which he hath no right to doth this argue that therefore he will throw away all that is his own or any of that he hath right to But do you know what an Ordinance of God is that you do cry out so much for Ordinances if you do not then give me leave to declare some unto you and these are standing Ordinances indeed and those wherein God is glorified among his people in the true and spiritual performance of them First then let us take up that Ordinance of Christ Matth. 5. 16. compared with Phil. 2. 15. Let your light so shine before men that they seeing your good works may glorifie your Father which is in heaven I advise those to take up this Ordinance or to walk in it that have the true light of Christ in them let us so walk in the light of God revealed in us that all may see that our light is of God and this you see is a Gospel-Ordinance 2 Observe another Ordinance which is also a command of Christ Joh. 13. 34 35. ver 35. by this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples if ye have love one to another I also advise all to obey this Ordinance of Christ that have the precious love of Christ shed abroad in their hearts by the spirit of love from the Father and the Son Oh let not us who are all in one eternal love brought out of eternal bondage sin and darkness into eternal liberty light and love let not us confine our love to forms and opinions as it is the ordinary practise of our times But let our love extend unto all and from very love to do good unto all we have an Ordinance for this large extent of love Love your enemies do good to them that hate you c. Do good unto all but especially to the houshold of Faith love the brotherhood but nowhere love for opinion that is carnal love for the true brotherhood lies not in any form but from oneness of spirit in love But many now adays look so much upon carnal Ordinances and outward observations that their love is wholly upon that and those that follow those forms they are undone And they are so far from fulfilling this great Gospel-Ordinance toward all that they manifest more hatred and envy to those that liâ—e in the same love of the Father that they say they do live in though they do not live under the same form as they do then they do manifest to the greatest blasphemer or wicked person in the world and all is from some difference about outside things but they that are joyned to the Lord are one spirit not joyned to one form Here is the cunning of the devil to break in pieces the bonds of love and unity among those that profess the Lord Jesus But I could wish love were more practised among all that do own love and that all would do as they would be done unto but this I must tell you There is no command more exhorted unto and no command more slighted then this is I could wish we had not cause now to say to people as Christ said to the Pharisees that they do make void the commands of God by their traditions yet this is the practise of many now to this very yeer 1653. For they set up fâ—rms and traditions of men and confine all to follow them and to obey these Ordinances that are of men and those that will not or that cannot follow them nor submit to them they must be cryed out against for hereticks and blasphemers and so love that is the great command of God that is made void and the Ordinances of men they are sâ—t up and cryed up let love and Christian fellowship go whither it will 3 We have another Ordinance set forth Col. 3. 16. unto which we do well to take heed Let the word of Christ dwell in us richly in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another in the several parts of the great mystery of godliness Let us teach exhort instruct and comfort each other as we are taught instructed and comforted in the Lord that so we may be instruments so strengthen one another against all conditions tbat we may fall into Let those who are indued with power from on high continue in the word and doctrine of truth and righteousness Here is another Ordinance of God God enable us to obey it in sincerity 4 Let us walk wisâ—ly toward all giving no offence to Jew nor Gentile nor to the Church of God that whereas others do speak evil of us as evil coers they may be ashamed by the beholding our sincerity in Christ Jesus But as for those who are offended at the truth let them bear their own shame for the cause of offence is not in the truth but those that oppose it let not this Ordinance be forgotten neither 5 Give no place to the devil nor your own deceitful lusts but abstain from all fleshly lusts that do war against the soul and be ye holy in all manner of conversation acting and shewing forth the purity of the hidden man of the heart that you may appear to be the workmanship of God in spirit and power and that ye have received the spirit of power love and of a sound minde have also a special eye to this Ordinance too 6 Deal honestly with all men and speak truth every one to his neighbour put away lying and all deceit guile and hypocrisie let all your actions speak forth righteousness and act in righteousness and uprightness toward all hate flattery and bribes with all things that are evil do unto all men as you would have they should do unto you Here are Ordinances enough if we could but see them and had but a principle from God to walk in them the Lord bring forth righteousness in our hearts and then our actions will speak forth righteousness indeed 7 Be not partial one to another Jam. 2. Let not the rich slight the poor nor let not their benevolence be tyed up under single forms and remember this that pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this to visit the fatherless and widdows in their afflictions and to keep himself unspotted from the world Jam. 1. 27. here are Ordinances enough everywhere in the word of God I could wish they were in our hearts too for here are Ordinances enough for us to practise if water were quite down Remember Rom. 14. that the stong should not slight nor despise the weak nor the weak should not contemn the strong but let all keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace 2 Pet. 4. 2 3 c. You may take them exhortations Luk. 3. from John to the people and also many more in the word of truth onely I thought it good to put you in minde of a few that so ye may see there are other Ordinances besides cold water and such as there is a thousand times more ground to
