find my observation to be true and certain that when men to express matters of religion wrest the words and phrases in Scripture contrary to the sense thereof as explained by the holy Ghost the Author of the whole Divine writ in other Scriptures they slyly under them couch false doctrines and obtrude them on us for without question the doctrines of the Scripture can be so aptly explained by no Spirit no Scripture being of private interpretation as by the spirit of the Scripture it self so that it s not always safe to stick to the Letter of every Scripture but onely as explained by other Scriptures nor is it alwayes unsafe to express matters of religion in words and phrases unfound in Scripture as to the Letter of them provided they be sufficiently warranted and allowed as to the sense of them This Liberty therefore has the Church unblameably taken to speak of the things God in the exact sense of Scripture in their own words And he that blasphemes any such sentence which in sense is the very language of Scripture though the very words are not found in Scripture blasphemes the Scripture its self and so doth he who not ignorantly but maliciously opposes the expressions of Gods being infinite and incomprehensible of his being a simple act subsisting in 3 persons a Divine Circumcession an eternal generation eternal procession incarnation hypostatical union communication of properties original sin Christs taking our nature upon him of Christ making satisfaction to God for our sins both past and present and to come of Christs fulfilling the Law for us being punished by God for us Christs merits or his meritorious obedience both active and passive of Christs purchasing the Kingdome of heaven for us of Christs enduring the wrath of God of Christs rising from the dead by his own power of apprehending and applying Christs righteousness to our selves by faith of Christs being our surety paying our debts of our sins imputed to Christ of his righteousness imputed to us of Christs dying to appease the wrath of God and reconcile him to us of infused grace of free grace of the world of the elect of Irresistible workings of the Spirit in bringing men to believe of carnal reason of spiritual desertion of spiritual incomes the out-goings of God of submitting to or taking up the ordinances c. some of which are in the same terms expressed in Scripture all of them so owned by the Scripture as that the things are expresly and fully contained in them which all men know that are any thing acquainted in that sacred book but for the terms the mother of God Transubstantiation Consubstantation and the ubiquity of Christs body we will add them to Biddles holy spirit of Christians and confess them neither to be owned by Scripture name nor thing Therefore excellent was Pauls advice to Timothy to hold fast the form of sound words which if we once let go we shall be in danger of corruption by new coined words of some and the new coined doctrines of others which is many mens sad case as woful experience teacheth us for wicked and ungodly men in succeeding ages from the Apostles have coined not onely words but doctrines to Hence it is that Arrius began wickedly to blaspheme oppose the Divinity of the second person who is coessential with the father for he is God blessed for ever Amen this opened a gap for other hereticks after him as at present Biddle like so many undershrubs taking life from the droppings of his heresie under pretence of returning to Truth to propagate that accursed heresie The like of others which though it could not vitiate the chastity and simplicity of our faith delivered in the Scriptures every point thereof yet remaining sound and entire yet did there or yet doth remain not any one point thereof uncontradicted and opposed And those heresies of whatsoever kind thus propagated from hand to hand are so far from being like Theseus his old ship new mended as that t was hard to say whither t was the old ship or new as that they are rather like the bird which was alterius ornata coloribus so that though they may perchance vary their words and new dress their arguments yet are they the same and but the same which were at first propounded by this or that Master Heretick and as often answered so that this Master-Builder himself does here Jurare in verba Magistri onely with this difference this o that Heretick at this or that time hath tacked this or that error to our Religion but this would subvert the whole Religion which Christ and his Apostles taught and put this body of heresie in the room thereof in this outstripping them that what they do scatteringly against this or that part of Religion he Rallies and applies to the ruin of Religion it self but thanks be to God through our Lord Iesus Christ who amidst the present Inundation of heresies hath preserved his written word intire for had men corrupted it they would have made it speak more favorably in behalf of their lyes and heresies then it doth wh ch word if we with prayer humility pry into resolving sincerely to imbrace the doctrine therein plainly delivered though all the world should set themselves against the Truth our minds being enlightned we shall easily discern it and be kept therein through the power of God unto salvation And thus much we shall see by experience that a weak instrument of none much