im

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Thenj^e puts this Quefton,' Whether it ought to be pecformed
6y an Immerfion, or an Afperfion, 6'c ?
HisAnlwer is, It may be a more material Queftion than is
commonly deemed by us, who have been accuftomed to baptize
by a bare Effufionand Sprinkling of Water upon the Party
For things which depend for their force on the meer Will
and Plcafure of him who Inftituted them, there ought (no
doubt) great regard to be had to the Commands of him that
did fo ; as w^hout whSch there is no reafon we fhould receive
the benefit of that Ceremony to which he has been plcafed to
annex it.
... • i
Now wharthc Command of Chnft was in this particular,
Firft,
cannot be well doubted of by thofe who (hall confider .
The Words of Chrift, Matth. 28. 19. concerning it, and the
PraSice of thofe Times, whether in the Baptifm of 7e^ or our
Savioar; for the Words of Chrift are, ThatthBif^^^Uha^u^^
or dip thofe rchm they made Difiiplesto him; for (fo no doubt}
Though
the word B.:TT^^om?, B^i>f/;io»r«, properly figmfies :
if there could be any doubt concerning the figmfication ot the
words tbemfelves, yet would that doubt be removed by confidering
the Praaice of thofe Times. For fuch as was the
Prafticc of thofe Times in baptizing fuch m reafon we are to
think our Saviour's Command to have been concerning it> &e.
there being not otherwife any means cither tor thole, or tuture
Times to difcover his intention concerning it.
What the Praaice of thofe Times were, will niW no other
proof, than the reforting to Rivers and other fuch Receptacles
cf Water for the Performance of that Ceremony, as that becaufe
there was much Water there, Mt;;^. 3^ 5- ^reat Confluxes of Water; or of P/iU?^ and the
Ennuch's o'oing do-.vn into thiS, were it not that the Baptilm
both of t& ene and the other, were to be performed by an
Immerfion, a very little Watc r (as we know it doth with us>
fufficin^ifor anEffcfionorS^inkling.
The fame is to be faid yet more, upon the account ot our
conforming to the Death «nd Refurrtaion of Chritr, which
we learn from St. P^«/ CO be the defign of Baptilm to lignifie;
for though t\nt might, and was well enough represented by
ti^e hapifficd Ftri^msbdng buried in Baptilra; and their rifing
cue