during Antichrist's reigne for you have no example so to doe For the Jewes never set up visible worship nor ordinances in any time of Captivity either in Egypt the Wildernesse Babylon or else where but in Jerusalem the place of worship So let us who are the Lords building within waite for the spirituall Jerusalem comming downe from God out of heavens which God will send forth with visible worship and ordinances such as pleaseth him and not as man pleaseth And as we desire of friends to be the habitation of God through the Spirit so let us desire to be more acquainted with the Baptisme of the Spirit which consists in spirituall washing purifying and cleansing our souls and spirits from all filthinesse of flesh and spirit that so in it we may be made partakers of eternall Righteousnesse purity and Holinesse of God and so builded up together an habitation for God and a Temple for the living God to dwell in through the presence of the eternall Spirit in us in spiritual washing and spirituall burning the true and onely Gospel purifying So I rest wishing the day of God may come upon us all that may burne up all our drosse and tynne and may wash and purge us from all our Idols that we may worship God in spirit A few words to every Reader in general Kind Reader consider a few things in Love BE sure those Ordinances you doe owne and set up in your highest affections be of God and not of man for if they be of man then they cannot stand in the day of Triall when God brings them to triall by the Truth 2. Take heed of setting up Ordinances in the kingdome of Antichrist in spirituall Babylon Egypt or Sodome least it be found that you have noe Command nor Example for your soe doing See Rev. 11. 3. Looke that your Administrators be right in their Calling and Qualifications according to the true patterne of the primitive Administrators both in your Ministry and Ordinances least being tried by the word they should be found liars take heed I say of crying up your selves and waies to be Apostolicall least the truth should prove you lyars Rev. 2. 6. 4. Consider this well that the pure way of Gospel-worship that is truly spiritual will never come out of Antichrists kingdome principles doctrines nor traditions but consider that the bright day of Gods comming in spirit shall destroy the foundation and whole building of the man of sinne and mystery of iniquity 5. Trust not to the old building of man in Antichrists kingdome in these dayes wherin God is rooting up and pulling downe the foundation and whole building of the old heavens and old earth and God is also about to bring forth new heavens and new earth wherein dwells Righteous the work of God alone in which day the Lord alone shall be exalted and the loftinesse of man laid low 6. Look well to your Principles Rules and ends for and in whom you do act in those things you call Ordinances beware of self and ignorant zeal you have heard there is a zeal and that for God too that is nâ—t according to knowledge 7. Look not so much at outward forms as at inward principles look to the inward and hidden man of the heart if that be right in the sight of God then it shall be well with you for ever and you shall never be finally deceived 8. Beware of setting up the bounds of your love to the brethren under any form or opinion whatsoever but let your love be equally unto all where you do see the appearance of Christ in Spirit and power from on high this is the way for peace unity and love among true Saints 9. Look not for the true way of visible worship and ordinances that are truly spirituall and of God to be established in the world till God hath made his people of one heart and when God makes them all of one heart which shal be when they are all taught of God then they shall be all of one way and great shall be their peace then they shall all rest in quiet dwelling places for ever and none shall make them afraid 10. Consider when the way of God is clearly revealed in his people and they endued with divine life and power to walk in it then all by-paths and wayes that are not of God shall be destroyed thrown down and quite forgotten the old heavens and earth shall be remembred no more nor no more come into their minds Isa 66. But now we see there are many wayes in the world even amongst those that professe to know God one cryes up one way another another way a third another way c. But let us remember the command of Christ who saith Many shall come in his name c. Many shall say here is Christ or there is Christ but go not after them If ye consider these three Testimonies of these latter dayes whereby Christs coming shall be manifested unto all who are partakers of his light in spirit and life then you may easily discern the coming of Christ and his light and brightnesse from the false lights and wayes of Antichrist the places are these Isa 11. 