Baby-baptism meer babism, or, An answer to nobody in five words to every-body who finds himself concern'd in't by Samuel Fisher.

Post.

To desert the truth is an unanswerable crime indeed, the sense of which I be∣lieve may be the reason not onely why some Priests are so loath to answer any thing at all (as Dr. Gouge was to Dr. Chamberlain, and others, that shall here be nameless, unto my self) but also why both they and their people have so little to answer when they come seriously to be reckon'd with about it, for verily

as for the people, now the Lord comes by the spirit and power of Elijah, to restore things in the latter daies, to that primitive purity, which hath been of old deserted, and to expostulate with them for that Baalitish worship, which Iezebell the Queen hath stirred up the Kings of the earth to set up among them, they are either shiftless and speechless before his messengers, so that we may say of them as of that be-Baalited people that stood before the old Elijah; viz. the people answered him not a word, or else nothing is answered that hath any shew of sense or reason to the purpose; and sometimes such a miserable mess, and goodly Galli∣maufrey of reasons is rendred in defence of that one

• Babi sh
• Babi lonish

way of sprinkling

• In fants
• In fonts

(to instance in no other) the very naming of which (to name no more then hath been nam'd, in way of Account thereof in my own hearing) is evidence e∣nough, that some men) for some are not so gropably blinded as some, though all too grosly that go off from truth) are more then half minded, because they know not well what to say, therefore to say they well know not what: viz. are we wi∣ser then our forefathers? shall we think that so many learned Orthodox divines would practise it if it were not the truth? I am sure it was a custome before we were born; how shall our children come to have names, if they be not Christned? how can they be saved if they die unchristned? they are not Christ'n creatures till they have their Christ'ndome, and such like: As for the Priests, they have been so rubd up of late, that they have been forc't to find more witnesses, indeed more then the Scripture affords to stand by them at their Bason-Business, and how eagerly they agree altogether in one Clashis is shew'd hereafter: but the antient standard of all, which is at hand to serve every ones turn, as a Text in the pulpit, and as a Testimony to the truth of their false way at every turn, is that which e∣very one hath by Roat, and by Root of heart, and at fingers ends, more then the Root, heart, Right end, and sense of those texts they take it out of, viz. They brought little children to Christ, by his permission, that he should touch them, and to such belongs the Kingdom of heaven, Ergo, Infants in infancy must be baptized, the consequence of which, as tis no less then this, they brought sick folks unto Christ, by his permission, that he should touch them, and to such be∣longs the Kingdome of heaven, Ergo, sick folks must be baptized in the time of their sickness, so it swayes not me, if it be somewhat more then that of the Papists, viz. they brought an Ass for Christ to ride on, Ergo, Asses are blessed creatures, that have a cross upon their crests ever since, and as for that in special that bore him, happy are hundreds of people that can every one get a leg of him.

And now whereas you say you feared it; Oh that you did indeed fear the un∣answerable crime of deserting the truth to be charg'd upon you, then would you return from whence in the uniuersal deluge you are departed, and stand up to maintain that faith, Gospel, baptism, Church, Order which was once delivered to the Saints; but now you stand up for error and mans invention, and though you seem to salve all ore so surely, and to answer so handsomely that all men cannot discry you, yet doth not he see all your wayes, and count all your steps? if therefore you are stept aside out of the way, and walk in vanity upon fetches and far fecht consequences, despising the cause of God, when in plainness he contend∣eth it with you, out of the mouth of babes, what will you do when he riseth up? when he visiteth what will you answer? yea, when he asks who hath required this at your hands? you will be as blank before him about your Baby-sprinkling, as they about their Bawble Bell-sprinkling, both being but limbs of the Idol Bell that serves the bellies of the Priest-hood; your non prohibition excuses one no more then the other. Though therefore you still strive to startle men into a joint perseverance with you in that way, which you are so disjointed about among your

selves, yet when Christ speaks to you in his wrath, for changing his laws, he will silence you, yea, he will startle the strongest of you, who by your superstiti∣ons offend his weak little ones, and instead of pulling them out (as you ought to do in all your preaching places) confirm those whole parishes in their errors, who were fallen before you came to them,

• ...Pre.
• Farewell.
• Post.

So you say indeed, but your Reader may fare ill enough for ought you have set before him in your ensuing Tractate; you feed him with a first, second and third course, yet all such course fare, that his soul may starve, that takes no o∣ther course then you here put him upon, in order to the salvation of it, which is no other then under a pious pretence, and seeming notion of avoiding Anabap∣tism, Heresie and Schism to keep off from ever owning Christ in his own baptism, and to bid Farewel for ever to the onely way of Truth and Peace.