COuld any man believe that Phanatick Fury had such power to impell and force any that pretend to that Sacred Name of Christians, to perpetrate such villanies which the Myr­midons and Scythians in the midst of Barbarism it self never heard of? But its a Maxim in Philosophy, Corruptio optimi est pessima, The best things corrupted are the worst; So as the profession of Christianity is a most sacred thing, the doctrine of the Gospel a most holy Rule, the Authour of our Religion an exemplar and pattern of meekness; so when Christians renounce this sacred profession, lay aside this Holy Gospel, and abrenuntiate Christ the pattern of meekness, they soon become the most desperate vil­lains in the world; as may be instanc'd in Julian the Apostate, and Sergius the Associate of Mahomet, and compiler of the Alcoran. And we daily see that among the Turks none are such implacable persecutors of Captive-Christians as Renegade-Protestants. When I seriously consider these things, I forbear to wonder at the great and desperate Villanies perpetrated by the Anabaptists those Renegade-Christians, who deny Baptism that initiating Ordi­nance and first Sacrament of Christianity. Dares any man affirm the Anabaptists to be Christians? For how can they be Christians who deny Christning, deride Christs Institution of Baptism, and scoffingly call it Baby-sprinkling, and in place thereof substitute their prophane Booby-dipping? But what need words be multi­plyed when deeds cry out so loud? And are not such unparallel'd Villanies enough to un-Christian the stoutest Professors in the world?

Mr. Josiah Baxter in the year 1661. was sollicited with much importunity by some Virginia Merchants to leave England, and imbarque for Virginia; He condescended to their requests, not upon the account of any earthly concern, but because he thought in those New Plantations they might not be so well provi­ded [Page 2] of Labourers in the Lord's Vineyard, and in this Nation (God be thanked) there was good store both of able and painful Mi­nisters: He also propos'd to himself the effecting some good upon the Indians, as he often intimated to me before his departure.

He lived many years in Virginia, and did much good among those people; But seeing that his health was much impaired by his Studies and Labours, and that the Ayr of that Countrey did not at all agree with his body, he began to think of removing, and especially seeing he had such a fair opportunity as the most cour­teous and loving Invitation of M. T. M. G. and M. O. very conside­rable Merchants in New-England, and his ancient and intimate Friends and Acquaintance; He therefore in the year 1672. with his Wife and Family left Virginia and setled himself in a solitary house about a mile and half distant from Boston: The Merchants and good people of Boston and the circum-jacent Countrey re­ceiv'd him with all the kindness and tenderness imaginable.

He had not been long in these parts but all good Christians had him in great veneration, for his great learning, his diligent preach­ing, and for his great zeal; He had not been many Moneths in New-England but he understood there was a notorious Sectarian by name Richard Batt (who formerly had been a Taylor in Coven­try, but some two years after the happy Restauration of his Ma­jesty, under pretence of a tender Conscience he left Coventry, and came to New-England.) This Batt was a fellow of a prodigious confidence, a good wit, a voluble tongue, and an insinuating car­riage and comportment: M. Baxter therefore quickly found out this Fox, and was very apprehensive of his designs against Christi­an Religion for the advancement of his unchristian Sect, and was also inform'd that he had already seduc'd many well-meaning peo­ple; He thought it was now high time to oppose this Son of Be­lial, to discover from Gods Word the falsity of his Tenets, the wickedness of his principles, and the danger of his practises, and also to confirm good Christians in the Truth: He therefore omit­ted no pains, but constantly in all his Sermons evidently declared and prov'd from God's Word the Divine Institution of Baptism: he answered all Objections, and most solidly proved, that the A­nabaptists were most sacrilegious persons, who endeavoured to rob Christ's Church of that Holy Sacrament which Christ her Spouse had left her; and that the very denying of Infant-Baptism was a denying and renouncing of Christianity it self, because Christ had [Page 3] instituted Baptism to be an initiating Sacrament whereby such as embrace Christian Religion were to be admitted within the Com­munion of his Church,; but these wicked Sectarians deny this Sacrament, and compel their adherents to renounce their Baptism, and to be dipt again in their prophane waters: He told them also, that the waters wherein Batt dipt his followers, were not (as he falsly told them) the pure waters of Jordan wherein the holy sons and daughters of Sion were baptiz'd, but the stinking and pro­phane waters of Egypt wherein none but Babylons children were dip't and prophan'd: He also charg'd and conjur'd all good Chri­stians if they had any care or regard for their souls, not to associ­ate with those prophane and Sacrilegious persons the Anabaptists, but to consider their personal vices, their scandalous lives, and their bloudy and dangerous practices in forreign Countreys, but especially in Germany, Holland, Poland and Switzerland; and he would often instance many of their high misdemeanours in several places in England, and pressingly urge his hearers not to have any commerce or society with men of such bad principles and detesta­ble lives.

