V. A Table of Questions for examining Children and Young Perfons in the Catechifm. (Being an Enlargement of Dr Ford's Table of Questions, printed at the End of his Cate chifm in 1686.) In which are contained, Several Questions for examining fuch Youths as learn Mr Lewis's Expofition. VI. Letters between Dr Sharp and Mrs Cock- burn, on the Subject of Moral Virtue and VII. The Speech made at Farewell-Hall, to the Hon. and Right Rev. Father in God Ri- chard by Divine Providence Lord Bishop P. 51. ERRAT A. Vindication of B. Taylor. P. 28. line penult. for most read more. P. 112. 1. 7. for [1] A VINDICATION of Bishop Taylor, From the injurious Mifreefentation of him by the Author of the LETTER to the Clergy of the Church of England in the County of Northumberland. With a few Remarks upon fome other PASSAGES in that Letter. 1733. T First printed in HE Letter-writer might have paffed unmolested, for any Thing he hath faid himself either by Way of Challenge or Advice to the Clergy of Northumberland, (for They will accept neither from fuch Hands, but equally despise both) had he not by a falfe and most unjuft Representation of Bifhop Taylor grofly abused his Readers. For after he hath fpit his own little Venom, being confcious of his own natural Impotence, he hath tacked to his Letter, by Way of Postscript, three or four Paffages from Bishop Taylor, much to his own Purpose, but greatly to the VOL. II. Prejudice B Prejudice of that learned Man's Character, by an únufal Piece of Fraud in the Manner of Quotation. As the Bishop's Polemical Works, out of which thefe Paffages are taken, are in the Hands of few People, but his Name and Character univerfally known, this Cheat may poffibly be attended with ill Confequence ; - while bis Authority is vouched, and his Teftimony produced for Doctrines which he never beld; and there be very few even of the Clergy of Northumberland Themselves, who have the Opportunity of Examining how thefe Paffages lie in the Place from whence they are taken, and thereby detecting the Iniquity and falfe Dealing of this their new Correfpondent. The Defign therefore of this Paper is to fet thefe Quotations in a true Light, as well for the Vindication of the good Bishop, and feafonable Reprehenfion of the fraudulent Letter-writer; as to prevent the Effects of his thus impofing on his Readers, either by furprifing the more wary and intelligent, or deceiving the Weak and unlearned among them: To all whom those Quotations muft needs appear fhocking, as they stand difguised and unexplained in his Postscript. Bishop Bishop Taylor, in his noble Collection of Polemical Difcourfes (the third Edition published in Folio, Lond. 1674) hath one intitled, 4 Difcourfe concerning the Liberty of Prophefying, The eighteenth Section of which is intitled, A particular Confideration of the Opinions of the Anabaptifts, pag. 1040. And here he treats very largely and fully of their Capital Opinion against the Baptism of Infants. He begins with thefe Words. Although it be a Doctrine justly condemned by the moft Sorts of Chriftians upon great Grounds of Reafon, yet poffibly their Defence may be fo great, as to take off much, and rebate the Edge of their Adverfaries Alfault. It will be neither unpleaSant nor unprofitable to draw a fhort Scheme of Plea for each Party, the Refult of which paffibly may be, that though they be deceived, yet they have So great Excufe on their Side, that their Errour is not impudent or vincible. The Baptifin of Infants refts principally and ufually upon this Dif courfe, &c. Then he produces the feveral Arguments ufually alledged for Infant Baptifm, which take up the next nine Paragraphs or Sections. At the twelfth Section, p. 1042. He begins to reprefent what the Anabaptifts have to say in Oppofition to thofe Arguments before laid down, and in Juftification of their own Tenent. To all this, fays he, the Anabaptift gives a foft and gentle Anfwer, &c. And fo he goes on to the thirty-fourth Section, p. 1051, perfonating the Anabaptift, and faying a great deal more for their Doctrine, and urging it a great deal better than ever they could do for themselves. Having acted his Part very dextrously, he concludes, Thus far the Anabaptifts may argue ;-They have been encouraged in their Errour more by the accidental Advantages we have given them by our weak Arguings, than by any Excellency of their Wit, and (much less) any Advantage of their Caufe. But because all Men will not understand my Purpofe (he speaks of fuch People as our Letter-writer, who for want of Learning, no more understand the Use of the Figure Profopopaia, than they do the Use of the Rite Pædobaptifm) or think my Meaning innocent unless I anfwer the Arguments which I have made or gathered. -I have chofen therefore to add fome Animadverfions upon the Anabaptifts Plea. And then he proceeds in eighteen |