READER

T

HE Doctrine of Baptifms hath been Dark and Obfcure in the Church, from the very Primitive Times, and bath had more of Humane Notion, than of Divine Truth in it; and therefore Zuinglius, Writing, touching this Point, Speaks thus in the beginning of his Book, Entituled, De Bap. Tom.2. f. 57. Illud mihi ingenuè circa libri initium difcendum eft, ferè omnes eos, quotquot ab ipfis Apoftolorum temporibus, de Baptifmo fcribere inftituerunt,non in paucis (quod pace omnium Hominum dictum effe velim) à fcopo aberravife: That is, In the A 2 begin

beginning of my Book (faith be) I muft ingeniously Profefs, that almoft all those that have undertaken to Write of Baptism, even from the very time of the Apoftles, have (which I defire may be spoken with the Favour of all) not in a few things erred from the Scope. And as he affirms, that almost all before him had erred in many things, touching Baptism, so did he himself alfo Err, as well as they, not in a few: And it is as free for me, or any Body elfe, to differ from him, and other late Writers, as for them to differ from former Writers; efpecially if that be true which Godly and Learned Chemnitius affirms out of Auguftine, that these things are not Tanquam Articuli Fidei, a quibus diverfum fenti e piaculum fit Anathemate dignum, Chemnit, Examen

Examen Concil Trident. 1. de Bapt.

And therefore, Reader, I ac quaint thee before-hand; that in this Point, I fhall Speak much otherwise than all former or latter Writers what-ever, that I have met with: And tho' I do not, without fome Fear and Trembling, diffent from fo many worthy and gracious Men, that have been, and are, otherwife Minded; yet it is the lefs Grievous to me, because I differ from them (I can fay it in Truth before the Lord) not out. of any defire to be Singular, or for any worldly or carnal End whatever, but only that I might cleave to the clear and evident Word of God alone, even there where I fee the very Faithful to leave it; feeing I am rather to joyn to the Word without Men, than to joyn to Men withA 3

out

out the Word; and where I find the Holieft Men in the World, and the Word parting, I am there to leave them, and to go long with the Word.

And fo, in all Love and Meeknefs, I tender this Difcourfe to thee; defiring that if thou canst not at the present agree to what is therein contained, yet that thou wouldst not rafbly Judge and Reproach it, feeing through God's Goodness, it may come to pass, that what thou knoweft not now, thou mayeft know afterwards.

But because I fee this prefent Generation Jo Rooted and Built up in the DoEtrines of Men, I have the lefs hope that this Truth will Prevail with them; and therefore I Appeal to the next Generation, which will be farther Removed from thofe Evils, and will be brought nearer to the Word; but especially that People, whom God hath, and shall form by his Spirit for himfelf; for these only will be able to make Juft and Righteous Judgment in this Matter, feeing they have the Anointing to be their Teacher, and the Lamb to be their Light.

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