Him and now he is come behold Him the Lamb of God He taketh away the Sins of the World but look not now at Me I am not that Light but am sent before a Witness and am come Baptizing that He might be made manifest and if He were manifest to Israel then were my Desire answered and the End of my Labour in water-Water-Baptism accomplished so that they might believe in him Iohn bare Record saying I saw the Spirit descending like a Dove and it abode upon him and I knew him not but he that sent me to Baptize with Water said unto me Vpon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining on him the same is he that baptizeth with the Holy Ghost and I saw and bear Record that this is the Son of God See how plainly Iohn preached Christ and his Baptism and all along put this Distinction I Baptize with Water He with the Holy Ghost and Fire I must Decrease He must Increase But they might have said Why John why must thou Decrease Why Iohn might have said Because my Baptism is but wâ—th Water that He might be made manifest but His Baptism is with the Holy Ghost and Fire a Baptism that exceeds mine as far as the Light of the Sun exceeds the Light of the Moon So its clear that Iohn was sent to Baptize with Water and Christ was sent to Baptize with the Holy Ghost and Fire And Christ fulfilled Iohn's and the Law and all the Righteousness required by them and then was himself alone established a Priest forever of an Unchangeable Unalterable Priesthood But further for I am desirous to clear my self of this Matter at this time from all Opinions concerning this thing I have already made it appear that Iohn himself was on my side and his Record is clear to prove That the Baptism of Christ Jesus is that of the Holy Ghost and that he himself was sent to Baptize with Water and he no where makes mention of any other that was sent to Baptize with Water but himself I say that was sent In the next place I shall bring the Testimony of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who also at all Times asscribeth Water-Baptism unto Iohn Acts 1. 5. And being assembled together with them commanded them That they should not depart from Jerusalem but wait for the Promise of the Father which saith he ye have heard of me for John Truly or might he not have said and is it not all to one sense had he said so John its True Baptized with Water But mind he doth not say Do you so too or I will baptize you with Water also No no John said he Truly baptized with Water but YE mind Ye YE shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many dayes hence This is the Baptism they were to wait for and to be by Christ baptized withal no Water at all injoyned to it by Christ Jesus though he owned it in its Time and fulfilled it as aforesaid But mark now was the Time of Promise at hand Not many dayes hence saith Christ ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost So also Peter in Acts 11. 16. saying Then remembred I the Word of the Lord how that he said John indeed baptized with Water but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost Still Water Baptism is asscribed to Iohn by himself and by Christ Jesus let us hear what the Apostles say concerning it In Acts 1. 22. Peter in his Declaration to the Disciples concerning Iudas and choosing another in his stead makes mention in the 22th Verse on this wise Beginning said he from the Baptism of John mark unto that same day that he was taken up from us must one be ordained to be Witness with us of his Resurrection Here it is still asscribed unto Iohn Again in Acts 13. 23 24 25. Paul speaking of the Promise God hath saith he according to his Promise raised unto Israel a Saviour Jesus when John had first mark first preached BEFORE HIS COMING mind before his coming the Baptism of Repentance to all thâ— People of Israel and as John fulfilled his Course Mind here Paul still asscribes it to Iohn Again in Acts 19. 1 2 3 4. And it came to pass that while Apollos was at Corinth Paul having passâ—d through the uppermost Coasts came to Ephesus and fiâ—ding certain Disciples there he said unto them Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed And they said unto him WE HAVE NOT SO MUCH AS HEARD WHETHER THERE BE ANY HOLY GHOST And he said unto thâ—m Vnto what then were ye Baptized They said Vnto JOHN's BAPTISM Mark Had Iohn's Baptism been in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost then how should they but have heard of a Holy Ghost So that here before I proceed any further I shall take notice of this place a little Water Baptism is still asscribed here to Iohn I indeed baptize with Water said John John indeed baptized with Water said Christ and say the Apostles John verily baptized with the Baptism of Repentance saying unto the People that they must believe on Him that was to come after him that is said he on Christ Iesus So I shall yet bring no more Proofs for this Point these being sufficient But before I leave this Place take notice That though they had been baptized unto Iohn's Baptifm yet they had not heard whether there was ANY Holy Ghost which doth clearly manifest that although it should be granted that Iohn's Baptism was still of Necessity which far be it from me to do yet how doth it thwart all our Water-Baptists of our Age who baptize with or into Water using the words Father Son and Holy Ghost which they cannot bring Precept or Example for For though the Apostles did by Permission baptize it was but in Condescension unto Iohn's Baptism for Commission they cannot bring from Christ no where nor that they did use the words now used by you saying I Baptize thee in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost So that your Practice all of you Water-Baptists is contrary to the Holy Scripture for in this place Paul baptized those in the Name of the Lord Jesus And Peter in Acts 10. commanded to be Baptized Repent and be Baptized in the Name of the Lord Iesus But no where can they find that either Iohn or any of the Apostles used to say I baptize thee in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost so that your Practice in this is grounded of a sandy Foundation and will undoubtedly fall Prop as hard as you can and take ye altogether ye Water-Baptists of all sorts and work never so hard with both Hands your Babel-Buildings will all fall and great will be the Fall thereof and all your Props and all your cunning Work will be broken to pieces and you shall never be able to raise your Buildings again but the chiefest of your Workmen shall be ashamed of their own Doings and you
