d water baptism by his presence for a short time and
then departed,[96] but he never baptized with water himself, nor
directed others to do so, nor gave any instructions about it.

He likewise sanctioned circumcision, and the law of Moses generally.[97]
It was observed all around him and he did not object. He sent the
cleansed leper to the Jewish priest to offer for his cleansing as Moses
commanded.[98]

This offering which Moses commanded was two birds and cedar wood and
three lambs without blemish, &c.[99]

Shall all cleansed lepers of our day do as this one was commanded? Shall
we keep the law of Moses, circumcise our children and baptize with
water, because Jesus sanctioned it in Judea?

Jesus, his disciples and the Judeans were all Jews and this was under
the law before Christian baptism had superceded water baptism at
Pentecost. Of course they baptized with water, circumcised the flesh and
kept the law of Moses; but this is no precedent for us whether Jews or
Gentiles in these gospel days; since the Holy Spirit is poured out upon
all flesh in all the fulness we are able to bear.

Jesus was baptized in the Jordan, saying "_Suffer it to be so now_,"
[100] thus indicating that it should not be so always.[101] He was also
circumcised, and in after life confirmed his early circumcision by
fulfilling and not destroying the law and the prophets,[102] and by
sending the cleansed leper to offer as Moses commanded, and by sending
his apostles before Pentecost to preach to Israel (the circumcised) but
not to Gentiles (the uncircumcised) until the son of man be come.[103]

He here recognized the covenant of circumcision[104] which God gave to
Abraham and that it was not yet fulfilled.[105] He virtually said of
circumcision the same that he had previously said of water baptism,
"Suffer it to be so now." But we find no manifestation of his will that
we should continue to observe the covenants and customs of that
dispensation of which water baptism was one; and he never made any
distinction whatever in favor of it but with his last words introduced
his own baptism of the Holy Spirit as its immediate successor.[106]

Jesus exclaimed upon the cross: "It is finished," and the law and the
prophets were fulfilled.[107]

He opened to us a more excellent way under his own glorious gospel
dispensation of which that of Moses was a shadow.[108] He took away the
first covenant that he might establish the second.[109] He purchased o