Word and no Man under the New Testament receives the Spirit through the Baptism of Water but through the Ministry of the New Testament which is the only Ministration of the Spirit To conclude this Baptism of the Spirit that is performed only by the Word is that Baptism of which so many excellent things are spoken in the New Testament As 1. This Baptism of the Spirit gives a new Nature and this Nature is a Divine Nature or the Nature of God and hence it is said Exept a Man be born of Water and the Spirit So that the Baptism of the Spirit gives a new Birth and so a new Nature And again That which is born of the Spirit is Spirit so that the Baptism of the Spirit makes us Spirit and through the Baptism of the Spirit we become that which the Spirit it self is And so the true Foundation of Christianity begins from Faith and the new Creature and not from Water-washing 2. This Baptism gives a new Name not Iohn or Thomas c. but as Christ saith Rev. 3. 12. I will write upon him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 my new Name Our own Name is Sin and Ignorance and Pride and Injustice and Envy and Covetousness and Uncleanness and all Evil and this is the Name which the first Adam wrote upon but the Name the second Adam writes on us is Righteousness and Holiness and Truth and Love and Meekness and Wisdom and all Good and this is the Name the second Adam writes on us or his own new Name for Christ himself was Baptized by the Spirit into the Name of God that is was taken up into God and the things of God which are Himself as into the Truth Wisdom Justice Mercy Power c. and all the whole Flesh or Humanity of Christ even all his Members are Baptized into the same Name of God with Him and so are called by his new Name So that this Name of Christ this new Name which is given us by God through the Baptism of the Spirit is infinitely better than that Name which is given us by Parents or God-fathers in Water-Baptism 3. Christ's Baptism translates us into a new World Except a Man be born of that Water which is the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God No Man can possibly enter into the Church of the New Testament which is the Kingdom of God but through the Baptism of the Spirit the Baptism of the Spirit makes a new Creature and this new Creature enters into a new World which is the new Ierusalem that comes down from God out of Heaven 4. Spirit-Baptism inables us to the same Work with Christ that is to the Ministry of the New Testament saith Christ The Spirit of the Lord is upon me for he hath Anointed me to Preach Isa. 61. 1. And he began his Ministry from his Spirit-Baptism which did immediately follow his Water-Baptism but was in no sort one Baptism with it and having thro' the opening the Heavens received the Spirit which taught him the Name of God he presently began to Teach the Name of God to others and Christ himself was not a Minister of the New Testament but thro' the Baptism of the Spirit Now all Believers that are Anointed with him in his Unction or which is all one are Baptized with him in one Baptism of Spirit are Anointed and Baptized to the same Ministry For the Anointing of the Spirit is the teaching of God and they that are taught of God themselves ought also to teach others and the Spirit of Christ is the Spirit of Prophecy and they that have received that Spirit must Prophecy as it is written It shall come to pass in the last days that I will pour out my Spirit upon all Flesh and your Sons and Daughters shall Prophecy which very place Peter Act. 2. applies to the Baptism of the Spirit so that this Spirit-Baptism of Christ makes all Prophets that partake of it 5. Spirit-Baptism makes all those One with Christ the Head who partake of it Gal. 3. 27. As many as havebeen Baptized into Christ have put on Christ so that by the true Baptism of the New Testament we do actually put on Christ and are made one with Christ and this is not done by any Water-washing but by the Spirit for through the gift of the Spirit only are we made one Flesh with Christ yea through this we necessarily become one Spirit with him too as it is said He that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit so that not through Water but Spirit-Baptism do we put on Christ the Spirit carrying Us into Christ and bringing Christ into Us and being one and the same Spirit in both and this is to be Baptized into Christ. Now this Baptism that makes us one with Christ makes us to partake hoth of his Death and Resurrection 1. Through Baptism of the Spirit we are dipt into the Death of Christ Rom. 6. 3 4. Know ye not that somany of us as are Baptized into Iesus Christ are Baptized into his Death And this is as the Apostles unfolds it vers 6. The Crucifying of the old man with him that the Body of Sin may be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve Sin And all this is done not through any Water-wash but through the gift of the Spirit for it is through the Spirit only that we are able to mortifie the deeds of the Flesh and nothing but the presence of the Spirit in us is the destruction of Sin so that the Spirit of Christ Baptizes us into the death of Christ. 