less of no great abilities hath sufficiently detected his wicked errors in the Body of heresie by naturall and pertinent Questions and answers exactly transcribed out of the Word of God it having been already of much vantage to me and may I question not through the spirit be so to all whosoever shall search the Scripture alledged and make inquiry into the Oracles of God These Oracles which all men that have by the Spirit of Truth which can onely lead into all Truth studied the same be enamored with as breathing out the wisdom and Truth of God and as being the exactest rule of a holy life which the true Religion acknowledges the way unto happiness whose Divinity notwithstanding hath been is and will be Questioned by many to the worlds end who are unwilling to deny their wordly lusts and obey the pure and perfect precepts thereof which truly Biddle himself would not stick to do might it advantage him in his design against Truth as well as the Divinity of that Spirit which made them Divine But he judges it the most Politick way to stand on the foundation to batter down the house which is a stratagem so perfectly devillish as that in this life and in that to come t will without repentance make him equal to the Prince of evil Angels CHAP. I. QVest The Word of God is quick and powerful and more sharp then a two-edged sword but is to so of it self or with the spirits operation Asw 2 Cor. 3.6 Who
hear and not understand c. In Acts its quoted well said the holy Ghost by Esaias the Prophet go unto this people and say by hearing ye shall hear and not understand Heb. 9.14 The etternal Spirit 1 Cor. 3.16 Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you 1 Cor. 6.19 Know you not that your body is the Temple of the holy Ghost which dwelleth in you therefore glorifie God in your body and in your Spirit for they are Gods 2 Cor. 6.16 And what Agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols for ye are the Temple of the living God Acts 5.3 4. Then said Peter Ananias why hath Satan filled thy heart that thou shouldest lye unto the holy Ghost Thou hast not lyed unto man but unto God Esay 40.9 Say unto the Cities of Judah behold your God ver 10. behold the Lord God will come with power ver 13. who hath instructed the Spirit of the Lord or was his Councellour ver 15. Behold the Nations are as a drop of a bucket and are counted as the dust of the ballance Behold he takes away the sles as a little dust vers 17. All Nations before him are as nothing less then nothing and vanity ver 18. To whom then will ye liken God Luke 1.3 And the Angel said the holy ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the most high shall overshadow thee the Spirit of God hath made me 1 John 1.5 7. Three bear Record in heaven and these three are one Mat. 28.19 Go teach all Nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost Gen. 1.2 And the Spirit of God moved upon the waters 1 Cor. 12.1 Now concerning gifts vers 4. There are diversities of gifts but the same Spirit vers 6. And there are diversities of operations but God is the same which worketh all in all ver 8 9. To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit to another faith by the same Spirit to another the gift of healing by the same Spirit vers 11. All these things worketh the self-same Spirit distributing to every one severally as he will Mat 12.28 31.32 I cast out Devils by the Spirit of God therefore I say unto you every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men but the blasphemy of the holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men and whosoever speaketh against the holy Ghost it shal not be forgiven him either in this world or the world to come Quest Are there not some workings of the Spirit in the hearts of men already regenerate that are extraordinary and miraculous such as in the Acts which is called receiving the holy Ghost the holy Ghost falling upon them c. in use for confirmation of the primitive Church some that are proper to such a state as the Spirit of Adoption Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son of Consolation so the Spirit is called the Comforter which Christ prays shall be sent of assurance and evidence after ye believed ye were fealed with the holy Spirit of promise if there be and that this is the meaning of such Scriptures do they then prove that Regeneration Conversion and the first beginnings of grace are in us without the working of the Spirit until after as our Catechist would insinuate or else do they prove only the further and gradual workings of the Spirit what say the Scriptures Answ 2 Cor. 3.8 The Gospel by which we are converted is called the Ministration of the Spirit Joh. 3.5 Except a man be born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God Mat. 3.12 I baptize you with water unto amendment of life but he that cometh after me will baptize you with the holy Ghost and with fire Ioel 2.28 I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh 2 Cor. 6.11 18. But ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are purified in the name of our Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God 1 Ioh. 3.24 No man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost Rom. 8.2 The Law of the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus hath freed me from the Law of sin and death CHAP. VI. QVest