last Will and Testament and his last Will and Testament I hope all will grant stands in full force and virtue and every Part and Branch of it unalterable to the end of the World Though it be a Man's Covenant or Testament yet if it be confirmed no Man disannulleth or addeth thereto How much more dangerous then is it for any to disannul alter add to or diminish from the last Will and Testament of the Lord Jesus the Son of God who received Commandment from the Father what he should say and speak And was faithful to him that appointed him as a Son over his own House Secondly The Arguments that Men bring against the continuation of Baptism tend to root out all other Ordinances of the Lord Jesus as well as this Why may they not deny Preaching to continue as well as Baptizing since Teaching is commanded by no other Authority than this Are they not both expresly given forth and joined together by our Saviour in this his last and great Commission May I not argue thus If Teaching continues to the end of the World Baptism continues But Teaching none denies to continue Ergo Baptism continues Do but observe the conjunction between Teaching and Baptizing in the Commission Go teach all Nations baptizing them and again teaching them c. Baptism is fenc'd in on both sides 't is secured one would think as our Lord Jesus has placed it from all Force and Violence whatsoever and that such must be impudently bold as dare attempt to raze it out or seek to disannul it and make it of none effect Thirdly The Promise that is subjoined in express words in the Commission clearly proves the continuation of this Ordinance And lo I am with you always to the end of the World not to the end of that Age only as some affirm See our late Annotators on these words I am and I will be with you and those who succeed you in the Work of the Ministry being called of me thereunto I will be with you protecting you in that Ordinance and blessing you and all other my faithful Ministers that labour for making me and my Gospel known with success to the end of the World not of this Age only but till the end of the World or till the World shall be determined and the New Heavens and the New Earth shall appear Fourthly The practice of the Apostles and Disciples of Christ after his Ascension into Heaven clearly proves that the Baptism of Water doth continue for how frivolous is that Objection that some make against it viz. it was to abide no longer than till the Baptism of the Spirit which say they was Christ's Baptism took place seeing it is so evident and plain in the Acts of the Apostles and in divers other places that it was both taught and practised after that great Effusion or pouring forth of the Holy Spirit which was the Baptism promised and was first of all made good to the Apostles and Saints of God at Jerusalem When the Day of Pentecost was fully come and they were all with one accord in one place by the help and power of which Spirit St. Peter preached to those Jews that had put Christ to death At the hearing of which Sermon many of them being pricked in their Hearts cried out What shall we do Then said Peter Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of Sins and ye shall receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit Now the Baptism here enjoined on these Penitents could not be that of the Spirit for how absurd would that render the reading of the words Repent and be baptized with the Spirit and ye shall receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit Fifthly But to make it appear yet more fully that Baptism in Water continued after the coming of the Spirit or great Effusion of the Holy Ghost see Acts 10. 't is said While Peter yet spake these words the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the Word that was on Cornelius and those with him And they of the Circumcision which believed were astonished as many as came with Peter because on the Gentiles also was poured out the Gift of the Holy Ghost Vers. 45. For they heard them speak with Tongues and magnified God. Then answered Peter vers 46. Can any Man forbid Water that these should not be baptized which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we vers 47. And he commanded them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord vers 48. Here the very Persons who were baptized with the Holy Spirit were commanded in the Name that is by the Authority of the Lord Jesus to be baptized in Water and it was a thing that no Man did or ought to deny to be their indispensable Duty so that the highest Gifts or Endowments of the Holy Ghost cannot excuse or exempt any Persons from this Blessed Ordinance of Baptism in Water and how bold and daring must that Man needs seem to be who shall adventure to say 't is a low and carnal thing and I forbid it to such who have the Spirit 's Baptism I would to God this were laid to Heart for such Men are certainly grown to a great degree of Pride and Arrogance as well as it argues palpable Blindness Infidelity and Disobedience and that they have lost their Way and go astray in untrodden Paths who shall speak at such a rate Object But say some The Baptism mentioned by you in both these places was done in the Name of the Lord Jesus and not in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost and so not according to the Commission and therefore not the same Baptism Answ To be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ is to be baptized as Christ Instituted Commanded and Ordained and as a Learned Person saith These words In the Name of Christ signifies no more that Baptism was administred only in the Name of Christ not of the Father and the Holy Ghost than these words Paul a Servant of Jesus Christ argues that he was a Servant of Christ only and not of the Father and Holy Ghost also Or as if those words of Paul to the Keeper of the Prison Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ should be thought to free him from a necessity of believing in the other two Persons for as he that believes aright in Jesus Christ believes also in the Father and Holy Spirit so he that is baptized in a right manner is baptized in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit But because the Lord Jesus more immediately and as our Soveraign Lord Law-giver and Mediator instituted and gave forth this Command they are said to be baptized in his Name meaning they were baptized by his Authority Peter saith Cyprian makes mention of Jesus Christ not as if the Father were to be omitted but that the Son might
be joined to the Father c. And St. Austin saith They were commanded to be baptized in the Name of Christ and tho the Father and Holy Ghost were not mentioned yet we understand they were not otherwise baptized than in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost Why dost thou not apprehend when it is said of the Son All things were made by Him that the Holy Ghost also though not mentioned is there likewise understood To be baptized into Christ Jesus saith Eulogius signifies to be baptized according to the Precept of Christ that is into the Father Son and Holy Ghost And that other into his Death is typically representing his Death in Baptism The same Patriarch in the same place a little before saith thus What is said in the Acts of those that had received the Baptism of John that they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus denotes that they were baptised according to the Institution and Doctrine of the Lord Jesus that is to say they were baptized into the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost For so the Lord Jesus Christ taught and commanded his Disciples to baptize Mat. 28. 