2. Spirit-Baptism makes us partake of his Resurrection as well as of his Death yea therefore do we dye with him that we may live a better life Rom. 6. 3 4. Therefore we are Buried with him by Baptism that is Spirit-Baptism into Death that like as Christ was raised up from the Dead by the Glory of the Father i. e. The Spirit so should we also live 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 Where you see the same Baptism of the Spirit that makes us Dye with Christ doth also quicken us into his Resurrection and deprives us of our own Life not that we remain Dead but that it may communicate to us a better Life than our own even the Life of Christ himself that we that are Men may Live the very Life of the Son of God in our own Souls and Bodies and may be quickned with him and raised up with him and set in Heavenly places in him 6. As Spirit-Baptism makes us One with Christ the Head so with the Church the Body 1 Cor. 12. 13. For by one Spirit are we all Baptized into one Body whether we be Jews or Gentiles whether we be Bond or Free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit so that by drinking into one Spirit with the Church we become one Body
be but the Apprehensions and Thoughts of Men and that they spake very much by Conjecture and at Uncertainty in this matter And thereupon I resolved wholly to withdraw from such Discourse and to lay down whatever Opinions I had before entertained touching this Point and to come to the plain and manifest Scriptures from thence after much seeking God to learn whatever the Lord should please to teach me chusing rather to build on the clear Word though alone than on any uncertian inferences and blind conjectures of Men tho' imbraced and magnified by all the World Now in this inquiry from the Word I met with that place Heb. 6. 2. where the Apostle speaking of some of the first and initial points of Christian Religion names 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Doctrine of Baptisms whence I perceived that in the Primitive Church they had the Dostrine of Baptisms in the plural number and therefore did apply my self to search from the Word what these Baptisms might be and so met with the Baptist's own Doctrine touching Baptisms mentioned Mat. 3. Mar. 1. Luke 3. and Iohn 1. for all the Evangelists make mention of this it being a matter of so great Concernment and Luke makes mention of the ground of this Doctrine of the Baptist Chap. 3. 15. As the People were in Expectation saith he and all Men mused in their Hearts of John whither he were the Christ or not John answered saying c. the People it seems had great and high thoughts of Iohn because he was the Son of the High Priest conceived after an extraordinary manner his Parents being both well stricken in Age and past Children by the course of Nature and then the manner of his Life was strange for he lived in the Wilderness out of the ordinary converse of the World And his Apparel and Diet were unusual being Raiment of Cammels Hair and a Leathern Girdle about his Loyns and his Meat Locust and Wild honey but especially his Ministry was mighty being in the Spirit and Power of Elias and his Baptism new and famous so that all the People stood in great expectation of some Work or event from Him that should manifest him to be the Christ wherefore Iohn to take them off from that gross and dangerous mistake plainly told them all and that openly that he was not the Christ but that there was a great deal of difference between himself and the Messias and that both in regard of his Person and Office First for his Office For he begins to shew the difference from thence because the newness of his Baptism was the ocasion of the Peoples conceiving that he was the Messias whereupon he vilifies his own Baptism in respect of Christ's saith he I indeed Baptize you with VVater that is my Baptism is but Water-Baptism that washes the Body only with a Corporeal Element but one mightier then I comes for I am but a Creature He the Power of God I but a Servant He the Lord of all and One so infinitely Excellent above all that I am that the Latchet of his Shoes I am not worthy to unloose that is I am unworthy to perform the meanest and lowest Office for Him And having thus first spoken meanly of his own Baptism and then magnified Christ's Person above his own He saith he shall Baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with Fire that is I that am a Servant do Baptize with Water but he that is the Son Baptizes with the Spirit my Bapâ—ism washes but the Body from the filth of the Flesh but his the Soul from filth of Sin so that how much the Spirit excels Water and God the Creature so much his Baptism transcends mine Now hence I gather clearly even from the Baptist's own Mouth That Iohn's Baptism and Christ's were distinct Baptisms the one Water-Baptism the other Fire-Baptism And though our late Writers and Teachers have and do affirm that Iohn's Baptism and Christ's make up but one entire Baptism yet all generally of the Antient Christians apprehended them to be distinct one whereof saith Illud manifestum est alium fuisse Iohannis Baptismum alium Christi August contra liter Petil. 2. c. 37. And I could produce many more Testimonies besides but it is not my meaning to entangle any Body with the Authority of Men and therefore I shall make it plain by clear Scriptures and Evidences from them that Iohn's Baptism and Christ's are distinct 1. Iohns Baptism and Christ's are distinct in their Appellations in Scripture for Iohn's Baptism was still so called even when the Apostles used it and it was not called by their Names who administred it but was still called Iohn's Baptism Yea after Christ's Baptism came in Iohn's still retained its name as being distinct from it and therefore Act. 18. 24 25. it is said Apollos taught diligently the things of the Lord knowing only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Baptism of Iohn 2. The Scripture saith that Christ's Baptism was to follow Iohn's and did not accompany it at the same time for Mat. 3. Iohn saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I do Bapize you with Water but he that comes after me i. e. in order of time 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he shall Baptize you And in Luke 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I have Baptized you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but he shall Baptize you which places plainly declare that Christ's Baptism did not go along with Iohn's but was to follow it and that he was to Baptize with the Spirit after Iohn's Water Baptism had its full course to wit when he was risen from the Dead and Ascended into Heaven And therefore Christ after he was risen from the Dead and immediately before he was to ascend into Heaven though his Disciples had used Water-Baptism or Iohn's Baptism for above three Years yet affirms that which Iohn had said of Him touching his Baptism with the Spirit was not yet fulfilled but was shortly to be fulfilled as appears Acts 1. 4 5 Christ being Assembled with the Apostles commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem but wait for the Promise of the Father which saith he you have heard of me for John truly Baptizeth with Water but ye shall be Baptized with the Spirit not many Days hence and this was fulfilled at the Day of Pentecost whence it is evident that Christ's Baptism did not go along with Iohn's and make that up one entire Baptism with it self seeing it followed almost four Years after and therefore Iohn's Baptism and Christ's must needs be distinct 3. It is evident that Christ's Baptism and Iohn's were distinct in as much as the Baptism of Christ was necessary for those very Persons who had before been Baptized with the Baptism of Iohn whereas if Iohn's Baptism had been one and the same with Christ that only had been sufficient but now those whom Iohn had Baptized with Water Christ was to Baptize again with thâ— Spirit as in that place before mentioned I have
Spirit and the Servant to the Son So that Christ's Baptism put an end to Iohn's Free-Baptism to Water-Baptism and Spirit-Baptism to Creature-Baptism For as all the Prophets were until Iohn so Iohn was until Christ and Iohn must no more exceed his bounds than Moses and the Prophets theirs but as the Prophets gave up to Iohn so Iohn must give up to Christ. Iohn's Temporary Ministry had a Temporary Baptism but the Everlasting Gospel which is that Word in our Flesh hath an Everlasting Baptism which is the pouring out of the Spirit So then Iohn being a Servant and Forerunner of Christ Christ was not to take up his Baptism but Iohn was to resign up his Baptism to Christ yea and as a Servant to deliver up all things into his hands as Heir and Lord And so Iohn's VVater-Baptism was to last but till Christ's Fire-Baptism should come in and then the Fire should lick up the VVater and as Spirit Baptism should increase VVater-Baptism should decrease So that Iohn's Baptism or VVater-Baptism which is all one belongs not to Christ's Kingdom which is a Kingdom not of the Letter but of the Spirit not of Signs and Shadows but of the Truth And therefore we leave it where we found it even without the bounds and reach of Christ's Kingdom For Iohn's Office and Baptism reached unto Christ's Kingdom but hath no place in it and to bring Signs and Ceremonies into the Kingdom of Truth is if rightly understood to act against Christ Glorified Object But some will say This is strange indeed that Water-Baptism should have no place in the Kingdom of Christ And therefore pray stay a little for we have many things to object against it Object 1. Why this would rob us of our