That Scripture Rom. 5.10 We shall be saved by his life is it so to be understood as Saints ought not to expect salvation by the death of Christ as Biddle insinuates What say other Scriptures to this thing Answ Rom. 8.3 God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh condemned sin in the flesh Heb. 2.9 14 15. that he by the grace of God should taste death for all men that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devil and deliver them who through fear of death were all their life-time subject to bondage 2 Cor. 5.14 If one dyed for all then were all dead and that he died for all that they that live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him which dyed for them and rose again 1 Tim. 2.6 who gave himself a ransom for all men Mat. 20.28 The Son of man came not to be ministred unto but to minister and give his life a ransom for many Mat. 26.28 For this is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins Heb. 9.28 Christ wat once offered to bear the sins of many Esay 53.11 By knowledge shall my righteous servant Justifie many for he shall bear their iniquities Eph. 5.25 Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it without blood there is no remission he dyed for us and gave himself for us Eph. 1.7 We have redemption through his blood Heb. 9.12 But by his own blood entred he once into the holy place and obtained redemption for us Heb. 13.13 Therefore even Jesus that he might sanctifie his own people by his own blood suffered without the gate 1 Pet. 1.18 19 Knowing ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold but with the precious blood of Christ 1 Iohn 1.7 And the blood of Iesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin Rev. 1.5 Who hath washed us from our sins in his own blood Rom. 4.25 Isa 53.5 He was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities 1 Cor. 15.3 Christ dyed for our sins according to the Scriptures he laid on him the iniquities of us all Quest But how is the other Question of Christ his being given raised and exalted by another to be a Saviour according to those Scriptures a name given exalted to be a Saviour raised unto Israel a Saviour to be understood Answ As are those Scriptures in the fourth Chapter of the humanity of Christ else the Scripture tels us 1 Tim. 2 6. He gave himself a ransom he gave himself for us CHAP. VIII QVest Whereas he
in my members warring against the Law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the Law of sin which is in my members Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death Quest In Truth this is an eminent experience in this eminent Apostle writ for our instruction but what more express Scriptures have you Answ Eccl. 7.20 For there is not a just man upon the earth that doth good and sinneth not 1 John 8.10 If we say we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us If we say we have not sinned we make him a lyar and the truth is not in us 2 Cor. 3.5 We are not sufficient to think any thing as of our selves Psal 14.3.2 Enter not into Judgement with thy servant for in thy sight shall no man living be justified Esay 64.6 We have all been as an unclean thing and all our righteousness is as filthy rags Quest Indeed this makes little for the possibility of keeping the Law of God but yet more are not these laws broken by us ere we come unto act and if so there is yet further impossibility Answ Mat. 5.28 I say unto you whosoever looketh after a woman to lust after her hath committed Adultery with her already in his heart Prov. 20.9 Who can say I have made my heart clean I am pure from my sin Quest Here is sin proved effectually to be in all even the best men omitting good committing evil yea and against their endeavours and desires and sin in thought but what is this sin which the best men do and cannot but do is it not the breaking transgressing or not keeping the Commandments of God Answ 1 John 3. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the Law for sin is the transgression of the Law Quest But suppose a man exactly observe and do all the Law some few points nay ore breach in his time onely excepted doth not that intitle him to the guilt of all so that he that keeps not all and every one keeps none of the Commandments Answ Iames 2.10 For whosoever shall keep the whole Law and yet offend in one point is guilty of all Quest If this be our possibility to keep the Commandements the Lord be merciful to me a sinner but yet the Scriptures speak of keeping the Commandements of God doing the will of God hearing and doing to which blessedness is annexed is there not therefore a new obedience required of and practised by the Saints according to the tenour of such Scripture which though it be not perfection yet is accounted to them as perfection and hath blessedness intailed to it That obebience centring on these two Bases Sincerity and Faith Answ Walk before me and be perfect c. upright seat Psal 1.1 2. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the Counsel of the ungodly nor standeth in the way of sinners nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful but his delight is in Law of the Lord. Gal. 3.21 22. If there had been a Law given which could have given life surely righteousness should have been by the Law but the Scripture hath concluded all under sin that the promise by the faith of Jesus Christ should be given to them which believe Quest But David said of himself he had keep the ways of the Lord did he mean perfectly How could that be since he is recorded a fit example alledged by Biddle both an Adulterer and a Murderer what can be then meant by his keeping but his sincerity is not that his righteousness cleaness of hands and his keeping the ways of God namely his not wickedly departing from God and his being upright before him quote the very words already by Biddle for which light we thank God not Biddle to the contrary end Psal 18.20 to 24. The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompenced me for I have kept the wayes of the Lord and have not wickedly departed from my God for all his judgements were before me and I did not put away his Statutes from me I was also upright before him and I kept my self from mine iniquity therefore hath the Lord recompenced me according to my righteousness according to the cleanness of my hands in his eysight Quest What saith Paul whom before we find could not keep the commandments yet in Gods sight was accounted perfect but how Answ Phil. 3.7 That I might be found in him not having mine own righteousness which is of the Law but that which is of the faith of Christ Quest That the Lord Jesus himself did respect and the Saints may the recompence of reward is not denyed by us which is warranted by those Scriptures that tell us by wel-doing we should seek for Honour Glory and Immortality we should look for the blessed hope But how is this to be looked on as due unto us ex debito vel ex congruo for our doing or for our suffering or rather to the grace of God which pleaseth so to reward us in short is the reward of merit or of grace Answ Luke 17.7 to the 10. but which of you having a servant plowing or feeding Cattle will say unto him by and by when he is come from the field go and sit down to meat and will not rather say unto him Make ready wherewith I may sup and gird thy self and serve me till I have eaten and drunken and afterward thou shalt eat and drink doth he thank that servant because he did those things that were commanded him I trow not so likewise you when you have done all those things commanded you say we are unprofitable servants we have done that which was our duty to do Ephes 2 8.9 By grace are ye saved through faith and that not of your selves it s the gift of God not of works least any man should boast Quest The Scripture tels us we are chosen to be holy and unblameable That Christ gave himself for the Church to present to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish 2. That the gifts of Christ were for the protecting of the Saints we are exhorted to be perfect prayed for that we may stand perfect and compleat in all the will of God and that our whole spirit soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and we have it recorded that Noah was a just man and perfect in his generation That Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth were both righteous before God walking in all the commandments of the Lord blameless if these and such like be intended of perfection compleat is it not in respect to the imputation of Christs Righteousness and perfection to us not of our own righteousness or perfection in us Answ I desire to be found in him not having my own Righteousness Phil. 3.9 Quest But rather is not the scope of those
Lord Iesus Christ God is faithful 1 Cor. 10 13. God is faitful and will not suffer you to be tempted above what ye are able but will give with the temptation that ye may be able to bear it 1 Thes 5.23 24. Now the very God of peace sanctifie you throughout and I pray God that your whole spirit soul and body may be kept blameless unto the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ faithful is he that calleth you who will also do it 2 Thes 3.3 The Lord is faithful which will stablish you and keep you from evil Phil. 1.6 And I am perswaof this thing that he that haeh begun this good work in you will perform it until the day of Iesus Christ 4 The Elect cannot fall 4. Mat. 24.24 For there shall arise false Christs and false Prophets and shall shew great signs and wonders so that if it were possible they should deceive the very Elect. Rom. 8.29,30 For those whom he knew before those also he predestinated moreover whom he predestinated them also he called and whom he called them also he justified and whom he justified them he also glorified Rom. 11.1 God hath not cast away his people whom he knew before vers 7. what then Israel hath not obtained that he sought but the election have obtained it and the rest have been hardned 5 Christ prays and is always heard 5. Luke 21.31 32. And the Lord said Simon Simon behold Satan hath desired to winnow thee as wheat but I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not John 17.15 20. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world but that thou keep them from evil I pray not for these alone but for them which shall believe in me through their word Rom. 8.34 Who shall condemn it is Christ which is dead yea rather which is risen again who is also at the right hand of God and maketh request for us who shall separate us from the love of Christ John 11.41 42. And Iesus lift up his eyes and said Father I thank thee because thou hast heard me I know that thou hearest me always 6 The Saints pray and shall obtaen 6. Mat. 6. 13. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil 1 John 5.14 And this is that assurance that we have in him that if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us 7 6 Saints are preserved in the faith 7. John 6.37.38 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I cast not away This is the Fathers will which hath sent me that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up again at the last day Chap. 10.27 28. My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me and I give unto them eternal life and they shall not perish neither shall any pluck them out of my hand John 17.12 Those that thou gavest me have I kept and nore of them is lost chap. 13.1 Forasmuch as he loved his own which were in the world unto the end he loved them 8. 2 Cor. 1.21 And it is God which establisheth us with you in Christ and hath annointed us who hath also sealed us and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts Ephes 1.13 14. In whom also ye have trusted after that ye heard the word of truth even the Gospel of your Salvation wherein also after that ye believed ye were sealed with the holy spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance Chap. 4.30 Grieve not the holy spirit of God by whom ye are sealed unto the day of Redemption Psal 9. Comparison of Believers in Scripture 1.3 For he shall be like a Tree planted by the Rivers of waters that will bring forth her fruit in her due season whose leaf shall not fade Mat. 7 24.25 I will liken him to a wise man which hath builded his house on a rock Luke 8.15 But that which fell on good ground are they which with an honest and good heart hear the word and keep it and bring forth fruit with patience 10. Rom. 6.2 8 10 Saints dead to sin 9 11. How shall we that are dead to sin live yet therein wherefore if we be dead with Christ we believe that we shall live also with him knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dyeth no more death hath no more dominon over him likewise think ye also that ye are dead to sin but are alive to to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 Iohn 3 9. Whosoever is born of God sinneth not for his seed remaineth in him neither can he sin because he is born of God Chap. 5,4 For all that is born of God overcometh this world Rom. 8.35.37 to the end Who shall separate us from the love of Christ in all these things we are more then Conquerours through him that loved us for I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. Quest Our Saviour tels his Disciples hitherto they had asked nothing in his name was it because they prayed God without a Mediator without the name of Christ nay sure but they had asked nothing that is nothing comparatively to what they might have asked and God would give was there at any time even before Christs Incarnation any acceptance with the Father without him was not Christ the Centre of all those types Surely yes the Scripture is full Let it suffice us here to hear one Scripture proving that Christ was to them before his coming in the flesh as to us since though more darkly one Scripture proving that they did then pray the Father through his name even before his incarnation One Scripture that there is but one Mediatour for all men whether them before or us since his manifestation in the flesh let us hear them faithfully recorded Answ 1 Cor. 10.4.3 Moreover Brethren I would not have you ignorant how that all our Fathers were under the cloud and all passed through the sea and did all eat the same spiritual meat and did all drink the same spiritual drink for they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them and that rock was Christ Dan. 9.17 Now therefore oh our God hear the prayer of thy servant and his supplications and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that lieth waste for the Lords sake 1 Tim. 2.5 For there is one God and one Mediatour between God and men the man Christ Jesus CHAP. XX XXI QVest It s of great comfor to the Church indeed that Christ her head hath the Keys of hell and death But hath not the Lord Jesus committed to the Church the power of these keys that the publike regular and due use thereof may according
to the institution of Christ and Apostolical direction be had to the proper ends thereof in each particular Church and congregation of Christ under the Gospel Answ Iohn 16.19 And I will give unto thee the Keys of the Kingdom of heaven and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shal be loosed in heaven Iohn 20.23 Then Iesus said unto them Peace be unto you as my Father sent me even so send I you and when he said this he breathed on them and saith to them Receive ye the holy ghost Whosesoever sins ye remit they are remitted unto them and whosesoever sins ye retain they are retained Mat. 18.15 16 17 18. If thy brother trespass against thee go and tell him his fault betwixt him and thee alone if he hear thee thou hast won thy brother but if he hear thee not take yet with thee one or two that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be confirmed and if he wil not vouchsafe to hear them tell it to the Church and if he refuse to hear the Church also let him be unto thee as an Heathen-man and a Publican verily I say unto you whatsoever ye bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever ye loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven 1 Cor. 1.4 5. I verily as absent in body but present in spirit have determined already as though I were present that he that hath done this thing when ye are gathered together and my spirit in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ that such one I say by the power of our Lord Iesus Christ be delivered unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the Spirit may be saved in the day of our Lord Iesus ver 13. With such a one eat not put away therefore from your selves that wicked person Quest Touching Baptism this is the end of this Chapter to destroy and overthrow the Ordinance and Institution of water-Baptism agreeing in this with such as of late have appeared to that and other such good ends for its a body of heresie we have to do with no wonder therefore if he takes every brother by the hand But how is this done first by bringing before us such Scriptures as tell us That John indeed baptized with water but he that came after him with the holy Ghost do those prove that water-baptism ceased with John or that Christ did that which John could not do namely wash us with his blood and Spirit doth not the Scripture therefore call Baptism the washing of the new birth and the forgiveness of sins Answ Tit. 3.5 According to his mercy he saved us by the washing of the new birth and renewing of the holy Ghost Acts 2.2.16 Arise and be baptised and wash away thy sins Quest No wonder indeed then that John could not baptize as did Jesus whose shoe latchet he was not worthy to unloose since it is not the outward baptism of water but the blood of Christ that cleanseth us from all sin since it is true also we are baptized into Christs death and it is not the putting away of the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience towards God that saves us these all proving baptism indeed to be a Sacrament and no more effectual then the Spirit makes it effectual which it hath made instrumental we confess it is not otherwise the thing signified but must affirm it to be the sign what testimony therefore have you for the use of that sign namely the use of water in Scripture Answ Mat. 18.19 Go and teach all Nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost Mark 16.16 He that shall believe and be baptized shall be saved Acts 2.38.4.1 Then Peter said Amend your lives and be baptized every one of you in the name of Iesus Christ then they that gladly received his word were baptized the same day were added to the Church 3000. souls Mat. 3.11 I baptize you with water to amendment of life Ioh. 1.31 33. Therefore am I come baptizing with water he that sent me to baptize with water Quest This indeed is our sufficient warrant from the significancy of the word baptizing and also from the express addition of water wherewith Iohn was sent expresly to baptize only the efficacy of that ordinance was then and is now acknowledged to be the work of Christ by his Spirit but if they should thus say This was indeed the baptism of Iohn but the Apostles did not baptize or if they did not so what testimony therefore have you that the Apostles did baptize and with the element of water according to the first institution of baptism and first give the example of Paul who though he make it a great work to which as an Apostle he was chiefly called to preach the Gospel and that he might clear himself of vain glory he rejoyceth he baptizeth not many yet he acknowledgeth that he baptized some 1 Cor. 13. to the 17. Were ye baptized into the name of Paul I thank God I baptised none of you but Crispus and Gaius lest any should say I had baptized into mine own name I baptized also the house of Stephanus furthermore I know not wither I baptized any other for Christ sent me not to baptize but to preach the Gospel Mat 8.36 to the end And as they went on the way they came unto a certain water and the Eunuch said See here is water what doth let me to be baptized and they went down into the water both Philip and the Eunuch and he baptized him and assoon as they were come up out of the water the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip. Quest There needs indeed no more au hority yet to put it out of all controversie have ye no president of some baptized with the element of water even after they had been baptized with the holy Ghost Answ Acts 10.44 to the end While Peter yet spake these words the holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word so they of the Circumcision which believed were astonished as many as came with Peter because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the holy Ghost for they heard them speak with tongues and magnifie God then answered Peter Can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized which have received the holy Ghost as well as we so he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Quest One word more and then we shall leave it to whomsoever reads to judge whither we or our Master of Arts will more need to fly from plain Scripture to consequence or comment have ye therefore no example that the Lord Jesus Christ himself who did himself baptize with the holy Ghost yet for the honour of his own Institution and to confirm us in the truth that he might fulfill all obedience submitted to this