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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A41824	A treatise concerning baptism, and the Lord's Supper shewing, that the true disciples of Christ are sent to baptize men into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, for the carrying on of which, Christ is with them, and will be, to the end of the world : also, a few words concerning the Lord's Supper, shewing that those that sup with him are in his kingdom.	Gratton, John, 1641-1712.; Gratton, John, 1641-1712. John Baptist's decreasing and Christ's increasing witnessed.	1695 (1695)	Wing G1587; ESTC R39440	63,790	157

A TREATISE CONCERNING BAPTISM AND THE Lord's Supper SHEWING That the true Disciples of Christ are sent to Baptize Men into the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost for the Carrying on of which Christ is with them and will be to the End of the World Also A Few Words concerning the Lord's Supper shewing that those that Sup with him are in his Kingdom Matt. 28.19 All Power is given unto me in Heaven and in Earth Go ye therefore teach all Nations baptizing them in i. e. into the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost And lo I am with you always even to the End of the World John 1.12 As many as received him to them he g●●e Power to become the Sons of God Acts 1.8 Ye shall receive Power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you Rev. 21.6 I will give unto him that is athirst of the Fountain of the Water of Life freely London P●●nted and Sold by T. Sowle in White-Hart-Court in Gracious-street 1695. TO THE Unprejudiced READER A few Words Friendly Reader THOV cannot chuse if thou be a Man that lives in this Age and Northern part of the World but be very sensible that the Divisions amongst People now is very great relating to Christianity and yet all seem very Zealous in their Way or at least some of all sorts are much satisfied in their Way though there are few know the Way of Peace or can tell what that Peace is which is the Peace of God that passeth the Vnderstanding of all Natural Men be they never so highly Learned in Tongues Arts and Languages For it is not Humane Learning that can make Men Spiritual Men nor bring Men Acquainted with God or to the Knowledge of God who is a Spirit but they that learn Obedience and live Soberly Righteously and Godly in this present evil World through the Teachings of the Grace of God and denying Vngodliness and Worldly Lusts these have a Promise from Christ Iesus in these words He that doth my Will shall know of my Doctrine which suits well with his Testimony that said The Secrets of the Lord are with them that fear him So that they are the best Disciples best Scholars best Learned that have learned to live in Righteousness and true Holiness and to forsake that which is Evil and cleave unto that which is Good But since Babylon the Mystery of Iniquity the Mother of Harlots got upon the Beast we have seen many a beastly drunken and unclean Man pretend to be a spiritual Man and a Minister of the Gospel and hath not such been cried up and made great and bore Rule amongst the People who have been carried away with his Doctrine and why Because he is a greater Scholar and hath attained the Languages and can speak or write like Pilate Latin Greek and Hebrew But is he dead to Sin and alive unto Righteousness made so unto God through Christ No no if he pleads for Sin term of Life and is very angry if any Man plead not as he doth for committing Sin every Day and all his Life long yet pretends himself to be a Minister of Christ and is so acknowledged by the People But Can any Man serve two Masters Christ said They could not And Can any Man be both a Servant of Christ and a Servant of Sin also Christ saith He that commits Sin is the Servant of Sin And Iohn his beloved Apostle saith He that commits Sin is of the Devil And in my Iudgment it cannot be denied for Sin was never any Service of God but of the Devil and if Men be found in the Devil's Service and yet say They are Servants of Christ What sensible Man will believe them Now therefore here is the ground Cause of all our Divisions about Religion Rebels and Wicked Men that are gone away from God Christ the Holy Ghost and are gone into the Kingdom of Satan and live in Sin all their Days for his Kingdom is a Kingdom of Sin and yet say They are Servants of Christ Iesus and the blind People believe them though their Fruits do manifest them And these Men though they be wicked Men yet they can like the Magicians of Egypt imitate Moses and imitate Iohn the Baptist yet they bring forth nothing but what dies of it self for there is nothing of the Power and Life of God in it no Vertue of Christ so it doth People no good but leaves them as full of Corruption as it found them yet it pleaseth People to have Pillows sewed under their Arm-holes and to be smoothed over and cry Peace Peace when there is no Peace with God no Peace of Conscience so People goes on into the Pit because they believe Lyes and take Sprinkling of Infants to be Christ's Baptism and call it so and say Christ did Institute it and by it Children are made Children of God and likewise say That Bread