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SECT. VI. Concerning Baptisme.
THis Question seems to me to be very unsatisfactorily hand∣led by those who have treated of it. To understand what can be comprehended in it, conceive with me, that there comes a three-fold Baptism in Consideration in this Question: the Baptism which we are baptized with, which in expresse terms was ordained by our Saviour after his resurrection; the Baptism of John Baptist; and the Baptism of the Disciples of our Saviour in the time of his residence upon Earth: the Baptism of John, and the Baptism of our Saviour, have been disputed with a great deal of vehemency betwixt Calvin and the Church of Rome, whether it were the same with our Saviours or no? and I am in this Conclusion against Calvin, and do think that he causlesly rejects the Fathers with a sleight in his Institutes, when certain∣ly in it self the Question is of no great use to any Design of faith or piety; I will not trouble the Controversie now, but shall be ready to give an Account of it to any man that shall require it; but hint out to the Reader that one place Acts 19. 2. Where St. Paul finding Disciples at Ephesus, asked them, whether they had received the Holy Ghost? They answered, that they had not so much as heard that there was an Holy Ghost: and he replying, to what were ye then baptized? they answered; unto Johns Bap∣tism: Then in the 4th. verse, St. Paul tells them, that John indeed baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him who should come after him, that is, on Jesus Christ. When they heard this, they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus: Observe, that it could not be the same which was instituted by our Saviour, because they had not heard of the Holy Ghost, which is an expresse phrase appointed by our Saviour; and then, that they were baptized by St. Paul, which was a sign the first was not perfect; This particular is miserably shifted off by Beza, and that shift wonderfully extol∣led by Chamier, when the Text is evident that they were re∣baptized.