he or look we for another Tell him what ye have heard and seen the Blind receive their sight the Deaf hear the Lame walk Lepers are cleansed and to the Poor the Gospel is preached and blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me Even so in a spiritual sense the same may be as truly affirmed now of him the true Light who is spiritually in the World and the World knows him not nor whence he is tho' he hath enlightned healed cleansed and quickned Thousands and the poor and wounded whom none of the Proud Covetous Priests regard even the Poor by Virtue of the Light have the Everlasting Gospel of Salvation freely preached to them Object 4. But ye are against all Gospel Ministers Churches and God's Ordinances viz. The Sacraments of Christ instituting viz Water Baptism and the Lord's Supper Answ 1. As concerning Ministers all that are truly the Ministers of the Gospel who are Ministers of the Spirit we own but all they whom the Lord is against we deny behold saith the Lord I am against the Prophets that steal my words every one from his Neighbour and against them that use their Tongues and say he saith Who prophesie false Dreams and do tell them and cause my People to Err by their lies and by their lightness yet I sent them not nor commanded them therefore they shall not profit this People at all saith the Lord Jer. 33.30.31.32 2. And we are against all such who oppose and set themselves against the Lord his Truth and People such as Peter declared against They that stood up and gathered themselves together against the Lord and against his Christ Acts 4.26 such as blaspheme falsly accuse and speak evil of the Spirit and Light of Christ of which the Lord saith He that speaketh against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven him neither in this World nor in the World to come because they said He had an Vnclean Spirit Mark 3.30 3. We are against all ignorant and blind Guides who know not God believe not in Jesus Christ and to whom the Gospel is hid and such are all they who believe not in the Light and denie Immediate Revelation for saith Christ No Man knows the Father but they to whom the Son reveals him And the Gospel which Paul preached he saith It is not after Man neither received he it of Man nor was he taught it by Man but by the Revelation of Jesus Christ Gal. 1.11 12. but all who abide in Darkness and hate the Light unto such the Gospel is hid 2 Cor. 4.3 Wherefore saith Christ I thank the O Father Lord of Heaven and Eurth because thou hast hid these things from the Wise and Prudent and hast revealed them unto Babes even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight All things are delivered to me of my Father and no Man knoweth the Son but the Father neither knoweth any Man the Father save the Son and him to whomsoever the Son will reveal him Mat. 11.26.27 4. We are against all such who with Simon Magus to maintain their Carnal Priest-craft for filthy Lucres sake would Merchandize with and set at sale the free gift of God and the Misteries of his Kingdom whom Peter sharply reproves saying Thy Mony perish with thee because thou hast thought the gift of God may be purchased with Mony thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter for thy Heart is not right in the sight of God repent therefore of this thy Wickedness and pray God if perhaps the thought of thy Heart may be forgiven thee for I perceive thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of Iniquity Now if it be said this affects not the Ministers you oppose I answer They either have the same thought and so are in the Gall of Bitterness or they have not if they have not such a thought that the Gift of God may be purchased with Mony then are they the vilest Wretches and greatest self condemned Cheats in the World to set that at sale for Mony which they esteem the Gift of God and which they know cannot be purchased with Mony and this to delude Milions of Souls But if they have such a thought then are they excluded with Simon Magus from having any part or lot in the Ministry Acts 8.20 5. We are against all those Teachers who with Balaam loving the Wages of Unrighteousness and Earthly Rewards have forsaken the right way and gone astray and changed the Gospel Ministry Order and Worship both as to Matter Manner and Maintenance from that which was practised by the Apostles walking directly contrary unto and wholly perverting the Apostles Doctrine who saith Feed the Flock of God taking the oversight thereof not by constraint but willingly nor for filthy Lucres sake but of a ready mind neither as being lords over God's heritage but as being examples to the Flock 6. We are against all such Teachers who with those evil Spies prejudice the People against the good Land of Promise Will neither enter into the Kingdom of God themselves nor suffer others that