im

Notwithftanding all this ( I fay ) Cuftom in a wrong
W'ay, makes Men bold to oppofe the right Way, altho
J,ey'acknowledgitisthe%eft.
In things civil and indifferent, I can be content that
Cuftom (hould be my Guide, but not in the Matter of
Ordinances, and things Sacred ; the Rule of which lies in
the Inftitution, (^which we are ftrittly to obferve;) and is
not in the Power of our Liberty or Choice, either to ufe
or refufe For that Bleffing which attends the Ufe there-
:
of, is annexed unto our Conformity to the Rule and Inftilution
j fee Mat, 28. 20.
But to proceed to the fecond General Head.
II. That true Penitent Believers are the right SubjeA of
Baptifm.
I fliall make it good by doing thefe three things,
who was the
i^. By examining who J^ohn the Baptijt
f
firft Baptizer ) did admit to his Baptifm.
2/y, Who our Saviour commanded to be baptized, in
that gr-'tid Commiflion Ma, 28.
2/), Who it was pradlifed upon by the Apoftles and firfl
Minifters of Cbrifl, purfuant to that Ccmmiflfion. And
of thefe in their Order.
^
I ^, Therefore let us examine who they were that fohn
didadmit to his Baptifm.
,
^. , . ^-r ^ -
The firft Syllable we read of its being praftifed, is in
Mat, 2. by John the Vippsr, (^(o called by the Evangelift,
Via EminentU, as being the Beginner of that Holy Ordinance
i where we have an ACwOunr, inVer. 2. what Doarine
he preached before he baptized, Repsnt ye, jor the
Kingdom df Heaven is at band. And in vir, 5. Thm went oU
to him Jerufalem, and all Judea, and all the Region round a-
bout Jordan. Ver,6. Kat kCd'^Ti^^oviv h iw 'lofc/kV*) 5
And Wire plunged (of him ) into Jordan, confeffing thdr Sins,
The Hebrew word alfo, is Vaitabeln, and were dipped^ &c;
Upon this I ftiall obferve fome things, and fo pafs ic
1. That thofe he baptized were Adult Perfons, (and
i^otlnhnth) foTthty went out to him,
2, That they were penitent Perfons, fuch that confeffed
their Sins.
^i, •
3. Thai