Daughters of men unto whom he tenders Holiness in the Gospel as John the Evangelist teaches He came unto his own and his own received him not but as many as received him to them gave he power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe on his Name Joh 1.11 12. And hence it is that God hath chosen his people in Christ that they should be holy even because the perfection of Holiness is inherently in Christ with sufficiency of the Spirit of Grace to effect Holiness in his people through believing If then thou wouldst press after Holiness so as to attain such a degree thereof that thou mayst have the comfortable sight of God and be enabled to stand before him with joy then observe these ensuing particulars The Eye fixed on Christ by Faith is a great help towards the attainment of Holiness 1. In all thy undertakings look unto Jesus have an eye of faith fixed on him he is the Center where Holiness is centered if we look short of the Center we are like to fall-short of our purpose let us therefore take the counsel of the Apostle Let us run with patience the Race set before us looking unto Jesus the Authour and Finisher of our Faith who for the Joy that was set before him endured the Cross despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the Throne of God Heb. 2.1 2. Yea whether we read the Word pray or perform any other Christian Duty whatsoever let us still look to Jesus with desire that we may have more Knowledg of him more Faith in him and more Love and Obedience to him let us look unto Jesus with an Eye of Faith fixed on him and behold his performances on our behalf let us behold his humility who was very God and yet assuming the human Nature became also Man and taking upon him the form of a Servant became obedient not only to the divine Precepts of his Fathers Law but also unto Death even the most shameful Death of the Cross O let us look unto Jesus and behold him in his Sufferings and in the Cause and End of his Sufferings The Cause of his Sufferings was our Sins the End of his Sufferings was to free us from Divine Wrath due to us for Sin and to obtain Eternal Salvation for us To look unto Jesus and with an Eye of Faith to behold him as aforesaid Gods way is a sure and a safe way is to take Gods way to hearken to his Call and to observe his counsel for our better attainments unto Holiness and Heavens Happiness as saith the Lord by the Prophet Isaiah Behold my Servant whom I uphold mine Elect in whom my Soul delighteth I have put my Spirit upon him he shall bring forth Judgment to the Gentiles Isai 42. I said behold me behold me unto a Nation that was not called by my Name Isai 65.1 Secondly let us not only look unto Jesus and behold him but also consider him this is a piece of Divine Counsel A due Consideration of Christs sufferings a great help towards the attainment of Holiness also consider the Apostle and High-priest of our Profession Christ Jesus Heb. 3.1 O let us consider the Greatness of his Burthen in his Sufferings of Death wherein he did not only suffer a natural Death but also did bear the burthen and weight of Divine Wrath due to Mankind for Transgression the which being set home upon his precious Soul by the hand of Divine Justice forced him into that Agony that his Sweat was as if it were great Drops of Blood falling down to the ground and to cry out Luk. 22.41 Matt. 27.46 O my God my God why hast thou forsaken me as if the sense of Divine Wrath had so overwhelmed his precious Soul that all the appehensions of his Fathers Love had been ecclipsed from him One sin set home to the Soul by the hand of Divine Justice is a heavy burthen how great then is the weight which Christ underwent for us Surely saith the Prophet he hath born our Griefs and carried our Sorrows yet we did esteem him stricken smitten of God and afflicted but he was wounded for our Transgressions he was bruised for our Iniquities the Chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his Stripes we are healed All we like Sheep have gone astray we have turned every one to his own way and the Lord hath laid on him the Iniquities of us all Isa 53.4 5 6. Certainly if the Sons and Daughters of Men did but look through all their outward transitory and fading Felicities unto Jesus Christ with a serious consideration of those hard things he hath undergone to procure Redemption for their poor sinful Souls it would more draw up and endear their Affections to the Lord and produce in them a delightful endeavour to honour him in the way of Holiness Thirdly as we should look unto Jesus and consider him in his great Undertakings for us so ought we to consider his Faithfulness towards his Father in respect of the Trust he reposed in him and towards Man also in