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The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre film6s d des taux de rMuction diff^rents. Lorsque Ie document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clich6, il est film6 d partir de I'angle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas. en prenant Ie nombre d'images n^cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent Is m6thode. y errata id to It ie pel u re, pon A n 1 2 3 32X L % I 3 3 >■ 4 6 6 I] IIISTORl Bapt MISSIONARY G PR / A TREATISE ON INFANT BAPTISM ; SHEWING THE SCRIPTURAL GROUNDS AND HISTORICAL EVIDENCE OF THAT ORDINANCE TOGETHER WITH A BRIEF EXPOSITION OF THE Baptismal Offices of the Church of England. BY THE llEV. JAMES ROBERTSON, A. M. MISSIONARY FROM THE VENERABLE SOCIETY FOR THE PROPA- GATION OF THE GOSPEL IN FOREIGN PARTS. BRIDGETOWN, N. S. HALIFAX, N.S. PRINTED AT "THE NOVASCOTIAN" OFFICE. 183G. TO THE HONBLE. AND RIGHT REVEREND JOHN INGLIS, D. D. LOUD BISHOP OF NOVA-SCOTL% Tin: FOLLOWING TREATISE IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED, BY THE AUTHOR. 1 CONTENTS. CII APTEll J. vi:i{sv. ^i:CTI(X\ !. r>IFFF.RhNT(inMoxs uy rUK SI lUF.CT I.N THK KAHKV AtJF.S <»F THK ( ill ncif. Inl.-o,lm-tory ]{en,arJ. ' '^' .MIXTION '.>. 'MIL ( AUTUACilMA.V CO.NTROVKJis \ . \'3 1 VI < <».N'rF.NT«. JSIX'TIUIS 1 THK (;f,uman controversy. IlrruriiiiiliDn of religion, 'S.i — Monrio yimoii,a naUvpori'ric^- land. 21 — TIkj novil tonot orhisfollowoiH, !*.'» — The Ana- b.iptisisof INI unsier, 'i.')— Matthias ami IJciikcls,yG— Their oiitr;igosat .MiU)stor, '^7 — Tht-ir ta|)liiro and exccnti()n,'-iS— Till' (ivcrlhrow orMunstpr piit an end to this wild fanati- cism, ti"^ — Luther and other Itflbrincrs. 'J^.> — Two inipor tant conclusions deducihie from these tran.sactions, 'M) — iicncral observations on then), '.i'J. J^KCTION r>. THE CONTROVERSY IN ENGLA.VP. Nn.iitajitists in thuroign of Henry V'lII. 'M — Their treatment ;{4 — Dutch Anabaptists in the reign of Ciuccn rdi/abcth,:M> — Tiieir treatnunt, •\7 — Their re-aj»[)earancc in tiic reign of James I. 'A^ — Their political conduct durin" the I'rotecto- rale of Cromwell, '.W — i'enal laws abrogated by James II. :>:•— John JJunvan ll--Kev. T. Dorrington, 41 — Rev. Mr. \Vallti-Dr.("Ja!e,|-J— .Mr. U(.()th,4:{—JJr. Williams, 4:i— (Jeiieral remarks on the llngliHh lJa|)tismal controversy. 41 — L.sts ol" writers on both ^sides, 4(i. SECTION i>. TIIF CONTROVERSY IN AMERICA. 'i'he circumstances ofancw country favorable to Anabaptist principles, 47 — This one reason tor their prevalence, 4!> — TIm.^ American mode of conducting the controversy, i^O — The American baptists tmdcrvalue liuman acquirements. iVi — Professor t!5tuart of Andover, ."):? — William Elder. ')H — i;. ('rawlcy, .')4 — Ciencral observations on the Nova Scotia <;ontrover.*y, ')4 CHAPTER If. S( RIPTURE EVIDENCE FOR BAPTISM. SLCTIOiX I . I'^S?A^.^^ KROM THE OLD TESTAMENT WHICH MENTIO.N THE I SE OF WATER AS A MEANS OF SPIRITLAL i'LRIFICATION. Mrigiii of the use of water as a seal of repentance, Hf) — It war lanuliar tu the people in the tunc of John the 13uptist,r>c — CONTENTS. \ll I'serJ hv tlio Jouisli high I'rirst, ri.- — AI>;o in cases of le- prosy, ;*>'.» — Atul prcviouKly t — Scriptural account of our Lord's commission t« tlie Apos- tles, 77 — This j)assage fretpienlly referred to by writers on both sides, 7^ — Tlie argumenl from it in favor of infant baptism, 7'' — Propagation of tlio (jospcl, f^O — Direct proof- in favor of infant bajitism, r'l — The Apostles understood their masters command, t2 — Objection obviated, t',\ — Dr iMucknight, t;!. SECTION 4. BAPTISM BY THE APOSTLES. At Jerusalem on the day of J*enterost, r^5 — Observations on it, fro — Daptism jtreceded the duties of the christian life, ^(\— The promise is also to children, ^7 — Here baptism musi have been administered by sprinkling, HH — General con- clusions, H!> — Philip baptizing at Samaria, H!J — Tlie Ethio- pian Eunuch, 8!) — The baptism of Lydia and her house- liold.OO — A remarkable instance, 1*1 — Evident inference. 1>2 — involves the principle of admitting sponsors, Uti — Proof of this, 93 — JJaptism of the Philippian Jailor and hit llou:^^- VIJI • •ONTK.VT. \ Mold, !Mi — 'riio saino |i)iii(i|il»' iictrd upon lirrc lis in (In. rasi.' (»r Lydia, !'"' — lliidi iinli\ itlii.il dui's not a|t|)(.ar Iw liavi' prolcssi'd for liiiiirt{d(. I»"^ — .Mr. I'l.ixtrr s (>|iiiiinn, I'l' — 'I'ln. Iiri'Hipli (ifpaiciital rr'siioiisdiility Immk-i; cstaldislicd, Kill — 'aid Itapii/ing al Coriiilii, IdU — Srriptiiral a('nal iiKtdi! ot prticccdini.' Ihmc; ol)»<('rv«Ml,l('"J— (.'LTtaiti l>is(;i|dt s l»a|»fi/.tm «,aiiiiot b.j proved, ItiT — II. Tlir principlr ofxicarioiis rcsjtonsil)ilily rcco<^'iii/,i'd. 107 — III. I'cr.soiis of all aj,'cs seem to have Ijpcii baptized, 107 — 'J'lic imjturluiiLt of'tliosci iMjiK.liisioiis, l()>. CIlAPTKll Tir. S( nilTIKK KVIDI'VCi: CONTIM HI).— SCKII' Tl K.\L (.'HOIWDS roll IM'A.N'r IIAI»ri— Tii,. condition ot it, 11"^ — Haptism a incans of grac(^, 1 1.{ — In- f.mts arc not gcnorally saved without such moans, 114-- Jnstaiicf of (joiiiorrah, 111 — Hi lit licial (IliH-tJ of jjaptisin. 11') — It.-i infUionuti ii])ou ones coiuiiKt. illy. ! — vXpplication of lhi.s fact, Jl'.( — The Christian (lispoiisati(T. I'ropliorios rospcrtinj» this ti\r\, \\i'.\ — No rxcpption made — ttTiiis ;,'rnt'iiil, I'JI — No |iri)liiliitii)ti in tlm rase of infants, I*i."» -Olijcciiuii iMtnMth rt --(jiunt;rai inrcreiieo, l'J7. MIXTION 1. THE POWER IlELEHATE/) TO THE APOSTLES BY CHRIST. Scriptural account of it, 1'2^ — I'ropur tlistinctions niado, Hi!) — Krroni.'ous assumption on tin* part ol'tlut C-'Inircli of Koine, 1*JI' — Tlio ininolcnl man, liiO — Apu.-^tlcs connnaniitul tt» bapli/.o, i;{l — l)iscri;ti()nary povvor ronnniltcd to them, I'M — rin.'ir (Jfcisiun wilii rrgaul to llio disput«!s at Anlioch, VA'-i — Tlicir authority consiilorcMl in n'^ard to Infant Hap- tisMi, l'.V2 — Tin; actions of tlioir successors may throw li^lil on th(3ir opinions, \',V,\ — llccapitulalion of tin; ar;;uinunls dtifivcd from scriptural grounds, !:]."> — Jleuiurksj lli">. «, CHAPTER IV. HCRTPTT'RE I.VIDMNCr: rON'IMNI I ID.— PARTI- CULAR TEXTS IN I'.WOR (JE JM'ANT JJAPriSM. yECTlON J. Text — John III. r>. — " P'crUi/,rcrilij. I saij unto thcc,'' 6,-0. Passage explained, i;{7 — The expression " kingdom of God * explained, 13?^ — Argument for Infant liaplism, 141 — Ne- cessity of it clear, 142. SECTION L>. Text — Acts II. 3l) — " Fur the promise is unto you and your children,'' «!y-f, »Syc. The nature of the promise here mentioned, 143 • Applicable to the case of the CJentiles,144; The self-preserving power of the Jewish polity, 14.">; It imposed upon parents tho duty of transmitting their religion to posterity, 140 ; TJjo apostacies of the Jewish nation may be traced to their neglect of this duty, 140 ; The same self-preserving power COXTKNTS, ■ 4'A' '■» ■'■'■ likowiso in the Christian church, 147; A knowledge of llic promise implies uii obligati ; Itnportntice of this argument, 100; The voluntary system, loO; Evident inference, 151. SUCTION 3. Text — IMark X. 13, 14. — " .ind thnj brought young children unlu him," ^'C. ^c. This transaction noticed by other Evangeli.'Jts, 151 ; Mean- ing of the words "coming to Christ" explained, 153; Moaning of the phrase " Ibr of stich is the kingdom of iieaven" explained, 1.54; Evident intention of our Saviour in these words, 155; Application general, 1.55; Objection noticed, 155 ; Infants capable of Church mend)ersliip, 15C ; iiaplist mode of explaining this text, 15(J; Two facts no- ticed, 157; The 13aj)tist inference illogical, 158; Salvation to he obtained through the use of means, 15b; Difliculty btuted, 15'J. SECTION 4. Text, 1 Corinth. VII. 14, " For the unbcUering husband is sancl/jicd, «^'C. «^'C. Preliminary remarks, 1(10 ; State of Corinth, 1 GO; Its inhabi- tants, llil ; The cimrch established there, 101 ; The Law forbad Jews to intermarry with other nations, 101 ; Trans- gressed in this particular, 10!T^ T' 1""""^ ^'"^^"'•' '"- Quotations 'from Ium,ld{; Justm Martyr, 1,^4; His dialogue with Try Po&rn'i "'"'''"'' ^^'['^P ^i horn, J«7; Tau|ht by Polycarn, who was a disciple of «t John, lrt7: Clemena ^i;tis;ts:si. '""^ ^^-^^^"^^ '^' ^'^s'laiy ioticeTb; SECTION 3 HISTORICAL EVIDENCE OF THE THIRD CENTURY. 1.J4, Urigen, IDo; [lis testimony,!!).-); Treatment of it by the Uaptists, 1!)C ; St. Cyprian, l!»7; Cal Is a counci if' f^'iJlrT"'^'''^' The IJaptis't infeVence'llW- Not SECTION 4. EVIDENCE PROM THE CHRISIIAN WRITERS OF THE FOURTH CExNTURY. Xll CONTENTS. CHAPTER VI. THE BAPTIS31AT. OFFfCES OF TIIE CHURCH OF ExNGLAND. SECTION 1. THE THREE FIRST RUBRICS OF THE OFFICE FOR THE PUBLIC BAPTISM OF INFANTS. General Observationp, ^1 1 ; Rubric of King Edward VI. — Prayer Hook, 2\2 ; llubric in tlio office lor private baptism, 2J3; Hooker's arguments, 'Ji:{; Law of King Inc, 1^15 ; Law of the Danish king AnlatF, 2J5; Uniformity of the CJiurch of England, 'JIC; The second Rubric, 217; Its principle foundeil on Scripture, 217; Practice of the pri- mitive church, 21*^; Autliorizcd conclusion, 21!); Power of tlie church in minor cases, 220; The third Rubric, 221 ; Fonts ju ancient churches, 221 ; Tlieir position, 222; This office to be used only in the Churcli,222. SECTION 2. THE OFFICE FOR THE PUBLIC BAPTISM OF INFANTS. The preliminary question, 222 ; The Exhortation, 223; Illus- trated from Scripture, 223 ; The Collects — illustrated, 2^i4 ; iScripture quotations, 225 ; The passage from St. Mark, 227 ; Remarks, 227 ; Second Exhortation, 227 ; The ThanJo- giving,22H; illustrated from Scri.pture, 228 ; Thi.d exhor- tation, 22!> ; Questions and Answers, 232; The four short Collects illustrated, 234 ; The Consecration prayer, 230; All confirmed by Scripture, 230. SECTION 3. THE RUBRICS WHICH DIRECT THE MODE OF BAPTISM. I. In the office for infants, 237 ; II. In that for grown up per- sons, 238 ; Prove according to Scripture a discretionary power, 238 ; Misrepresentations on this subject, 231) ; bishop Sparrow's opinion, 241; Name in baptism, 24?.; Form of baptizing, 242 ; Forn) of receiving illustrated, 243 ; Fourth exhortation, 243 ; Regeneration and conversion. 244; Illustrated by passages of Scripture, 245. SECTION 4. THE CONCLUDING PRAYERS AND EXHORTATION TO THE SURETIES. The Lord 'a prayer, 240 ; Wlieatley's comment on it, 240; CONTENTS. XIV The Collect ofThatiUsgivinji, 2^-2 ; Adonlion of sons, 1*1*- ; Dean Comber's remarks, 'J4S ; I'liraseology of the CImrcli Catechism, '240 ; Conformable to Scriiiture, ^oO ; Exhor- tation to the Siireties,'ir>l ; ltd Phraseology illiistiated, 'i^VJ; Conclusion of the olHce, t2.>? ; General observations on — 1st, Its arrangement, )i'i.\; 2d, Its sentitnents, 2^)0 ; 'Ad, And Its phraseology, 2o{'j; To be held in high estinja- tion,2o7. £ CHAPTER VII. TlIC CONCLUSION. SECTlOxN J. AN ADDRESS TO THOSE WHO NEGLECT OR ARE UKLLC- TANT TO BRING THEIR CHILDREN TO BAPTISM. Motives !or this address, 258; General argumenls for Infant Baptism, 259 J 1. It is nowhere prohibited, 2G0; 2. 'J'Jie general tenor o( revelation is favorable to it, 2(il ; '.\. b'o is the nature of the Christian church, iilJIi ; 4. Our sJaviour's regard for children. 205 ; 5. Infant (baptism is consistent with the leading doctrines of Christianity, 20(i; G. The example of the Apostles, 268; 7. The condition ot the first Christiana, 209; 8. Testimony of the Christian Fa- thers, 271 ; 9. A strong argument qoduced from them, 271 ; 10. The general prevalence of Infant iJaptism throughout Christendom, 273; IL The satne liict in another view, 275; The mode of Duptism as sauctioncd by our church, 27C. SECTION 2. FALLACIES POINTED OUT. 1 The separation of the Old Testament frcm the New, 278; 2. That the Baptist is superior, 279 ; 3. Partial quo- tation of ancient authors, 280 ; 4. Partial quotation of Peedobaptist writers, 281; 5. Collecting opinions, 282; 6. Putting example before precept, 2:T<.'i; 7. !su{)posing that the Church of Christ is no; progressive, 284 ; These con- sidevations applied, 286. SECTION 3. TWO POPULAR OBJECTIONS ANSWERED. 1. The use of baptizing infants, 2*'S ; A Syllogism, 288; 2. The benefits they derive irom being members of the Church, 290 ; Mr. Stanley's opiuion, 290 ; Fiaai exhortu tion, 291. B r 1 ERRATA. Page 15, line 21, for « advantage," read " advantages." " 123, « 28, for « 1" read « 4 ;" for « 2," read « 5." " 123, « 29, for « 4," mad « 1 ;" for " 5," read « 2." " IGl, « G, for « tJieir," read « his." " 215, « 18, for«IoncV'read«Iue.» " 231, " 25, for "last," read "least." " 249, « 33, for "Lccker," read "Seeker." *^* The learned reader is requested to correct seve ral Greek errata in pages 81, 104, and 137. r I. »> TO THE COXCRFXiATIONS OF ST. JAMFS' ciiLRcji, jmiiKiiyrowN, anq trinity CllLliCH, wioio r. My Christian Brethren, THE subject of the following Treatise is one Avhich cannot fail to engage the attention of every Christian. It involves interests and conse- quences which must ever be of the highest im- portance to all, who look for light and immorta- lity through the Gospel. It concerns the ad- ministration of one of the Sacraments of our most holy religion,--is connected with the due performance of a most sacred duty,— and has a close reference to the means of grace and the hope of glory. It was from a sense of the great impor- tance of the Baptismal ordinance in these res- pects, that the present attempt to explain it on scriptural and historical grounds has been un- dertaken. A controversy, begun and conduct- ed under circumstances which must still be fresh in the recollection of most of you, has of late attracted general attention to this subject throughout the Province. I am not sure indeed that controversy forms the best possible chan- XVI INTRODUCTIO.X. nel for communicating instruction ; but it may, nevertheless, prove to be of some advantage. It may rouse a spirit of enquiry, which other- wise might remain inactive ; and may lead to a course of investigation, which will ultimately terminate in the most satisfactory results. A difficulty may be overcome ; a doubt may be solved ; and a definite opinion may be establish- ed. But notwithstanding these advantages, that may attend controversial discussion, I would not wish you to be impressed with the idea, that the following sheets have been pub- lished for the purpose of continuing or taking a part in them. My sole object is to put it in your power to judge for yourselves, and to form an opinion of your own, respecting the chief matters in debate. With this view I have traced, as briefly as is compatible with perspicuity, the history ot the various controversies that have at different times agitated the christian church, with regard to the Sacrament of Baptism ; endeavouring to point out such general features in the character of the question, at different stages of its pro- gress, as appeared deserving of your notice. And being well convinced that the word of God, in so far as it elucidates the subject, is the best possible arbiter in that, as well as 1 f IMIiODrCTlO.V. \MI I -¥ ' in all other conlrovcrtccl poIiil>, I have re- ferred youchictly to itsdcclarations. Ju doing so, 1 viewed the Iliblc as a uhol«', and adniilted the authority of the Old Testament, where it seemed to explain or throw light upon the text of the New: because they are both of equal value in nakiii-r known to mankind tlic will of God. The general tendency of the great doc- trines of human redeniplion, I ],ave al^^o endea- voured to point out iji connection with infant Baptism, and thence to deduce a strong argu- ment in its favour. J.astly, 1 attemi)tcd'to ilhis- trate the Baptismal ollices of the church of E ng. land, by reference to texts of Scripture ; shew- ing that she inculcates nothing in this Sacra- ment, but what is fully supported by the word of God. This view of the matter will, I sincerely hope, assist you in your endeavours to arrive at a defi- nitive conclusion, on a subject which cannot but be interesting to you all. I am well aware of the intluence of public opinion, and of that degree of sanction, which any cause may derive from tho authority of numbers. But I know that I should be doing great injustice to your discrimination, were I to assert that you are swayed by any opinion but that of Scripture, in matters whieh concern the welfire, spiritual ii3 XVI 11 LVTROnrCTION. and eternal, of yourselves and your children. It is the giory of our Church that she forces or constrains no man's judgment. She appeals to the Scriptures as her charter, — bids all her members to compare her ritual and observances, with that sure model, — and permits them to make the inevitable inference themselves ; name- ly, that her whole superstructure is built upon a rock, and that that rock is Christ. All within her pale have thus great caus3 to rejoice in the security of the Zion in which they are fortified ; well persuaded that through God's protecting care, her bulwarks though often assailed, will not be cast down, and that she will ever afford a calm retreat from the strife and contention, which distract those around her. Permit me to observe however that it is pos- sible to carry this feeling of security beyond its legitimate bounds. Nay I am not certain that it has not been rather too much indulged with regard to the subject of this Treatise. People who have been brought up in the bosom of the Church of England, are in the habit of looking upon infant Baptism, as a point of faith which can admit of no controversy : they therefore are apt to dismiss the subject from their thoughts, and to take no notice of those grounds upon which it rests, as on a sure foundation. The '^ t INTRCDUCTFON. XIX A i consequence is that, should they at any time be called on to give a reason for the hope that is in them, and to shew the authority of their church for her practice in this particular, they would necessarily feel themselves rather at a loss as to what answer they should return. Du- ring their silence, arguments on tlie opposite side of the question would be brought forward, and put in the most prominent light ; causing doubts to arise in their minds, and presenting ditHcul- ties which would all disappear en a closer inves- tigation. Instead however of making such in- vestigation as may lead to a clear and compre- hensive view of the whole subject, they allow their imagination to carry them away, and to guide them to the conclusion that Infant Bap- tism is not Scriptural. I do not say that such has actually been the case with any of your number; but I do affirm that indifference or want of attention to the principles on which our Church establishes her doctrines and tenets with regard to this particu- lar, has an invariable tendency to t!^3se results. You owe it then as a duty to the Church, in which you have been spiritually nurtured, "/o go round about her and to tell the towers thereof^ to mark luell her bulwarks and to consider her palaces, that God may be your God forever and ever, Mnd may be your guide even unto death." XX INTnOUll TIO\. Still " tJic kingdom of God comcth not with observation ; it is within you.''