Arch-Bishop of Canterhury Dr. John Tillotson â—â—â—h in his Sermon upon 2 Tim. 2.19 Antiently those â—ho were baptized put off their Garments which signified the putting off the Body of Sin and were immersed and buried in the Water to represent the Death of Sin and then did rise up again out of the Water to signify their entrance upon a new Life and to these Customs the Apostle alludes Rom. 6.4 Also Dr. Fowler the present Bishop of Gloucester in his â—ook of the Scope of the Christian Religion interprets this saying of the great Apostle Rom. 6.4 as follows Christians being plunged into the Water in Baptism signifieth their undertaking and obliging themselves in a Spiritual Sense to die and be buried with Jesus Christ which Death and Burial consist in an utter renouncing and forsaking of all their Sins that so answerably to his Resurrection they may live a holy and godly Life Moreover Dr. Jer. Taylor late Bishop of Down in his Doctor Dubitantium lib. 3. cap. 4. saith thus The Custom of the Antient Church was not Sprinkling but Immersion in pursuance of the Sense of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 both in the Commandment and Example of our Blessed Saviour And this saith he agrees with the Mystery of the Sacrament it self for we are buried with him in Baptism saith the Apostle The old Man is buried and drowned iâ— the Immersion under Water and when the baptized Person is lifted up from the Water it represents the Resurrection of the new Man to newness of Life To this I shall only add that other Divine Testimony oâ— the Apostle Paul Col. 2.12 Buried with him in Baptism wherein also ye are risen with him through the Faith of the Operation of God who hath raised him from the Dead And shall now proceed to the third Particular viz. 3. It doth appear that Dipping is the right way of Baptizing from the Practice of the first Baptizers The first mention of this Ordinance of Holy Baptism we have in Mat. 3.1 where John the Dipper is mentioned And in ver 6. it is written And were baptized of him in Jordan confessing their Sins The Greek word there is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is in English They were dipped plunged or overwhelmed For it is from the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to dip c. as I have already shewed In the 7th Verse the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifie the same In the 11th Verse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to dip c. In Verse the 13th 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be dipped The Word is used again in ver 14. And the same also in the Passive Voice is used in ver 16. where it is said And Jesus when he was baptized c. And the following words do make that Sense evident for when he was dipped by John in the River of Jordan it is said He went up straightway out of the Water Which implies beyond contradiction That he was in the River and over whelmed with the Water according to the proper and native signification of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And if you will read the 5th and 6th Verses of this Chapter you will find there Multitudes thus baptized by John the Baptist or Dipper for it 's said Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea and all the Region round about Joran and were baptized of him in Jordan The same is also testified in that parallel place Mark 1.4 5. and the same Greek words used there as in Mat. 3. which I have above recited And in Mark 1.9 Jesus was baptized of John in Jordan The Greek is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into Jordan Now what Sense would this be Jesus was sprinkled into Jordan But to say Jesus was dipt into the River of Jordan is good Sense as well as a great Truth Diodate upon Mat. 3.6 saith They were plunged in the â—â—der And the Assembly in their Annotations say Dipping in Jordan But because they are noted by Mr. Wells 〈◊〉 his Answer I shall forbear reciting them and proceed 〈◊〉 other Authors Cajetan saith Christ was baptized not by Sprinkling but 〈◊〉 Dipping him into the Water And Piscator on John 3.23 〈◊〉 Baptism was administred by dipping the whole Body in â—â—â—er Mr. Mede on Titus 3.5 saith There was no such thing as Sprinkling used in Baptism in the Apostles Time nor many Ages after them It is also the Observation of that late Learned and Pious â—â—â—aister of Christ Mr. John Gosnold in his Book intituled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That Mr. John Calvin up and down in his Works doth often with many others in our Days confess That the Antient manner of Baptism in the Primitive Times was by dipping the whole Body under Water And also confesseth that the Church hath assumed this Liberty to her self of using Sprinkling in the room thereof The same Author also observes That the Translators themselves never so much as once in all the New Testament renders it by Sprinkling There is another Word for that which they constantly translate to sprinkle to wit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rantizo whereby it 's evident Rantism is not Baptism Sprinkling is not Dipping Besides in all the Places that I have met with