out the baptism of John, though the baptism of John were of use in its season, to point out the baptism of Christ; and the Baptist himself was of this judgment, who said to Christ, “I have need to be baptised of thee;" which he means not of water-baptism (for so Christ himself, as you have heard, did not baptise) but with the baptism of the Spirit; and so the Baptist himself, who was never baptised with water, neither by Christ nor the apostles, nor any body else, yet was baptised with the Spirit; and the baptism of the Spirit was sufficient for the Baptist without any water-baptism; an so Christ's Spirit-baptism, by the word, is sufficient for all the faithful now, without John's water-baptism for he that is truly washed from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, and hath the Holy Ghost in him to renew his nature, and to conform him exactly to Christ's own image, and to work him in this present world into the true similitude of heaven, and to be in him a fountain of water springing up unto everlasting life; what need hath he of cold material water to be poured on his body, under the pretence of any sign whatever, either of Moses or John, when as he hath the truth, substance and heavenly thing itself?"

Now this, it may be, may seem strange and dangerous to some of low, and fleshly, and customary religion; but let all such (if it be possible) consider, that where the substance comes, the shadow is at an end and the ceremony where the truth comes; and the creature where God comes; and if they understand not.

this for the present, I hope they may understand it afterwards; for we speak not at uncertainties in this point, but what we have in some measure seen, and felt, and handled, of the word of life, that we deliver to you, that ye may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ, through the Spirit.

A DISSERTATION

ON THE

NATURE AND EFFECT

OF

CHRISTIAN BAPTISM.

BY JOSEPH PHIPPS.

NEW-YORK:

PUBLISHED BY THE NEW-YORK YEARLY MEETING OF FRIENDS. MAHLON DAY, PRINTER, 374 PEARL STREET.