^ It is not in the observance of outward ceremonies, or in the strict adherence on every o''ca.sion to outward lornis, that wo nni-st seek ior jjruofthat this kingdom has come among lis, unless we bring lorth fruits meet lor repentance, and shew by our lives ami conversation that we have been renewed in t!ie spirit of our minds. For this reason allow me to guard you p.'irticularly from falling into a common mistake of attaching more importance to any outward observance than it justly claims in the scale of christian duties, and as a means of Salvation. Those who think dilforently from us on this subject, are, I am well aware, ot another opinion; and appear in not a few instances, to regard the administra- tion of ml alt baptism to be the chief essence cf religion. But I have no hesitation in saying, and [ have no doubt that you will join with me in thinking, that to insist upon one distinguish- ing doctrine, which all admit to be open to dis- cussion, as a point of faith, and to give it a prominence which the Scriptures withhold from it, savours too much of party spirit, and tends to destroy the balance of Christian duties and ordinances, which have been established upon a sure and eternal foundation, by the blessed INTRODUCTION. xxk autlior of liuman redemption. Of the truth of this assertion every one may bo satisfied, wlio reflects well on the admirable proportion, exist- ing between all the parts of the Christian super- structure Magnify one duty, or diminish ano- ther beyond the proportion assigned to them in Scripture, and the whole fabric will appear dis- distorted and out of order. This shews us the great necessity there is, that all the friencid of the Church, should endeavour as much as in them lieth to preserve inviolate her admirable ritual and rubrics. For the slight- est deviation, in any particular, more especially in the subject matter of the following Treatise, may be attended with the most serious conse- quences. The opinions of the world we know are changeable ; but the word of God rcmaineth for- ever. The book of Common Prayer, which in its language and doctrines has been in accordance with Scripture, three hundred years ago, is still in accordance with it. The charac- ter of this coincidence and agreement cannot be changed : it will remain the same as Ion*? as truth and religion will continue in the world. Be assured therefore that every deviation from the directions of our incomparable Liturgy, re- garding the administration of the Christian Sa- craments, must inevitably be considered as a wilful neglect of wise and holy counsels. Xmi INTKODl ( TH»V. Moreover permit me in conclusion to exhort you to livo charitably with all men. For it docs not bccotnc a Icllow mortal, himself en- compassed with many infirmities, to arrogate the privilege ol" passing ju(l avoided, rather than a sul)ject of en(|nirv, which demanded their attrition, and courted their most scri- ous investigation. Experience may have tau-ht them that differences of opinion on reli-ious subjects, in- stead of brin-in- forth their k>-itimate fruiis of fur- ther knowledge and sui)crior enlightenment concern- mg the things of God, have been the unhappy causo c TREATISE ON BAPTISM. of family dir^putcs and acrimonious findings, which ought never to find u |)laco williin the Christian lieart. Thus tliov liave discarded the idea of ent(;rinrecisely the view in which the christian and sincere cncpiirer after religious truth, ought to t In 1 \ i i EAULY AOT'.S (»F TWF. f H( lU ir. 3 rontcniplato tlio rausos and coiisrcnu'rKM's ofTlicfilo- gical Controvorsy. I'lidcr niiskiirul iiiaiialiii<:s of arrinioiiy, Mttcrness and iiTCConrilal)Ii; hatred, in fliis \\i\\ it may produce much luiliuppiiiess. Vet this evil is only temporary, and may he avoided aItoj)ort of religious opiiuous, will inchuh; ad vantages of vari- ous descrij)tions. Amojig many that might he enu- merated let us mention one or t\\ o. An en([uiry into a disputed point of religious doc- trine, conducted in the spirit of piety and godly humi- lity, will enahle one to form an indei)endent judgment of his own, hy which his future views will he invaria- bly guided. Jfe will leisurely review the argmnents brought forward on either side of the (piestion in de- bate : these he will have an oi)i)ortunity of properly ■estimating according to his own ])ast knowledge and experience ; and afler mature deliberation, he can de- cide for that o|)inion, which to him a])pears most con- formable to Scripture, reason and anti(iuity. An enrpfiry of tins natin-e will again lead to a per- manency and stability of o[)inion in regard to religious matters, from which arises in no inmiaterial degree tin; Christian's joy and i)eac(' in l)eli(!ving. ]5y personal investigation he has considin-ed the various IxN^rings of a particular sni»ject : it is hencefi>rth a settled point with him. And consecjueutly he is no longer troubled with any ofthos<' doubts and misgivings of conscience, which weaken the resolution and tempt the faith of many believers in the (JO^•])el. I 4 TREATISE Oy BArT5S>r. VVlien tlicsc and such like favouijible rc^^ults rollo^\ , as natural cojisocjucnccs, iVonitlK; ccHitrovcrriial agita- tion of any (hjctiiual jioint, we can no Jong(!r wonder lliat di.sj)utes ol'tliis nature liaveahvajs, from the ear- liest times, existed in the (^'hurcji of CJiiist. Tlic lioly followers oi'om* Lord, and their immediate successors in the ministry of the word, rather courted than avoid- ed dJsj)utation, when they ])erceiv('d that any advan- tage wouhl thus residt to the sacred can.se in whicii they had enjiajjed. Tiic objections which were ad- vanced against the truth hy its enemies, had invaria- bly met with ready answers, both in the times of the Apostles and their successors; answers, which tend- ed not only to th(; elucidation of the truth, as it is in Jesus, but to the confrming and strenthening in the faith, many who might otherwise hava been inclined to withhold li'om it their assent. The lirst tijiie that ]Jaj)tisni ap])ears to liave been tljc subject of these religious disj)utations, happened towards th<' close of the second century. A heresy had at that time, or somewhat previously, entered into the church : it was called the Valenlinian heresy, from Valentinns its author, lie was an Egyp/tian by birth, and had many followers, who were subdivided into a variety of sects. One of them, the Jh'co7itlcks, among* many other errors and absurdities, rejected the Sacra- ment of Baptism altogether, alleging as their reason, that the doctri.ies which its peribrmancc implied were incomj)atiblc with the jdiilosophical j)rinciples oftheir great leader Archon. TertuHian, wh^ had lately be- come a convert to Christianitv, and was well versed in the Gnostic and Valentinian philosophy, undertook to refute the errors of these human systems of religion ; EARLY AGES OF TIIF fHUK. H. 5 i 11 ; nnd anioiiij otlicr tliiiisrs, to iini),'.rt to \ho ])('0]>lt' cor- rect notions, ^^illl rcuai"*! to the imporTancc ;ni" of his time, and that h(^ .\|)ostles in that particular, hut also with the custom ot'the ear- ly Christians. J -will then^fore state his o))inion as f iind it e|)itomizcd out ot' his treatise /> Bdpflsmo, — Caj). 18 — hy the learned J)u Pin. " Wiiat necessity is there, saith he, to expose sureties to the hazard ot'an- .sweriuii' lor tliose whom thev hold at tlie fonts, seein'' they may l)c disabled by death from perrormined — ^Jlindtr not Utile children from comins; to tnc :^ — Let them therefore; come to him as soon as they are advanced in years, wh(.'n they conic to learn, and tnay be tan;i>lit whither they arc jroinf^: let them be made Christians, \vhen they become able to know Jesus Christ. \V hat is there to compel this innocent avoidd liave been at- tt?ndr lor mnkingor suggesting any improvement in tli(? mode of adminis- teringa Sacrament, which he founrsook liis early pretension to religion, and li'll into many ol* those <^rievous errors \\ Jfich, as I beiiau by stating, at that time distracted the Cliunli. He {i;!! into the errors of the lAbmtauists, who adopted the o])inions of the heathen Philosopher l*l;ito, and most absurdly mixed up the doctrines of men with the doctrines of («\)(i. 15ut the same; love of novelty in st ^pc( doctrlnc^s, which drove him from the conunuruon of the Orthodox party, inijx'lled him soon after to tor- bake the follow(!rs of iMontanus, and to pursue with- out control or restraint, the vairaries of a vivid, but mis;i'uided imagination. AVIien he perceived that he was opposed by his foruier discij)les, he opened a place of worshi[> in his native city of Cartliaire, where, separated from every connnunion of Christians then known, ho taUi^Iit and illustraViMl his own peculiar notions, fn this manner he ])ecame the fomider of a 8ect which Hourislied in that city until iit. Augustine's time. Soon after, however, his ]ouc^, and bitsy life came to uclot'c. lie died about the 'sJ-lClJi year of our era, being /! 8 TREATISK O.N HAPTls^r. prtbably ninety voars of n^jc. His cliarnrTor is tliirs drawn by the Aiitlior of " thr tins of the most cimnenl fathers nft/ie Cliurrir—WA. I. ]). 104 : *' il*' was ono of a jrrcat wit, in uliirli St. .Irronu^ ^a\ s, lio lia are not informed — at least I could dis- cover no iniin-mation on X]\v subject — wJiether liis fol- lowers had decided, after his deatli, to ])nictico a(bdt ba])tism, or whether tl>ey looked upon it merely as the ai)stract ojunion of their founder. One thiiif? however is certain. The doctrine in ([uestion met with the most indiscrinfinate reprobation from the more nnme- rons and orthodox party : aiul this, every candid en- fpiirer at'ter truth will readily adnfit, lobe snfHcientau- tliority tor attestinir the «i-eneral sense of prinfitive times with n.'gard to adult baptisjn, as a ceremony of uni\er- sal observation. TIJK CARTIIACiIMAN CONTROVERsV It \\\\\ \\n\v hccii oltscrvctl that tin; clinractcr r)ri!i(' roiitrovcrsv just r.oticcd is n«'iv dillrrrnt iVoni tliM uliicli distiiiuuislics the tlis|nitati<)iis ol'iiuxlcrn Tlico- lo;^''iaiis on tlic subject ot' l>a|itisin. Arclioii had (icnicd tlic ns(! ol'llaptisiM as a Sacraiiieiit aho^cthcr. 'J'cr- tidliaii answered him, and vindicated the anthoiit} and julvantaiics ol'tliat sacred ordinance. JJnl in tUv course oi'tliis vindication hi? ventured some; o|)inions [)ecu- liar to hinisehj w Iiich not oidy met with tlic disap- |)roval ol"liis leHow |)!esh\ters, hut even caused his sejiaration from tlieir C(Mnnnmion. And thus, so fiir as J can discover, tliu matter was permitted to rest. Ir- SECTIONii. THE CARTIIAGINIAX CONTROVERSY. The next controversy with re;,^ar(l to the Hacramonf of Jiaptism, ot'whicliccch'siastical history takes noti«*o, is one oi'more importance, both in its nature and con- sequences, tlian that wiiich we liave just discussed. Jt was comhictcd by men to wliose h'arnin;,' and ])iety the voice ot*anti(juity hears the ampk\st testimony, ami whose names are still revered amonjjf those who ad- mire the union of the most unfei;jned humility, with the loftiest sentiments oi'|)iety, and the most fervTUl zeal for the prosperity ol" tlie (jIos|)el. Tlu'se were Stephen, Jiishopof Rome, and Cyprian, IJishop ofCar- tlia^e. The controvei'sy in (jucstion arose out of the follow in j^ circumstances. Amidst the p"eat variety of o])inions which began, about the middle of the third century, to be held by people who called themselves christians, — oi)inions 1^ t; 10 TREATISE 0.\ BATTISM. wliirli "svoiT nnv tliitijf hiit ronionimMo to tJ»o spirit and (losi^ni f)f flic (iuspcl — if hcfiiiiH' iMiiirsfioiiainori^ llic tnir I'ollowrrs of Christ, Jis to wimt dc^'ree of va- lidity flicy ini;.dit jittacli to ordiimiiccs, that wcrn cele- hratrd l»y ))<'rsoiis, who, l»y tin" philosophical tendency of their sp<'cidatioii, had separated theniselves iroiri the j;reat hody of proi5'ssiiitephen was thcjj Bisho]) of Rome. No sooner wavS the decision of the African Council known, than he re- \ithoiit a repditioM ol'the ordiiiaiiee. As this ajipears to he a matter of some importaiieo, and as mneh stress has heen laid on the |)ra«'ti<'e and opinion of Cyprian, as hrinjr I'avoin'ahle to re-hapti/a- ti<»n .1 will hen; set down the sum ol" the (»|iinions which were advocated on eitla'r \liat(.'ver on<.dit to he re-haptized. l'(»r in his7.">th llpistle to 3Iairnus, who asked his opinion ahout the l>a|)tisni of the Novatians, whether they oujilit to he excepted out of tin; nundier of those separatists, who ^^'er(! to he re-haptized, since; they owned the' sjunc iiiith as the true; Church did, with respect to the Trinity, and haptized after the same manner — he tells liini that they ou^ht to ho re-baj)- tized as well as the rest ; forasnnich as there was no true baptism out of the Church/' — litcvt's iipoloi!;ks vol. 11. vJ4b'. Certainly no two o])inions could he more opposed to each other than these are. Ht. Austin, however, (jua- liliod the declaration of the liirihop ol" Koine, and sol"- la TREATISF. ON nAPTISM. triiH it |»ti(in or two to it. IIo vt'iiturc's to «'.\j»|jiiii tlio mraiiiiiir of Sf«'|i!i(ii, Uy f«ixty-si.\ IJishops. The di'tenninn- tion at which thcv arriv<'d is stated hv Cvpiian him- HcltJ in alettei which he here thought out of ])lacc, if I state his own views of Infant Baptism, as I find th(;m set down in his dis- course — Dc Lnpsis, pa<^c 171. — He is speaking of those persons who had once belonged to the communion of the Cliiu'ch, but Ultimo of persecution had fallen away /; 14 TREATISE OX BAPTTS^T. and joined in tbc a])ominable ritual of tlie heathen worshippers ; and uri(os as the greatest possible avliich the Apostles used, — their infiniicr and method of per- formance, — their ])ractiee in the most minute i)articu- lars — would no doubt be at that time the subjects of general imitation. The ancient Christians would re- member the different exhortations of our Lord's per- sonal followers, and would learn ofthem the true way in every particular. This was undoubtedly an im- mense advantafl^e, and one which no future age of the church could possihly enjoy. For any doubt or difficulty that might come across tiieir minds, whilst reflecting on any part of the mysteries of redemption, would at once meet with a ready resolution from the lips of inspiration. This kind of knowledge is not to be gathered from any writings. However, vividly, and truly any author may i)icture forth bis feelings and reflections, and, however much of life and vigour be may throw into the composition of bis works, yet he cannot show us himself, under the every day cir- cumstances of the world. The thing is impossible. Hence it is, that the advantage of the lirst converts to the Gospel, were far superior to ours at the present day. They enjoyed the privilege of learning both from the precepts and example of the blessed Apos- tles. We have nothing but the precepts. The com- parison between the spiritual light Wjiieh shone on them, and that which is vouchsafed to us, may be il- lustrated by calling it in their days the bright and clear refulgence of a mitl-day sun, and in ours that of a full moon at night. They perceived eveiy object, and turning, and winding, and eminence in the vast and beautiful prospect which the kingdom of heaven and the scheme of human redemption, placed before tlie 16 TREATISE ON BAPTIS>r. M V I eye of their understandings — they })erccivcd them clearly and distinctly : there could be no doubt about their size, their i)n})ortance, or their distance. We, on the contrary, behold the ceremonies and obser- vauces, which were thus lliniiliar to ancient ritualists, through the dim vista of the past ages : a sort of haze intercepts them from our view. And wc are thus ai)t to mistake one object for another, — to miscalculate the importance of one prominent feature in the land- scape, — and form a wrong estimate of the distance at which we stand from the site of another. Hence, therefore, any light which the practice or precepts of primitive times may throw on the [prac- tice and precepts of the Apostles, ought not to be ex- cluded. On the contrary, it is entitled to be followed with reverence, and to be always marked in the vari- ous hues and shades, which it easts on the rites and ceremonies of the Apostolical church. It is for these reasons that the ojjinions of those good and holy men, who flourished in the church be- fore its corru})tion by the schemes and ambition of worldly men, and who endured suffering and persecu- tion for the sake of the cross, are of great weight in settling any matter of controversy that may now dis- turb the repose of the church. They seem to have had no object in view but the promotion of the Re- deemer's kingdon on earth, and the salvation of im- mortal souls ; and we are certainly justified in consi- dering their opinions of a much more disinterested character, and of a far greater authority, than any that may have been adduced in subsequent times. From a review of their opinions on the Sacrament of Baptism, in as far as they may be gathered from PETRO-BRUSSIAN CONTROVERSY. 1/ iheir various controversial writings on tliat subject, one fact is extremely apparent. TJiey never question- ed the propriety of ba])tising infants ; nor do they in- form us at what particular time that custom was intro- duced into the church. Hence we conclude, according to the strictest mode of logical ratiocination, that the apostles of our blessed Lord not only sanctioned the practice in rofound know- ledge of the human heart, and that penetrating saga- city into human affairs Avhicli have ever distinguished its policy, averted the storm which was thus gather- ing in the distant horizon, by proposing an expedition, comprising the whole serviceable ibrces of cJu'isten- dom, for the recovery of the Holy land from the Sa- racens. Such an expedition was in perfect accordance with the chivalric spirit of the age ; and accordingly, all who could wield a sword or bear a shield, eagerly engaged in it, from the twofold motive of testifying their piety, and acquiring renown. Thousands of va- liant men thus left their native home: but never re- turned. Still other thousands Ibllowcd, in the hope of meeting with better fortunes. Thus the vigour and genius of that age were wasted — uselessly wasted, on the shores of Palestine. Christendom was drained of its civil strength and mental energy : so that the church of Rome having sent all the restless spirits of the times THE PETRO-BRUSSIAN CONTROVERSY. ID to seek tlieir fortunes or rather their graves in a distant land, had full liberty to exercise, uncontrolled, its as- sumed and uuscriptural sAvay over the nations of Eu- rope. In this way it cannot be doubted that the wars of tiic Crusaders defered the Reformation of religion for at least 400 years. But tiiis is digressing from our subject. About half a century or so before the era of the crusaders, some religionists on the confines of France and Italy began, among other errors, to deny the use of Baptism altogether. Their numbers seem to have been incon- siderable. Mr. Wall has taken a great deal of pains to discover whctlier they ■were a portion of that sect commonly known in Ecclesiastical history by the name of the Waldenscs. But as the modern Waldenscs de- ny the tenets thus attributed to their ancestors, and as the accounts which we possess of them are extremely contradictory, he concludes that the error in question had been countenanced only by a few of them, who afterwards either left oft' their error or were lost among the great body of their more orthodox countrymen. Soon after the publication of this error, acontrover- vsy arose which gave a new character to the dispute. It was begun by Peter Bruis, a Roman Catholic Priest. His peculiar notions with regard to the efticacy of the Sacrament bear a strong resemblance to the doctrines which are held by the Ba])tists of the present day. — He asserted that it was useless and contrary to Scrip- ture to baptize Infants, because they were unable to exercise the ]»revious qualifications of faith and repen- tance. In su})port of this doctrine he produced the texts — " Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesfua Christ for the remission of sins. \ 90 TAEAT!SE ON BAPTISM. and yc shall receive the fjifl of tlielloly Ghost." — Ma II. "^S. "And many of tJio (.'orinthijins hearing be- lieved and were ba[)ti7.e(l." ^cls xviii. 