The true and only way of concord of all the Christian churches the desirableness…

And yet are the Apostles foundations or bases and pillars in the Church, because Christ used them as the first great keepers of his word and seals, and the means of converting unbelievers, and it's hard and rare to believe in Christ without knowing and believing that they were his commissioned Ministers.

§. 24. II. But, though it be a duty to choose a true Minister to be baptized by, yet it is not at all necessary to the validity of baptism to know that the baptizer is such: Indeed not one of many can be sure, as not having seen his ordination, nor ⟨p. 175⟩knowing of his necessary qualifications: Many things may deceive them, and all baptism by Laymen is not null, as the Fathers held, and the Papists now hold and confess.

§. 25. III. And as to reception into a particular Church, I have proved before that it is no work of baptism as such, but a consequent act (in order of nature always, and oft of time.) The Eunuch, Act. 8. was baptized into no Church but the Universal. There be some few rigid mistaken brethren called Independents in New England that think indeed that all baptized persons must be baptized into a particular Church, but others even of that party are wiser herein. It is very fit that every one that can, be a member of some particular Church: But some cannot (as Travellers, Merchants, Ambassadors, &c. who reside among Infidels only, and those that live in Countries where the Pastors by tyranny refuse to admit any to their communion who will not say or do some unlawful thing.) But yet Baptism as such is no such thing, nor hath such an effect. Much less is it a profession that such a particular Church is sound.

§. 25. III. And as to reception into a particular Church, I have proved before that it is no work of baptism as such, but a consequent act (in order of nature alwayes, and oft of time.) The Eunuch,