ther Perfon. This feems plain from St. Paul's exprefs words, who faics, I long to fee you, that I may impart unto you fome Spiritual Gift, Rom. 1. 11. Whether this Spiritual Gift be an Ordinary or an extraordinary Gift of the Spirit, I fhall not determine. But (tho' I could offer another Expofition, yet) it feems moft natural to understand by it fome Ordinary Grace, or elfe fome Extraordinary Gift of the Holy Ghoft, fuch as a power of raifing the Dead, or the like. Now this the Apoftle could certainly impart; that is, he might be the inftrument of God in the Communication of it. For God alone had a real power of bestowing

it.

I know it has often been faid, that God alone can confer the Graces of the Spirit, whether ordinary or extraordinary; and thofe who think that conferring the Graces of the Spirit, whether ordinary or extraordinary, is what the Scriptures call baptizing with the Holy Ghoft, have for that reafon denied, that Man may administer or confer the Spirit, that is, impart the Spirit to another Perfon; because they would thereby prove, that the Baptifm mentioned, Matt. 28. 19. and which the Apoftles are exprefly commanded to adminifter, is Baptifm with Water, and not Baptifm with the Holy Ghoft, which they fuppofe that Man (and confequently the Apoftles) could not adminifter. I fhall not at prefent examine what may be faid on both sides. Nor need I do it hereafter; because I shall bring fufficient plenty of other (and, I hope, more clear and convincing) Arguments to prove the neceffity of Water-baptifm.

But whether this Doctrine of Man's being able to adminifter or confer the Spirit, be true, or no ; and whether others who are not Quakers, will Q & fub.

fubfcribe to it, or no; I need not care. 'Tis fufficient for my present purpose, that 'tis exprefly taught by our Adverfaries.

This appears from Mr. Barclay, who (b) faies, Baptifm with the Spirit, tho' not wrought without Chrift and his grace, is inftrumentally done by Men fitted of God for that purpose; and therefore no abfurdity follows, that Baptifm with the Spirit should be expreffed as the action of the Apostles. For tho' it be Chrift by his grace that gives spiritual gifts, yet the Apostle, Rom. 1. 11. Speaks of his imparting to them fpiritual gifts; and he tells the Corinthians, that he had begotten them thro' the Gofpel, 1 Cor. 4.15. And yet to beget Men unto the faith is the Work of Chrift and his Grace, not of Men. of Men. To convert the heart is properly the Work of Chrift; and yet the Scripture oftentimes afcribes it to Men, as being the inftruments. And fince Paul's commission was to turn people from Darkness to Light, tho' that be not without Chrift cooperating by his Grace; fo may also baptizing with the Spirit be expreffed, as performable by Man as the inftrument, tho' the Work of Chrift's Grace be needful to concur thereunto. So that it is no abfurdity to fay, that the Apostles did administer -the Baptifm of the Spirit.

i

Again, (c) Their (viz. the Students at Aberdeen in Scotland) 2d Argument, that the Baptism commanded in Matt.28.19. is with Water,refolves at laft into this, that it is God only, and not Man, who baptizes with the Holy Ghost; because he is only the proper, immediate, efficient caufe of Baptifm with the Holy Ghoft. But (faies he) we deny the Confequence, as weak and

(b) Apol. prop. 12. p. 488. (c) Quakerifm confirmed, fect. 6. p. 65.0.

falfe.

falfe. For there is nothing more ufual, than to afcribe the effect unto the Inftrumental Caufe as truly as unto the Principal. Paul was fent to turn or convert the Gentiles from Darkness to Light, and to open their Eyes; and yet, God only was the proper, im mediate, efficient Caufe of this. Many more examples could be given. Yea, the fame reason of the Students would militate against Teaching. For even outward Teaching, which is by the Motion of the Holy Ghost, hath a Power and Virtue in it, whereof the Men who teach, are but the instrumental Conveyers, that is only from God, as the immediate efficient Caufe.