and Wine is the Lord's Supper and That he Instituted it and yet all of them by all their Art cannot prove their Practice therefore for thy sake these following Lines are sent forth which I expect will sore offend Babylon's Merchants but God is Iudge in Heaven and will plead my Cause so that if thou find Profit in them then my End in Writing them is answered I pray God open thy Eyes and cause his Day-spring from on High to visit thee and many more Oh that his Kingdom may come Yea come Lord Iesus come quickly and set up thy Kingdom of Righteousness and Peace and thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven Amen A TREATISE OF Baptism c. OUR Lord Jesus Christ when he was about to leave his Disciples as to that manner or way of Appearance which he had been in in the form of a Servant with them and had so fulfilled all those things spoken of and required by the Law and the Prophets so near as when he was about to finish them and leave the World he then not only prayed fervently for them but also spoke very sweetly and comfortably to them as may be seen at large in Iohn 14 15 16 17 Chapters giving them many holy Exhortations and Commands He also washed the Disciples Feet and when he had so done he said unto them Know ye what I have done to you Ye call me Lord and Master and-ye say well for so I am If I then your Lord and Master have washed your Feet ye ought also to wash one another's Feet for I have given you an Example that you should do as I have done to you Now tho' here is both Command and Example for washing one another's Feet yet how little is this regarded or observed by our Dippers or Sprinklers with or into Water How can they pass by this which was so plainly and positively commanded and began by him who was their Lord and Master and used such a plain and full Argument to urge them to do as he had done to them I say what Reason

18. Even as Peter said In the Name of Iesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk so the Lord was with them and wrought mightily and manifested his great Power in them and with them So the Apostles declared the Work was done by the Lord Chap. 14.27 When Paul had bidden the Impotent Man Stand upright on thy Feet he leaped and walked and came and rehearsed to the Church all that God had done with them and how he had opened a Door of Faith unto the Gentiles And likewise in Chap. 15.4 when they came unto Ierusalem were received of the Church there and of the Apostles and Elders they declared all things that God had done with them so the Lord being with them as he is at this Day with his Ministers who is the strength of his People it is Christ the great Power of God that reaches the Hearts and Souls of People through his Vessels or Instruments and Servants so the Work is the Lord's done by him and carried on in and by his Spirit Power and Wisdom so the Glory of the Power is due to him For Men as Men are not sufficient for these things nor of themselves are able to think a good thought 2 Cor. 3.5 Nor without Christ who hath all Power we as men can do nothing Ioh. 15.5 Neither can any Man receive any thing but what is given him from above Iohn 3.27 So all Boasting is excluded for it is the Power of God that is with Men rests upon Men and works in Men for Men and by Men and is sufficient to all and for all in every Work and Service the Lord requires So that all that live and abide in the Name of the Lord and do what they do in it they do it to his Praise and Glory By this time I hope it 's clear that the Name is the Power and that the Lord that sent them to teach all Nations Baptizing them into the Name c. did go with them and according to his Promise he is with them that are sent forth of him and will be to the end of the World and is the Baptizer of Men into his own Name Spirit Life Light and Love and it 's also clear that those whom he thus Baptizeth he sends them forth goes with them and makes them Instrumental in his own Name Power Spirit Life Light and Love for the Baptizing of others into the same so that all those that do run to preach and teach before they be Baptized with this Baptism of Christ Jesus they run before they be sent and therefore they cannot nor do not profit the People at all neither do they know Christ or his Name nor have heard his Voice or seen his Appearance to their Joy Object But some object and say There was some method to be used or means for the effecting this Baptism Answ. I Answer Yea and if we observe Christ's words Go teach all Nations Baptizing them c. So whilst Men are teaching in the Name there is a baptizing into the Name Experimentally witnessed and felt by such as hear the Word believe it and receive it in Love Oh blessed be God there are many at this Day can Seal to this Truth that whilst Men stand up and teach in the Name of God behold the Name of Christ the Power of God comes over many sometimes most if not all in the Assembly and are so deeply dipped or plunged into it that they are much tendered melted shaken and broken and laid very low before the Lord whose Power alone makes his people a willing People in the Day of his power for it 's he that works all his own Works in us and for us both to will and to do of