe Dr. Whitby's general Rule, That "{; in matters of DoHrine^ the Argument is always good ; We read of no fuch Dodrine in the Scriptures, therefore it neither is^ nor can he any Ar- ticle of Faith, hecaufe we have no other Rule of Faith hefides the holy Scriptures. The Doctor's Reafon makes the Obfervation appear certainly true, and therefore gives the Caufe of P^dobaptifm a more deadly Wound. And indeed, 'tis mainly on this Foundation the Ecclefiaftical Hierarchy is at prefent built, for the appointing Officers in the Church to adminifter the Sacraments, for inftance, our Author himfelf, and almoft all Chriftians will allow, is a tacit Pro- t Anmt. in Afatth, vi. 9. pag, $^. a. hibition. 2 1 8 (l^efleaions on Afr.WaUV Ltt.6. hibition, that no other PeiTon prefume to do it. In like manner, the mentioning the Adult in the Commiflion to baptize, and not Infants alfo. Is as llrong a Prohibition not to baptize the latter. When we were laft together, you may remem- ber, Sir, you took occafion to intimate, that pro- bably Mr. Wall wou'd not ftick to rejed this way of arguing, if any Ihou'd urge it upon him. But I obferve, when he writ his Hiltory, he had fo good an opinion of it, as to ufe it himfelf. For when he has made the Suppoiltion, that the Jews did baptize their Profelytes together with their Children f, and that our LORD transfer'd that Practice from them into the Chrlftian Church ^ he adds, to clinch the Kail he has been driving, and infer Infants mull now in like manner be baptiz'd, II If our Saviour meant that the Apofiles jhou'd make any Alteration in that Matter^ and not baptiz.e the Infants a^ had been tifually done^ it is a wonder He did not fay fo. Placing the Strefs of the Matter in this, that the Scripture is wholly filent as to our L o K d's giving a Diredion to m.ake any Altera- tion in this Point. He fpeaks much after the fame manner, and in the fame Cafe too, when he allows, that notwith- llanding what he had faid, Baptifm ^ ought to be regulated by the TraBice of John, and of Christ Himfelf^ rather than by any frecedrng Cufiom of the jewifh Nation j if we had any good ground to believe that they did^ in the Cafe of Infants^ differ^ or alter any thing from the vfufd way : Bnt we have no kind of Proof that they m^.de any fuch Alteration. Here a- gain he argues from the Scripture's Silence, and therefore my Inference will ftand good againft Intnd. P3g. IC-. "^ lb, \i^^^ ig. - *^ ' "' him, Let.6. Hijlory of Infant-^aptifm. 1 3 9 him, That indeed Infants might be baptiz'd :/ wc had any good grotmd to believe that Chkist and His Apollles baptiz'd any : hut we have no hmd of Proof that they baptiz'd any, and if our S k- V I o u R ineant that the Jpofiles fhou'd have done it, ^tis a wonder He did not fay fa. But certainly, as we had no Power to baptize at all without His Command *, fo neither have we Power to baptize any, hut fuch asRe commanded: and thofe you have already feen. Sir, Mr. IVall himfelf allows to be the Adult only, as far as the Scriptures can go to inform us of the matter. Againft all this, there is a miferable Cavil, very comaion in the Mouths of Paedobaptifts, which one wou'd think Men of the moft ordinary Capa- citys cou'd not perfuade themfelves to ufe, W;^. They obferve, that Christ has no where for- bid 'em to baptize Infants, and therefore they in- fer they ought not to negled it. This is fo very trifling, that I don't know whether you will ex- cufe me for taking notice of it. However, 'tis of fuch Weight with fome People, and our Author himfelf has recourfe to it fo frequently, that it is neceflary jult to touch on it. The Propofition is this : Christ has no where forbid us to baftiz^e our Children. Bat, firll, all that will follow from thence, at bed:, is only, that it is in it felf, fimply confider'd, lawful to fprinkle or dip Children, when and how we pleafe: but ic can in no wife be infer'd, that we ought to do fo-, no nor that it is lawful to do it as a religious Ce- remony, or a thing appointed by Christ: nor will it at all follow, that this may be boldly fub- ftituted in the place of what our Lord did or- dain. C H R I s T has not indeed forbid us to bathe our felves every Day, and therefore it is certainly lawful to do it : but if we do it as a part of di- vine Worfliip, and impofe it on others as fuch, wc 240 ^fleElions on M^.WallV 'Ltt.6. we become inexcufably guilty of Superltition, and the worft kind of Tyranny. Mr. Wall himfelf has noted out of Epi^ha- nlus^ that 'tis one of Marcion% Errors, to teach, that fach religious Purification by Baptifm may lawfully be repeated. Many humane Inventions may doubtlefs be very lawfully praftis'd as fuch, becaufe they are not either diredly or indiredly prohibited in Scripture \ but if they are impos'd as divine Inftitutions, the Reafon ceafes, and they are no longer lawful : for tho they may not be particularly mention'd, yet Christ does ex» prefly enough condemn 'em in that general Cen- fure of the Scribes and Pharlfees^ for teaching as DoBrines the Commandments of Men ^ And what- ever may be rank'd under the Commandments of Men^ and belong to that Denomination, cannot plead the Scripture's Silence in their Favour, but are here moil diredly and exprefly condemn'd. So that tho we Ihou'd allow it lawful, merely in compliance with the Cuftoms of a Country, to fprinkle Children for their Health, fuppofe, or on account of any other Civil Ceremony, becaufe as fuch, 'tis no where forbidden *, I fee no Inconve- nience in it. But then this Reafon will not hold if they fliou'd urge it, as the Psedobaptifts do, as an Ordinance of Chri s t *, for the Scripture is not filent in this Cafe, but on the contrary, expli- citly againft fuch Prefumptions, as afcribing Inven- tions to the divine Will. Tertidlian^ on another Occafion, well expofes the Weaknefs of this way of arguing. Some in his time pleaded for the lawfulnefsof wearing a Mi- litary Crown, which the Romans gave their Soldiers who had diftinguifh'd themfelves by fome extraor- dinary Adion, and thought they might continue to wear it after their Converlion to Chriftianity 9 and if any found fault, they prefently recurd to our LttSl Hifiory of Infantt^apti/m. 141 our Author's Subterfuge, that the . Scriptures no where forbid 'cm to do fo. '[* Itfs an ci^fy matur^ lays TertulUanj \ to demand where it is written^ we may not wear the. Crown f Bur then too^ where is it written^ we may ? Far thofe who require their Adver- farys to produce Scripture- Authority , conclude by it^ that their own Caufe jhoud he fupforted by the fame. If 'tis lawful therefore to wear the Crown^ becaufe the Serif tvre no where forbids it j it may with equal Force he retorted^ that "'tis therefore net lawful^ hecaufe the Scripture does no where command it. What then mufl he done in this Cafe ? Mufi both he allow'' d^ hecaufe neither is forbidden ? Or^ Advfi: both be rcjefted^ he- caufe neither is commanded f You II fay^ perhaps^ what is riot prohibited^ is therefore alloiQ^d : ■ No^ 'its for- bidden by not bein£ exprcfly allowed. , If TertuUians Reafoning here fhou'd not hold as to things in their own nature indifferent *, he mufl: however be blind' indeed, that does not fee how itrongly it holds in all religious matters, which it may be pretended we ought, or ought not to do. In Ihort, all that can be made of their Ar- 'gument is, that as they have nothing for their Prat^ice in the