Argument

Your fifth Argument is, If Christ himself was made manifest to be the SENT of God by Baptism, as appears Mark 1. 9, 10. Then why may not Baptism, as the first Fruits of Faith, and the first step of ⟨p. 79⟩Gospel-Obedience, as to Instituted Worship, be a manifesting, discovering Ordinance upon others who thus follow Christ's steps.

Answ. That Jesus Christ was manifested as the SENT of God by Baptism, or that Baptism is the first Fruit of Faith, and the first step of Gospel-Obedience, as to instituted Worship, is both without proof and truth; the Text saith not, he was manifest to be the sent of God by Baptism; nay it saith not, that by that he was manifest to others to be any thing thereby: you have therefore but wronged the Text, to prove your wordless Practice by. Yea, John himself, though he knew him before he was baptized, to be a Man of God, (for, saith he, I have need to be Baptized ¹of thee, and comest thou to me) and knew him after to be the SENT of God; yet not² in, or by, but after he was Baptized, to wit, by the descending of the Holy Ghost, after he was come out of the Water, as he was in Prayer, for the Heavens were opened to John, and he saw, and bare Record, because he saw the Spirit descend from Heaven, and abide upon Jesus, after his Baptism, as he was in Prayer, Mat. 3. 13, 14, 15, 16. Luk. 3. 21, 22. Thus we find him made known before, and after, but not at all by Baptism, to be the SENT of God.

1. 1Mat. 3. 14.
2. 2