Ratio disciplinae fratrum Nov-Anglorum. A faithful account of the discipline professed and practised; in…

It is a little surprising to read the Liberty which many of the Ancients took, in celebrating this First Sacrament of the New Testament. Some used the Form, I baptise thee; Others, Be thou baptised; Others, This Person, or, Servant of Christ, is baptised. The Latin Churches would use the Term, Tingo, as well as Baptizo. Some used the Form, ΕΙΣΟΝΟΜΑ, others, Ε•ΝΟΜΑΤΟΣ. With Tertullian it was, In Nomen; With Cyprian it was In Nomine; And with some, The Name, was quite left out, and it was, Into the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Yea, some ⟨p. 75⟩were so faulty, that they did, not expressly Name, every Person in the Trinity: but only the Name of Christ, or of the Lord Jesus, or of the Lord. Basil defended this, by the Plea which Irenaeus had used before him, in the Defence of it; That the Name of One is an Acknowledgement of the whole. Agreeably whereto Theophylact affirms, That he who is baptised into the Name of JESUS CHRIST, is baptised into the Trinity; for the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, are not parted. And Ambrose affirms, Qui unum dixit, Trinitatem signavit. Others there were, who tho' they expressed the Three Persons of the Godhead in the Words of our Saviour, yet enlarged upon them. It seems by Justin Martyr, that such Words as these were sometimes used; In the Name of the Father of all things, and of our Lord God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, this Washing with Water is performed. And sometimes the latter Clauses were thus varied; In the Name of Jesus Christ, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and in the Name of the Holy Spirit who by the Prophets foretold all Things, concerning Jesus, he that is to be illuminated is baptised. Briefly, they thought a, ΤΑΥΤΟΝ ΠΡΟΣΔΙΑΝΟΙΑΝ a Conformity in Sense, to be sufficient; without confining themselves to the Words mentioned (I say mentioned, because Mr Gillespy will not let me say, prescribed,) by our Saviour.

It is a little surprizing to read the Liberty which many of the Ancients took, in celebrating this First Sacrament of the New Testament. Some used the Form, I baptise thee; Others, Be thou baptised; Others, This Person, or, Servant of Christ, is baptised. The Latin Churches would use the Term, Tingo, as well as Baptizo. Some used the Form, ΕΙΣΟΝΟΜΑ, others, Ε•ΝΟΜΑΤΟΣ. With Tertullian it was, In Nomen; With Cyprian it was In Nomine; And with some, The Name, was quite left out, and it was, Into the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Yea, some