9. Matth. 24. 27. 2. Thess 2. 8. 11. As every one doth walk in his own light and thinks his light best generally so take heed you do not imitate Antichrist to confine others to walk in your light Take heed of sitting in the Temple of God it is proper onely to God alone to rule our Consciences and spirits of men â—nd whosoever doth assume this Prerogative doth apparently declare himself to be an Anticrhist who doth oppose himself against God and doth exalt himself above God as in 2 Thess 2. 4. and set in the Temple of God even his people 2. Cor. 6. 16. 12. Take heed of mistaking the coming of Christ now in these dayes wherein Antichrist shall be destroyed lest you should imitate the old Scribes and Pharisees and so instead of being friends of Christ and of his people in his Spirituall coming you should prove the greatest enemies to Christ in his spirituall coming in his people as the old Jews were 13. Take heed of slighting refusing or undervaluing the pure and spirituall waters of life the onely fountain of comfort to spirituall souls and beware you set not up any form or outside ordinances to oppose the clear administration of the Spirit which is truly spirituall for God will assuredly famish and make lean all your empty forms Idols and shadows that you set up to oppose the substance as in the room thereof for the Kingdome of heaven is not outward shews but inward Substances Righteousnesse Peace and Joy in the Spirit 14. Beware in having any hand in slaying of the Witnesses of God that do prophesie though but in Sackeloth lest their resurrection affright you and strike you with terror For consider though they shall be slain yet they shall ly dead but a little while and again when
by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the holy Spirit 5. This is shed forth abundantly on us in Jesus Christ 6. In the partaking of Salvation in this Spirituall washing and spirituall renewing we are justified by the Grace of God 7. And being justified by free grace we are made Heirs and have hope of eternall life or according to the hope of eternall life O that we could in this clear discovery of the eternall God behold his Testimony in this place in the clear light and wisdome of the eternall Spirit for then we should not look so low as we do upon earthly and carnall observations of the things of God and especially of the Baptisme of the eternall Spirit the onely Baptisme of the new Testament but then we should look upon it as it is the work of all power in heaven and earth according to its first institution and then we should see the glorious effects of it fulfilled in the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the holy spirit then we should see the new birth brought forth in souls by this spirituall washing the work of God alone in the operation and renewing of his Spirit or wrought by his spirit in us Here is declared the true Gospel-washing even the saving of souls from sin and all uncleannesse here is the great Gospel-promises fulfilled with a witnesse even opening a fountain of pure living water and pouring it forth upon the barren wildernesse and the dry ground the barren dry and unfruitfull ground of unbelievers are by this Spirituall washing made the Garden of the Lord and being trees of the Lords planting they are watered every moment and refreshed and comforted with the streams of that river that makes glad the City of God This is the true washing that washeth away the fiâ—thines and polluâ—ions of the sons and daughters of Zion coming forth from that eternall fountain the Lord of Hosts who dwelleth in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem making his people a fit habitation for himself to dwell in by washing away their filthinesse in the pure waters of the Spirit of life flowing out from the Lord God and from the Lamb whose habitation they are in the Spirit and spirituall washing Here is the work of all power in heaven and earth in saving souls by spirituall washing and this onely is suitable to the Commission of Christ Mat. 28. spirituall washing or baptising in which we are made partakers of the name nature of God being by the presence of the eternal Spirit in us washed renewed regenerated sanctified and cleansed from our own filthinesse sin and pollution which is contrary to God and all appearances of God in Spirit Here is the great Gospel-work of saving creatures from their sin and all iniquity by the love kindnesse and mercy of the Lord Jehovah and here is the way also set forth in which the Lord Jehovah saveth souls from sin it is by spirituall washing and spirituall renewing of them by the work of the eternall spirit and O that we were more sensible of the glorious work of all power in heaven and earth manifested in us in washing and cleansing us from all sin and uncleannesse and bringing forth the pure and divine nature in us which work is of the Lord alone and not of man who is as nothing and vanity it self The Baptism or washing of the New Testament is not like those carnall legal figurative and typicall washings c. which were administred either by Moses or John in which the substance of the great things to come were figured out or declared to come after But the substance it self goeth forth in the Baptisme or washing of the New Testament this washing is to purpose for in it and by it we are washed and saved from our sin and this is the substantiall and onely washing of all washings Eighthly we have another clear Testimony of the true and spirituall washing the onely Baptisme of the New Testament 1 