Scriptures, fo there is nothing a- gainlt -it ! ■ As much as to fay, we ' have no reafon to oppofe the Practice ^ and they have no reafon to plead for it. But whether we have f Lib: de Corona, cap. 2. p^i» loi. Et facile eft ft.Uim exi- "gere, ubi fcriptum lie, ne coronemur ? At enim ubi fcrip- tumeft, ut coronemur ? Expoftulantes enim Scriptuias Pa- tFocinium in Parte diverfa, praejudicant fuae quoque I'arti Scriptar* Patrocinium adeffe debere. Nam ii idcfo dicetur coronari licere quia non prohibeatScriptura,«que retorque- bitur, ideo coronari non licere, quia Scriptura non jubeat. Quid faciet Difciplina ? Utrumque recipiet, quali neutrum prohi'iitum tit ? An utrumque rejiciet, quali ncutrum pra:- ceptum lit ? Sed quod non prohibetur, uitro permiffum clt. Immo prohibetur quod non ultro eft perraiiTum. ij, - realba 24 2. (^fleBions on Mr.WdXYs Let. 6. reafoatooppore'em, :let,all Men judg ; if rhey have no reafon to urge for their Praftice, their Caufe is bad enough : for, as Mr. Lflr^- To me where fays, He that heliev.es without havUg any reafon for hdieving^ may he in love with his vwn Fancy s\ hut neither jeeks Truth as he ovght^ nor fays the Obedience due to his Maker. . 'Twou'd be thought ex-travagant in' any Man to pretend, fijch a Clod in a certain Field is the felf- fame Piece of Earth which about 6ooo Years ago was Adamh Be dy, becaufe the Scripture does not fay the contrary-. As wild as this appears to be, 'tis however as juft as the Paedobaptift's Flea, and mult be allow 'd fo, for it's grounded on the fame Reafon, vix.^ that the Scripture no where fays the contrary. .' -^ ' r.. ■ :■%, \ti the next place, you may pleafe to obferve, that tho in fome Cafes the Scripture's Silence may leave the thing indifferent, to the freedooi or opinion of every. Man j. yet 'tis far frorn being fo always. Things in their own nature indifferent, may be left fo w^ell enough j but it is not an in- different matter whether we obey God and Christ or not, and perform divine Service according to his Will and Appointment. And therefore the Scripture's Silence cannot be pleaded here with any reafon at all. They don't forbid ijSjjnfo many Words exprefly, to give the Sacra- mental Supper to a Turk \ but who will there- fore infer, he may ? Why docs not our Au- thor baptize Perfons after they are dead, to wafh 'em from all Sins committed in their Life- time, fince the Scripture does not exprefly forbid him to baptize fuch ^ nor any where declare Per- fons fo baptized (hall not be perfedly cleans'd and forgiven ? Again \ where does the Scripture tell us in Term?, the Roman is not the only true Catholick : . Church ? Ltt.6. Hijiory of hfant-^aptifm. 24] Church ? That Oral Tradition may not entirely be depended.on ? That the Dodrine of Sacramen- tal Jaftification is a mifchievous Error? as the learned Biftiop of Salisbury nevcrthelefs juftly calls it^ and argues, as 1 have hitherto done, in di- red contradidion to our Author's way, That "^ Slrjce this is no where mentioned in all the Urge DiJ^ courfes that are in the New Teftament concerning Juf- t if cation^ we have juft reafon to reje5i it. Pilgri- mages, and all kinds of Penance, &c. ftand upon the fame bottom. But to give an Inftance fome- thing nearer to the matter in hand ; we are no where forbid to baptize our Cattle, Bells, Tables, &c. but yet our Author, I hope, w^ou'd never infer that they may^ much lefs that they ou^ht to be baptizM ^ for to adrtiinifter the Sacraments to vifibly unfit Subjefts, is no better than an im- pious profanation of 'em. Now from all this, inftead of a great deal more which might eafily be added, it clearly appears, if our Author argues well, and the Scrip- ture's Silence be a fufficient reafon for a thing, that he ought in Honour and Confcience to re- Jbixa to Rome -^ XhdLVs the kaft he can do. Nay, all the filly Trumpery of Rome^ the Antient as well as the Modern, may be brought into play again by this one fmgle Topick, which manifeftly opens a Door to all the Inventions of every fan- ciful Brain, which has but the Luck to hit on fuch odd Notions as the Scriptures do not exprefly contradid. I fuppofe. Sir, you may have feen, when you were at Padua^ the Sermon which good St. Anthony is faid to have preach'd to a Congregation of Fifties, in one of his flaming Fits of Devotion : And fince the Scripture no where forbids to ' ' ■ ■' ..-,..- * Expofit; Article 11. />, 125. R 7. pre^ach 244 ^fleclions on Afr. WallV Let.6. preach to Fiihes, to Trees, to wild Beafts, &c- but commands to preach the Gofpel to every Crea- ture^ which feems to have the like Colour with that which the Psedobaptifts urge for their Tenet, v;hy (hou'd we laugh at Si. Anthony'' % Zeal? For, according to our Author's Rule, he was much in the right, and our Author himfelf ought to follow bis Example. •- '■ ^ * 1 intended to have' difmifs'd this matter in fewer Words, but 'tis irtlenfibly grown under my Pe^c However, of the two Extremes, I had ra- ther allow my felf to be too long^ than too ohfcure* I am, • SIR, '" Yours, &c. Lett e k. ■ ■ I'' i Let./. Hijlo^y of Infunt'-'Baptif?}!. 245 Letter VII. That the Scripture does not leave Infant^Baftifm fo undetermined as fome woi^A pretend^ • is largely Jhawn from Matth. XXViii. 19. j4ll Laws fqually oblige in all Particulars mention d in 'fw. This ap- ply d to our prefent Difpute, The Cotpmiffion ns' ccffarily obliges to teach all tt i/?tends fiiou^d he. bap- tizjd. Therefore Infants cannot be included in that Commijfion. The Commijfion alfo requires that all of whom it fpeals flioud be firfi taught^ and afterwards baptized. The ridiculous Ohjeciion of fuch as fay ^ Infants alfo are to be taught^ anfwerd. Some woud evade the Force^ by confeffwg^ this CemmiJJlofj re^ Latts peculiarly to the Adult : which is directly giving up the Argument* What the Padobaptifts vrge from the Words All jSations, anfxverd^ ^Tis mi faidaW of all Nations. Illuftrated by a parallel Inftance from Matth. iii.«5, 6. Mr, Dorriiigton cenfurd,, ^Tis prov^dj the Commijfion moji direElly exchfdes Infants* What the Pdidobaftijls urge con- cerning the Greek Word MoCr^Tdt'oztTfe, anfwerd* Dr. iriammoild cenfurd for fo grofly contr.idicling h'inUlf in this Poi.it, Men of the great c^ Learning difown the Criticifm of the Padobaptijls* A Paffage from the Bifhop of ^S2iXnv[i. Another from Dr. Whitby. M::>/^^'tJV is conftantly tis^d to fig:nfy nothing bfs than to teach, &c* The Senfe of the Word proved from its Etymology. The Primitive^ and all its Deriv^itives^ include teaching, &c* No room fvr an Antipni\^,liS, which is now ex" ploded by the befl Grammarians. The Pretence from ■ the Termination^ that Words in ^VuJ are to^be inter - ■•;; ' R 3 vmed 1^6 ^flefliom on Mr.WzWs Let./. preted by fum in Latin, is groundUfs. Plutarch .-ufes the Word to fgrtify to teach Aft^ther I»flamif- from St. Ignatius. Another from the fame. Another- from the fame. One from St. Clemens Alexan- drinus. OnefromSt.JnlVm Martyr, the Meaning ofih TO ovo/L4.ct. Another Inftance /ri?w 5f. juilin. The Word ^aA^iil^'e/v, even in ' its fufpos^d Neuter Acceptation^ notwithfianding the contrary I'retences^ always includes teaching. Mat. xxvii. 