his own good Pleasure Therefore let all Flesh be silent before the Lord for the Flesh profits nothing it is the Spirit that quickens the words that I speak unto you said Christ they are Spirit and Life and all that have received him who is a quickning Spirit and are alive in him and in his Spirit these know his Words and his Voice from the Voice of Strangers Oh what is Man then out of the Name Power and Spirit of Jesus Or wherein is he to be accounted of All the Power is Christ's and the Baptism is Christ's and Baptized Men are made Instrumental in his Hand for the carrying on of his Work that without him can do nothing For all that is done by them is done in the ability that God gives and the Praise is due to God not to Man To God over all be it given for ever Now Christ being Head of the Body the true Church and the Life Light Power Wisdom Righteousness yea all in all in every Member it 's he that brings every Member into it's right place and service in the Church or Body of Christ and their Faith stands in his Power and Name and is one in every Member so they know one Head or Lord and one Faith which he is the Author and Finisher of and one Baptism by one Spirit and one Body or true Church of Christ and all are made to drink into one Spirit and are all fed and nourished by the Head Christ Jesus the true Vine in whom every Branch is nourished fed and kept living faithful and fruitful to his Praise and Glory Object But say some The word Baptize signifies to dip or plunge into Water Answ. I grant Iohn's Baptism was with Water but Christ's Baptism was with the Holy Ghost and with Fire Mat. 3.11 and of a purifying Nature and Christ spoke of the Spirit being in those that believe in him as a Well of Living Water and elsewhere it is called the Spirit of Judgment and of Burning and saith the Apostle Our God is a consuming Fire And Men as before asserted are Baptized into Christ and put him on And let me ask my Reader Is not God that 's said to be a Consuming Fire and Christ and his Name and Spirit all one And doth not the Apostle direct his Epistles to the Church which is in God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ see 1 Thess. 1. and 2. Thess. 1. And if in God then in Christ if in Christ then in the Holy Ghost and if so then in the Name yea in the Life Light Love Wisdom and Righteousness of God But do these Men think a Man cannot be dipped or plunged into any thing but Water And are not many plunged into great Sin Misery and deep Bondage Captivity and Thraldom So that few think or believe they can ever get out whilst they live yea too many lie here But what were they of old plunged into that were Baptized unto Moses in the Cloud and Sea Pray where was Moses then Did not he abide in the Power of God and in Faith And was not the Israelites got out of the Faith and out of the Power of God when they looked back at the Host of Pharaoh And who Baptized them unto Moses Was

it not the Lord's Work or Power that brought them to Moses that stood in the Power of God and in the Living Faith And they were Baptized unto him and dipp'd into the same Power and Faith in measure that he stood and abode in after they had been out of it through unbelief and fear of Man Now he that brought them out of the unbelief then unto Moses into the Living Faith and out of their own weakness into his own Power that abides for ever is the same that brings his People now that have been in unbelief and in great weakness into the Living Faith and Power of God and so unto our Spiritual Moses Christ Jesus that goes before his People and leads them out of spiritual Egypt Bondage Captivity and Thraldom and saves his People that follow him from their Sins and delivers them out of the Hands of their Enemies so they are with him and he with them according to his Promise and are Baptized into the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost unto him who is all in all and hath all Power given him in Heaven and in Earth Mat. 28. Object But says the Priest What outward Act did the Apostles use when they Baptized with that Baptism into the Name c. Ans. I answer Freely they did as Christ commanded them teach and as they were bidden When the Power got hold of any and came over them they went on teaching them to observe all things whatsoever Christ commanded them and they laboured in the work of the Ministry chearfully and as they preached the Holy Ghost fell upon those that heard them as in Acts 10.44 And the Power of God came over many and they felt it and believed in the Lord Jesus so they came to see the Name and Power of Jesus to be above every Name or Power and they believed in it and stood up in it being baptized into it they came to witness a Living in his Name Spirit Life and Power c. and in him viz. Christ Jesus were made new Creatures by his Name was he made whole that had been lame living that had been dead yea the Blind came to see the Deaf to hear the Dumb to speak Lepers were made clean Devils were cast out and his Name is the same at this Day tho' few believe in it or know it Glory be given to him whose is the Power who sits upon the Throne and to the Lamb for ever Obj. But some may object and say Is there nothing to