plete consistency of his views, (which has already appeared,) and on the perfect accuracy of his pen, respecting baptism! But let us enquire whether Dr. W. have any just cause for thus ridiculing Dr. Gill.

Be it observed, then, that baptism, according to my opponent, is "purification by water."* Upon this principle, therefore, let the following words be considered. "We say that baptism is a Christian ordinance, which implies a ceremonial purification by water." Purification by water. "That is, (on his principle, which maintains, that Bantioμos is, purification by water,") waterpurification implies purification by water. "To such ridiculous inconsistencies is that hypothesis reducible, which makes the biblical use of the words baptism and 'purification by water,' convertible and synonymous!" -Again: "The scriptural baptism [is] purification by water; and yet he elsewhere tells us, that the END of baptism is purification by water." Not now to remark the incongruity of representing the design of an ordinance, as being the very same thing with the ordinance itself: it is obvious to every reader, that, on Dr. W.'s principles, baptism, or purification by water, is the end of baptism, that is, of purification by water. So little reason had my opponent to ridicule Dr. Gill! Other instances of this kind might easily be produced, but I will not here enlarge. I may here add, with much greater propriety might our author have animadverted on Dr. Watts for saying; "The Greek word baptizo signifies to wash any thing, properly by water coming OVER it....The Greek word signifies washing a thing in general, by water coming OVER it;" as Dr. W. has quoted him. As if a person, or a thing, might be baptized, without “ any contaction of the person," or the "and the element!"

thing,

The delicacy of our author's taste for just expres

* Vol. ii. 102, 176,384.

Vol. ii. 176,374.

+ Vol. ii. 369.

§ Vol. ii. 105.

sion, is a little offended with Dr. Stennett; because he, when speaking of the covenant which God made with the father of the post-diluvian world, "quaintly calls it," says Dr. W., "a transaction between him and Noah."* Few readers of ordinary discernment could, I presume, have discovered any thing amiss in the term transaction, as here used. We may, therefore, conclude, that Dr. W. has paid the most scrupulous regard to accuracy in the choice of his words, if not to elegance in the turn of his periods. Yes, we may naturally suppose, that no quaintnesses are admitted into his composition; much less vulgarisms, solecisms, or any gross improprieties of style. But whether he be quite so accurate as one is led to expect, the reader may judge by the particulars here subjoined.

As to single expressions and phrases, we meet with the following: "Smothered-nibble-baptizations-vindicable-God GIVES a covenant GRANT-syllogistie overthrow-they take it strange-PLUMP against itto FOIST in the salvo-rummage-begrudge”—and others of a similar kind; not when used in the burlesque style, but in a serious manner.t-Whether the term quaintly, or some other epithet, should be applied to characterize Dr. W's. mode of expressing himself, in the annexed particulars, my reader will determine, "Dreadful scythe! and no mean mower, to cut so much at one stroke!" Dr. Stennett having used those proverbial expressions, "He who runs may read;" my opponent says, "I WALK and read, STAND and read, meditate and read, pray and read, and yet cannot discern the sense he puts on the passage." Complaining of what he considers as false argument, he says; "The -specious sophism was supported, by arbitrarily uniting what were in themselves different. . . . Supposing, without granting, the exclusive invariable meaning of the term

* Vol. i. 156.

+ Pref. p. vi. vol. i. 233, 273, 282, 365, 372; vol. ii. 7, 16, (Note) 59, 70, 344.