Thus did this zealous Minister of the Gospel like a good Shep­herd diligently watch over the Flock which Christ had committed to his charge.

Good men were much edified by his zeal, and the weaker and wavering Christians were most solidly confirm'd in the Truth: But this good man thought it was not enough to edifie the orthodox, and confirm the doubtful, but he did most earnestly thirst after the conversion of misbelievers; he was resolved to try all means for the conviction and conversion of the Anabaptists themselves; He did endeavour to bring M. Batt to a personal conference; He o­penly challenged him in the Church, and openly protested that if he would come to a publike dispute and conference, all things should be manag'd with Christian lenity and brotherly love; but in case he should refuse such Christian-like Proposals of a publike conference and dispute, the whole world would conclude he was conscious to himself both of the badness of his Cause, and also of his own disabilities to manage and maintain it, especially seeing he was so openly, so often, and so pressingly mov'd to it by his An­tagonist: Batt and his Partizans us'd all the Artifices imaginable to avoid the conference; and when M. Baxter's friends urg'd him to it, he would reply, that Disputes and Debates were altogether [Page 4] unprofitable; that he could finde no Warrant or Example in Scri­pture of any publike Dispute between parties; that Disputes in Religion did but incense Christians one against the other, and heighten animosities; that they did no ways conduce to the convi­ction of Dissenters; and that tender Consciences who had left their Native Countrey for Religion, should endeavour for peace and mutual love, and not by disputes to divide themselves in par­ties, but every man sit quietly under his own Vine, and enjoy the Liberty of his Conscience. These were the specious pretences that M. Batt used to avoid the dispute; But M. Baxter was not at all satisfied with these excuses, but himself in publick, and his friends in private continually press'd them to admit a conference, where both parties might make out their Tenets to prevent all miss-understandings, and that the truth might be confirm'd by the Word of God.

When the Anabaptists saw they could shift off the business no longer, and that their own party were unsatisfied with this con­stant declining of the dispute, they began now to see the necessity of admitting a conference, and resolved upon the time and place.

The day appointed for this solemn dispute, was Jan. 10. the place was M. Smith's House, the two Disputants were M. Baxter and M. Batt: When the Company were met, M. Baxter desired they would all make their humble Addresses to Heaven, that God would grant a happy success to the whole business: When pray­er was ended, they began the Dispute.

But not to trouble you with a tedious rehearsal of circumstan­ces, Mr. Baxter managed the dispute with so much Prudence, Learning, and Zeal, that Batt and his Partizans were most lear­nedly confuted, and by unanswerable Arguments deduced from Holy Scripture fully convicted, and Infant-Baptism confirm'd: M. Batt did desire that the further prosecution of the whole matter might be left for another day, for now his spirits were spent, night was drawing on, and many of the company had a great way home. Hereupon the company concluded the Anabaptists were worsted, and signified as much by a general out-cry, that M. Batt was con­futed. When the Dispute was ended, every man went to his own home.

