but remember that it is enough that the disciple be as his Lord, and the servant be as his master. Remember the apoftle's words to the Theffalonians, "Now we command you, in the name of our Lord Jefus Chrift, that ye withdraw yourfelves from every brother that walketh diforderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us :" 2 Theff. iii. 6. It may be your duty to withdraw from them that you confider as not conformed to the tradition of the apoftles; fo far, as not to partake together at the Lord's table.

But I fhall close with the words of the beloved Paul to the Corinthians: "Now I befeech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jefus Chrift, that ye all speak the fame thing, and that there be no divifions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the fame mind, and in the fame judgment:" 1 Cor. i. 10.

BAPTISM OF BELIEVERS ONLY,

AND THE

Particular Communion

OF

THE BAPTIST CHURCHES,

EXPLAINED AND VINDICATED.

IN THREE PARTS.

THE FIRST-PUBLISHED ORIGINALLY IN 1789;

THE SECOND-IN 1794;

THE THIRD-AN APPENDIX, CONTAINING ADDITIONAL OBSERVATIONS AND ARGUMENTS, WITH STRICTURES ON SEVERAL LATE PUBLICATIONS.

BY THOMAS BALDWIN.

PART II.

FOURTH EDITION, REVISED.

Bofton:

Printed and fold by MANNING & LORING, No. 2, Cornhill.

1806.

ba

DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS, to wit:

B independence

E IT REMEMBERED, That on the feventh day of Auguft, in

America, MANNING & LORING, of the faid diftri&t, have depofited in this office the title of a Book, the right whereof they claim as Proprietors, in the words following, to wit:-"The Baptifm of Believers only, and the Particular Communion of the Baptist Churches, explained and vindicated. In Three Parts. The firft-publifhed originally in 1789; the fecond-in 1794; the third-an Appendix, containing Additional Obfervations and Arguments, with Strictures on feveral late Publications. By THOMAS BALDWIN."

6

In conformity to the A&t of the Congrefs of the United States, entitled, "An Act for the encouragement of learning, by fecuring the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the Authors and Proprietors of fuch copies, during the times therein mentioned ;" and alfo to an Aft, entitled, "An Act fupplementary to an A&t, entitled, An A&t for the encouragement of learning, by fecuring the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the Authors and Proprietors of fuch copies, during the times therein mentioned; and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of defigning, engraving, and etching hiftorical and other prints." N. GOODALE, Clerk of the District of Massachusetts.

BRIEF VINDICATION, &c.*

SECTION I.

Preliminary Obfervations on the Subject in Dispute.

REVEREND SIR,

YOUR Friendly Letter, which was published in

December, 1791, I could not obtain until feveral months after; and have not the pleasure of acknowledging your politeness in fending me a copy; although from an apology offered by your generous brothers, I am inclined to hope it was not a defigned omiffion.

In my other Piece I obferved, "that it was not the love of controverfy which induced me to write." have the happiness still to believe, that this is not my greatest motive. And had your arguments proved our fentiments and practice refpecting communion, to be unfcriptural, or inconfiftent with that brotherly affection which the gospel requires, I fhould indeed have been a gainer by the controverfy,' and would have acknowledged myself indebted to you for the instruction. But after I had carefully examined your arguments, I did not find the evidence fufficient to produce conviction : therefore, am obliged in fincerity to abide by my former opinion.

Were the dispute between us to be confidered merely perfonal, and unconnected with the interests of re

* This Part muft ftill be confidered as a Reply to the remarks of the Rev. Noab Worcester, A. B. in his Friendly Letter to the Author.