Christs Name 1 Cor. 1.13 15. And again the only reason Paul gives for his not baptising is least any should say that I baptized in my own name and so set up for a party to my self and divide Christ's Church among principle Ministers and this he saith only to clear himself of Schism Again Pauls buisiness was chiefly to convert and other Ministers to baptize much like the Text John 4.2 Jesus himself baptized not but his Disciples and so there is no doubt but the believing Corinthians were baptized tho' not all by Paul and so John 3.22 CHAP. XXXIV 1 Cor. 10.2 2. And were all baptized unto Moses in the Cloud and in the Sea I Note That as when believers are baptised they publickly own Christ for their head leader so the chilâ—ren or people of Israel passing with the cloud before and behind them and through the Red Sea they publickly declared Moses to be their leader so it was to them the distinguishing Sign or Ordinance and that by God's Appointment they were all that obeyed the Lord by Moses to pass through the Sea Again There is also resemblance between dipping and being in the cloud and in the sea for in both the whole body is covereâ— the cloud was before Israel and behind and it rested upon them and they were in the cloud covered all over And the Sea also was a resemblance of dipping for as they went uâ—on the bottom of the Sea the waters were abundantly higher than their heads and therefore it may be said they were in the depth of the Sea or in a sense Dipt For they were in the middle and at the bottom tho' the waters were miraculously made to stand from their Bodies that they might not be drowned and Therefore and Apostle may say as this Apostle saith And were all bâ—ptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the Sea CHAP. XXXV 1 Cor. 12.13 13. For by one spirit we are all baptised into one body whether we be Jâ—w or Gentile whether we be bond or free and have been all made to drink into one spirit I Note That the Spirit that accompanys the Preaching of the Gospel is one in all places and to all Persons that effectually believe and because of thus believing we believers were baptized into one Church The Bride the Lambs Wife part whereof were the visible Saints at Corinth to whom we were added by visible demonstration baptism whether we were servants or free all one all alike whether our Parents believing or unbelieving so the Person baptized were a believer and have been all partakers of the one Spirit in the one Body the Church through the Spirit and baâ—tism Love to the Brethren is from the oneness of that one Spirit of God and the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one Soul Acts 4.32 Again Infants are not concerned in this All baptized for Infants were not the Coâ—inthian Saints that this Epistle was writ to 1 Cor. 1.2 nor were Infants bond servants neither had Infants the comforts of the Spirit attending Faith in our Lord Jesus for that Spirit convinceth the world of sin and a soul of the want of a Saviour and also shews it the Christ that dyed not for his own sins but others An Infant cannot believe this Paul again numbereth himself among the believers and not among Infants CHAP. XXXVI 1 Cor. 1â— 29 20. Else what shâ—ll th y â—o whi h are baptized for the Dead If the Dead rise not at all why are they then bapâ—â—zeâ— for the deaâ— I Note That in â—his Chapter the Apostle is about to clear up the Resurrection of the dead and to do it takeâ— the baptising of the Saints upon theiâ— believing to be one good Argument for it and â—â—coâ—dingly argues thus The Saints baptiâ—m oâ— dipping â—o signify the Death of Christ rising again out of the Water to signify the resurrection of Christ would signify nothing if there was not indeed the Resurrection of the â—ody of Christ nor is to be indeed a Resurrection of the Saints of whom Christ's Body was the firâ—â— Fruits What signifies saith he to believers your being baptized into oâ— upon the Profession of the Faith of the Death and Resurrection of Christ if Christ did not die and rise again and if he arose again then in time shall be a Resurrection of them that are his the Bodies of the Saints being the purchase of the Blood of Christ as well as their Souls Again No Infants can be concerned in this Baptism because they could not be baptised for the dead they could not believe nor confess that Christ died rosâ— again That one dead risen Jesus should satisfy the demands of infinite Justice for thousands and millions of notorious Sinners chief of Sinners pall present to come of which his Resurrection being a discharge from the Prison of Death is a clear proof that he paid all the demands of injurest Justice CHAP. XXXVII Gal. 3.27 