where nothing of the stress of this Controversy depends our Translators have every where rendred 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. to dip for instance in Rev. 19.13 He had his Vesture dipt in Blood and in Mat. 26.23 He that dippeth his Hand with me in the Dish Luke 16.24 That he may dip the Tip of his Finger in later And in John 13.26 it is twice used 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dipped 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and when he had dipped Jesus answered He it is to whom I shall give a Sop when I have dipped it And when he had dipped the Sop he gave it to Judas â—â—eariot c. Moreover if we will but consider the Places where this Holy Ordinance was administred by the first Baptizers it will greatly elucidate this Truth For it was not practised in the Temple nor in their Synagogues nor yet in private Houses in which it might have been done more commodiously if sprinkling a 〈◊〉 Drops of Water upon their Faces would have sufficed But they baptized in the River of Jordan and other Places where there was much Water because plunging the whole Body under Water did require it In John 3.23 And John also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was dipping in Enon near to Salim because there was 〈◊〉 Water there and they came and were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dipped Now here we have the Reason given why Jâ—â—â— baptized in this place i. e. Because there was much Water But if he had not plunged them into the Water but onâ—â— sprinkled them with a few Drops thereof this Reason 〈◊〉 been without Foundation For as Cornelius à Lapide 〈◊〉 serves A very little Water would have served to have sprinkled Thousands But their manner of baptizing being to dip
overwhelming the Person in Water II. That true penitent Believers are the right Subject of Baptism III. That the Ordinance of Baptism is now in being and is to continue to the End of this World I. I shall shew that Baptism must be administred by Dipping c. if we consider these four things 1. The Etymology or Signification of the Word the Holy Spirit uses to express it by 2. Those Metaphors used in Holy Scripture to represent it to our Understanding 3. From the Practice of the first Baptizers 4. From the grand Commission of our Saviour Mat. 28.19 1. From the Etymology or Signification of the Word The word Baptism is from the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to dipt Baptisma a Dipping from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bapto to dip plunge or drown It implieth the washing of the whole Body 〈◊〉 even such a washing as is used in Bucks where Linen iâ— plunged and dipt For the native and proper signification of it is to dip into Water or to plunge under Water see Leigh's Critica Sacra It is a Metaphor taken from the use of the Dyers Vat 〈◊〉 and is such a Dipping by which the Cloth put into it is dyed and not a bare washing only from whence cometh Baptism Zepperus de Sacramentis saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Baptism 〈◊〉 vocis notationem attendere velimus vocabulum Baptismi mersionem significat in aquam c. If we will attend to the Notation of the word Baptism it signifies to dip into Water 〈◊〉 or the Act it self of Dipping and Washing From hence therefore and from the Etymology of the Word it self iâ— doth appear what was the Custom of administring Baptism from the beginning Whereas now saith he we â—â—â—â—ther use Rantism viz. Sprinkling in the stead of Baptism which is Dipping Alstedius in his Lexicon Theologicum printed Anno 1612. 〈◊〉 310. saith thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tingere lavare inficere unde deductum aliud verâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 intingere immergere maximè quidem aquâ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tantum significat immergere non lavare nisi 〈◊〉 unsequenti From whence it may plainly be seen that this Learned â—â—â—â—hor doth assert That Baptism is to dip plunge or 〈◊〉 whelm the Person baptized in Water And that its â—â—â—â—per signification is to dip or dye and not to wash but â—â—â—â—y by Consequence For which he cites for his Authoâ—â—â—â— both Plutarch and Nazianzen as may be seen at large 〈◊〉 the Book it self Besides this is so well known that every School-boy in 〈◊〉 Greek-Grammar can tell you that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bapto is â—â—â—â—re rendred mergo immergo to dip to plunge or overwhelm â—lso in a Greek Lexicon published and recommended to 〈◊〉 for the encrease of Knowledg by Joseph Caryll George Cokayne Ralph Vening William Dell Matthew Barker William Adderly Matthew Mead and Henry Jessey â—â—ey tell us that the signification of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is to dip â—â—â—â—ge or drown And in the Passive Voice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be plunged or overwhelmed And that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to plunge to overwhelm to baptize to dip And in 〈◊〉 Passive Voice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be plunged to be baptized or dipped In Clavis Graecae Linguae printed at London Anno 1640. 