Prayer, to require the inward Acts of the Mind; and that for this Reason, because they judge, that where a real internal Devotion of the Heart and Soul is abfent, all outward vocal Forms of Exprefion, and all outward Signs of Reverence, are but meer Will-Worship and Hypocrify, in no wife acceptable to God, who requireth the Sacrifice of a broken and a contrite Spirit, and is therewith well pleased.

SECT. XV.

Of BAPTISM.

THE Queftion, with which the Vicar introduces this Section, is very material; upon the right determining whereof, the Controverfy between the Quakers and their Opponents doth much depend,

viz.

Is outward Water-Baptifm an Institution of Chrift, of perpetual Obligation upon all • Christians? In Answer to which, the Quakers do affert, that Water-Baptism is annulled in point of Obligation; in Proof of which, we shall tranfcribe feveral Arguments laid down by a learned Writer of that Perfuafion, to which we know of no direct Reply yet publish'd by any of their Oppofers.

(y) Arg. I. THAT which is ceased in Point of • Obligation, is also annulled in Point of Obliga<tion; but Water Baptifme is ceafed in Point of Obligation: Therefore, &c.

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• THE

(y) RC's Lux Evang. atteft. p

THE major is undeniable; and the Minor • I prove thus,

ALL Types are ceafed in Point of Obligation; Water-Baptifm was a Type; Therefore, &..

THE major, if denied, is proved from the Coming of the Antitype, for that puts an End to the Type, or elfe they would be in Force together which if allow'd, would be to let up the first Tabernacle again with its Figures, which • were for the Time then prefent; and to justifie the Jews in their Meats and Drinks, and divers Washings or Baptifms, and carnal Ordinances mipofed on them, until the Time of Reformation. See Heb. ix. 8, 9, 10.

THE minor, viz. That Water Baptifm was a Type, is clear from hence, in that it was a Figure of that Inward and Spiritual Washing, which is only effected by the Baptifm of Chrift. Now that Water Baptifm was fuch a Figure, is plain from the exprefs Teftimony of John, Christ,

and Peter.

Or John: I indeed baptize you with Water unto • Repentance; but he that cometh after me, is •mightier than I, whofe Shoes I am not worthy to bear; be shall baptize you with the Holy Ghoft, • and with Fire. Whofe Fan is in his Hand, and he will throughly purge his Floor, and gather • his Wheat into his Garner; but he will burn up the Chaff with unquenchable Fire, Mat. iii. 6 II, 12.

OF Chrift: John truly baptized with Water, but yefball be baptized with the Holy Ghoft, not. many Days hence, Acts i. 5.

• OF

.

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• OF Peter: Then remembred I the Word of the Lord, how that he faid, John indeed baptized with Water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghoft, Acts xi. 16.

JOHN'S Baptifm was with Water, and was a Type or Figure. Cbrift's Baptifm is with the Holy Ghoft, and is the Antitype or Thing figured. That can only purify the Flefh, or Body of Man; but this the Heart and Confcience. That ⚫ cannot purge the Floor; but this throughly do it, and gather the Wheat, the pure weighty Corn, into the Heavenly Garner.

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Can

Arg. II. THAT which was only preparatory to Chrift and his Difpenfation, is annulled in Point of Obligation. But Water Baptifm was only preparatory to Chrift and his Difpenfation: Therefore, &c.

THE major is unexceptionable, because that which was only preparatory to Chrift and his Difpenfation, muft needs be annulled in Point • of Obligation, when Chrift is come, and his Difpenfation hath taken Place. For the preparatory Miniftration hath finished its Service, when that is come which it was only previous to,

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THE minor is evident from the Testimony • of Chrift and John; This is he, faith Christ, fpeaking of John, of whom it is written, behold I fend my Meffenger before thy Face, which shall prepare thy Way before thee, Luke vii. 27. This is be, faith John, concerning Christ, of whom I faid, after me cometh a Man which is preferred before me, for he was before me, and I knew him • not; but that he should be made manifeft to Ifrael, therefore am I come baptizing with Water, Joh. i.

30, 31.

30, 31. Where the exprefs End of John's Miniftry and Water-Baptifm is punctually declared, viz. that it might be only preparatory to Chrift, and to make him manifeft to Ifrael. ⚫ And therefore Chrift being come and exhibited unto Ifrael, John's Miniftry and Water-Baptifm can be no longer obligatory.

.

Arg. III. THAT which is not inftituted by • Chrift is annulled in Point of Obligation; but Water-Baptifm is not inftituted by Chrift, therefore, &c.

.

IF our Opponent deny the Major, it will lye upon him to prove, that fomething ought to be practifed, as an Ordinanee of Chrift, which is not inftituted by Chrift.

If he deny the minor, let him, if he can, (for it hath never yet be done) prove, that Water-Baptifm is an Inftitution of Chrift. If he urge Mat. xxviii. 19. that will make againft 6 him, because there is no Water either mentioned, or that can by any neceffary Confequence, be deduced thence; for the Commiffion there to baptize, is not es rò dep into the Water, but • eis Tò dvoua into the Name or Power (as the • Word frequently fignifies in Scripture) of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, and this Interpretation is ftrongly fupported by ver. 18. All Power, faith Chrift, is given unto • me in Heaven and Earth, where iscia Power and ovopa Name, ver. 19. are of the fame Import. And likewife by Als i. 5. John truly, faid Chrift to his Apoftles, baptized with Water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many Days hence, compared with ver. 8. Te ball receive Power, after that the Holy Ghost

is come upon you, and ye shall be Witnesses unto me, both in Jerufalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost Part of the Earth. And what were they to be Witneffes of? Why, of that Power, into which they themselves were baptized, namely, the Baptifm of the Holy Ghoft; and wherewith, by Virtue of the Commiffion, and the continual Affiftances of the HolySpirit,they inftrumentally baptized others, I fay inftrumentally, for though the Apostle • Paul miniftred the Spirit, Gal. iii. 5. and by the laying on of the Hands of Peter and John, many of the Samaritans that believed, received the Holy Ghoft, Acts viii. 14, 17. Yet, who were they, but Minifters by whom the others believed, even as the Lord gave unto them? So ⚫ then Chrift was the principal Author, or fole • efficient Cause, and the Apostles Instruments only, or Minifters in his Name and Authority, • of this Baptifm.

OR if he urge the Practice of fome of the Apoftles, that will do him very little Service, because Practice without Precept is no Proof • of a Gospel Inftitution. An Example of Chrift,

(faith Dr. Featley, Dipper dipp'd, p. 41.) or his • Apostles without a Precept, doth not neceffarily ⚫ bind the Church. And (Dr. Taylor faith, Ductor ‹ Dub. 1. 2. c. 2. r. 7. n. 33, 34, 35. P. 292.) We • have but one great Example, Jefus Chrift; who living in perfect Obedience to his Father, did alfo give us perfect Instruction how we should do fo • in our proportion.. In whatsoever he gave us a • Commandment, in that only we are bound to • imitate him. And a little after, We are to look upon Chrift, as imitable, just as his Life was meafured by the Laws he gave us.

BESIDES