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ The Apostle in this Chapter is shewing that persons in a state of nature are under the Bondage soveraignty of the Law of Works the holy yet imperfect to justify a sinner Had there been a Law that could have given Life Christ needed not to have died But Saints by faith obedience are apparently Christ's Free-men I note that As many as have upon profession of the faith of the Gospel been Baptized have given a sign of being changed from expectations of Justification by the Works of the Law to an expectation of Justification by the Blood of Christ so from a state of nature to a state of grace that you Galathians have so declared your being baptized upon prof ssion of that Doctrine is a sufficient testimony thus he goes on expect not Justification by the Law begâ—n not in the spirit end in the flesh now Baptism hath publickly distinguished you from the world fight the good fight of Faith in the Son of God Again Infants never did put on Christ for they never did from a sense of a change in nature or faith in the Gospel desire Baptism but on the contrary are after their Sprinkling in a state of nature as every days experience proves by their signs of unregeneracy the continual pressing that preachers make to turn Again As a Noble man's Servant is put in his Lords Livery to be kn wn thereby so Believers Baptism is a piece of the Livery of the Lord Jesus CHAP. XXXVIII Eph. 5.4 4. One Lord one Faith one Baptism I note that As here is but one Baptism so it ought to be Continued as it was begun by Dipping of Believers for there is but one Baptism appointed as an Ordinance in the Church as for Sprinkling of Infants it is without any Example or order from Christ or his Apostles therefore that cannot be Baptism so that there being but one baptism that baptism
the other hand experience every day teacheth us that very many of them that have Repentance or an effectual work of grace upon their souls are those that cannot plead the priviledge of having believing Parents then pray what peculiar right to baptism hath the children of believing Parents more than others Besides if the now believer that was sprinkled in his Infancy have swaying reasons to believe that neither of his Parents were believers and such there are then by what rule did his Parents sprinkle or as he calls it baptize him And by Vertue of what promise doth the believer reckon his Infant Baptism effectual or valid to him seeing his Parents were Unbelievers For the promise was made as he reckoneth only to the Children of believing Parents Pray then doth not the unbelief of his Parents make his baptism void for want of a ground to found his baptism on Yes Abraham was not Father of our English Nation And therefore think not to say within your selves we have Abraham to our Father As we came to Christ not by the Will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of the will of God so cometh more be their Parents believers or unbelievers Or thus Our children cannot be the children of Abraham till they believe as he did Again formerly as well as now a generation of Vipers too often comes of believing Parents then how are they in the covenant more than others As 't is not election but sanctification that actually qualifies men for heaven so 't is not Election but Believing that actually qualifies for baptism The Elect are chosen to be sanctified as well as to be saved and accordingly are called by the Gospel to believe and then be baptised and that as a sign of their Faith and all this is before they are actually saved CHAP. XV. Luke 3.12 13. 12. Then came also Publicans to John to be baptised and said to him Master what shall we do 13. And he said unto them exact no more than that which is appointed you I note That the Publicans according to the saying of Jesus are apter to receive the Gospel than some Professors are The Publicans and Harlots go into the Kingdom of God before you Mat. 21.31 And the Publicans Justified God being baptised with the Baptism of Iohn Luke 7.29 A submitting to the Call of the Gospel and diligence to learn the Duties of it are signs of Faith and Repentance and qualifies persons for Baptism What shall we do What shall I do Acts. 16.30 is always the question of the Repenting Believing Sinner that is fallen in Love with Jesus under the sense of the need of saving from his sins And conceiving that Jesus hath something for him to do he is willing to shew that Love by doing somthing commanded by Jesus even to be baptised If any thing â—s to be done by the Creature then Infants are excluded Again Thus we read of many sorts of Persons Pharisees Sadduces all the People yea Jesus himself but yet not a Word of Infants the point in hand Again John doth not mind whether they were the seed of believing Parents or no but requires Repentance as a sign of faith to qualify for baptism CHAP. XVI Luke 3.21 22 23. 