Light broke forth in Wales, expelling darkness, or, The Englishman's love to the ancient…Light broke forth in Wales, expelling darkness, or, The Englishman's love to the antient…

It being very doubtful whether those People that came unto him were dipped or plunged; for there went out unto him Jerusalem and all Judea, and all the Regions round about Jordan, and were baptized by him: We cannot judg (you say) that he baptized less than an hundred thousand Men and Women, &c. there were (you say) much more People in those Countries; but it being impossible for him to dip or plunge so many Men in so short time of his Ministry, which continued but three Years, and of these three Years he lay in Prison half a Year, so that he did neither preach or baptize but for two Years and a half. Vid. Lightf. vol. I. p. 234. If he had baptized fifty every day on these two Years and a half, which is not probable he could do, the whole you say is but forty five thousand six hundred and twenty five, but he baptized much more, which could not be done by dipping or plunging; therefore it is reasonable for us (you say) to judg that he sprinkled or poured Water on them, &c.

Answ. As to what you say here, it seems very strange to me, that you should once imagine that John baptized all the People universally in Jerusalem and Judea, without Exception: Why did not you put in all the Infants too as well as Men and Women? I had lately to do with one Mr. Exel, who asserted that in a Treatise of his, which, with Shame enough to him, I gave an Answer unto. I am sorry you have no better Skill in Scripture-Rhetoric, where frequently, per Synecdochen vel totius, vel partis, a part is put for the whole, or the whole for the part, as 'tis said, God would have all Men to be saved, i. e. some of all sorts and degrees, as Kings, Noble-Men, Old, Young, Rich, Poor, &c. So 'tis said Christ, when he was lifted up he would draw all Men unto him, [Greek or Hebrew], Joh. 12. 32. Doth he mean every individual Person, or some of all sorts, of Jews and Gentiles? So Paul saith, All seek their own, &c.

Answ. As to what you say here, it seems very strange to me, that you should once imagine that John baptized all the People universally in Jerusalem and Judea, without Exception: Why did not you put in all the Infants too as well as Men and Women? I had lately to do with one Mr. Exel, who asserted that in a Treatise of his, which, with Shame enough to him, I gave an Answer unto. I am sorry you have no better Skill in Scripture-Rhetorick, where frequently, per Synecdochen vel totius, vel partis, a part is put for the whole, or the whole for the part, as 'tis said, God would have all Men to be saved, i. e. some of all sorts and degrees, as Kings, Noble-Men, Old, Young, Rich, Poor, &c. So 'tis said Christ, when he was lifted up he would draw all Men unto him, ,