I Am come to the Examination and Tryal of that which you call Truths Conflict with Error , and find it to be no other , but Error and Insolency , striving against Truth and Innocency , as will appear to the impartial Reader , when he compares your ( pretended ) Answer with my former Book ; but indeed as for an Answer to my Book it is none ( as I before have said ) for the greatest part of it is but a writing over again what you have formerly written , and is already answered , and therefore I shall be brief in the Answer , because Tautolligies suit not with my spirit .

Answ. And first I take notice that you see your self at a loss by granting that Christ's Baptism was by plunging in water , because I have said , That if Christ's Baptism were by Dipping or Plunging , and he left us an Example that we should follow his steps , then we ought also to be dipped or plunged : but you say , I read the Sentence in your parenthesis amiss ; may you not be ashamed so to say , seeing it is plain to be read in your Book : your words are these ▪ Christ only was plunged with the Spirit ( receiving it without measure ) so was his water Baptism : these are your very words , with your parenthesis , pag. 3. lin. 2. and so I leave him that reads to judge whether you do not confess that Christ's water Baptism was the same with the Baptism of the Spirit , which you say was by plunging .

Object . And whereas you say , That Christ went up into the mountain , and yet not covered in the earth , and so he went into the water , and ( yet ) not covered with it .

Answ. To which I Answer , and say , That it is not said that Christ was Baptized in the Mountain ; but it is said that he was Baptized in the Water : and so it was said of Philip and the Eunuch : But it will he granted that Christ might go many times into the water , and yet not be covered in it ; but it cannot be imagined , that John could dip , or plunge , or over-whelm , or sink ( as the word Baptizo will render it ) Christ into the water , and yet Christ not covered in water . And besides all this , the proper signification of Baptism is a Burial , and Resurrection , as I before have shewed ; yet notwithstanding I shall give a few Reasons here , to prove , that Baptism is dipping , or plunging : And the first Reason is ,

Reas. 1. Because the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , rendereth no other thing ( as a proper derivation ) but mergo , or immergo ; which is , to dip , to plunge , to overwhelm , to thrust into the water , or to sink ; and such like words as these , which sheweth , that the person Baptized is to be covered in water .

Reas. 2. Secondly , Christ was so baptized , namely plunged , as you have affirmed in your former Book , and we are to follow his examples , therefore are to be covered ( as Christ was ) in Baptism .

Reas. 3. And Thirdly , it signifieth a Burial , as saith the Apostle Paul ( Rom. 2.4 . Col. 2.12 . ) and a man cannot be said to be buried unless he be covered with earth , or the like .

Object . And this brings me to the Answer of your Objection , p. 7. where you say , That Christ was buried in a rock , and had no earth to cover him , and therefore it cannot be proved ( say you ) that persons baptized , must be covered in the water .

Answ. To which I Answer and say , That Christ was covered is clear , for his body was put into a new Sepulcher , and a stone rowled against the door , or mouth of the Sepulcher ; for in that age it was usual to bury the dead in Sepulchers , which are as our Graves ; and that his body was covered , is evident ; because when Mary came early in the morning to the Sepulcher , although the stone was rowled away from the mouth , yet she was fain to stoop down to look into it , to see whether she could see Jesus ; implying , that the earth covered him out of her sight : but I need not trouble my self to prove that which is so clear ; for the Scripture saith ( although I suppose you had forgot it ) That as Jonah was three dayes and three nights in the Whales belly , so shall the Son of man be three dayes and three nights in the heart of the earth , Matth. 12.40 . So then as Jonah was covered in the Whales belly , so was the Son of man covered in the heart of the earth ; from whence you may see , that the Sepulcher which you speak of , was not wood , but earth ; and so Christ was buried and covered in the heart of the earth : So then Persons baptized must be covered in water , or otherwise no signification of burial in Baptism . And so I pass to the fourth Reason , to prove baptism to be dipping , or plunging into the water .