21. Now when all the People were baptised it came to pass that Iesus also being baptised and praying the Heaven was opened 22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a Dove upon him and a voice came from Heaven which said Thou art my beloved Son in thee I am well pleased 23. And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of Age c. I note That three Evangelists witnesseth that baptism was administred on people by dipping them in a River and not on Infants by pouring or sprinkling a little water on them Again Tho Jesus was Circumcised in his Infancy yet to be baptised he must be at maturity Tarry till he be just entering upon his Religious publick work tho he be about thirty years of Age first The Father hath given his testimony to dipping at maturity by instituting it and beholding his Sons obedience by a voice from Heaven saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased The Son hath given his Testimony to it by owning it his Fathers will and practising it and giving his Apostles Commission for it The Holy Ghost hath given his Testimony to it by descending in a bodily shape at its Administration Let Infant Sprinklers show such Testimonies Then what glory in the parts of Worship is there that exceeds this glory of the Testimony of these three Infinite Persons in the one eternal Being CHAP. XVII Luke 7.29 30. 29. And all the people that heard him and the Publicans justified God being baptized with the Baptism of Joâ—n 30. But the Pharisees and Lawyers rejected the Counsel of God against themselves being not baptized of him I note The great difference between two sorts of People the common people and the superstitious The common people the poor imbrace the Doctrine of the Gospel tho the worldly wise and superstitious reject it The Publicans justified God that is the Collectors of the Taxes which the Jews paid the Romans who were infamous for their Exactions were convinced of their Sins by Johns Ministry and acknowledged the Righteousness Goodness and Mercy of God Being baptized with the Baptism of John they believed his Baptism was from Heaven and submitted unto it as a divine Institution confessing their Sins But the Pharisees and Lawyers the Rabbies of the Age rejected the Counsel of God against themselves continued impenitent not bringing forth Fruits meet for Repentance and refused submission to the wisdom of God in his gracious dispensation being not baptized of John Again It is the indispensable Duty of Believers to be baptized because 't is not only injoyned but there 's not any Text that leaveth them to the liberty of leaving it undone CHAP. XVIII Luke 20.4 The Baptism of John was it from heaven or of men I note That also the Evangelist Luke minds that our Lord Jesus defended John's Baptism as a Doctrin by divine Authority And that Baptizing is Dipping is also manifest by the literal proper and natural signification of the Greek word Baptizo which all our Lexicons and Learned Men yea Criticks in the Tongues with one consent do say That Baptize is Dip yea such a Dipping as is used in Bucks where Cloaths are wash'd to wash the whole body to dip over head and ears The English and French keep the Greek word Baptism untranslated which I reckon either a fault in the Translators or a way left whereby the peoples ignorance about Baptism was continued But the Dutch translate plainly in their own Language Doopen to Dip. And that the word Baptizo doth signify to dip or plunge under water Consider these Scriptures for the present Mat. 3.16 John 3.22 23 Acts 8.38 Rom. 6.4 And these Authors following Stephanus Scapula Budaeus Casaubon
arose to the water And thus tho God hath an Ocean of Grace and that this grace is free as a River Ps 78.20 Iude 3. Isa 33 21. yet saith Goâ— of his people They shall come weeping and mourning Isa 48.18 And so tho his Ordinance of water be free yet his people shall come to that and not a little of that brought to Sprinkle as if they were afâ—aid of too much and as if too much water Psal 36.8 would signify too much grace or us if could they but have grace or sanctity enough to carry them to Heaven they would not have a drop more Now Believer if it come to pass by thiâ— or any other means that thou art wrought to a solid desire publickly to profess thy self Religious Mar. 10.32 A believer on the Son of God for Salvation by an obediential submitting to this Gospelly settled Ordinance of believers baptism and yet thou findest in thy self frailty and inability