the prosecution of poor fallen Mans Redemption Had he shrunk back in those great and hard Undertakings how had the Father lost his Glory and Man his true Felicity but he like a faithful and valiant Souldier set his Face like a Flint * Isai 50.6 7. against all the oppositions the World and Devils could raise against him until he had faithfully compleated his Undertakings to the Glory of his Father so that he could boldly make up his accounts saying Father I have glorified thee on Earth I have finished the Work which thou gavest me to do And now O Father glorifie thou me with thine own self with the Glory which I had with thee before the World was Joh. 17.4 5. O let us look unto Jesus with a serious consideration of his Faithfulness to our Cause and it will both quicken and direct in the way to Holiness and we being faithful after his example shall have boldness in the day of account Consider Christs Love which is strong of great power Fourthly let us look unto Jesus and consider with a due consideration his tender affectionate Love and yerning bowels of Compassion towards Mankind manifested in his great Undertakings for us Surely if ever that Saying of Solomon in his Song of Songs be made good in any it was abundantly manifested in Christs Love to Man his Love indeed was strong as Death Cant. 8.6 the many Waters of Affliction nor Flouds of the Ungodly nor Death the King of Terrors could not be able to quench the Flames thereof greater Love hath no man than this that a man lay down his Life for his Friend but so great was the Love of Christ to poor worthless Creatures that while we were ungodly and enemies to him he died for us Rom. 5.6 8 10. so that Redemption Justification Sanctification and Glorification are the effects of
in this ensuing Treatise the Filthiness of Sin and the Excellency of Holiness the Covering of a Sinner and the Ornament of a Saint Nothing makes a Wicked man so much like the Devil as Sin nor nothing makes a Saint so much resemble Christ as doth Grace and Holiness Grace makes man more man yea more than a man but Sin un-mans man yea makes him worse than a Beast Sin is the Brat and Spawn of the Devil but Grace is the Seed and Off spring of Christ God loaths nothing so much as Sin yet wicked men love nothing better Gods great design and labour is to destroy Sin but man resolves to keep and cherish it O what a Rebel is man to God! Sin is the greatest Thief and Deceiver in the World for every one has more or less been cheated thereby yet the most of men are greedy to entertain the Cheater Nothing is such an Enemy to man as Sin yet but few men will make War against it Sin seeks to destroy the soul yet some men will rather dye then leave their Sin O what blindness and madness is in the heart of man Sin separates man from God and hides his face from him yet man resolves to hug and hide his Sin That must needs be the greatest evil that deprives man of the â—reatest good and exposes man to the â—reatest misery He that makes a â—â—ock at Sin now will change his Note when the Sentence shall be proâ—ounced Go ye Cursed If Sin be â—o odious and Grace so excellent what â—ause have we to take up a lamentation â—hat their should be so much of the one â—nd so little of the other in the world â—hat sin should be so countenanced and â—ncouraged and Grace and Holiness so â—uch slighted and contemned Never was there greater need to â—tand up against Sin and contend â—or Holiness then in such days as these â—â— Loosness and Licensciousness This â—orthy Authour has cast in his Mite in seasonable time there are abunâ—ance of Professors but too too few â—hat strive after the power of Godliness Many strive to Preach well and Disâ—ute well but few to Live well I â—are not say a man who is of a false Reâ—igion cannot be saved yet I will â—ay he that walks not holily and uprightly with God cannot though externally doth profess the truth This Book Reader whosoever thâ— art may with-Gods blessing proâ—â— of great advantage to thee for here seasonable Councel for Saints and Sâ—â—ners both for the Professor and Pâ—â—phane First Art thou a Sinner I meâ—â— one not truly converted one that hâ—â— not as yet put on the Ornament Holiness then read the latter paâ—â— wherein thou maist clearly perceiâ—â— what a Cursed and Miserable state thâ— art in whilst thou dost remain uncâ—â—verted May-be thou art one thâ— makes a mock at Religion and Convâ—â—sion for alas there are some miserâ—ble Wretches that stick not to contâ—â—dict and revile the very Word of Goâ— so ripe are they grown in Sin aâ— Wickedness What Sinner soever tâ— art let me mind thee with these two three things 1. Consider thou hast an immorâ—â— soul that is of a precious worth and vâ—lue and that this