be done in order to Baptize Men into the Name but to Teach Ans. The word Teach is a great word and so is the word Teaching and signifies all they did as Preaching in the Power as the Spirit gave them utterance and ability and praying in the Spirit and Power or asking the Father in Christ's Name as he bade them and singing Praises to God in his Spirit and Power as Paul and Silas did in Prison and living Holy Righteous Godly Sober Lives and Conversations and other Work● aforesaid done in the Spirit Power or Name of Christ so their Teaching sounded far and near for what they did they did it in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. So the word Teach and Teaching is of a large extent for there is very good and effectual Teaching besides preaching verbally and the Disciples of Christ taught so then and do so teach at this Day as none other can because God enables them so to do for they are all what they are in Christ and in his Power they do what they do as first to love as Brethren indeed and in truth is very teaching to all that behold it Secondly Not to have a Beggar amongst them is very teaching and a certain manifestation that they do love one another For by this said Christ shall all Men know that ye are my Disciples c. and gave a new Commandment that they should love one another which Command no Man can obey but as God who is love doth enable him Thirdly Humility and Meekness teach well and such seek not their own to become great and high in the World but the things of Jesus Christ And this plainly shews those are like unto him who are Meek and Lowly but Pride is hateful in all especially those that pretend Commission to teach for that teaches a wrong thing and strengthens people in that which is bad yea hardens them in it like unto the Pharisees who were proud and loved the Chief Seats in the Synagogues and the Highest Rooms at Feasts walked in long Robes loved greetings in the Market and to be called of Men Rabbi Rabbi these were Enemies to God and all good Men would neither enter the Kingdom themselves nor suffer those that would to enter And surely those that are in the same Spirit and walk in the same Steps and bring forth the same Fruits are no better than they Fourthly Men that are what they seem to be that speaks the truth to their neighbour and are not Double-Tongued do not Dissemble nor lie nor respect Mens Persons but do justly and good to them that hates them and loves Enemies Prays for them that Persecutes them and Despitefully uses them this is very teaching and are such things as none can do but those that are enabled to do them in the Name of Jesus Christ and by his Holy Name but the contrary is very bad and tends to hurt and ●inders all Nations from coming to be baptized into Christ's Name Fifthly In true Compassion to visit the Fatherless and Widows in their Afflictions and to Relieve the Poor and Needy to suffer Wrongs forgive Trespasses against us to visit the Sick and cloath the Naked feed the Hungry and such as are in Prison to Visit Feed and Cloath shews forth Christian Love and Charity Tenderness Kindness Pity and Compassion such preach well and is very teaching before all Nations but the contrary highly provokes the Holy Just God and declares Men to be born after the Flesh and not of the Spirit whose Fruits are all good Oh! how have the Sprinklers manifested themselves in our Day by laying many in Prison making Wives like Widows Children like Fatherless taking their Bread-Corn from them and other things by force and though they pretend to be sent of Christ who said freely ye have received freely give yet these have given nothing freely therefore ought to receive nothing but notwithstanding they will receive and take by force of them they do nothing for and no People nor Nation can in reason look upon this to be of a right Nature neither doth it nor ever can bring Honour to the Name of Christ Jesus but the contrary But they that are in the Name Power and Spirit of Christ they injure no Man defraud no Man but are good Examples to all Mankind and shew forth the Fruits of the Spirit Love Joy Peace Long-suffering Gentleness Meekness Soberness Temperance Purity Chastity and Truth and have Crucified the Flesh

him and follow him in order to know him and where he feeds and causes his Flocks to rest in this Glorious Day of God at Noon that thou may not be as one that turns aside from the Flocks of his Companions I. G. POSTSCRIPT IT hath often grieved me to hear and see how poor ignorant People are carried away by their Blind Leaders to feed amongst Swine that wallow in the Mire and Dirt of Sin and are content with dry husky Shells of Empty Profession and are Zealous for that which they have no Scripture for nor do Profit by So these Two Things viz. Water-Baptism and Bread and Wine I find are greatly Adored as though by these the People had great Benefit but if we look into their Lives and Conversations it doth not at all appear So it fell weightily upon me to write what the Lord would please to enable me about these things For as they are used now they are not so much as rightly imitated by any of those that use them neither the Lord's last Supper at the outward Passover nor