820 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. T. Some of the fathers having alleged the apocrypha Id belong to the holy scriptures, is not so strong a proof that it does belong to them, as the total silence of Jesus Christ and his apostles is, that it does not. Lord Treasurer. That is no good argument. You can never make a syllogism of that. T. Whatsoever our Saviour and his apostles alleged not,, (allowing that they alleged all the prophets,) is no part of the prophetical writings. But it is true that our Saviour and his apostles alleged all the prophetical writings, and yet never alleged any of the apocryphal. Therefore, the apo- cryphal writings are no part of the prophetical. All the prophets from Samuel, and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, haveforetold the days of Christ. S. Romans, chap. iv., is so far mistranslated, that the, meaning of the apostle is wholly perverted. For, where the apostle saith, " Cotneth this blessedness upon the cir- cumcisian only, or upon the uncircumcisian also ?" the book appointed to be used readeth the contrary : and Psalm cv., which in the original, and in all good translations,- it is, " They were not disobedient to his word : but in the Book of Prayer it is, " They were not obedient," which is its very opposite. A. There may be some ambiguity in the Hebrew word. This I cannot tell, having no knowledge of the language. You can tell. T. and S. There is no ambiguity at all in the word. A. In baptism there is nothing of the substance of that sacrament, but the element and the word. With regard to the place, you will allow, that in time of persecution it is not unlawful to baptize in private places. T. The question applies to a peaceable state of the church, as that now enjoyed in the church of Englantl. A. In like mariner- the person is not of the substance of the sacrament ; but at some times, and in some cases, lay- men, yea, even women, may baptize. May not a christian baptize in time of persecution, or when living in the West Indies ? T. Your remarks are not 'pertinent. The question relates to a time of peace, and a christian country. But even in the cases you have supposed, it is nat lawful for any one to minister the sacraments without some extraordinary call from God, or some ordinary call from the fhurch. This appears from Hebrews v., where it is said, " No man taketh this honour to himself, but he that is called of God; as was Aaron."
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