soul thou art in danger to loose to all Eternity 2. Consider the shortness and uncertainty of thy days how soon thou maist be cut off and remember if thou dyest in thy Sins having no interest in Christ thou art undone and damned for evermore there is no Repentance after death let not the Devil tell thee that thou shalt dye like a Beast and have no Resurrection 3. Consider what Gods Word says Unless ye Repent ye shall all likewise Perish Luk. 13.5 And a man must be born again or else cannot enter into the Kingdom of God Joh. 3.3 and without Holiness no man shall see the Lord. 4. Consider with thy self to what end God has given a Law or Light in thy Conscience and know assuredly that if thou dost go on in Sin minding not these inward reprovings of Conscience that it will rise up against thee and Condemn thee in the dreadful day Conscience truly enlightened doth judge for God I may say before hand and pass judgment too and men may in part know how it is like to go with them hereafter if they did but mind the Testimony of their Consciences for if Conscience judges condemns thee by the light of Gods Word you have cause to tremble at those Reprovings and to flye to the Lord Jesus Christ for he is I may say Gods Vice-roy and doth whilst rightly informed judge for his Soveraign in Truth and Righteousness The Lord help thee to consider these things before Repentance be hid from thy eyes 5. Consider if thou wouldest put on the comely or becoming Ornament of Christ and Holiness then thou must put off thy filthy garments of Sin and Corruption before thou canst put on the New man thou must put off the Old And as to you that are called Saints one word further let me say since I have this opportunity in my hand take heed you rest not contented with the name of Saints the form of Godliness without the power will do you no good in the day of Christ 2. Remember the foolish Virgins were shut out 't is not enough to be Virgins unless you and I have Oyle in our Vessels O labour for Grace you know not what times of need are at hand he that has the most will have none to spare and some will seek it too late 3. Remember and think upon the man that had not on the Wedding Garment Know assuredly that none will be made welcome and lovingly entertained by the Bridegroom but those only that have that excellent Garment on of Christs Righteousness Holiness and Humility and how many will the day of Christ find unprovided notwithstanding the time and space which God doth afford us to make ready O look upon it as your chief work and business to dress trim and make your selves ready for at a time you think not of the Son of man cometh and that the labours of our Brother in the ensuing Treatise may be blessed to your advantage upon this very account shall be the Prayers of him who is willing to serve you in the Gospel of Jesus Christ as strength shall be Communicated Benja Keach THE CHVRCHES GLORY OR THE Becoming Ornament Being a Seasonable Word tending to the Provoking of Holiness in Believers raised from Psal 93.5 Holiness becometh thine House O Lord for ever CHAP. I. Wherein the words are Opened and Explicated SEveral things are in these words very considerable for our Christian Edification First by way of Division Secondly by way of Explication Thirdly by way of Doctrine Fourthly by way of Application First By way of Division First we have in the words a subject bearing the Denomination of an House Secondly the person to whom the right of Propriety doth belong And that is the Lord Thine House O Lord. Thirdly we have the Ornaments of the
Divine Love the which if we could behold with a believing Eye and seriously consider it would be an excellent means to raise up our affections to Love and Delight in the Lord and to quicken us in our motions towards the Attainment of Holiness for every Performance of Christ in the days of his Humiliation was so perfumed with Love towards us that did we truely apprehend it and really consider it it would be of force to draw our feet out of those crooked paths of carnal vanities and to place them in those pleasant paths where Peace with Holiness doth dwell Fifthly A due consideration of Christs Exaltation is a great help towards the Attainment of Holiness let us look upon and consider Jesus Christ in his Exaltation The Scripture saith that Christ is entred into Heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for us Heb. 9.24 to carry on the Execution of his Office as High-priest to be Interceder and Advocate with the Father on the behalf of his People to perfume their Prayers and Praises which are offer'd up in his Name with the sweet Perfumes of his own Merits wherein the Father doth accept them and therefore as the Apostle saith