shall gather Paleness in that Day Oh therefore be intreated in tender Love I beseech you to Return Return out of Babylon unto the Gift of God the True Light that makes ye all manifest and in which ye are all seen and comprehended I say in the Name of the Lord my God and in much Love to your Souls be intreated to return unto it its near you to instruct you and to make all things manifest to you if you will come unto it Oh turn your Minds How oft have you been reproved by it and you never found Guile in his Mouth though he hath told you all that ever you have done yet you regard him not but prefer fading finite and unprofitable Things above him Oh! haste haste out of Babylon tarry not the Day of Vengeance is near and then will you come to know the True Baptism is not into Water but into the Name of the Father Son and Spirit and that Christ in the 28th of Matthew 18 19. when he sent his Apostles out to teach all Nations and that the Baptism there spoken of commanded by Christ was not into Water but into the Name of the Father Son and Spirit neither is there any such a word as Water mention'd in his words there spoken to them but into the Name of the Father Son Hoâ—y Ghost he bad them baptize But some may say It must needs be Water there intendâ—d because that none can baptize with the Holy Ghost but Christ. I Answer True None can but He and by his Power only therefore he tells them in the first place that All Power is given unto me saith he both in Heaven and in Earth and they now must not go in their own Strength or Power but in his Power and it was his Power in them and by them that did the Work he sent them to do and so he saith unto them Without me ye can do nothing but lo I am with you alwayes even to the End of the World and all Power is mine And now you Water-Baptists let me ask Now where is Iohn's Power Iohn hath now no Power nor Moses hath now no Power in a way of Administration if all be given to him and be his as I am satisfied it is And here its plain he only is here established Now it must not be admitted for any other to have a Tabernacle standing or builded with his No Though Peter would have had Three one for Moses one for Elias and one for Christ That Elias was already come mind and they have done to him whatever they would And is it not plain to you that this was Iohn the Baptist here spoken of and intended And yet mind neither Moses nor Elias must have a Tabernacle built with his but a Cloud came and took them away mark and Christ only left and a Voice from Heaven came saying This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear him Oh! what would you have How clearly is it manifest unto all who walk not in Darkness that he only is by himself established to be heard in all things And saith the Apostle He that refuseth to hear this Prophet shall be cut off from off the Earth And again See ye refuse not him that speaketh for if they escaped not that refused him that spoak on Earth even Moses how shall ye escape if ye refuse him that speaks from Heaven whose Voâ—ce then shook the Earth but now says he Yet once more will I not shake the Earth only but also Heaven mark that those things that cannot be shaken may remain Mind what must remain and how he alone even Christ is above all established And it s said again by Paul God saith he who at sundry Times and in divers Manners spakâ— in days past to the People by the Prophits hath in these last dayes spoken unto us BY HIS SON mark not by his SON and JOHN but by his SON whom He hath appointed Heir of all things mind So All Power is given unto me saith Christ Go ye therefore teach all Nations Baptizing them into the Name of the Father Son and Spirit or if you had rather have it Holy Ghost teaching them to observe whatever I command you and lo I am with you always even to the End of the World but tarry at Jerusalem till ye have received Power from an high for without me ye can do nothing So 't is not saith Peter by our Strength or Righteousness that this man is made whole Why stand ye gazing upon us as though by our Power Holiness it was done Be it known unto you that by the Name of JESUS whom ye crucified even by Faith in his Name is this Man made whole And said Paul I have laboured more abundantly then ye all yet not I but the Gift or the Grace of God that 's in me And so it was in his Strength that they were more then Conquerors and could do all things through Christ that strengthned them but before they could not before I say that they went in his Strength So there was need for them to wait at â—erusalem till they had received of his Fulness of which they all received Grace to help in Time of Need. But now mark They had not Need to have stay'd at Ierusalem for Power to have Baptized with Water for they had been doing that before and were Able enough for that Baptism but now they were to enâ—er upon a Greater Work and it is not they must do it but