19 20. Object Notwithstanding what we have said yet saith the Objector John Baptist opposeth his Baptism to the Baptism of Christ which could not have been done if the Baptism with Water was an inseparable Companion of Christ's Doctrine How could John say Verily I baptize you with Water but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost c. Moreover if Christ had been commanded to baptize with Water as well as John the words would have run thus Verily I baptize you with Water only but he shall baptize you also with the 〈◊〉 Answ Thus to distinguish the Baptism of Water and that of the Spirit into John's and Christ's and oppose these two one to the other as if the one of these were distructive to the other as if that of John's were his own and none of Christ's is very ridiculous and argues great darkness in the understanding of these opposers of Water-baptism for 't is undeniably evident that this of Water as well as that of the Spirit was given forth by Christ himself and as part of his last Will and Testament to abide together with teaching believing and repenting to the end of the World. These Men would fain have us believe that the Baptism of Water was the Baptism of John's and none of Christ's but as if John had instituted it and not Christ and as if John were the Author of it and Christ the Finisher whereas nothing is more clear that Christ consider'd as God was the Author and the first that ordained appointed and instituted it to be administred by John and after John's decease yea and after his own Death and Resurrection too gave order to its continuance And for the observation of it amongst all Nations our late Annotators also on Mat. 3. 5. agree with us exactly herein He that is John was sent to baptize in Water so as from this time say they the Institution of the Sacrament of Baptism must be dated Nothing can be more evident than that the Baptism with Water was Christ's Baptism and howbeit it is called John's as John was the first Minister and Messenger from Christ to begin it For behold I send my Messenger and he shall prepare my way before me saith Christ Mal. 3. 1. It was Christ's Appointment in whose Name and not in John's it was begun and dispensed always even in that juncture wherein John himself was living and one would think Men could not be so blind to suppose it ceased in John fith our Lord Jesus after his Death and Resurrection gives special Command for the continuation of it in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost in all Nations to the end of the World And in regard also that the Apostles after Christ's Ascension into Heaven preached the same Doctrine of Repentance and commanded such who were discipled to be baptized in Water in the Name of the Lord Jesus which signifies as we have already shewed nothing less than according to the Institution of Christ and that glorious Commission they had received from him Therefore John Baptized only as Christ's Servant and it was from Heaven he received Commission to Baptize and our Lord's Submission to it himself as administred by John to fulfil all righteousness that is as one observes the Righteousness of his own Law i. e. the Gospel to be an Example to us and the Father's glorious Approbation of his Son in his Obedience herein by a Voice from Heaven at the time of his coming out of the Water one would think might put an end to these foolish Objections Jesus Christ we say owned Water-baptism to be his Ordinance by subjecting himself to it tho administred by his servant John and the Father ratified it also as well as the Holy Ghost the one by that Voice from Heaven saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased and the other in coming down or descending in a visible manner like a Dove and lighting upon him And certainly had not this Ordinance been to abide our Saviour would not have given such a Commission a little before he ascended into Heaven for the continuance of it to the World's end Nay if it had been to cease he would doubtless have given some hint of it and have told his Disciples plainly when at Jerusalem they should be anointed with Power from on High they should go and Preach the Gospel to all the World or make Disciples of the Nations but not baptize them any more for that the way of Repentance and Faith and the Spirit 's Baptism was all the Baptism they should teach and instruct the People in Moreover had Peter known this to have been the Mind of his Blessed Master he would doubtless have said to them Act. 2. when they asked what they should do Repent and believe in Christ for the remission of your Sins but in the Name of Jesus Christ be not baptized in Water never a one of you as some while since every Penitent was required to be for that was a Dispensation and Baptism of John and had its time for a while meerly to prepare the Way of Christ but now is abolished and out of date ye must forsake John's old Administration of Water-baptism that being a carnal and low thing and look wholly to a higher and more sublime Baptism i. e. that of the Holy Ghost And had he known this to be the Mind of his Master would not he rather have said concerning Cornelius and those with him Acts 10. instead of saying Who can forbid Water Who can require Water that these Persons should be Baptized who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we No doubt had Water-Baptism ceased or been abolished we should have had some discovery of it as well as we have
know not nor consider this Order which God used in Covenanting with them in Baptism deal preposterously over-slipping the Commandment of Repenting and Believing It appears to me as if God will sometimes make Men speak the Truth whether they will or no and confirm his own blessed Order though they contradict their own Practice thereby Paraeus the same Person saith upon Mat. 3. 5. shews that the Order was that Confession as a Testimony of True Repentance go first and then Baptism for Remission of Sins afterwards What Commission our Brethren have got who sprinkle Children I know not let them fetch a thousand Consequences and unwarrantable Suppositions for their Practice it signifies nothing if Christ has given them no Authority or Rule to do what they do in his Name Natural Conâ—sequences from Scripture we allow but such which flow not naturally from any Scripture we deny Can any think Christ would leave one of the great Sacraments of the New Testament not to be proved without Consequences For I am sure there is no Baptism to be administred before the Profession of Faith in the Commission nor no where else in Christ's New Testament and that Faith is required in the second place as pre-requisite unto Baptism is very plain from Mark 16. 16. They must be Believers none are fit Subjects of Baptism but they that believe and are capable to believe He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved c. not he that is baptized and then believes Take heed you do not invert Christ's Order and if there is no Baptism to be found in the New Testament to be practised before Faith much less Sprinkling or Rantism is there required CHAP. VII Proving Believers to be the only true Subjects of Baptism from the Apostles Doctrine and the Practice of the Primitive Churches WE read that the Apostles according to the Commission Christ gave them preach'd the Gospel of the Kingdom having received the Spirit from on high and began at Jerusalem as he had commanded them and so endeavoured to make Men and Women Disciples i. e. bringing them to the sense and sight of their Sins and knowledg of their lost and miserable condition by Natâ—â—e as being unconverted and without Christ and in Acts 2. where Peter preached the first Sermon that was preached after the Ascension of the Lord Jesus And when they heard this the Text saith they were pricked in their Hearts and saiâ— unto Peter and the rest of the Apostles Men and Brethren what shall we do then said Peter REPENT AND BE BAPTIZED every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the Remission of Sins and ye shall receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost c. And then they that gladly received the Word were baptized and the same day there was added to them about three thousand Souls Pray observe the Footsteps of this Flock I mean the manner of the Constitution of this Church it being the first Church that was planted in the Gospel-days it was the Church at Jerusalem and indeed the Mother-Church for evident it is all other Gospel-Churches sprang at first from this and hence some conceive the Apostle calls this Church Jerusalem above being the Mother of us all said to be above not only because she was in her Constitution from Heaven or by Divine and Evangelical Institution but also might be said to be above in respect of Dignity or Priviledg being first constituted and having the first Fruits of the extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit poured out upon them and besides having all the great Apostles at first as Members with her and hence 't is that all other Churches were to follow the Church of God that was in Judea and were commended in so doing and certainly 't is the Duty of all Churches so to walk unto the end of the World. But to proceed Acts 8. we find Philip being by the