Fourthly, Water bears witness to this; by water some understand the water of baptism, and indeed that gives strong testimony to Christ, especially to them that are prepared to receive it: as in the Apostles times, when they were first brought on to believe, and then to be baptized, God then strongly testified this truth, so that after baptism, they were filled with much joy, and oft-times with divers gifts and tongues, Acts 8.36. The water of baptism sent away the Eunuch rejoicing, see Acts 19.6, 7. and though children be not capable of this mercy now in their Infancy, except by an extraordinary power, yet notwithstanding a Christian afterwards finds such virtue and strength from his baptism, that he sees there is no water like it, but that there is a divine testimony in it: But because water is but a representation of this Spirit, therefore by water here, may be understood the water of sanctification, the Spirit of God sanctifying and regenerating us; for besides the Spirit of God, that at some extraordinary times fills with unspeakable joy of the holy Ghost; there is also an ordinary work of Gods Spirit, partly cooling, refreshing us, as water doth, partly making us fruitful in our Christian course; for those great enlargements of Gods Spirit, do not always abide with us in that measure, but this water is a spring in us, continually affording us something which evidently witnesseth this truth, Tit. 3.5. John 4.14.
Fourthly, Water bears witnesse to this; by water some understand the water of baptism, and indeed that gives strong testimony to Christ, especially to them that are prepared to receive it: as in the Apostles times, when they were first brought on to believe, and then to be baptized, God then strongly testified this truth, so that after baptism, they were filled with much joy, and oft-times with divers gifts and tongues, Acts 8.36. The water of baptism sent away the Eunuch rejoycing, see Acts 19.6, 7. and though children be not capable of this mercy now in their Infancy, except by an extraordinary power, yet notwithstanding a Christian afterwards findes such vertue and strength from his baptism, that he sees there is no water like it, but that there is a divine testimony in it: But because water is but a representation of this Spirit, therefore by water here, may be understood the water of sanctification, the Spirit of God sanctifying and regenerating us; for besides the Spirit of God, that at some extraordinary times fills with unspeakable joy of the holy Ghost; there is also an ordinary work of Gods Spirit, partly cooling, refreshing us, as water doth, partly making us fruitful in our Christian course; for those great inlargements of Gods Spirit, doe not always abide with us in that measure, but this water is a spring in us, continually afording us something which evidently witnesseth this truth, Tit. 3.5. John 4.14.
