THE

DOCTRINE

OF

BAPTISMS,

REDUCED FROM ITS ANCIENT AND MODERN CORRUPTIONS;

AND

RESTORED TO ITS PRIMITIVE

SOUNDNESS AND INTEGRITY.

ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF TRUTH, THE SUBTSANCE OF

FAITH, AND THE NATURE OF CHRIST'S KINGDOM.

ISAIAH LII. 15.

That which hath not been told them, they shall see; and that which they have not heard, they shall consider.

TO THE READER.

THE doctrine of Baptisms hath been dark and ob scure in the church, from the very primitive times; and hath had more of human notion, than of divine truth in it; and therefore Zuinglius, writing, touching this point, speaks thus in the beginning of his book; Illud mihi ingenue circa libri initium dicendum est, fere omnes eos, quotquot ab ipsis apostolorum temporibus, de baptismo scribere instituerunt, non in paucis (quod pace omnium hominum, dictum esse velim) a scopo aberravisse (a): that is, “In the "beginning of my book, saith he, I must ingenuously

profess, that almost all those that have undertaken to "write of baptism, even from the very times of the "apostles, have (which I desire 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 also err as well as they, not in a few: And it is as free for me, or any body else, to differ from him, and other late writers, as for them to differ from former writers; especially if that be true, which godly and learned Chemnitius affirms out of Augustine, that these things are not tanquam articuli fidei, a quibus diversum sentire piaculum sit anathemate dignum (b).

And therefore, reader, I acquaint thee beforehand, that in this point I shall speak much otherwise, than all former or later writers whatever, that I have met with: And though I do not, without some fear and trembling,

(a) Zuingl. libel. de Baptis. tom. 2. f. 57.

(b) Chemnit. Examen Concil. Triden. 1. de Bapt.

dissent from so many worthy and gracious men, that have been, and are, otherwise minded; yet it is the less grievous to me, because I differ from them, (I can say it in truth before the Lord) not out of any desire 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 see the very faithful to leave it; seeing I am rather to join to the word, without men, than to men without the word; and where I find the most holy men in the world, and the word, parting, I am there to leave them, and to go along with the word.

And so, in all love and meekness, I tender this discourse to thec; desiring, that if thou canst not at present agree to what is therein contained, yet that thou wouldst not rashly judge and reproach it, seeing, through God's goodness, it may come to pass, that what thou knowest not now, thou mayest know afterwards.

But because I see this present generation so rooted and built up in the doctrines of men, I have the less hope that this truth will prevail with them; and therefore I appeal to the next generation; which will be farther removed from those evils, and will be brought nearer to the word; but especially to that people, whom God hath and shall form by his Spirit for himself; for these only will be able to make just and righteous judgment in this matter, seeing they have the Anointing to be their teacher, and the Lamb to be their light.