Providence of God cast into Samaria he preaches Jesus Christ to them and when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the Kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ they were baptized both Men and Women not till they were Disciples and did believe were any baptized Men and Women not Children not them and their little Babes if Philip had so done he had acted contrary to his Master's Commission In the same Chapter we find he preached Christ to the Eunuch also And they came to a certain Water and the Eunuch said See here is Water what doth hinder me to be baptized ver 37. And Philip said If thou believest with all thine Heart thou mayst And the Eunuch answered and said I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God And they both went down into the Water both Philip and the Eunuch and he baptized him There must be Faith or no Baptism thou mayst or thou oughtest 't is lawful or according to Christ's Law i. e. his Commission A Verbal Profession is not sufficient say our late Annotators on this place Philip in God's Name requires a Faith as with all the Heart and not such as Simon Magus had who is said to believe and be baptized vers 13. this was say they the only thing necessary either then or now if rightly understood How was it known saith Mr. Baxter but by their Profession that the Samaritans believed Philip preaching the things concerning the Kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ before they were baptized both Men and Wome and saith â—he Philip caused the Eunuch to profess before he would baptize him that he believed that Jesus Christ was the Son of God. Moreover in the tenth of the Acts we find Cornelius and those with him were first made Disciples by Peter's preaching and the Spirit 's powerful Operation and then were baptized Who can forbid Water saith he that thest should not be baptized who have received the Holy Ghost as well as me And he commanded them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus that is by the Authority of Christ according to the Commission So in Acts 16. when the poor trembling Jaylor was made a Disciple i. e. did believe with his whole House on the Lord Jesus Christ he was with his whole House baptized so Lydia believed and was baptized Acts 16. 14. the like in Acts 18. Crispus believing on the Lord and many of the Corinthians hearing believed and were baptized The Chief Ruler believed with all his House and were baptized he believed his House believed the Jaylor believed all runs in their believing all must by believing be made Disciples or not be baptized Luther saith that in Times past the Sacrament of Baptism was administred to none except it were to those that acknowledged and confessed their Faith and knew how to rehearse the same and why are they now See Mr. Baxter in his sixteenth Argument against Mr. Blake if there can be no Example given in Scripture of any one that was baptized
Person Nor is it any marvel when they did dip poor Children in VVater that some of them died sith they are not the true Subjects of Baptism if they had no doubt God would have preserved them as well as he did those Babes whom once he required to be Circumcised Can any believe God would command any such thing to be done that should endanger the Life of a Child that was doubtless a just Reâ—uke for the prophanation of Christ's blessed Ordinance he will one day I fear say Who hath required this at your hands Nay and who knows what Judgments and VVrath may come upon this Land for the abominable abuse of the Sacred Institution of Baptism God many times shews Men their Sin by the punishment he brings upon them if you are so fond of Humane Traditions and Innovations Object But why must the whole Body be dipp'd may not the Head be sufficient that being the principal Part Answ I must confess in a late Discourse I had with a Minister of the Church of England he pleaded for this seeing he could not defend Rantism But to give a direct Answer pray consider whether it be the Person viz. the Man or Woman or part of the Person that Christ commanded to be baptized if not the whole Body why might it not serve only to wash or dip the Hands But if it were the Hands only or the Feet or the Head only that was to be Baptized i. e. dipped a small Vessel of Water would have served and no need for Christ or John to have gone into Rivers and Places where there was much VVater to baptize 2. It is not said John baptized him i. e. our blessed Saviour not part of him But as the blessed Virgin bore him in her VVomb and brought him forth and laid him in a Manger so John baptized or dipped him that is his whole Body into Jordan or in the River Jordan Moreover 't is said Acts 8. 12. They were baptized both Men and Women that is the Bodies the whole Bodies of those Men and Women and not some Part or Members of them If this be not granted we shall be run into many strange Absurdities almost every where in reading the Scriptures 3. To put this out of doubt 't is evident the whole Body ought to be dipp'd or baptiz'd because as we shall shew in the next Chapter Baptism is a Figure of the Burial and Resurrection of Jesus Christ nay called a Burial Now a Person is not said to be buried that is not totally covered in the Earth no more can a Man be said to be baptiz'd except he be covered all over in the VVater 4. VVe have shewed how all the Learned agree and positively assert that Baptism was administred in the Primitive Times by a total dipping the Body in VVater And indeed at first when this Innovation of Rantism came in they used to sprinkle the Body all over being sure it was not one Part but the whole Body that was to be baptized and so they Rantiz'd the whole Body But you are gone here too for you in your Practice and in your own Sense Baptize but the Face only so that all your People are unbaptized Persons as evident as any thing can be take it how you will if it should be granted I mean that Sprinkling is Baptism CHAP. IV. Proving that Baptism is Dipping Plunging or Burying the whole Body in Water In the Name c. from the Spiritual or Metaphorical signification of this Gospel-Ordinance or Administration TO make it appear yet more fully that Baptism is not sprinkling pouring nor any other thing than dipping plunging or covering of the Body in VVater we shall proceed to examine what it was ordained for by our Lord Jesus Christ to hold forth or to be a Sign or Representation of for like as in the Holy Sacrament of the Supper it behoveth us to know what the breaking of the Bread and pouring forth of the VVine signifies or are Figures of so in like manner we ought with as great care to endeavour to know what is held forth or represented to us as the Holy Signs of the Blessed Sacrament of Baptism for as all true Christians readily do confess and agree with us that the Ordinance of the Lord's Supper is not cannot be rightly nor truly administred if the great Ends and Design of Jesus Christ in the Institution of it are not answered thereby or what it was ordained and appointed to signify plainly held forth and represented in its administration but it is contrarywise a great abuse and prophanation of it and from hence we and all true Protestants always say Let us keep to the exact words of the Institution and manner of its first Celebration that so the great Things signified both by the breaking the Bread and pouring forth the VVine may clearly appear and be represented in the Administration thereof Now then this is that which we affirm viz. That as the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was ordained to hold forth the breaking of Christ's Body and the pouring forth of his Blood So in like manner the Sacrament of Baptism was instituted and appointed to hold forth Christ was really dead buried and that he arose again for our Justification And that this is so we shall not only prove it from the plain Authority of God's VVord but by the joint Testimony of almost all famous VVriters and Divines we have met with Ancient or Modern And indeed we cannot but be much affected with the great Love and Goodness of our Blessed Saviour in the Institution of these two great Ordinances it being his gracious Design and Condescention hereby to hold forth or preach as I may say to the very sight of our visible Eyes by these fit and proper Mediums the glorious Doctrine of his Death Burial and Resurrection which in the Ministration of the VVord is preached or held forth to the hearing of our Ears that so we might the better and more effectually be established and grounded in the sure and stedfast belief thereof which is indeed absolutely necessary to Salvation as the Apostle doth plainly testify 1 Cor. 15. 1. 2 3 4. Moreover Brethren I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you which also you received and wherein you stand vers 1. By which also you are saved if you keep in memory what I preached unto you unless ye have believed in vain vers 2. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received how Christ died for our Sins according to the Scripture vers 3. And that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures vers 4. This being so let none blame us for contending so earnestly for this Ordinance according to the Primitive Purity or its Original Glory wherein according to the gracious Design of Jesus Christ we daily receive in beholding the Administration of this Sacrament as well as in the Lord's Supper what is represented