the Gift of God in and by them or the Power they received so saith Christ Lo I am with you and as many as received him to them he gave Power for all Power is given to me saith Christ ALL mark So though the Apostles as Men could not baptize into the Name of the Father Son and Spirit no more then we as men can do yet mark Christ in and by them can or us either and in and by them did and when the Apostles laid their Hands on them that believed the Holy Ghost fell upon them and sometimes when they were preaching unto them the Holy Ghost fell upon them yet it was not them that could so much as preach as they ought but Christ in and by them God speaks by his Son through his Vessels of Honour fitted for his Use so it s not them but Christ who also Raised the Dead Opened the Eyes of Blind Healed the Sick Cleansed the Lepers and many great and good Works did they yet not they but the Gift of God in them and by them and so they went in the Demonstration of the Spirit and of Power and preached Christ the Wisdom of God and the Power of God the Savour of Life unto Life IN THEM mark in them that are saved and the Savour of Death unto Death in them that perish But they never cryed out Water-Baptism is the Door for Christ Jesus said I am the Door by ME mark not Me and Water nor Me
and Iohn but BY ME if any man enter in he shall be saved Oh he is of himself sufficient and shall go in and cut and find Pasture The Apostles never called it as you do An Initiating Ordinance and say you A Command of Christ But who say so beside you Where do you prove it Prove Friends whoever you are I challenge all the whole VVorld to prove that Christ ever mentioned such a thing to any of his Ministers as by way of Command as Water-Baptism but said as above said Ye said he shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost and Go teach all Nations baptizing them into the Name of the Father Son holy Ghost say not We cannot be not dismay'd for Lo I am with you and all Power is given unto me both in Heaven and in Earth therefore without me ye can do nothing but abide in me and then ye shall bear Fruit in me ye shall have Peace But though it were so that he had meant as you Baptists say he did Water Baptism and that that Commission belongs to you say you the World is â—ot yet ended therefore say you it is still to be observed suppose this were granted you then I ask you How missed Paul of it that he had no Share in this Commission for Paul saith in 1 Cor. 1. 13. That Christ sent me not saith he to Baptize but to Preach the Gospel mark How comes it to pass that you are greater Sharers in this Commission then Paul And how must we do to know it For if it did not reach Paul who was Converted and one not behind the Apostles how can it reach you And though you may say All are not sent to Baptize Then I ask you How must we do to know who are and who are not But say you Paul meant NOT ONLY Oh Friends have you this Hole to creep out at its a little One too little to get out at 'T is your Meaning but we must not take your Meanings when the Lord lets us see he means otherwise for Paul said not so nor dare any true Christian say that Paul meant so but said what he meant and meant what he said Well but say you Baptists He did Baptize It s true he did some Few but he thanks God they were so few But it seems though he did he did not do it by Commission For Christ sent me not to Baptize saith he but to Preach How then why by Permission as he also Circumcised Timothy by Permission because of the Iews but not because Christ had commanded it for he had not Paul himself said If ye speaking to the Galatians If ye be Circumcised Christ shall profit you nothing yet took that Liberty for a particular End because of the Iews to do that particular Act. He also observed the Law and went under Seven Dayes Purification and had an Offering bought according to the Law but not because it was commanded by Christ for Christ had not commanded it but because of the Iews Yea and had had he not another time his Head shorn and was under a Vow Much might be said that was done by the Apostles that was not commanded by Christ nor that they left No Command to after Ages to observe But it s also clear in Acts 26. 15 16 17 18. that Paul had no such word in his Commission as to baptize into Water For I said the Lord have appeared unto thee for this End or Purpose to make thee a Minister and a Witness both of these things which thou hast seen and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee delivering thee from the People and from the Gentiles unto whom now I send thee mark What to do Not to baptize into Water he mentions no such thing no but to open their Eyes and to turn them from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan unto God that they may receive Forgiveness of Sins and an Inheritance amongst them that are sanctified by Faith that is in Me. This was Paul's Commission if we may so call it as he himself tells the King Agrippa but here is not one word of Water Baptism or not only to Baptize as you Baptists say But if you have no better Weapons then these theâ—e are too short to save your Heads But to proceed You still say The Apostles did Baptize Peter said in the second of the Acts REPENT and be BAPTIZED every one of you in the NAME mark of Iâ—sus Christ for the Remission of Sins and yâ— shall receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost this Baptism being for the Remission of Sins upon Repentance was necessary to Salvation but so is not yours for the PROMISE mark is unto you But the Promiâ—e was Not water-WATER-BAPTISM but ye shall be Baptized with the Holy Ghost said the Lord Jesus by way of Promise And this is that which was spoken by the Prophet Ioel 2. 