9. Mark 16. 20. And they went forth and preached every where the Lord working with them and confirming the word with signes following 1 Thes 1. 5. For our Gospell came not to you in word onely but also in power and in the Holy Ghost 1 Pet. 1. 12. By them that have preached the Gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven Heb. 2. 4. God also bearing them witnesse both with signes and wonders and with divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost 4. Quer. Whether from these Scriptures may not be collected 1 That as soon as they were thus enabled from above they presently preached to beget others to the faith beginning at Jerusalem as they were appointed Luk. 24. 47. 2 That this their preaching came not in word onely but in power and in the Holy Ghost which was by Gods bearing them witnesse or every where working with them and confirming the word both with signes and wonders and divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost and therefore it was that he that despised them despised God and he that believed not made God a liar which none can be said to do in respect of any Ministry not being so vvitnessed by God Scripture Acts 2. 38 39. Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sinnes and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost For the promise thereof is unto you and to your children and to all that are a farre off even as many as the Lord our God shall call Acts 8. 15 16 17. Who when they were come down prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost for as yet he was faln upon none of them onely they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus then laid they their hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost Acts 9. 17. And Ananias went his way and entred into the house and putting hands on him said brother Saul the Lord hath sent me that thou mightest receive thy sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost Acts 19. 1 2. And came to Ephesus and finding certain Disciples he said unto them have you received the Holy Ghost since ye believed 6 And when PAVL had laid his hands upon them the Holy Ghost came on them and they spake with Tongues and Prophesied Ephes 1. 13. In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth the Gospell of your salvation in whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise 2 Cor. 3. 6. Who also hath made us able Ministers not of the Lotter but of the Spirit Gal. 3. 2. Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law or by the hearing of Faith 5 He therefore that ministreth to you the Spirit and worketh miracles among you doth he it by the works of the Law or by the hearing of Faith 1 Tim. 4. 14. Neglect not the gift which is in thee which was give thee by the laying on of the hands of the Presbyterie Also 2 Tim 1. 6. 5. Quer. Whether from these Scriptures may not be collected That these were enabled not onely plainly and distinctly to declare the Gospell with Gods bearing witnesse so as is aforesaid but also to administer the spirit to others and did administer it to all believers who had it not immediately from heaven by the laying on their hands upon them which they could not have done before they were indued with power so to do by the comming down of the Holy Ghost upon them Therefore were they commanded to stay untill it came Scripture Mark 16. 15 16 17 18. Go ye unto all the world and preach the Gospell to every creature he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned And these signes shall follow them that believe in my Name they shall cast out Divels they shall speak with new tongues they shall take up Serpents and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover Joh. 3. 37 38. In the last day that great day of the Feast Jesus stood up and cried saying if any man thirst let him come unto me and drink he that believeth on me as the Scripture saith 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 for the Holy Ghost was not yet given because that Jesus was not yet glorified Joh. 14. 16. I will pray the Father he shal give you another coforter that he may abide with you for ever Ephes 1. 13 14. Ye were sealed with the Holy spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance untill the redemption of the purchased possession Ephes 4. 8. He led captivitie captive and gave gifts unto men 11 He gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers 12 For the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ 13 Till we all come to the untiy of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Sonne of God unto a perfect man 6. Quer. Whether from these Scriptures may not be collected That these gifts of the Spirit were one specificall Character whereby to distinguish the true Ministry of the Gospel and Churches of Christ from false to the end of the * world * Herevvith agreeth a Marginall Note in our English Bibles printed 1576 upon Ioh. 14. 12. He that believeth in me the vvorks that I do he shall do and greater The Note hereupon is This is reserred to the vvhole body of the Church in vvhom this vertue of Christ doth shine and remain for ever Scripture 1 Cor. 12. 