were drowned or drenched or overwhelmed in Misery no part free every Suffering is not the Baptism of Suffering but great and deep Afflictions suffering unto Blood and Death in opposition to a lesser degree or measure of them being dipp'd and plunged into Afflictions Mr. Wilson on the Baptism of Affliction renders it to plunge into Afflictions or Dangers as it were saith he into deep Waters so that it appears also from this Metaphorical Notion of Baptism to baptize is to dip or overwhelm or cover the Body in Water See what our last and best Annotators positively affirm on Matth. 20. 22. To be baptized is to be dipped in Water say they Metaphorically to be plunged in Aâ—flictions I am saith Christ to be baptized with Blood overwhelmed with Sufferings and Afflictions are you able so to be c. 2. We read of the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and Fire I indeed baptize you with Water saith John but he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with Fire Now the Question is What we are to understand to be meant by the Baptism of the Holy Ghost whether the sanctifying Gifts and Graces of the Spirit are intended hereby which all the Godly receive or those extraordinary Gifts or miraculous Effusions of the Holy Ghost only which many received in the Primitive Times I know some are ready to make use of the Baptism of the Spirit to justify their Rite of Sprinkling or Pouring because God is said to pour the Spirit upon his People and to sprinkle them with clean Water which we do grant does intend the Graces of the Holy Spirit But certainly if they did consider the ground and reason why Persons were said to be baptized with the Spirit they would soon perceive this Argument would utterly fail them likewise or stand them in no stead For we do affirm that every Believer who hath the Holy Spirit cannot be said to be baptized with the Spirit like as every one that is under Afflictions and Sufferings cannot be said to be baptized with Sufferings as we have shewed But in the first place it is necessary to understand the difference between the Baptism commanded and the Baptism promised the Baptism commanded is that of Water the Baptism promised was that of the Spirit Our Saviour after his Resurrection gave forth his Commission to his Disciples to teach and baptize and then being assembled together with them commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem but wait foâ— the Promise of the Father which said he ye haâ—â— heard of me Acts 1. 4. What was that why 't is exprest in the fifth Verse Ye shall be baptiz'd with the Holy Ghost not many days hence and this was made good to them on the day of Pentecost Acts 2. 1 2 3. which was no other than the Spirit in an extraordinary manner or the miraculous Gifts thereof these the Apostles and believing Jews received first and in the tenth Chapter of the Acts the same extraordinary Gifts or Baptism of the Spirit the believing Gentiles received I mean Cornelius and those with him for they spoke with Tongues and magnified God and Peter saith Chap. 11. And as I spake unto them the Holy Ghost fell on them as on us at the first then saith he I remembred the word c. Ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost ver 15 16. Now no other Gifts of the Spirit than these great and extraordinary and miraculous Effusions of the Spirit we do conclude is or can be intended or meant by the Baptism of the Holy Ghost And that you may see we are not alone in this Opinion see what Dr. Du Veil saith on Acts 1. 4 5. shall be baptized the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 says Casaubon is to dip or plunge as if it were to dye Colours in which sense saith he the Apostles might be truly said to have been baptized for the House in which this was done was filled with the Holy Ghost so that the Apostles might seem to have been plunged into it as in a large Fish-Pond Hence Oecumenius on Acts 2. saith a Wind fill'd the whole House that it seem'd like a Fish-pond because it was promised to the Apostles that they should be baptized with the Holy Ghost To the same effect saith another as is noted in our Book of Metaphors Baptism is put for the miraculous Effusion of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other Believers in the Primitive Church because of the Analogical Immersion or Dipping for so Baptizo signifies for the House where the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles was so filled that they were as it were drowned in it or the reason of the Metaphor saith he may be from the great plenty and abundance of those Gifts in which they were wholly immerg'd as the Baptized are dipp'd under Water And it appears by what Mr. Delâ—un hath written and translated out of Tropical Writers that Glassius and others assert the same things And so likewise Mr. Gosnold a worthy and learned Man understood it speaking of those Scriptures We have here cited saith he these places diligently compared together evidently shew that the Baptism of the Spirit is a distinct Baptism from that of Water and hath no Reference at all to the inward sanctifying Graces of the Spirit but notes out the most extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit that ever were given to the Sons of Men therefore called the Baptism of the Spirit Object But yet this Baptism however was by a pouring forth of the Spirit and why may not Baptism be administred so Answ 'T is evident 't was not by a sprinkling or dropping of the Spirit and therefore no ways for your turn and though it was by a pouring out or a pouring forth of the Spirit yet in such sort that the House in which they were is said to be filled and so they immerg'd or baptized with it But however all confess this was but a Metaphorical Baptism and therefore your Argument from hence at best is but far fetched and signifies nothing for 't is a strange way to go to the Metaphorical Notion of a word to prove a Practice that is contrary to the literal and proper Signification thereof Moreover if this be granted which we have hinted here it may serve to detect the Error of some Men who own no other Baptism than that of the Spirit and think that the ordinary Gifts and Graces of the Spirit is the Baptism of the Spirit which there is no ground as I can see to believe nor was there any other Baptism to continue to the end of the World but that of Water without doubt sith the Baptism of the Holy Spirit was given only to the Apostles and Saints in the Primitive Time for the Confirmation of the Gospâ—l as these Scriptures shew Mark 16. 16 17 18 20. Heb. 2. 3 4. Therefore let such take care who say they have the true Baptism