28. And it shall come to pass in the last dayes saith God I will pour out of my Spirâ—t upon all Flâ—sh mark Was not this the Promise of God to them and their Children and to all that are afar off and so on And in Vers. 21. Then they that gladly received the Word were Baptized and THE SAME DAY were added unto them Three Thousand Souls mark ye the same day It was a Great Number to be baptized into Water as you do all of one day if it was so but it is not here so said nor no mention made of Water in this Chapter so that this place will not carry your Matter you would lay on it for all these its said continued stedfastly in the Apostles Doctrine and their Doctrine I hope you will own was for Christ If any preach any other Doctrine then what is already preached or lay any other Foundation then which is already laid let him be accursed We preach Christ saith Paul to the Jews a stumbling-block to the Greeks Foolishness but unto them that belive Christ the Wisdom of God and the Power of God It was Christ they preached But say you Philip baptized the Eunuch and the Iaylor was baptized and Cornelius and those with him Peter commanded to be baptized in the Name of the Lord and say you Baptists when was that Command repealed I Answer Though it was a Command yet it was but Peter's Command and Peter had not all reveal'd to him at first but was ignorant of things that were afterwards revealed and so were the rest of the Apostles witness Peter's Vision and the Apostles blaming Peter for going to the Gentiles because they yet saw not into that fore-told Mystery nor many before them saw it not but it was revealed in the Lord's Time to them how that the Gentiles should be Fellow-Heirs and Partakers of the same Glory But you cannot prove that Peter's Command was obeyed He commanded them it is true to be baptized and if they were his Command was fulfilled but who commanded you or sent you Shew us your
Commission For Peter did not any where that I can find command That Water-Baptism should be observed to the World's End No no it was the Baptism of Christ Jesus with the Holy Ghost and Fire that was and is and will be to the End established and commanded in Mat. 28. by Christ And though the Apostles did make use of Iohn's Baptism yet they laid no stress upon us that were to come after them to use it neither was it commanded by Christ for them to use But come May not I say that they saw not to the End of Iohn's Baptism though Iohn had plainly said I must Decrease no more then they saw the Coming of the Gentiles till it was shewed by a Vision and that though Christ had said That the True Worship was in Spirit and in Truth yet that they saw not through the Outward Worship and have I not more Ground for it then you have for Paul's NOT ONLY but if you were in the Light you would see that the Apostles did see but in part and no further then it was revealed unto them no more then we do now But though we should say that they did see unto the End of Iohn's Baptism and unto the End of all Visible things as I know they did in Time as I shall prove hereafter yet although they might yet they that were daily added might have stumbled had they denyed them that of Iohn's Baptism except they also had seen into the Mind of God with them in this Matter for they were but Enterers in as little Children and not grown up to man's State at first but went from Strength to Strength in the Spirit of the Lord and so the Apostles could take Liberty for the furtherance of the Gospel to command Iohn's Dispensation bâ—t were above it themselves out from under its Command in the Power of Christ who was greater then Iohn and had all Power now himself and so it could not command Them but they It And so Philip said unto the Eunuch If thou believest with all thy Heart THOV MAYEST not thou must No but if thou believest thou Mayest he would not deny it him though I believe Philip knew that it was the Spirit 's Baptism that must sanctifie and that Water could not reach the Soul of any nor any way saâ—isfie the Spiritual Part of Mankind And yet took that Liberty in the Spirit because of the Weakness of their yet Childish Capacities to submit to their Weakness in many things that belonged unto the Law as well as in this of Iohn's And is it not also clear That the Apostles would not yet seem to lay the Building if I may so call it of John waste until they had laid and builded on a More Sure Foundation nor wholely preach his Baptism useless nor the Law neither until such time as the Gospel had got some hold of the People and then they testified of One Lord One Faith ONE BAPTISM and that by one Spirit they were all baptived into One Body and had been all made to drink into One Spirit and that they were made able Ministers of the New Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit and came not with words Man's Wisdom teacheth but with the Words the Holy Ghost teacheth with which they were now baptized comparing Spiritual Things with Spitritual not with carnal or external or elemental Things with Spiritual as you do No no but Spiritual with Spiritual Now they saw by the Revelation of the Spirit into the Mysteries of God's Kingdom and therefore in Heb. 6. 