shall dictate. I claim no right to judge for others, nor can I admit others to judge for me, But I am heartily willing, that they who think differently should state and defend their opinions with equal freedom.

If I had used bitter invectives and sarcasms, or scurrilous epithets, (which naturally excite prejudice, and obstruct conviction,) I should have had no right to complain at their being returned.

But if our conviction be an object worthy of their pursuit, let our brethren, who think us mistaken on either or both parts of this controversy, not throw out charges which our consciences cannot but repel; and let them not attempt too much, so as to treat all their predecessors on their own side as silly men, who knew not what they conceded, who scarcely understood the Greek language, or knew, any thing of ecclesiastical history; let them cease referring us to Germany, whence their own advocate, Dr, WALL, says, they learned perfusion,1 and afterwards changed it farther from the primitive mode of immersion into mere sprinkling. If the German Re-baptizers 2 were still alive, we should require them not only to show that they had repented of their wild, enthusiastic doings, but to be more completely

1 WALL'S Defence, p. 403.

2 See Note K.

baptized than they were, before we owned them.as brethren. But if all who agree with our opponents on the subject of Pædobaptism, are to be reckoned as their brethren, we could' reproach them with a greater number of atrocious sinners, than ever bore the same nickname which many of them are pleased to fix upon us.

Often as we have been charged with intemperate zeal on this subject, it is remarkable that most of our principal writers have only replied to attacks first made on our denomination; for example, Dr. GALE to Dr. WALL; Mr. STENNETT to Mr. RUSSEN; Dr. GILL to MAURICE, TOWGOOD, BOSTWICK, MAYO, &c.; Dr. STENNETT to Dr. ADDINGTON, And but few have written against us without intermixing some such charges and insinuations, that it is really hard to conceive how good men could believe things that were so incapable of proof. Mr. HENRY'S intimation that we baptize naked was bad enough; but Mr. ROBBINS, the Editor, must have been still more culpable than the writer himself, as living at a time when the Baptists were more generally known.

No doubt some upon our side have written with too much acrimony; and individuals, in the pulpit or out of it, may still use crude and intemperate expressions. But, considering what poor

محبة

3

human nature is, we may conclude it must be a very petty sect indeed, that has no foolish or rash adherents. I must say, however, that I do not know any individual among us, whose conduct would justify the charge of a late writer. "The moment these people are dipped in water, they too often shut their eyes against the truth, to be opened no more; while the ear can listen to nothing but the cry of the party, 'Plunge, and be saved.'" Who has heard any such cry from me or my brethren? Never, I am certain, did I express half the earnestness against the mistake of those Christians, who think that infants ought to be baptized, and that sprinkling is sufficient Baptism, as I should against those who might give me room to suspect that they considered Baptism a sufficient evidence of their sincerity or safety. Indeed, I know not where to find a hypocrite, or self-deceiver, who has dared to say things half so strong of the mere form as administered by us, as a late Episcopal Refuter of Calvinism has said of infant baptism; and that with too much countenance from the public offices and catechisms of his own church.

I think I can safely affirm, that I have ever endeavoured to promote a spirit of unfeigned love

3 Mr. PIRIE.

towards all real Christians; and I believe most of my brethren are like-minded. Strange would it be, if an agreement with our Episcopalian brethren, in six and thirty articles, except two sentences, should not have more effect to unite us, than a disagreement on three articles and two clauses could have to divide us. Very few of my own denomination have ever had more of my affection and esteem, than several of the Ministers of the Establishment; and as far as opportunity of intercourse would admit, I have felt the same disposition towards many in the church of Scotland. Much friendship, generous friendship, towards our Mission and the Ministers most active in its support, has been shown by many in both these communities; and much from all classes of our Dissenting brethren. Of my temper and conduct towards my neighbours, I shall say nothing. I will only affirm, that I never pulled for a proselyte in my life. When a respectable Christian lady applied to me for Baptism, professing in all other points, (like Mr. ToмBS,) to approve of the Church of England, I could not consistently refuse to baptize one who appeared a true Christian, and desired it; but I dropped not a hint to unhinge her mind, or draw her off from her connexions. I have acted on the same plan with respect to other denominations.

Some of our brethren of the Pædobaptist persuasion, seem eager, of late, to renew the controversy, by reprinting pieces long ago answered, with a number of smaller pamphlets, &c. The most zealous of these opponents are either of those who profess to be very indifferent to all forms of church government, or such as are agreed with us as to the propriety of the congregational order of the churches. Some, in the former connexion, are much against all stiff consciences, which will not treat every point as quite indifferent, which they profess to consider in that light; while some of the latter class, appear the more violent against us, because we agree with them in all things but one. An attempt has been lately made to set us on disputing among ourselves, respecting Strict and Open Communion. I have practised the latter, not from motives of policy, which I should abhor in matters of religion, but from conscience, for nearly seven and forty years; and my most intimate friends know that I have argued the point with them; although I respect their conscientious scruples on the one hand, as well as those of the Pædobaptists on the other. I say, "It is Lord's table, and not mine; therefore I dare not refuse those whom he has accepted, (however mistaken they may be respecting the other ordinance,) unless he had commanded me." My