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PREFACE

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HIS is the Third time I am ooblig'd to appear in Publick, against one of the most unaccountable Ufurpations that ever the Church of CHRIST was pefter'd with. The Book it felf, which I am about to Anfwer, do's not put me to this Trouble; for, in the Opinion of good Judges, I might have let it pafs without my Notice, confidering the Inconfiftency of its Contents with the Title Page. But the recommendation of it, as an Unanswerable Book, and that it contains the True Doctrine of the Church of England; and this by no lefs Men than the Reverend Dr. B—d—d, and Dr. B-ton, with others of Character and Station in the Church, is the principal Motive of my present Endeavour, to preferve the Minds of fome

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unwary People from Error, who are too apt too be led away, by fuch glaring outfide Appearances, and oftentacious Pretences to Reafon and Argument.

Who, or what the Author is I know not, neither am I much concern'd; tho' I was once Inquifitive after both, that I might treat him with that Respect which might be thought due to his Character; but the Reverend Dr. B-d-d, who I thought was moft capable of informing me, upon my address to him for that purpofe, told me, that the Author's Name and Profeffion must be a Secret ; and upon fecond Thoughts, I agree with the Doctor, and that it seems beft for them to continue fo.

What I most wonder at is, that two fuch Learned and Eminent Men of our Church, as the abovefaid Reverend Docors must be acknowledg'd to be, fhould fo industriously recommend a Book, that in its Confequences is a Banter upon their own Sacred Office, and in effect, Levels it with the Station of the very meanest of the People. But what feems to be the most unaccountable of all is, That the Reverend Dr. B-d-d, who publickly in the hearing of good Credible Witneffes, faid to this Effect, "That he would rather suffer a Child

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"of his to die without Baptifm, than let a Lay "Perfon Baptize it, if no Minifter could be “had." That fuch a Gentleman, who was very lately heard to say this, fhould recommend a Book that teaches the direct contrary, is one of the most unaccountable Things in the World.

The Author wonders in his Preface, p. v. that none of the Church of England Clergy have taken any notice of the Book Intituled Lay-Baptifm Invalid; and he thinks it Reason that they fhould, because, if the Doctrine which it endeavours to propagate be true, it will make abundance of Work for a London Minifter, fince there is not a Parish in London, but has a confiderable Number of Parishioners who are not Baptiz'd, and confequently not Chriftians.—But do's this Writer think, that our London Clergy muft oppofe that Book, because of the great Work that it cuts out for them; If he believes this, those who have thought justly on thefe Things do not; The only Motive to oppofe any Book of Religious Matters, is the falfe Doctrine it advances; but if its Doctrine be true, and of great Importance, the Confequences thereof, how troublesome foever to Flesh and Blood, are no juft Reasons for appearing in oppofition to it: The London Clergy, aA 3 bundance

bundance of them know better Things, than to make the Trouble that a True Doctrine may cause them, to be a fufficient Reason to ftand out againft it; they know that their Officc it felf entails Uneafinefs, Labour and Toil, upon all who undertake it; and that to flinch from thefe, when Duty requires them, is in fome fort, a proving falfe to the Great Charge of their Holy Calling; but 'tis the great trouble that the Doctrine is like to give, if it grows to a head, that Afflicts our Author; The "Confequences of unchriftianizing not only "fo many hundred thousands of his own "Country-men, Friends, Acquaintance, " and near Relations, but all the Proteftants "that are and have been for almoft Two "hundred Years throughout the World, as were not, and only because they were not fo happy as to be Baptiz'd by Men "Epifcopally Ordain'd. These fet our Author to work, but yet "not to meddle "with the Merits of the Caufe; strange! that a Man fhould not endeavour to deftroy the main Foundation, upon which fuch fearful Confequences are built: But as ftrange as 'tis, you'll find in the following Pages, that he Exprefly declares, 'tis none of his Defign: He pretends to nothing but to fhew the Church of England's Judgment

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