1. the Apostle comes in with these words LEAVING saith he mark Leaving the Principles of the Doctrine of Christ let us go on unto Perfection Come Friends deal plainly for your own Souls Good and God's Glory and tarry not short of him that makes Perfect and cleanseth from all Iniquity and be perswaded to come and wait for the True Baptism of Christ which is with the Holy Ghost and Fire that ye may be sanctified and refined and made every whit whole for it is in much Love to your Souls that these Lines are written by One that desires your Salvation even as his own and truly breathes for the Prosperity of Zion and the Establishment of Truth and Righteousness But now some may Object and say That the Apostles could not have left them if they had not been in Them or in the Vse of Them I Answer True they had so and had also been in the Use of those things the Law had required but mark All these could not make Perfect The Law made nothing Perfect said the Apostle as pertaining to the Conscience And the Baptism of John say you was but a Type Now if the Type could make perfect then there would have heen no need of the Substance for if Perfection had been by the Levitical Priesthood then verily Righteousness would have been by the Law and now say I If John 's Baptism could have taken or have wash'd away Sin then verily Righteousness would have been by John I mean that men would have been then by it made perfectly and truly Righteous but Iohn himself preached no such thing by himself but said I am not He but behold him the Lamb of God that takes away the Sins of the World This is he of whom I spakâ— one Mightier then I cometh he must Increase of the Increase of his Government and Kingdom there shall be no End And therefore saith the Apostle LEAVING which word therefore seems to entail the fore going words in the Chapter before where he had bin telling them of their Childishness he mentions the Doctrine of Baptisms which cannot prove the Imposing of Water-Baptism any more then all the rest and was now for bringing them on to a further State where they might know Perfection and have Meat that would satisfie True Bread that comes down from Heaven and impowers to be Sons of God And it seems clear to me that there was some Need for those things they had so long lain like Children weak and like Babes in to be left Therefore LEAVING these let us go on to Perfection and saith further This will we do if Godpermit But if they had been commanded by Christ to have been used to the World's End then why should Paul for so I call that Author have been so earnest at that Day which was soon after Christ's Ascension to have had them then to leave them and to go on to a more Manful Powerful Perfect State So that it is very clear to all whose Eyes the Lord hath opened that though the Apostles had by Reason of their Weakness submitted to their Childish Capacities rather then they would lose their hold they had got of them yet this or these things were not the Thing they were driving at But the Aim and End of all they did both in Circumcision Passover Vows and Seven Dayes Purification and Water-Baptism yea and all those things they did concerning Meats and other
things that they did by Permission and not by Commission from Christ I say their Intents in all tâ—ese were never to establish them with Christ Jesus to abide as long as the World lasted nâ— But after they had held them in hand in order to get them on they took all Occasions they could to bring them on further further till they all come in the Unity of the Faith unto a perfect Man in Christ Jesus unto the Measure of the Stature of Christ Jesus and so these became Useless and all gave place to him who is alone by himself established a Priest forever of an Unchangeable Priesthood Glory is wholy due unto him And so now they came to speak of One Baptism One Faith and One Lord as a foresaid and that by One Spirit they were all baptized into One Body mark they were ALL he saith ALL Baptized by One Spirit into One Body and had all been made to drink into One Spirit but none can prove that All were baptized into Water for Paul was instrumental in the Lord's Hand for the concinoing and converting of many But he saith He baptized none but Crispus and Cajus and the Houshold of Stephanus beside saith he I know not whether I baptized any other but many were convinced by him doubtless very many yea Multitudes yet no man can prove that all that were convinced and converted by the Gift of God in Paul were also All baptized into Water yet saith he Ye are All baptized by One Spirit and have been ALL made to drink into One Spirit and there is One Lord One Faith One Baptism Well but say you Baptists He doth not say There is but One Baptism No nor he doth not say There is but One Lord must we therefore say There are more Lords then One God forbid for to us there is but One Lord And he doth not say There is but One Faith must we therefore say There are more Faiths then One So he also saith There is One Baptism and so say we too and that One was promised and accomplished and commanded for we believe as Christ said The Works that I do mark ye the Works that I do shall ye do and greater Works then these shall ye do But it s plainly said That Christ baptized not I say not with Water but with the Holy Ghost And do you think that he used One Baptism to them and commanded them to use Another to them that believed in him do you think that he baptized them with the Holy Ghost and then sent them out to baptize with Water I know whatever you believe you have said no less but you can never prove it For the Works that I do shall ye do but Christ baptized not into Water nor never said that they should that you or any other can prove for Peter in the 11th of Acts declares what the Lord said when the Disciples were talking with him about his going in to the Gentiles Then said he remembred I the Word of the Lord how that the Lord said mark ye Christ's words the Lord said John indeed baptized with Water but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost But he no where mentions Water by way of Commanding them to use it in Baptism but said Ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost and Go ye teach all Nations baptizing them into the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost and Lo I am with you But further I remember you Baptists have said That your Baptism into Water doth signifie Death Burial and Resurrection By which words you acknowledge it is but a Type And you further say That no man ought to be buried before he be dead Now I conclude that the Dead you mean are such as are Dead to Sin and if so how can ye that are dead to Sin live any longer therein Know ye not saith Paul in Rom. 6. 