1793 BAPTIST CONTROVERSY. History of Anabaptists and Response to Baptist Evangelists in New England.

Very rare edition of Joseph Lathrop on the controversy with the Baptists, including Perkins appendix on the history of the Anabaptists, etc., 

Joseph Lathrop [1731-1820] graduated Yale in 1754 and from there was ordained pastor of the Congregational church in West Springfield, where he succeeded Samuel Hopkins. He continued pastor the same flock until 1818, pastoring for over 60 consecutive years, during which time he is said to have composed in excess of 5,000 sermons for the benefit of his people.

In the late 18th century a controversy arose in his congregation on the subject of baptism under the influence of itinerant Baptist revivalists. This led to his publication of a series of discourses in refutation of the Baptists that passed through several editions. However popular, it wasn't 100% persuasive. Not long after, his own daughter married Elisha Dening Andrews who would go on to become a prominent Baptist divine. 

Of this Baptist controversy, we have the following account:

". . . the sky was sometimes overcast, and the waters were troubled. Evil came from without. There was at one time some fear of the spread of Baptist principles; at another a roving imposter who proved to be a wolf in sheep's clothing, like Alexander the coppersmith, threatened to do much harm in Mr. Lathrop's hitherto united fold. He was prepared for the emergency and contended earnestly for the faith once delivered to the Saints. With great plainness he instructed his people in what he believed to be the truth, and the tyranny was soon overpast. The sermons he delivered upon the latter occasion, were masterpieces of controversy, and general in their application, and at the instance of his people they were published, and soon went through some twelve editions, so great was the demand for them. Under the title of "Wolves in Sheep's Clothing" they were reprinted in Edinburgh, Scotland, and now, after nearly a hundred years they may be read with pleasure and profit." 

Lathrop, Joseph; and Nathan Perkins. Sermonson the Mode and Subjects of Christian Baptism. Or an Attempt to Shew that Pouring or Sprinkling, is a Scriptural Mode; and the Infants of Believers are proper Subjects of the Baptism Instituted by Christ; with an Examination of Various Objections. Particularly those Contained in a Course of Anonymous Letters to Bishop Hoadely. by Joseph Lathrop, Pastor of the first Church in West-Springfield. To which is added, an Appendix, Containing the History of the Origin of the Anabaptists, in Four Letters, by Nathan Perkins, Pastor of a Church in Hartford. Printed at Boston. by Peter Edes, for Isaiah Thomas and E. T. Andrews. 1793. 83pp.

Good +. Textually crisp and complete. Removed from a larger sammelband at some point in time before arriving to us; binding flotsam on spine. Some foxing and toning.