A47535:29
Gold refined, or, Baptism in its primitive purity proving baptism in water an holy…Gold refin'd, or, Baptism in its primitive purity proving baptism in water an holy…
Gold refined, or, Baptism in its primitive purity proving baptism in water an holy institution of Jesus Christ ... : wherein it is clearly evinced that baptism ... is immersion, or dipping the whole body, &c : also that believers are only the true subjects (and not infants) of that holy sacrament : likewise Mr. Smithies arguments for infant-baptism in his late book entitled, The non-communicant ... fully answered / by Benj. Keach ...Gold refin'd, or, Baptism in its primitive purity proving baptism in water an holy institution of Jesus Christ ... : wherein it is clearly evinced that baptism ... is immersion, or dipping the whole body, &c : also that believers are only the true subjects (and not infants) of that holy sacrament : likewise Mr. Smythies arguments for infant-baptism in his late book entitled, The non-communicant ... fully answered / by Benj. Keach ...
London : Printed for the author, and are to be sold by Nathaniel Crouch ..., 1689
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Chapter 1: Wherein the Baptism of Water is proved to be that intended in the Commission, and so a…
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Secondly, It cannot mean the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, because the Disciples of Christ (nor no Man under Heaven) had ever any such Power delegated or given to them, as to baptize with the Holy Ghost; 'tis strange Persons should be so blind and bold to think (much less to assert) that mere Men can give the Holy Spirit, or administer that Baptism, as if the Holy Ghost was at the disposal of the Will of Man, or that Men know whom to give it to, which indeed only lies hid in the Breast of God himself, who bestows it to whom and in what manner he pleaseth. And therefore,
Secondly, It cannot mean the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, because the Disciples of Christ (nor no Man under Heaven) had ever any such Power delegated or given to them, as to baptize with the Holy Ghost; 'tis strange Persons should be so blind and bold to think (much less to assert) that meer Men can give the Holy Spirit, or administer that Baptism, as if the Holy Ghost was at the disposal of the Will of Man, or that Men know whom to give it to, which indeed only lies hid in the Breast of God himself, who bestows it to whom and in what manner he pleaseth. And therefore,
Thirdly, We do affirm from the Authority of God's Word, that to baptize with the Holy Spirit is the peculiar Prerogative Royal of Jesus Christ, and that he did never impower any Disciple of his to give it, He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit. The Father by him, and he immediately by himself in his own Person distributes or gives forth of the Spirit according to the good Pleasure of his Will, without imparting with this Sovereign Prerogative, or peculiar Power to any other. Now since Christ's Disciples could not baptize with the Spirit, and yet are commanded to baptize, it follows clearly it must be Water.
Object. Doth not the Apostle show that Men had Power to give the Spirit? what else is the meaning of these words, he therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit? it appears that Persons who preached ministered the Spirit.