Pet. chapter 3. verse 21. the words are these The like figure or example whereunto Baptisme doth also now save us not the putting away the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience toward God by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ c. Here we have the true Baptisme of the New Testament set forth and the people taken off from all outward washings not the washing of water 1. Here the Apostle declares the saving of Noah and his family in the Ark from drowning by water v. 20. and now he tells them of another kind of saving and this is by water of which that was a signe or example or this is an example of that c. Baptisme doth now save us but is it water-Baptisme that doth save us now no saith he not the washing of the filth of the flesh what then why the answer of a good conscience but whereby is the answer of a good conscience brought forth not by water-Baptisme but by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ Here is a clear allusion to the Resurrection of Christ and to the power and vertue thereof for then Christ received all power in heaven and earth for the accomplishing this great work of spirituall Baptism or washing and so the power and vertue hereof doth baptise souls into the goodnesse of God cleanse and purifie their Consciences and so the answer of a good Conscience is brought forth in them by vertue of Christs Resurrection by virtue whereof soules are washed and cleansed from an evill and corrupt Conscience whereby all men are naturally defiled by sin and evill The like testimony of spiritual Baptisme or Washing we have declared Heb. 10. 22. in v. 20. the Apostle describes a new and living way by whom we do enter into the holiest place even the presence of the infinitely holy God and in this 22. v. he declares how it is that we doe draw neer unto God in this new and living way it is by having our hearts sprinkled from an evill conscience and our bodies washed with pure water So here we see how the answer of a good Conscience is brought forth it is by being sprinkled with pure water but our earthly waters will not nor cannot bring forth such effects in us it is onely the waters of the Spirit that can doe this that river of pure water of life that John saw Revel 22. 1. and this is the onely water that washeth sprinkleth and clenseth hearts spirits souls consciences and bodies from all evill sinne filthinesse and uncleanenesse of the whole man Thus I have faithfully declared the true Gospell baptisme as I have received from the Lord agreeable to the word written in the Scriptures and also the eternall Word written in the hidden man of the heart the two great Witnesses of God in the World And now I know this clear truth of God revealed in the clear light and wisdome of the Eternal Spirit will not with many opposers as it hath already throw mens carnal understanding of the Baptism of
the New Testament I shall therefore fairly Answer all Objections that are against this clear Truth according to the Testimony of the pure and clear Word of Truth Even as many as I do at present know and have heard of And though there may be many more then I have heard of yet though I cannot answer all or if I could not answer any yet I know the truth is able to answer all opposers against it Now it remains that we answer the Objections which are for water Baptisme and they are not a few but for satisfaction to those that desires to be satisfied with truth alone I shall lay down the Objections that are for water Baptisme and the severall exceptions against them in answer to the objections for water Baptisme that so they all may judge of it who are not biassed with any forms or opinions or judgements of men whatsoever but desires to look upon truth in its own light for those who are fixed upon the forms and traditions of the former ages set up in the old building of Antichrist in his Kingdom they stand for their forms traditions and outward washings and carnal observations as zealous as the old Scribes and Pharisees did yea though they do oppose Jesus Christ himself in Spirit and Power from on high and tell him to his face in the Testimony of his Word and Spirit that he is a deceiver and seducer of the People c But they never look upon their making void the Commands of God by their Traditions as Christ told their Predecessors Seeing there are so many Objections against Spirit Baptism and for to maintain Water Baptisme I care not much where I begin Object 1. First then it will be objected that Water Baptism came in the room of Circumcision c. Answ 1. As if one Type did come in the room of another even then when the substance was come and all Types were at an end Besides where is your ground from the clear testimony of the Word that Water Baptisme came in the room of Circumcision but seeing there is no ground from the Word to prove this Objection I have no ground to believe it for I am not to believe the opinions of men but the Word of Truth and where there is no law there is no transgression Object 2. Water Baptisme is a Signe or Seale of the Covenant as Circumcision was a Seal unto the People of God before as the word saith Rom. 4. 11. An. That Circumcision was made with hands and it was but in the flesh not in the Spirit in the outward man not in the inward and hidden man of the heart and when the substance was come the Apostle declares against this circumcision and cals it no circumcision saying for he is not a Jew who is one outwardly neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flâ—sh but he is a Jew which is one inwardly and circumcision is that of the heart in the Spirit and not in the Letter Whose praise is not of Men but of God Romanes 2. 