Alluding to Matthew iii. 14, 15; and to the custom of the ancient Church of adding imposition of hands for the gift of the strengthening Spirit immediately on baptism, if the bishop were present. See Bingham, xii. 1, 1, and the writers quoted by him, especially Tertullian, de Bapt. 7. “As soon as we are come out of the water, we are anointed with the consecrated oil…Then we receive imposition of hands, summoning and inviting the Holy Spirit in the way of solemn benediction.” [Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. iii. p. 672. The second sentence is the beginning of chap. 8 in Tertullian’s treatise.—R.]