to live a perfect holy Life as becometh such a professor and therefore thinkest with thy self to delay baptism till thou art stronger fortified against Corruption and better qualified for baptism If so then rest on thy Lord Jesus Eph. 5.26 and conclude to live thro the gâ—ace of God as well as thou caâ—st if not so well as thou wouldest so resolve to be baptized If thou believâ—st with all thy heart thou may'st be baptised Believing or Faith is an heart qualifying grace and doth and will bring forth the good fruits of an holy conversation tho much of corrupt Nature still remaineth Then what hinders thy obedience to thy Saviours appointed believers baptism Observe That the Jaylor Acts. 16. falling out of love with his sins speak like a man of sense and reason What shall I do to be saved And then the Apostle directs him higher than sense or reason even to act as a man of Faith too If thou wilt do then believe do that without staying for thy own Acts of Rigteousness believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Do that first and then thou art right to do more Faith is the Root of other Sanctified Obedience and also gives right to baptism If thou believest is the point that the Gospel stands upon art thou poor art thou vile nay art thou the vilest of sinners if thou believest art changed there 's no Objection against thee There 's no Qualification like believing in the Cruâ—ified Iesus of Nazareth that hath undertaken to Sanctifie Sinners Godly Parents and all the Forms of Worship are not to be compared to believing with all the heart Thus If thou believest with all thy heart thou mayest be baptized Acts 8 37. Art thou a Gentile Person Then behold the Noble Ethopian Minister of State Acts 8. riding in his Chariot with his Courtly Attendence commanding all to stand still while he gâ—es down into the Water with Philip to be obedient to his Saviours dispised Rule of dipping whereby he sets himself against a Kingdom Ethiopia and then he went on his way rejoycing at the greatness of his Priviledge according to Phil. 1.29 Acts 5.41 Again But it may be thou hast been a Persecutor That indeed is a dreadful thing thou hast hereby made War upon God and his Son Jesus that should be thy Saviour and all the Saints and if thou mightest had thy Will thou wouldest have done strange things But yet see the kindness of the Lord Jesus to Saul And when Sauls Convictions made him cry out Lord what wilt thou have me to do He was then taught and sent to Ananias who said to him Why tarriest thou arise and be baptized Acts 22.16 And now to turn the stream of his Labours the Lord Jesus will have Saul become Paul the Preacher of the everlasting Gospel and a sufferer for it too Hear what the Evangelical Prophet Isaiah saith of the fullness and freeness of the grace of the Gospel to the poor and vile sinner Isa 55.1 2. Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the Waters the grace of the Gospel he that hath no money come ye buy and eat yea come buy Wine Milk without Money without price Wherefore do you spend your Money your desires for that which is not Bread and your labour for that which satisfies not The Son of God confirmeth this John 7.37 38. In the last day that great day of the Feast Jesus stood and cryed saying if any man thirst let him come unto me and drink He that believeth on me as the Scripture hath said out of his belly shall flow Rivers of living Water the Spirit and Grace of the Gospel And again This exalted Saviour winds up his New Testament discovery of his Grace by his Proclamation in Revelations 22.17 And the Spirit and the Bride say Come and let him that heareth say Come and let him that is a thirst Come and whosoever will let him take the Water of life freely What wouldst have more O Sinner that seest thy pollutions and art under the sense of their deserts tho thou canst not by thy best Obedience answer the demands of a holy severe Law yet thou canst by believing with all thy heart answer the call of a holy reconciling Gospel that freely offers Christ for thy acceptance and injoyns Believers Baptism as a tryal of thy saith And so if thou believest in the sufficiency of the Lord Jesus with all thy heart thou mayst be baptised FINIS An Appendix If any be offended at this Treatise Then of them I Query Query 1. HOW comes it to pass that Liberty of Conscience is not a Christian's Priviledge now As much as it was when the Men of your perswasion hotly contended for it Query 2. Are you an Infallible Judge of a Christian's Reason Why he believes and obeys Gods Will in Scripture Tho never any Papist or Protestant could find a Iudge so safe for Salvation as the Scripture Query 3. Is it not safest for a