57. conjt- der d. Jnfiances wherein the Word ft^nifys to teach, &"C. even when conflruthed with a Dative Cafe'j From Plutarch ^ From Orjgen ^ From St. Ireneus, ex- pounded bv aPaJfage (j/Socrates ^ and from Clemens Alexandrinus. "The true Scnfe of the Word far- ther illuftrated by fynonymous Words. Jnfiances of •TT^/ol/^'O^^/r^w Plutarch \ From i^lian ^ From Pla- to. Infiances of oiwiod^ from Pindar^ From Dio- genes Laertius ^ From Plutarch. An Inftance of ^oc>c»(i), from Plutarch. A very remarkable In- fiance of the Senfe of /^offM^'e/v, from Clemens Alexanclrinus. Another from the fame. One from Origen. Befides^ if what our Adverfarys ad- vance were right^ it can be of no Advantage to 'fw, hecaufe the Word in tht Commljfion is allowed to be tranfitive. Difciplefijip necefarily includes Teach- ing, ucL^ivod means to teach fuccefsfully , and therefore is indeed confequentially to make Dif- ciples. I Hope, Sir, I may venture to fay, that what was urg'd in my laft, amounts to little lefs than a Demonftration, that 'tis the worft Lo- gick in the World to argue, as the Paedobap- tifts do, from the fuppos'd Silence of the Scrip- tures *, which I have fliewn plainly enough is not only no Argument for Infant- Baptifm, but on the contrary, concludes as ftrongly againft it, as any reafonable Man can defire an Argument ihou'd do. And Let./. Htftory of Infant-^aptifm. ' I47 And this is the firft: of thofe Conflderations, which I pretend do utterly ruin our Author's De- fign, even tho he fhou'd prove (as wc fhall here- after fee he does not) that the Jews did ufe to bap- tize their Profelytes together with their Children, and that the ChrilHans foon after the Apoiloiick Times did fo too^ for you will allow me, that Arguments from .Scripture are of far more Force than both thcfe. • But in the next place, I add another Confiderati- on, of much greater Weight (till, namely, that the Scripture does not leave this matter fo undeter- min'd as the P^edobaptills wou'd fain perfuade themfelves, but that it diredly difallows of Infant Baptifm, and admits of no other but that of A- dult Peribns. I once intended to have made out this, in an exad and particular Examination of all thofe PafTages of Scripture which have or might have been pleaded on either fide: but I find I am like to be tedious enough without it \ and therefore I fhall think 'tis fufficient to do it ixom Mat th. xxviii. 19. which is indeed the main Ground and Foundation of the Ordinance, and the fole Authority and Rule, even for the holy Apoftles themfelves, in this matter. If I am pretty large on this, you will excufe me, becaufe it is inftead of all the reft. To proceed then with plain and clear Evidence. I defire you to confider, that if any Law or Com- miffion, e^c. does enjoin, and particularly men- tion two or more things to be done •, the faid Law, &c, does equally oblige to the performance of each of thofe things, and render one as necef- fary and indifpenfablq^ as the other, unlefs there be fomc particular Exception to the contrary. Thus the Judges, for inftance, are empowered and oblig'd to try and to give Judgment jn fuch and fuch Caufes: If they only hear 'exn, they don't R 4 dif-* 14^ ^fieWons m Mr.WxlYs Let./. difchafge their Duty, but are equally obligM to determine and giv^ Sentence according to Law. For the Authority which obliges to one, is equal in its Obligation with refped to the other. This Notion was the Ground of that DiiTatif- fav!\ion in the Time of K.Char. 1. concerning the Bu- ll nefs o{ Rochet \ for all People thought thole Forces had be^n fent to the AfTiftance of tlie Town, and therefore that they were equally oblig'd, both to go thither, and to afTift the befieg'd : But when the matter unluckily mifcarry'd, they began to think the Gdrnmanders ^were excus'd from aHifting the diftrefs'd by contrary private lrillfu(^i6ns. And what mightily; confirms this SuppoHtion is, that^ as Leti remarks^ "^ they mi^ht with very Uttle D.inger have relieved the FlaCe-'^ and without fuch inRra \ ^'-- ' '•'' '■ ■ ■'■ But, however the Truth be,'t^is ferves to 11- Irdtrate my general Rule,* which' I fuppofe will not be difputed : and then this particular Branch -of it muft be alfo allow'd me, i/w^r that fince the 'Commifilon to baptize, mentions teaching as well as baptizing, without making any diftiijdion, or faying any thing of one, which is not faid of the ether ^ therefore this GommiiTion does equally ob- lige both to teach and to baptize. And upon this Principle I will fhew you, that the Com- milTion under Confideration cannot comprehend Infants. '■ In order to which, I obferve, i. That the Words do necefTarily oblige to teach all whom they intend lliou'd be baptiz'd. And, 2. That ■ — ". — -■; - .!:"<>■? :...: - — ^ ■ — ' ^ "* 'Ceremoniali 'PtPttlW, lib. 5. ^ag^ 411. Che potevano con |>oco Rifchio foccbrer la Piazza. ■'' ^■■'•^ " ' . this Let.7. Hijlory of Infant^^aptlfm. 249 this teaching muft always as neceflarily precede their being baptiz'd. Both which Articles do ve- ry plainly exxlude intants, becaufe they are not ca- pable of being taught at ail. .1. As to the firft thing, that the Inftitution does indifpenlibly enjoin, that all who are to be baptiz'd, muft likewife be taught^ this is evi- dent, if: you obftrve, that the Command, in ■ both Its parts, is equally and univerfally apply'd no all thofe Subjeds which are mention'd therein, -and are denoted by that comprehenfive Phrafe, all '^Nations. For there is no manner of diftindtion or •difference made between fome and others of this Aggregate. This will more certainly appear, if -we t«efolve the Proportion Logically. The only ■Sabjeas fpoken of, are a!i Nariws / The Things ^faidofthefeSubjeasare, thatthey muft be taught, and that they muft be baptiz'd. Kow both thcfe being faid of the fame Subjects, we may form the Words into thefe two Proportions, for they arc iVirtMally two, viz.. Teach all Natiom, and Baptlz^e 'iitt Nations, The Steps I take are eafy and fure, according to the Method in ufe among Mathema- ticians, than which nothing can be more plain and Goriclufive;, and therefore'] may well enough call it a Demonftration, that the very fame Perfons, whoever they be, who are meant in the Commif- jion by all Nations^ and commanded to be bap- tiz'd, are ail equally commanded to be taught like- wife. And fo far are the Words from intimating any thing to the contrary, and from diftinguilhing between fome who are to be taught, and others who are not, that they are rather fo order'd, as to render it fcarce poflible for any Man even but to fnrmife, that thofe two words teach and bamz,e do not both of 'em relate exadly to all the fame Perfons, and to whatever is meant in the Com- miffion by all Nations. Let 250 it fays equally of- all, becaufe it fpeaks only in ge- neral, of all, without Difference or Exception. From whence it follows, that the fame things; are to be done to all, and that too in the fame Or-' der. Since then it leaves no room in the Icaft. for any Diftinctions, but fpeaks indifferently and uni-, vtrfally of all ^ what it enjoins on one, it equally, enjoins on all '^ and there remains only one of thefe two Extremes to be chofen ^ either that teaching n)uft always, or that it muil never precede Bap- tifm. V . The Paedobaptills are equally averfe from both thefe : but they muft necedarily choofe one *, -and either allow, that they ought always to teach Per- fons before they baptize 'em \ or elfe, that they may always,, in all Cafes, baptize before they teach 'em. I know, they had rather fay, that fome are to be taught firft, and others are ta be baptiz^'d fir ft". But that can't be admitted, becaufe the Scripture allows no ground for any fuch Di- ftindion, but fpeaks in the fame manner of all in general : and if it makes it necelTary, that Teach- ing or Baptifm ihou'd be hril: adminifter'd to feme, it makes it as neceflary it IhouM be fo to all. . . Which then of the two remaining Extremes is to be adher'd to, 'twill not be very difficult to determine. Ko body dares fay, that none are to be taught before they are baptiz'd : this wou'd fl.ock every rational Enquirer, 'tis fo grofs and palpable an Error, as might be (hewn from the Mature of the Thing, and the Order obferv'd in the CommifTion, &c. And Christ certainly in- tended Let.7- Hiftoiy ofhifcxnt-fyimifm. 