he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he hath an unchangeable Priesthood and ever liveth to make Intercession for the Saints according to the Will of God Heb. 7.24 25. Rom. 8.27 Should I transgress the Kings Law in some high nature whereby his Displeasure is so provoked against me that all that I can do cannot appease his Wrath nor stop the proceedings of Justice against me unto Death in this sad condition should a Friend arise on my behalf who is of near Relyance to the King and in tender Love and Pity to me should take my Case upon himself and make an atonement for me not only to the appeasing of the Kings Wrath but also to the procuring of his Favour so far as not only to save my Life and Possessions forfeited but also to endow me with such Benefits and Priviledges in his Kingdom as far surpass all my former Enjoyments yea farther this Friend in Court doth so engage himself by Promise unto me that if I should again transgress the Kings Commandment provided it be not wilfully but only through weakness infirmity and inability to resist the Strength of the Tempter that then he will become my Advocate and Interceder with his Majesty to make an Atonement on my behalf O how great is the Love and tender Affection of this my Friend how may these his Actions prevail upon my Heart to rejoyce in him and engage my dearest Affections to him to love him and so delight in him as to desire more communion with him to hearken to his Counsel and to obey his Will in whatsoever he commands me And indeed while I exercise mine Eye upon this happy Object with a serious consideration of the excellent Benefits I received by him there is nothing more dear unto my Soul but if I cast mine eye considerations upon lower Objects of less concernment and short of my Friend I may soon forget his loving Kindness and suffer my Love and Delight to grow dead towards him Surely herein is our Condition represented for we unworthy Creatures have transgessed not only a Law of an Earthly King but even of an Eternal God the King of Kings and Lord of Lords at whose Wrath the Earth shall tremble and the Nations shall not be able to abide his Indignation the which is due unto every Transgressor of the Law of God And such is our weak and frail estate now since the Fall yea such is our wilful Stubbornness that in many things we offend all and become guilty before God whose Law condemns us and whose Justice calls for Satisfaction so that every Soul is liable to his Indignation and Wrath which we are no ways able of our selves to appease nor stop the Proceedings of Justice from inflicting upon us the heavy Horrors and Terrors of Divine Wrath and the Indignation of the Almighty no not so much as for one day much less for time without end or for Eternity Now in this our sad condition which we are fallen into by reason of our Transgression a Friend is risen up on our behalf even Jesus Christ the Son of Righteousness with Healing in his Wings Mal. 4.2 who hath not only performed the Office of an High-Priest in the days of his Humiliation in offering his own Body upon the Cross to make an Atonement for us and to free us from the Wrath to come Heb. 10.10 Ro. 5.11 but also is entred into heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for us Heb. 9.24 to enrich us with such Benefits Priviledges as Grace Glory doth afford If now a poor Soul lie under the apprehensions of Gods Displeasure for some sin committed if he want an increase of Faith in Gods Promises if he want inward peace and assurance of Gods Favour if he want Power against Corruption and Temptation if he be oppressed by the violence of men and want Patience to bear it if he want Wisdom or Knowledg in the things of God or any Grace or good thing whatsoever would this poor Soul make its humble address unto God the Father of all Mercies and Fountain of all Supply to all our Wants from whom every good and perfect Gift proceedeth that he would grant a continual Supply of all good things according as the conditions of his poor Creature doth require Then behold O thou poor Soul behold thy Friend at Court Jesus Christ in his unchangeable Priesthood and ever glorious Exaltation on the right hand of the Majesty on high there to appear in the presence of God for us in all the approachings of thy Soul unto God take this Friend with thee he is able to save them to the utter most that come unto God through him seeing he ever liveth to make Intercession for us Heb. 7.24 There is no approaching to the Father without the assistance of the Son our faithful High-Priest Mediator and Advocate as he himself hath said I am the way saith Christ the Truth and the a Life no man commeth to the Father but by me Joh. 14.6 I am the Door saith Christ by me if any man enter he shall be saved and shall go in and out and find Pasture Joh. 10.9 as if he should have said I am the way or place of entrance to the Father by me if any man enter he shall go in and out that is he shall have free access unto the Father Ephesians 2.18 and he shall find Pasture even such spiritual enioyments as shall abundantly refresh replenish and content the Soul even to its full satisfaction When Christ foretold to his Disciples his Exaltations to the Father and the great concernment he should be unto them therein as their High-Priest to intercede for them he leaveth these Expressions with other upon
