This also shews that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are greater in the Christian baptism than they were under the old testament dispensation, or in John's baptism. The spirit was already given to the saints of the old testament ; " For the men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost," 2 Pet. 1, 21. See also Ps. 51, 11. The spirit also accompanied John's baptism ; for it was a baptism unto repentance, Math. 3, 11 ; by it, one could flee from the wrath to come, v. 7 ; and it was the counsel of God, Luke 7, 30. Now there can be no genuine repentance, nor fleeing from the wrath to come, without the gift of the Holy Ghost. Thus John's baptism in its fundamental point did not differ from the Christian ; yet it is by no means to be used in the church ; because the baptism of our Saviour, after his resurrection and ascension, became more valuable, for in it he sheds on us the Holy Ghost abundantly. Although the spirit accompanied John's baptism, yet he was not shed on the people abundantly. No doubt but what this was the reason why some of those that were baptised with John's baptism, were again baptised ; see Acts 19.

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