Christian in the Conduct of his Life to Follow the Exemplary Practice of Christ and his Apostles Query 4. Wherein do Persons by sprinkling Infants follow the Practice of Christ his Apost Query 5. The Apostles by Dipping Believers only did faithfully discharge the Baptismal part of their Commission Then I Query by what or whose commission are Infants now Sprinkled for I never heard of another commission by Divine Authority Query 6. Infants being Sprinkled without Christ's commission for it How doth it appear that Infants Sprinkling will be accepted by Christ instead of believers baptism Query 7. Do not the Judgments on a Nation often come for want of Reformation from Popery and the Image of it in the Churches Query 8. Am not I in obeying and defending Forty New Testament Texts more excusable than some others that with Non-sequitors Crown the many more Learned that have pretended to defend Infant Sprinkling Query 9. Is it not safest for the finding of a New Testament Truth Baptism to compare all the New Testament
THE Reason Why Not Infant Sprinkling BUT BELIEVERS BAPTISM Ought to be approved Is because the Lord Jesus Christ his Fore-runner and Apostles preach't it and practic'd it As hereby will further appear By Scripture Authority In about Fourty TEXTS With Notes on every TEXT To which is added How Infant Sprinkling came in Fashion The Evil Tendencies of Infant Sprinkling Answers to Objections Differences betw Believ Baptism and Inf. Sprink With several other things By a Believer Baptiz'd He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved Mark 16.16 The Eunuch said to Philip I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God And they went down both into the Water both Philip and the Eunuch and Philip baptized him Act. 8.36 37 38. London Printed 1694. My Friend IF you are sincerely inquisitive about the Worship of God and desire the Reasons Why Believers Baptism ought to be approved and Infant Sprinkling rejected then be pleased to consider this small Treatise which as my Vnderstanding I commend to you and that in sincerity and love to our Lord Jesus Christ his Gospel and your Information Wherein you may observe that the method taken to discover right Baptism by is the clearest from deceit that could be because every Text about Baptism is taken in order as Recorded in Holy Scripture that thereby it may fairly and clearly appear to you as well as to me That 't is indeed Believers baptism that is the Gospel Ordinance requiâ—ed by Jesus Christ and that it is not Infant Sprinkling Besides if you as I have been are rightly in love with your own Salvation and consequently the Lord Jesus Christ then you will find an aptness in your Soul to be obedient to the Ordinances of Christ as parts of the Will of God According to the Apostles saying We are his Workmanship created in Christ Jesus to good Works Eph. 2.10 and all from a principle of Love to God Christ his Gospel and goodness and the delight of them begotten in the Soul of the Regenerate This Soul considering redeeming Love desires it may glorify God according to John 15 8. Herein is my Father glorifyed that ye bear much fruit so shall ye be my Disciples John 14.21 He that hath my Commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me And again If ye keep my Commandments ye shall abide in my Love even as I have kept my Fathers Commandments and abide in his Love John 15.10 And therefore it is that many in our Age that have an effectual work of Grace upon their Souls have had also some Workings about Obedience to this great Gospel Ordinance of Believers Baptism Tho' some of them by Master save thy self Mat. 16.22 have been baffled off and their Light put out and those Motions stifled whereby they have turned their back upon it But the Lord preserves this Light in some and hath so in me and therefore I submitâ— to the prescribed Rule God hath given tho' thereby I converse among a poor dispised People according to the Apostle's observation of the Corinthian Saints 1 Cor. 1.26 To follow a Religion because it is in Fashion is not my Rule I have four sorts of People to deal with and they require four sorts of considerations to convince them and therefore I give variety 1. The Ignorant World that do not like believers baptism because it is commonly spoken evil of 2. The superstitious World that don't like it because it condemns part of their splendid way of worship 3. The Professor that dissents from that ignorance and superstition and zealously pursues a Reform'd yet a political way 4. The Converted that admires the Love that work'd about the Salvation of the Sinner and yet is somewhat blind about baptism c. But those among whom I expect the Doctrine