An Apology for the True Christian Divinity / Being an explanation and vindication of the principles and doctrines of the people called Quakers

by Robert Barclay

[116] Matt. 9. 15. Hos. 6. 6.

Refut.I say this Place is abundantly explained by the following Words [and the Knowledge of God more than Burnt-offerings;] by which it clearly appears that Burnt-offerings, which are one with Sacrifices, are not excluded; but there is no such Word added in that of Paul, and therefore the Parity is not demonstrated to be alike, and consequently the Instance not sufficient, unless they can prove that it ought so to be admitted here; else we might interpret by the same Rule all other Places of Scripture the same Way, as where the Apostle saith, 1 Cor. ii. 5. That your Faith might not stand in the Wisdom of Men, but in the Power of God, it might be understood, it shall not stand principally so. How might the Gospel, by this Liberty of Interpretation, be perverted?

Obj. 2.If it be said, That the Abuse of this Baptism among the Corinthians, in dividing themselves according to the Persons by whom they were baptized, made the Apostle speak so; but that the Abuse of a Thing doth not abolish it;

Answ.I answer, It is true, it doth not, provided the Thing be lawful and necessary; and that no Doubt the Abuse abovesaid gave the Apostle Occasion so to write. But let it from this be considered how the Apostle excludes Baptizing, not Preaching, though the Abuse proceeded from that, no less than from the other. For these Corinthians did denominate themselves from those different Persons by whose Preaching (as well as from those by whom they were baptized) they were converted, as by the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th Verses of Chap. iii. may appear: That Preaching is a standing Ordinance, and not to be forborne.And yet to remove that Abuse the Apostle doth not say, He was not sent to preach, nor yet doth he rejoice that he had only preached to a few; because Preaching, being a standing Ordinance in the Church, is not, because of any Abuse that the Devil may tempt any to make of it, to be forborne by such as are called to perform it by the Spirit of God: Wherefore the Apostle accordingly, Chap. iii. 8, 9. informs them, as to that, how to remove that Abuse. But as to Water-baptism, for that it was no standing Ordinance of Christ, but only practised as in Condescension to the Jews, and by some Apostles to some Gentiles also, therefore, so soon as the Apostle perceived the Abuse of it, he let the Corinthians understand how little Stress was to be laid upon it, by shewing them that he was glad that he had administered this Ceremony to so few of them; and by telling them plainly that it was no Part of his Commission, neither that which he was sent to administer.

Query.Some ask us, How we know that baptizing here is meant of Water, and not of the Spirit; which if it be, then it will exclude Baptism of the Spirit, as well as of Water?

Answ.I answer, Such as ask the Question, I suppose, speak it not as doubting that this was said of Water-baptism, which is more than manifest. That which converts to Christ is the Baptism of the Spirit.For since the Apostle Paul’s Message was, To turn People from Darkness to Light, and convert them to God; and that as many as are thus turned and converted, (so as to have the Answer of a good Conscience toward God, and to have put on Christ, and be risen with him in Newness of Life) are baptized with the Baptism of the Spirit. But who will say that only those few mentioned there to be baptized by Paul were come to this? Or that to turn or bring them to this Condition was not, even admitting our Adversaries Interpretation, as principal a Part of Paul’s Ministry as any other? Since then our Adversaries do take this Place for Water-baptism, as indeed it is, we may lawfully, taking it so also, urge it upon them. Why the Word Baptism and Baptizing is used by the Apostle, where that of Water and not of the Spirit is only understood, shall hereafter be spoken to. Part 2.I come now to consider the Reasons alleged by such as plead for Water-baptism, which are also the Objections used against the Discontinuance of it.

§. VIII.

[117] John 3. 34.

Answ.I answer, So was he also circumcised; it will not follow from thence that Circumcision is to continue: Why Christ was baptized by John.For it behoved Christ to fulfil all Righteousness, not only the Ministry of John, but the Law also, therefore did he observe the Jewish Feasts and Rites, and keep the Passover. It will not thence follow that Christians ought to do so now; and therefore Christ, Matt. iii. 15. gives John this Reason of his being baptized, desiring him to suffer it to be so now; whereby he sufficiently intimates that he intended not thereby to perpetuate it as an Ordinance to his Disciples.