yet the Baptism of Iohn but as to Supping with the Lord and being Baptized into his Name this I find few that know what it is Therefore was my Desire a little more Earnest to set Pen to Paper and in plainness shew what the Name of Father Son and Spirit is and what they do that Baptize into it and also what they are who Sup with Christ not now seeking him in Figures but can say they have found him elsewhere I heartily pray it be may of Service to all that read it and of Hurt to none for God doth know I desire the Wellfare of all Mankind who am a poor despised Servant of Jesus Christ Iohn Gratton IOHN Baptist's Decreasing and CHRIST's Increasing Witnessed Being a Treatise concerning Baptism in the Type and Baptism in the Mystery TO THE Friendly Unprejudic'd Reader Friend IT is no Desire in me that because so many have appear'd in Print that therefore I would be one also that should be accounted Eminent But having been a great Sinner and therefore have through infinite Love and free Grace much given me my Love is so much to him that is Lord of all that I am not a little grieved to see his Pure and Precious Truth so strongly on all hands encountered with and fought against in its Comfortable and Glorious Appearance in the Lord 's poor despised People called by the scornful World Quakers And seeing that this of Water-Baptism hath been and is a Thing they that are not only Adversaries to Truth but to their own Souls have so publickly made use of it to fight us with I having both been an Eye and Ear-witness of the same have been not a little exercised in Mind about this matter but have seriously considered and tried all their Arguments that I have been acquainted with for this thing and I find them so far contrary to Truth and the mind of Truth that a Necessity fell upon me to write what it pleased the Pure Eternal God to Communicate unto me by his Spirit So that what is according to Truth and sound Iudgment thou wilt find here written as to the Tenor and Substance of the matter from the Spirit of God in me and so is not mine but his To him be the Glory wholly given for ever But if there be any Circumstantial Defect for want of Heed or Exactness which may either fall upon me or the Printer charge it in its right place and lay it not upon the Spirit of God Having given thee this Caution I desire thee to observe in the next place my End in the Publishing this little Treatise which is First To clear Truth of Scandals in this point laid to our Charge 2dly To strengthen the Owners and Lovers of it 3dly To acquaint or inform them that are mistaken about it And lastly That I might so answer that Love so greatly bestowed upon me as to be clear of all Men and stand single unto God whose Servant I am through Mercy and might bring Glory Honour and Praise unto his Holy Name for ever So now before I leave thee I shall only acquaint thee of the great Differences amongst Men about this thing and then take leave The Presbyterian saith Water-Baptism belongs to Children of Believing Parents and therefore they examine the Parents of their Faith Now if the Parent be an Vnbeliever then the Child is not to be accepted to this Ordinance as they call it From which I shall only now observe this That if this be so then is the Child a Sufferer for the Sin of the Father's Vnbelief which God hath said shall never be The Child shall not suffer for the Sin of the Father nor the Father for the Sin of the Child but the Soul that Sins it shall die 2dly The Episcopal saith The Child is by this Regenerated and Born again Sanctified and Changed and made a new Creature and therefore if a Child be in danger of Death great haste is made to get it Sprinkled And if this be true What farther need of a Saviour 3dly The Baptists say Believers only have Right to Water-Baptism I grant Believers are only they that are Truly Baptized but that they are injoyn'd or commanded to observe this Water-Baptism they now so differently observe I find not But I hope if thou readest what follows with a single Eye thou may'st come to see all these Dippers and Sprinklers and their shortness in this and gain some acquaintance with the Lord's Mind as thou waitest in his pure Light which makes all things manifest to which I beseech thee to turn thy Mind and believe in it that thou may'st be a Child of Light and then thy Fellowship will be with us who are Children of it and so we may Praise the Lord together who is Light To whom be all the Honour and Glory for ever and ever Written by one of the Least of all yet one of the Lord 's Chosen Ones unknown to many yet known by the Name of Iohn Gratton Monyash the 4th of the 3d Month 1674. A Treatise concerning Baptism THey that are Baptised into Christ have put on Christ live in him and are One Spirit with or in him are all united by One Spirit into one Body and are Members of his Body of his Flesh and of his Bones and of his Fulness receive Grace for Grace and know One Lord One Faith One Baptism and are One in him and he in them and so are come into the Alpha and Omega the Beginning and the End the First and the Last He whose Name is called The Word of God by which all things were made in Heaven and in the Earth to him be Glory for ever Now the Baptism of the Spirit is One in all and all that are Baptized by the One Spirit are Baptized into One Body and are all made to drink into One Spirit and these have no Confidence in the Flesh but are