Reas. 4. Because Baptism is figuratively represented by much water , and not by a little ; which implyeth the person baptized ought to be dipped or plunged , so as to be covered in water , as the waters of Noah : And John abiding in Canaan Baptizing , because there was much water , saith the Text ; to which you adde these two Objections .

Object . 1. First , That if the waters of Noah was baptism , then the ungodly World was Baptized ; for plunged , and covered they were , and perished , and so the perishing Creatures were Baptized .

Answ. To which I Answer and say , The text doth not say that Noahs water was Baptism , but a figure of Baptism . Secondly , It is not denyed that the same water that is said to save the eight Souls which were in the Ark , was the same that drowned them which was out of the Ark : which sheweth , that the water in Baptism must not be small ( for that is said to be a figure of Baptism ) but sufficient to cover the Persons baptized : That which we may learn from these sayings is this , ( and so I pass ) That as the waters saved those in the Ark , and drowned them that were out of the Ark ; even so Baptism ( being figuratively represented in it ) saveth , and cleaneth ( instrumentally ) all those that have Faith , and so be in Christ , the Ark of safety ; and also destroyeth all that attempt it , which beleeve not , or are not in Christ by Faith ; and so the Ordinances of Christ to one , are the savour of life unto life ; and to the other , the savour of death unto death : therefore take this word of Caution , Take heel how , and to whom , you administer Baptism ; let them first appear to you that they are in the Ark ; which is to say , let the persons Baptized , first make it appear to you , by some visible demonstration , that they have Faith in Christ , otherwise you see that you take a direct way to ruinate them ; therefore I say , take heed : And so I pass to the next thing , which is ,

Object . John did abide at Canaan to baptize , because there was much water there : But say you , The much water is not to be understood deep water , but broad and shallow , so that an Infant could not be covered in it : and that John did abide there , because his Disciples might see him administer that Ordinance better than under the shadowing Banks of Jordan : And this is the Reason , saith my Antagonist , That John did abide at Canaan , not that the waters were convenient ; that is to say , deep to cover the Person baptized , but because there was a convenient prospect whereby his Disciples might see the manner of this administring of the Ordinance .

Answ. To which I Answer and say , That this kind of reasoning seems to me to be strange perverting of the Scripture : for the Scripture saith , That John abode at Canaan to baptize , because there was much water ; or it may be read , abundance of water , or deep water , from the word , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : But you say , That the reason why he tarried there to baptize , was , because there was a convenient prospect , that his Disciples might see him baptize : clear contrary to what the Scripture saith . And if that were the Reason ( as you say ) then he might have taken a Pitcher of Water into the Mountain ( if sprinkling would have served the turn ; for a Pitcher of water would have baptized very many with your kind of Baptism ) and the Mountain had been a better prospect than the Valley .

Secondly , Canaan is the same water ( viz. the River ) Jordan , and takes its Name Canaan from the Name of the Village Canaan that stood by the River of Jordan , as you may see if you look into the Map of that Country : And so it is now , that one and the same River bears many Names , by reason of the adjacent Villages and Towns that stand by the side of it , and the River called by the same Name : This being considered , the River or Water of Canaan was not shallow , but deep ; for the swelling Waves of Jordan were great , and this is the same River as before-said .

Again , Thirdly , it is clear , that John Baptized Men and Women there ; which should be read ( if it were truly translated ) that John dipped Men and Women there ; and if so , you and your Authors must be false , which say , it was not deep enough to dip an Infant ; and so I leave this Objection , and the Reasons to prove Baptism to be Dipping , although I might adde many more : The Reasons in short you see are these :

First , Because the word Baptism , being truly translated , is to dip properly , and such like words as before-mentioned .

Secondly , Because Christ was dipped or plunged , and we engaged to follow his example .

Thirdly , Baptism signifies Christs Burial , and he was covered in the heart of the earth .

Fourthly , and Lastly , the Scripture saith , That John did tarry and Baptize at Canaan , because there was much water : signifying to us , that much water is requisite in Baptism , whereby the person baptized may be conveniently dipped or plunged , so as to be covered in the water . And so I come to the Second Thing , which is ,