8. From tiie«e and other passages of the same nature Jie raine to the conclusion tJiat Baj)tism was useless towards every purpose of salvntion, uiil(;ss th(! recipient was capable of exercising faith. ]f(.'Mce, he reasoned, none can be fit subjects for the ordinance of iJaptism c\ce|)t adults. Tlic place where tliese dogmas first began to pre- vail was Provence, in the south of France. Peter vM)- bot of CVj(g;?y, a learned man in those (iays, answered the opinons of Uruis, in a letter which he addressed to the several Diocesans, who held ecch.'siastical su- premacy in the District of Provence, liut beibre tho letter in ipicstion was published, rlu; author of the new opinion met with more fonnidal)le opponents. His doctrines being at first very ])opular, gained him ma- ny followers. In the district already mentioned tho discipline of the Church was despised, the priests beat and maltreated, and all religious ceremonies abolish- ed. These disorders excited the attention of the Bi- shops of that country, who, with the assistance of tho princes, drove away the supporters of tlie new doc- trines, more especiaiiy tiieir author. From thenco he went to Languedoc, where he ])ublisliedhis errors. In Toulouse and other cities he attracted mai>y follow- ers, and was the occasion of several infractions of the peace. At last he Avas seized, and burnt alive at St. Giles, in Languedoc. This lia])pened about the year of our era 1110, and some time before the Abbot of Clugny published his letter against the Petrobrussian errors. I THE PETRO-BRUSSIAN CONTROVERSY. 21 year )0t of Issian Experienco iKnvovcr lins proved, tliat rcli^'ious no- vcltie.s ciiniiot l»c cxfiii^^nislMMl by the cxcriition of tliosc who iiitrodiico tliciii. Aim! so it liajjpcm'd in tJio prcsont iiistaiicc. Jlcjin', wlio liad been a monk, and a disciple of De J5)uis, continued to preacli and ])ul)lish the peculiar doctrines of his pre(iec(,'ssor. Not content >vith the new inventions alrejuiy made, lie ad- ded other errors to tliein. 1 cannot discover whether he sliared tlic same fate with l*eter de JJrius. JJut it iri wStated that Carr. finod and paraly/.od by tlio usurpations of Roman su- [jn^niacy, now brokr; lortli >vitli rrdonblcd strcn;:;!!!, and in many instances I(mI mon, thron^rli an idea tliat th(;y were promotiinx the eanse orreli<,n()n, )»oyond the l)onnds of connnon discretion. Notsatistied withpnri- fyin^ wliat had hvvu defded, and rejectinj^ what had been Inin.an inventions in the doctrines and worship ofthe Chnrcli of Home, they were carried to the oppo- site extreme; and rejected every thin<^ like order and re^nlarity in matters of eech^siastical f^overnment, un- der an im[)ression, that the more tliey despised human restraints, the nearer they approached to the model of the primitive discipline and worsliij). It was in such a state of the ])ublic mind that the pulyect of J3aptism became again a matter of contro- v^ersy, atid afforded cause for consequences and effects, which liad not characterized tiie management of any former disputation. IVIenno Simon, a native Friesland, having been a llomish Priest, and as lie Inmself con- fesses, a notorious profligate, resigned liis office and rank in tlie Churcli of Rojue, and pubhcly embraced the conununion ofthe Anabaptists in tlie year 153(). From that time his conduct seems to have been cor- rect and excm])hiry, and soon after, being solicited by many of his brethren to assume the rank and functions of a teaclier among tliem, he laboured both in Holland and Germany witli such zeal and success, till his death in 15()1, that he has heen styled on the Continent, the Parent and Apostle ofthe Baptists. And a better proof of tlic veneration and esteem in which he was held by his followers, cannot be produced, than the fact tliat they, in honour of his name, designated themselves by tlie appellation of Mennonites. ! THE V3KRMAN' CONTROVERSY. » [It the ontro- iffects, of any islancl, f con- c and raced 153G. 1 cor- [tcd by ctiona olland death t, the in'oof eld by t tliat ves by fiftho Mennoriites Dr. iMosliciiii snvs " tliov are not rMitircly mistJikcn wlicn they l»<»ast their (h'sceiit froiu the \Vahl(!!ises, I'etrohnissiaiis, and other ancient sects. On the contrary these are (h'serihcd as having' main- tained, in coinnion with the JMcinionites, a ossible circumstances, exercised a considerahle in- ducnco over the future destinies of the (jcrman Bap- tists, I will here set dt)wn. It was — "that the kin^'dom of Christ, or the \isible Church he had established on earth, was an assembly of true and real saints, and ought therefore to be inaccessible to the wicked and unrighteous ; and also to be exempt from all those in- stitutions which human prudence suggests to op{)oso the progress of inicjuity, or to correct and reform transgressors." The conse((uences of admitting tliis novel tenet into their practical system of church discipline, are fully exemplified in the excesses and enormities, which liis- tory attributes to the Anabaptists of Munster, a city of ' Vestphalia. These enthusiasts, under an ini[)ression that they were doing God service, and were contribut- ing their aid towards the accom])lishment of the legi- timate ends of Christianity, resolved ui)on a course of active opposition, which had for its object the over- throw of all divine and human institutions, and the exemption of tlieh' own order from the power oftlic I 2(1 TREATisi: ON ^A^TIS^^ civil iim^istnitc. Twooftln'ir niiiiilicr, Joiin Matlliin."4 a hakiM' ot'lliuii'loiii, mid .Ittliii Koccnid m- iiciikclH a joiiniryinaii tailor of Lcvdcii, ciiiIimIiIcikuI hy tiio r,(>iiiit(;riaii(;u wliicli tlicir opinions liad rccoivcd, niado R(5veral attempts without simmm^ss to hononHMiiastcirHof tliotowii, with a viow to fret th«'ir tciK-ts (.'stablishcMl by public authority. At last bavin;; s('«T(!tly 4'alh'd in their n.ssoeiat(^s iVonj the nvlii('h (iod hiiii' St'lt'had ;:rant('d to the l*atiiar«'hs. IJoccold, partly l>y intri;jnt', and ]»artly l»y persua- sion, j!ot hiniscjl" elected Kin;r of this new ly fiiriiM'd prineipality. The ini|ieluotist porsiiasion at the prcf^ciit day. Tlic ovortlirow ol' Minister, srciiis to liavo j)Utan vnd forever to the exercise of an nutliority ^^lli^l[^vas wronj' in its tlieorv, and daiiiferoiis as avcII as sinful in its }»raetice. Tlu; Baptists of the h)\v countries and other parts of (Jcrniany, Avcre so far li'om adojJting the princi|)h's and tenets of those of Minister, tJiat from a wish to avoid every sort of collision with tem- poral jmthorities, tli<\v wejit to the ojijiosite extreme, and held it unlaw fill to ^^ali(' \\ar, or to accej)t of ci- vil offices. k*uch is the ireneral character which dis- tinguishes the tenet:- and morality of the derman An- al)a))tists of the ])re.sent day. The most eminent writer wlio opposed the spread of Anabaptist ])rinciples, A\astlie celebrated Luther. Pcrceivinir, with that |)rofom!d sagacity m liich was natural to liim, that doctrines of such ftmalical teii- deiicv would tliroui:h time ]>ro\(> whollv sulwersive of that ecclesiastical ])olity, which good men of all ages have considered most aihantageous to the well being of the church, he not only wrote against them, but made use of his |)ersoiial intliience with the rulers of the land to check, and if possible, to extirpaR' them. J lis works arc not within my reach ; but if my memory does not much deceive me, he answers, with force and clearness, many of the arguments against infant Hajitisni, which arc reproduced by J3aptist writers of modern times, as if no answer had ever a])peared to them. Tiie celebrated reformers Melancthon, Calvin, Zuinglius, JJullinger, Regius, and others, took part in the same controversy ; and on several occasions reliited the AnabajUist arguments in public conferences and disputations. S^)(mfmm d€ ori' i^lnc A nabujUislarum. 80 TREATISE ON BAPTISM. I ^ I i From a general view oftlie conduct of tlie Munster Anabaptists, iind oftlic circuinstance.s in wliicli they were j)lace(l, two very important conclusions appear extremely evident. The first is notliin;:^ more than what has been re- ])catedly prov(jd in every instance, where an attempt iiad been made to supersede the necessity of liuman h'gislation, by a ])ractical application of the laws and ju'ecepts, and exami)les, oftheNew Testament writers. The laws which Christ and his foll«)wers i)roniulged in the world were not evidently intended to direct in every particular the political movements, aiul jjracti- cal measures of any connnunity. Thoscd end, has invariably proved abor- r'i THE GERMAN CONTROVERSY. 31 live. And the reason is evident. »^o louff as human nature is iniperU'ct, and tj'.iiited with many evils and infirmities — so h)n\itnessthe existt!nce of sucli a state ol'society as th(3 IMunster Re- formers appear to have had in conteni|ilati(tn. The second ijiferenci^ is — that when men's minds are once excited and iinj>ell(.'d beyond tJie restraints which religion, and a cievont re\erenc(; l()r its v.'U'ious obliis us to sii[)p()se that JJoccold and ]>Jattliias, together with their associates, acted in the first instance under an imj)ressioji that they were doing God service, and at the same time promoting their own ha|)piness. None ol'them evidently foresaw the calamitous results to which tln'ir tenets and their public conduct evidently tended. The intentioji w iiich may haye actuated them was perlia])s disinterested, and might possibly have had for its object the general good of mankind : but it seems to have l)cen conceived through enthusiasm, and carried into j)ractice through a degree of blindiju^^s, ignorance, and fiinaticifcin, that 33 TREATISE OX BAPTIS>f. affords to the attentive reader an additional reason for deploring and lanientinsr the weakness and constitu- tional fraihy of our connnon n."ture. By taking pos- session of the city, and assuniing to themselves the rehis of Government, tliey entered on a career which theycouklneitlier control nor direct, and whose termi- nation aj)i)eared to them a matter of perfect indiffer- ence. Once sciited on the car of state, they found its motions regtdated and im])elled by sources of power to whicJi thcv had hitherto been stranaers, and which their limited knowledge and experience prevented them from fully comi)rehending. The unseemly ob- ject glided on, marking its track in the blood of oppo- nents, and seeininiilv without controul. Its motion becanio accelerated, and its maiuigement still more precarious. At length, in excess of madness, it drove at full fury, regardless ofevery ol)stacle, crushing under its weight both Iriends and foes, until through timely interference its ])rogress Av^as suddeidy arrested. Its incongruous parts were shattered and separated by the strong concussion : it was overturned, and buried under it the wild and fanatical hands that first set it in motion. Here those whose religious reveries are guided l)y the impulse offanaticism, or are ind)ued with a lauda- ble desire of improving the coiulition of the human race, may read a lesson of useful instruction and per- manent reflection. The irto])ia, which in their mind's eye they perceive in the distance before them ; and to which, with characteristic g(nierosity, they would in- vite all that desire human hap])iness, andsi)iritual com- fort,may, notwithstanding their inward conviction to the contrary, prove to be only a barren waste, or a dreary i THE CONTROVERSY IN ENGLAND. 83 wlldcrnesfs. Tlioir fond iniaiiiiiations may Iiave been excited to the lii^'licst pitcli hy coiitcinphiting the en- joyment and the ])h'asure, "vvhich wotdd result from tJie posses.sion of a i)hi<"e which, at a distance, is thus invitin*^. And they may have reasoned themselves and others into a hehef, that the i'ehcity of living in such a place would he inferior only to the hiissof tlu' iaithful in Heaven. But not unfre(|uently, as in the case which we have just contem|)lated,they have been deceived — miserably, woefully deceived. They have aj)[>roachc|)earanee ol" eonverts to t!i(>se opinions lia])))ened in tiu; Keian of llein-y VJIf. That monarch se(Mns to have heen extrenudy ji^alous of any novelty wiiicdi miji'ht be l)roa<'lied either in the doirinas of Tiieolol\ and h»;li<;vcd by many honest meaning jieopK;, they hi;ld that alter an apostacy li'oni tlio truth, thuri; was no salvation : and that this was the sin against the Holy (JJIiost. 'I'his j)Mt on<; about these times into des- pair : for he had fallen tVoni the truth known, and after fell to mocking and scorning it. At length upon some melan- cholic tlioughts, ho fell into the hideous eondition of despera- tion, rcekoiiing verily that lu; had sinned the sin against tho Holy (iliost. 1I(; repaired imto Latinn r the great Divine and casuist at this tin)e, and told him, that " In; should be; dimmed^ ami that it was not possible lor him to be saved, for that he had sinned tin; sin against the Holy (Jhost." Latimer did think, that falling away from the truiii, \vas indeed t';c sin meant, of which the Scripture said — U should never be JoT' given, iiut he told the man " that it was a vehement man- ner of sp(;akiiiti.sts5 was diseovered at a liousc in AldgaKi, without the bars of the city. The laws for punishing subjects for the sake of their relief ious o])inions, bring still permitted to remain as a l)leniish on the British Constitution ; and beinractised in the Duti.h Church here in this city, is sound, true, and according to the word of God : whcre- unto in all things, Isubmit in}solf, and will most gladly be amend)er (V the said Dutch Church; from henceibrtli hereby abandoning and for.suking all and every Aiiubaptisti- cal error.' — Slows Annal. TuUer's Church Hist. Book 0, Collier's Do. vol. 11. 549. _» Ill 11 n il \\ \^l 38 TliEATISK ON BAl'TISW. royal pa<(oantr} than wisdom, boforn tho pedantic Juincs 1., ilio Aii:d)a.)tist tt,'jH!ts did not sccni to l)« lost sif^iit of. On ili(! contrary, tlicy wore tl)ouf,'iit wor- thy of a ^rav{; and s(;rions discussion hy many ot'thosft disinterested i)iviiu's, to whose h;arninj,' and diligonro we owe our present I'jnj,^lish translation ot* the Holy Scriptures. And to ihis dillerence of sentiment or in- decision on a matter of such vital imi)ortance as the Sa- crament of Baptism, may be attributed, without any im- putation of goiniif beyond tiie bounds of probability, that uncertain aiid equivocal renderin*; of tho Greek verb BariTiLO), which is so notorious to every critical reader ot the New Testament. 15ut this in j)assing. — III the general clamour that was raised in the Keign of Charles I. against the altar and tho throne, and whose declared object had been the subversion of both, tlie Anabaptists joined with much zeal; expecting^ that the period, when their peculiar doctrines should ho triumphant in the nation, was at hand, and rejoicing at the prospect of their aj)i)roaching liberty. Wc do not indeed read of any great political leader, whoso avowed religious opinions were those of Antipoedo- baptism, in tJic number of tliosc Avho composed tJio long Parliament, and brought their Sovenugn to tho scaffold: but from what aft(M'wards o(rcurred, it may bn readily inferred that their influence must have con- tribu'^cd in some measure l > shape and direct tho events of those troublous times. Their numbers, in comparison with the prcsb^terians and inde])endents, were inconsiderable; and finding themselves thwarted in several of iheir favourite mea- sures under the Government of Cromwell, they did not hesitate to form a political faction, and to join tho pedantic 111 to b« v^\\t Nvor- ■ ot'tliosft diligonco the Holy nit or iii- as the Sa- lt any im- •obability, lie Greek •y critical i)assing. — the lieign rone, and )n of both, expecting les should I rejoicing We do ^r, whoso ^Titipcedo- |)()sed tho li;:^n to tho (1, it may Ihave con- iirect tho Ib^terians ll finding rite mea- |thcy did join tho : Tlir, CONTROVEHSV IN ENGLA.M). 00 royalists in a petition for tlio recall of Charles II. Tht- dociniK'nt in wliicli their wishes weie embodied is preserved by iMr. Wall, iw his liisloiy nl' liiliint JJaptisiri, and by Collier in his Chnreh history, and is no doubt a true (sxemplilieation ol" the doctrines and principles which at that period characteri/ed the Atitiptrdubap- tist body. 'i'liis happened whilst, the Eii-ilish Mo- arch was sojourninii- in exile in I'landers. Their [)e- tition was forwarded to him: but in so unfavourable a liirht did its contents appear to him, that lit; did not deem it necessary to make any reply. The llict is they were urjred to this measure, Ity eoiitingencies ^^hich it had been impossible i'or them to foresee, and api)arentiy adopted it rather as a harndess expedient, than as a certain means ol' betteriu'i^ their condition. For the inllexi')!',; tenacitv with which thev adhered to heir ])eculiar notions, and the pronfineiicy they t;ave to their rei)ublican principles, ]»r(M'li;(le at once the sujjposition that t' ir wishes were sincere, or their loyalty unfeigned. Their ])olitical , lows, and mea- sures, subsequently to the restoration, fully justify this o})inion. Their influence was invariably ii)uiid to be oppo; sed to the wishes of ffovernment, and on several occasions was carried so far as to be ])ersonally offen- sive to the Kinj;. On the junction of the dissenting body, of whom the Annabaptists are represented to have been the most forward and clamourous, with tlie papists, for the overthrow of the Church and Monarchy, towards the latter end of Charles' reign, an order in Council was issued — Dec. 4th, ICf^l — "/or pidlhifc the laws in excculion against seditious and vnlawfid mcdivgs, and conventicles of ^'Inabaptists and others" 40 TREATISE O.N BAi'TISM. II ii In this rri^^n, liowrvor, nii iiii|M)rtant nioclification of tlio old (■r'l'iiiaii ;\iinl)n|)ti>t tciirts took ]>la('(>. Olio oi* tlu! luiKl.'iiiu'iitnl |)oliii<-iil |))'iii<'i|il(>s ol' tlio original Ibuudrrs ol'lliis (loiioiiiiiiMlioii, Im; it nnncinht'i'cd, >vas* a drteriiiiiiation to uithliold tlu ir ailc^ziaiico froiii tlio civil iiia^istiatf, on llio ground tliat olu'dirnce to tluj will ol'a mortal like tlM'iii.