2 10 7. that so many of us as were baptized INTO mark into Iesus Christ were baptized into his Death therefore we are buried with him by Baptism into Death that like as Christ was raised up from the Dead by the Glory of the Father even so we also should walk in Newness of Life And in the 7th Verse For he that is dead is freed from Sin Well now let me ask you are you thus dead buried and risen with him by your Water Baptism Or can any Man conclude that Paul here speaks of Water-Baptism Is it not plainly said into Christ not into Water but into Christ into Death And in Gal. 3. 27. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ and they that are in Christ are new Creatures behold all ye Water-baptizers all Old things pass away and all things become new a new Heaven and a new Earth in which dwells Righteousness And we say that the Sons of God inhabit in the New and Living Way that which is pure and changeth not but endures forever and in Righteousness are they established and act not by the Power of a Carnal Commandment but in the Power of an Endless Life not in Imitation of the Letter but in the Demonstration of the Spirit For although it should be so as ye would have it That Christ had commanded the Apostles to baptize into Water as he never did nor can it be ever proved yet if it had been so what is that to you Who commanded you Shew us your Commission Where did you receive your Power and Authority in this Matter that you both preach and baptize Whereas Paul saith He was not sent to Baptize but to preach And we say and know what we say to be true That we are not sent to Baptize into Water but to Preach the Gospel and our Authority came not by Man of Man nor from Man but by the Grace of God we are what we are and his Grace is sufficient for us and ever hath been since we were a People and so will be to the End And we further say we own that Iohn was sent to baptize with Water and we own him in his Day but where did Iohn baptize using those words Father Son and Holy Ghost for they that had been baptized unto Iohn's Baptism had not so much as heard of a Holy Ghost so that this Baptism ye practise cannot be Iohn's nor Christ's it cannot be for he never had Water asscribed to him But Iohn who was a true Minister in his time of water-Water-baptism said HE meaning Christ shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost Fire So then if not Iohn's as its clear it is not for Iohn's was a Type of the True Baptism of the Spirit and when the Types Figures Vails and Shadows were ended and HE the End and Beginning First and Last was arisen and had rent the Vail from the Top to the Bottom I say when his Sun of Righteousness did arise the Shadows fled away and gave him place over his own House to rule whose Right it
was then was the True Baptism known then came the Holy Ghost upon them then did the True Light shine and the Darkness fled way then were they inwardly washed and their Understandings opened then was the Circumcision of the Heart known then was he entred into that within the Vail into the true Tabernacle which God pitched and not Man And so Iohn went before as a Type but willingly gave place to the Substance So that its clear the Baptism you use is not Iohn's and it it much more clear that it is not Christ's Baptism and so it must needs be your own done by you in Imitation of the Holy Men of God gone before who did what they did in Obedience to the Lord and in his Power and were sent by him but oh who ever sent you Baptists in this great and notable Day of the Lord It will one day be said Who hath required these things at your Hands Either shew us your Commission or else acknowledge your great Error Repent and come unto the true Light and walk in it prize it and obey it that ye may be saved by it For it is not a fair Outside of the Cup or Platter but the inward Washing of Regeneration by the Spirit and a living in the Spirit and the whole Worship of God say we and say the Scriptures the same That the True Worship of God is in Spirit and in Truth but that your water-Water-Baptism is Spiritual I deny or that it ought to be observed in the Worship of God you cannot prove but Iohn's was ordained to be used as a Type before the Spirit 's Worship or the true Worship in the Spirit was fully established and of it self a thing that I believe none of you dare say doth in any measure sanctifie and wash the Soul And if it be of so little Effect unto the Soul why what Necessity is there for the Continuance of it to the World's End since also ye cannot prove it so commanded for once more let me tell you that the Baptism commanded in the 28th of Matthew was INTO the Name of the Father Son Spirit or Holy Ghost but I say this was not Iohn's for they that had been baptiz'd unto Iohn's Baptism had not so much as heard of a Holy Ghost Acts 19. 