7. But the manifestation of the spirit is given to every one to profit withall 12. For as the body hath many members and all the members of that one body being many are one body so also is Christ For by one spirit are we all baptized into one body Rom. 12. 4 5. As we have many members in one body and all the members have not the same Office so we being many are one body in Christ and every one members one of another Rom. 8. 9. Now if any one have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his that is none of his body or Church Ephes 2. 21 22. In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an Holy Temple in the Lord in whom you also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit 7. Quer. Whether from these Scriptures may not be collected 1 That none were capable of true membership in the visible Church or body of Christ being a spirituall state without being baptized with the baptisme of the spirit 2 That every member of the Church in generall had not onely one or more of these gifts of the spirit but had the manifestation
thereof also given him to profit the body withall Scripture Acts 6. 3. Wherefore Brethren look ye out among you seven men of honest repute full of the Holy Ghost 8. Quer. Whether from this Scripture may not be collected That Deacons were to be men full of the Holy Ghost that is eminently furnished with these gifts How much more then ought those who take upon them to be superiour Ministers of the Gospell to be such Scripture Joh. 16. 7 8 9 10. If I go not away the comforter will not come unto you but if I depart I will send him unto you And when he is come he will reprove the world of sinne and of righteousnesse and of judgement of sinne because they believe not in me of righteousnesse because I go unto the Father and ye see me no more 9. Quer. Whether from these Scriptures may not be collected That no ministry of the Gospell since the assention of Christ had power so to convince their hearers as to bring the sin of unbelief upon any that rejected their ministry nor to give any certain and undoubted ground of faith unto them without this witnesse of God by signes and gifts of the spirit which may be another reason why the Disciples themselves were cōmanded to stay untill they were indued with power from on high by the comming down of the holy Ghost upon them Scripture Joh. 5. 31. If I bear witnesse of my self my witnesse is not true 33 Ye sent unto John and he bare witnesse unto the truth 34 But I receive not testimony from man 35 But I have greater witnesse then that of John for the works which the Father hath given me to finish the same works that I do bear witnesse of me that the Father hath sent me Compared with Joh. 15. 24. If I had not done among them the works which no other man did they had not had sinne but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father Joh. 10. 37. If I do not the works of the Father believe me not 10. Quer. Whether from these Scriptures may not be collected That Christs own Ministry witnessed both by himself John the Baptist or any other man or men was not sufficient so to convince his hearers as to bring them under the sin of unbelief unlesse it had been also witnessed by the mighty works which he did in their sight being such as none could do but by the speciall power of God Scripture 1 Cor. 2. 4 5. My speech and my preaching was not with inticing words of mans wisdome but in demonstration of the spirit and of * That is God povverfully vvrought vvith him confirming his preaching vvith signes and miracles c. as Act. 19. 11. 12. Heb. 2. 4. power that your faith should not stand in the wisdome of men but in the power of God 11. Quer. Whether from these Scriptures may not be collected That that faith which is grounded upon any word Scripture or doctrine convayed to us by the hands or ministry of any men whatsoever not being also witnessed and confirmed by demonstration of the spirit and power of God as aforesaid stands in the wisedome of men and not in the power of God nor is such faith as the Church of Corinth had and therefore can be no true faith of the Gospell For all divine newes or doctrine such as the Gospell is requiring belief and obedience upon penalties as the Gospell doth ought to have some divine evidence and demonstration to confirm it otherwise it is no sufficient ground for true faith but may be waved without sinne because whatsoever is but uncertainly or fallibly evidenced as all in this case delivered meerly upon the credit of men is may as uncertainly or fallibly be entertained without any sinne yea it were folly if not sinne to do otherwise Scripture Joh. 16. 12 13 14. I have many things to say unto you but ye cannot bear them now howbeit when the spirit of truth is come he will guide you into all truth for he shall not speak of himself but whatsoever he shall hear that he shall speak and he will shew you things to come he shall glorifie me for he shall receive of mine and shall shew it unto you Acts 20 29 30. For I know that after my departure shall grievous Wolves enter in among you not sparing the flock also of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things Acts 21. 