tnote 64: Exodus 29.4, 40.12]

[Footnote 65: Leviticus 8.4, 6; Jon. 1.31, 33]

[Footnote 66: Jon. 1.33, 34; Acts 2.17, 18; Acts 10.45; Acts 11.15, 16]

[Footnote 67: Joel 2.28]

JOHN'S BAPTISM.

John the Baptist was sent before Christ to prepare the way before
him.[68]

John was a prophet of dispensation previous to Christ.[69] He was in the
desert until the time of his showing unto Israel.[70] In the vision he
was with Moses on the Mount and they talked with Jesus.[71] He with
Moses vanished and left Jesus alone.[72]

John said: That he (Jesus) should be manifest unto Israel, therefore am
I come baptizing with water.[73] John defines his commission as only to
Israel (the Jews). His baptism was adapted to Jews only and not to us,
who according to Jewish classification are Gentiles. Evidently John
baptised Jews only and no Gentiles.

It was unlawful for Jews to keep company or come unto Gentiles and there
is no intimation that John ignored this Jewish law.[74]

The woman of Samaria wondered that Jesus (a Jew) asked water of her, a
Samaritan, for Jews had no dealings with Samaritans.[75]

Even in apostolic times we have no record that any full Gentile was
baptized with water; nor that any one born of Christian parents was so
baptized.

Cruden says: Naaman, Cornelius and the Eunuch were all proselytes of the
gate and not full Gentiles.[76]

The Samaritans were a mixed race who observed the law of Moses. They
also were Jewish proselytes and not full Gentiles.[77] When the Jews
numbered the people they did not count the Gentiles. So all Jerusalem
and Judea whom John baptized would not include the few Gentiles who
lived among the Jews.[78]

The freedom with which the Jews followed John to the Jordan indicates
that they were previously familiar with water baptism.[79]

But few of that great multitude whom John baptized appear to have become
the disciples of Christ.

John said: "There cometh one after me mightier than I, whose shoe
latchets I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. I indeed have
baptized you with water but he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
And again: "He must increase but I must decrease."[80]

Christ said: "John truly baptized with water but ye shall be baptized
with the Holy Spirit." Peter quoted this saying of our Lord and
recognized this Holy Spirit baptism to be the same as that which the
prophet Joel foretold should be poured out upon all flesh, upon sons and
daught