^clviH, was contrary to tlio «lt'clarati(»iis ol' ►Script inc, and tlicrdbro illc. 4) Qtion of ». Olio original loin tlio to tlui to tliO 1. We to tlic un cx- ipinions Mnporal annoy- as u re- I, both iwcll. — seem to )1() \\ith ill*,' the nider a linciples direct li tribute that in al pro- In of all eluded lined a Avhicli renticle now dread ofexposure aiid intprisnnnirnt brini. n-niovetl, the nnp- porters «>!' AiiJd(!ip;i>t priiiciphs hii-^lened t(t tiiter the arena of litmiry htrit'e, j;ii\hiih not only threw a fhiod of li;.dit on th^* instit(Uioii,aiid orth< do.\ aihuinis- tralion ol" the Saeraiurut ol" IJjiptisui, hut also tended to lend lurn to the trutli, and to eoiilirni and illustrate tlu! doctrines and practice of the Clnu'cli ol' liuijlaiui. Towards the hutcr end of 'iie sivrutccnth c»'ntury the celebrated John Ihinyan publisht>d a jiimd)er of works illustrative of tl »• principles jind tciu'ts ot* the Antipicdohtiptists, and shcuinir their <'ont'orniity in every respect with the prec(>|»ts and examples of the first l()und('rs ol' Christianity. !!(! was a striking and highly imaginative writer, \\ hose productions seem to have had a iiowerlid elU'ct on tlu; nuhlic mind. — During tlu; course of his ministry he published sixty tracts, " which e(pialleil the nund)er of years he lived." — See Ids life. In the beginning of the hist century ^Ir. Dorrington, Rector of Wittreshaiu in Kent, j)ublished his " f'ln- dication of the Clwii^lian C/ivnli in the baptiz'ms; of InfaiUs, drawn from the lfo!i/ Scriptures.''^ This is an able work, and appears to have been written, not so much with a view to decide controverted pointt-, as to aflbrd to the members of the Church a t.ne and scrip- tural mem explanation of her practice in that T)articular. — It is dictated in an humble, ciiaritable, and christian spirit, and merits the perused of all candid emiuireis alter truth. i 43 TREATISE ON BAPTISM. U '! On tlio same sido followed ^\r. Wall, Vicar of Sliore- bani ill Kent, who published liis History of Jiifaiit Baj)tirtm al)(>ut Ihe year 170';i or 3. This Mork is the most com]»h'te tJjar hat; heeii written on tlie snlijeet, cither before or sin»'(! the ])eriod of its ])id)li('ation ; and in every pai^e jL'ives the most evident ju-oofs of the learning, the industry, and tlu; im])artiality of the Au- thor. And so Jiiid)Iished in London in 171 1. This work displays much erudition, and a criti- cal acumen l;u- abov(! jnediocrity. The Doctor brought great learning ami ingemnty to bear uj)on the subject : and the admirers of shining i)arts, will ever find cause of regret in the circumstance of his having misa])plied them to the su]t))ort of a bad cause. ITe attacked without mercy Dr. Ilanmiond, Dr. Whitby, Mr. Dor- rington and Air. AVall; using language that was meant to prove ollensivo to the individuals, ])ut evidently evading to meet them fairly and fearlessly on the con- troverted ground. To Gale's ^vork Mr. Wall published a rejoinder, Mliicli seems to have |)ut an end to the controversy ; and w Inch indeed will a|)i)ear to the im])artial reader as a ])roduction whose reasoning is irresistible, and whose arguments are unanswerable. About half a century ])osterior to the close of the controversy just noticed, another of a more determined and fiercer character broke out between Dr. Edward I ' \ THE COXTROVKUSV IN l',.N(iL A NO. 43 l)|)lied ackcd Dor- ineaut oiitly con- inder, ci-sy ; cudcr ^5 and »f tlic niried ward Williams, a Divine of llic Cliurcli ofKiijiilaiKl, and Mr. ,\l)ivdiani Booth. Jt uoiild ho lao tedious to iiiontion here the niiinorons })anii)iiIots, auswer.s, juid rojoiiidors, wliicli })assed l)et\vo(!ii tlie.-c sturdy coiitrovcr.sialists. I will tlicrefore lako tlio liberty ol'relerriii;^: tlioso \vlio wish to s(3C a candid statement ol" the arj^uments on both sides ofthc (juestion, to the 2nd \ Olnme of Dr. Doddridge's Lectures, to Di. Hippon's Jiaptist Register, or to 31r. JJulklev's " Tico discourses on Catholic Com- munion.^^ Ojie thing, Iiowevcr, relalinjix to this controversy, de- serves notice ; inasmuch as it has given a tone and cJiaracter to the discussions of futine ]ia])iist writers and Preachers, on their favourite topic. ]\lr. Booth a\ as the fu'st of that denomination, who boldly and uidie- sitatingly ventured to declare, merely l<)r the sake of supportin;^ a particular jtoint of a sj)eculativc nature, that the Old Teslament had no coimectioj) with the New I — that t'.e Jewish Church Avas built upon a foundation ditiercjit from that on w liich the superstructm'o of the Chrisliaji Church is reared ; and that coJisequently the rites and ordinances of tlie former can aflbrd neither ]>rccedence nor argu- ment in favour of any practices in the latter. These bold assumptions met with a prompt refutation from Dr. Williams, and were clearly sliewn to be no only in direct opposition to the re})(!ated declarations of Scripture itself, but also totally fallacious in their princij)le, and dangerous in their a[)i)lication. Indeed the matter was thought of so serious a nature, that many at that period did not hesitate to aflinii that the author of sucli wili'ul ])erversion of Hacred Writ came within the application of the awful threat, lield out in the few last verses ofthc Book ul'Kovelalions, a TREATISE ON BAPTISM. I' ( ! I! ' i \ i TJic Baptist writers liowovcr did not appear to bo of thi;^ oj)ini()ii. For iiiaiiy oftliom not oidv liailod the discovery of this nr^nnient as a means ol'reloasinji' their |)eculiar tenets from the inipntation of eontradietion, and opi)osition to Scripture truth, l)Ut looked upon ita autlior as the foremost cliampion of their cause, — drift- ed and specially sent for the ehicid.'ition of their funda- mcHital doctrines. As it is niv intention to refer sub- {5C(]uently, and more at hu'fre, to this part of the subject, let it sullice here to state that Bajjtist writers ol'modern times — of the ]>resent day, — rest nuich of their hope of success in their discussion on this sei)aration of the Old and New Testament disjiensations ; altojietiier over- ioolvini( its unscriptural nature, and the triumphant refutation which it has more tlian once r(>ceived. To follow the controversy with equal minuteness to the end of the 18th centmy, and from th.ence to the present day, would t;ir exceed the lijjiits which I origi- nally intended for this cha|)ter. Nor does such a course seem necessary. For the character of the controversy can 1)0 described by a few observations: and this, as the ar|)('ineiit and elucida- tion of that argument on \n liicJi iln-y look as the main pillar ot* their cause : naniciy — the exann)lc or prac- tice of the A])osth'S. Jn e\ out of the reasus. Having relinquished the unconstitutional tenet oJ their creed, which refused obedience to the civil mairistrate, and which involved its early siq)porters in so nu;ch trouble, they were al- 46 TREATISE ON BAFTISM. • I f • ' ' n t ii ! |i ft ! i ' lowed to rank in tfic station, and to enjoy the privi- leges, of other (lisi^enters. They received no niolcf^ta- tion : their principles were permitted to iind their own level: and thus it may be su])])osed ■:vy felt in their liberty of conscience that charity v. liich thinketh no wronfjT, and found llsat peace of (jod which passeth all understandin*,^ An exemplification not only of theiso assertions, but of every pious and christian virtue, may be j()imd in t!ie life ;ind writings of tjje gilted and elo- quent llobert Hall ; whose Iib;nality and truly chris- tian sentiments and (lej)ortnieiit endeared hijn to all who knew ]iini,Avhatever may have been their i)eculiar creed or j)ersuasion. I will conclude this section by mentioning, for the benefit of those wlio may wish to obtain a more copious detail of tlie several incidents, m hich jrive character of the English J3a]>tismal controversy, a few of those wri- ter^ who have been engaged in it. L'l d'jfence of th.e 15a|)tists ihcre arc Dr. GiH's jin- stver to Mr. l^owp^oocrs linplicm of Infants, a reasonable service ; Dr. Stennett's Reinar.\\i on the Christum Minis- tcr^s reasons for administering Baptism hjj spynnkhing or pourinp; of water ; Mr. /(^nkiifs Inconsistcnci/ of Infant spnnklino^ ivit/i Christian B'tplism, willi religious useful- ness, and with sa'vation Inj Christ alone ; IMr. Jlichard's History of Antichrist, or Free thoughts on the corruption of Christiamtij ; Mv. Isaiah Bert's Baj)lists vindicated ; — to which may be added, Vn)ox]\^s Pa-dohaptisni examined, on the principles, concessions and rcasoninp;s, of the inosl learned Pfedohaptisls. On the other side again, that is in favor of infant Kaptism, the reader may consult Dr. Fleming's Plea for Infants^ and the ai)pendi.\, and his defence ; Dr. 1 privi- lolcsta- Kir own n their x'tli no scth all )f tlicso ic, niuy lid e lo- ci iris- i to all leculiar for the L'opious actcr of :)se dri- ll's Jln- sonable Minis- Hns: or Infant useful' |c hard's riiption \ttcd ; — mined^ he inosl infant IS Plea le ; Dr. THE CONTROVERSY IN AMERICA. 47 Taylor's Covenant of Grace, and baptism, the token of it explained upon Scripture principles ; lAIr. iirekoU's Pa- dobaptism, and Po'dobaptism defended ; Dr. Addington'd Christian ]Mini.ster'.s reasons for baptizinii; infants, ami for administering!^ the ordinance bij sprinkling:; or pour- ing of water ; Mr. Jiohins's edition ofiMathew Henry's MS. Treatise on Baptism ; Dr. J!dward William's ,^nti- pmdobaptism examined ; togetiier with an excellent littlo work, published in 1803, entitled Infant Baptism vindi- cated, or an attempt to shew that anabuptism is unneces- sary, and separation from the Church of England on thai account unlauful. By a clergyman of the Church of England. The Baptist body has frccpieiitly been disturbed by internal divisions and diflerences on various minor points of faith and discipline. Thq^jfesult has been a subdivision into General 15aj)ti,sts, Particular Baptists, and Seventh-day Baptists. But as the several contro- versies which led to these unliaj)py divisions, concern- ed themselves more than other denominations of chris- tians, they do not })ro])erly fall within the design of the present Treatise, and are therefore omitted. SECTION G. TOE CONTROYERSV IN AMERICA. The circumstances in which the inhabitants of a newly settled country are necessarily j)laced, seem to be peculiarly favorable to tJie growth and spread of the Anabaptist tenets. The settler retires into the wilderness, and endeavours by the sweat of hi« 48 TREATISE (» BAPTISM. u brow to procure siihsistouoo for liiiiisolf and his rising family. Ilis |>riii('i|»al ohjcrt bciiij^ tlu; uttMinniont of a conipetoiicy of worldly posscissioiis, and a means of su})|)ortin^ liis credit amourist his ffdiow men ; he is unavoi(hil)ly preveiitod hy the oires attendant upon such piM'suits, from ^iviii;;' that consideration to the interests of religion, iiiid tlu; coiu'erns of the soul, which their importance imperiously claims from every individual oi" the human iiunily. Years roll on : and as the distant setth'uient, l()r obvious reasons, is desti- tute of the nieans of reliowerful in- tellect could bestow on the subject. In the same class may bo mentioned Mr. William Elder, who was not only brought uj) in those priucii)lcs, but spent many years of his life in tlieir dissemination as a Jiajjtisl Preaciier. On a patient eiupiiry and investigation ol the foundation on which the Baptist superstructure is reared, he was convinced of their insulliency, — volun- tarily resigned a numerous charge, — and left the com- munion of the Baptist Church. The secession of this latter gentleman gave rise lo a controversy, which before I conclude this section may be briefly noticed. It was commenced by the publication of a series of letters, which were addressed to his Ibrmer congrega- tions, and contained not only his reasons for separa- tion, but an able explanation of the tSacrament of Christian Baptism. This production may be charac- '« i I r>i TREATISE ON BAPTISM. Jorizod ns a brief Defence of Infant Baptism, written in n clear Htyle and Christian spirit. Mr. Crawley of Halifax followed. His Paniphhsl, which iH large, may he called a piece of good special pleading on the other side of the fpiestion. It goes over the usual arguments ; applying them to the pecu- liar circumstances of the case in which the Author was placed. In the conclusion of the work is the most reprehensible part, Evidently in imitation of Mr. Wall, the Author offers a general address to all Christians on the subject : but unlike that sound Di- vine, whose entreaty is for union, Mr. Crawley advises and enforces separation ! No man who has thoroughly investigated the history of the Church universal, and who takes an interest in the progress of Christianity throughout the world, can hesitate for a moment to pronounce these attempts to produce separation a- mong Christian bodies, and to unsettle the faith of in- dividuals, to Ikj the result of other motives than those which ought to distinguish a humble and diligent la- bourer in the Lord's vineyard. The superstructure of the Christian Church contains already many rents and fissures, but let us hope that none of them will reach the foundation, or endanger the safety of those within. But if the unholy hands of worldly ambition are onco permitted to wield the intruments of destruction against the sacred edifice, there is no saying whore the fissure may stop, or what part of the foundation may be secure. On the continuation of this controversy, I have no other remark to make, than to express my regret that the importance of the points under discussion has been lost sight of, as is too oflen unhappily the case, in pcr- i I, * IE I THE CO.VTnoVKnST IN AMERICA. 55 M)nalities and aliusivc rccriiuiimtion. Such arc tlic rc- snltHof liuman frailty : iiidocd tlic^y arc tin; atlinittrd rv- eulta of huinaji frailty. Antl it grieves to the heart the Rincere Christian, whoye only object is to obtain infbr niation, to see the dignity of tlie controversialist coinpro- niised, by descending to dwell uj.on thoso imperfec- ti<.ns of his opjf.onent, which are equally attributable not only to himtielf, but to ever) non of luortalitv. ; li.i' ki! r\ i; C H A P T E R II. SCRIPTURE EVIDENCE FOR BAPTISM. SECTION 1. rASSAGES FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT, WHICH MENTION THE USE OF WATER AS A MEANS OF SPIRITUAL PURIFICATION. Ill contemplating the nature and object of water bap- tism, tiie attentive reader will be led to search for in- formation, with regard to the origin and earlier obser- vance of that ordinance, by which John the forerun- ner of the Messiah, put the seal of repentance upon his followers. Grave reflection, on the circumstances under which this ordinance was introduced, and on the effect which its administration produced in the minds of the people, will naturally suggest the enqui- ry, what is the origin of using water as a religious ce- remony ? We find no command recorded, by whicli the Forerunner of Messiah was laid under any obliga- tion to use water, or this means, as a sign of repen- tance, more than any other substance. And we know that the Mahometans of the African deserts, make use of sand, and sprinkle it over their persons, as a sym- I I 1 PASSAGES FROM THF, OLD TESTAMENT. 57 hol of roligious purification.* How comes it tlicre- ibre that Jolm tJie Baptist began to baptize all those who went out to liini from Jerusalem, and the coun- try round about, in the river of Jordan, as a sign or symbol of re[)entance, and means of spiritual blessing ? To this (piestion, an answer, sufficient to satisfy th« superficial enquirer, may be found in the fact that John was an insjiired person ; and that he might have acted under the immediate direction of the spirit, al- though, for wise reasons, the express words which con- tained his authority, are .vitliheld in the Scri[)tures. To the more accurate enquirer however this tact, re- garding the spiritual qualifications of the ForeruniK^', will not appear of sufficient extent hi a j)ractical point or view, to account for the conse(piences which result- ed from it. For we may readily discover, Irom tlie con- text of the sacred narrative, that the minds of the peo- ple were perfectly familiarized to this ceremony. They make no enquiry, they receive no instruction, about the method of perfonnance. They bear their part in the ordinance, as if they had been well acquaint- ed with its nature, tendency and signification. Tlie personal inspiration of the preacher of repentance, ia insufficient tj account for the jn'evious familiarity with baptism which is thus apparent in the conduct of the nmltitude. Hence a question will naturally arise ; — whence could they have obtained this previous know- ledge ? — ^this previous acquaintance with a custom, which was confessedly introduced amongst them l»y the Baptist, in a new signification, and as the begin- ning of a purer order of things ? *Seo llobbins Journal of iiis captivity — passim. T I I'.' f-f ; 58 TREATISE ON BAPTISM. The answer is : that the minds of the Jewish people were made familiar with the use of water, as a means or sign of spiritual purification, by the frequent wash- ings and ablutions which the mosaic ritual prescribed. It is admitted that the great body of the nation, were totally ignorant of that loftier and more glorious mean- ing which the mission of John had stamped upon this religious ordinance : of this indeed they could not have obtained distinct information, till he came among them. But that they were in the habit of fre- quently using this mode of spiritual purification, can bfc easily made apparent from various passages of the Old Testament. The Higli Priest, previously to his entering into the holy of holies, to make atonement for the sins of the people, was enjoined to pm-ify himself with water. " And the Lord s])ake unto Moses saying. Thou shalt al- so make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal : and thou shalt put it between the taber- nacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein. For Aaron and his Sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat : when they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water that they die not. ^ * * * And it shall l>e a statute forever to tliem." — Exod : xxx. 17 — 20. The people likewise, in cases of a particular descrip- tion, were made subject to an obligation of a similar nature. " And every soul that eateth that which died of itself, or that which was torn with beasts, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger ; he shall both wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even ; then shall he be clean. But if he wash them not nor bathe his flesh ; t|ien shall he bear his iniquity. — Lcvit : xvii. 15. 