printed at Nottingham 1714. p. 66.--- That the Afferters of the Invalidity of Lay-Baptifin have the Charity to believe, that God will make great Allowances to thofe Perfons, who in other Countries, or formerly in our own, were not sɔ happy as to receive the true Epifcopal Baptism; they very heartily lament their Misfortune (as al good Men ought to do) and are well affured that God is not tied to his Inftitutes, tho' he has tied Us; and therefore where Men have not an Opportunity of receiving the true Episcopal Baptifm, or were ignorant of the Want of it, and believ'd the Baptifm they had received, was good and valid, and lived according to the Laws of the Gofpel; it is to be hoped, that a God of infinite Mercy will confider, and reward their pious Intentions accordingly: For it is not, I believe, the mere Want of Baptifin, but the wilful Slight and Contempt of it, when it may be had, and especially when it is offered, that risques a Man's eternal Salvation. Why may not fuch Perfons, as believe Chriftianity, and practise the Duties of it, and would have true Epifcopal Baptifm, if they could, or were made fenfible of their Obligation to receive it; why, I lay, might not, and may not fuch, be esteemed as the Catechumens in the primitive Church? Who, tho' they died, (as certainly fome did) before they had received Baptifm, yet because they conducted

their

their Lives conformably to Christianity, and did intend to be admitted into the Baptifinal Covenant, when an Opportunity fhould offer it self, the Church therefore did believe, that God would flew them Mercy. And the fame Mercy, I trust, God will fhew to fuch, who here, or elsewhere, never had the Benefit of true Baptism. For fince the Neglect was not their own, but their Parents Fault, or the Circumftances of Time and Place, were, or are, fuch, as make Neceffity pleadable; I fay, in Cafes of that Nature, my Charity inclines me to hope the beft, and I leave fuch to God's uncovenanted Mercy, to a Mercy that is infinite, to a Goodness that is beyond Expreffion.

THIS alfo appears to be the Opinion of the University of Oxford, by that Paffage in their Letter to the Genevans, wherein they acquaint them, that it is very far from them to pass too fevere a Cenfure upon those Foreign Churches, which upon the Account of an un

Alieniffimum eft a noftrâ Charitate Ecclefias illas Reformatas, qua ineluctabili neceffitatis Lege adacta a Primævâ Epifcopalis Regiminis formâ, haud fponte fuâ recefferunt, tanquam legitimis Paftoribus aut Sacramentis ritè adminiftratis Penitus deftitutas, rigidâ nimis Cenfurâ damnare.

avoidable

avoidable Neceffity, want the primitive Form of Government, i. e. Epifcopacy. They charitably hope, That God will confider that Neceflity, where it really is, and will be pleased to make Allowances for it; and fo they refer them to our commen Master.

A

LETTER

ΤΟ Α

GENTLE WOMAN,

CONCERNING

BAPTISM.

MADAM,

H

AVING had frequent Occafion, to argue against the Validity of Baptifin adminiftred by Diffenters, and by God's Bleffing prevail'd on feveral, who had received it in their Infancy, to be baptized by the Epifcopal Clergy, I have for your Eafe fer down my Rea-" fons in Writing, that you may at your Leifure, confider and weigh them, with the greater Attention.

Need

1 Need not take Notice to you, how far this Argument concerns your own Particular; but as it happens to be a Matter much controverted at this time, whether Diffenters Baptifm be true and Effectual Baptifm, I have taken fome Pains to inform my own Judgment in this Point, and think it very neceffary for all Chriftians, especially fuch as have been baptized by Diffenters, to examine well this Cafe, which is of the highest Importance: Lawful Baptifm, where it is to be had, being agreed on all Hands (except Quakers) to be necessary to Salvation, as it is the only appointed Way of making a Covenant with God; the only Door and Entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven, and St. Paul affuring us, that as there is One Lord, and one Faith, fo alfo but One Baptifm, for the Remiffion of Sins.

THE prefent Queftion then is, in what Hands hath God lodged the Power of adminiftring this Sacrament, and whether it be valid, when adminiftred by a Diffenting Minister? My Opinion is, that this Power was originally vefted in the Governors of the Church, who are now the Bishops and their Clergy, and cannot validly be exercis'd by any other Perfon whatfoever.

FOR