to

baptism signifies to immerse....True belief entitles to that righteousness which faith regards....God's covenant of redemption To fallen man....Sinners who live within the pale of such a declaration.... Plunging is practised by [Mr. B.] and his cONSTITUENTS." He elegantly compares relative holiness to the electric fluid; and, speaking of natural descent, he calls it a " genealogical chain," which operates as the "CONDUCTOR ....Those, in the time of Ezra, [who had married Heathenish women] were obliged to put off each man his wife....The unbeliever is sanctified, i. e. his professed unbelief is overpowered by the professed holiness of the other partner....This contact may be done.... The feet [of the Israelites] are said to be TINGed at the brim of overflowing Jordan "....The word baptism is used" of him who only intinges even his hand."— He speaks of persons being admitted into the church, "by having PURE water poured on them; whereby they were TINGED, washed, or ceremonially purified, that is, baptized"....A child is brought "into a state of WETNESS by immersion".... Baptizing evidently includes "a contaction of the person and the element". "The rigid votaries of plunging hold the necessity of a dipping purification for the validity of a true Christian church-membership". ...." The Baptists unwarrantably SCREW the initiating rite in the VICE of bigotry." (The last instance is equally benevolent and elegant.)... "Let the same parent and INFANT apply to a particular church, and the fundamental ground of admission is different" My possession of the mercy sealed by my baptism, is to be enjoyed by faith"...." Let us suppose, for illustration sake, that God should OF OLD enact."*-More such flowers of elegance might be produced, but these are sufficient.

66

* Vol. i. 12, 46, 49, 56, 146, 158, 196, 366, 385, 397; vol. ii. 57, 111, (N.B. The last is his language in translating) 136, 137, 138, 159, 184, 243, 269, 270, 363.

....

Having selected the preceding particulars, in proof of my opponent's admirably nice choice of words, and of the elegancies that adorn his composition, let us now consider his accuracy, with regard to grammar. Speaking of positive precepts under the Jewish economy, he says: "It does not follow that any one of these WERE SO strictly positive, as"-and so on. "The qualifications of the subjects of baptism-Is what cannot,' and so on. "It may be presumed be presumed-our opponents have something very express to urge out of the New Testament, to counteract so strong a probability in our favour. And surely express THEY must be, to resist the united forces of such considerations" "Those objections which are urged-SAVOURS not a little of the Socinian leaven”.... "The both ENDS of a genealogical chain has an appropriation to God"...." Nor is there any more difficulty in ascertaining these degrees [of parental authority,] than in transacting the common concerns of life, where any degree of wisdom and prudence ARE required"...." The reason why the parent is admitted [into a particular church,] is not because IT is baptized, nor yet because IT has a covenant right to all gospel privileges as baptized, but because IT possesses, over and above the foederal and ceremonial, a natural suitableness to enter on this highest degree of relation" "The different actions [of sprinkling, pouring, or immersion,] are only different means of attaining a proposed end. This end is purification by water, to which either of the mentioned means equally LEAD."*-Such are the elegant diction and the grammatical precision of my opponent !

* Vol, i. 87, 88, 95, 202, 271, 366, 378; vol. ii. 243, 374.

CHAPTER II.

On the little Regard DR. WILLIAMS pays to Quotations produced from Padobaptists; and on his Disposition to extort Concessions from the Baptists.

THE attentive reader of Pædobaptism Examined, and especially of the second edition of that work, must acknowledge, that the quotations produced from Pædobaptist authors, relative to this controversy, are both numerous and remarkable. So numerous and so remarkable are they, that it is not easy, if at all possible, to find a parallel instance, in any subject of dispute among Protestants. But notwithstanding the number of those quotations, and the high respectability of the authors in general, from whom they were extracted, my opponent affects to consider them, as having scarcely any pertinency of application, or any weight in our favour. This must be obvious to most of his readers; and particulars will be noticed in the following chapter.

But though my quotations from Pædobaptists are esteemed, by Dr. W., as lighter than air; yet so strong is his predilection for any thing. like a concession from Baptists, that he makes them concede, in various particulars, by mere inference. Nay, he sometimes puts their expressions on the rack, to extort concessions from them. Thus, for instance, by dislocating a few expressions of mine, relative to the mode of administration, and by annexing ideas to those expressions which are foreign to their natural import, he represents me as conceding the point for which he contends.* But of this, I have taken some notice al

* Vol. ii. 371.