And (d) elsewhere the fame Author fpeaks thus; He undertaketh to prove, that Mat. 28. 19. is meant of Water-baptifm, and not of the Spirit's Baptifm; the reafon alledged there, becauf the Baptifm there mentioned is the Action of the Apostles, and that to baptize with the Spirit is peculiar to Chrift; adding, that it would be a confounding of the duty commanded with the promise of the bleffing annexed to it. From thence he concludes, that Baptifm with Water is to continue to the end of the World. Anfw. The reafons prove nothing, and might militate the fame way against Teaching, which is also there commanded as the action of the Apostles. And tho' it be peculiar to Chrift to teach by the Spirit, that did not hinder them to do it. Further, the very Apoftles by laying on of hands did adminifter the Holy Spirit, and fo baptize with the Spirit, Acts 10. 44. 19. 6. And this is no confounding of the promise with the Duty. For therein was the promise and bleffing fulfilled, that they did it effectually.

(d) William Mitchel unmasked, p. 86,87.

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'Tis

'Tis plain from thefe Paffages, that in the Judgment of our Adverfaries, tho' God be the proper, immediate, efficient Cause of what they fuppofe the Scriptures mean by Baptifm with the Holy Ghoft; yet Man may adminifter what they suppose the Scriptures mean by Baptifm with the Holy Ghoft; because Man is the inftrumental Cause of conferring and imparting the Spirit, which is what they fuppofe the Scriptures mean by Baptifm with the Holy Ghost.

From this Doctrine then I argue thus. If he who is the inftrumental Cause of conferring or imparting the Spirit, does baptize with the Holy Ghoft in the Scripture-fenfe of that Phrafe; then St. John the Baptift, nay, and the Prophets alfo under the Old Teftament did as truly baptize with the Holy Ghoft, as the Apoftles themselves, or any Miniiters of the Gospel in thefe daies, who in the Judgment of our Adverfaries did and do baptize with the Holy Ghoft. For the Baptift and the Prophets ufed the outward means of begetting Faith and Obedience; and this our Adverfaries think to be adminiftring the Baptifm with the Holy Ghoft. 'Tis true the Baptift wrought no Miracles; nor do any Minifters of the Gospel in these daies work any. And yet our Adverfaries think notwithstanding, that they do baptize with what they fuppofe the Scriptures mean by Baptifm with the Holy Ghoft. The Baptift therefore and the Prophets under the Law, if our Adverfaries notion of Baptifm with the Holy Ghost be that which the Holy Writers had, did baptize with the Holy Ghost, as truly as the Apostles or any Minifters of the Gospel in thefe daies.

But is this confiftent with Scripture? Do we not find the Baptift faying, indeed baptize you with Water, but he that cometh after me

Shall baptize

baptize you with the Holy Ghoft, Matt. 3. 11. Do not thefe words impart, that the Baptist did not baptize with the Holy Ghoft? Nay, do not our Adverfaries themselves teach the fame? How often have they faid, that the Baptifm commanded under the Gospel could not be Water-baptifm, which was St. John's Baptifm; becaufe the Baptifm under the Gofpel is with the Holy Ghoft? Do they not therefore flatly deny, that St. John the Baptist did adminifter what they fuppofe the Scriptures mean by Baptifm with the Holy Ghoft? Does not Mr.Barclay (e) affure us, that the Baptifm with the Holy Ghost which our Savior was to adminifter, was not the fame with that of the Baptift, but another Baptifm; for that otherwife it had been Nonfenfe for the Baptift to have contradiftinguifh'd them? Nay, he faies (f) exprefly, John did not baptize with the Holy Ghost, as the Apoffles did. And if the Baptift did not baptize with the Holy Ghoft, must not the fame be faid alfo of the Prophets under the Law?

'Tis evident therefore upon our Adverfaries own Principles, that what they fuppofe the Scriptures mean by Baptifm with the Holy Ghoft, viz. conferring the Spirit, or the Ordinary Gifts of the Spirit, as the inftrumental Caufe thereof, is not what the Scriptures do really mean thereby. And therefore Baptifm with the Holy Ghoft muft fignify conferring only the Extraordinary Gifts of the Holy Ghoft, And this indeed is what the Baptift never did or could pretend to.

If it be objected, that the promife of Baptifm with the Holy Ghoft was made to all Chriftians in General; because the Baptift faid, He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, Matt. 3. 11. that is, he (e) Apol. prop.12. P.478. (f) Quaker. confirm'd, lect.6.p.650,

04

fhall