would to enter therein Numb 13.31 They brought up an evil report of the Land saying It is a Land that eateth up the Inhabitants thereof and all the People that we saw in it are Men of a great stature and there we saw the Gyants the Sons of Anak which come of the Gyants to whom we in our own sight were as Grashoppers and so we were in their sight then all the Congregation murmured Crying Deut. 1.28 whether shall we go Our Brethren have discouraged our Hearts saying their Cities are great and walled up to Heaven their Men mighty and stronger than we even Giants the Anakims and we have heard say who can stand against the Sons of Anak Even so this present generation of Priests and Teachers disswade and discourage the Hearts of their People 1st By their envying and bitter infectives against the good Land of Promise the Spiritual Canaan Christ's Kingdom of Light and Righteousnes 2d By magnifying the Power and Dominion of Sin and Kingdom of Darkness and suggesting an impossibility of Conquest 1. They discourage and deter the Hearts of the People by belying and traducing the holy and blessed Appearance of Christ's Spiritual Kingdom even as those spies gave a false report of Temporal Canaan contrary to the Character and Description the Lord by his Servants have given thereof as appears in Deut. 8.7 Moses saith It is a good Land a Land of Brooks of Water of Fountains and depths that spring out of Valleys and Hills Verse 8. A Land of Wheat and Barly and Vines and Fig-trees and Pomegranates a Land of Oyl Olive and Hony Verse 9. A Land wherein thou shalt eat Bread without scarceness thou shalt not lack any thing in it a Land whose Stones are Iron and out of whose Hills thou may'st dig Brass Deut. 11.9 A Land that floweth with Milk and Hony Verse 10. It is not as the
and not in the Letter whose Praise is of God and not of Man Rom. 2.28 wherefore we affirm that he is not a Christian who is one outwardly only neither is that the Baptism which is with Water but he is a Christian who is one inwardly and the one Baptism is that of the Heart in the Spirit for saith the Apostle 1 Pet. 3.21 The Baptism which doth save us is not an outward washing or putting away the filth of the Flesh but the answer of a good Conscience towards God through the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ And thus much for Water Baptism which the Scriptures call John's Baptism and belonged to that middle Ministry between the Prophets and Christ but the Baptism of the Spirit which is Christ's we own and know and with evident demonstrations of Truth declare and testify the one and only Baptism of the new Testament and by one Spirit we are all baptized into one Body saith the Apostle whether we be Jews or Gentiles Bond or Free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit 1 Cor. 12.13 And this Baptism was but one in all Ages and Generations even the very same before Christ's coming in the Flesh as since Believing Jews and Gentiles both of the old and new Testament were made partakers of it though the one more fully than the other so that altho' many both before and since might not have the Baptism of Water yet not one Member of the true Church hath ever wanted the Baptism of the Spirit But the more apparent manifestation of this Spiritual Baptism followed after that of John's Baptism as appears by the promise of Christ He that believeth on me out of his Belly shall flow Rivers of Living Water this spake he of the Spirit which they who believe on him should receive for the Holy Ghost was not yet given because that Jesus was not yet glorified John 7.38.39 wherefore the Disciples waited at Jerusalem as the Lord had commanded untill the promise was fulfiled Acts 1. Now the ground of our true Comfort lies in that we are baptized not with the same Water wherewith Christ was but with and into the same Spirit for as many as are baptized into Christ have put on Christ Gal. 3.27 this therefore is the one and only Baptism For 4. This Baptism makes us partakers of the Divine Nature John 3.3 the Spirit 's Baptism gives a new Birth and therewith a new Nature and so the true Foundation of Christianity comes not from Water Baptism but is that of Faith and a new Creature 2. This Baptism giveth a new Name I will write upon him the new name of my God and the name of the City of my God which is new Jerusalem which comes down out of Heaven from my God and I will write upon him my new Name as the Lord said to Jacob thy name shall no more be called Jacob but Israel for as a Prince hast thou Power with God and hast prevailed and thus saith the Lord to all that joyn themselves to the Lord that keep his Sabbaths and that choose the things that please me and take hold of my Covenant even unto them will I give in my House and within my Walls a place and a name better than of Sons and of Daughters I will