〈◊〉 is thus rendred 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mergo tingo to dip 〈◊〉 dye 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Idem the same 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mersio to drown and thereâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is often rendred to dip into to drown 〈◊〉 from thence the Latins use mersus à mergo drowned â—â—â—â—ered or over whelmed with Water And therefore it â—â—â—sed in the New Testament for that Holy Ordinance of Baptism it being performed by dipping the whole Body of the Person baptized under Water The Learned Robertson my singular good Friend in his Thesaurus Graecae Linguae saith Baptizo mergo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Intingo mergo to dye to dip plunge c. Hence saith he is Baptizo which signifies the same As also Baptismos Baptisma c. But the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rantizo he saith is aspergo to sprinkle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rontismos Aspersio Sprinkling So that you may eaâ—â—ly 〈…〉 is as much difference betwint these two Greek 〈…〉 Baptismos and Rantismos in Greek as there is betwixt these 〈◊〉 words Dipping and Sprinkling in English and therefore surely not to be conceived to be syâ—â—â—imous so as to signity the same thing I now presume from what hath been said that if the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and its Derivatives are used in all places in the New Testament where this Ordinance of Baptism is spoken of Then it will follow by an unavoidable Consequence that Dipping is the right manner of Baptizing and that Sprinkling is not Baptizing That it is so will evidently appear from an Enumeration of Particulars I will instance in some of the principal when I come to shew you what was the Practice of the first Baptizers But of that in its proper place I now come to treat of the second Particular under this Head viz. Dipping the Persons baptized into Water appears to be the right way of administring this Ordinance if we consider the Metaphors used in Holy Scripture 〈◊〉 express it by There are two I shall chiefly insist upon 1. A Burial 2. A Resurrection We are to consider that our Lord Jesus Christ hath noâ— burdened us under the Gospel with a multitude of Ceremonies as it was in that Oeconomy of the Jews under the Legal Dispensation But only with some few and those very significant this being a more spiritual Dispensation As therefore the Holy Supper of our Lord in the breaking of the Bread signifies the breaking of his Body and the pouring out of the Wine the shedding of his most precious Blood and both of these in conjunction his Death 1 Cor. 11.26 For as often as you eat this Bread and drive this Cup ye do shew forth the Lord's Death till he come Even so Holy Baptism doth shew forth his Burial and direction Rom. 6.4 Therefore we are buried with him baptism into Death that like as Christ was raised up from Dead to the Glory of the Father even so we also should walk â—â—â—ess of Life â—ow consider the Metaphor when Men are dead we 〈◊〉 them by covering the whole Body under Ground 〈◊〉 not by scattering or sprinkling a little Dust or Earth 〈◊〉 their Faces only â—prinkling you know hath no resemblance to Buâ—â—â— but dipping or plunging the whole Body under Waâ—â—â— is a most express and lively representation thereof But perhaps Humane Testimonies will please you and 〈◊〉 Pastor better than Divine And therefore I shall 〈◊〉 you the Opinion of some Learned Bishops to corroborate what I say who may be supposed to understand 〈◊〉 Original as well as Mr. James The late
the whole Body under Water therefore much Water was necessary thereunto without which 〈◊〉 Act of Baptizing could not be performed Now altho T. J. hath trampled upon our Reasons offered in justification of this Practice I hope he will not make so bold with the Spirit 's Testimony as to contradict the Reason he hath given in the Text under Consideration Thus you see that John who was the first Baptizers and sent of God to dip Persons in Water as the beginning of the Gospel and to prepare Christ's Way before him 〈◊〉 Joh. 1.33 He that sent me 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to dip plunge 〈◊〉 overwhelm in Water meaning God the Father Where ever there is mention made of his Baptizing the same Words are used either Bapto or its derivatives If we observe what is said of our Saviour's Baptizing tho Jesus himself did not baptize in his own Person but by his Disciples in every place the same Word 〈◊〉 used as John 3.22 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Also John 4.1 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which all signify to dip to be dipped c. To proceed to the Practice of the Apostles and chief Ministers of the Gospel after our Lord's Resurrection we shall find the same Word used as above in every place where there is mention made of their Baptizing The first Instance is in Acts 2.41 Then they that gladly â—â—â—ved his Word were baptized the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In Acts 8.12 it is also from the same word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were dipped both Men and Women And in Acts 8.38 39. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And he dipped him It is here to be observed that the Administrator Phiâ—â—â— as well as the Eunuch went both down into the Water which had been needless if Sprinkling would have serâ—â—d the â—â—rn And when they came there it 's said He â—â—â—â—zed him i. e. dipt him And then it 's further said â—â—â—y came up out of the Water not from the Side or Surface 〈◊〉 it as Mr. James would insinuate by distinguishing beâ—â—een from and out of for here it is said expresly they 〈◊〉 up out of the Water Also in Acts 10.48 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be dipped c. To be short There is you see an Account that John the â—â—ptist Christ by his Disciples when upon Earth and 〈◊〉 Apostles after his Resurrection did all of them practise 〈◊〉 Holy Ordinance of Baptism by dipping or plunging 〈◊〉 Persons baptized into the Water I will add to this the Testimony of Mr. Dan. Rogers None of old were wont to be sprinkled And saith he I confess my self unconvinced by demonstration of Scripture for Infants sprinkling And further in his Treatise of the two Sacraments Part 1. Chap. 5. he hath these words It ought to be the Church's Part to cleave to the Institution which is Dipping And that he betrays the Church whose Officer he is to a disordered Error if he cleave not to the Institution which is to dip And this leads me to the 4th Particular namely That 〈◊〉 will appear that Dipping is the right way of Baptizing 〈◊〉 we consider that grand Commission of our Saviour Mat. 28.19 the Greek word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to dip And being given here by way of Precept it is Dipping them But seeing I have already explained the signification of the Greek words by which Baptism is signified even to tediousness both to my self and you I shall insist no longer upon it As also because I am of Opinion that the Gospel of Matthew was written in Hebrew according to Jerom's Testimony and the Opinion I think of most Learned Men. I shall therefore give you the words so far as they concern our Purpose under this Head as they are in that Language in which I am sure it was spoken if not written It is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vetabelu Otam and dip ye them The Root is Tabal which is the third Person Singular in the Preterperfect Tense and signifies he dipped And is so rendred in many places in Holy Scripture particularly in 2 Kings 5.15 where speaking of Naaman the Syrian it is said He dipped himself in Jordan seven times and was clean In Mat. 3.6 you have the same Word again in the Passive Voice which must be rendred in English and were dipped of him in Jordan And in Ver. 16. you have the same Root again as it is there applied to our Saviour And Jesus when he was dipped went up straightway out of the Water Also in John 3.22 23. the same Word is used And in John 4.1 2. it is the same in that Hebrew New Testament of Mr. Robertson's who was certainly one of the most Learned Hebricians our Age hath afforded I might add to this the Testimony of the Dutch Translators who call John the Baptist Johannes de Dooper John the Dipper and in this Commission de selve dopende dipping them And if our Translators had generally where that Word had occurred turned it into English as they have into Dutch they had saved me and others the trouble Now if all this will not suffice I know not what will However I will make Mr. James one generous Offer That if he can shew me where our Translators have in any one place rendred Baptizo to sprinkle or è contra have rendred Rantizo to dip in the New Testament I will grant him the Cause And I do hope if he cannot do it he will own that we are in the right O what a Tyrant Custom is that dares stand up and contradict a thing that is so evident in it self so agreeable to the Reason of the Ordinance to the Etymology of the Word and that from the Pens of our Adversaries and to the use of the Phrase and Expression in Holy Scripture to the Commission of our Lord to the Doctrine and Practice of the first Baptizers both before and after our Saviour's Resurrection and the manner of planting the Primitive Churches Notwithstanding all this I say Custom in a wrong â—ay makes Men bold to oppose the right Way altho â—â—ey acknowledg it is the best In things civil and indifferent I can be content that â—â—stom should be my Guide but not in the Matter of â—â—dinances and things Sacred the Rule of which lies in 〈◊〉 Institution which we are strictly to observe and is 〈◊〉 in the Power of our Liberty or Choice either to use 〈◊〉 refuse For that Blessing which attends the Use thereâ—â—â—â— is annexed unto our Conformity to the Rule and Instiâ—â—â—ion see Mat. 28.20 But to proceed to the second General Head II. That true Penitent Believers are the right Subject of Baptism I shall make it good by doing these three things 1st By examining who John the Baptist who was the 〈◊〉 Baptizer did admit to his Baptism 2ly Who our Saviour commanded to be baptized in 〈◊〉 grand Commission Mat. 28. â—ly Who it was practised upon by