1 2 3 4. which they must needs have done if they had been baptized with the use of these words In the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost But further you acknowledge your selves that it is but a Type well I ask you then What doth it type forth unto us or what is it a Type of If it be a Type of the Baptism of Christ then I ask you What further need is there of it when the Thing signified by it is come Or do you think that the Type and Substance must remain together to the World's End Was it not always from the Foundation of the Law that when the Substance came that the Shadows fled away But although you should still say Why then did the Apostles use it after the Spirit 's Baptism was accomplisht I answer as before The Apostles had Power over it after they saw beyond it and could submit unto the Weakness of Believers Capacities in many things as above is mentioned but that they saw not beyond it till it was reveal'd unto them is clear but then they spoak of the one Baptism of the one Lord of the one Faith And so Iohn himself when he saw Jesus walking he said unto his Followers Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the Sins of the World and John 's Disciples LEET John mark they Left John and walked no more with him For Iohn's Baptism could not wash them from their Sins but behold the Lamb of God takes away Sin puts an End to Sins finishes Transgression brings in everlasting Righteousness he makes every whit whole and fully saves to the utmost them that come to God by him and makes clean them he washeth And if I Wash thee not saith he thou hast no Part in Me He satisfies for he is the Bridegroom himself but Iohn was not he its true was the Bridegroom's Friend and would not rob him of his Prerogative or Honour but rejoyced to hear his Voice and when it was heard said This my Ioy therefore is fulfilled So we own Iohn in his place and Time but we own the Bridegroom above Iohn although Iohn was his Friend did what he was commanded but thought not much to give him place who had commanded him And so my dearly beloved Friends it is in much Love to all but chiefly to you called Anabaptists that this is written as I can truly testifie in the Manifestation of that true Light spoaken of in the Scriptures of Truth unto which I once more beseech you to turn your Minds and believe in it and come to walk in it and obey it and then will you have Fellowship with us and truly our Fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Christ Jesus by whom we have also received the Attonement and in whom we live out of whom we cannot live for He is our Life To him be Glory forever Written the 7th of the 1st Moneth 1674. Iohn Gratton GReat hath been the Travail of my Soul for the Prosperity of Sion and for her Establishment above the Top of all the Mountains and blessed be the Lord my God my Eyes behold her and see her Beauty to exceed all the Glory of the Earth and her coming out of her Wilderness State is come I say the Time is come and many have lyed or lain in the Way side to have drawn her aside and would gladly have allured and inticed her from her Beloved gladly would have had her turned aside unto other Lovers and have cryed out unto her What is thy Beloved unto anothers Beloved and have spoken against her and when they could not prevail with her have evil-entreated her and per secuted her for her Beloved's sake and many have been her Troubles but the Lord hath delivered her out of all And great is her Ioy at this Day and her Glory exceeds all the Glory of the Nations Her Beauty is Perfect she is a Virgin and never was defiled but is all Glorious The King's Daughter is all Glorious within her Garments are of wrought Gold wholely pure she has no Blemish she is all fair without Spot the only beloved of the Lord Glory to his Name He hath remembred her in Love and her Sorrows has he seen and will plead her Cause and subdue Kingdoms for her sake and make her Way plain before her Oh! come unto Sion all ye that desire her Prosperity and be not so foolish as to sit down short of her her City is free her Gates are open hy Day by Night she has no need of the Sun by Day nor of the Moon by Night but the Lord God the Lamb are the Light thereof Her Light will never grow dark her Sun will never set Night shall be no more upon her for her Sun is arisen and as one to run a Race is marching on his Strength is as a Lyon his Voice is heard to Roar and great Fear is fallen and a falling upon the Beast of Prey Oh! who would not live in her Her Gates are paved with precious Pearles her Inhabitants are all Kings and Priests unto God she is altogether Comely and her Glory shall never have an End Amen Oh! who who would not dwell here Come come unto Sion all ye that are sincere to what ye know Turn ye turn at her Call and embrace her Counsel Why will ye bestow your Money for that which is not Bread and your Labour for that which satisfieth not Oh! come unto me saith the Lord my Voice is near you How often have I called and ye regarded not nor have not answered my Requirements but are imitating them whose Life and Power you are out of But now turn ye unto the Lord with all your Hearts believe in his Light and Life will you know that never can have End but if you still Refuse you will one day know that you were Warned and Invited by one that truly seeks not himself but earnestly travails for the Welfare of all men and is become Servant to all for Iesus's sake To Him be all Honour Praise and Dominion forever and for evermore J. G. THE END