give them an everlasting Name which shall not be cut off Isa 66.4.5 and to him that overcomes will I give to eat of the hidden Manna and will give him a White Stone and in the Stone a new Name written which no Man knoweth saving him that receiveth it 3. This is the Baptism which makes all that partake thereof Members of the true Church of Christ For by one Spirit we are all baptised into one Body when the Sons of Zebedee desired to sit with Christ in his Kingdom the one on his right Hand and the other on his left Jesus asked if they were able to drink of the Cup that he drank of and to be baptized with the Baptism that he was baptized with And they sayd unto him we are able Jesus answered ye shall drink indeed of my Cup and be baptized with the Baptism that I am baptized with c. now tho' their request savoured to much of ambition yet shall they have part in the Kingdom through sufferings 4. It is the one Baptism only which qualifies fits and enables to the work of the Ministry all the sharpest Wits profoundest Learning and the most exquisite Accomplishments and curious Polishings of natures chiefest Perfecting cannot make a Gospel Minister it is the pouring out and work of God's Holy Spirit which makes a workman that needs not be ashamed And in those days saith the Lord I will pour out of my Spirit upon all Flesh and your Sons and your Daughters shall Prophesie Joel 2.28 which is witnessed Acts 2.4 to 17. and they were all filed with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other Tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance And Blessings Glory and everlasting Praises to our God who after a long Night of Darkness and Degeneracy hath in this our Age and Generation visited a remnant who are brought forth through the new Birth to feed upon the sincere Milk of the Word of eternal Life who find it their strength in stilness and silence to wait upon God with an intire dependance on him who act not in their own wills nor speak their own Words but as the anointing which they have received and abideth in them teacheth them all things that appertaineth to Life and Godliness so that their Ministry is of the Spirit and not of the Letter but done according to the ability which God giveth and by the movings of his Spirit and if any thing be revealed to another that sits by the first doth hold his Peace that all may speak one by one and that only as the Spirit moves and gives them utterance that all may learn and all may be comforted 1 Cor. 14.30 and amongst those there is no despising of the weak nor do the weak envy the strong but they wish with Moses that all the Lord's People were Prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them Numb 11.29 5. This one Baptism maketh all those One with Christ who partake of it John 17.23 I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one and know ye not saith the Apostle that so many of you as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his Death that like as Christ was raised up from the Dead by the glory of the Father even so also we should walk in newness of Life for if we have been planted in the likeness of his Death we shall be also in the likeness of his Resurrection whence it appears that by and through this one Baptism all that are thereby sanctified are one with Christ in his Life 2ly in his Death and 3ly in his Resurrection Rom. 6.3.4 6. This is that one and only Baptism which
washeth and cleanseth from all Sin know ye not saith Paul that the unrighteous shall not Inherit the Kingdom of God be not deceived neither Fornicators nor Drunkards nor Extortioners nor Idolaters nor Adulterers nor Effeminate nor Abusers of themselves with mankind nor Thieves nor Covetous nor Revilers shall inherit the Kingdom of God But such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are jbstified in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6.9 10 11. even as Christ loved his Church and gave himself for it that he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of Water by the Word that he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle nor any such thing but that it should be Holy and without blemish Eph. 5.25 26 27. 