of believers baptism should be effectual are all those that the Crucified Risen Jesus 's Lo I am with you shall give it success to The Sinner that 's fallen in Love with the Lord Jesus taketh him at his Word and in that hear of first Love dare do any thing for God Luke 7.47 This Soul is just touched with a Coal of holy Fire from the Altar and is all in a flame and takes the Glory of the World for Stubble And as by Revelation from the Father Mat. 11 27. Mat. 1.17 It Believes that the mighty Jesus is the Son of God so it Believes that this Sovereign Will ought to be obeyed And accordingly with the Fortitude that contemned Nebuchadnezzars Golden Image in the Face of a Fiery Furnaco Dan. 3. Resolves to be Baptized or Dipped Saying I must by baptism ingage in my Lords Service to fight the good fight of Faith and lay hold on Eternal life thro good report and evil report for what am I that I should pretend to a better way of obedience then my Saviour hath appointed Your Christian Friend C. D. London 1693. Yet for those of my Christian Brethren that â—re resolved upon their way of Infant Sprinkling 〈◊〉 in peace leave them to the Lord to their â—houghts and way and keep the Scripture Reason â—f Believers Baptism for as many as shall â—ave the grace to receive it And so as I began â—n Love to our Lord Jesus Christ I desire to end â—n love with all that love our Lord Jesus Christ CHAP. I. Matth. 3.1 2 5 6. 1. In those Days came John the Baptist preaching in the Wilderness of Judea 2. And saying Repent ye for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand 5. Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea and all the Region round about Jordan 6. And were baptised of him in Jordan confessing their Sins I Note That as soon as this first Evangelist Matthew had by direction of the Spirit of God given a Relation of the Birth and preservation of our Lord Jesus Christ he presently tells us of John the Baptist preaching and baptizing thereby signifying That Faith in Christ hath the preference and that Obedience and Profession of Faith by baptism comes next in order Again The Persons to be baptized were such as confest their Sins but not Infants carried thither and senseless of Sin Agâ—in They were baptized or dipped in a River which they went to of their own Will but not sprinkled with a little Water out of a bâ—son or such like brought to them or they carried to it whether they would or no. Again Repentance was first preached and then upon Signs of Repentance the people were afterwards baptized So that the Subjects of and manner of baptism neither were Infants nor Sprinkling CHAP. II. Matth. 3.7 8. 7. But when he John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadduces come to his baptism he said unto them O Generation of Vipers who hath warned you to fly from the wrath to come 8. Bring forth therefore Fruits meet for Repentance I Note That those Persons that gave not Signs of Repentance were rejected from baptism or thus No Persons were admitted to baptism but upon
any spoil you through Philosophy and vain deceit after the Traditions of Men after the Rudiments of the World and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily Col. 2.8 9. Rom. 9.5 Feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood Acts 20.28 Phil. 2.6 Who being the brightness of his Glory and the express Image of his person and upholding all things by the word of his power when he had by himself purged our sins sate down on the Right hand of the Majesty on high Heb. 1.3 Why should not the mighty Jesus â—e Obey'd The Conclusion SIn-sick Soul hast thou fallen in love with the Lord Jesus and would'st have God give thee an Emblem Ezek. 47.5 of his pardoning Grace to make thee well Why here it is here is upon thy Believing much Water Joh. 3.23 assigned thee in his Ordinance of Baptism A River of Water enough to cover thee all over to dive in to swim in Then wouldst thou now if thou hadst thy choice of an Emblem of the pardoning Grace of God thou wants choose a few drops of Water or enough to cover thee all over Isa 33 2â— I dare say thy Wants being great thou wouldst choose enough to cover thee all over Then thank God he hath done it to thy hand and that above a thousand years ago and before thou thoughtest of either thy self or thy sin or thy God Yea thy Lord Jesus hath given his Apostles Commission to Dip thee in much Water Mat. 28.19 20. to let thee know that he hath according to thy Wants and desire Grace enough and to spare not just enough and no more but abundance â—ore than thou needest here is a River a â—â—ep River Ezek. 47.5 therefore fear not wanting he 'll not sparingly Sprinkle thee as if his grace would spend too