16. !;Si % ■1. i 4 * 1 PASSAGES FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT. 59 people means wash- cribed. , were mean- l upon could e came offre- on, can 5 of the into the s of the water, shalt al- 3rass, to \e taber- ou shalt ill wash go into I wash hall 1)6 :0. [lescrip- similar ich died vhether llie shall er, and clean. : then »'*- u This religious ceremony was to be particularly ob- served in the case of leprosy. The afflicted individu- al was to submit himself to the spiritual guidance of the Priest, Avho was directed to ])erform the ceremony of purification, by means of two birds and a vessel running over with water. " And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash liimself in water that he may be clean." Levit: xiv. 8. In conformity to this injunction we find that the Hebrew prophet, after the lapse of a period of nearly GOO years, recommended a similar ablution to the Sy- rian Naaman, who was a heathen and a stranger to the common wealth of Israel, and who had come from a far country to seek a cure for his leprosy. " And Eli- slia sent a messenger unto him, saying, go, and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come agaui to tliee, and thou shalt be clean." II Kings v. 10. In this enumeration may also be included, all those whose intention it might be to offer worship or prayers to Jehovah. " And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people : and they washed their clothes. And he said unto the people, be ready against the third day." Exod. xix. 14, 15. To this practice reference is made in I Sam. xvi. 5. " And Samuel said ***** I am come to sacrifice unto the Lord. Sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." The Apostle like- wise, in the Epistle to the Hebrews, uses expressions which are evidently meant to allude to this injunc- tion. " Let us draw near with a true heart in full as- surance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies tvaslied with pure water." Heb. x, 2'2. 1 r' rr I' I' I' i \'''h 60 TREATISE ON* BAPTIS^r. Tho Jews, be it observed, bad two sorts of washing ; one of tho wliolc ])0(iy by immersion, which was used by tlie Priests at their consecration, and freqnently in cases of lci)rosy ; the other of the liands or feet, called dipping or pourinf^ of imta', and which W'as of daily use not only for the hands and feet, but also for the cups and other vessels used at their meals. To these observances occasional reference is made in the New Testament. " Why do thy disciples transgress the ti-adition of the elders ? For they wash not their hands when tliey eat bread." Mat. w. 2. sec also Mark vii, 3. 4. And the six water pots of stone, used at the marriage feast of Cana, in Galilee, were undoubtedly set for this purpose. John ii. G. To these two modes of purification Jesus Christ seems to allude in thnt passage of John's Gospel which records his washiug the disci])lcs' feet. " He that is washed needethn<»t save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit." John XIII. 10. The prophets of Israel, in their exhortations t<> f tie l>eople, beautifully introduce metaphorical : eiererices to tlie religious ablutirns pi'o^cribed in their Law. " Wash you, make you clean ; put away the evil of your doings from before mhv^ eyes : cease to do evil ; learn to do well." Isaiah, i. 16. " O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved." Jerem. iv. 14. " Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean : from all your filthiness and from all your idols, will I cleanse you." Ezek, xxxvi. 25. These and various other })as- aages, too numerous to mention, plainly indicate that the Jewish people were not only well accustomed to die use of religious lustrations of several dcscrip- if I « PASSAGES FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT. Gl shing ; Rh was :iucntly t, called of daily , for the Co these he New [ress the •\y hands lark vii. d at the oubtedly vo modes e in thnt washivig cdelh n«»t lin . n lit." ^o IS to t^ie eibrerjcea eir Law. ^xe evil of do evil; |ein, wash layest be [ikle clean all your iinse you." [her pas- licate that [customed d descrip- tions, but fully understood their nature and significa- tion. It is true that much of the purity of the He- brew worship had disappeared from the sei*vice of the Temple in the time of John the Baptist, and that the traditions of the elders had in many instances supi)lant- ed the authority of the Levitical ritual ; yet it cannot be contested that amidst all their errors they well knew the several rites and ceremonies of the worship of their fathers. And thus it may rationally be con- cluded that the Baptism with which Jolm had com- menced his ministry, wtis a ceremony that, luider a different name and another meaning, had long been familiar to their minds. It is curious to ol)servc the prevalence which reli- gious ablutions obtained in the worship and ceremo- nies of the heathen nations of antiquity. The mytho- logical codes of Greece and Rome more especially enjoined the observance of these lustrations. The Greeks we are told were so rigid in the per- formance of this custom, that at some of their solemni- ties the priests and priestesses were obliged to declare upon oath that they were duly purified. Every per- son who attended the solemn sacrifices was ])urified by water, which was placed at the door of the temph% and consecrated by putting into it a burning ton l, that had been taken from the Altar. The same im- plement was sometimes used in the sprinkling those who entered their temples, as may be established by the following line from the Eirene of Aristophan s : " Bring the torch, and taking it I will purify." Instead of torches they somethaes used a branch of laurel, or olive : — H i J « . G2 TREATISE ON BAPTISM. If i I \ ^ I "Idem ter socios puracircnmtiilit inula, Spargeua roro levi ot raino lelicis olivae." iExEAD VI. 220. " Old Coiynreus compassed thrice the crew, And dipped an oHve branch in holy dew, Which thrice he sprinkled round." — Drijderu Before the worshipers sacrificed to the celestial Gods, they washed their whole Ijodies : but before they performed the sacred rites to other deities, a sprinkling of water was sufficient. This custom was also observed in the lesser ])arts of divine wor- ship, as well as at solemn sacrifices. Hector was afraid of making a libation to Jupiter before he had washed : — " With unwashed hands I dread to bring iVTy oiPring to the heavenly king." Horn. Iliad, t. i. i'. 'H^jG, Li he Odyssey, Telemachus is represented as per- forming the same ceremony, l)efore he ventured to pray to the Gods. By thus washing themselves, the Greeks believed that tliey were purified from their sins. The aiu'ient Romans, whose worship and mjrthology were intimately connected withtlioso of Greece, prac- tised ceremonies of a similar nature. For in sacrifices it was x-equisite that those who offered them, should come chaste and pure ; that they should bathe them- selves, be dressed in white robes, and crowned with the leaves of that tree, which was thought most ac- C€pta])le to the god whom they worshi])pcd. The same difference wliich the Greeks ohsei'ved in worship ping the celestial and infernal deities of their dark hea- thenism, were likewise attended to by the Romans : PASSAGES FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT. (a •1.22a. celestial t before Icities, a , custom /aif wov- ctor was •c he had t. i. r. '^^^^ ted as per- ed to pray he Greeks his. iiiythoU)gy ecce, prac- ^ sacrifices em, should athe them- 3wned with lit most ac- )pcd. The in worship ir dark hea- e Romans'- as tlic reader may as^certaiii by reading the whole pas- sajre oftlie vi. hook ofthc; yEiicad, li-oiii uhicli two lines have ah'eady l)een (jiioted, and by relerriiij,' to the Tuscidan (•Imslions of Cicero, 11. ^5. These remarks on the religions histrations ofthe an- cient Greeks and Konians, are not intnxhiced with any view to connect or even to coni])Mre heathen ordinances with the Cliristian Sacrament of JJaptisni ; l)ut to shew tlie universal prevalence ofthe use ofwater, asameans of typical purification from sin. I will not stop to en- (juhe from what connnon source, ordir(M*tion, or cus- tom, the practice in question, and the notion general- ly attached to it, could have ])Ossil)ly taken their rise. Nor will 1 ])ursue the sidtject fin-ther in this place, than to observe, how maiuti.'stly the wisdom and provi- dence of God are conspicuous, in a])pointing as tho initiating sacrament of the religion of Jiis beloved Son, a rite to which tiie minds not only of the Jews, ])ut even of the heathen, were perfectly fa- miliarizetl from long use ! For in this way the i)ro- gress of the Gosj)el must have been greatly facili- tated ; as no ex])lanation seemed to ])e necessary to bring the meaning of its first and initiating rite down to thelevel of the ca})acities ofthe nudtitude. They partly understood its meaning and tendency from their former religious i)ractices. A door was thus opened to their understanding for the admission of the ever- lasting seed of tiiG Gospel, which in due time "brought fv)rth some thirty, some sixty, some an hundred fold." Il t!'l 1 1: ^-;; : N^ ■ « ■ I if ]Jf ' f 64 TREATISE ON BAPTISM. SECTION 2. THE BAPTISM OF JOHN. Each of tlie four Evangelists lias noticed the com- mencement of John's ministry by l)a})tii-ing the multi- tudes in the Aviiderness of Jiidoa. The following pas- sages, selected in conjiexive narration from the Gos- pel, will be found to contain the most i)rominent par- ticulars of the Baptist's mission, and of the mode in which he ai)pears to have administered the initiatory lustration. Matt. III. 1. In those days came John tlie Baptist preaching in the wiUieruess of Judea. Mai'ki. 4. John did baj)tize in the wilderness, Luke III. 3. And he came hito all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Matt. III. 2. And saying, Repent ye, for the king- dom of heaven is at hand. M.ark i. 2. As it is written in the prophets, Behold I sen , my messenger before thy face, which shall pre- l)are tliy way before thee. Luke III. 4. As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying. The voice of one crying in the wilderness. Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Luke III. 5. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth ; Luke III. 6. And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. BAPTISM OF JOHN. 65 every id the ways Ivation \' 1 -if, Matt. III. 4. And the sniiic Jolin had liis raiinent of camer.s hair, and a Icalliern j^hdlo abcmt his loins, and his meat was locusts and wild honey. Mark i. 5. A»id tlierc went out unto him all the land of Jiuh^a, and tlicy of Jornsaloin, Matt. HI. 5. And all the region round about Jordan, Matt. HI. (1. And were Mark i. 5. all baptized of him in the river of Jor- dan, ronlessin|»eiitaiice, hut !Mark i. 7. there c(Uiieth one mightier than 1 after me, the latchet of w hose shoes I am not worthy to jstoop down and unloose ; ]\lati. 111. 11. whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall hajnizc you with the Holy Ghost and with fire ; - 1*2. Whose fan is in his hand, and he will tliorouii'hly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner, hut he will burn u[) the chaff \\ itli un- quenchable fire. Luke ni. 38. x\nd many other things in his exhor- tation preached he unto the ])eoj)le. To any ojie who ])eruses this narrative with atten- tion, two things will a])i)oar .sufliciently evident ; one is — that the pco])lo or multitude who are here repre- sented to have boen ba]»tized, were grown up per- sons : and the other — that the mode or manner in I BAPTf^^M OK JOHN, (17 HO wliirli tlio ParraFiicnt was admiiiislcivil, is not directly tfporincd. 'V\\r (onncr iiifriciuM' will rccclNc; fiirtlicr coiifir- mation iVoni tin- r»>ll()\vina, t^at tlir tliiie had coinr wIm'Ii sonic irrcat and r('inariropli('ts jiad lurrtold, slioidd appear in tlio world. All I'alestliie was then sohject to the llo- man ])f.wer, and the city c»f .lenisah'in was deirradod from tjie rank of a OK'tropolls, to hiM'onie the Capital of a Pro\ ine(\ The ,le\\ s iiroaned inider the Konian yoke, and wished and prayed for deliverance. Jleiice their jjoneral idea of tin; power and oliice of a Messiah was, — that he shoidd appear anionast them as a ricfi and powerful temporal Prince, w ho wonid lead tlieir armies forth to hatth; and victory; and thns tree them from the yoke of a foreign dominion. And so deeply rooted in the minles, a(t(M* they had seen proofs and aoknowlediicd that he was the? son of (iod, che- rished the ho[)e that he would restore the kingthjni to Israel, ,/lds i. (J. The peo])le of Jerusalem, Jiidea, and all the region round ahoiit .Ionian, led hy this e.\i)ectation, crowded to John's baptism for the twol<)l(l pnr|)ose of beholding the commeneement of that order of thinirs which might restore the aneient freedom of their nation, and of qualifying themselves by |)uritication, to i)articipate iri its privileges and blessings. And the IMiarisees and Sadducees w ere no doubt sadly disai)pointed w hen they found their ambition checked, and their hy]»oe- ,%.^T> IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) A, ^ A. 1.0 I.I 1^12^ |2.5 ■50 "^" H^H m m IK 2.0 1.8 1.25 1.4 1^ « 6" - ► &% V /A V Photographic Sdences Corporation 33 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 873-4503 r O f/. ^ 1^ hi I G8 TREATISE O.'i BAPTISM. risy unmasked, by hv\n^ assured that the kingdom of heaven, which was dechu*«;(l to he at liaiid, consisted not in outward ceremonies and observances, but in tlie inward pin-ificution of tlie iieart. The <|uestions which many ]n-o[)osetl, with a view to elicit fiu'ther in- formation with reuard to the line of conduct which they were to ])ursue under the new dynasty, sufticiently prove the intense intei . st which tlie subject had ex- cited anioji^' all classes of society. In all these movements we perceive the influence of a rational and penetrating judgment, stinuilated into action by the Ibrce of circumstances, and led on by the hope of gaining some advantage. But this act of the understanding could only o))erate so pow- erfully in individuals who lad attained the years of maturity. Hence we naturally conclude that those who submitted to the biptism of .lohn were adults, — persons who had arrived at the age of discretion. The other fact, observable in the narration of John's ministry, — namely, that the mode or manner in which the Sacrament was administered, is not directly spe- cifii^d, — will likewise admit of further illustration. It is no where said, that ho took those who had confessed their sins, one by one, and innnerged them in the river : neither is it stated that he took a vessel and poured the water on their heads, or that he merely sprinkled a few droj)s of the i)urifying element about their persons. It is mendy said that he " baptized them in the river of Jordan." Now it wiji be readily j)erceived, that if the word ^^ baptize" had any fixed and determinate meaning in the original, there would be no dilKculty in coming to a decided conclusion on this subject. Jf the verb BAPTISM OF JOHN. C9 rord ! used in this instance hy the Evanjrolist?», meant to dip, ient. It is however remarkable, how very little force this argument bears with it. For be it observed, that *See Booth's Ptcdobaptism exauiincd — passim. I't ; ■1 f i IMl il t 70 TREATISE ON BAPTIfSM. Jordan contained an much water as could be found at yEiion, and yet, as we liave seen, it cannot be satisfac- torily proved tiiat the J5ai)tist administered the ordi- nance there by immersion. No evidence can be ad- duced in favor of dipping in eitiier case, beyond wht'\ Mr. (iambier* calls the iliird degree of probability, — which is certainly of too slight a character to be admitted as the foundation of an article of Christian Faith. I jun inclined, therefore, to think that the meaning of tin; words — " because there was much ivater there^^ re- fers to th(; n gular sii])ply oi^^ water which was to lie found at /Enon at that particular season of the year. For it was then considerably aller the festival of the Jewish Passover, and the dry season had set in; so that, as is the case even unto this day, every place in Judea, which was not more than ordinarily supplied with water, had been dried up. And John baptized there "because he Ibund much water in it or near it, in comparison to what he could tind in any other part of tliat neighbourhood." It is concluded, there- fore, that hitherto we have discovered nothing certain as to the mode of JJa|)tism. Finally, it may be observed that the baptism which wa.s administered by John, can afford no precedence for Christian Baptism, except in as far as the manner of performance, which is so doubtful, is concerned, — For John was merely the harbinger of the new dia- ]>ensation, — the ste])j)ing stone between the Jewish and Christian dispensations, — having one foot under the dynasty of the Mosaic Law, and the other in the kuigdom of the Redeemer. Consequently, com- ^ K^ec Gambier's Moral Evidonce, p. 5. BAPTISM OF CHRIST. 71 mentators do not attach so much importance to his mode of administration as they otherwise might have done. And our Saviour himself lias declared that the least in the kingdom of hea- ven — meaning his Church on earth — was gi'eater than John the Baptist. 3Iatt. xi. 1 1. On the same authority the reader will find the diflfercncc be- tween John's ])aptism and the Christian ordinance 6Ct forth in Acts i. 5. " For John truly baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." SECTION 3. THE BAPTISM OF CHRIST — HIS ADMINISTRATION OF IT — HIS COMMISSION TO THE APOSTLES. Mark i. 9. " And it came to i)ass in those days, Luke 111. 21. when all the people were baptized, Mai'k 1. [). tliat Jesus came from Nazareth of Ga- lilee Matt. 111. 13. to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. - 14. But John forbid him, saying : — I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me ? - 15. And Jesus answering said unto hiui, euffer it to be so now: for thus it becoineth us to ful- fil all righteousness. Then he suffered him : ftlai'k I. 9. And he was baptized of John in Jordan. IMatt. 