7. This Baptism doth not only sanctifie but save For we our selves were sometimes foolish disobedient deceived serving divers lusts and pleasures living in malice and envy hateful and hating one another but after that the kindness and love of God appeared toward mankind not by works of Righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour Tit. 3.3 4 5. and thus saith Peter doth Baptism save us not the washing away the filth of the Flesh but the answer of a good Conscience towards God through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 3.20 so that Christ's Spirit Baptism by the Word is sufficient to us without John's Water Baptism for he that is truly washed from all filthiness of Flesh and Spirit and hath the Holy Ghost in him to wash cleanse renew and sanctifie his Nature to conform his judgement will and affection to the Image of Christ and to be in him as a Well of living Water springing up to everlasting Life what need hath he of Material Water under pretence of any Sign or Signification whatsoever either from Moses or John the Baptist when he is actually possessed of the real Truth and Substance of these Types and Figures in himself already And lastly touching the Lord's Supper which is a great Mystery above which all the worshipers in the Outward Courts since the Apostasie from the Spirit of Faith Power and Purity of the Primitive Church have been and are in darkness and confusion and at best resting satisfied with the external Shadow and Figure of the real Substance which is the true Spiritual Supper of the Lord not discerning the Lord's Body nay they are faln from the very outward form hereof as held forth by Christ Mat. 26.20 Luke 22.14 as he sate and the twelve Apostles with him and after his Resurrection he shewed himself to two of his Disciples in breaking of Bread as he sate with them Luke 24.30 which was practised by those Three Thousand converted by Peter's Sermon They continued stedfast in the Apostles Doctrine and Fellowship and in breaking of Bread and in Prayer Acts 2.42 daily breaking Bread from House to House did eat their Meat with gladness and singleness of Heart praising God Acts 2.46 they did thus at all seasons even as often as they eat and drank they were to do it in remembrance of Christ to shew his Death till he come 1 Cor. 11.26 and blessed is that Servant saith our Saviour whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing But if the evil Servant shall say in his Heart my Lord delayeth his coming and begin to smite his fellow servants and to eat and drink with the Drunken the Lord of that Servant shall come in a day that he looketh not for him and in an hour that he is not aware of and shall cut him asunder and give him his portion with Hypocrites Mat. 24.46 to the end Wherefore such as live Voluptuously in Rioting and Excess in Hatred and Envy in Strife and Cruelty tho' they may be great pretenders to partake of the outward Bread and Wine and abide not stedfast in the Apostle's Doctrine who saith whether ye eat or drink or whatever ye do do all to the Glory of God 1 Cor. 10.31 but eat and drink to indulge the Flesh whose God is their belly These saith he in the 20 verse of this Chapter Sacrifice to and have fellowship with Devils and ye cannot drink the Cup of the Lord and the Cup of Devils Nor can ye partake of the Lord's Table and the Table of Devils verse 21. neither can they discern the Lord's Body nor shew his Death till he come And with such he is always to come nay when he does come and stand knocking at the door of their Heart they will not open to him nor entertain him but if any Man saith the Lord hear my voice and open the door I will come into him and Sup with him and he with me Rev. 3.20 and this is the effectual Supper of the Lord's Table which is the Flesh and Blood of Christ in the Mystery John 6.56 he that eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood dwelleth in me and I in him and here the redeemed of the Lord have their Communion in the Body and Blood of Christ by his abideing in them and they as living Branches of the true Vine abiding in him and in this blessed Communion the Figure of the outward Supper is fulfiled according to Christ's own Words Luke 22.16 and 18. I will no more eat hereof nor drink of the Fruit of the Vine until the Kingdom of God shall come and it be fulfiled in the Kingdom of God so that they only who are partakers of the new Wine in Christ's Kingdom can take the Cap of Salvation and Praise his Name But notwithstanding all that can be said none are greater opposers of the Power of Godliness than they who have their life only in the outward profession thereof and are like those Soldiers very earnest in parting and casting Lots for Christ's Garments not at all regarding the crucified Jesus upon the Cross so near them So many Thousands Professors spend most of their precious time about Words Names Shadows vain Shows and beggarly Elements till they disputed and thrown away all inward sense of true Christianity What a noise they make about Water Bread and Wine and other bodily exercises acting in Religion as if making and blessing an Idol and employed in heartless overly and outside Performances but within full of Envy Pride and Covetousness as if they thought to clime into Heaven that way by which Lucifer was cast out Here 's enough said to satisfie the impartial and unprejudiced but to such as are wedded to the Forms Customs and Traditions of Men this Doctrine will seem New Strange and Dangerous nevertheless tho' many understand not these things at present yet I hope they may hereafter and to such as are otherwise minded God will reveal these and greater Mysteries in his due time