did baptize and all Ministers ought to administer the same Ordinance to the end of the World. The nature and order of the Commission cuts this Objection to pieces For if the person be a Disciple a Believer he is to be baptized let his Parents be Jews Heathens or Christians 't is all one If you had the like grounds to baptize Infants we should contend no longer with you 3. When you can prove the Faith of the Parents or their subjection to the external Rite of Baptism adds any spiritual advantage to their Children or such as gives them a right to Baptism we will give up the Controversie Object But whereas you say Baptism was always done by dipping the Body all over in Water how can that be since some were baptized in Houses Answ I answer That is a fancy a thing asserted without the least shadow of ground tho no less Men than our late worthy Annotators seem to affirm this very thing for notwithstanding the Jaylor and those of his were baptized the same hour of the Night c. Yet can any suppose they could not go out of the House so late might there not be a Pond or some River near whithersoever they went or wheresoever it was done it is no matter they were baptized which has been sufficiently proved to be Immersion or dipping the Body in Water Object But say what you will the Baptism of Infants is of God for there was a multitude of Children of old baptized to Moses in the Cloud and in the Sea. Answ We have shewed you that was but tropically called Baptism and also that Baptism is a pure New-Testament Ordinance tho 't is like that as some Learned Men have said might be a Type of this Ordinance they being as it were buried or overwhelmed in the Sea and under the Cloud But if that may justifie Infant Baptism it will allow you to baptize Unbelievers also for there was a multitude of mixt People who went through the Sea with Israel besides much Cattel And a mixt multitude went up also with them and Flocks and Herds even very much Cattel Exod. 12. 38. All these were doubtless baptized metaphorically and typically as well us Children under the Cloud and in the Sea therefore this can be no proof for Infant-Baptism CHAP. XIII Shewing the evil Consequences Absurdities and Contradictions that attend Infant-Baptism as 't is Asserted and Practised Object BVT what harm is there in Baptizing of Children is it not an innocent thing can it do the Child any hurt Answ The harm will be to the Parents and Ministers who do that in Christ's Name which they have no Authority from him to do If it do any harm to Infants 't is not till they are grown up and then it may be a means to blind their Eyes and cause some of them to conclude they in Baptism became the Children of God were regenerated made Christians Members of Christ and Heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven and cause others to think they were then rightly baptized and so to look after no other Baptism Whereas poor Souls they are all unbaptized Persons having never had any Baptism at all but Rantism Pray see what Mr. Danvers hath said upon this Respect 1. But is it no harm to alter Christ's Order in the Commission who requires Faith and Repentance to precede or go before Baptism or first to make them Disciples by Teaching and then to Baptize them And for Men to invert this Order as to baptize them then teach them Repentance and Faith sure it must be an evil and hurtful thing so to do 2. Is it not an evil thing to change the true subjects of Baptism who are Believing and Understanding Men to ignorant Babes who neither know good nor evil 3. Is it not an evil thing to frustrate the sacred and spiritual ends of Baptism which are many as you have heard and by administring it to poor Babes render it wholly an Insignificant thing 4. Is it not an evil and a shameful thing to change Baptism into Rantism from Dipping the whole Body to Sprinkling or pouring a little Water upon the Face and to pronounce an Untruth in the Name of the Lord saying I baptize thee in the Name of the Father of the Son and holy Spirit you not doing the thing nor have any Authority so to do nor to baptize Children at all much less to sprinkle them 5. Is it not an evil and harmful thing and a great error to say Baptism takes away Original Sin whereas nothing can do that nor Actual Sin neither but the Blood of Christ 6. Is it not a foolish thing and a Lye to say Children have Faith and are Disciples who are not capable of Understanding to assert a thing that no Man has any ground to believe nor can't without offering violence to his Reason 7. Is it not a weak thing to open a Door into the Church which Christ hath shut up 8. Is it not weak and an absurd thing to say that Infants can't be Saved except they be Baptized partly because Christ saith Except a Man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God Baptism as some of you say taking away Original Sin As if it were in the power and at the will of the Parents to save or damn their Children For this is intimated by this Notion of yours If the Parents or Friends baptize the Child it shall if it die in its Infancy be saved but if they nor no other indeavour to get it Baptized the Child is lost and must perish How can outward Water saith Mr. Charnock convey inward-Life How can Water a material thing work upon the Soul in a Physical manner Neither can it be proved That ever the Spirit of God is tied by any Promise to apply himself to the Soul in its Gracious Operations when the Body is applied to the Water He says Water applied to the Body Because the adult Person who sat under the preaching of the Word cannot be saved without Regeneration Can't God save poor dying Infants unless the same change by the Spirits Operations pass upon them Is not God a free Agent may he not do what he pleases and magnifie his Grace to poor dying Infants through the Blood of his Son in other ways than we know of Do not secret things belong to him what Vanity is there in the minds of some Men 8. Has God ordained Baptism to be an Ordinance to save the Souls of any Persons either the Adult or Infants is the Opus operatum of Baptism think you a likely way or means to beget or bring forth Children to Christ or make Disciples of them Baptism signifies no thing it being but a Sign where the inward Grace signified by it is wanting 9. Is it not strange that you should say That none but the Children of Believers ought to be Baptized And that Baptism is absolutely necessary to Church-Communion or an initiating Ordinance And yet
where it is said in the Law of bathing the Flesh and washing the Cloaths of the Unclean it is not meant but of baptizing the whole Body c. but if the Greek word would bear sprinkling or pouring yet that will not justify Men thus to baptize because not according to the Vsage of the Primitive Church nor doth it answer or reach the Signification of this Ordinance which is the Death Burial and Resurrection of Jesus Christ together with our Death to Sin and rising with him to walk in newness of Life to represent which great Mystery it was ordained as you will find if you read this Treatise I have been the larger upon this because if Baptism is nothing less nor more nor any other Act than Immersion or total dipping the whole Body c. than abundance of godly Christians must seek after true Baptism neither can Infants it appears from hence be the Subjects of it sith their tender Bodies can't bear it in these cold Climates without palpable danger of their Lives as our Opposites confess and formerly by woful Experience found to be so Jesus Christ never appointed an â—â—â—â—nance to destroy the Lives of any of his Creatures â—ut why will not our Brethren keep to the great Instiâ—ution and exact Rule of the Primitive Church Must we content our selves with that Light which the Church had in respect of this and other Gospel-Truths at the beginning of the Reformation since God hath brought forth greater to the praise of his own rich Grace in our Days And why should a Tradition of the Antichristian State be so zealously defended The Church will never certainly appear in its Primitive Glory till this Rubbish be remov'd which is nothing less than to take a Stone of Babylon and lay it in Sion for a Foundation Besides it doth not a little reflect upon the Honour of the Lord Jesus thus to derogate from his holy Law who is appointed Heir of both Worlds who hath settled in his Church that Religion and every Ordinance thereof which must remain unalterable to the end of Time or Consummation of all things He as our Annotators well say is the Builder of God's House propagating a holy not a fleshly Seed for himself and hath appointed and fixed on the Matter and Form thereof as seemed good in his own sight who is the brightness of the Father's Glory and express Image of his Person c. And what an account our Brethren or others will be able to give to him for presuming to do any thing contrary to the Apostolical Constitution when he comes to judg the Quick and the Dead I know not As touching that great Argument for Infant-Baptism taken from the Covenant made with Abraham tho something is here said in Answer and enough hath been said by others formerly yet I must acquaint the Reader there is a most excellent Treatise prepared written by a very worthy and judicious Person and ready for a timely Birth wherein that grand Objection and all â—thers are answered beyond what any I think have â—itherto doâ—â— But if we should grant all they say of Abraham's Fleshly Seed and Foeâ—â— Holiness yet that will not prove Children to have a Right to Baptism because Baptism as well as Circumcision was is a meer positive Law and wholly depends on the Will and Pleasure of the Law-giver which is in this Treatise opened and asserted again and again and not without good Reason But lest I should keep the Reader too loong at the Door I shall conclude this Epistle with my hearty Prayers that God would be pleased in Mercy to open our Brethrens Eyes or ours wherein either they or we lie short as touching any part of God's Will and let us strive to live in Love and Concord together wherein we do or can agree 'T is Truth I contend for and that Truth which was once delivered to the Saints and shall I hope whilst I am in the Body who now as well as formerly subscribe my self thy Servant for Jesus sake Aug. 6. 