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Foundations*63*(November*2012):*5:17***WATER:ORDEALS*OF*THE*SEVENTEENTH**CENTURY:*SHOULD*BAPTISM*DIVIDE?*Derek%W.%H.%Thomas ∗ %*A*comparative/contrasting*consideration*of*the*doctrine*and*practice*of*baptism*in*the*West:minster,* Savoy* and* Baptist* Confessions* of* the* seventeenth* century.* The* paper* concludes* that*there*is*evidence*for*a*different*understanding*of*the*nature*and*scope*of*the*covenant*of*grace*as*well*as*issues*relating*to*the*mode*of*baptism.****The*doctrine*of*baptism*raised*temperatures*in*the*mid:seventeenth*century*as* much* as* it* seems* to* do* in* our* own* time.* Among* some* of* the* more*colourful*titles*to*appear*in*the*wake*of*stormy*debates*was*one*by*an*anon:ymous*(Baptist)*author,*Trepidantium*Malleus, 1 *A%Snake%in%the%Grass%Caught%and%Crush’t,%or%a%Third%and%Last%Epistle%to%a%now%furious%deacon%in%the%Church%of%England,%the%Reverend%Mr.%George%Keith,%with%some%remarks%on%my%former%epistles% to% him,% especially% that% against% plunging% in% Baptism. 2 %Rev.* Keith* and*the*pseudonymous*Malleus*spared*little*in*tempering*their*language*as*they*publicly*debated*the*demerits*of*each*other’s*position*on*baptism.*Equally*intemperate*offerings*came*from*the*pens*of*a*Presbyterian,*Rev.*Richard* Carpenter,* The% Anabaptist% Washed% and% Washed% and% Shrunk% in% the%Washing,*and*the*(Baptist)*Ranter,*Samuel*Fisher,*BabyIbaptism%mere%Babism. 3 *Less*intemperate*titles*(if*not*content)*included*Thomas*Wall’s*A%Necessary%treatise%for%this%age,%or%A%Plain%discovery%of%that%great%error%of%denying%baptism%with%water%to%the%children%of%believers. 4 ***********************************************************************∗*Professor*of*Systematic*and*Historical*Theology,*Reformed*Theological*Seminary*(Atlanta*Campus),* Minister* of* Preaching* and* Teaching,* First* Presbyterian* Church,* Columbia,* SC* and*Editorial*Director,*Alliance*of*Confessing*Evangelicals.*1*His*real*name*was*Samuel*Young.*Another*of*his*colourful*titles*began,*“Foxonian%Quakers%Dunces%Lyars%and%Slanderers…”*2*Published*in*1700.*3*Both*were*published*in*1653,*just*after*the*Westminster*Assembly*dissolved.*4*Published* in* 1669.* Another* book* written* by* Mr.* Henry* Danvers,* A% Treatise% of% Baptism,*received*a*hostile*reception.*Mr.*Obed*Wills*responded*with*his*own*work*of*259*pages*entitled*Infant% Baptism% Asserted% and% Vindicated% by% Scripture% and% Antiquity:% In% Answer% To% a% Treatise% of%Baptism% lately% published% by% Mr.% Henry% Danvers:% Together% with% a% full% Detection% of% his%Misrepresentation%of%divers%Councils%and%Authors,%both%Ancient%and%Modern.%With%a%just%censure%of%his%Essay%to%Palliate%the%horrid%Actings%of%the%Anabaptists%in%Germany*(1674).*The*following*year*Danvers* republished* his* Treatise% of% Baptism.% Wherein% That% of% Believers,% and% that% of% Infants,% is%examined% by% the% Scriptures;% with% the% History% of% both% out% of% Antiquity:% making% it% appear,% that%Infants%Baptism%was%not%practiced%for%near%300%years%after%Christ,*adding,*A%Reply%to%Mr.%Wills%in%Defence%of%the%said%Treatise%And%A%Second%Reply%to%Mr.%Baxter%in%Defence%of%the%same%As%also%A%Rejoynder% to% Mr.% Wills% his% Vindictae% With% an% answer% to% his% Appeal.* Book* titles* have* certainly*