25; tended to be underftood, that his Miniflers fhou'd teach the Jews and HeathcTJ^-, snd all Adult Perv- fons, before they were baptiz'd •, which can only be imply 'd in the Order of the Words, where Teaching is firft mentioned. And accordingly, St. Hierom^ as he is cited and tra.nilated by "lAxWall himfelfy fays on thefe very Words, They fir fit each ail the Nations \ then whcrJ they are taifght^ they hap^ tlz^e^mwlth Water : for it cannot he that the Body pwud receive the Sacrari^ent of Baftifm^ ' unhfs the Soul have before received th^ true- Faith. The fa trie Senfeis put upon the GommilFiori by others of the more antient Fathers^' as I Hva II have- occa fieri to fliew hereafter. But pur Author adds, * St. Hie- rom here commenting on the Commifjion given by our Saviour to the JpoftUs^ of carrying the Gof^ei to ^the Nation} that rrfr^ Heathens, exptar'ns the Me- thod they were to ^ufe^ Viz, Firfi to teach thofe Na- tions the' Chrifti4n. Religion^ and- then baftiz^e Vw $ which all Ta^dobapfifls grant to be the jMethod that ought jevertobemd. "'';.' rneed not infift then any longer on this, our "Antagonifts readily allowing, that at leaft the A-- -dult, add all fuch as are capable of being taught, cannot be regularly baptiz'd without it. And therefore too, in the Catechifm of the Church of England^ we are told, that of Perfons to be Laptiz'd are requirM, Repentance^ whereby they fir- fake Sin ^ and Faith^ whereby they fiedfafily believe the Promifes of Go D, &c. making thefe the ne- cedary Conditions of regularly adminiltring Bap- tifm ^ that is, as they mean, to the Adult. We fee therefore, that the Psedobaptifts therti- felvcs will not pretend they mult never teach any before they baptize 'em ^ but on the contrary<> make it neceflary, at leaft in fome Cafes, to teach J. Part II. pag.4. ^'^■' ' firft: 45^4 (j^JieBions ojiMr.WAYs Lct.y^, firft : But if it mnft be fo in fome Cafes, then, as 1 have before demoiKftrated, it muft be fo in all. Having reduc'd the matter to this Dilemma, and withal it being neceflarily and freely allow'd mc, that the laft part cannot be true ^ it evident- ly follows, that we are oblig'd to baptize only fuch as have been firft taught, and do, according to the Tenour of the Scriptures^ profefs a true Faith and Repentance. Tho the foregoing Reafoning is not long, it may be ufeful perhaps to contradt it here, and give the whole Force of it in a Ihorter Compafs, that the Evidence and Certainty of its parts may be more ealily difcern'd. Either all muft be taught before Baptifm, or iione, or fome only. But there's no ground to fay fome only, becaufe the Commiflion makes no Diftindion between what is to be done to fome, and not to others. Neither can it be faid, that none are to be taught firft, for this (huts out even the Adult, which is againft the Opinion of Our An- tagonifts. It can only remain then, as a neceflary -Conclulion, that all in general are to be taught be- fore they can be admitted to Baptifm. And, by another Confequence as ftrong as the former. Infants cannot be of that Number, and muft not be baptiz'd before they arc taught. To evade the Force of all this, it has been an- fwer'd, and I muft needs fay ridiculoufly enough, That Infants are to be taught likewife^ i/iz.- when they come to Age, and are capable of it 5 fo that tho the Commiflion does require all who. are bap- tiz'd to be taught alfo, yet that does not exclude Infants. , But, in the firft place, I have juft now fliewn, that all muft be taught before they can be regu- larly baptiz'd.4 and this unavoidably excludes In- fants. f 2. Sup- Let./. Hlflory of hifant'^a^tlfnu 255 2. Snppoling the CommifTion cou'd allow 'of this Comment, then it may run thus : Go teach aU Nations^ even Infants too when they are grown vp^ &c. /. e. when they ceafe to be Infants. This Shift can be of no Service to 'em : for if the Term aH N^jions only means Adult Perfons, and Infants when grown up, the Queftion will be at an end, and we are agreed. ' 1 is a pretty odd Diftindion indeed, but they fhall have it, if they pleafe, and we'll allow, that Infants when they are grown up (that is, to fpeak in our own way, and as we think more properly, when they are come out of that ignorant State, and are no longer Infants, but Adult Perfons) may be baptiz'd. And if this will reconcile us, let both Pattys, inftead of dif- turbing each other, unite henceforward in a com- mon Oppolition of thofe Enemys to the Sacra- ments of our moil holy Religion, who dare wholly cafhier and rejed the Ordinance. Some again, with as little Judgment and Con- iideration, endeavouring to avoid the Force of what I fay, do in reality give me all I plead for. They frankly confefs this CommifTion relates pe- culiarly to the Adult ^ and therefore think it's no wonder it is exprefs'd fo as to be applicable to them only. This is infinuated more than once 'h^^Mv.Wall himfelf^ which I admire at. Did not he fee 'tis all the Antipsedobaptifts defir'd ? that inftead of invalidating what they urge, it was granting 'em their Argument? For we prefently return, that if this Commiflion relates to Adult Perfons, as they confefs, then it authorizes to baptize only fuch : From whence 'tis eafy and na- tural to infer, that no other Baptifm is to be al- low'd of. ^ If this Commiflion does not enjoin In- fant-Baptifm, we challenge 'em to Ihew us any ■ — — i— — i— — — Pi— — ^— I— — 1 I Part XL pag. 37S, 379. other 2 5 6 (IlefleBiom on Mr.W^lYs Let./. other that does ; and 'tis with the higheft Reafoa we afTert, there is no Commiffion or Authority for it in Scripture. -.But thefc are Trifles. A more material Objec- tion is ftill behind^ namely. That the Term, in the CommilTion being all Natiotjs^ Infants, as be- ing a part of the ISlations, raufl equally be inclu- ded with the reft ^ and are therefore to be ac- counted as proper Subjeds of Baptifm, as Per- fons of a more advanced Age. At ;firft fight t^i^ feems to carry fomething plaufible ii; it^ but 4 little Thought will prcfently difcover how fuper* ficial it is. .. For, in the largeft Extent of the Phrafe, . as taken to li gnify every individual of each Spede3^ all Unbelievers, and profane Blafphemers, bpt^ among the Jews and Heathens^ are compreheiidtd too : So likewife are all Atheifts, and the vilefj: Debauchees: Add to thefe, allfuperftitious, ,'Q,b- lliaate idolaters,^ together with, mere Jsatii^ls, and raving Madmen, &c. for thefe are all Parts of t\\^ Nations as truly as Infants. But none. of our Adverfarys will fay, thefe might therefore all, or any of 'em, be baptiz'd. , ; i ., - !;;^ Befides, you may take notice, :Sir^' that; Qjjjr LORD does not fay the whole Nation,: or eve- ry Perfon of every Niition, or allicf all.I^vation,^, which woii'd have made the Cafe very differeiiC from what it is; but only indeEnitely, all ISlla- trons, Scarce a Youngfter, . who Iras begun his Logick, but is acquainted with'-^the Diftindion between genera fngvlorum^ and , /tr:gula g£?ierum[: and there is vilibly a wide Difference between >?