A47535:52
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.
These Men would fain have us believe, that the Baptism of Water was the Baptism of John's, and none of Christ's, but as if John had instituted it, and not Christ, and as if John were the Author of it, and Christ the Finisher; whereas nothing is more clear that Christ, (considered as God) was the Author, and the first that ordained, appointed and instituted it to be administered by John; and after John's decease, yea, and after his own Death, and Resurrection too, gave order to its continuance. And for the observation of it amongst all Nations, our late Annotators also on Mat. 3. 5. agree with us exactly herein, He (that is, John) was sent to baptize in Water; so as from this time (say they) the Institution of the Sacrament of Baptism must be dated.
These Men would fain have us believe, that the Baptism of Water was the Baptism of John's, and none of Christ's, but as if John had instituted it, and not Christ, and as if John were the Author of it, and Christ the Finisher; whereas nothing is more clear that Christ, (consider'd as God) was the Author, and the first that ordained, appointed and instituted it to be administred by John; and after John's decease, yea, and after his own Death, and Resurrection too, gave order to its continuance. And for the observation of it amongst all Nations, our late Annotators also on Mat. 3. 5. agree with us exactly herein, He (that is, John) was sent to baptize in Water; so as from this time (say they) the Institution of the Sacrament of Baptism must be dated.
Nothing can be more evident, than that the Baptism with Water was Christ's Baptism; and howbeit it is called John's, as John was the first Minister and Messenger from Christ to begin it, For, 1behold, I send my Messenger, and he shall prepare my way before me, saith Christ, Mal. 3. 1. It was Christ's Appointment in whose Name, and not in John's, it was begun and dispensed always even