28 29. And here I have good ground by this Rule to declare against water-Baptism and say that is not Baptism that is outward in the flesh or fleshly washing but that is true Baptisme that is in the heart and spirit and inward man whose praise is not of man but of God but Pharisaicall Jews must have some outward washing or else he shall be a deceiver and his Doctrine blasphemy 2. All things under the Law were generally confirmed unto the people by outward seals signs figures and outward Representations Heb. 9. 10. but the Gospel is not declared nor confirmed by outward Testimonies unto those that do believe but by inward and spirituall witnesses and Testimonies in the heart and inward man but the Jews must have some outward signe like their outward Religion 3. Where do you find in Scripture that water-Baptisme hath that honour given unto it to be a seal of the new Covenant or any part of it either of faith love righteousnesse c. I know no outward fleshly and carnall Seal to confirm an inward spiritual and everlasting Covenant unto believers but formall believers must have formall Seals or else they will not believe truth but the Seal of the Covenant that God makes with his people in all Gospel-times is the Spirit of promise whom the Lord hath promised to give unto all that he makes possâ—ssors of the New Covenant in whom that after ye believed ye were sealed with the Spirit of promise Ephes 1. 13. This is the true Seal of all believers that seals and confirms all the goodnesse of God unto them in the great Covenant of free grace and mercy unto them and other Seals I know none nor I cannot own any other except the word did declare it but it is the Spirit that is the onely Seal of the new Covenant and the earnest of our eternall possession that we have in and through Christ being freely given unto us 4. Where do you find in the word that the testimony of the eternall Spirit in our hearts written by the finger of God that we are commanded to set up a Signe or Seal in the Flesh to confirm it to us or declare it to others Would this be Gospel think you or any part of the substance is this any of the worship of God in Spirit or any part of the Gospel which is wholly spirituall 5. Where do you find that the love of God shed abroad in his peoples hearts that fills them with zeal for the glory of God as hot as fire that this hath need of a littâ— cool water to confirm it unto them or to be a Seal unto them of this love in them or would you have it a Seal unto nothing or to a blank as it is unto your Infants that are sprinckled 6. Must the Baptisme of the eternall Spirit wrought in our hearts souls and Spirits by all power in heaven and earth the very life and substance of Gospel-grace in us wrought must this have an empty shadow follow after it to be a sign or Seal to signifie what the Substance was that went before how can any creature call this Gospel 3. Ob. Water Baptisme distinguisheth the Church from the world c. An. 1. As if the righteousnesse holinesse purity love syncerity meeknesse humblenesse of mind pity compassion bowels of mercy gentlenesse long suffering c. all which is brought forth by the mighty power of God in the new man in the new Creation as if such who are the Church of Christ members in particular had need of some outward washing to shew forth to all men that they are washed within or that these so qualified had any need to have any outward Ceremony to distinguish them from the world their principles and actions are opposite to the world therefore clearly to be distinguished from them 2. Is not the Law of God written in his peoples hearts able to discern them from
the world seeing Gods Laws are pure holy just good righteous and upright Laws that are written in his peoples hearts and brought forth in their conversations what think you are not such Laws who are of God the Laws of the spirit of life of love of power and of a sound mind are not these sufficient to distinguish Gods people from the world the world being led by the Devil and their own lusts 3. What think you is not the light of God in his people clear enough bright enough shining forth in them and they in it to distinguish them from the blind and dark world who do live and walk in darknesse and stumble at they know not what seeing light is sown for the righteous and it springs up in them and they shine forth in it I hope this will be bright enough to see and discern them in without their going under water 4. The wisdome of God being wrought in his people by the word of Gods eternall wisdome in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge this is wise enough to distinguish them from the ignorant and foolish world this is wise enough to direct them in wayes above the wayes of the world and so the wisdome of God being revealed in the secret parts in the inward man and so teaching the whole man to walk wisely toward all men that so wisdome might be justified of her children and this is enough to distinguish wisdomes children from the world they need not have water-Baptisme to help in this businesse 5. Is not the love of God revealed in his people the foundation of their happinesse and that whereby they do stand is not this enough to distinguish them from the world who lives in wrath hatred malice and envy hatefull and hating one another 6. Is not the holinesse purity and righteousnesse of God holy enough and pure enough and righteous enough being brought forth by the mighty power of God in them for to distingish them from the