baptism above his own; “he,” saith he, “shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and with fire:” that is, I that am a servant do baptize with water, but he, that is, the Son, baptizes with the spirit; my baptism washes but the body from the filth of the flesh, but his, the soul from the filth of sin; so that by .how much the spirit excels water, and God the creature, bo much his baptism transcends mine. Now hence I gather clearly, even from the Baptist’s own mouth, that John’s baptism and Christ’s were distinct baptisms, the one water baptism, the other fire baptism : and though our late writers and teachers have, and do affirm, that John’s baptism and Christ’s make up but one entire baptism ; yet all generally of the ancient Christians apprehend them to be distinct; one whereof saith, “ Illud manifestum est, ahum fuisse Johannis bap- tismum, ahum Christi:” August, contra Liter. Petil. cap. 37. And I could produce many more testimonies besides, but it is not my meaning to entangle any body with the authorities of men, and therefore I shall make it plain by clear Scriptures, and evidences from them, that John’s baptism and Christ’s are distinct. 1. John’s baptism and Christ’s are distinct in their appellations in Scripture ; for John’s baptism was still so called, even when the apostles used it; and it was not called by their names who administered it, but was still called John’s baptism: yea, after Christ’s baptism came in, John’s still retained its name, as being distinct from it; and therefore in Acts xviii. 24, 25, it is said, “ Apollos taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only to ’!«««», the baptism of John.” 2. The Scripture saith, that Christ’s baptism was to follow John’s, and did not accompany it at the same time, for in Mat. iii. John saith, tyu “I do baptize you with water, but he that comes after me,” i. e. in the order of time, diflot “ he shall baptize you.” And in Mark i. ^=v fads, “ I indeed have baptized you,” alios Se Bar?^, “but he shall baptize you;” which places plainly declare Christ’s baptism did not go along with John’s, but was to follow it, and that he was to baptize with the Spirit, after John’s water baptism had had its full course; to wit, when be was
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