Truth prevailing against the fiercest opposition, or, An answer to Mr. Iohn Goodwins Water-dipping no firm footing for church communion wherein the invalidity of his twenty three considerations against withdrawing from those societies that want baptisme by the bodies burial in water is manifested, and the separation from such societies justified by the word of God : together with the discovery of his great mistakes in the exposition of eight chief Scriptures, wherewith he fighteth to overthrow Mr. Allens answer to his forty queries about church communion / by Thomas Lambe.

Your thirteenth Consideration for sub∣stance this: BAptisme is at some seasons offensive, bur∣thensome and grievous to the flesh, and that for Men and Women, especially being weak and tender of constitution, to submit to it in winter and cold seasons, is as expresse a tempting of God, as passing through the fire would be.

To which I answer. 1. Experience hath proved this to be the vainest insinuation of all the rest, there being not one person, that I ever yet knew since we came into this way, young or old, though baptised in the depth of winter, that ever suffered any thing in their health, to the value of the least hair of their head; yea, some that have been aged and weak in body have professed, that since the time of their obedience to Christ in this Ordinance of his, they have not found those weaknesses that formerly they were troubled with, no question (but in case of sickness) God will have mercy and not sacrifice, and God will accept the wills of

such for their deed: but will that excuse those that are in health? or doth Mr. Goodwin think, that scores of persons, I might say hundreds of aged and weak persons, that have been baptised without dammage, might have pass'd through the fire with as little hurt, or if indeed Mr. Goodwin hath rea∣son to judge the danger to be so great?

Then 2. Is it not a notable Argument, to perswade Mr. Goodwin to cast in his lot with these men, because these God knoweth above all the Professors of Religion in the world besides, because though miracles are ceased, and dead as to others, yet it seemeth are alive to them, and they daily find the manifestation of Gods out-stretched arm for their pre∣servation, that as God took care of the Jewes, when they went up to worship at Jerusalem, that it should not enter into the heart of their enemy to invade their Land, so doth he order the element of water, that the worshippers of Christ, by being born of it, shall have no losse, their bodily health shall not be invaded by it.

But 3. It is very true, that the spiritual design of Christ in Baptisme, being partly to represent Christs death for ••s, and to oblige us to the death of all sin, it hath pleased him, and that in great wisdome, to order the buriall of the bo∣dy in the element of water, that the bitter sufferings of the Lord Jesus for sinners may be remembred, by the help of that sensible sign, wherein Nature hath a gentle taft of some suffering, though not at all to its inconvenience. And whereas you say, that Baptisme was ordained for Disciples of the first peep out of the shell, and greatest weakness in the faith, and from thence argue, that surely Christ intend∣ed it not to be so offensive to the flesh and the rather, because the other Sacrament, which yet is ordained for the strong, is of a more welcome import.

To this I answer. 1. 'Tis true, Baptisme was ordained for young Disciples, but that this is any Argument, why it should not be greivous to the flesh, I understand not, I am sure it is not scriptural; Christ saith to those that are young Disciples, Luke 9.23. and he said to them ALL, If any man will be my Disciple, let him deny himself, take up his

crosse daily and follow me: and to those that were looking towards Christianiy, Christ putteth the worst to them, and therefore would have them sit down and cast up the cost.

In the 8. of Math. 20. To the Scribe that said, Ma∣ster, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest, Jesus saith to him, the foxes have holes, the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

But 2. Why you should say the other Ordinance is provided for the strong, as if it were so appropriately to them, and exclusive of the weak, (or otherwise where lieth any strength in the Argument) this is not onely unscrip∣turall, but anti-scriptural, Acts 2. They all both weak and strong, all that gladly received the word and were baptised, continued in the Apostles doctrine, and fellowship, and breaking bread, and prayer, and indeed more for the weak sake than the strong, who had less need; and so I appeal to the conscience of the judicious Reader, what weight there is in all this Argument against us, and whether these be not carnal complaints against the hardness of Christs yoak, and the fruit of such workings of heart as was found in Peter, Math. 16.22.