// Nations^ as. the holy Penmat; cxpiqlles ^t, and .«// cf. all Nations J as our Antagoaills ,wou\l fain ,un- derftand it. And, in Ihort, the ; l^i;.i Meaning of ifioi*. LO RD-^-caii-be-oiily tiuv-thai'as hcfare tixy had preach'd only to the Jeivs^ now they fl"i..'a'd ':rU<: preach Let.7. Hiflory of Infant- ^aptifnt. 1 5 7 preach the fame Gofpel to all other Nations, and baptize 'em ^ that is, fuch of 'em as were capable of Baptifm, and -wou'd receive it. Thus, for Example, in a parallel Inllance of the fame nature, f St.Job?i is faid to have baptiz'd ^// Judea, and all the Region round £ihout Joidan : And yet we find in the toUowing Verfes, that he rebuk'd the Pharifees and Sadduces^ and gave 'cmi to know, that fuch as brought not forth Frv^ts meet for Repentance^ cou'd not be admitted. Be- fldes, (which reaches exadly the Cafe in hand) I obferve, 'tis added, Ver. 6. that they confels'd their Sins: which makes it plain, that Infants, were not baptiz'd by him, for they cou'd make no fuch ConfelTion j and yet of all he there baptiz'd in general, 'tis faid, namely of Jerif falem^ and all Judea, &c» that they were baptiz^^d of him in Jordan, confejjing their Sins. Which by the way is, I think, a pretty plain Demonftration, that St. John, our L O R D's Forerunner, did noE admit Infants to his Baptiun. Now from all this it is evident, both that all Judea, &:c. in this Place, and all Nations in the Comniiffion, can only mean fuch as were capable and willing to receive the Faith, and did refolve to endeavour to walk worthy of the Fccatlon where" with they were called. 'Tis wholly upon the Compre- henfivenefs of this Phrafe that our Adverfarys ground all their Hopes to find Infant-Baptifm in- ftituted in this CommilTion. This our Author confefTes, when he fays, that it ^ ajfords this Argu- ment for Pdcdobaptifm ', Infants are part of the Nations^ and fo to be baptized by this Commijfion, But I have utterly taken away this Pretence, and prov'd, there is no real ground from the Commifllon to think Infants ought to be baptiz'd. And the bell t Mat. ill. $, 5. "^ Part II. pag. 578. S Arsu-» 258 ^fieSlionsonMr.WsAYs Let.7. Argument for it is fo very precarious, that I can't but wonder at Mr. Dorrington^ prepofterous At- tempt, to make ufe of this Text to prove from it, that Infants as well as others ought to be bap- tized. But that Author afleds Wonders, and his whole Book is one, in which he undertakes to prove Infant-Baptifm from Scripture*, which is as much as to fay, the Scripture pofitively aflerts what it does not fpeak one Word of. Mr. Wall has afted more modeftly, and very ingenuoully owns, all that can be found in the Scriptures is too obfcure to build upon, and fo wifely declines the Combat w^ith that Weapon. And if the Redor of Whrrefljam had better confider'd the matter, ^tis likely he wou'd have laid by his Defign, rather than have expos'd himfelf fo much by the Publi- cation of this Book. What is faid above, concludes at leaft thus much, that there is nothing in the CommifTion which can be tolerably urg'd to prove, that In- fants are included in it. But this is not all : 1 have likewife been arguing, that the Commiflion neceiTarily and diredly excludes Infants ^ and this I am chiefly concern'd here to make good. What we urge to this purpofe, is principally from the v<'oxd Teach: for as Mr. Wall propounds our Ar- gument, 'f- Infants are fuch a part of the Nations as are not capable of being taught^ and fo not to be hap^ tiz'd: becaufe the Commifiion does as much com- mand to teach, as to baptize all Nations j and if there be any difference, rather more ftrongly : For 'tis to he noted, that the Subjed all Nations is immediately join'd with teach ^ fo that there cannot pojfibry be any Evafion. This muft needs be a powerful Argument to all Men that duly con- .* Part IL pag. 378. fider Let-7- Hiftory of Infayit^^ainijyn. 259 ilder it ^ and it highly concerns all P-^dobaptifls to get clear of it as well as they can. Bat the word Teach^ which makes the Difficulty, after a great deal of hammering, they at leng^th conclude, does not truly exprefs the Senfe of the Original ^ and therefore they fall foul on theTran- flation, and tell us, the true Senfe, in w^hich it ought to be rendered, is, difclfle or frofelyte^ in- Itead of teach all Nations. jN'ow, fay they, tho Infants are not capable of being taught, yet they may be profelyted. But I think this Criticifm has nothing in it. If, indeed, the Greeli Word does fignify barely to difcifle^ by baptizing fuppofe, or any other, way, without including to teach^ all our Argu- ment from this Place unavoidably falls to the Ground- And that it does fjgnify fo, is very fre- quently aflerted by the Divines of the Church of England ^ among the reil", by (| Dr. Hammond ^ from whom our Author takes it, as he has done molt of his beft Thoughts. , , I name Dr. Hammond in particular, becaufe there is fomething in his Condud upon this Point, which deferves efpecial Notice : For tho he is cer- tainly a confiderable iMan, yet his Opinion will weigh but very little on one fide or the other ia this Cafe, becaufe he grofly contradids himfelf, and by turns equally countenances and rejeds both. When he is bent lipon deftroying all that may be thought to prejudice the Caufe of Infant-Baptifm, then he fays, -j- the Word does not (ignify to teach^ but to receive into Difciplefhip, by Baptifm as the Ceremony, without fuppofing any preceding Inftruftion : And yet, notwithftanding he is fo pofitive here, in his Paraphrafe and Annotation be ftrenuoufly allerts the dired contrary, and thus II Six ^erysy pag. 196. f lb. S 2 para- i6o (^(efleElions on Afr.Wall'^ Let.7. paraphrafes the Woi'ds^ teach all Nations theChri" filan DoBrine^ and ferfuade ^em to embrace it^ and to live according to it. And in the Note, he has more to the falne purpofe. In his Diflertations on Epifcopacy, he runs the Words thus: ^ Call to Difciplefhif^ or inftrttB all Nations in the Faith and hifcipline^ certify all of the RefurreHion of Christ^ and by preaching the Gofpel in all PartSy gather Difciplesy and thofe you have fo gather'^d^ bap' tiz,e and teach* So plainly does this learned Man contradid himfelf: upon which, this Remark is obvious, That when the Doctor's Mind was not immedi- ately under the Power of Prejudices, (which were as firong in him fometimes as in other Men) and when lie had no Intereft to ferve ^ he cou'd fee aild acknowiedg the Truth, which the Dull his Pfcjudices rais'd hinder'd him from feeing at o- ther times. - But farther, this Anfwer is utterly falfe ^ and is accordingly difown'd by Men of the greateft Learning •, as '\ Cameron^ |1 Grotius^ 'f-j- Rigaltius^ with others, whoni I fhall mention hereafter. Add to thefe the Right Reverend and Learned Bilhop of Sarum^ who in his judicious Expofition of the Articles, fiys thus : U}] By the firfi Teaching or making Difciples, that mtifi; go before Baptifm^ is to he meant the convincing the Worid^ that j E s o s is the Chris t, the true M e s s i a s, anointed of God with Fulnefs of Grace^ and of the Spirit * Viffert, 9. cap. 4. §. i. Ad Difo'ipulattim vacate, vel Difci- plina ^ Fide imbuite Gentes omnes, RefurreO:ionem CHRISTI omnibus teftatam facite, & Evangelio per omnes oras enunciato, Difcipulos congregate, congreg^atos /Scfrli-, t -Iti loc. li inloc. tt I^ Cyprian, Epift."54. I':; F.lgC 500. ■ ■ . ' Without Let./. Hljiory of Infant-^aptifm. 