and their Redemption from the gift of Sin and their Justification unto Life to consist in Christ by vertue of his Death Burial and Resurrection as a Propititation and Atonement by him made unto his Fathers satisfaction and acceptation upon the conditions of Faith and Repentance that is to say upon their embracing of him believingly unto a dependency upon his Merits alone for their Justification from Sin unto Life and Repentance unto a purpose of Heart to live to Christ in his Laws and Counsel contained in his VVord and hence it is that Baptism is sometimes called the Baptism of Repentance for the Remission of Sins Luk. 3.3 First because by Gods Requirement it is to be attended with Repentance in the Subject unto a purpose of heart to live to God as contained in the Covenant Secondly because by Baptism God doth visibly signifie both unto the Believer acting in Baptism and also his Church that he accepts that person unto a free Remission of its Sins and also to all his Church-Priviledges contained in his Covenant Thirdly because a Believer in Baptism doth signifie both to God and Man its Acceptance of Christ and Repentance unto a purpose of Heart to live to Christ by whom he receiveth the Atonement contained in the Covenant Fourthly because a Believer doth in Baptism resemble Christ in his Death Burial and Resurrection by which our Atonement was obtained Therefore saith the Apostle we are buried with him in Baptism into Death that like as Christ was raised up by the Glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of Life for if we have been planted together in the likeness of his Death we shall be also in the likeness of his Resurrection knowing this that our Old Man is crucified with him that the Body of Sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve Sin Rom. 6.4 5 6. Whence note that the Gospel-Baptism is a Resemblance of the Death Burial and Resurrection of Jesus Christ unto Believers Christ descended down into Death and the Grave taking upon him the weight and burthen of the Sins of sinful Men that went astray a Believer descendeth in Baptism down into the Water an Eliment of Death where it gaineth power and and is therein by the Administrator buried or overwhelmed taking upon the Command and the Example of Christ for its Rule thereunto his Will for to obey and taking upon him the Merits of Christ whereby his Sins are done away Christ ariseth out of the Grave by the Glory of God the Father purposely to live unto the Glory of God the Father but one thing here among the rest I mind He leaves his heavy burthen of Sin behind The Believer ariseth up out of the Water as out of a Grave by the Glory of God the Father's Grace with purpose of heart to live unto the Glory of God the Father through the power of Grace and here one thing as before I mind He leaveth all his former Sins behind all done away by vertue of Christs Blood by Faith applied in this similitude And now saith Ananias to Saul why tarriest thou arise and be baptized and wash away thy Sins calling on the Name of the Lord Act. 22.16 not that the Water in it self washeth away Sin but the particular application of Christs Death Burial and Resurrection with the Ends Use and Efficacy thereof by Faith as they are to the Eye of Faith represented by the Act of Baptism with three Motions in the Water as going down into the Water buried in the Water and arising up out of the Water as aforesaid the which Baptism with the form of Words thereto is the Gospel-Baptism approved by the Divine Counsel of God to be the visible sign and token of his Covenant made in Christ unto Believers wherein God signs to them his Acceptation of them unto the Priviledges of his Covenant they sign to God their Acceptation of the Covenant and Christ the Mediator thereof to live to him according to his Mind and Will contained in the Covenant The Apostle Peter speaking of Noahs Ark and eight Souls therein saved by water saith Like Figure whereunto even Baptism doth now save us not the putting away the filth of the Flesh but the Answer of a good Conscience towards God