every Man that cometh into the World John 1.9 and our blessed Lord said John 8.12 I am the Light of the World he that followeth me shall not walk in Darkness but shall have the Light of Life While ye therefore have the Light believe in the Light that ye may be the Children of the Light John 12.36 and he bids seek first the Kingdom of God and the Righteousness thereof which Kingdom he told the Scribes and Pharisees was in them Luke 17.21 whence it is evident that every true Convert must inwardly turn from the Power of Satan and Kingdom of darkness within and inwardly seek and feel after the marvelous Light of God's Kingdom to seek the Lord if haply they might feel after him and find him tho' he be not far from every one of us Acts 17.27 and the Apostle James writing to Sinners bids them lay aside all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness and receive with meekness the ingrafted Word which is able to save their Souls which Peter calls the sure Word of Prophesie unto which says he ye do well to give heed as unto a Light that shines in a dark place till the day dawn and the day star arise in your Hearts 2 Pet. 1.19 which said ingrafted Word and sure Word of Prophesie cannot be intended or meant by the Holy Ghost to be the Scriptures because they are not able to Save Mens Souls or give Eternal Life to such as think to have it thence John 5.39 but it is the Light of Christ our Lord in whom is Life Eternal and the same Life is the Light of Men and his Name is called the Word of God Rev. 19.13 2 Object But dost thou deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God Which is the only rule both for Life and also to judge of Doctrines and the only Weapon to resist Satan and confute his Ministers and Christ overcame the Tempter only by the Scriptures which are the Sword of the Spirit and the Word of God Answ 1. In obedience to the command of Christ John 5.39 I have perused and diligently searched the Scriptures both in the Originals and several Translations it may be as much as any Man and find that they sufficiently declare and testify of and for our blessed Saviour Jesus Christ to be the Word of God But through the whole Volumn of this holy Book called the Bible and Scriptures of Truth I find not therein that they are called by this Name 2. And therefore that the Scriptures are the Sword of the Spirit or the Word of God I have no Scripture warrant to believe but that the Word of God is the Sword of the Spirit I own and witness experimentally and that it is sharper than a Two edged Sword like a Hammer and Fire the Ax at the Root of the Tree and that 't is Vnchangeable Incorruptible and Eternal without beginning of Days or end of Time and so are not the Scriptures 2. Nevertheless we preferr the Holy Scriptures above all Books as they were given forth by the Holy Spirit of God and therefore of Divine Authority and believe them to be a true Declaration of God and of his Word yet we must not fix our hopes of Eternal Life in the Scriptures as the Jews did and would not believe in Chirst nor come to him that they might have Life John 5.38.39.40 It is not they therefore who have the Scriptures but only they who have the Son of God that have life 1 John 5.12 4. Wherefore we preferr Christ Jesus above the Scriptures for in all things he must have the preheminence therefore said John he is preferr'd before me for he is before me and before Abraham was saith Christ I am Wherefore know that we build not upon the holy Prophets and Apostles their Words Works Writings and Experiences but upon Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Corner Stone and the Foundation of the Prophets and Apostles so that we have not received our Light Life Peace Comfort Faith Hope and Assurance from the Writings of the Saints but from him that was their Light Life Hope Rest and Foundation and have our teaching from that inward Light Law Word and Vnction whereby Abel Enoch Noah Abraham Isaac Jacob and Joseph walked with and pleased God long before the Scripture or Scriptural Rules were written and manifested 5. Neither are the Scriptures the only Rule for they declare and testifie of the Law written in the Heart and the Rule of a new Creature Gal. 6.15.16 and as for the only Judge of Doctrines we know that the Scriptures are hard to be understood and therefore Men in their Carnal Wisdom are putting their several meanings upon one and the same Scripture wherefore we say the Spirit of God is the Judge of Doctrines because he alone who gave forth the Scriptures best knows the meaning thereof For the Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2.10 Answer 6. Neither yet do