2 6 1 without Meafurc '-, and [em to* he the Saviour ^und Redeemer of the World. And when any were brought to acknowledg this^ then they were to haptiz,e thern^ to initiate them to this Religion^ &:C. and then they led ^em into the Water ; and with no other Gar* ments^ but what might cover Nature^ they at firfi laid them down in the Water -^ as a Man is laid in a Crave *, and then they [aid thefe Words^ I baptize or vvafh thee in the Kame of the Fath e r, Son, and Holy Ghost: Then they raised them vp a^ gain^ and clean Garments were fut on them^ See. In this Account of the Method the Apoftles acd firft Chriftians purfa'd, his Lordfhip has given almoft as exaft a Defcription of our Pradice to this day, as if he had dellgn'd to exprefs it. Dr. Whitby likewife, fomevvhat more largely, with his ufual Modcfty and Candour, correds this Miltake. ^ uoc^^iiv^ fays he, here is to preach the Gofpel to all Nations, and to engage them to believe it-y in order to theit Profejjlon of that Faith by Baptifm. This he goes on to confirm, and then adds, / defire any one to tell me^ how the Apoftles coud^ /^aenT^'e/v, make Difciples of an Heathen, or tinhelieving Jew, without being (JLOL^moX-, or Teachers of them'j whether they were not fent to preach to thofe that coud hear^ and to teach them to whom they preacWd^ that Jesus was the Christ, and only to baptize them when they did believe this ? This is fo abfolutely necejfary^ in the Nature of the Things till a Chriftian Church among the Heathers or the Jews was founded^ and fo exprefy faid ly f Jullin Martyr to have been the PraEHce of the fir ji- * In loc. t Apol. 2. p. 95. E. "Ocvit^V ^nSrum }yj7n^v6)(;jv jixn^ S3, Jg^s l6z (^fleflions on Mr.Wair^ Let. 7 . jiges of the Church -^ that to deny what is confirrnd by fuch Evidence of Reafon and Church Hiflory, wou^d be to prejudice a Caufe^ which in my poor Judgment -^ needs not this Interpretation of the Word ^jM^dliw i, nor needs it he ajferted^ that Infants are made Dif- ciples, any more than that they are made Believers hy Baptifm^ &c. I don't fee how it is pofTible to make any Re- ply to this, aad therefore 1 might be excus'd from adding any thing more *, but bccaufe the Strefs of our Argument from the Comminioa lies chiefly in this Word, and our Adverfarys generally make it their main ReiTource, I will the more ftudioufly proceed to (hew, beyond queftion, i. From the Senfe of the Greek Word ^ 2. From the Autho- rity of the feveral Verfions ; 3. From the Opi- nions of the Fathers \ and laftly, From the Scrip- tures themfclves, and the Pradice of the Apoflles ; that /.-t^^Tuii6^)S, one that has learn"* d miich. 'Av«/^av8ocv6?, / learn again, KoToc/x^vOficV^, / learn thorowlyj or exaBrly. 2:u/x/xav:^ctv£/v, to learn toge^ ther '-, from whence chj/x^ocOhths > a School- fellow^ or Fellow-learner. And fo in like manner of all the relt. Since then the Primitive fignifys to learn, &c. and all its Derivatives and Compounds re- tain the like Senfe, why muft only /xo^OiiIms and /xoi6nT^u6) be excepted ? And where's their Inge- nuity, who fo irregularly, and contrary to the Analogy of the Greek Tongue, arbitrarily pre-r tend that thefe Words', have no relation t^ teaching, &c. only becaufe this Fancy ferves their Purpofe fomething better? whereas an impart^ S ^ Judg ^ 2(^4 ^fleSiiojison Mr.W2i\Ys Let./. Judg wou'd from this Obfcrvation alone, con- clude /Ltci^\',Tiviiv mull: needs fignify to teach^ or to be tau-rht^ or to caufe to he taught^ or fome fuch thing, which fliou'd include teaching. I fuppofe no body will any more recur to the antiquated Invention which fome Grammarians have long been proud of, I mean the Antifhrafis^ which is now exploded by the bell and moil lear- ned Piiilologiils, as a mere Cover for the Igno- rance of thofe who ufe it. I need not refer you to the Spamfi Minerva *, for to be fure you remem- ber well enough the i(5th Chapter of the 4th Book^ where San^lus folidly expofes the Miftake thofe Grammarians committed, who when they knew no better, imagin'd Words were fometimes us'd ill a contrary Senfe to the Primitive from whence they were deriv'd. Li^ctis in Latin is a common Iiillance ia every body's mouth *, but the more ac- curate and judicious now no longer fay 'tis deriv'd a luccndo^ cjuia minimi liiceat ^ but rather, becaufe of the great and almoft continual Illuminations in the Groves, occafion'd by Sacrifices, &c. as iay * ^^(^jf^'us^ and \ Perlz^onius^ to name no more. And if this Jlnti^hrafu be, as Vojfius exprefTes it, but a ilyr//y Whim of the Grammarians^ who are of- tentimes none of the abled Criticks, then MaeMTTjs, and.aaQnTeuv, as they are deriv'd from [xoiv^niv^ to learn^ d:c, muft likewife bear forne Congruity in their Signification, and not be applicable to fuch as are not capable of learning or being taught. But fome argue from the Termination, and pretend, that Verbs in iio^ are to be interpreted by fum in Latin j and fo /X(x0hit)s iignifying a Dif- * Par tit. Orator. ^ 339. t In Saii£l. Minerva,/'. 951. II Etymolog. ad vpceqi Lucus» Inane Grammaticorum Commenrum/ ^a ciple Lec.7- Hifiory of Infant-^aptifm. 265 ciple only, /u^6>itiu6) might be reader'd fum Difcl^ fulns. It is eafy to fee how trifling this is ^ and that were it true, it coii'd be of no ufe to our Adverfarys*, for MaBwni; we alTert means fuch a Difciple only as is taught •, and then /^ae^Ttueiv will iignify, according to their own way, to be fuch Difciples. Bat befides, the Criticifm is ut- terly falfe, as might be made appear from in- numerable Examples : thus >c^\eu6j lignifys ju» heo^ to command^ as well as yjtKc^^ from whence it is form'd ^ and fo jl^Aeu'^ to counfd^ &c. from /ib'Aa). The like may be obferv'd of ^'eiici), from whence fccj forms fome of its Tenfes, fo perfedly fynonymous aie the two Words ^ as are alfo ^, gq^ and (tivgh ^ x(co and x^^'^ 0 zj-Aeo), '^?\9.\ic^ '^ 7s\i<^^ •Di'tbV^ : and this may be feen too in ^oLmK^hdy dyo^j XOqZVG)^ ^f:V.(Tiil\iOiy fc7ro7rTtu6L^, zTf6(pv]\i\)0)^ /^.ocvTtuu), and vrui^m an In- ftance in the very Cafe, befide Multitudes which I pafs by, none of which can admit of the Senfe pretended. Upon all this, I think I may fafely conclude, according to the Analogy of Derivations in the 6'y^f/^Tongue,as well as in all other Languages,that as Difciple in EngHjli is made of the Latin Difcifn- lus^ which comes from difcere 10 learn \ and as cAi- ^6i(j-A.oih@^ a Tutor ^ Teacher^ Mafter^ from t/^l/'Dctr- K£/v to teach^ becaufe fuch a Mafter J^iS^dGMii docs teach '^ but Ki)^[fQ^ a Mafier or Governor, from Ku^©-', full Power and Authority^ becaufe Mailers and Governors are fuppos'd, h,u^©^ ty^iv^ to have fuch Power : fo mocGhtw; cctto tS £/^vTi<;'^ any 2(58 ^flcHioyis on Mr. Wall V Ler,7. any doubt what the Word might fignify here, m\'hStt(siLocKl^T^i% immediately following in the laft Sentence, wou'd have made it certain *, for to fay he fpeaks to them as Fellow-learners, be- catife he did but then begin /^aOnTturc&ocf, mud render it yet more neceflary to iindeiliand the Word thei e, to mean to leam^ or he t.wght or in- Befides, he ufes the fame Word again exactly thus 3 little after, where he direds the J-fhcfian Chrillians how to behave themfelves even towards Unbelievers and Strangers to the Faith •, and ad- vifes 'em to pray for all Men : ^ For^ fays he, there is feme hope they may repent^ and obt.un the Mercy of God : let ^ em he inftrvUed (^laQsiTiCBvivai) by your good Worh. When they are angry^ be you h'rjd and forgiving^ &c. And again, in that admi- rable Epiftie to the Romans^ fo worthy of a Chri- ilian Bifhop, wherein he exprefTes an ardent and impatient Defire to fufFer Martyrdom for Christ*, among other things, he moft earneflly entreats 'em not to deprive him, thro their m.iftim'd Kind- nelles, of that glorious Crown, by ufing their In- tereft to prevent the Death he was then going to fuffer by wild Beads in the Amphitheatre at Rome, More, fays the illuftrious Saint, you cannot do for me, than to fuffer me to be facrific'd to God. And a little after: -{" Te have never emfd me in any thing ^ ye have taught others ^ / woud therefore that thoje things alfo Jhoud be confir7J2d by your Prac- * tpift. ad Ephef. cap. lo. Y^cti \.