by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ Two things are here laid down as Instruments of Noahs Safety the Ark and the Water They get into the Ark and the Water carrieth up the Ark above the deluge to their preservation But we are principally concerned to look unto the original Ground of their Preservation which was First Gods Command and Counsel to Noah discovered Secondly Noahs Faith in embracing and acting accordingly Noah believes God makes Preparation and gets into the Ark and therefore Hebrews 11. attributes their Safety unto Gods Command and Counsel and to Noahs Faith By Faith Noah being warned of God c. Noah herein had the Answer of a good Conscience towards God he acted sutable to his Will revealed and was preserved Like Figure whereunto Baptism now saveth us saith Peter not the washing away the filth of the Flesh but the Answer of a good Conscience towards God by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ Three things are here considerable in these words of Peter First Baptism is here said to be of a saving nature Secondly wherein it cometh so to be of a saving nature and that is said to consist in the Answer of a good Conscience towards God Thirdly how it cometh to be of a saving nature and that is by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ But why by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ First because that the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is a sure confirmation to us that Jesus Christ hath suffered Death shed his Blood for the obtaining a free and full Remission of Sins unto a Justification from the Guilt thereof and from the Condem thereunto belonging even to as many as believe on his Name Secondly by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ we have a sure Confirmation 1. That he ever liveth to be a Mediator between God the Father and Man as the chief Prophet to his People 2. That he ever liveth to make Intercession for his People as their High-Priest 3. That he ever liveth to be the sole Head King and Lawgiver for Rule and Government unto his People for their Direction Protection and Preservation into a full possâ—ssion of Salvation according to the Covenant Thirdly by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ we have sure Confirmation that he ever liveth to raise us up out of the Grave 1 Thess 4.14 2 Cor. 4.14 by his power unto an estate of Immortality and eternal Life we being on him and conforming to him according to the conditions of the Covenant Herein God commended his Love unto us saith the Apostle in that while we were yet Sinners Christ died for us much more than being now justified by his Blood we shall be saved from Wrath through him for if when we were Enemies
we were reconciled by the Death of his Son much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his Life that is to say by his Life whereunto he is risen again will he much more carry on the Management of every Branch of the Covenant which on his part is to be performed to the crowning of all his reconciled ones with eternal Salvation even as the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is an evidence of assurance unto all men that God will by the Man Christ Jesus judg the World Act. 17.31 so is the Resurrection of Jesus Christ a sure evidence of Confirmation that Jesus Christ ever liveth to perform every Branch of the Covenant unto Believers as aforesaid by vertue of his Offices Now as it is the Counsel ond Requirement of God that persons should through the Gospel-Ministration believe on Christ and conform to Christ as aforesaid so also is it the Counsel and Requirement of God that persons so embracing of Christ by Faith with purpose of heart to conform to him should visibly confess their Faith in Christ and visibly put on the Profession of Jesus Christ by Baptism in the way of Christ confirmed unto us in the Gospel Gal. 3.27 the which Baptism although with Water administred doth unto the Eye of Faith comprehend figuratively the Ark of Safety with the Mercy Seat also i. e. Christ Jesus with the Covenant of Grace in him which carrieth the Soul through Faith above the deluge of Sin and Condemnation for the same wherein the ungodly world do sink and perish while the Believer remaining in the Ark doth dwell in safety Would you know the Reason why the Eunuch when baptized went away rejoycing Act. 8.39.16.34 Surely he was by Faith gotten into the Ark wherein he did behold his security from the aforesaid deluge of Sin and Condemnation and set into a state of peace with God unto his consolation we joy in God saith the Apostle through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom we have received the Atonement Rom. 5.11 Noah in believing Gods Word and improving the Means