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He was baptized with water, and

" tittle." at the fame time with the Holy Ghoft. The Spirit of God defcended vifibly, and lighted upon him, in the form of a dove, and ratified, with an audible voice, that folemn tranfaction. I am, Sir, &c.

SIR,

I HAVE

LETTER XXI.

HAVE juft hinted that the baptifm of John was a religious rite under the Mofaic difpenfation. This difpenfation lafted until the death of Chrift. Our Lord having arifen from the dead, inftituted the chriftian baptifm. He commiffioned and commanded the Apoftles to difciple, and baptize all nations, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft. The fubjects of baptifm are here expreffed in the most general and comprehenfive terms, which evidently include perfons of all ages and of both fexes. We have endeavoured to fhow that the word: baptize fignifies to wet or wafh, facramentally, without being reftricted in its meaning, to any particular mode of applying or using the water. But you fay, that there can be no true and valid baptifm, without a total dip. ping or immerfion; that all other modes of baptizing are a mere nullity, although ad,

ministered by a fuitable perfon, and to a proper fubject, and in the name of the Holy Trinity. Sentiments of fuch nature and tendency need the clearest and most unquestionable proof. We have, in vain, searched for this proof in the baptifm of John. Let us now examine the feveral inftances recorded in the new teftament, fince the inftitution of the chriftian baptifm; and fee if we can find any certain and indubitable evidence, that the Apoftles did always dip, or immerfe totally under water, thofe perfons whom they baptized.

The firft inftance of baptifm, that occurs, happened at the feaft of Pentecoft, ten days after the afcenfion of Jefus Chrift. On this occafion, the Apoftles preached their first fermons; and on the fame day administered baptifm to three thousand perfons. Some fuppofe they were dipped. Others believe they were probably baptized by affufion or fprinkling. The infpired writers have not told us in what mode the ordinance of baptifm was adminiftered. We have nothing to direct and affift us in forming our opinion, but the circumftances of the cafe. It is not in my power, to difcover a fingle incident, which, in the leaft degree, indicates that they were dipped. The Apoftles were not fieldpreachers. They did not, like John, encamp and preach on the bank of a river; but in Jerufalem, twenty miles from Jordan and Enon. It is not faid that the people went to any ftream of water; or to any natural or

artificial fountain of water, in order to be baptized. Indeed, it is not intimated that they left the city, or even the houfe, where the Apostles had been preaching. There is, certainly, no evidence or intimation, of any kind, that they were dipped. The fuppofition, therefore, appears to us very improbable. The improbability is greatly increased, when we confider the fhortness of the time, and want of conveniences. It was a furprizing emergency; and wholly unexpected, by the preachers and by the hearers. No previous arrangements or preparations had been made by them, for the change of dress. No bathing places had been bespoken or provided. Jerufalem was an inland city, at a diflance from the fea fide, and from any river; and its inhabitants were generally hoftile to the cause of chriftianity. Where then, could three thoufand perfons, principally foreigners, from fifteen different nations, on a fudden, procure the conveniences necessary for immerfion? Dr. Gill attempts to furmount thefe difficulties, by fuppofing that baths, and that the ten lavers and molten fea of the temple, were probably obtained, and ufed as dipping places, on this occafion, by the Apoftles. But he feems to have forgotten, that thofe public cifterns were in the poffef fion of the Jewish rulers and priests, the most inveterate enemies of Chrift and of his religion that they were made and referved, in order to contain clean water for various

ufes; and in particular, for the purpose of wafhing their facrifices, and alfo the hands and feet of the Levites, &c. Accordingly, Dr. Willet, and Dr. Lightfoot, and other learned writers upon this fubject, have informed us, that thofe capacious reservoirs were provided with fpouts or cocks, by means of which the water was drawn out for the purposes aforefaid. We have no reafon to think, that they were ever intended or used as dipping places.

The space of time, which the Apostles had, for baptizing fuch a vast multitude of people, appears to have been very fhort. The Jews divided their day, which confifted of twelve hours, into four quarters, affigning three hours to each quarter. Each of these quarters derived its name from that particular hour, when it commenced. The fecond quarter began with the third hour, and was called the third hour, and lafted till the ninth hour; that is, according to our method of computing time, from nine until twelve o'clock. This divifion of the day into quarters was particularly observed on their great and folemn feftivals. The commencement of each quarter, viz. the third, the fixth, and the ninth hour, on thefe occafions, was proclaimed by the found of a trumpet. When Peter, therefore, faid, it is the third hour of the day, we naturally fuppofe that he meant the fecond quarter, which began at nine o'clock in the morning, and lafted till noon.

T

The disciples probably came together inte one place, at the beginning of this quarter, which was at nine o'clock-the very time when the Jews offered their morning facrifice and morning prayer. A miraculous noife and appearance enfued. The report of what had happened, foon fpread abroad. A numerous affembly was collected, compofed of Jews and profelytes, from almost every nation. We are not told, what number of the Apoftles preached; but it is particularly mentioned, how every man of that mixed multitude heard them fpeak in his own native language. After this, Peter delivered his fermon; a brief epitome of which is recorded in the second chapter of A&ts. The facred hiftorian does not pretend to give the whole difcourfe, but exprefsly tells us, "that "with many other words, he did teftify and exhort "them, &c." The auditory was aftonished; "And they who gladly received the word were "baptized; and the fame day, there were added "unto them about three thoufand fouls." Now, when we attend to all thefe circumftances, it evidently appears, that the day must have been far fpent, before the Apostles could proceed to the adminiftration of baptifm. Many perfons have thought, and still think, there was not fufficient time remaining, for the purpose of baptizing fo many perfons, according to the flow method of immerfion. We ought to confider, that it was not a preconcerted plan-an experiment, in order to

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