Christianismus redivivus Christndom both un-christ'ned and new-christ'ned, or, that good old way of dipping and in-churching of men and women after faith and repentance professed, commonly (but not properly) called Anabaptism, vindicated ... : in five or six several systems containing a general answer ... : not onely a publick disputation for infant baptism managed by many ministers before thousands of people against this author ... : but also Mr. Baxters Scripture proofs are proved Scriptureless ... / by Samuel Fisher ...

Reply.

I was once of that opinion indeed, and practise too, together with your selves, and had not a little zeal thereof (though not according to knowledge) when I a∣cted in your false function, by implicit faith, and made the Directories, Canons, Catechisms, Creeds of the Clergies compiling my Rule (as many more did be∣sides my self) not comparing them so singly as I should have done with that true Directory of the word; but I have since seen good occasion to recant it, as you will undoubtedly do also first or last, (and O that it may be yet in time to your peace!) notwithstanding, your now forwardness to uphold it: I was also (in your sence) once a Minister of the Church, but since, going about to look for that Mini∣stry of the Church, and for that Church whereof I thought my selfe a Minister, from thenceforth I could never find either t'one or t'other: As for your Church of England, I confess I received twice her holy orders, viz. once from the Bi∣shops, in the daies of their Dominion, by whom I was ordained a Deacon, i. e. in Scripture-sence, to look toth'poor, but in their sence, half a Priest, for in that capa∣city, we might sprinkle, if allow'd, and give the wine to people also in the Supper, but not by any means the bread, unless very specially licensed thereunto, till we should come into the full order of Priest-hood, for so ran the phrase in the old English horn-book, which as to that part, was stiled, The book of the Ordination of Bishops, Priests and Deacons, once also by the Presbyters (so called) since the time of their Parricid, or cutting the throats of their fathers the Bishops, that gave the being of Priesthood to them, and inducting themselves to reign in their stead, as the Bishops themselves had dealt not long before with their old father the Pope, who gave the being of Priesthood to them both, from whom not as a Priest-hood, but a true Presbytery, as they say, I was in orders to practise their refined Pope∣ry more perfectly, which I might do before but by the halves: but now I know not where this Church of England is, if you speak of a true Church of Christ, un∣less you can prove things to have their true being, without either their true matter or true form: for as the subject matter whereof it consists is false, being not bap∣tized believers, so the form into which the Pope cast it some 600 years since, in to which also the Prelate and Presbyter have new cast it, being and that subpae∣na too, National, Provinciall, Parochiall, is utterly false, and her fellowship as good as none at all, because not free, but forced: and as for the true Ministry thereof, I know not where it is neither, if that onely be a true one, as you were wont to say it is, that can derive it self by a line from the very Apostles; neither can you make good your interrupted succession from them, unless the Pope, from whom your Series comes, was even then a true Minister of Christ, when he was also an Antichristian Deceiver; and unless Apostacy and Apostolicy, can so stand together, as that Rome was even then an Apostolick Church when 'twas palpably apparent to be an Harlot; neither if I could tell where, can I tell very well which is the Ministry of your Church of England, there are so many Mi∣nistries

in it now, namely, Prelaticall, High-Presbyterian, Presbyterian-In∣dependent, each of which lay claim to that title, but being both themselves, and their adherents for such different forms of government, cannot all three be the Mi∣nistry of one Church, unless your Church of England, that was of old so full of uniformity, is now become capable of tri-formety in its discipline and Ministry; and yet to be intirely but one Ministry and Church of England still; which if it be, its a tr-iform monster then indeed.

As to your answer to this third head, I wish you to weigh how rawly you utter your selves, whilst just after your selves had clear'd me from the guilt of Re∣viling, and before I had us'd any new terms, that could have the least savor of reviling, you return to charge me of it again; but no marvel when every round reprover, and renouncer of your Romishness, is as much a reviler with you, as your selves are at Rome, for renouncing that grosser Popery thats there. Howbeit, in truth he reviles your Church no more, that calls it a very Harlot, if it be so, then your selves revile Rome in calling her a Harlot because she is so: you hint at my renouncing my first baptism: can a man renounce that he never had? for what was dispenc't when I was a child, as tis no signe to me now, for I remember not that I ever saw it, so I learn by the hear-say of it, that it was not baptism at all: as for this last, which is also the first baptism that ever was administred to me; I see no cause to renounce it as yet, nor yet I am well assured ever shall. As for heresie, or believing and doing besides the word, tis a Precipice indeed, where after men have begun their run, unless the Lord mercifully prevent them, as he hath done me, and many more of late, and I desire may your selves in due time, who are all gone astray from primitive truth, after the doctrines and commandements of men, they cannot well stay till they come to the bottom, even the bottomless pit it self, into which that Arch-Heretitk the Pope who open'd it, and that number∣less crue of corrupt Clergy-men, which by the advantage of that smoak of errors, with which he darkened the Sun, and the Air ascended from it, will fall again; for out of the bottomless pit those Locusts came, and into the bottomless pit they must return.