into Water as you do all of one Day if it was so But it is not here so said nor mention made of Water in this Chapter so that this place will not carry your Matter you would lay on it for all these it 's said continued stedfastly in the Apostles Doctrine and their Doctrine I hope you will own was for Christ If any Preach any other Doctrine than what is already Preached or lay any other Foundation than that which is already laid let him be accursed We Preach Christ saith Paul to the Jews a Stumbling-block to the Greeks Foolishness but unto them that believe Christ the Wisdom of God and the Power of God It was Christ they Preached But say you Philip Baptized the Eunuch and the Gaoler was Baptized and Cornelius and those with him Peter commanded to be Baptized in the Name of the Lord and say you Baptists when was that Command repealed I Answer Though it was a Command yet it was but Peter's Command and Peter had not all revealed to him at first but was ignorant of things that were afterwards revealed and so were the rest of the Apostles Witness Peter's Vision and the Apostles blaming Peter for going to the Gentiles because they yet saw not into that foretold Mystery nor many before them saw it not but it was revealed in the Lord's time to them how that the Gentiles should be Fellow-Heirs and partakers of the same Glory But you cannot prove that Peter's Command was obeyed He commanded them it is true to be Baptized and if they were his Command was fulfilled But who commanded you or sent you Shew us your Commission For Peter did not any where that I can find Command That Water-Baptism should be observed to the World's end No no It was the Baptism of Christ Jesus with the Holy Ghost and Fire that was and is and will be to the end Established and Commanded in Mat. 28. by Christ. And though the Apostles did make use of Iohn's Baptism yet they laid no stress upon us that were to come after them to use it neither was it Commanded by Christ for them to use But come May not I say That they saw not to the end of Iohn's Baptism though Iohn had plainly said I must Decrease no more than they saw the coming of the Gentiles till it was shewed by a Vision and that though Christ had said That the True Worship was in Spirit and in Truth yet that they saw not through the Outward Worship And have I not more ground for it than you have for Paul's NOT ONLY But if you were in the Light you would see that the Apostles did see but in part and no farther than it was revealed unto them no more than we do now But though we should say that they did see unto the end of Iohn's Baptism and unto the end of all visible things as I know they did in time as I shall prove hereafter yet altho they might they that were daily added might have stumbled had they denied them that of Iohn's Baptism except they also had seen into the Mind of God with them in this Matter for they were but Enterers in as little Children and not grown up to Man's State at first but went from strength to strength in the Spirit of the Lord and so the Apostles could take Liberty for the furtherance of the Gospel to use Iohn's Dispensation but were above it themselves out from under it's Command in the Power of Christ who was greater than Iohn and had all Power himself and so it could not command them but they it And so Philip said unto the Eunuch If thou believest with all thy Heart THOU MAYEST not THOU MUST No but if thou believest thou Mayest he would not deny it him tho' I believe Philip knew that it was the Spirit 's Baptism that must sanctifie and that Water could not reach the Soul of any nor any way satisfie the spiritual part of Mankind And yet took that Liberty in the Spirit because of the Weakness of their yet Childish Capacities to submit to their Weakness in many things that belonged unto the Law as well as in this of Iohn's And is it not also clear That the Apostle would not yet seem to lay the Building if I may so call it of Iohn waste until they had laid and builded on a more sure foundation Nor wholly preach his Baptism useless nor the Law neither until such time as the Gospel had got some hold of the People And then they testified of One Lord One Faith one BAPTISM and that by One Spirit they were all Baptized into One Body and had been all made to drink into One Spirit and that they were made able Ministers of the New Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit and came not with words Man's Wisdom teacheth but with words the Holy Ghost teacheth with which they were now Baptized comparing Spiritual things with Spiritual not Carnal or External or Elemental things with Spiritual as you do no no but Spiritual with Spiritual Now they saw by the Revelation of the Spirit into the Mysteries of God's Kingdom and therefore in Heb. 6.1 the Apostle comes in with these words LEAVING saith he mark Leaving the Principles of the Doctrine of Christ let us go on unto Perfection Come Friends deal plainly for your own Souls Good and God's Glory and tarry not