A trial of the new-church way in New-England and in old ... by that…A tryall of the nevv-church vvay in New-England and in old ... by that…

1. That is done in an extraordinary way, which by peculiar privilege of dispensation is made lawful to some one or few men, which is unlawful to all others, not having the same dispensation, but where the ground and reason of the action is common: we must not conceive the thing to be done in an extraordinary way by special dispensation. What was done by the Apostles upon special revelation and immediate direction, besides the ordinary and common rule, in that we are not to imitate or follow them, because we have not their warrant. But what they did upon reasons and grounds reaching unto us no less then unto them, in that we have the same liberty, allowance, or commandment that they did walk by. In one and the same action there may be and oft is something ordinary, something extraordinary or peculiar to special times or persons. So it was in the Apostles administration of the Seals: but in every place where they came by illimited power (as you speak) they did baptize Disciples, if they did baptize; this was proper to them, and could not be communicated to any others by them; For there is no passage of Scripture which teacheth this, that one Officer may communicate his power to another, or do that which particularly belongeth to his office by a Deputy: But that they baptized believers professing their faith in the Lord Jesus, and repentance towards God, such as had gladly embraced the Word, and received the gifts of the holy Ghost: this was common to them with all Pastors and Teachers, because they did it, not by power illimited or special dispensation, but upon this standing perpetual reason, that the promise was made to them and to their seed, and to as many as the Lord shall call, that they had received the holy Ghost, and the kingdom of heaven belonged to them. And if the grounds and reasons of their practise be common reaching to us, no less then unto them, the practise it self was not extraordinary. To say nothing that this Answer will not stand with the former; for if the parties baptized were set members of particular Societies, the Apostles did not baptize them in an extraordinary way, they did it by the guidance and direction of the Spirit, that is true, but not by guidance of dispensation, or prerogative, whereby that was made lawful without such inspiration had been unlawful.

1. That is done in an extraordinary way, which by peculiar priviledge of dispensation is made lawfull to some one or few men, which is unlawfull to all others, not having the same dispensation, but where the ground and reason of the action is common: we must not conceive the thing to be done in an extraordinary way by speciall dispensation. What was done by the Apostles upon speciall revelation and immediate direction, besides the ordinary and common rule, in that wee are not to immitate or follow them, because we have not their warrant. But what they did upon reasons and grounds reaching unto us no lesse then unto them, in that we have the same libertie, allowance, or commandement that they did walk by. In one and the same action there may be and oft is something ordinary, something extraordinary or peculiar to speciall times or persons. So it was in the Apostles administration of the Seales: but in every place where they came by illimited power (as you speake) they did baptize Disciples, if they did baptize; this was proper to them, and could not be communicated to any others by them; For there is no passage of Scripture which teacheth this, that one Officer may communicate his power to another, or doe that which particularly belongeth to his office by a Deputie: But that they baptized beleevers professing their faith in the Lord Jesus, and repentance towards God, such as had gladly imbraced the Word, and received the gifts of the holy Ghost: this was common to them with all Pastors and Teachers, because they did it, not by power illimited or speciall dispensation, but upon this standing perpetuall reason, that the promise was made to them and to their seede, and to as many as the Lord shall call, that they had received the holy Ghost, and the kingdome of heaven belonged to them. And if the grounds and reasons of their practise be common reaching to us, no lesse then unto them, the practise it selfe was not extraordinary. To say nothing that this Answer will not stand with the former; for if the parties baptized were set members of particular Societies, the Apostles did not baptize them in an extraordinary way, they did it by the guidance and direction of the Spirit, that is true, but not by guidance of dispensation, or prerogative, whereby that was made lawfull without such inspiration had been unlawfull.