1688. Benj. Keach Advertisement IF any desire to be furnished that excellent Book written some times since by Mr. William Kiffin proving no unbaptized Person ought to be admitted to the Lord's Table may have them at Mr. Nath. Crouch's at the sign of the Bell in the Poultry or at the Authors House in Southwark Gold Refin'd or Baptism in its Primitive Purity CHAP. I. Wherein the Baptism of Water is proved to be that intended in the Commission and so a standing Ordinance till the End of the World. I Having for many Years last past observed with what strength of Argument some worthy Christians have laboured to defend the Sacred Ordinance of Baptism and how they have endeavoured to refine it from all Human Mixtures to the great Satisfaction and Establishment of many Persons in the Land yet notwithstanding finding how that still a Multitude of gracious People remaing very ignorant about it and otherâ— very obstinately and reproachfully do slight and contemn it casting very scandalous and scurrilous Reflections upon those who practise it according to the Primitive Institution both from the Pulpit and the Press I have been put upon writing something further in the Defence of our selves and Practice herein And that I may the more regularly proceed in this Work I shall endeavour to prove Baptism in Water to be that Baptism which is intended in the Commission and therefore to abide as an undoubted and standing Ordinance of the Lord Jesus Christ until his second Coming or the End of the World. First of all it may be necessary to shew you that this Ordinance was instituted and ordained by our Lord Jesus and given forth by him soon after he rose from the Dead and a little before he ascended into Heaven see Mat. 28. 18 19 20. Mark 16. 16. And Jesus came and spake unto them saying All Power is given unto me in Heaven and in Earth Go ye therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you and lo I am with you alway even to the end of the World. The Lord Jesus first of all asserteth his Power and Authority Secondly he delegates a Power to his Disciples Thirdly he subjoyns a gracious Promise to them 1. The Power and Authority which he asserteth to himself is all Power in Heaven and Earth Power to institute and appoint Laws and Ordinances how and after what manner God ought in Gospel-Times to be worshipped Power to give Repentance and Remission of Sins Power to congregate to teach and govern his Church as the supream Lord Head and Ruler thereof yea and Power to give Eternal Life to whomsoever he pleaseth This was inherent in him as God blessed for ever given to him as our Mediator given to him when he came into the World but more especially confirmed to him and manifested to be
given him at his Resurrection and Ascension into Heaven And having declared himself Supream Lord and Law-giver He 2. Delegates a Power to his Disciples Go ye therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 make Disciples that must be by preaching the Gospel to them instructing them in the Principles of the Christian Faith teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo I am with you alway to the end of the World that 's the Promise These are the words of the great Commission which contains part of the last Will and Testament of the ever blessed Jesus the glorious Testator of the New Covenant wherein Baptism is found and expresly given forth and with as great Authority and in as solemn a manner as ever was any Precept or Ordinance that we read of in all the Book of God. Object But 't is not said baptize them in Water it may therefore intend the Baptism of the Holy Spirit Answ To which we answer As 't is not said baptize them with Water so 't is not said baptize them with the Holy Spirit They were commanded to baptize that 's evident and that it was Water our Saviour did require them to baptize with and not the Spirit we prove First Because the Baptism of the Holy Spirit was never by our Saviour or his Apostles commanded it was never injoyn'd as a Precept or Duty to be done but was always mentioned as a Promise He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with Fire And again Ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence It argues great Weakness or else Wilfulness that Men should see no better how to distinguish between a Baptism that was commanded as a Duty to be done and a Baptism promised which was never injoyned as a Duty Secondly It cannot mean the Baptism of the Holy Ghost because the Disciples of Christ nor no Man under Heaven had ever any such Power delegated or given to them as to baptize with the Holy Ghost 't is strange Persons should be so blind and bold to think much less to assert that meer Men can give the Holy Spirit or administer that Baptism as if the Holy Ghost was at the disposal of the Will of Man or that Men know whom to give it to which indeed only lies hid in the Breast of God himself who bestows it to whom and in what manner he pleaseth And therefore Thirdly We do affirm from the Authority of God's Word that to baptize with the Holy Spirit is the peculiar Prerogative Royal of Jesus Christ and that he did never impower any Disciple of his to give it He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit The Father by him and he immediately by himself in his own Person distributes or gives forth of the Spirit according to the good Pleasure of his Will without imparting with this Sovereign Prerogative or peculiar Power to any other Now since Christ's Disciples could not baptize with the Spirit and yet are commanded to baptize it follows clearly it must be Water Object Doth not the Apostle shew that Men had Power to give the Spirit what else is the meaning of these words he therefore that ministreth to you the Spirit it appears that Persons who preached ministred the Spirit Answ By the Spirit is meant the Gospel or Word of Christ as the Law is called the Letter so is the New Testament called the Ministration of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3. 6. The words that I speak unto you saith Christ are Spirit c. Doth God as if the Apostle should say concur with our Ministry and give the Spirit to those who hear it and help us to work Miracles to confirm it And is this done by our preaching the Law or by the hearing of Faith that is the Word of Faith viz. the Gospel see vers 2. or by preaching the Word of Christ Fourthly The Baptism in the Commission cannot intend that of the Holy Ghost because the Spirit 's Baptism signifies the miraculous Effusion or extraordinary Gifts thereof and not the saving Influences Graces and Operations of it which but a few and those too in the Primitive Time did partake of but the Baptism in the Commission is injoyned on all that are made Disciples in all Nations and in every Age even to the end of the World. Fifthly It must be Water-Baptism because our Saviour joyneth it with Repentance and Believing Now all along in order of Practice these two went together both before this time and also afterwards You may be sure had it been any other Baptism it would never have been thus joyned together in order of words with that Baptism that was so united in order of Practice with Repentance and Faith without the least intimation of any thing by our Saviour to the contrary Sixthly Because 't is a Baptism that is to be administred in the Name of the Father of the Son and Holy Spirit how can any with the least shadow of Reason suppose it should be meant of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit sith it is to be administred in the Name of the Holy Spirit Were any ever baptized with the Holy Spirit in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost The Spirit was that with which they were baptized and therefore not baptized in the Name of the Spirit Seventhly The only way further to remove this Objection is to observe what the practice of the Disciples was after the Ascension of Christ in the execution of this great Commission What was it they baptized with See Acts 8. 