5. The example of Christ is mentioned as one outward means of the regeneration of them who were capable of its use and improve- ment. Of his being an example of baptism nothing is spoken. Nor was Christ in his own person an example of regeneration unto any; for as he was not baptized in all ages, so he was never regenerated in any, for he needed no regeneration.
6. It is well that it is so positively granted that Christ doth sanc- tify infants ; which, seeing he doth not do so to all universally, must be those of believing parents; which is enough to end this conti'o- versy.
7. The meaning of Irenoeus is no more but that Christ, passing through all ages, evidenced his design to exclude no age, to commu- nicate his grace unto all sorts and ages; and he mentioneth old men, because his judgment was that Christ was fifty years old when he died.
8. It was the constant opinion of the ancients that Christ came to save all that were baptized ; not intending his purpose and intention with respect unto individuals, but his approbation of the state of baptism, and his grant of the means of grace.
266 OF DIPPING.
OF DIPPING.
Bd'^rroj, used in these scriptures, Luke xvi. 24, John xiii. 26, Rev. xix. 1 3, we translate " to dip." It is only " to touch one part of the body." That of Rev. xix. 13 is better rendered, " stained by sprink- ling." ....
In other authors it is " tingo, immergo, lavo," or " abluo;" but in no other author ever signifies " to dip," but only in order to wash- ing, or as the means of washing. It is nowhere used with respect unto the ordinance of baptism.
The Hebrew word, ^^^, is rendered by the LXX., Gen. xxxvii. 31, by f/,oX\jvca, " to stain by sprinkling" or otherwise ; mostly by /SaTxw. 2 Kings V. 14 they render it by ^avril^u, and nowhere else. In verse 10, Elisha commands Naaman "to wash;" therefore that in verse 14 is that " he washed." Exod. xii. 22 is, to put the top of the hyssop into blood, to sprinkle it; 1 Sam. xiv. 27, is to take a little honey with the top of a rod. In neither place can dipping or plunging be intended. Lev. iv. 6, 17, ix. 9, and in other places, it is only to touch the blood, so as to sprinkle it.
Bacrr/^w signifies "to wash," and instances out of all authors may be given, — Suidas, Hesychius, Julius Pollux, Phavorinus, and Eustathius.
It is first used in the Scripture, Mark i. 8, John i. 83, and to the same purpose. Acts i. 5. In every place it either signifies " to pour," or the expression is equivocal. " I baptize you with water, but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost;" which is the accomplish- ment of that promise, that the Holy Ghost should be poured on them.
For the other places, Mark vii. 3, 4, c/Vrw and /Sa^rr/^w are plainly the same, both " to wash." Luke xi. 38 is the same with Mark vii. 3. No one instance can be given in the Scripture wherein /3a*r/^w doth necessarily signify either " to dip" or " plunge."
Ba-TTT-Z^w may be considered either as to its original, natural sense, or as to its mystical use in the, ordinance.
This distinction must be observed concerning many other words in the New Testament, as lxxX?jff/a, yjipoTovla, and others, which have a peculiar sense in their mystical use.
In this sense, as it expresseth baptism, it denotes " to wash" only, and not "to dip" at all: for so it is expounded. Tit. iii. 5; Eph. v. 26; Heb. x. 22; 1 Pet. iii. 21. And it signifies that communica- tion of the Spirit which is expressed by "pouring out" and " sprink- ling," Ezek. xxxvi. 25, and expresseth our being washed in the blood of Christ, Tit. ii. 14; Heb. ix. 14, 19, 23.
Wherefore, in this sense, as the word is applied unto the ordi-
OF DIPPING. 267
nance, tlie sense of dipping is utterly excluded. And though as a mere external mode it may be used, provided the person dipped be naked, yet to urge it as necessary overthrows the nature of the sacrament.
For the original and natural signification of it, it signifies " to dip, to plunge, to dye, to wash, to cleanse."
But I say, — 1. It doth not signify properly "to dip" or "plunge," for that in Greek is IfiQa-Trru and lyaSa-rr/^w. 2. It nowhere sig- nifies "to dip," but as a mode of and in order to washing. 3. It signifies the " dipping" of a finger, or the least touch of the water, and not plunging the whole. 4. It signifies " to wash," also, in all good authors.
I have not all those quoted to the contrary. In the quotations of them whom I have, if it be intended that they say it signifies " to dip," and not " to wash" or " to dip" only, there is neither tnith nor honesty in them by whom they are quoted.
Scapula is one, a common book, and he gives it the sense of " lavo, abluo," " to wash," and " wash away."