by God appointed according to his Advice and Counsel doth therein answer a good Conscience towards God and answered his Conscience with peace and security to his great joy and consolation so a Believer in embracing Gods Word and improving it according to his Advice and Counsel doth therein answer a good Conscience towards God and God doth in the said Improvement answer the Conscience with peace and the Soul with preservation to its great joy and consolation A Believer by being baptized doth thereby visibly justifie God in the truth of his Word and God does by Baptism visibly signifie his justifying of the Believer unto a participation of all his Church-priviledges according to his Covenant The Publicans saith Christ justified God being baptized with the Baptism of John but the Pharisees and Lawyers rejected the Counsel of God against themselves being not baptized of him Luk 7.29 30. The Publicans it seemeth did apply the Word of God believingly the Pharisees and Lawyers gave not so much credit thereunto Where the Word of a King is saith Solomon there is Power But the Administration of the Gospel of Christ is not only the Word of a King but it is the Word of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords in whose Word Baptism standeth both by Command and Promise Matth. 28.19 to Believers by Command for their Observation and by Promise to their Consolation and Salvation He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved Mark 16.16 the Word of this King is a Word of Power it is the Power of God unto Salvation to every one that believeth Rom. 1.16 yea it is a Word of Power also to the Unbeliever for to judg him unto Condemnation for rejecting the same as saith Jesus Christ He that rejecteth me and receiveth not my Words hath one that judgeth him the Word that I have spoken the same shall judg him at the last day his Reason is for I have not spoken of my self but my Father which sent me he gave me a Commandment what I should say and what I should speak And I know that his Commandment is Life everlasting whatsoever I speak therefore even as the Father said unto me so I speak Joh. 12 48 49 50. Here behold a faithful Mediator between God and Man the Man Christ Jesus he brings nothing to the Sons of Men but what is the Mind and Will of God the Father for them to believe observe and do accordingly and as Baptism is equally confirmed to us with the rest of Gospel-Doctrine for to be believed and observed in its place so it doth greatly concern all persons exercising Faith in Christ to observe it so as to answer the Will of God and a good Conscience in the Administration and improvement of the same in order to its End and Uses and withal consider that if it doth become a Shell without a Kernel to any persons it is for want of Faith in the Subject upon whom it is administred to behold the Kernel and to feed thereon and indeed it is the Wisdom and good Pleasure of Almighty God to order the preaching of the Word unto all people for to beget Faith in them and those converted to the Faith unto a visible Demonstration of the same to be meet Subjects for Baptism and visible Church-membership by the same And whereas some persons do pretend they are baptized with the Spirit and therefore slight Baptism with Water as too low an Ordinance for them to observe in the administration of it and rather plead the cessation of it than the observation of it In answer whereunto consider that if any persons might have been exempted from Baptism upon that Plea of being baptized with the Spirit then doubtless Christ and also those persons spoken of Act. 10. might have been exempted inasmuch as they were extraordinarily inspired with the Spirit and Gifts thereof yet these must put on the Administration thereof as an act of Righteousness in submission to the Will of God Whence note that the highest Attainments of the Spirit and spiritual Gifts of Grace we can attain unto in this Life doth not exempt or free any person from but rather obligeth the more unto and maketh them the more meet for action in those Ordinances of Baptism and Bread and Wine in their several places ends and uses And indeed it is a question whether those persons pretending the abovesaid Plea for their Omission and Opposition of the afore-recited Ordinances are at all pertakers of that Spirit whereunto they do pretend forasmuch as it is the Office of the Spirit of Truth to lead Souls into the Observation of all Truth and not into the Omission or Opposition of the same In the next place consider that although I have proceeded so far upon this point of Baptism in order to the Vindication of it and Believers in the Observation of the same yet have I not digressed from the Matter of Direction to the