I believe that the Scriptures were the only means which Christ made use of to overcome and repel the Tempter in the Wilderness for Satan allegdd and pleaded Scripture till he indeed took the Sword of the Spirit even his Divine Power and commanded him to be gone and said Get thee behind me Satan Object 3. Though it is granted that Christ by his Light and Spirit is in every true Believer yet we cannot believe him to be so in every Man for Paul tells the Ephesians that before their Conversion they were without God and without Christ in the World Eph. 2.12 and the same Apostle bids others to examine and prove themselves and to know that Jesus Christ is in you except you be Reprobates 2 Cor. 13.5 whereby it appears that Vnbelievers and Reprobates are without Christ Answ 1. As to Vnbelievers before Conversion they are alienated from the Life and Light of Christ and under the Powers of the Prince of Darkness nevertheless the true Light shines in this Darkness but the Darkness comprehendeth it not John 1.5 and I can truly witness to the Truth hereof knowing the time when I was without Christ and without God in the World i. e. without the true knowledge of them living as if there was no God yea without any awful regard to the Eye of God yet I can as truly affirm that at that time the Light of Christ was in me testifying against all mine Iniquities And tho' this may seem to be a Mistery that a measure of his Light should be in a Man when that Man is without Christ yet having experienced the truth hereof do therefore testify that it is one thing for the Light of Christ to be in a Man and another thing for a Man to be in the Light of Christ and therefore affirm that the Light of Christ is in every Man but no Man is in Christ Jesus till he be a new Creature Answ 2. And as to Reprobates such as the Scripture testify who have sinned out the Day of Grace
until John so John was until Christ and John must no more exceed his bounds than the Prophets theirs for as the Prophets continued and gave way to John so John resigned up to Christ John's Temporary Ministry had a Temporary Baptism but the Everlasting Gospel of Christ Jesus had an Everlasting Baptism I must decrease but he shall increase saith John therefore we leave John and his Baptism where we found them viz. Without the bounds and limits of Christ's Kingdom as to his dispensation Mat. 11.11 Verily I say unto you among them that are born of Women there hath not risen a greater Prophet than John Baptist nevertheless he that is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he and if ye will receive it this is the Elias which was for to come But now to bring Signs and Ceremonies into Christ's Kingdom the true Church is acting directly against Christ and him crucified and surely none are so weak as to rely upon Water Baptism as sufficient which I fear many Thousands do without the Sactification of the Spirit or to think that Christ's Spiritual Baptism is not compleat with John's these do worse than to build Tabernacles for Moses and John the Baptist equal to one for Christ and so debase the greatest Glory of the New Testament the Baptism of the Spirit Object 1. But have all our Christian fore-Fathers been in the dark about this Thing that Water Baptism which gives us our Christendome hath no room now in the Church and Kingdom of Christ Answ 1. The Judgments of the Lord are unsearchable and his ways past finding out 2. that Christianity which proceeds from Water Baptism is but low and mean it is but Skin deep However it is only the Baptism of Christ's Spirit which maketh a true Christian Also our Lord said to Peter Vnless I wash thee thou hast no part in me John 13.8 even so it is with us unless we be sanctified and cleansed by the Spirit of Jesus we shall perish our Uncleanness Object 2. But Christ who is Lord of the Kingdom and Head of the true Church submitted to this Ordinance and was baptized with Water I Answer very true and Jesus was also circumcised and honoured John's Baptism 1. because he was born under the Law 2. to fulfiill and finish all legal Righteousness and so he that knew no Sin was made Sin for us That we might be made the Righteousness of God in him wherefore beware least any spoil you through Philosophy and vain Deceit after the Traditions of Men after the Rudiments of this World and not after Christ for he is the Substance and in him dwelt the fulness of the Godhead bodily And ye are Compleat in Him in whom also ye are circumcised with the Circumcision made without hands in putting off the body of the Sins of the Flesh by the Circumcision of Christ Buried with Him in Baptism wherein also ye are Risen with Him through the Faith of the operation of God blotting out the hand writing of Ordinances which was against us and contrary to us and took it out of the way nailing it to the Cross and having