Baptize you with the Sperz.

at Hand, as he faith,

Chriff's great and gloriou: Baptim nov

Water, and he that come. Est

aptism of of High

the very

nd Chrift

2. John's Baptiim was fror. Heare:

and not from Men hat : inf

from God, and was not en Cominence
took up of his own Head La

is faid, that at the beginning tr

setting forth his Laptur. an. Mit,
Atry, That the Wore of Gus c

in the Wildernes that 1. E. V.

fpired, Inftructed. and T

Word from Got himie ro
Miniftry-Baptim and the

Chrift he was to make an e-
There was a Man jer: from

Name was John, and Vents to

Sent me to Baptize wa

not the eature;

ptifm of

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me: He went not of an ov

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but God fent him to barten

2.

ejudice, s Office, nself, a

to it)

and Excellent baptim e

Baptifms of Moje ic AL. MALE.

hat the

ble and

John's Baptifm, are far

hereupon the Fususan, tai kas ve

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and the Phariees and

fufed it, to reang

For

Anfw. I answer, it is most true, that John did preach Chrift clearly, both in regard of his Perfon and Offices; but this was not his proper Work, as he was the Baptift, but in fo much as he preached Chrift in the Spirit, he belongeth to the Kingdom of Chrift, which is Spiritual, asallo, Abraham, Mofes, David, Ifaiah, and all the Prophets, did in the fame Senfe: But so far forth as he preached the Doctrine, and adminiftred the Baptifm of Repentance, and both these not Really and Spiritually, but only in the Letter and Sign, fo far he belonged to the Old Teftament, rather than to the New: Here was John in his proper Office. I fay, fo far as John preached Chrift Spiritually, he did not that as Jobe the Baptift, but as John a Believer: And so the fame John, in regard of his Baptift's Office, belonged to the Old Testament, but according to the Revelation which he had from the Father touching Chrift, and his Faith in him, and Confeffion of him, he belonged to the New. And except we learn thus to diftinguish of John's Doctrine, to wit, what he preached as Baptift, and in his proper Office, and what

as

as a Believer, who had the Revelation of the Father, we fhall never understand his Baptifm aright: For John's Baptism was the Seal of his Old-Teftament DoArine, and not of his New,or of his own immediate Miniftry,and not of Chrift's; at the higheft, John's Miniftry and Baptifm pointed out Chrift, but neither of them were the fame with Chrift's.

And thus having cleared from the Word, that John's Baptifm is Diftinct from Chrift's, I fhall proceed to speak of each of these Baptifms apart by themfelves, and to hold forth to others what my felf have learn'd touching them from the fame Word.

And firft I begin with John's Baptifm, as being the first in order of Time.

Now the Baptifm of John was broughtin befides the rite and manner of the Law, and fo was a Sign of a great Change to follow: The Jews indeed had their Bap tifms in the Law, for they wafhed their Members, Garments, Veffels, &c. and by: this they were cleanfed from legal Pollu tions,but not from any Sin or Stain that did cleave to their Confcience: But John was the Author or firft Minifter of a new B 2 and

and unwonted Baptism, calling all Men to Repentance for Sin, and to flee from the Wrath to come, and awakening them to Confeffion of Sin, and Amendment of Life, and also pointing out One to Come, and now at Hand; who fhould do all these things for them indeed, which neither he nor his Baptifm could do.

Now touching John's Baptifm, I shall fhew:

First, The Honourableness of it in it self. And fecondly, The Weakness and Imperfectness of it, in reference to Christ. And thirdly, The Continuance and Duration of it.

1. For the Honourablenefs of it felf; it appears in feveral Paffages.

First, That tho' the Baptism of John in it felf were more Legal than Evangelical, yet in this it did excel all the former Legal Baptifms, that it pointed out Christ's Baptifm near at Hand; for as John himself was Greater than all the former Prophets, because he Pointed out with his Finger, Chrift the True and Great Prophet of the Church; fo his Baptism was more Excellent than all the former Baptifms, because it Pointed out

Chrift's

Chrift's great and glorious Baptifm now at Hand, as he faith, 1 Baptize you with Water, and he that comes after me shall Baptize you with the Spirit.

2. John's Baptifm was from Heaven, and not from Men; it had its Inftitution from God, and was not an Ordinance he took up of his own Head, Luke 3. 2. It is faid, that at the beginning of John's fetting forth to his Baptifm and Miniftry, That the Word of God came to hims in the Wilderness; that is, he was Infpired, Inftructed, and Taught by a Word from God himfelf, touching his Ministry-Baptifm, and the discovery of Christ he was to make; and John 1. 6. There was a Man fent from God, whofe Name was John; and Verse 33. He that fent me to Baptize with Water, faid unto me: He went not of his own accord, but God fent him to Baptzie; fo that as God was the Author of those Inferiour Baptisms of Mofes, fo of this more High and Excellent Baptism of John; and hereupon the Publicans, that received John's Baptifm, are faid to justifie God; and the Pharifees and Lawyers that refufed it, to reject against themselves ;

that