for laying aside what is of divine appointment, you stick to their human traditions, about the washing of pots, and cups, and many other the like practices.

the baptism of John, was it of divine, or of human institution?

if we should say, it was a human institution, we run a risk from the people. (for they all believed John was a true prophet.)

saying, we heard him say, "I will pull down this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands."