A.—Yes. But the reason was, lest they should say he had baptized in his own name.
Q.—But did he not say, that he was not sent to baptize, but to preach the Gospel?
A.—Yes. But others were sent to water those whom he planted. He, as a wise master-builder, laid the foundation by preaching the word, and others attended to the other part of the work, and thus builded thereon.
Q.—Did not Cornelius and his friends receive the Holy Ghost before they were baptized?
A.—Yes. But it was to convince the Jews that they (the Gentiles) had part in the Gospel as well as the Israelites.
Q.—Would Cornelius and his friends have been saved, after all they had received, if they had refused baptism?
A.—No. For Peter was sent to tell them words whereby they should be saved, and part of these words were, that they should be baptized; and, if they had refused to comply with this message, they would have been worse than those who had never known the way of truth.
Q.—Was not the thief on the cross saved without baptism?
A.—If he was, it was because he had no opportunity to obey; and, therefore, was not saved through a Gospel ministration, but was included in the same mercy as the heathens, who have never had the offer of the Gospel, and therefore, are under no condemnation for not obeying it.
Q.—Would the thief on the cross have been saved if he had lived to hear the Gospel, and had opportunity to obey it, and refused?