^ip ^/ AhXuv J'i aVdfftJ- Td/^VCtr ' Ttt ^Hct J)J^T^fltTtf , « )Cctt (AVi Went TO CLV^^fhilOY 'ff^^y of Let.7- Hijlory of Infant-^ aptifm. 27 1 of fiittin^q; an end to Human Kind. And again^ ia his Dialogue with Tryfho the Jew^ he tells him, that as GOD, for the lake of thofe Seventy Thou- fand n'ho had not bow'd the Knee to Bad^ for- bore to pour out his Anger upon the whole Body ^ "^^ So now in like mannery fays St. Jnftln^ GOD has »oty or does not four down his Judgments^ as knowing that fome everyday are taught to believe (/^aSMTtuo- fjh^s) in the Name of his., Christ, and do firfake their erroneous Ways. Tis a Difficulty to tranOate the Word here by anyone in EngUjhj which will fufficiently exprefs the Senfe of the Original. This Paflage may be thought therefore to make rather againll me than for me, efpecially if it fliou'd beaflerted, that the Phrafe MatiMTeueti' el^ to cvoiacc tS xprxTOY here, is the fame in Senfe with (ha.iz'Jl^&v eis to ovo^octS xpi'- 2:Tor. For to this purpofe our Antagonifts talk, when they pretend ixcc^^iveiv in the Commiffion is explaiu'dby the following Words, and means, by baptiz,ing them, &c. But I know. Sir, you are not liable to be impos'd on by fuch Fancys : for to profelyte toCnRi st, ortodifciple to Chri st, tho it be not the Meaning of the Word, may indeed be good Senfe enough ^ but to profelyte into the Name of C h r i s t, is a Phrafe 1 believe never us'd : Befides, no Man will ever be able to find an Inftance, where ^aeMTBiW is put for, and jfignifys jiaTrTl^Gii'. But if the Word be here us'd in the Senfe our Antagonifts ailert, it fhou'd be render'd difcipled in the Name of G h R i s T : and this, tho a' very odd obfcure fort of rhrafe, may be admit- ^ Pag. 258. Toj/ ivTov TpoToi'j xet/ vvv IHina rtiv K^mv ^7l ^fleclms onVfr.'^AXs Let.7. ted, if it be underftood to include teaching, and means to difciple only by that *, which will not be allow'd : and yet to difciple in the Name of Christ, without teaching, is Nonfenfe, and can have no Meaning at all ; fcr a^ to ovo/xoc, in the Name^ intends into the Beliefs as Dr. Whifhy paraphrases Matth. yixv'm, 19. and the moft lear- ned Interpreters generally agree. And to be bap- tiz'd in the ISlame of C h r i s t, is explain'd Rom. vi. 3. by being baptiz.'^d into Christ, and i?7to his Death *, and Gal. iii. 27. by putting on Christ: all which rauft needs imply a Profeflion of Faith in Christ, and his Death, into which they were baptiz'd, as all the Antients underftood it. Upon which account, Baptifm was call'd in the Greek Church ^(p^ryis ths niVto:^ \ and in the La- tin Church, Sigillum Fidei^ the Seal of Faith. The Subftance of all this Mr. Wall himfelf like- wife allows, when he infinuates, that fome among us who baptize only in the Name of the Lord j E s u s, are probably Soclnians ^ and -j' it is not for the ufe of tbofe^ fays he, that have a mind to oblite- rate the Faith of the T R I N i t y, to haptiz.e their Profelytes into the Faith and Name of it. From which Words it feems plain enough, that Mr. Wall by 8s TO ovof(a underftands into the Faith : Now, to initiate or difciple into, or to the Faith of Christ, fuch as at the fame time either don't or can't know any thing of C h r i s t, is an Ab- furdity of the firft Rank. It follows then, that the true Senfe of the Word is no other than what I have given it : and if you will ftill have it render'd difcipled to the Name of Christ, that can however only mean in better Bnghfh^ inftruded in, and brought over to t Part II. I. 222. the Let.7- Htftory of Infant'^aptifml 27 3 the Faith of Christ, which is the Senfe I con- tend for. Beiides, it may be farther obrerv'd, that St. Jvftin is here fpeaking particularly of A- dult Perfons, who of Jews became Chriftims j which mull be by believing in Christ, and forfaking their Errors^ as he exprefles it. And of the fame Perfons again, a little after, he fays ^ They received the Gifts of the Spirit as every one was worthy^ being enlightned by the Name of Christ, If cpGmlofA^©'' is here pretended to mean bap- tiz'd, as Mr. Wall fays it fometimes fignify'd in the more diftant Centurys of the Church, but I think not fo early as St.Jvfiins time^ it will be thereby yet plainer, that |ua9nTeuB>^ a little be- fore cou'd not intend the fame, but fomething dfe, viz. to inftrud, upon which this Baptifm follow'd 5 the Paifage wou'd otherwife be a grofs Tautology. But if that Word only denotes the enlightning of the Mind, which feems moft likely, it will ftill argue, that ixMiveiv which precedes it, mult fignify to inftrud, becaufe the Mind cannot be en- lightned but by Inftrudion. And if we only ob- ferve, that the Perfons fpoken of are, as I faid. Adult, fuch as, 'tis granted on all hands, cannot become Chriftians without Faith in Christ, which muft come by Hearing ^ this Conlideration alone is enough to determine, that the Senfe of the Word in this place is as I have render'd it, be- caufe 'tis apply'd to fuch as undoubtedly were adually inftrufted, and prevail'd on to believe, and ' cou'd not be initiated, difcipled, or what you'll pleafe to call it, without fuch Inftrudion. This I fuppofe is now fufEciently plain, and there- fore I proceed to another Inftance from the fame Fatherc T A %7A ^ficSiionsonMr.W2L\Ys Let.7. A few Lines after, he tells bis Antagonift, that the Jews honour God and his Christ with their Lips only , "^ hut we^ fays he, having been in- firucied (^£/ACi9nTeu^if'vo() or ta2^ght in allTruth^ ho- nour ''em in our ABions^ and Knowledge and in our •whole Mindsy even vnto Deaths Me/xaOwTeu/^ievoi is fo ftriftly conneaed to'A^v15£|■c^ in this Paflage, that trandate it into Engllfl} by what Word you pleafe, it muft of necefTity imply learnings teach- ings or the like *, for no one can be difcipied, &c> to or by the Truth any other way. But 4 need not repeat Inftances of this kind j for the more learned and judicious will allow, that when the Word is usM tranfnively^ as the Grammarians fpeak, it does^ always fignify as I contend : but when 'tis usM in a neuter or intran- fitive Senfe, as 'tis often believ'd to be, they think it does not lignify to teach^ &c. I don't indeed remember that Mr. Wall any where makes this Diftindion '^ tho I know fome of the Psedo- biptifus do: but he chufes to aflert, with a dog- matical Air, as if it was one of the plJinelt things in the World, that the Word f Pgnifys ynvch like vohat we fay in Englifn to enter any one's\Name, as a Scholar^ Bifcifle^ or Profelyte^&iC* and this he never goes about to prove, or give the leaft Reafon for, but only Ihews how that Inte*^pretation of the Word makes for his pur- pofe^'asif that was Pveafon enough, and all iMen wereoblig'd to fubmit to his Determination. ^But it will appear that he is altogether mif- takeii in this Criticifm, by (hewing, that even i:M§' artful Diftindion of fome Men which was 'ii i • '.t^iJPtialog. cum Tryphon. pag. 258. 