fast to hold out or was too costly to bestow upon thee No but he 'll by Dipping liberally wash thee clean in the flowing streams of the River of Water of Life O the heighth of the Water and the depth Ezek 3â— 14 Chap 34.18 Eph. 3.18 of the Water of Life Grace for thy preservation and Salvation Christ is full free and unsearchable then how should a few drops of Water signifie his Grace so well as abundance What 's a few Sparks to set forth the Glory of the Meridian Sun or a few drops of Water to shew the abundance of the Ocean Seâ— with the unaccountable â—lowing motions and swellings thereof with its ability to sustain the mighty Creatures therein Nothing no drops so proper as a River to illustrâ—te Gracâ— The streams of Grace the flowinâ—s of â—race Psal 147.8 the abounding of Grace the freeness and fullâ—ess of Grace the Flooâ— of Grace the irresistible force and runnings of Grace Thâ— boying floating Long-suffâ—ring nature of Grace A grace-built Soul can never sink through or be drowned in grace O astonishing grace the Ocean of Grace is as Infinite as any other divine Attribute and constrains the greatest Sinners a prodigious sort and size of sinners have lived Joh. 4.14 yea lived forever by grace then what 's a few drops of Water to set forth the Infiniteness of the Divine Attribute of grace O grace like the Ocean runs round all the Nations of the World grace like the Ocean â—eepeth the World savâ—â—â— grace like the Ocean flows Night and Day bâ—â—hou sleeping or waking grace like a River 〈◊〉 always in motion Grace like a River runs many miles to water the Countries and sustain the Lives of thirsty Creatures Ps â—2 2 Psal 63.1 Grace like a River runs in the lowley Valleys the humble souls Grace like a River carrieth away the daily filth of sin Saints sin and keepeth them sweet and clean And as most people desire to build their Houses and Towns by the River that they may be supplyed and sustained by the waters thereof so the soul that is converted desires to live by grace to build it's house by grace Psal â— 3 the Rive of Grace Psal 46.4 the streams whereof shall make glad the City of God See therefore pretious soul here 's Reason enough That grace by the Wisdom of God should be compared to much Water Ezek. 47.5 to 12. and that a River should be more proper for Believers Baptism than a few drops John 3.23 because thy soul wants and that God and thy self knowest abundance of grace yea the continual flowing grace Psal 116.3 4. Grace abounding over flowing saving grace hath like the Ocean's flowing twice in twenty four hours puzled the worldly Wisemen to find out the reason of it It is to the Iews a stumbling block and to the greeks foolishness but yet God in saving by grace acts like himself in a way of wisdom to preserve his soveraignty and glorify all his Attributes so he doth by assigning Believers Dipping in water to be an Emblem of his much grace to a believer Acts 22.16 Ioel 3.18 Mich. 7.16 Rom. 4.16 Job 49.2 Jer. 17.13 Zech. 14.8 John 4.14 But why must people come to the water and not the water be brought to them in Gods Ordinance of Baptism Why it may be it is because much water is needful for dipping and it may be also to shew that grace is not at mans will Job 22.17 and that grace washing cleansing saving grace is to keep its place for grace hath a dignity 't is said to reign Rom. 5.21 as a King a King will keep his soveraignty Grace is also called a River of water of Life Rev. 22.1.2.17 And you know a River will keep it's place Ezek. 47.9 And so tho God hath a River of grace Psal 65.9 yet it runs its own course here and their and one man for another is not permitted to take it out of it's Channel Psal 104.10 but the man that is made willing to have it must come where it is as he is bidden Joh. 9.7 Isa 55.1 come to the Waters Zâ—â— 13.1 There shall be a fountain opened for sin and for uneleanness He that wants it is to come to it and not to send some body for it as if it were not worth his going to nor can any man take it out of it's place or carry it to him to sell but he himself must come and buy it where it runs in it's native Streams from the Throne of God and of the Lamb that is Christ and he saith to the sinner Come unto me And so in like manner the Elementary Water in Gods Ordinance is to be come to Tho Naaman the Assyrian was not willing to go to the Waters the Type of the Lord Jesus for cleansing Ps 65 9. as he was bidden yet if he had not the Water had never answered the end John 5.7 Gods people are or should be a willing people John preached in all the Country about the Water and Jesus went from Galilee many miles to the water and the Eunuch went out of his Chariot to the water and Paul