evidence is on our side.-I am puzzled, however, extremely puzzled; for I cannot imagine how the right reverend author, notwithstanding all his learning and all his acumen, discovered truth without evidence. This, it must be confessed, is a wonderful secret; and he would certainly have laid posterity under great obligations, had he but made the arcanum public. Mankind might have reaped a harvest of benefits from the discovery of such an invention; because it would have been of admirable use in many a pinching case besides Pædobaptism, to which it is here applied. I am equally nonplused, when thinking of truth and evidence taking opposite sides of a controverted subject. Having never heard of any quarrel between them, either before or since the flood, I took it for granted, that they were leagued in eternal friendship; whereas, it now appears, on the word of a bishop, that they cannot agree about infant baptism.— This being the case, I am greatly discouraged, in respect of an issue to the present controversy. For as truth and evidence do not depend on the pleasure of man, they are stubborn things; and we may justly presume, they will not easily quit their stations, out of complaisance to either side. While, therefore, each abides by her party, the Baptists, it is likely, will plead preponderating evidence, and firmly insist upon it as a maxim of logical prudence; That our assent should always be proportioned to the degree of evidence.* On the other hand, we need not wonder if Pædobaptists exult in the possession of truth, because it is a precious jewel; and such truth, especially as is obtained without evidence, must be precious indeed, it being so extremely scarce. Despairing, therefore, of putting an end to any controversy where truth and evidence take different sides, I must here lay down my pen. Dr. Watts's Logic, part ii. chap. iv. direct. viii. A DEFENCE OF PÆDOBAPTISM EXAMINED: OR, ANIMADVERSIONS ON DR. EDWARD WILLIAMS'S ANTIPEDOBAPTISM EXAMINED. BY ABRAHAM BOOTH. As nothing should be considered as an established principle of faith, which is not in some part of scripture delivered with perspicuity, so that perspicuity should be sought for principally where the point in question is most professedly handled. Dr. E. Williams. The power of truth has extorted from some or other of our adversaries, the confession of-the premises which infer our conclusion.-Dr. Clagett. It is highly probable the Baptist-ideas will prevail.—Mr. Pirie. |