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.

§ I have need to be baptized of thee.

He meaneth not, with the baptism of water, which he himself administred to others, but with the baptism of the Holy Ghost. For, first, Christ himself baptized none with wa∣ter at all, Joh. 4. 2. but referred the administration of this Sacrament to others.

Secondly, the Baptism wherewith he baptized, was of the Holy Ghost, ver. 11. and it cannot be doubted that when John speaketh of being baptized by Christ, he meaneth the proper baptism wherewith Christ baptized.

Thirdly, it is not consonant to reason, that John should complain of the want of that which he so plentifully afforded unto others: but though he himself were not baptized, in water, yet his special deputation from God, to be the first and chief baptized, made that he needed it not.

Fourthly, be it granted that John speaketh of baptizing with water, as some Commen∣tators would have it, yet are not his words to be understood simply of any absolute ne∣cessity that he had of baptism, but comparatively betwixt him and Christ, that it was sitter that he should be baptized by Christ, than Christ by him. For so the Phrase I have need, is used, not always to import necessity, but sometimes conveniency. And so doth the Rabbinical word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 indifferently signifie, and divers words that signifie ne∣cessity in other tongues.

Ver. 15. Suffer it to be so now.

The Emphasis of this clause is held to be in the word now: As shewing that how∣soever Christ was the Son of God, and should in time reveal himself mightily so to be, as Rom. 1. 4. yet now the time required that that his glory should be veiled under his humiliation, and his divinity concealed till its proper season to be revealed. This exposition is as currant as any among Expositors, how substantial let the Reader judge. For,

First, the baptizing of Christ by John, was not so great a means to veil his Divi∣nity as it was to reveal it: for then he had the testimony from Heaven, that he was the Son of God.

Secondly, there needeth no other reason to be looked after why Christ saith, suffer it to be so now, than what he himself giveth, in the very next words following: For thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. The word now, as it lyeth in the English, might be taken for the sense of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 so ordinary in the Hebrew, words of intreating or perswasion, and might very well also suit with that sense here, if the LXX traslated them by the Greek word here used 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, but they do not: therefore may we the more justly suppose the word to be emphatical in some respect, and the respect seemeth to be this. Whereas John had told the people before of Christs baptizing with the Holy Ghost, and had told Christ in the verse preceeding, that he had need of that bap∣tism, to that it is that our Saviour giveth this answer, Suffer it to be so now, as meaning thus: That it was true indeed that he was he that should come after him, and he that should baptize with the Holy Ghost, of which baptism John had more need from him than he of Johns; yet the time of that his baptizing was not yet come, for first must he fulfil all the righteousness required of himself, before he was to pour out or bestow that bap∣tism of the Spirit upon others: And therefore must John suffer him to be baptized now with the baptism of water, for that baptism of his with the Spirit was not yet to be exhibited.