The Christian-Quaker and his divine testimony vindicated by Scripture, reason, and authorities against the injurious attempts that have been lately made by several adversaries, with manifest design to rendor him odiously inconsistent with Christianity and civil society : in II parts. / The first more general by William Penn ; the second more particular by George Whitehead.

VII. The Anabaptist's Imposition about their shadowy Baptism.

AGain H. G. is very fierce and rash for thei•…•… Water∣Baptism (or plunging People in Water) where he saith, Whosoever brings any other Gospel let him be accur∣sed, p. 〈◊〉〈◊〉:

G. W. Hereby he hath cursed all the People of God and sincere minded, both Protestants and all others in the World, who oppose and come not under the Baptists dip∣ping or plunging People in Water. The Lord sorgive him he is very uncharitable herein; for our parts, we cannot believe their Baptism to be either the Baptism of Christ or Gospel, or of Necessity and available to Salvation.

H. G. Rep. Thou hast in this manifested thy Imperfection and false Anti-christian Spirit; hast thou no more Care nor Con∣science, that thou goest about thus to belie the Innocent? Have I affir•…•…ed that Baptism or plunging Men and Women is Gospel? Have I said, it is of Necessity to Salvation? p. 13.

Answ. 'Tis both dishonest and false in thee to accuse me of an Anti-christian Spirit and belying the Innocent, for stating thy own Words and the Consequence thereof from the very Tenour of thy Discourse; hast thou not accoun∣ted your Water-Baptism or dipping Gospel, or at least part of Christ's last Will and Testament, and them accursed that bring any other Gospel? See thy other Book, pages 24, 25, 26. and have not thy Brethren declared it for the Re∣mission of Sins, and the only Way of gathering Churches 1. To teach, and then to baptize or dip them? See their Confession of Faith (Article 11.) presented to the King, and subscribed by above 40. of them.

And have not some of thy Brethren affrighted many simple People into Water, to be dipt, formerly by such

Language, as, dip or damn; and what hast thou said less, if they be accurst that own it not: Some of thy Brethren have positively affimed it necessary to Salvation on that Scripture, Except a Man be born again of Water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God, falsly deeming that outward Water there spoken of.

H. G. All that are accursed, are only those who bring another Gospel besides that which was given sorth by Christ, as he is King and Mediator of the new Covenant, p. 14.

Answ. And your dipping thou reckons to be given forth by Christ, thy pretended Proof being Mat. 28. 20. as be∣fore mentioned, wherefore thy case is against all that own 〈◊〉〈◊〉, or deny to be dipt; for our parts we will not be dipt by you.

H. G. I doubt not but all sincere-minded Protestants are of my Perswasion touching this matter, though we may differ about the Form and Subjects of Water-Baptism, p. 14.

Answ. Here thou insinuatest and flatters the Protestants, like a temporizer and decliner of your former Testimony, and contrary to thy Brethrens said Confession of Faith, which is wholy against that scriptureless thing of sprinkling Infants, Article 11. (as their Phrase is) and have not divers of thy Brethren deem'd it Anti-christian?

H. G. False it is and a Slander to say, that we make it essen∣tial and of absolute Necessity to Salvation, though we believe it essential to Church Communion, p. 14, 15.

Answ. Is it not essential and of Necessity to Salvation, if part of Christ's last Will and Testament, as before thou sayst? And such to be accurst that oppose it, or if the same Baptism of Christ, mentioned, Mat. 28. and Mark 16. which is annexed to believing in order to Salvation: But if not of Necessity to Salvation, then not the Baptism in∣to the one Body or Church-Communion; and then its not that one Baptism or Anti-Type which doth save (viz. The Baptism into the Name of the Father, Son and Ho∣ly Spirit) for without that Name or Power Men cannot be saved.