36. And they came to a certain Water and the Eunuch said See here is Water Vers. 28. They went both down into the Water and Philip baptized him Acts 10. 47 48. Can any Man forbid Water that these should not be baptized And he commanded them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus That Baptism which in the Commission the Lord Jesus commanded his Disciples to baptise with was the Baptism which they after his Ascension did baptize with and that it was Water the Scriptures we have now cited do evidently shew certainly the Apostles well understood what Baptism it was their blessed Master did command them to administer Eighthly Besides were it not the Baptism of Water which was given to them in the Commission Matth. 28. 19 20. They did that in his Name i. e. by his Authority which they had no Authority to do for other Commissions they had not this being the only place where Water-baptism is mentioned as being instituted and given in Commission to them to administer and to all other Disciples and Ministers of Christ to the end of the World. Now Secondly that this Holy Ordinance of Baptism doth continue to the end of the World is evident First Because whatsoever is given forth by Jesus Christ is given forth by him as he is King and Mediator of the New Covenant and as part of his
Resurrection Why are we baptized In vain does the Church use the Symbol of Baptism if there be no Resurrection The like Testimonies frequently occur among the Fathers that believing in his Death we may be made Partakers of his Resurrection by Baptism Baptism was given in Memory of the Death of our Lord we perform the Symbols of his Death and Resurrection in Baptism We know but one saving Baptism in regard there is but one Death for the World and one Resurrection from the Dead of which Baptism is an Image Here Paul exclaiming they pass'd through the Sea and were all baptized in the Cloud and in the Sea he calls Baptism the Passage of the Sea for it was a flight of Death caused by the Water To be baptized and so plunged and to return up and rise out of the Water is a Symbol of the descent into the Grave and return from thence Baptism is a Pledg and Representation of the Resurrection Baptism is an Earnest of the Resurrection Immersion is a Representation of Death and Burial Innumerable are the Testimonies which might be added But these I think sufficient to prove that Baptism is an Image of the Death and Resurrection of Christ from hence we acknowledg the Mystery of our Religion his Deity and Humanity and of all the Faithful who are baptized in his Faith from Death to Sin to newness of Life which if they lead in this World they have a most assured hope that being dead they shall hereafter rise to Glory with Christ Which things if so what Affinity is to be seen between a Burial and a Washing that Christian Baptism should be thought to draw its Original from Jewish Lotions for if it were true that the end of our Baptism were to signify a Washing or Ablution or if it were true that the Jews of old did admit their Children or Proselytes into their Church by the administration of any diving as it is asserted by many Learned Persons of late Days yet to prove that our Baptism is indeed an Image of Death and Resurrection not of washing enough hath been said Thus far Sir Norton Knatchbul And indeed what this great Man hath asserted and clearly demonstrated doth fully detect our Brethren who argue for their Childish Rantism affirming Though Dipping was the Baptism that was practised in the Primitive Time yet it doth not from thence follow that Dipping is essential to Baptism they are the words of our late Annotators on Mat. 3. 6. The Reason they give is Because the washing of the Soul with the Blood of Christ the thing say they signified by Baptism being expressed by Sprinkling or pouring Water as well as by Dipping or being buried in Water In Answer we say with St. Bernard viz. Immersion is a Representation of Death and Burial But saith the famous Dr. Du-Veil To substitute in the room of Immersion either Sprinkling or any other way of applying Water to the Body to signify the same thing is not in the Power of the Dispensers of God's Mysteries or of the Church for that saith he as Thomas Aquinas excellently well observes It belongs to the Signifier to determine what Sign is to be used for the signification but God it is who by things sensible signifies Spiritual things in the Sacrament To which let me add Shall frail and silly Man seek out or contrive new Rites or Signs having other significations than ever the great Lawgiver appointed or intended and call them by his Name viz. Ordinances or Sacraments of Christ Will God I say ever think you suffer any Man to invent out of his own Brains new Signs or Symbols of Divine Gospel-Mysteries and father them upon him What Ordinance hath he ordained to signify the sprinkling of the Blood of Christ this cannot cerâ—ainly stand with his Care Wisdom and Faithfulness you may as well no doubt and be as far justified to contrive some other proper and fit Signs or Figures of other Gospel-Mysteries and call them Sacraments of Christ as to change his Holy Institution of Immersion or Dipping designed and ordained by him chiefly as it most clearly appears to represent his Death Burial and Resurrection into Sprinkling or Pouring and make it represent washing in or sprinkling with the Blood of Christ and then say and not blush It may serve as well Object But do you not acknowledg Baptism to signify our being washed in the Blood of Christ Answ In Answer to this we do say in a more remote sense Baptism doth hold forth our being washed or bathed in Christ's Blood which we doubt not but is signified in that of Titus 3. 5. by the washing of Regeneration and in Heb. 10. 22. Yet certainly Sir Norton Knatchbul is in the right The proper end of Baptism saith he ought not to be understood as if it were a Sign of the washing away of Sin although it be often-times taken thus Metonymically in the New Testament This therefore we say Washing is not at all the main or principal thing or such as is immediately or primarily but only remotely and secondarily signified thereby But the Death Burial and Resurrection of Christ which is the Rise and Root the Original and Meritorious Cause of all the Good we partake of is the principal Thing signified hereby But what advantage is it to you that are only for Rantism for us to own Washing is signified by Baptism sith Sprinkling can as you use it in no proper manner represent Washing But suppose it did answer in that yet it cannot be Baptism because it cannot nor does it in any respect represent the Death Burial and Resurrection of Christ nor our death to Sin and rising again in a Figure to walk in newness of Life which Baptism we have shewed was appointed to do and therefore can be no other but Immersion Dipping and Plunging or covering the Body in Water which doth resemble and most lively hold forth the Things signified thereby to our sight Yea these Matters viz. Christ's Death Burial and Resurrection are the cardinal or great Things to be considered for as in the Lord's Supper remotely many Things may be signified to us yet all the Things cannot plainly be represented to our Eyes but such Things that are the more immediate Significations of it are the proper Cause of all the rest viz. Christ Crucified and our feeding on him by Faith or the breaking of his Body and the pouring forth of his Blood are most lively set forth and represented to our visible sight So in Baptism likewise the main and more immediate Significations which are the Death Burial and Resurrection of our Blessed Saviour with our death unto Sin and vivification to a new Life is clearly resembled though the Fruit of his Death and Remission of Sin and Purging c. are consequently gathered from it also Calvin saith Baptismum esse sepulturam in quum nulli msi jam mortui mortuo tradendi sunt i.
