Hebrew on Greek: Yet I do not apprehend it any Difgrace (as fome would have it,) to have been enga ged with him; both for that he is a careful, painful, and induftrious fearching Perfon, much converfant in the prefent Controverfie; and, I believe, can fay as much for his Perfwafion, as any other what ever as alfo, for that the Point in Controversy between us, is not a Point of Human Learning: Here (for the main) is no need of Greek or Hebrew, or of the Subtilties of School-men, or of Exacte nefs of Criticisme: It must be deci ded plainly by good Senfe, and by the Harmony of the Scripture; and an English Bible (to which he doth appeal) fuffices for that.

I do confefs, I believe that fome of the Grounds which I have kid,

will

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will have no little Influence toward an Alteration in many received Schemes: But whether I have laid them right or not, I am no competent Judge. For though I am much confirmed in the Verity of Them by their undergoing of One kind of Teft, without any Lofs; yet before 1 do advance them from being Points of meer Opinion, to be Points of Jome Degree of Faith, I am willing they should undergo all Others. And therefore, Reader, they are put into thy Hands, (for I have done with them) to weigh and judge them.

ERRAT A.

Age 2. line 4.add be. p. 12. 1. 20, read by. p. 16. I. 20. dele it. p. 49. I. 27. read to. p. 53. 1. 23. dele capable of it. p. 54.1. 14. dele (). p. 99.1.21. read in way of Covenant through Chrift for Grace. p. 102. AN 1.17. read of all the Faithful. p. io3. 1. 11. dele now. p. 105. 1. 18. read of Genefis. p. 110. 1. s. add ). p. 15. 1. 27. dele: p. 128. 1. 30. read be underflood of that only. p. 129.1. 5. read fame. p. 150. 1. 20. read

is meant.

I

Cannot believe my felf obliged by the Occafional Difcourfe (which I held almost a Year and three Quarters ago) about Infants Baptifm, to ingage any further in that Controverfie, much lefs deliberately and folemnly; yet, having received fo large, and fo elaborate an Endeavour for my Satisfaction, and fo importunate and iterated Requefts, to give

B

you

you the Refult of my moft cool and ferious Confiderations of what you have done in It; I may not be fo much wanting in Civility to your Defires, and in Obedience to the Call I believe in them, as to decline the Incumbence and Obligation under which They put me to answer: And fo, either to receive my felf a further Illumination in the Point, or (which is better, and which I hope) to give it.

Only, let me have leave to tell you, (That) I am fenfible enough how difficult a Task it is, in it, felf, to Eradicate an Opinion grown inveterate by length of Time, and perhaps confirm'd by frequent Spoyls and Trophies over weak Oppofers of It, and that 'tis more difficult for one in my Circumftances, subject to a thousand Avocations and Diverfions; and who, at the Arrival of your Letter, thought of nothing lefs in all the World, than of being engaged in this manner againft Anabaptifm; and with a Perfon, a great part of whofe time hath been imployed in Thoughts and Study

about it.

And yet, under Difadvantages fo great against fo great Advantages, believing my felf in the right; in that Confidence, I have made a Refolution to let you know my Sentiments; and the rather, because I take

you

you (and I wifh, I may not be mistaken in it) to be fo unfeign'd a Lover of Truth, and fo Candid a one, that you will make Allowance for any Byafs in your Mind, in favour of your Opinion, which a long Prefcription may give it; and that you will not Refufe any Light that may be offered, if you have no other Reasons for doing So, than either that It is New unto you, or that you have not struck It your self.

As for my Sentiments on this Subject, that you may conceive Them with the greater Clearnefs, as also for Order fake, I will reduce them unto Two Heads. First, I will let you fee the Miftakes under which you are, as to your Apprehenfions of the Grounds of my Arguments for Infants Baptifm, as deduced from the Covenant of Abraham. And Then, I will difplay the Argument it felf in all its Evidence and Force, as it is bottomed on that Bafis: And this, without concerning of my felf in Other Arguments infifted on by others, and alfo touched and reflected on by you.

The Miftakes you are under in your Apprehenfions of the Grounds of my Argument, are Two, and very great ones: The First, That you conceive me to raise my Superftructure of Infants Baptifm on this Foundation, [That the believing Gentiles,

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and