John Baptist's DECREASING AND CHRIST's Increasing WITNESSED Being a Treatise concerning Baptism in the Type AND Baptism in the Mystery By John Gratton Well-Wisher of the Anabaptists c. Printed in the Year 1674. TO THE Friendly Unprejudic'd READER Friend IT is no Desire in me that because so many have appear'd in Print that therefore I would be one also that should be accounted Eminent But having been one of the greatest Sinners upon Earth and therefore have through infinite Love and free Grace much forgiven me my Love is so much to him that is Lord of all that I am not a little grieved to see his Pure and Precious Truth so strongly on all hands incountered with and fought against its Comfortable and Glorious Appearance in the Lord 's poor despised People called by the scornful World Quakers And seeing that this of Water-Baptism hath been and is a Thing they that are not only Adversaries to Truth but to their own Souls have so publickly made use of to fight us with I having both been an Eye Ear-Witness of the same have been not a little exercised in Mind about this Matter but have seriously considered and tryed all their Arguments that I have been acquainted with for this thing and I find them so far contrary to Truth and the Mind of Truth that a Necessity fell upon me to write what it pleased the Pure Eternal God to communicate unto me by his Spirit so that what is according to Truth sound Iudgment thou wilt here find written as to the Tenor and Substance of the Matter from the Spirit of God in me and so is not mine but his to him be the Glory wholely given forever But if there be any circumstantial Defect for want of Heed or Exactness which may either fall upon me or upon the Printer charge it in its right Place and lay it not upon the Spirit of God Having given thee this Caution I desire thee to observe in the next place my End in the publishing this little Treatise which is First To clear Truth of Scandals in this Point laid to our Charge 2dly To strengthen the Owners and Lovers of it 3dly To acquaint or inform them that are mistaken about it And lastly That I might so aswer that Love so greatly bestowed upon me as to be clear of all Men and stand single unto God whose Servant I am through Mercy and might bring Glory Honour and Praise unto his Holy Name forever So now before I leave thee I shall only acquaint thee of the great Differences amongst men about this thing and then take leave The Presbyterian saith Water-Baptism belongs to Children of Believing Parents and therefore they examine the Parents of their Faith Now if the Parent be an Vnbeliever then his Child is not to be accepted to this Ordinance as they call it From which I shall only now observt this That if this be so then is the Child a Sufferer for the Sin of the Father's Vnbelief which God hath said shall never be The Child shall not suffer for the Sin of the Father nor the Father for the Sin of the Child but the Soul that sins it shall Dye 2dly The Episcopal saith The Child is by this regenerated and born again sanctified and changed and made a new Creature and therefore if a Child be in Danger of Death great Haste is made to get it sprinkled And if this be true What further need of a Saviour 3dly The Baptists say Believers only have Right to Water Baptism I grant Believers are only they that are Truly Baptized but that they are injoyn'd or commanded to observe this Water Baptism they now so differently observe I find not But I hope if thou readest what follows with a single Eye thou mayst come to see all these Dippers and Sprinklers and their Shortness in this and gain some Acquaintance with the Lord's Mind as thou waitest in his pure Light which makes all things manifest to which I beseech thee to turn thy Mind and believe in it that thou mayst be a Child of Light and then thy Fellowship will be with us who are Children of it and so we may Praise the Lord together who is Light to whom be all the Honour and Glory forever and ever Written by one of the Least of all yet one of the Lord 's Chosen Ones unknown to many yet known by the Name of Iohn Gratton Monyash the 4th of the 3d Moneth 1674. A TREATISE Concerning BAPTISM THey that are baptized into Christ have put on Christ live in him and are One Spirit with or in him are all united by One Spirit into One Body and are Members of his Body of his Flesh and of his Bones and of his Fulness receive Grace for Grace and know One Lord One Faith One Baptism and are One in him and he in them and so are come into the Alpha and Omega the Beginning and the End the First and the Last He whose Name is called The Word of God by which all things were made in Heaven and in Earth to him be Glory forever Now the Baptism of the Spirit is One in all and all that are baptized by the One Spirit are baptized into One Body and are all made to drink into One Spirit and these have no Confidence in the Flesh but are they that worship God in the Spirit and are truly led and guided by the Spirit hear and know his Voice and are acquainted with his Operations Life Power and Vertue and can do nothing acceptable to God but what they do in it and so it rather may be said as in Truth it is That it is the Gift or Grace of God in them and by them that works both to Will and to Do of his own Good Pleasure Now all other Baptisms whatsoever that are not in the Spirit are of no Profit for the Substance of all is come I say of all those Shadows Figures and Types which had their Day and in their Day were appointed to be used according to the Appointment of the Father but were but for an appointed Time until the Seed came to whom the Promise was made who is the Heir in whom all Fulness dwells mark that that in all things he might have the Preheminence for he alone of himself is sufficient and able to save to the uttermost them that come to God by him him only without the Help of any outward Washings outward Offerings Oblations or whatever may be named or hath been named either of things in Heaven or in the Earth they are all to give place for him only hath God highly exalted and given him a Name above every Name that at his Name every thing though it hath been never so highly exalted should bow and that in all things he only who is Heir of all should rule as a Son over his own House for all these were but as Servants and were not to abide forever I say All those Types and Shadows and