Selected quad for the lemma: water_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
water_n	baptize_v	jesus_n	john_n	3,386	5	6.8394	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A47309	The practical believer, or, The articles of the Apostles Creed drawn out to form a true Christian's heart and practice in two parts.	Kettlewell, John, 1653-1695.	1688 (1688)	Wing K380_VARIANT; ESTC R36226	263,804	566

was not worthy to unty his sho●s and was glad when he could fix that Honour on Jesus whose right it was declaring openly he must increase but I must decrease John. 3. 29 30 31. He was illustrious for Piety and most bold and zealous in reproving Vice as he fully manifested by his undaunted freedom in censuring the sins of all states and sorts of People as they came to him for Baptism Matth. 3. And as for his sincerity and plain-dealing till Jesus came they could not in all that Age show such a down-right honest Man. When Herod set his heart upon him and loved to hear him his growing great at Court did not make him swerve in the least from his Country simplicity or teach him how to flatter nor would he there so much as connive at his Prince's sin though he was to lose not only his Favour but his own Hearts Blood for his plain freedom in taxing and reproving it Matth. 14. 3 4. 10. Quest. These are signal proofs of an upright honest Man. But did the Jews who lived in those days see all this in him Ans. Yes and honour and admire it too He was as Christ says a burning and a shining light among them and for a while till he had disgusted them by testifying so fully for Jesus they were willing to rejoyce in him John 5. 35. They all held him for a Prophet and so if they would be true to themselves ought surely to rely upon his word Matth. 21. 26. They thought it not enough to Admire and Praise but thronged in to become his Disciples and Followers and those that did so were not only the ignorant vulgar but the most learned and best reputed Sects the Pharisees and Sadducees who came desiring to receive Baptism at his hands Matth. 3. 7. Nay they did not only repute him for a Prophet but fancied him the greatest of all Prophets the Christ whom all desired and expected And this was not barely the surmize of some private Men but the opinion of the Sanhedrim that Great Council and Representative of the Jewish Nation For they sent Deputies to him a select number of Priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him this Question John 1. 19. Thus great and currant was John's Fame in the Jewish Nation as is declared also by Josephus a Jewish Historian which when they begun to value him less out of their hatred to Jesus to whom he bore witness was yet of such awful Authority and Account that they who would not receive durst not openly gainsay it as the Pharisees durst not who when Jesus pressed them with John's Testimony for his Authority pitifully sneaked and openly refused to give any Answer to it Matth. 21. 27. Quest. But was not Jesus John's Friend And though he was too mortified to be tempted and too honest to be gained by any thing else yet might not affection blind his Eyes and he fancy more and speak things greater than were true of Jesus out of Friendship Ans. No if he had been an old Friend the grounds John gives are so clear and full as could not in any reason be questioned But what is still a further circumstance in this Testimony he is careful to tell us that he declared this of Jesus before they were acquainted For when he gives his Testimony to him after he had seen the Holy Ghost descend upon him at his Baptism I knew him not says he but he that sent me to baptize with water the same said unto me Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining on him that same is he that baptizeth with the Holy Ghost And this I saw by him and bare record John 1. 33 34. 'T is true when he came to him for Baptism which was before he had seen this sign or made this declaration S. Matthew says John knew him and thereupon would have put him by as having more need to be baptized of him Matth. 3. 14. But that was purely by Revelation the same Spirit then suggesting the presence of Messiah to John that made him leap for joy in the womb at the salutation of the blessed Virgin after She had conceived him Luc. ● 44. But till he gave this Testimony to him he knew him not as a Friend or Acquaintance nor had any former Conversation or correspondence passed between them Quest. No wonder this Testimony should over-awe the Jews when Jesus urged it for himself though it could not convince them But besides this Testimony of John the Baptist you mentioned also the Testimony of Jesus himself as deserving credit Pray clear up that Ans. This also Jesus alledges for himself and stands upon it I am one that bear witness of my self and my record is true for I know whence I came and whither I go John 8. 14 18. Quest. But this is only his own word in his own case And Men are too apt to say great and undue things of themselves out of a desire of Honour or Advantage And if we believe all on their own sayings we must believe all deceivers for the rankest Impostors are true Men if we dare trust themselves Ans. True indeed it were as unreasonable to believe all as to believe none But in these cases we are to put a difference between Witnesses and not to trust the accounts given of themselves by all but only by credible Persons In particular if it appears of any Man that he is not fanciful false or designing we should be very inclinable to believe his account especially if God had set some extraordinary attesting marks upon him or shewed some Miracles about him or if he himself which was the Legal Test of Prophets should give some extraordinary sign to gain credit All which most eminently concur in this Testimony which Jesus gave of himself for his being the Christ. Quest. Doth it appear that Jesus was no fanciful Man apt to take up Opinions on slight grounds or presume things especially in favour of himself without reason Ans. Yes for in all his carriage as he appeared most humble and self-denying so did he clearly manifest not only a most quick and penetrating but also a most sober and considerate Wisdom In all his life he was never seen to be precipitate in any Counsels nor presumptuous in any Conceits nor mistaken in any Opinions and Resolutions but could solve clearly all Questions and shew the true weight and just validity of all Arguments Even they who would not receive his Wisdom could not but admire it and the very Officers sent to apprehend him returned saying Never man spake like this man John 7. 46. Besides the things whereon he builds his own Credit are not any conjectural Speculations or disputable Opinions but plain matters of Fact such as his living and conversing with God in Heaven long before he came into the world his coming out from him and speaking what he saw and heard him declare whilst he lay from Eternal Ages in