111. IG. And Jesus when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water; and lo, the hea- vens were opened unto hiui, and he saw the spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him : I t 111 72 TREATISE ON BAPTISM. It !; Matt. in. 17. And lo, a voice from heaven saying :— This is my beloved Son, in whcm I am well pleased," Here, as before, the mode of administration is the on- ly thing referred to, that bears i)articularly on our pre- sent enquiry. But, like the jiassages already examined, we do not lind anything certain that may lead us to form a conclusive opinion on the subject. It has in- deed been urged as an argmncnt in favour of immer- sion, that Jesus, aller having been bai>tize(l, ^^cavie up out of the tvater ;" which seems to imi)ly that he must have been in it. On the other hand, it has been an- swered, that tlicse words do not necessarily mean thus much ; but may be applied merely to his coming up the bank of the river from the edge of the water. This matter, however, is of less importance than the end or object which our Savi jur had in view, in submitting to the Baptism of John, and which is thus beautifully des- cribed by Witsius : — "Christ was baj)tized of John not of necessity, not for his own sake, but for ours. He was bai)tizcd that he might confer honour on John, sanction his mhiistry, and conunend it to the doubting Jews. By this act, he made himself the head of all, w ho by baptism confess their sins, and are admitted into the Church. He sanc- tified baptism l)y thus subjecting himself to it, that man might not despise it as an useless and unmeaning ceremony."* On the same suljject Dr. Lightfoot remarks : — " It was proper that our Great High Priest, when admitted into his ministerial office, should answer the type of the admission of the Levitical priests, who were initiated by anointing and by baptism. Also, since by *SeeMiscel Sacr: vol lu p. 537, I' I BAPTISM OF CHRIST. aying :— pleased," is the on- 1 our pre- ixamiiied, lead us to It has in- if inimer- ^^came up t he must been an- iicanthus jiuing up er. This ho end or iinitting to ifully des- ssity, not tized that ministry, lis act, he m confess lie sanc- o it, that nmeaning sst, when iswer the kvho were since by Uic institution of CIn-ist, those that entered into rlic ju'olession of the Gospel were to be introducctl by baptism, it was proper tliat Christ being to enter on the same profession, and to preach it, should be ad- mitted by tiio same rite." Com. in he. The only mention which is made in Scripture of our Saviour's administration of this ordinance may be found in the following ])assage : — After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judea; and there he tarried with them and baptized. And John also was baptizing in yEnon near to Salim, because there was nuich water there : and they came and Averc baptized." John iii. 22. 23. John in. 26. And they came unto John and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jor- dan, to whom thou bearest witness, behold the same baptizeth, and all men come to liim. - 27. John answered and said, a man can receive nothing except it be given him from hea- ven. - 28. Ye yourselves bear me witness that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before liim. - 30. He must increase, but I n>ust de- crease. John IV. 1. When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard, that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John. - (Though Jesus himself baptized not but his disciples.) John IV 3. He left Judea, and departed again into Galilee," \f li 74 TREATISF. O.N BAPTISM , : !!■ !M Tliis unssM^T is (jiiotcfl, not so iihm'Ii for the purpoHC or«'liici(lutiiijr tlw siil»i('ct ol'oiir nnjiiiry, iiioro satisihf- torily timii oilier |>iiss;i«.'«'.s alrcjuly n'trrrcd to, hut l)o- causo it ronnsa link in tin* chain oftlio Scripture (3vi- ilenci! lor HaptisMj. Om* SavicMU', as in tin; instanci; ofliis own bapti.<y his pn-scncc, and l»y administering it throu;(h the iiicdiiini ol'his disciph's. JJy this ineaii.s lie instructs christians in all a^n-s id'tlie church, to ])ay particidar reverence to that ordinance, and to receive it gladly as a means of salvati<»n. Jlere too tiie last testinjony which John gav(! to the divine mission of Christ is recorded ; seemingly for the j>urpose of con- trasting in a public nuuiner their views with regard to this i)articiilar, and of convincing the peo])Ie of the heaveidy authority, and benevolent and merciful de- sign, with which our liede(uner exen'ised his ministry. The scene of these transactions was yEnon ; a city of the Province of Samaria. It a|)pears to liave been situated on the Jordan at the foot of Mount Gilhoa: so tliat the nok.'.a ttiuTa — much watery — on which tlie Baj)- tists lay so great a weight, mtist either refer to the wa- ters of the Jordan or to something less; to j)onds or ))erpetual springs. Indeed the word JEnon does actu- ally mean a place of sprins^s, whose waters may have been preferred on account of their coolness. But cer- tainly if innnersion was the mode ])ractised on this occasion, the argument adduced to prove tho circum- stance is insufficient.* Let it be understood, however, that it is not my ob- ject to prove that immersion was not used by John and * See Valpy's note in Joe. and Dr. VVqU's Geography of the Scriptures, vol. ii. p. 107. BAPTlfM OF < liniST. th purpose sulisiUc- Imt bo- nne cvi- 'mstunce iiriiity oil mistering liisineanrt [•li, to pay to receive the last nission of »sc of con- i regard to |)k; of the L' re i fill Je- is ministry, ion; a city have been Gilboa: bo eh the Bap- to tlic wa- ])on(l9 or does actu- niay have 13iit cer- led on this ho circum- not my ob- |by John and leography of i\iv disciples ofcuir Snvinnr, — for this 1 am not inclinnl to dis|nife, — hut l<» sh«'U timt the reasons adduced hy fJa|»ti>t writers to prove th4' «<>Mtnny are n<»t in this in- stance of much wrijrht. Tor initil it <'nn Imi pro\cd heyonil dispute, — hrynnd v\vi\ a d«iid»f nr suspicion of ctsaccin-ae\, that to Implizc means nothing' more or h*ss, than to immo'LCi., ov ffhinssr, nr dip, all tlie nr^Munent:^ brou«rht l'or\>ard «»n their side of the (juestion, from oaeh ofth»? passa<,'es above (pi()t(>d, must prov(M)l*htthr or no avail. l''or they rest solrly on the suppo.fition that the idea of puttinj; tin? IxmIv «»f the reci|>i(>nt under water, is tiie «)Mly le^ritimate meaniu',' of the verb in question. We now come to a more important branch of the {Scripture evidence of Haptism. Hitherto wt; have jron(^ over passa^res w Inch a|)|>ear to n.'ll'r solely to the l)a[)ii/.in;( of jrrown-up persons, — of nn'n who could reason, and calculate, and understand, the object ami end of the ordinance. We have seen no sutlicient rea- son in the wonl of (iod to induce us to take; part with the Antipu'dobaptists for exclusive immiM'sion, or to anpport the Presbyterians in their opinion that sprink- linjif or pouring was the only mode used. Neither opinion can be made sutiicie-ntly aj)parent witliont do- ing violence to the w<'ll known, and generally received meaning of w ords *, and w itln)ut w resting some passages from their natural signification, and overlooking oihers becauso tliev seem to si)eak ditlerentlv. This will be found, I doubt not, upon a fair and candi\ l»a]»lisiii. It i^ tho coiniMission oroiir SavicMU* to liis a|»oslU's, (kiivcr- cmI iiiiiiHMliulc'l^ U'lorr liis ju^'i'tisMHi into licavt'ii. Mark xvi. 15. And In* said unto tiioni, Matt, xxviti. IH. all powrr is ^'iv<.'n unto me, in iieaven and in oartli. VX (j!() vo tlicn^foro, Mark xvi. 15. iki v<; into all tho world, IMutt. xxviii. VX and teach all nations; Mark xvi. \k^. and pn'aeh the Gospel to e\cry vreattUT, MatU XXVIII. VX l>ai)ti/ini.' tlieni in the nnnie oftli<' Father, and of tin.' Son, and of the Holy (jhost. yO. 'r<'aehin<; them to ohser\e all things, whatsoever 1 have eomntanded yon : Mark xvi. ilJ. He that heliisveth and i.s hj»|)tized shall 1)0 8aved ; and ho that beliovcth not sluill he damned. - 17. And thes<; siolicve : In my name shall they cast out devils ; they shall speak with new tongues ; 18. They shall tako up serpents: and if they drink any deadly thinjjf it shall not hurt them ; they sliall lay hands on tho sick, and they shall reco- ver ; Matt. XXVIII. 20. and, h), 1 am with you always, oven unto the end of the world. Amen. Mark xvi. li). So then after tho Lord liad spoken to them, Luke XXIV. 50. lie lil'tod up his iiands and blessed them. - 51. And it came to pass while lie blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven, k*J 7^^ TRRATI<«r. ON n.\PTrSM, tl m j Ads !. !>. uikI a cloml rrrtMvcd liim out of tlieir IMark xvf. \\K Iumvuh rrroivfil up into lieavoii and .'iaf on ilio ri;.'lit lianil ofCiOil." IMucli lias hrcn written concrrninjr the import of tln.'S(» ^vords, and tlicir antliority or (JvidiMico for JJap- tisnioii liolii sides of tlio controversy. TImj I'ledobap- fists refer to tlieni as one oftln'ir authorities for ud- niinisterin'f that ordinanre in the ease of iidlmts, and assi^rn tlie |(»llouin«r as their prinei|)al reason forin^ so: J'irsl the eonmiand to '■''tench nnd ha/ilize (tlL nnlions" is (»ne of a freneral eliaraeter ; not clearly spe- cilyini( at what a\ere conunandedto Ik3 performed and conuuencetl si- multaneously, and that because teaching' is a work of more labour than baptism, the administration of tho ordinance must, on every princi|)le of reason and com- mon sense, have preceded the instruction of the reci- pients. The Antipa^eliever and then be baptized ; becaus(! St. Matthe^v i)uts the word teach before l}apti- :i/jy-, and St. 3Iark the word hetieveth hvA'ori; Ijaptizeth: but of an act of iaith an iniunt i^ incapable : tiiereforcr nvPTi^M or ruRr^'T. ?!) * ihcir [^u und »ort of I- IJap- (Ittbuii- I'or ad- itH, ami r (loiiiX lizc (tit •ly Hpe- isciplcri lo make ,(•!•> iiH- spirit, of HI. ^e- h (til mt- Unown nal and iptizin^ IK'cdtri- work of n of the iidconi- lie reci- inst tliiss sarv that Kiptizcd : )rL' bapii- baptizetfi : iR'iM.'fore, ■A I t ■s they roncliido, be it< imlii for r •ccivin'r tlio ordiimiire of l>aptisrn. The al»traet of the rcasoiiinir and (Mnwhisii»ns uhirh thr pa^sjiL'o iiruU'i" eoiisidrrntion Hiiarti('ulars. Our Saviour's e<»iuiua!id is, as just (d»servod, «reneral in its eharaeter, and applies to all a^'es of the Church, as w«;ll us to all nations. Ihit in as far as the Apos- tles, to whom it was immediately addressed, were concerned, ir ap]>lie(i only to th(> land ot'.ludea and Home of the heathen places horderini: upon it. 'I'his was tin; whole extent of nations to which its operation was carried in the days of the Apostles, if we except I'aufs iournevs to (ireeci^ and Koine, Now the lirst care of the Apf)stles on their iroinir forth for the purpose; of converiinir the nations front the evil ol* their ways, iu com|)liance with their mas- ter's eonunand, would naturally he, to instruct their liearers in the inNsteries of red'erts. AW this we readily admit. For if we except the power of working miracles, the "Ambassadors for Christ" are at this very time promoting his blessed Gospel, by the very means liere described. In heathen countries, where the sound of salvation lias Tiever been heard, and where all the popular notions of the people are grounded on customs and traditions peculiar to their own nation, that mission- ary would not certainly advance with the most speed who began to plant a new doctrine and a new reli- gion in their hearts, by indiscriminately baptizing old and young that would comply, whether they under- stood tiie nature of the ordinance or not. 'The aged and tiie wise and the influential must have first been convinced by the poAver and force of reasoning, which is understood by all people; and when their judg- ments were swayed to belief in the Gospel, and they expressed a wish to be admitted into Christ's king- dom on earth, the ordinance of baptism could be rea- dily aJministered, both as a sign of inward purifica- tion from sin, and as a means of salvation. Such pre- cisely must we suppose the i)rogress of the Apostles to have been ; the only diflerencc being, their superior i BAPTISM OF CHRIST. 81 ed in effica- nieans vs and /hurch ! to be by the i were lieving linance • iracles, •y time lis liere ound of all the customs ^lission- it speed !W reli- zing okl under- ic aged St been ir, which ir judg- uid they ;'s king- be ica- )urifica- iich pre- Apostlea sui)erior power of enforcing conviction of tlieir divine mission, by working miracles. But then we maintain that they did not stop here, or rest satisfied witli liaving baptized the beheving ndult only. We say that if the person so believing had any children, or others under his protection, they were received by the apostles as fit recipients for the Sacrament on the faith of their guardian. And this point we prove in the following manner, from the pas- sage which wc are at present considering. 1. Any one who reads the original with attention, will at once perceive that there is an evident distinc- tion between uaSrjtvaaT^ — tench — in the nineteenth verse, and Jt()aanovrB<; teachiiifi^ — in the twentieth verse, [Matt, xxviii. ) — a distinction which has not been ob- served in our translation. There are manifestly three tilings, which our Lord here distinctly enjoins his apos- tles to execute with regard to the nations, including not merely the Jews, but also the Gentiles. These arc expressed by the words uadtinvaa-re, BaTm-ayyt^^ and d)9aanovTfg which in their literal meaning, may be rendered thus : — "make discij)les, — ba[)tizing, — and teaching them, &c." Now if this combination of terms has any meaning at all, it must moan that the apostles were in the first place to make disciples by baptizing them ; and, in the second place, as a necessary consequence of that act, to teach them all the duties of the Christian life. That the literal meaning oi'^iadt^-xiw) is to make disciples, may be proved by reference to Matt. xiii. 52 : and to Jlcts. xiv. 21. where the marginal reading of our New Testament is — " had made many discipltsy ; 1 82 TREATISE ON BAPTISM. Hciicc if tlic Apostles did not .it any time make disciples, by baptizinjf, and al'terwards instructing iheni, they could not have possibly fulfilled their bles- sed Master's injunction ; — they could not h.ive compli- ed with ins conunand. But, as we have already seen, the circumstances in which they were placed, and tlic nature of the case, render it extremely improbable that they would have adopted this mode of proceeding in the instance of adult Jiaptism. Ccmsequently In- fant baptism is the only case hi which, according to the literal meaning of the words used by the Evan- gelist, and the reason of the sittendant circumstances, the conunand of our Saviour could be innnediately ap- plicable. We arc then come to one of two conclu- sions: either the Apostles did or did not baptize in- fants. If they did, they fulfilled the spirit of this part- ing injunction of their Master: if they did not, they manifestly disobeyed it. Which of these alternatives tlie Apostles were most likely to adopt, I will leave it with the reader to determine. 2. Again, we believe that the Apostles baptized in- fants : because the idea of admitting children into covenant with God, in virtue of the faith of their pa- rents, was well understood by the Jews, in every pe- riod of their nation's history. Their Talmudists tell us that their established practice was invariably to baptize or sprinkle with water the children of Prose- lytes to their faitii. And it was well known that the child who was circumcised according to their law, had no other previous title to the covenant of promise, thaii what his descent from Abraham conferred. Accustomed to consider these practices, not only as wholesome ceremonies enjoined by tiie laws of their f 71APTISM OF CHRIST. 83 make iicting * blo«- Dinpli- ^ seen, lul tliC obable eeding tly lii- ling to Evan- taiicea, ely an- yone lu- :ize in- is part- it, they iiiativos eave it zed in- ?n into eir pa- ^ry pe- sts tell tibly to Prose- lat the ir law, remise, • I only as )f their H Forefathers, l)ut as rites dictated by true piety and re- ligious ieehng on tlie part ofthe ])arents, the Apostles would have naturally understood their heavenly Mas- ter's command in relerence to these acknowledged points of laith, with regard to the admission of chil- tb'en into covenant with God. They would thus con- Bidcr themselves authorised to receive infants on the belief and conversion of the j)arents, into the ark of Christ's Church ; being convinced from experience tliat such practice was recognized by the law of Clo- ses, which was a shadow of the Gospel. And they knew besides that tiie shadow could not exist without tlie substance; that circumcision would not have been so strictly enjoined on the descendants of the faith- ful Abraham, if it was not a type or representation of Christian Bajjtism. I am well aware that against this mode of reason- ing it may be said — that if St. Matthew's words apply only to Infants, the Apostles disobeyed them in bap- tizing adults after instruction. This howevei* is not a ^locessaiy consequence. The command " make dis- ciples^^ — is a general injunction to bring to the faith of Christ all — old and young — among whom they were sent, by the means of i)roselytizing and initiation which were well understood, by almost every iidiabi- tiiut of Palestine, in those days. They therefore made disciples of grown up persons by working miracies and by preaching — (St. JMark's expression) to them, and baptizing them ; and of children, who from their tender age were incapable of understanding those things, by simply baptizing them : that thus 'he salvation of the Lord God might come unto all people. s ; .ii !' i; 1^; i I '• 84 TREATISE OM BAPTISM. On this passage of Scripture Dr. Macknight ob- serves as follows : — " In our Lord's discourses, the twelve are to be considered sometimes as apostles, in which character they had no successors ; some- times as Ministers of the Gospel, in which character they have many successors ; and sometimes as disci- ples sim])ly or private Christians. In this commis- sion our Lord considers the twelve only as ordinary ministers of his religion, and therefore in addressing them he spoke to all their successors. In tmy other sense, he could not be with the apostles unto the end of time. Nor could they teach and baptize all nations in any other sense." The point attempted to be illustrated in the above observations will become more apparent in the fol- lowing section. SECTION 4. i ' 1' hi BAPTISM BY THE APOSTLES. m it After our Saviour's ascension into heaven, the Apos- tles, in virtue of the commission which they had re- ceived from him, began, as soon as cu'cumstances permitted, to fulfil the command which that commis- sion enjoined. Their fii'st attempt at making disciples took place at Jerusalem, on the day of Pentecost, when a vast multitude of the Jews was collected from all parts, to observe that great festival. The circumstances and consequences of their exertions, are thus related by St. Luke, in the Acts of the Apostles : — BAPTISM BY THE APOSTLES. J55 Acts III. 137. "Now wliciitlioy licard this" — viz. Pe- ter's discourse — "they were pricked in their Jieart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of tlie Apostles, Men and brethren, wliat sliail we do? - 38. Tiien Peter said unto them — repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Je- sus Clu-ist, for the remission of sins, and ye siiall re- ceive the gift of the Holy Ghost. - T'). For the promise is unto you and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as ma- ny as the Lord our God shall call. - 41. Then they that gladly received iiis word were l)aptized : and the same day there were added unto them three thousand souls." In this passage is related the powerful effect i)ro- duced by Peter's sermon, aided as it was by the j)er- formancc of miracles, and signs, and mighty works. Conviction of the heavenly origin of his mission and office, and of the truth as it is in Jesus, was, by tliese means, enforced upon their understandings. They were roused from their stupor, and the lethargy, as to spiritual things, in wliich the works of the Law had naturally bound them. They then were com])elled to cry out, men and brethren what shall tve do ") Peter tells them to repent and be baptized. Now in all this we })erceive merely the effect of tlie ,. Apostles' en«leavour to obey that part of his Master's command, which is expressed by the word uSnTtvoa-cB — make disciples. But in order to turn this favoura- ble state of mind to the eternal advantage of their im- moital souls, the Apostle exhorts them to repentaTice, and at the same time to bai)tism. Hence we perceive that the immediate conviction which led tliem to eiujvin 'f 1 c?