118 CneIST1AN`BAPTISM. Now there are seveal ways of such washing, -viz. sprinkling water on it in small quantity, pouringwater On it in larger quan- tity, or dipping it under water, either in part or in whole: And since this seems to be left undetermined in scripture to one par- ticular mode, therefore any of these ways of washing may be sufficient to answer the purpose of this ordinance. Now that the Greek word signifies " washing" a thing in general by water coming over it, and not aways " dipping," is argued by learned men, not only from ancient Greek aúthors, but from the New Testament itself: as Luke xi. 38. The pharisees marvelled that Jesus had not first washed before dinner; in Greek, that he was not first baptized ; and can it be supposed, that they would have hadhimdip himself in water ; Mark vii. 4. The pharisees when they comefrom the market, eat not except they are washed, that is e baptized ; surely it cannot mean except they were dipped : And if this should be restrained to signify washing their hands only, yet it does not necessarily signify dipping them ; for the manner of washing their hands of old was by pouring water on them ; as Elisha poured water on the bands ofElijah; 2' Kings iii. 11. Yet further they practised the washing of tables, id Greek, of beds, as well as cups and vessels. Now beds could not usually be washed by dipping. Heb. ix. 10. The Jews had divers washings prescribed by Moses in Greek baptisms, which were sprinkling and pouring water on things, as well as plunging them all over in water. 1 Cor. xii. 2. The children of Israel were baptised unto Moses in the cloud and the sea, in their passage through the Red Sea at the march from,Egypt ; not that they were. dipped in the water, but they were sprinkled by theclouds over their heads, and perhaps by the water which stood up in, heaps as they passed by. Besides, it is said farther on this head, that pouring or sprinkling more naturally represents most of the spiritual bles- sings signified by baptism, viz. the sprinkling of the..blood of Christ on the conscience, or the poúring out the. Spirit on the personbaptised, or sprinkling him with clean water, as an emblem of the influence of the spirit; all which are the things signified in baptism, as different representations of the cleansing away of the guilt or defilement of sin thereby. But this shall suffice for a hint of this controversy, which has filled large volumes in the world, made a huge noise in the church, and destroyed the .charity of a multitude of chris- tians. Since I do not here profess to enter into the argument, but only to give `a few short notices and rehearsals of what is said in our vindication, who practise thebaptism of infants by sprink- hng water on them, I do therather ask leave.to speak onechari- table word tau this subject, viz. that since this controversy has
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