and are baptized with the Spirit left they are found Liars and to be indeed without any Baptism at all for though the Saints before that great Effusion of the Spirit nay before Christ was manifested in the Flesh had the Holy Spirit and some of them in a glorious manner yet as some learned Men observe they were not said to be baptized with it so likewise Believers in these days have the Spirit of Christ in the ordinary Gifts and Graces thereof yea and the Promise of Christ is that the Blessed Spirit the Comforter shall abide with us for ever yet are not we nor any now baptized with it nor have any as I humbly conceive since those miraculous and extraordinary Gifts ceased in the Church Thirdly There is another Typical or Metaphorical Baptism spoken of viz. the Children of Israel or the Fathers are said to be baptized to Moses in the Cloud and in the Sea 1 Cor. 10. Some have of late intimated That the Rain that fell from the Cloud sprinkled them as they past through the Sea and from hence would have Baptism to be Sprinkling Truly if that was a Baptism viz. it raining upon them the People may save their Mony and never go to Priest â—or Minister more to Christen their Children for 't is but to carry them abroad when it rains and they will be so baptized and it will be as true a Baptism no doubt for the using the Name of the Father c. doth not make Baptism though true Baptism cann't be warrantably administred without mentioning the Names of the Sacred Trinity But we must conclude there was something else than that which these Men suppose in that Case which caused the Apostle to say Our Fathers were baptized unto Moses in the Cloud and in the Sea. It was doubtless a Type and plain Figure of Gospel-dipping or burying in Water for they were overwhelmed 't is evident as it were in the Cloud and in the Sea. And we must give our late Annotators their due at this turn also for they speak much the sense of the Spirit of God in that place pray take their own words after they have given the sense of divers Learned Men upon the Text this they fix upon us to be most probably the meaning of the Scripture Others say they most probably think that the Apostle maketh use of this term in regard of the great Analogy betwixt Baptism as it was then used the Persons going down into the Waters being dipped in them and the Israelites going down into the Sea the great Receptacle of Water though the Waters at that time were gathered on heaps on either side of them yet they seemed buried in the Waters as Persons in that Age were when they were baptized A very plain Figure doubtless they having the Water on each side of them and to which they might have added the Watery Cloud over them whether it broke down upon them or no they were as it were buried in the Cloud and in the Sea so that this Notion of Typical Baptism makes nothing for Sprinkling And thus we hope we have fully evinced and clearly proved to all unbyass'd Men what Baptism is you have heard First It is immerging or dipping into the Water from the proper literal and genuine signification of the word Baptizo Secondly From the manner of Baptizing in the Primitive Times Thirdly From the Spiritual Signification of the Holy Ordinances of Baptism together with the great Design and End of Christ in the Institution of it Fourthly and lastly From the Typical and Metaphorical Baptisms we read of in the Scriptures We shall now proceed to speak of the Persons who are the true Subjects of Baptism in the next place CHAP. VI. Proving Believers or Adult Persons only to be the Subjects of Baptism from Christ's great Commission Mat. 28. WE having clearly evinced and proved what Baptism is and that Rantism is not the Ordinance 't is clearly another Act nor is Baptism any other thing than Immerging Dipping or Plunging the Body all over in Water And this being so we may from the whole infer that all those who have been only sprinkled whether as Children or Adult are all Unbaptized Persons and will certainly be so found in the Day of the Lord let their Teachers affirm or say what they will for their calling it Baptism does not make it to be so for suppose the Jews or the Off-spring of Abraham to whom God commanded Circumcision instead of doing that Act should have devised some other Thing in the room of it as the pairing off the Nails of their Children at eight days old and have given that Act the name of Circumcision would that have made it Circumcision And truly they might have as good a Plea no doubt for such an Invention considering how dangerous and grievous a thing Circumcision was to little Children as the first Inventers of Sprinkling a little Water on the Face of a Babe could pretend unto in changing Baptism into Rantism Now in the next place it behoveth us to enquire who or what kind of Persons they are that our Lord Jesus Christ hath required to be baptized and there is no better way certainly to know this than to go to the great Commission Matth. 28 19 10. All Power saith Christ is given to me in Heaven and Earth Go ye therefore teach all Nations baptizing them c. 1. First observe that this Commission was given forth by Christ just as he came out of the Grave or rose from the Dead Certainly what he said at other times should with all care be minded he being the Son of God but much more now at this time If God should have sent a Saint from the Dead to let us know what we should do would we not give all diligent heed to him but much more to Jesus Christ 2. In the second place especially considering the Power and Authority he testifies the Father had given to him as Mediator viz. to be Head and chief Governour of his Church or King and Lawgiver in all Spiritual Things and Matters over the Souls and Consciences of Men all Power to dispose of all things in Heaven and Earth or Power over Men and Angels i. e. Power to make and give forth Laws Statutes and Ordinances how and after what manner God ought by us to be worshipped in Gospel-days a Power that is given to him alone whose Laws and Appointments none have any Power to dispense with nor change or alter the Administration of to the end of the World Go ye therefore teach all Nations baptizing them c. 3. Observe what is Antecedent to Baptism Teach all Nations there must be teaching they must be first Taught or made Disciples for the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as is well known and confess'd by all doth signify to discipulize or make Disciples and next baptize them And this also we find was his own practice first to make Disciples and then to baptize them