Christendom I Answ. No For it was not Water but Spirit Baptism that makes us Christians and Water-Baptism hath been an unlawful blending or mixing of the Church and World together so that hitherto they could not be well differenced from each other to the great prejudice of the Congregations of Christ. Object 2. But have so many Ages erred that have used Water-Baptism Answ. For the Errors of former Ages and their great mistakes in many of the Truths of God I have nothing to say but that of the Apostle How unsearchable are his Iudgments and his Ways past finding out 3. Object But you are the first Men for ought we know that ever opposed it Answ. One single mean Man with the Word may very justly and lawfully Contradict the whole World without it Truth is not to be Judged by Multitudes or an Unity but by the Word 4. Object But Christ himself was Baptized with Water and surely that perpetuates it in the Church Answ. Christ's being Baptized with Water under Iohn no more perpetuates Water-Baptism in the Christian Church than his being Circumcised under Moses perpetuates Circumcision in the Christian Church or his submitting to other Mosaical Ceremonies perpetuates them Christ brings no Temporal or Carnal thing into his Everlasting or Spiritual Kingdom though himself submitted to them under their several Dispensations in the season of them 5. Object But Christ Iustifies and Commands Water-Baptism in John 3. Except a Man be born of Water c. And Mat. 28. Teach and Baptize Answ. I confess these are places that many have mistaken to justifie the practice of Water-Baptism but I shall shew you that they do indeed misunderstand them For that first place Iohn 3. 5. Except a Man be born 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God I confess many of the Ancients have by Water here understood Material Water and have interpreted the place of External Baptism which was Iohn's only And hereupon divers of them have exceedingly magnified Water and ascribed it to the Washing of Souls and the Regeneration of Christians in some measure they not considering in the mean time what Christ saith in the very next Verse That which is born of the Flesh is Flesh but that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit by which they might have learned that outward and corporal Water can do nothing but outward and corporal things and can contribute nothing to the cleansing of Souls and Consciences from Sin So that this place cannot be understood of Corporeal Water and I could produce the Testimonies of many Godly Men of good Note to this purpose but do forbear because I would not have our Faith built upon the Authorities of Men but the thing is evident from the Text it self for it saith Except a Man be born of VVater which shews the VVater he speaks of must be such as is able to give a new Birth and to make a Man a new that is a Spiritual Holy Heavenly Creature and no VVater can do this but the Spirit and therefore Christ adds to VVater the Spirit by way of explication as if he had said No Man can enter into the Kingdom of God except he be born again of Water but the Water I speak of is no Material VVater but the Spirit which is able to produce in us a Heavenly Nature through which only we can have an entrance into a Heavenly Kingdom seeing Flesh and Blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God so that the Water Christ means in this place is the Spirit And many other places give witness to this Iohn 4. 10. If thou didst know who it is that saith unto thee Give me to drink thou woudst have asked of him and he would have given thee Living Water And Verse 13 14. Iesus said unto her Whosoever drinks of this Water meaning the Water of the Well called Iacobs Well shall thirst again but whosoever shall drink of the Water that I shall give him shall never thirst but the Water that I shall give him shall be in him a Well of Water springing up unto Everlasting Life and John 7. 37 38. Iesus stood and cried saying If any Man thirst let him come unto me and drink he that believeth on me as the Scripture hath said out of his Belly shall flow Rivers of Living Water but this spake he of the Spirit which they that believe on him should receive Now by Water in all these places is not meant Material Water but the Spirit as Christ himself explicates and sure his Testimony alone is sufficient But again if in this place Except a Man be born of Water and Spirit you will needs understand Material Water why then upon the same ground you must needs understand that place in Matthew of Material Fire where it is said Mat. 3. 11. He shall Baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with Fire which is absurd to very reason to think But Water and Fire in each place added to the Spirit shew only the Efficacy of the Spirit and so you may as well bring in the use of Material Fire in Baptism from the Text in Mat. as of Material Water from the Text in Iohn So that this place in Iohn