short of him that makes Perfect and cleanseth from all Iniquity and be perswaded to come and wait for the true Baptism of Christ which is with the Holy Ghost and Fire that ye may be sanctified and refined and made every whit whole for it is in much Love to your Souls that these Lines are written by one that desires your Salvation even as his own and truly breathes for the Prosperity of Zion and the establishment of Truth and Righteousness But now some may Object and say That the Apostles could not have left them if they had not been in them or in the Use of them I Answer True they had so and had also been in the Use of those things the Law had required but mark All these could not make Perfect the Law made nothing Perfect said the Apostle as pertaining to the Conscience And the Baptism of John say you was but a Type Now if the Type could make Perfect then there would have been no need of the Substance for if Perfection had been by the Levitical Priesthood then verily Righteousness would have been by the Law And now say I If John ' s Baptism could have taken or have washed away Sin then verily Righteousness would have been by John I mean that Men would have been then by it made perfectly and truly Righteous But Iohn himself Preached no such thing by himself but said I am not he but behold him the Lamb of God that takes away the Sins of the World this is he of whom I spake one mightier than I cometh he must increase of the increase

your Power and Authority in this matter that you both Preach and Baptize Whereas Paul says He was not sent to Baptize but to Preach And we say and know what we say to be true that we are not sent to Baptize into Water but to Preach the Gospel and our Authority came not by Man of Man nor from Man but by the Grace of God we are what we are and his Grace is sufficient for us and ever hath been since we were a People and so will be to the End And we further say We know that Iohn was sent to Baptize with Water and we own him in his Day but where did Iohn Baptize using those words Father Son and Holy Spirit For they that had been Baptized into Iohn's Baptism had not so much as heard of a Holy Ghost So that this Baptism ye practise cannot be Iohn's nor Christ's it cannot be for he never had Water ascribed to him But Iohn who was a true Minister in his time of Water-Baptism said HE meaning Christ shall Baptize you with the Holy Ghost and Fire So then if not Iohn's as it 's clear it is not for Iohn's was a Type of the True Baptism of the Spirit and when the Types Figures Vails and Shadows were ended and HE the End and Beginning First and Last was arisen and had rent the Vail from the top to the bottom I say when the Sun of Righteousness did arise the Shadows fled away and gave him place over his own House to rule whose Right it was Then was the true Baptism known then came the Holy Ghost ●●on them then did the true Light shin●●● and the Darkness fled away then were they inwardly washed and their Understandings opened then was the Circumcision of the Heart known then was he entered into that within the Vail into the true Tabernacle which God pitched and not Man And so Iohn went before as a Type but willingly gave place to the Substance So that it 's clear the Baptism you use is not Iohn's and it is much more clear that it is not Christ's Baptism and so it must needs be your own done by you in imitation of the Holy Men of God gone before who did what they did in Obedience to the Lord and in his Power and were sent by him But Oh! whoever sent you Baptists in this great and notable Day of the Lord It will one day be said Who hath required these things at your hands Either shew us your Commission or else acknowledge your great Error and Repent and come unto the true Light and walk in it prize it and obey it that ye may be saved by it For it is not a fair Outside of the Cup and Platter but the Inward Washing of Regeneration by the Spirit and a Living in the Spirit and the whole Worship of God say we and the Scriptures the same That the True Worship of God is in Spirit and in Truth But that your Water-Baptism is Spiritual I deny or that it ought to be observed in the Worship of God you cannot prove But Iohn's was ordained to be used as a Type before the Spirit 's Worship or the True Worship in the Spirit was fully Established and of it self a thing that I believe none of you dare say doth in any measure sanctifie and wash the Soul And if it be of so little Effect unto the Soul why what necessity is there for the Continuance of it to the World's End since also ye cannot prove it so commanded For once more let me tell you that that Baptism commanded in Mat. 28. was INTO the Name of the Father Son and Spirit or Holy Ghost But I say this was not Iohn's for they that had been baptiz'd unto Iohn's Baptism had not so much as heard of a Holy Ghost Acts 19.1 2 3 4. which they must needs have done if they had been baptized with the use of these words In the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost But further you acknowledge your selves that it is but a Type Well I ask you then What doth it type forth unto us Or what is it a Type of If it be a Type of the Baptism of Christ then I ask you