spoiled Principalities and Powers he made a shew of them openly Triumphing over them in it Col. 2.8 to 15. Object 3. But does not the Lord justifie Water Baptism in saying Except a Man be born of Water John 3.5 and commands it Go teach all Nations Baptizing them c. Answ Not at all for the Lord does not say Except a Man be baptized of Water but born of Water whence it plainly appears such Water is here intended as can give a new Birth or a new Life And saith he if thou hadst known the Gift of God thou wouldst have asked of him and he would have given thee Living Water And so all that are regenerated know this Well of Living Water and witness it to be in them springing up to Everlasting Life John 4.14 and I have long observed when Baptism in Scriprure is mentioned presently it is by some assigned and confined to Water Baptism whereas nothing less can be intended as Mat. 28.19 there is Christ's Commission to his Apostles Go teach all Nations baptizing them how or wherewith 'T is soon answered with Material Water but we say Material Water is not mentioned and no more intended in this Baptism than the material Element of Fire is meant in these Words He shall baptize you with the holy Ghost and with Fire Mat. 3.11 and therefore in full answer to this last Objection I say that our Lord Jesus never practised instituted or commanded the use of Water Baptism in his Church John 4.3 Jesus our Lord commanded to Baptize Mat. 28.19 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Here is the Commission at large and not a word of Water mentioned neither doth it appear that these words In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost was at any time expressed by the Apostles when they or any of them condescended to the use of Water for they understand the import of their Embassie consisted not in the use of those words but that by the effectual ministration of the Word of Faith they might implant such as believe into the Name i. e. the Power Vertue and Life of God the Father Son and Spirit Besides Paul whose Commission was as full as the other Apostles speaking of Water Baptism saith thus Christ sent me not to Baptize but to Preach the Gospel 1 Cor. 1.17 Object 4. But the Apostles practised Water Baptism not only before Christ's Spiritual Baptism came in but afterwards also Answ It is granted and they used Circumcision also but neither of these practices were in obedience to any command of Christ but from the Example of Moses and John Baptist and in condescention for certain it is all and every outward Sign or Ceremony having at first Divine Institution are not easily laid down by reason of that Honourable Account they have obtained in the Church as the brazen Serpent the use whereof was only in the Wilderness but being appointed of God and very Serviceable in that time yet it remained many Generations though of no use unless for an Idol till the Reign of Hezekiah who broke in pieces the brazen Serpent which Moses had made for unto those days the Children of Israel did burn Incense unto it In like manner Circumcision being ended an Ordinance of God of great esteem and service amongst the Jews was continued long after it was abolished by Christ but the Apostle affirms of it to be nothing even as it 's said in another place an Idol is nothing in the World so says Paul Circumcision is nothing and Vncircumcision is nothing nor is he a Jew that is one outwardly neither is that Circumcision which is outward in the Flesh but he is a Jew which is one inwardly and Circumcision is that of the Heart in the Spirit
may not command nor suffer us any longer to be Smitten contrary to the Law Acts 23.3 Postscript THE summ and end of all Testimonies Declarations Words and Writing is or ought to be to Reconcile Recover and Restore lost Man unto God and into his Favour And this is to be done no other way but only in and by Jesus Christ our Lord. He is the Way I am the Way saith he and no Man cometh to the Father but by me John 14.4 5 6. Now then He and he only is in the right way to Eternal Life who is in Christ that hath put on Christ that dwelleth and abideth in Christ and Christ in him John 6 56. But some will say who is in Christ Answ The new Creature even he or she that is raised up from dead Works and made alive to God by the same Spirit and Power that raised up Jesus from the Dead Rom. 8.11 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 Rom. 6.4 Therefore if any Man be in Christ he is a new Creature behold all things are become new and all things are of God who hath reconciled us unto himself by Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 5.17 Wherefore all my Dear Friends Brethren and Sisters who have believed in the Light and do walk in the Light and tho' this way is every where evil spoken of Acts 19.9 Yet to you he is precious his ways are ways