> TREATISE ON BAPTIjiM. : "' j f J .! 'I I ' I I : \ V I } : I -I; ! ^ tit was considered as a sufficient evidence of their faith and consequently as a litlc to Ba|)tisni. An act of re- pentance couhl scarcely have i)receded the adminis- tration of the Sacrament : for Avc are jriven to under Mtand that these very i)eo|)lc were hajjlizcd tlie same day; and we know that repentance is not conij)letc ini- til it bring forth fruits meet for repentance. — Matt. in. 8. Consequently the most im])ortant part of the re- pentance here enjoined must liave heen performed suhsequentbj to the administration of the ordinance of Baptism. And this consideration is, I submit with de- ference, a sufficient proof tjjat repentance, in the mean- ing attached to that term, l)y the Antipa3dol>aptists, is not in every case necessary — absolutely necessary — as ;i previous preparation; a remark which will in a great measure answer their objection to the admission of In- fants to tliis ordinance, because of their inability to repent or })erform any other duty, of a purely mental cliai'acter. Hence the initiatory ceremony or rite, necessarily went before the duties of the clu'istian life. And if the rule is aj)plicable in the case of adults, who became discii)les, not by repentance, or penitence, but by rea- son of the miracles which they saw, and the truths which they heard, it cannot most assuredly bo violated in the case of infants, who are in the begiiming of life, and who, under divine grace, will have an opportunity of performing all the duties appertaining to their sacred calling when they come to years of discretion. The Apostle required no further proof of the conversion of his hearers than their expressed wish to be saved; and told them that as a means of salvation they must be baptized. In the same way the christian zniuister now ^1 1 BAPTISM BY THE APOSriKS. 87 hiliiiini^tors iliis sa<*ramion to ro])ent and be baptized, the apostle enforces it l)y assnrinj; them that the ^^ Pro- viisc is unto them and their children.^' They w( Jic.ivciily lUvoiir, >vlio shall pruteml to deny that they were fit suhjoi'ts for tlH'ordiiiaiice ot* Baptism. Thero is, indeed, preat ])robal»ility, tliat of the JJOOOwho were that day added to the clmrch, a considerable number were chiUlren of various ages, from helpless hifancy upwards. There is one other particular to be noticed in this passage, which is commonly })assed over in silence by Antip{edoba])tist writers, but which nevertheless seems to deserve our attention. It is said that 3000 were baptized in one day aller the third hour — verse 15 — that is 9 o'clock in the morning. It is well known too that Jerusalem, the scene of this transaction, was by no means plentifully supplied with water. Hero then two questions naturally arise oji the Baptist by- j)0thesis. How could twelve i)eople baptize so many in so short a time, if thoy were to use the same cere- mony w.:h each individual that is now observed by the Ba])tist Preachers ? And where could a sufficiency of water be found at that dry season of the year — for it was Pentecost — for the purposes of innnersion ? This is a sore difficulty, and cannot well be got over. Some writers, however, attemi)t to tell us how all this could be done very well and very easily.* But the attempt involves supppositions and theories which arc much more extravagant and improbable than the assumption, that baptism Avas administered to the 3000 by sprink- ling. For this mode of administering the ordinance is the only one which renders the narrative of the histo- rian rational, and accords best with the tenor of his description, * See Cra\vley> page 110. I BAVT1*M IJY TIIK APOSTLES. 89 1 mark of hat they Thero ho were number infancy d in this lence by ssseemK 30 were rse 15— lown too was b> '. Hero )tist hy- so many lie cere- (1 by tlie ;iencyof — for it ? Tliis r. Some is could attempt mucii mption, sprink- nance is e Iiisto- of his J Tiic coiifliision, tiiorcforc, v. hich a considLTation of the baptism on ihtMlay of IV'nticost iiu'linos us to a«lopt, is tw()f(dd. rirst wo are lc of the trtith as it is in Jesus. IJut as tlie Sacred Pemnan, in n^hitin^'- it, does not throw any additional li;;ht on the subject ot" our eiMiuiry, I will not dwell upon it. l\n' th<'same reason 1 lljrbear enhu\Lnn;i' on lla; IJajitism of tla; lirhiopian llunuch by the same miiii>ter — ./Icls \iii.')~) — .'1^', and on the bap- tism, St. Paul, as related in tla; ninth cJi.ijiter of the same Book, verse 17 — 18. The j)erformance of the ritt} in each Iac(>s already illustratcfl. There is in- diM'd atough (HUitroversy between theAntipiedobajJtists and those, who stand uj) I'or s|)rinkfuu^ or j)ourin<5 as the on!ij Scriptural mode (jf administerinji- the ordi- nance, on the subject of tlu; r.tliio[)ian Eumich's Ihxp tism. The former say that Iiv' nuist have been di{)- ped ; the latter say that i.> iir.|i«)>. Ible, becaiiMi ihere was nut u .suiiicicncy of wat<'r ibi thai ['iniioiiC'. liui i I' 1. i I' , '1, '! m >\ I>0 TREATISE O.V BAPTfSM. an our rliurcli considcrH ilic inodo ofailrniuistrntion to be mutter oi'fseroiidary importaiifc, l>(>lit'viii<; that each of tlio modes contended lor was used in its turn, jic- cording to convenience or circumstanct •. 1 will offer no otlier remark on the sid>ject in this |»'ace, tliaii- merely to refer my readers to a passage of J?cripture> which they may conten {)late at leisure. It is this. — " Peter saith unto him, Thou whalt never wash my feet- Jesus answered him. If 1 wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him. Lord not my feet only, hut also my hands and my head. Jesus saith unto him. He that is washed, needeth not save to wash his feet, hut is clean every w hit." — John Xiu. t? — 10» If thenthe washuig- of the feet was sufficient in this instance iov the spiritual cleansing of the whole person, surely either sprinkling, or i)ouring of water on tlie head, nnist be admitted to l)e equally efficacious for the same purpose. Lmncrsion is not there lore abso- lutely necessary. The same observations apply morcor less directly to the bai)tism of Cornelius and his friends, which we lind related in the tcuith chapter of the Acts, from verse 42nd to verse 48th. It is unnecessary therefore to- dwell upon it. The next passage which we shall meet w ith, relative to the ordinance of baptism, is of imi)ortance ; inas- much as it illustrates more fully than any which we have hitherto examined, the princi})le on which chil- dren arc admitted into the Redeemer's fold. It is in Acts XVI. 14, 15. and relates the baptizing of Lyditi and her household. "And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped Goci. I 1 1 i r TJAPTrsM nV THE APOSTI.F*;. 01 J liounl ns: wliosr lioart tlio Lord ojumumI, that ylie at- ton(l(Ml 'into the tliiii;rs which wcro s|)(>k('n of l*aul, and when slu; was ha))ti/(>d, and hrr liouschold, sliu hosoiiirht us sayiiif,': — It'yo have jml^n-d nuMohc faith- ful to tlio [jord, roni(! into my house and uhidc there. And sIjo constrained us." Hero w(? liavo an (Muinnnt oxainph' of the mannor in wiiich the llolyCihost co-opj-rates witli hiunan endea- vours in convertinjj; tlio iieart to (jod. I^ydia had no douht listenetl with «rreat attention, and mental exer- tion, to tlie (lisc()urs(? of the Apo tljjs; and thus contri- huicd a share at least of iunnan ahilitv, towards tiie ac- coinplishment of the work of «;race in her heart. JJut it was theinrtiienco of the Divine Spirit that fffiduallif produced it: "the Lord open(!(l her iieart." This I may observe is a ])hras(; coimnonly siro\ ided th(; most e-vident sii:'nification is rational and inlelliirihle; wi; are to inter that thesis individuals were l)aj»ti/ed hecaus*! of the tiiith ofLydia. The Aposth! was constrained t(» stay with herself and household, for some lime al\er this ev(Mit, ry lourical. Hut it wants the sanction of an ex- press d(M;laratiou. It is not said thattlun'o were either children or infants in tlie household of Lydiu: and therefore the reverse luny be ecpudly probable. The argiunent I would ht'n; deduce in favour of the same tbin«r, rests on a dilferent although 1 think a istronger foundation. It is this: — The Sacred pcmnan here tells ns, that several individuals were admitted to Baptism ; evidently upon no other ])lea that can be discovered from the text, than that they belonged t(» the household of a believer, and thus enjoyed an op- portunity which jtromised them fm-ther instruction in the faith. It is clear therelbre that one person may be admitted into the Church, by JJaptism, on the faith of another, suppo-sing that tlic recipient Iuih within his* BAPTISM IJV TirK ATOSTLKS. 03 To.nrh tlie iiM'iiiiM of Inrtlu'r iiistrurtion. Tliin i« tlif» iiiONt r\ iilnit inrrrriMM? iVniii tlic; iiatiiral inraiiiii^' ol' tlnj words iM't'dHMis; tlic |ti'iiii'i|)l«> Im'II<*(> is fully er^tah- li.sliod that ono (.'iiri>tiaii can S<'i-i|)iiirally pronii.so lor tlu; tiitiir(3 iiiMtriK'tioii ofanotlicr, and tliat siirli proiiiisc may Im; (MMisidorrd asa Hiitlirinit <|iialitiratioii, to rnti- tic thai other to tin; liciirCits oCtlu; ordiiiaiicc. This iH'iiiciph; lH'iii<((>stahiislMMl, its application will of coursi? iHM'oinc ^'(.'ncral. If it is adniissihio in Scrip- ture, that adidt persons rnay hav<; Immmi nveived on th<' profession ofanother; is it not eipially true that itdlints may Im; received into the; (Jlinrch on the sanu; condi- tions ? Most nndouhtedly. If a s«'rvant can he receiv- ed to l)a|>tisni on the responsihility of his ."Master or Mistress, may not a child he receiveosvever 1 will not insist, as I have already shown that the ])rinciple of responsibility, evidently reco^niized in this passage, having a general significa- tion, is equally a|)plicable to both adults and infants. One other observation, and 1 have done with this passage. Lydia, when she and her household were baptized, besought the A|)Ostles, saying " if ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord come into my house," ^c. Now it is generally agreed among coin- mentators that the Greek particle, here rendered " ?/," ought to be translated ^^since^^ — Since ye have judg- ed me to be faithful, «!s:c. She does not say me and mi/ household: she was the only person there that was faithful — or at least the only person that was consi- dered faithful. And the l}aj)tism of her household being the consequence of that faith, further confirms the ijrinciple wliich 1 have endeavoured to illustrate; namely, that one may be baptized, under certain cir- cumstances, upon the responsibility of another. It is very generally suj>i)osed, by the writers who have overlooked this principle, that our Church has authorised ilie administration of the ordinance, with- out any profession of liiith, on the part of the reciin- ent; imaghiing that, like the Church of Rome, she lays peculiar stress upon ihc mere rite — the mere opus i BAPTISM BY THE APOSTLES. 05 He, slie opemium, and believes that this is (luitc pufficient. — Whenever tiiis siij)i)0.sition is reasoned upon, the very circuinstance of lier ritual heinjx thus made the sub- ject of censure, is always a sufficient ])roof, In the es- timation of all her members, that the censurcr lias not studied cither her principles, ])er doctrines, or Iicr Litm-j^y. So far is she from denying the ])ropricty of exacting a profession of faith in the ])rincipal articles of the Christian religion, that the Officers for the Ba})- tism of Infants, and for that of adults, arc coin])os('J upon this very principle. In the former she exacts a profession of their belief from the ^|)onsors, and in the latter from the recij)ient himself; thus always re- taining inviolate the princi})lc — that this Sacrament be administered in no case without proof of faith on the part of the Candidates. She wisely ado})ts this course because her ministers arc uninspired men, and unable to judge, like the Apostles, of the inward evidence of tlie heart of the recipient. This subject shall be discussed more at length on a subsequent occasion. At present^ let us sec how one of the writers above referred to treats the jiassagc of Scri})ture we have been consider- ing, and others of a similar tendency. " I conclude," sayt" Mr. Baxter, " that all exami)les of Baptism in Scripture, do mention only the adminis- ti'ation of it to the professors of saving faith ; and the prece])ts give us no other direction. And I j)ro- voke Mr. Blake," — his o})ponent, — " as far as is seemly for me to do, to name one precept or cxam})le for baptizing any other, and make it good if lie can." When it is asserted that this challenge is thrown out, after an examination of the case of I^ydia and her household, the impartial and unbiassed reader fj' Ht I m ^il- I 'I It i i 111 ' 1 '' ' !^ 96 TREATISE ON BAPTISM. will soe reason eitlier to tloubt tlio sincerity, or to question the penetration, of this stern Chairi])ion of Antii{ie(lol)apti.sin, as a fair and candid expositor of the word of God. The next passage of Scripture to be examined, is that where the ba])tisni of the Philippian Jailor and his household, is recorded. It is related in the same chapter from v;hi<:h the ])receding case is taken. Acts. XVI. 29. " Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas. - 30. And brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved ? 31. And they said, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, an.l thou shalt ])e saved, and thy house. - 32. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. - 33. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes ; and was baptized, he and all his straightway. - 34. And when he had brought them iin- tD his house, he set meat before them and rejoiced, believing in God, with all his house." Paul and Silas having, through preaching the Gos- pel of salvation, incurred the displeasure of the popu- lace and the Magistracy, were cast into prison for teaching customs which it was not lawful for Roman citizens to receive — verse 21. But the miraculous in- terposition of Providence did not permit them to re- main long in confinement. An earthquake and other ])henomcua not only i)ut it in the power of the Apos- tles to escape, but also was the means of bringing about u salutary change in ihe spiritual condition ol^ s f?! eaptism by the apostles. \)7 y, or to ipion of )sitor of lined, i& ilor and lie same ken. iglit, and ^n before nd said, he Lord ly house, he word i 3 hour of baptized, them un- rejoiced, ;he Gos- he popu- •ison for • Roman Lilous in- tn to re- md other 10 Apos- bringing dition of Xhc keeper and lii.s honsehokl. It is extremely proba- ■ble that tliis man must have heard the Apostles ;preaching repentance and remission of sins, and eter- nal salvation through Christ, before they were cast in- to prison. For we find that without receiving any particular instruction from them, h's first question, on perceiving the miraculous occurrences that had taken .place, was " Sirs, what must I do to be saved ?" As if he had previously been acquainted with their divine mission and its object, and convinced that the hand of 'God was in it, from what he had seen and heard the night of their confinement. The answer of the Apos- >tle deserves consideration— "Believe in the Lord Je- sus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." On this passage Dr. Doddridge remarks as follows : '" the meaning cannot be, that the eternal salvation of his family could be secured by his faith,'''* But if they could not be saved by his faith, we have seen in the •case of Lydia's iiousehold that they at least might be baptized on his professing for them. And this, no 'doubt, is the meaning of the Apostles. They evident- ly use the term believe generally, and include under it not only the mere assent of the understanding to certain doctrines and points of faith, but also the du- ties and obligations which those doctrines imply. — Then it follows that if the Jailor were to use his au- thority as the head of the family to bring them to 'Christ, and to exert his energy in inculcating the precepts and promises of the Gospel, he would not only be obeying the exhortation addressed to him, but would also afford that responsibility which might be deemed sufficient for admitting his house* Jhold to the Sacrament of baptism. M t '*-& ' I 98 TREATISE ON BAPTTS^T. Im'n I :V> Honre we do not find that oarh individual of" the household oflfercd a profi^ssion of his faith in his own person : the word was spoken unto them merely, and we are told that they helieved, after the ceremony had taken [)lace — see verse^i. We may imagine therefore that, at the Jailor's express recpiest to be saved, the Apostles took that opportunity of fm*tlier instructing him in the ways of salvation, and of also imjiarting what knowledge they could to his Jiousehold; that in the course of such instruction, the Apostles pointed out the necessity of entering into the visible Church, by submitting to the ordinance of Ba])tism ; and that immediately afterwards the ordinance was adminis- tered indiscriminately to all present. The only pro- fessmi of belief that we read of, is that of the Jailor himself; and if such an act of faith on the part of the rest was a])solutely necessary, we are certain that the inspiri^d penmaji would not have omitted to mention a fact of so much importance. The unprejudiced rea- der therefore will perceive how little ground the An- nabaptists have for courinuing, in their communion, that custom which they call " telling experience," or giving an account of the candidate's conversion. A day is commonly appointed for this ceremony amongst them : and the person, who expresses a desire to en- ter into their association by submitting to baptism by immersion, is recpiested to speak out before the con- gregation, and to give a full account of the means and manner in which he had been roused to a just sente of the value of his immortal soul, and to desire salvation through Jesus Christ. In the course of ad- dresses of this nature, there are expressions used, and thoughts entertained, that are any thing but in con- p lal of the n liis own prely, and tnoiiy Iiad therefore aved, th(; istnictiriff !iiil)arting ; that HI 3 pointed ! Clmrch, and that adminis- 3nly pro- le Jailor rt of the that the lention a ced rea- the An- munion, ICC," or on. A unongst to en- tism by he con- ans and St senibc} desire of ad- ed, and n con- ¥ BAPTISM BY THE APOSTLES. 