Certain disputations of right to sacraments, and the true nature of visible Christianity defending…

1. Jesus Christ himself did by preaching Repentance prepare men for baptism, and for his kingdom, as John before began to do, Matth. 4.17. so Mar. 1.15. The Kingdom of God is at hand; Repent ye and believe the Gospel. And to that end he sent his Apostles and other preachers, Mar. 6.12. Acts 17, 30. Luke 24.47. Repentance and Remission is to be preached to all Nations in his name: And baptism which is for the obsignation of Remission of sin according to the appointed order, comes after Repentance.

And when it is said by John [I baptize you with water to Repentance, ⟨p. 57⟩but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost] Mat. 3.11. Mar. 1.8. Luk. 3.16. It implieth that Christs baptism comprehended Johns and somewhat more in Act. 2.37, 38. when the Jews were pricked in their heart (which was a preparatory Repentance) and said to Peter and the rest of the Apostles, [men and brethren what shall we do?] Peter saith to them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins] so that we must require and expect true Evangelical Repentance to be professed before baptism; for ver. 41. its added, [then they that gladly received his word were baptized] so that he baptized none that to outward appearance did not gladly receive that word which could not be without a profession of that Repentance. And he that here persuadeth them to repent and be baptized for remission, doth in the next chapter, ver. 19. require them to repent, and be converted, that their sins may be blotted out, showing what kind of Repentance it is that he meaneth. And as the work of General Preachers to the unbelieving world is sometime called a discipling of Nations, which goeth before baptizing them,