10 11. There came down from Judea a certain Prophet named Agabus and when he was come unto us he took Pauls girdle and bound his own hands and feet and said Thus saith the Holy Ghost so shall the Jews at Jerusalem binde the man that oweth this girdle and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles 1 Tim. 4. 1. Now the spirit speaketh expresly that in the later times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits Acts 8. 29. Then the spirit said unto Philip go near and joyn thy self to this Charet Acts 10. 19 20. While Peter thought on the vision The spirit said unto him behold three men seek thee arise therefore and get thee down and go with them doubting nothing for I have sent them Acts 13. 2. As they ministred to the Lord and fasted the Holy Ghost said separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them 1 Cor. 14. 29 30. Let the Prophets speak two or three and let the other judge if any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by let the first hold his peace for ye may all prophesie one by one that all may learn and all may be comforted 2 Tim. 4. 3 4. The time will come when they will not indure sound doctrine but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves Teachers having itching ears and they shall turn their ears from the truth and shall be turned into Fables 12. Quer. Whether from these Scriptures may not be collected 1 That the gift of prophesie is not a power of utterance enabling a man to speak the space of an hour two or three and therein to declare some notions or doctrines contrived by Arts and learning or gotten by reading studying or the like which is as falsly as commonly stiled preaching the word of God when indeed it is farre more likely to be that Ministery of Fables foretold of by St. Paul unto which the people should give up themselves and as we see evidently is come to passe 2 That the gift of prophesie was an expresse revelation by the spirit of the minde of God for their direction in things of speciall concernment to the Church in generall or to some member thereof in particular and a fore-telling things to come 3 That whensoever any thing was thus revealed by the spirit to any of the Members the same was to declare it for the mutuall edification and exhortation of the Church that all might learn and all might have comfort Scripture Matth. 3. 11.
as Johns baptisme was by him formerly proposed and administred Mark 1. 4. Luk. 3. 3. compared with Acts 19. 4 5. 4 It is not the baptisme with water which was here meant because the Disciples were unable to perform the ministry of the baptisme which was here meant untill they were indued with power from on High by the comming down of the Holy Ghost upon them and therefore they were commanded to stay at Jerusalem untill it came and when they were baptized with the Holy Ghost themselves Acts 2. Then and not till then they were able to baptize others with the Holy Ghost also and so were made able Ministers of the Spirit to others by their laying their hands upon them But they were made able Ministers and did perform the Ministery of the Baptisme with water long before this command of Christ John 4. 2. This may further be confirmed from Mark 16. Where the same Baptisme with the Holy Ghost is implyed and meant the words with the sense thereof being as followeth Vers 15. Go ye into all the world and preach publish or declare the Gospell which I have taught to you and which doth belong to every creature under heaven 16 He that believeth this Gospell and is baptized with the Holy Ghost shall be saved He that believeth not this Gospell so declared to him by my Messengers as I have commanded shall be damned 17 And these signes shall follow them that believe and are so baptized This I take to be the true sense and meaning of the palce For 1 If it be thus taken to wit That these signes shall follow them that meerly believe in this sence it is untrue For there were many that believed who had not any signes following upon their believing 2 If it be thus taken to wit That these signes shall follow them that believe and are baptized with water in this sence it is untrue likewise for there were many that believed and were baptized with water who yet had not these signes following upon their believing and being so baptized but as soon as they were baptized with the Holy Ghost signes and gifts of the Holy Ghost did immediately follow thereupon Whence I thus conclude this Point If this place in Mark 16. 17. be to be taken in neither of the two latter sences then it is to be taken in the first sence onely there being no fourth sence in reason to be given But it is to be taken in neither of the two latter sences for the reasons before mentioned Therefore it is to be taken in the first sence onely Objection 1 Cor. 12. 