unclean unholy and unrighteous world except they be washed in earthly water what think you can this adde any thing to the purity holinesse and righteousnesse of God for the further distinguishing of us from the profane world 7. The grace of God that bringeth eternall salvation to light in our souls teacheth us to deny all ungodlinesse and worldly lusts and teacheth us also to live Godly Righteously and soberly in this present world and is not this enough to distinguish us from the evil world O that we could once see that principle of eternall grace manifest it self in those that professe godlinesse then I affirm they need no more to separate them from the world 8. God dwells in his people walks in them lives in them they are his habitation his resting place they live in God in divine injoyments and what think you now is the presence of God living and dwelling in his people in the precious discoveries and injoyments of love and favour living in them to Eternity Is this enough to distinguish them from the world who do live without God c. What think you is not eternall being the Lord Jehovah the mighty God in the love wisdome life light power c. of divine spirituall glory enough to distinguish his people from the world without their coming under some carnall ordinance of being thrown into water or the like 9. You talk of distinguishing the world and carnall Church one from another by water-Baptisme but you are quite out for this is rather a mark of Antichrist wherein the world and carnall Church are joyned together and so a Kingdome of Antichrist is made up of carnall Christians made so by water-Baptisme Objection 4. But Infant-Baptisme hath been of a long time standing for ought we know even from the Apostles times Answ 1. Let this be granted yet if you cannot make it appear to be of Scripture proof either from command or example it is nothing worth for consider there were many Antichrists gone forth even in the Apostles times and that which hath no ground in Scripture must needs be an Antichrist and then here is the whole line of your succession cut off What do you think Is not this the way to set up an Antichrist to go about to make Christians where Christ makes none Now all Europe have been made Christians by Infant-Baptisme and yet many thousands of them have not been Christians indeed and then what have they been but Antichristians and all this hath been done without any Testimony at all from the word therefore it is of Antichrist and not of the true Christ Again many have been dipped in water at severall times from an outward profession and after their conversation have declared them to be of Antichrist so both forms in both wayes go to make up a Carnall Church for Antichrist From unity in a form for which there is no ground at all for in the word of truth but meerely from mens carnall principles conceits and traditions one never being commanded nor any example of the practise of it and the other in Force and in use when other Ceremonies were Objection 5. Water-Baptisme keeps men in Fellowship Love and Unity among themselves so that they denyed noâ— asunder as others do and as they might if they did not take up this form Answer 1. Example teacheth us that Unity in an externall form cannot keep people together in Unity fellowship and love for many that have been and are still one in some forms as water-Baptisme c. yet they agree not in other things and at last many have broken quite in pieces and parted quite asunder Forms do commonly keep people together for their own ends and interests therefore this Unity is not Gospel-proof but Antichristian Unity for that is Antichristian Unity that tyes up peoples love in one form 2. The people of God who are called by his grace and hath his love revealed in them and do really live in God and so in love and so in the Unity of one eternall Spirit by whom they are all led into all truth faithfullnesse Love fellowship kindnesse tendernesse of heart Bowels of Compassion c. one to another they need not to have any outward form of water or any such thing to keep them in Unity of Spirit c. being one Spirit in the Lord but that one eternall Spirit that is in them all who doth quicken them all it being the spirit of love in them all this internall work of God in power from on high shed abroad in his peoples hearts is of infinite more force to keep them in love and fellowship with one another in the Father and the Son than any earthly form dipping or sprinckling a little cold water you that are truly spirituall consider Objection 6. That which was once commanded and never reversed or repealed is still in force and water-Baptsme was once commanded and never repealed therefore it is still in force An. 1. All Ceremonies were
practise then you have for water-baptism and that will be more in force when the other doth appear to be no Ordinance at all But now to the latter part of your Objection that this is the way to bring in ranting principles if we deny water-baptism to be an Ordinance c. First must carnal liberty be brought into the Church of Christ if that be not set up and practised there which Christ never commanded this is very strange 2 Is this the way to bring in carnal liberty and ranting principles among believers to exalt the work of all power in heaven and earth I thought that creature-exaltation self-seeking and setting up idols had been the way to bring in carnal liberty and ranting principles when these things are imposed upon creatures to make up an out-side society then take heed of ranting 3 God doth according to his promise write his righteous