What further need there is of it when the thing signified by it is come Or do you think that Type and Substance must remain together to the World's End Was it not always from the Foundation of the Law that when the Substance came then the Shadows fled away But altho' you should still say Why then did the Apostles use it after the Spirit 's Baptism was accomplish'd I Answer as before The Apostles had Power over it after they saw beyond it and could submit unto the Weakness of Believers Capacities in many things as above is mentioned but that they saw not beyond it till it was reveal'd unto them is clear but then they spoke of the One Baptism of the One Lord and of the One Faith And so Iohn himself when he saw Jesus walking he said unto his Followers Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the World And Iohn's Disciples left Iohn mark they left Iohn and walked no more with him For Iohn's Baptism could not wash them from their Sins But behold the Lamb of God takes away Sin puts an end to Sin finishes Transgression and brings in Everlasting Righteousness he makes every whit whole and fully saves to the utmost them that come to God by him and makes clean them that he washeth And if I wash thee not saith he thou hast no part in me He satisfies for he is the Bridegroom himself but Iohn was not He it 's true was the Bridegroom's Friend and would not rob him of his Prerogative or Honour but rejoyced to hear his Voice and when it was heard said This my Ioy therefore is fulfilled So we own Iohn in his Place and Time But we own the Bridegroom above Iohn although Iohn was his Friend and did what was commanded but thought not much to give him place who had commanded him And so my dearly Beloved Friends it is in much Love to all but chiefly to you called Anabaptists that this is written as I can truly testifie in the Manifestation of that true Light spoken of in the Scriptures of Truth Unto which I once more beseech you to turn your Minds and believe in it and come to walk in it and obey it and then will you have Fellowship with us and truly our Fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Christ Jesus by whom we have always received the Attonement and in whom we live out of whom we cannot live for he is our Life To whom be Glory for ever Iohn Gratton Written the 7th of the First Month 1674. The Conclusion GReat hath been the Travail of my Soul for the Prosperity of Sion and for her establishment above the Top of all the Mountains and blessed be the Lord my God my Eyes behold her and see her Beauty to exceed all the Glory of the Earth and her coming out of her Wilderness-State is come I say the time is come And many have lyed or lain in the Way-side to have drawn her aside and would gladly have allured and inticed her from her Beloved and gladly would have had her turned aside unto other Lovers and have cryed out unto her What is thy Beloved unto anothers Beloved And have spoken against her and when they could not prevail with her have evil entreated her and Persecuted her for her Beloved's sake And many have been her Troubles but the Lord hath delivered her out of all And great is her Joy at this day and her Glory exceeds all the Glory of the Nations Her Beauty is Perfect She is a Virgin and never was defiled but is all Glorious The King's Daughter is all Glorious within her Garments are all wrought Gold wholly pure she has no Blemish she is all fair without spot the only beloved of the Lord Glory to his Name He hath remembred her in Love and her Sorrows has he seen and will plead her Cause and subdue Kingdoms for her sake and make her Way plain before her Oh! Come unto Sion all ye that desire her Prosperity and be not so foolish as to sit down short of her her City is free her Gates are open by Day and by Night she has no need of the Sun by Day nor of the Moon by Night but the Lord God and the Lamb are the Light thereof Her Light will never grow dark her Sun will never set Night shall be no more upon her for her Sun is arisen and as one to run a Race is marching on his strength is as a Lyon his Voice is heard to roar and great Fear is fallen and a falling upon the Beast of Prey O! Who would not live in her Her Gates are paved with precious Pearls her Inhabitants are all Kings and Priests unto God she is altogether comely and her Glory shall never have an end Amen Oh! Who who would not dwell here Come Come unto Sion all ye that are sincere to what ye know Turn ye turn at her Call and embrace her Counsel Why will ye bestow your Money for that which is not Bread and your Labour for that which satisfieth not Oh! come unto me saith the Lord my Voice is near you How often have I called and ye regarded not nor have not answered my Requirings but are imitating them whose Life and Power you are out of But now turn ye unto the Lord with all your Hearts believe in his Light and Life will you know that never can have an end but if you still refuse you will one day know that you were Warned and Invited by one that truly seeks not himself but earnestly travails for the Wellfare of all Men and is become Servant to all for Jesus's sake To him be all Honour Praise and Dominion for ever and for evermore J. G. THE END