of Pleasantness and all his paths full of Peace Prov. 3.17 Hold on keep in this your way to the end and as ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord even so walk in him Col. 2.6 So run as that ye may obtain the Crown and finish your Course with Joy Take heed Watch and Pray least ye fall or enter into Temptation of being easie or luke-warm or to begin to wax wanton against Christ 1 Yim 5.11 And so espouse to your selves any carnal Intrest or false Liberty which leadeth down to the Chambers of Death and Hell Prov. 7.27 And therefore believing that I am in Conscience obliged both to God and Man and made willing as a warning unto All here to Insert and Publish this following Testimony A Copy of the Paper sent to Nottingham the 21st of the 7th Month 1697. To all tender and upright-hearted Friends in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire James Jackson sendeth Greeting in the Love and Fear of God which abideth unchangable for ever MY Dear Friends whereas by my sinful Prevarications and publick Revolt the Glorious Name of the Lord and his ever blessed Truth hath been greatly dishonoured his holy Spirit together with yours exceedingly grieved besides the manifest occasion of Stumbling Offence and Perjudice hereby given to the World And now through the infinite Goodness and Mercy of God in Jesus Christ being brought into the weighty sence of his righteous Judgments and just Displeasure for my Transgressions and Backslidings feeling also the operation of his mighty Power in the fresh Visitations of his Love renewing and reviving his own blessed Work upon my Heart whereby he hath made me as at first to look unto him whom I have Pierced and with shame and contrition to yeild unto and fall under those very same Pricks and Divine Reproofs against which I have too too long kicked In the living sence hereof I am constrained to declare unto you and am not ashamed to Publish unto the World how abundantly Good and Gracious the Lord hath been and is to me who after all my Provocations and Ill requitals hath once more in the way of his Judgments extended Mercy and as a God that waits to be Gracious hath given me a repenting broken and returning frame of Heart filled with Self-condemning and Self-abhorring resentments and withal raised in me a living hope that as he hath seen all my Wanderings and perversness of my ways he will also pity and heal me and restore Comforts to me and to you my Mourners according to that precious Word Isa 57.15 16 17 18. Neither can I here omit to make my sincere and thankful Acknowledgements for the many repeated Testimonies of your tender Care and Christian-like Dealing with me watching over me administring wholsome and seasonable Admonitions faithful and compassionate Reproofs and lastly righteous and just Censures All which as to me I own were very necessary and as from you the products of Love and Faithfulness The savour thereof hath ever since by times affected my Heart with warm Inclinations to love you and secret Motions to return with the Dove into the Ark back again unto you Hos 2.7 And also in tender Love and Faithfulness I cannot but warn and beseech those who in any measure or degree have swerved from the pure path of Holiness and Selfdenial whose Hearts are privy to any secret allowance of Sin or inward declinings or decay from your first Love that ye make haste and delay not but immediately look up unto Jesus as they in the Wilderness to the Brazen Serpent Oh! linger not dally not with Sin nor take liberty to defer from mine or any others evil Example least hardness come through the deceitfulness of Sin who knows how soon the Day of Visitation may be over the strivings of Gods Spirit cease and the Door of Mercy be shut And as for my part tho' I can truly say the Lord hath preserved me from the Spirit of Envy and Prejudice the usual Companions of Apostacy yet I must ever pray that none who have known the Truth may have the like occasion to feel the bitter Pangs Terrors and Difficuties which attend a deferred return And Ye who have abode Faithful and continued in your first Station knowing that all your Strenth and Sufficiency is of Grace Put on as the Elect of God Bowels of Mercy and Pitty sustaine the Weak and pray for Us and all that have tasted of the Good Word of Life and the Powers of the World to come that we together with you may be Preserved and persevere in that Liberty wherein the Truth doth set us free and there abiding may keep our Dominion in the Authority of Truth over the Lusts of the Flesh the Lusts of the Eyes and the Pride of Life And to conclude with the humble Expression of Nebuchadnezzar in the like case Dan. 4.37 I Praise and Extoll and Honour the God of Heaven all whose Works are Truth and his Ways are Judgment and they that walk in Pride he is able to Abase Iames Iackson THE END