3. No man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost Therefore the gifts of the Holy Ghost are now given forth though not with any visible manifestation Answer Vers 7. The manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit was given to every one to profit withall as well as the gifts themselves 2 The meaning of the place cannot be that no man can barely say that Jesus is the Lord but by the gift of the Holy Ghost for many might and some did say so before the powring forth of these gifts of the Spirit whereof onely that place treateth and many thousand deboist wretches at this day can say it yea and a Parret may be taught to say the same without any such gift Wherefore I conceive the meaning of the place in other expressions more propably may be No man can so say or so testifie that Jesus is the Lord as thereby to give another sufficient ground to build his faith upon that his testimony without God also bear witnesse thereto by some signes and gifts of the Holy Ghost Like as 1 Cor. 2. 4 5. seems to import Objection St. Paul Rom. 8. 9. Writes if any one have not the spirit of Christ the same is none of his Wherefore either the spirit is now given to some or else none are Christs Answer St. Paul here writes to such who were of the true Church or body of ChrisT which being a spirituall state none were capable of true Membership therein but by being united thereto by having some gift or gifts of the spirit to profit the body withall and whereof every Member of that Body was partaker As these Texts do manifest 1 Corinth 12. 7. 12. 13. Ephes 2. 11. 22. and 4. 15 16. Wherefore none of his must be understood as I conceive no member of that his body For many were Christs in other respects before those gifts of the spirit were powred forth As in Joh. 7. 39. Acts 1. 5. 15. And many afterward also were Christs who yet had not received the spirit As Acts 8 12. 16 17. and 19. 1 2. 6. but we finde none were members of this his body without some gift or gifts of the spirit for they were all baptized in that one body not by one faith nor by one water but by one spirit 1 Cor. 12. 12 13. The Premises considered I Quere 1 Whether there are now extant amongst us any right Divines or Jurae Divino or true Ministers or Embassadours of the Gospell If yea then let them accordingly demonstrate themselves to be such and by such undoubted distinctions whereby we may evidently know them from all pretenders of all sorts whatsoever as we finde the true Ministers of the Gospell did And seeing Faith comes by such preaching as none can perform but such as are sent Rom. 10. 14 15. In the second place I Quere 2 Whether the undoubted and saving knowledge of the Gospell of Christ be attainable by any other ordinary meanes then by a true Ministry or Embassie Objection It seems you know the Gospell of your self having in the first and second collection declared it Answer 1 The first Collection declareth onely that the Gospell was that mystery which was hid but doth not declare what that mystery is which was hid 2 The second Collection declareth that the Gospell which CHRIST commanded his Disciples to publish in all the world appertained to all the world viz. to every creature in Heaven and in earth or under heaven which are the very words of the Text. But neither Collection nor these or any other Text declareth what that Gospell is in its fulnesse parts dimentions limitations and extentions Nor doth any Text or person from Text or otherwise declare any thing with any such demonstration as the true Ministers and Embassadors of the Gospel did and ought to declare the Gospell 3 Whatsoever is here declared is proposed probably onely to be considered and not infallibly to be believed upon pain of damnation as the true Ministers of the Gospell did and ought to declare and propose the Gospell 4 None therefore are at all bound in respect of any thing here said but are free and at liberty so that what they finde here probably true they may accordingly receive and what otherwise they may reject even as they see good For so and no otherwise will I receive any thing of
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance but he that commeth after me is mightier then I whose shooe I am not worthy to bear he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire Joh. 1. 33. He that sent me to baptize with water the same said unto me upon whom thou shall sec the spirit descending and remaining the same is he that baptizeth with the Holy Ghost Acts 1. 5. John indeed baptized with water but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many dayes hence Acts 11. 15. As I began to speak the Holy Ghost fell on them as on us at the beginning 16 Then remembred I the Word of the Lord how that he said John indeed baptized with water but yee shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 12. 13. By one spirit are we all baptized into one body Matth. 21. 25. The baptisme of John whence was it from heaven or of men Acts 1. 22. Beginning from the baptisme of John Acts 18. 25. Acts 19. 3. Mark 1. 4. John did baptize in the wildernesse and preached the baptisme of Repentance for remission of sinnes Luk. 3. 3. And he came into all the Country about Jordan preaching the baptisme of Repentance for the remission of sinnes Acts 13. 24. Acts 2. 38. Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sinnes And ye shall receive the gifts of the Holy Ghost For the promise is to as many as shall be called Acts 8. 