and holy just and good laws in his peoples hearts and puts his fear in them that so they may never depart from him and hath said they shall not depart from him any more and that he will be their God and they shall be his people that he will live in them and dwell among them and they shall be all taught of him and great shall be their peace c. Now I hope this is not the way to bring in ranting principles and carnal liberty among the people of God who are thus taught of God and do live in the law of the spirit of life that is in Christ who is their life and their all The Law of God written in his peoples hearts doth no way bring in ranting principles into their mindes but these that is unto the kingdom of the devil and antichrist that do consist in sin and all unrighteousness and in empty forms traditions and precepts of men who proceed from fleshly and carnal principles in the world and carnal Church And I must tell you that the Law of God written in his peoples hearts and mindes this is the most rantingest principle to these that can be upon the face of the earth therefore when God writes his Laws in his peoples hearts and brings forth the new creation in them and so makes them partakers of the divine nature then let antichrist and all his carnal priviledges look for a final rooting out and an eternal destruction For the life and power of godlimess wrought in the people of God by a divine principle destroys all empty carnal and formal and traditional outside Religion in them that proceeds from antichrist which proceeds from carnal principles of flesh and blood The Law of God in the new nature destroys the Law of sin and flesh in the old nature with the very corrupt nature it self The life of God in his people or rather God living in them destroys the dead works of sin and flesh in them the power of God from on high being present in his people destroys the power of sin in them the wisdom of God in his people destroys the wisdom of the flesh in them The work of God in his people in the new creation brought forth in them destroys the works of sin and antichrist in their old nature yea the whole body of sin it self Yea the work of God in the new man is the onely ranting principle to antichrist the whole mystery of iniquity and man of sin for it makes it all flie in pieces before it even all the gross darkness and corruption and filthiness of the flesh with all the false light in the flesh and spirit of man with all empty forms and carnal observations c. all goeth down when God appears in his people in the brightness of his coming in spirit and power from on high in the hidden man of the heart And now where are your Ranting principles and carnal liberty you so much speak of to fall upon those that obey not your carnal Ordinances it falls altogether upon time-servers outside-professors self-seekers c. but not upon those that worship God in spirit and truth For the Grace of God that bringeth salvation to light in the souls of his people teacheth them to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live godly righteously and soberly in this present world and this proves Ranting principles to be nothing but the whole body of sin which is contrary to the divine principle that God brings forth in his Temple therefore take heed of throwing dirt in the face of truth and of slandering the Grace of God shed abroad in his peoples hearts the onely principle of true holiness and righteousness Do you think nothing can keep us from Ranting principles but a little cold water why then have so many that have gone under water fallen also under Ranting principles Obj. 23. Several baptisms were used in the primitive times and water-baptism is nowhere forbid in Scripture therefore we may use it still c. Answ 1. If the truth were not a mystery then antichrist might understand it but God is pleased to declare the truth in a mystery that so those that receive it not in the love of it may be blinded and so given up to strong delusions to believe lies as it is appointed for the antichristian world man of sin and mystery of iniquity 2 Thes 2. in which the antichristian world is deceived and blinded even to this day 2 Paul teacheth one baptism unto the Church of the Ephesians Eph. 4. 5. and doubtless Paul would not leave out another baptism viz. water if it had been any one bond of the true Churches unity seeing he doth reckon up seven which are a perfect number And that we may not be mistaken in the true understanding of this baptism Paul here speaks of he satisfies us what baptism it is 1 Cor. 12. 13. for by one spirit are we all baptized into one body whether Jews or Gentiles whether bond or free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit So here Paul bears witness to the one and onely baptism of the New-Testament which witness is enough to satisfie those who are satisfied with the truth it self But you will say that baptism spoke of Ephes 4. 5. is one baptism of a sort and that this is the meaning of the place c. First this is more then the word declares and so we have no ground to build where there is no foundation 2 If you make an addition unto this part of the words namely one baptism and put in this word here one of a sort then we must put this word unto the sense of all the rest of the bonds of the true Churches unity mentioned in this place And then we must read it thus One body of a sort one spirit of a sort one hope of a sort one Lord of a sort one faith of a sort one baptism of a sort and one God of a sort And now let all that have eyes to see behold the gross blindness and more then Egyptian