Candid reasons for renouncing the principles of anti-paedobaptism. Also, a short method with the Baptists

by Peter Edwards

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First published January 28, 2010

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Reviews

[Josh Shands · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a helpful and thorough book. As a baptist, I found myself constantly asking the very questions he would note and then convinced by Edward’s answers to those objections. Some questions were even ones I wouldn’t have thought to ask. It’s like when you’re in school and the teacher asks “any questions”, but you’re left thinking “I would if I knew what to ask.” Peter handles this so well for me. He knew what I wanted to ask. He knew what I would have asked had I the mind to think of the question.

I think that’s the kicker for this book. Peter Edwards was a baptist minister who became convinced of infant baptism. He knows the perspective I’m in well and knows the mindset I found myself in. I’ve read other authors on the subject and I just don’t think they handle it with the same approach/background. Yes, covenantal theology is present. However. I think other books dive deeply into that without considering the reader. These books are to, hopefully, convince the reader who has yet to hold this view. I think the other authors on this subject come to it as if you’re already convinced or maybe are from the background of Presbyterianism. So again, I think this is where Edwards shines.

That said, there’s one quality to this book that is worth bringing attention to. Although I found it endearing and witty, Peter Edwards’ tone and prose (especially regarding the minister known as Mr. Booth) did come across harsh in some ways. You feel a sense of rebuke towards Booth’s reasoning. That very tone he has comes across like known theologians Chesterton or today’s Sproul or (personally) Matt Chandler’s passion. That passion can come across (and certainly did) rude or snarky. I don’t think that snark should detract from the gems of Edwards’ reasoning though. There surely are better known and long gone theologians with the same or more snark than him.

But all this said, it saddens me that a book like this should convince me and yet not find it more in circulation. This book was written prior to Spurgeon and I happened upon a physical copy in a used book store. I’d happily recommend it to others with questions on the subject. Yet, the only way of reading it is via internet archives (thankfully it can be found for free), but otherwise happenstance of crossing a copy.

If you come to this subject of infant baptism with a posture of willingness to be persuaded and not let Edwards’ wit deter you, this book argues well to convince. It did so for me and my family.