Reformed Covenanter
Cancelled Commissioner
I have treated on these two subjects, because I know they are the tempting errours of these Times, and have the fairest glosses set on them, and have too much influence to disturb the Peace and Order of Churches:
The first [anti-paedobaptism] especially, which eats out men’s affections, and creeps at the heart like a gangrene insensibly; an opinion which hath been always ominous, and of a wonderful strange influence, accompanied with the most dangerous retinue of errors, since the first Embryo of it was brought forth; whether by a judgment of God, or from its natural and secret connexion with other principles of darkness, I will not determine; only God hath shewed some black characters on it in every Nation where it hath prevailed; though we cannot but say, many Saints are innocently under the power of it.
For the second [error, uninspired hymns], I hope when men’s hearts come in Tune, their voices will likewise: The former denies more Fundamental Principles, as the Covenant in its extent, and subjects; the freeness of Grace; the riches of its workings in the New Testament; and contracts the Gospel; leaving more Grace visible in the Legal and Old Testament dispensation, then in the New.
For the reference, see Cuthbert Sidenham: anti-paedobaptism as a worse error than uninspired hymns.
N.B. I have been worshipping with credo-baptist, exclusive psalm-singers quite a bit recently, as they are one of the few places open. Still, the above extract is interesting for understanding how grave an error anti-paedobaptism was considered to be.
The first [anti-paedobaptism] especially, which eats out men’s affections, and creeps at the heart like a gangrene insensibly; an opinion which hath been always ominous, and of a wonderful strange influence, accompanied with the most dangerous retinue of errors, since the first Embryo of it was brought forth; whether by a judgment of God, or from its natural and secret connexion with other principles of darkness, I will not determine; only God hath shewed some black characters on it in every Nation where it hath prevailed; though we cannot but say, many Saints are innocently under the power of it.
For the second [error, uninspired hymns], I hope when men’s hearts come in Tune, their voices will likewise: The former denies more Fundamental Principles, as the Covenant in its extent, and subjects; the freeness of Grace; the riches of its workings in the New Testament; and contracts the Gospel; leaving more Grace visible in the Legal and Old Testament dispensation, then in the New.
For the reference, see Cuthbert Sidenham: anti-paedobaptism as a worse error than uninspired hymns.
N.B. I have been worshipping with credo-baptist, exclusive psalm-singers quite a bit recently, as they are one of the few places open. Still, the above extract is interesting for understanding how grave an error anti-paedobaptism was considered to be.