In this Conference the Anabaptists receiv'd such a deadly blow, that many of their followers began to open their eyes, and upon the next Lord's Day brought their Children to be baptized, which [Page 5] was a very pleasing sight to all good men, but a heart-breaking business to these Sons of Belial. M. Baxter was extremely glad of this happy success, and was resolv'd to prosecute the business to the utmost, hoping now that a full conversion of that wicked Party might easily be obtained. He omitted therefore no pains, but ever after made it his whole business to preach against that un­godly Sect, to lay open their dangerous Tenets, and also to per­swade his Auditors to detest that party as being men of wicked principles and worser lives.

The Anabaptists could by no means digest this disgrace, they now therefore consult the Prince of darkness, and are resolved to, put in execution the hellish counsels that he suggests to their ma­licious and wicked hearts.

On Feb. the 4th about 11. of the clock in the fore-noon there came four Ruffians to Mr. Baxters house (the solitariness of the house gave too much opportunity to these hellish Designs;) They had vizors upon their faces; as soon as they were entred, they severely charg'd them under pain of death not to cry out, or cause any disturbance: hereupon they bound Mrs. Baxter and her three daughters (for this was all Mr. Baxters family.) When they had done this, they went to Mr. Baxter, and rudely tore the cloths from his back, when he was stript they most cruelly whipt him. Then they told him he must die. He desired some time for prayer, and also that he might be permitted the liberty to speak to his wife and children before he died. All which they deny'd, and told him that 'twas in vain for him to pray, or think on heaven, for that was a place appointed for the Elect, but he was a vile Reprobate, and from eternity destin'd to damnation. You are, said they, a most wicked villain and have done much hurt in these parts, your sins cry to heaven for vengeance, & God has sent us to punish you; you have been an Incendiary, you have endeavour'd to per­secute good men with fire and saggot; you have been a most bitter persecuter of Gods servants, who have left their native Country for their Conscience, these poor souls you have persecuted to death, you must therefore for these ungodly practices submit your self to Justice. When they had said these words, like so many Hell-hounds, they most barbarously fell upon this innocent Lamb, and with knives cut open his belly, and violently tore off his skin from his body. And when this holy Martyr by reason of his tor­ments cryed out in a most dreadful manner, they said, 'twas ex­cellent [Page 6] Musick. One of them said, now the Rascal is urging the point against the baptists. When they had perpetrated this most execrable villany they fled. Oh! what a sad house is here? The Good man is flead alive, bleeding and crying out in the midst of his anguish and pain, the house swimming in bloud, the wife and children bound, and roaring out to see this poor Martyr wallow­ing in his bloud, and they not able to afford him any assistance. Things continued in this doleful posture until three of the clock in in the evening: and then by a signal providence one Thomas Smith of Boston came to the house, he unbound Mrs. Baxter and her three daughters. The youngest of the three was so consternated with horrour, that she fell into Convulsion-fits, and dyed the next day, About six of the clock at night this holy Martyr dyed, and was car­ried to Abrahams bosome. And this is a full sad Account of this mans sufferings and martyrdom for his Zeal for the true Religion.

The Murtherers are not yet found, but we hope that heaven will not let such horrid villanies goe unpunish'd long. The Anabaptists were examin'd, but did deny the Fact, and have since publisht a Writing, endeavouring thereby to perswade the world of their Innocence, and that this Fact was done by the Indians. But 'tis utterly improbable, that these Assassines were Indians, for had they been strangers, what needed any disguise? And 'tis more then probable, that they were some of M. Batts party by their reproachful words to M. Baxter: And this is the general opi­nion of New-England. The Widdow and her daughters were forthwith removed, and kindly entertain'd at the Ministers house, until further care is taken of them.

I have penn'd and publisht this Narrative in perpetuam rei me­moriam, that the world may see the Spirit and temper of these men, and that it may stand as an Eternal Memorial of their cruelty and hatred to all Orthodox Ministers.