The works of the Reverend and learned John Lightfoot D. D., late Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge such as were, and such as never before were printed : in two volumes : with the authors life and large and useful tables to each volume : also three maps : one of the temple drawn by the author himself, the others of Jervsalem and the Holy Land drawn according to the author's chorography, with a description collected out of his writings.

§. He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

Hence ariseth that opinion so mightily taken up in the Schools, and imbraced, concer∣ning the great disparity and difference betwixt the Baptism used in the Christian Church, and the Baptism of John; for this (say they) could not confer grace, but the other doth, and Johns was but as a mean betwixt the purifications of the Jews, and the baptism of Christians. In which, first, the words of the Baptist are misconstrued, and secondly, there is a difference pretended where there is none at all.

For, first, John compareth not his own baptism with ours, but his own with Christs. For that he meaneth not the baptism that Christ instituted to be used by others, but that he practised and exhibited personally himself, is plain, in that he mentioneth not water in Christs baptizing, which our Saviour himself doth, when he speaketh of the baptism that they mean, Joh. 3. 5. and in that he saith personally that Christ should baptize, which with water he never did, Joh. 4. 2.

Secondly, By the Holy Ghost, wherewith Christ should baptize, is not meant the grace concomitant to our Christian baptism, as they suppose, but his sending down the ex∣traordinary gifts of the Spirit, as is plain by our Saviours own exposition, Act. 1. 5. For John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. Where using the very same words with these of the Baptist, and applying the baptizing with the Holy Ghost plainly and undeniably to his sending down of the Holy Ghost on Pentecost day, he hath given a sure, plain and undoubted explanation of these words.

Thirdly, Neither, if the baptism of John, and the baptism used in the Christian Church be well compared together, will any such difference or diversity be found betwixt them, nay, set the form of words aside, no difference at all.

For, first, They both had the same institution from Christ, for he that sent the Apostles to baptize, sent also the Baptist, John 1. 33.

Secondly, They both had the same element, water.

Thirdly, They had both the same end, repentance. For though our Christian baptism is called the Baptism for remission of sins, Act. 2. 38. &c. and a great deal of preeminence of this, above that of John, picked as is thought out of that title, yet is it no more then what is said of the baptism of John, Mark 1. 4.

Fourthly, Whereas it is commonly said, that one end of our Saviours being baptized was, that he might sanctifie our baptism, how can this be supposed, if he received not our baptism, but one different from it?

Fifthly, The Disciples were baptized with no baptism but that of John, for Christ ba∣ptized them not, and who other should do, it cannot be imagined, and therefore if this of ours be more excellent then Johns, we have a better baptism then the Apostles that first administred it.

Sixthly, and lastly, Howsoever the Schools without any stumbling, do hold rebaptiza∣tion of those that had received the baptism of John, this crosseth their own tenet, that his was a degree above the washings under the Law, for their imperfection was shewed by their reiteration, and in this they make his to differ nothing at all. And whereas it is said, Act. 19. 5. that some that were baptized with the baptism of John upon Pauls in∣struction of them, were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus: it was rather their re∣newing to their baptism, then their baptism to them, and not that they took any other then that of John, but that they now began to entertain and apply it to the right in∣tent. As it may be exemplified in circumcision in any heathen son of Abraham: as in Jethro for an instance. He was circumcised while he was an unbeliever, because he was a Midianite, a child of Abraham; now when he came to be a convert, and imbraced the true Religion, he was not to be circumcised again, for that was not possible, but he then began to know and apply the right use and meaning of his circumcision, and so was re∣newed to it, and not it to him: Or those words, [When they heard this they were ba∣ptized in the name of the Lord Jesus,] may be understood to be the words of Paul, and not of Luke, as see Beza in loc.

This phraze of baptizing with the Holy Ghost sheweth, first, the restoring of the Holy Ghost, which long ago was departed from Israel, and gone up.

Secondly, The abundance and plenteousness of that gift when it should be exhibited, that it should be as water poured upon them, as the word is used, Joel 2. 28.

Thirdly, It sheweth whither all the washings and purifyings of the Law aimed, and had respect, namely to the washing and purging of men by the Holy Ghost.