14. 15 16 17. They sent unto them Peter and John who when they were come down prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost for as yet he was faln upon none of them onely they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus then laid they their hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost Acts 19. 5 6. When they heard this they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus And when Paul laid his hands upon them the Holy Ghost came on them and they spake with tongues and prophesied Ephes 1. 13. After ye believed ye were sealed with the holy spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance 2 Cor. 1. 22. Who hath also sealed us and given us the earnest of the spirit in our hearts Matth. 28. 18 19. All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth Go ye therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost Mark 16. 17. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved And these signes shall follow them that believe c. 13 Quer. Whether from these Scriptures may not be collected That there were two severall baptismes appertaining to the true Ministery of the Gospell plainly distinguished in these four particulars 1 In their Authors the one JOHN the other CHRIST 2 In their matter the one Water the other the Holy Ghost 3 In their form the one In the Name of the Lord JESVS by dipping the subject into water The other In the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost by laying their hands upon the subject 4 In their ends the one the Baptisme of Repentance for the remission of sinnes the other the baptisme or seal of the Spirit for an earnest of the everlasting inheritance Scripture Hebr. 6. 1 2 3 4. Therefore leaving the principles of the Doctrine of Christ Let us go on unto perfection not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith towards God of the Doctrine of Baptismes and of laying on of hands and of resurrection from the dead and of eternall judgement and this will we do if God permit For it is impossible for those who were once inlightned and have tasted of the heavenly gift and were made pertakers of the Holy Ghost c. if they shall fall away c. 14. Quer. Whether from these Scriptures may not be collected 1 That the Doctrine of the aforementioned Baptismes and of laying on of hands is part of the principles of the Doctrine of CHRIST 2 That the doctrine of these Baptismes and of laying on of hands was laid by the true Ministers of the Gospell as a part of the foundation upon which only the faith of all true Believers of the Gospell and Christian visible Churches were and ought to be built Objection All the learned and able of all sorts do agree in expounding Matth. 28. 19. To be the institution of the baptisme with water or at least that the baptisme with water is there only meant Whose authority you crosse in expounding it to be meant of the baptisme with the Holy Ghost As is intimated in the different formes of baptisme in your 13th Quere and 3d. Distinction Answer Authorities in this case ought not be measured by numbers or votes of men though never so learned and able but by Scripture and weight of sound reason And now that by this Text is meant the baptism with the Holy Ghost and not of that with water I shall prove by these following Arguments 1 From the institution it self Christ after his resurrection when he had declared to his Disciples that all power in heaven and in earth was given unto him commanded them saying Go ye therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost Hence I argue That this being an institution of a Baptisme it is either the institution of the Baptisme with Water or of the Baptisme with the Holy Ghost but it is not of that with water because the baptisme with water was instituted and administred long before that time by John the Baptist who had authority from God so to do Joh. 1. 33. Christ himself Mark 1. 9. The Discip'es and many hundreds more being baptized by John with the Baptisme with water long before this institution of Christ or any administration thereupon And for one and the self same Baptisme to have two institutions and these severall and different and yet true is most unreasonable to imagine 2 It is not the institution of the Baptisme with water nor was the baptisme with water here meant because the baptisme with water would then have been tearmed Christs Baptisme as well as Johns But the baptisme with water was never tearmed Christs baptisme but alwayes tearmed Johns both before and after this institution of Christ Whereas on the other side the baptisme with the Holy Ghost was in like manner alwayes tearmed Christs 3 It is not the baptisme with water which was there meant because then the Disciples afterward would have so proposed and administred it to wit In the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost according to the command but they did not afterward so propose nor so administer it but clean otherwise to wit In the Name of the Lord Jesus and for remission of sinnes Acts 2. 38. and 8. 16. Even