'U^.i1<; M^ xal h ^'i?- t Part XI. pag. $78. jult Let./. Htftory of Infant-(Baptifm. 27 j juft now mention'd, can be of no ufe, becaufe the Word even in this Neuter Sigaihcation, does always mean and include teaching. At prefent, 1 remember but one PalTage which is cited on this occafion, by thofe of the contrary Opinion, and that is Matth, xxvii. 57. where 'tis faid of Jofeph of Arimmthea^ i^^jA^cri^ or as BeTLas Copy at Cambridge reads it, £/.ux3HT4l'9jf tsT 'IH20y", which our Tranflation renders, was Jesus Difclple. This is fuppos'd to be a plain Inftance that the Word fignifys limply to he a Difcifle\ and therefore jj Confi amine cites only this place, to confirm the Neuter Signification he puts upon the Word, in oppofition to teach '^ the tranfitive Senfe he had before mentioned. To this I anfwer: 'Tis plainly a Miftake to fuppofe the Word is ever us'd as a Nevter^ or Intranptively^ Its being frequently conltru'd with a Dative Cafe, perhaps might occafion the Miftake j for I obferve Stephens "^, Bushy -y^ Sec. note, that when it's join'd with a Dative, it fig- nifys to be a Difciple : but of all the Inftances of this Conftrudion I don't know one which will fufficiently confirm this Suppofition. As for that produc'd by Conftantine^ from Matt, xxvii. 57, 'tis very ihort of the Pointy for why may not it as well be render'd, had been infiruEled^ taughty &c. by Christ? or, was brought over to Jesus, as well as, was Jesus Difciple f For this will exprefs the Senfe of the Place, as well at leaft as the vulgar Tranflation *, and with this Advantage too, that the Words I ufe are much more agreeable to the Origination and Primary Senfe of the Creel Word, which ought to be con- fider'd. Befides, 'tis plain, th^t Jofeph^ who was II In Lexic. ad Voc. > Thefaur. Gicec. ad Voc. f Gram. Grxc. p, 162. T 2 a J(tp; 27^ ^fleSlions on Mr.WAYs Ltt.7] a Jew^ couM uot become a Difciple of Christ, but by being taught, and convinc'd that he was the true Messiah who was to come: and the very Import and Defign of the Words is ma- nifeftly to fignify, that Jofefh did believe in Jesus '■, and therefore i can't fee any reafon to fuppofe the Word has a new Senle here, when that which 'tis fo generally us'd in, is fo proper. To make it yet clearer what the Word means in this Conftrudion, I will prefent you with feve- ral other Inftances, which I believe will oblige you to underiland it in my Senfe. Plutarch^ in the Life of Antl^hon the Orator, fays, "^ he was taught (/xa9MT<^Ws) hy his Father^ who profefs^d Ordtor)^ 6cc. 'Tis obfervable, that Tlutarch has himfelf explain'd the force of the Word here, by thefe Words which immediately follow : and havi?7g learn d the Art of Pleading^ he gave himfelf to the Tuhlich And in the Life of Ifocrates^ he tells us, '\ Theofompus of Scio, Epho- rus of Cuma, Afclcpiades the Writer of Tragedy s^ and Theodedes of Phafelis, were all educated (e^- 6;iTeu(r?) or taught^ or infirucJed hy^ or brought vp nn* der. him. Again, he fays of z/£fchin€s^ that || according to fome^ he had never been taught (^iiocbwTl\j(T»,i) by any Mafher^ but by Writing in the Courts^ became acquaint ted with the Forms and' Aianner of Vroceeding. ^ * Vit. decern Rhetor. 7/:^, 1530. MctS^fl^ji/W cTfeTw TlAreji f Ibid. pag._ 1^39* 'Eua^y)T. 518, BeotfiJccKTOi y^ viyLdiy h^^.h-m^ ji DeVit, decern Rhetc^^.. i', 153(5. UctiJ^.(lo{j.ivQ- -rf.^i TtjicL H.CU 'NiKicf, TA^' Xv^hj^tot^. • ■ r 4 taught 28o (I(efleBions on Mr.^olYs Let./. taught Antigonus. And again, a little after, ^ Lylis a Dlfciple of Pythagoras, inftruEied Epa- minondas. Tlato^ in one of his Dialogues, makes Socrates fay, t Carry your Sons with you ^ for in hopes of gaining them, they will be the more eafily per- fuaded to teach us. In all thefe places ttzh^^iiv is us'd juft as ^ta- ewTeiJeiv is in others, which I have mention'd be- fore. From whence it is but reafonable to infer, that both thefe Words, in thefe and fuch-like Cafes, lignify one and the fame thing, namely, to inftru^-, or teaeh^ or the like. Another fynonymous Word by which the Senfe of ^a6iiT5i'6) may be illuftrated, is aK.i(i), which is frequently enough us'd for to learn in the Kew Teltament , as well as among profane Wri- ters. Tindar has a PafTage very pertinent to this effed, tho the Word is metaphorically apply'd in it : |1 For Salamis can produce as brave Soldiers^ fays the Poet, as any in the World j Hedor learned (Sk^otvj the Truth of this from A]^X before the Walls of Troy. The antient Scholiaft interprets aM,«^v by lxcLV^h^{v iff this place : and 'tis very plain the Metaphor is taken from the Schools, where Pupils hear and are taught by Tutors appointed to that purpofe. And this Word is often us'd to exprefs this Senfe. ^ JLlian. Var. Hiftor. lib. 3. cap. 17. Avm^Hoyvdeiyi^ f Euthydem. pag. 19c. D. "low? H S'tMof v@-f ui *Am^avA§Q- h J)AcPo'^ii^ P^t:*" tUjj liciin x«- taJ^UIw J^mnaiv 'Ap^aah -tS ^v^ikS. jl Vit. Xenocrat. ^'Our©- U m UhATrvvQ- ii;cmv. C^) In Vir. Dion. p. 1756. '^(T'Tr^cfkji, kai izj^^A-n ^rO/MOTCM^O" ^^bjj\ AVTOV hw^ly n^A70)Vt KdrAKHOAt. ^(6) 1-fK.^elopid. p. ^09. '^U(PAv cAe vS^a4' xct/ ta^ J)ArejL^A^ h rci ^- A.ot'C«^^o p^-> '2^' TinKAk^^ KAi nijmyiciA^ 6 cTfj AKvavTi kaI leifurt 282 (!(efleSiions on Mr. Wall V Let.7? lei fur e Hours ^ one in Hunfwg^ W reft ling ^ and th^ like ; and the other in learning (aV^c^v) or being inftruBed in fomething-^ and in Philofophical Diffw tations* Thus too he ufes the Compound haiiia^ when he i remarks out of Stefimhrotm the Hiftorian, "}- that Themiftocles was inftruBed (5>(Xr^o-ou) or taught by Anaxagoras. Thus in the Life of Cicero^ he fays, [| when he came to Athens, he heard^ that is, was inftruEhed by or ftudy^d under (^mk^jcte) An- tiochus o/Scalona, tp/f^ whofe voluble Eloquence he was extremely fleas^d^ but did not approve of the new Opinions he had flarted^ Now, in all thefe Cafes, it's plain, the \X/'ords are us'd exadly in the fame Senfe as /.lojeM-^^to, which they therefore interpret in the places before-cited, and are a very home Argument, that /uec9n75U(i) in all fuch places ne- celfarily i m pi ys hearing and learning in one Party, and teaching in another. Notwithftanding this is fufficiently demonftra- ted in what I have already faid, I can't forbear adding one more illuftrious Inftance, which I re- member I have read in Clemens AUwrndrintis *, where he is (hewing, that the Jewi^i Philofophy is much the oldeft"of any other, and that the Grecian was borrow'd from it : He cites a Faf- fage out of Democritus^ where he boafts of his Learning and of his Travels^ which he intimates, gave him the Advantage of inform- ing himfelf of many things from wife Men in all Parts of the World, and from the Egyp- tians in particular, with whom he fays he had t Vit Themiftocl. p. 204. KctiTvi^TmiiiCcplQ^^ 'hyet^- II Vit. Ciceron. p. 1580. 'A