99 ibnnity with tlic pure and peaceful and holy spirit of our religion. Sometimes the audience is edified by an account of a singular dream ; occasionally of a particular vision ; which seems as much to indicate an excited imagination, as the existence of sincere and lowly contrition. Mr. Baxter's views on this point are these : " To contemn this is to renounce all rules of order" — he is speaking of profession before bai)tism — " for where can w<3 expect to find it if not here ? I ])rofess my con- science is fully satisfied from this text, that it is one kind of faith, even saving — that must go before baptism ; and the profession whereofthe minister nmst expect." Disput. o/Rifr/U to Sac. ji. 91. The minister alone is the only individual, who, in this Divine's estimation, has a right to call for a profession of faith in any case ; he being more cai)able than any of the congregation to judge of what really constitutes a prolession of saving faith. But to retin-n to the case under consideration. The household of the Jailor having been baptized before any thing is said of their believing, beyond the profes- sion made by the head of the family, and no mention being made of the necessity of such preparation, we are led to conclude that, in this instance also, the prin- ciple of admitting sj)onsors in baptism is recognized. The sacred writer says expressly that after the neces- sary instruction had been given, and the ordinance administered, to every person in the house — "he set meat before them, and rejoiced believing in God with lUl his house." This is the natural inference which every })erson who narrow ly considers the circumstances of the case, will be inclined to make from the simple I nil 'i!i|: 1 i ! ! t ill/. I "4-] 100 TREATISE 0>* BAPTISM. account given of it ; no other conclusion can be ad- niittcd witliout doing evident injustice to the meaning of the original. The ])rincij)le of resjionsibility being once admitted, it is of little consequence to enquire whether there were children in the household of the Philipj)ian Jai- lor or not. It is very ])robable that there were children and young persons in his family ; but even upon the t;uj)position that they were all adults, still the fact of their liaving been admitted to the ordinance on the responsibility of their master, — without having made any e\'i>rcss profession of their faith, })rovcs beyond a doubt that infants, without any express profession of their faith, may be admitted too. This is all that is contended for at present : its application will be shewn afterwards. On the mode of administering tlie Sacramer.t in. this particular instance it is unnecessary to dwelL All things considered it is extremely probable that pouring or sprinkling was used. The Sacred Penman lias pointed out no particular method ; and we are left, to deduce all our inferences on tlie subject from the circumstances of time, place^ and the emergency of the case. The time was night, the place a Jail, and the emergency sudden. All these combined render it ex- tremely probable, tliat tlie mode just referred to was tlie one resorted to on this occasion. All, therefore, that can be said on the matter rests only on probabili- ties. The next case of Baptism recorded in the Acts, occurs in chapter xvni. 4. It is there related of St. Paul's la- bours at Corinth, that " He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. /f 'i lii iiii "*; BAPTISM BY Tlir, APOSTLES. 101 and 5. And \vlien Silas and Tiinotlii us were conio IVom Macedonia, Paul was ]>rcsscMl in tiic Sjiirit, and leiti- lied totlio Jews tliat Jcsiis was C'lirist. ^. And Crisi)us, tlio cliiff ruler of the Synajro^^ue, believed on tli<^ J.ord witli all his house : and many of llie CorintliiaJis liearin^r, believed, and were baptized." The best coininentarv whieli we can find ui)on this passage, occurs in i. Cor. i. Vi: where St. Paul, in his Fii)istle5 refers to the labours he had performed at Co- rinth, and whi«'h we above (h.'scribed. " Is Christ divided ? Was Paul crucified for you ? or were ye baptized in the name of J'aul ? I thank (iod that 1 baptized none of you, but Crispus and (iaius : lest any should say that T ba])tize(l in mine own name. And 1 ba])tized also the household of Stej)lianas : be- sides, 1 know not whether I baptized any other. For Christ sent me not to baptize but to jireach : not with wisdom of words, lest the Cross of Christ be made of none effect." When St. Paul says that he was "sent to j)reach, not to baptize," he must be understood to refer to the dis- putes then prevailing at Corinth, not j)Ojiiive!y lo de- clare that it was not part of an Apostle's office to ba])- tize. But tiie Apostles had the office of ])reaching committed to them, being endued with the highest degree of insi)iratlon, and miraculous j)owers, a#id being thus best ({aaliffed for converting the Avorld. Valpy in he. The Apostle thus having, by means of these various gifts of inspiration, convinced the j)eople ofliis Divine mission, and of the necessity of attendini'" to the con- cerns of the soul, proceeded to admit them fo i)>c Re- deemers fold, by administering the ordinance of J3ap- I I It JP ' ! I' ikiiii I';! m TREATISE ON BAPTrSlVf. tiwm. " Crispi is, tlio Ruler of the Synagogue, and many of tlie Corinthians, liearing, l)elievc(l, and were bap- tized." Here we find tlie usual order observed. Coiiviction of the necessity of fleeing from tlie wrath to come waa first produced, and then the christian ordinance admi- nistered. But whether the term believed imi)lies the faitli of each individual resj)ective]y, the passage before us will not determine. We have already seen that the word believe is a term of general signification, and is occasionally used in diflferent meanings. As no mention is therefore made of a profession having been exacted from them, we are justified in concluding that the ins})ired penman here means the general idea com- monly attached to the verb to believe ; and that it was signified by the sincere wish of becoming a candidate for the ordinance. And as we find also mention made of the household of Cris])us, we may further conclude that the word believed refers to the faith of the Father us a sufticient guarentee for the admission of the whole household to the ordinance, and also to the ac- cej)tance of the faith of other householders for that of those who were placed under their chaige. The same principle is also clearly illustrated in tlie record which is left ns of the baptism of certain dis- cii. In deCenoe of this view of the j)assa^'e, it may bo nrj,'ed that the conclndinj^ words bear a meaning whicliis every wav favorable towards such explication. For the word used in the original is, un^iiig — a term whiehalways impliesan antithesis to the word yovamt^ — women. As if tin; Sacred writer had said — " and ail tlie men" — exclusive of wojuen and children — " were about twelve." Attain, if the Apostle meant to make no distinction between the male and female and youthful part of the congregation, here spoken of, why did he not make use of the term commoidy used on such occasions ? Tor instance, he miuht Jiave used 'J^vxuui — ^Qds ii. 41. And the same day there were added unto them 3000 souls: or lie might even have repeated the term in which these believers are fh'st introduced to the notice oftlic reader, viz. iiadrjai, disciples : or fmally avoQOiTiO}^ the Greek word w hicu is generally used to signify an assemblage of mah^s and lemales. Sec Scldcnsur in voce. But the Insj)ired Penman has used none of these terms. He used one of a more confmed meaning, — usually applied only to the male |)art of the connnunity. Hence, by a well known figure in Rhetoric, we con- clude that he means to specify not the whole, but a part ; and further, by a process of antithetical reasoa- ing, that the Church in question consisted of more than tw-elve people. This 1 take to be the legitimate sense of the passage. Now it may be enquired, if these men were not the only persons who formed the first Ephesian con- ik BAPTISM BY TlfE APOSTLES. 105 [•onncci- xpressly may br ncujjiiif,' licaiion. -.'i term I—" and iJdren — tinction t ol" the )t make asions ? 'siuil. n 3000 erm in 3 notice ily an \in voce. tlioye '"/.'.— lunity. e con- but a asoii- more imate e not con- ly (jJhost, " tiiey spake with ton<(ues and |»ro|»hesieriviN';.'rs of Dnptisin, — is lo^rioally (Irdiioihlo (roni the \v'F,n\T, rVKFRFNCES. lo: -e by suited in a litiiiiltlr mihI tracliablf spirit, ran aiVoni UH. At the same tiiin' wr must tak«; can* in nil vs- J)rcial rnaiiiirr t<» r«'ii(l<'r all our concliisioiiH cfMifor- liialdt! to tlic iltM'l.initioiis of Srri|itiin'. Sin'li are tin* |»ro|)('r auxiliaries to the iiifeipretatioii of the word ot" (iod, and to the elucidation of any particular precept or exaniplo. Taking' tliorentro the li;.dil of reason for our ^'uidi', %vhcro the li^'ht of revelatitui docH !iot shine so clearly n.s to enable us to distiujruish with accuracy the vari- OUH objects which it illuniinates, wo are led to con- clude, from the passa;:es above illustrated, — I. That the mo a ii'> TREATISE ON EAPTISAr. ihid it (lifticult to (loiliicc tlio natural inforcnce: that an Infant, in conftifMincnce of the sentence pronounced after tlie fall, is suljject to ])unisliment, altliougli lie may liavc conunitted no actual s^in. Tlie sentence has gone fijrth ; and cannot now be altered. It may be admitted, that such a sentence is irrecoiv- cileable \vith Divine mercy, cxce])t in one way. No sooner was it pronounced, than a promise was given of a substitute, who, in liis own body on the treCy should suffer the punishment due for sin, and thus freo penitent sinners from the consequences not only of the transgression of our first parents, but of every actual sm they may have committed in the flesh. This pro- mise includes children ; and is in every way applicable to their condition. Now what is the need of calling in- to question the mercy and goodness of God, in the case of the general sentence passed, on mankind, since tliat mercy and goodness are fully manifested in the re- demption of the world through the blood of a crucifi- ed Redeemer ? Why sliould man impeach the loving kindness of his maker in particular cases, when it is so clearly displayed in a general manner ? Whatever the extent oftho original sentence may have been, the extent of the promise annexed to it is the same. But the sentence was general ; including men, women, and children : the extent of the promise therefore must embrace these likewise. There are conditions, however, attached to the pro- mise ; conditions, which, if not observed, will be the means of excluding men from its manifold benefits. — These are of various kinds and degrees ; always bear- ing a certain proportion to the talents, and abilities, and opportunities of individuals. In general, thoy THE LOST CONDITION OF MAN BY NATIRE. 118 : that )uncf;d ugh lie ICC has rrecoiv- y. No s given he tree, lus freo y of the r actual lis pro- plicable lling in- the case incc tliat tlie re- crucifi- e loving len it is Hiatever leen, the le. But women, lierefore the pro- be the inefits. — lys bear- labiUties^ 1-al, thoy may be called tiic (lutie.« of the Christian profession. But the only duty, of a reli«iious nature, that can he performed for au infant, is the solemn dedication of iiini to (jlod by Baptism. And we have reason to be- lieve that this act will ensure the mercy of (iod, and answer the cojsdition wliich, in his ])articnlar case, was attaclied to the covenant of the i)roniise. The con- viction arising? from this source will aflord great com- fort and consolation to the Christij" i parent, should it please God to call his child from this world before ar- riving at the years of discretion. lie knows that the blossom which has ])erished in his arms, has, by haj)- tism, " become an lieir of Christ, a child of God, and an inheritor of the kijigdom of heaven." The act of Baptisin has in an instance of this kind been a means of grace, without the benefit of which the parents could not be certain how far their child had become a }»artaker of th(^ blessings and ature. It is found in the conference which it [)lcased God to hold with Abraham on the subject of des- troying Sodom and Gomorrah.l The Patriarch urged, ai^ J IJaptisiiial oflicc. >.'3 f ! j. ' $ I 114 TREATISE ON BAPTIS>f. a pica lor saving the devotet) citios, that there might Itkj sonic righteous persons among tlie inliahitants : " Wilt tliou destroy tlie righteous with the wicked, that be far from thee : shall not the judge of all the earth do right?" Tnis plea is admitted, and a promise given that if even ten righteous persons, or individuals ^"-ee from sin, were found in all the cities of tlK5 plain, they j^hould not be destroyed. But can we think that there were not ten infants in four cities ? — which history in- forms us were the number destroyed. Here is a direct proof that infants are not righteous, even on the sup- position that they have been guilty of no actual sin ; and moreover that they are punishable for the original ain of our first parents. Now, what Father or Mother, having the least degree of concern for the everlasting destiny of their offspring, and professing to receive the Holy Scriptures as the word of God, could incur the risk implied in the above conclusion by withholding the benefits of Bap- tism ? How can they reconcile a delay, or neglect, much less a careless indifference in this matter, with their duty as guardians of youth, or with their consci- ence as persons looking for salvation through the me- rits of the great atonement ? There is something so unfeeling, — so reckless and inconsistent in the very idea of excluding infants from participation in the rites of this ordinance ; and thus rendering their eternal sal- vation more doubtful than it would have been under other circumstances, that one is almost led to wonder how it could have been cherished, much less put in practice, by any christian parent. A plant may grow, and bud, and blossom in the wilderness : but all the while 1 Gen. XVIII. 1 THE LOST CONDITION OF MAN BY NATURE. itr> light Yfc "Wilt that be arth do ) given als ^••ee in, they at there tory in- a direct lie sup- lal sin ; original t degree fFspring, I as the . in the of Bap- leglect, r, with consci- he me- ung so le very he rites nal sal- 1 under wonder put in y grow, le while 1 SI it is exposed to the rnde blast of the desert, and to the ha- zard of being trampled upon and destroyed by the casual traveller, or of being devoured by the feeding herd. Remove the same plant to the rich soil of a well regulated garden ; and it will not only flourish and send forth its leaves and buds and blossoms in greater abundance, but it will be secure from any ac- cident that may arise from the bhst, the traveller, or the herd of cattle. So it is exactly with the child that is admitted a member of the Redeemer's fold. In the dreary wil- derness of the world it would of course grow up through the various stages of human existence : still, in the earliest part of its infancy, even whilst it might be totally insensible to every thing that was going on around it, it would be exposed, in consequence of original sin, to the Avithering blast of the Divine dis- pleasure. As the infant advanced to childhood, and the child to youth and manhood, he would be continu- ally exposed to all those temptations, and unsanctify- ing influences, which the Great Enemy of man's saN vation has contrived for ensnaring the world. None of the graces of the Christian character would sit easy upon him. But ingrafl; the same infant into the body of Christ's Church. As soon as the intellectual faculties begin to expand themselves, and are ready to receive the im- press of sentiment and of reason, ^t the name of his Creator pnd Redeemer become familiar to his mind and ear ; let the first accents which he shall be able to lisp forth be those of piety and devotion ; and, as soon as circumstances will allow, let the trutha of our holy religion be taught in their plain and simple garb ; let ■ ■\ I i' 1 no TREATISE ON BAPTISM. all this bo done, witii a siiiccro desire of comrii»iinii^ towards llio child's oleriial wclliiro, and the natur.'il (a- rulties of the uiKU'rstaiidiii;,' will not only exj)aiid,and increasj* in vi^'our and stren:Lrtli ; but they will also be ind)ued with a lotticM- tendency, a horuT aspiration, and ji more reli<^i(uis eharaetcM", than eoidd have been induced luider the ibnner su])jH)S!tion. Tiiat (Jreat Siie|)hcr«l who has overcome the world, the flesh, and the J)evil, will watch \\ ith tcuider and allectionat*' care over every member of his redeemed flock. The in- fluenee of' the S|)irit of ^'race that has been connnuni- catcd in i)aj)tisni, will foster aiul enconrap;e the growth of every reli<,noiis principle, antl every pious feeling. — And it forms no argument against the existence; of this inilucncc, that it is imporce|)tible to our mental or corporeal faculties. For every believer in the religion of Christ, must be convincetl that it is oidy through the use of tln^ r(;gular and ap[)ointed means of grace that any spiritual blessing can be attaijied: a/d that the blessing invariably follows, never precedes the use of these means. It is thus that the good seed, sown in the heart lin-ough mearjs of iniant baptism, an«l nurtured by early instruction, brings forth at the last, some thirty, some sixty, and some an hundred fold. SECTION 2. THE CO-X.NECTION BETWEEN THE JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN DISPENSATIONS. The next Scriptural ground which shall be adduced, as an authority for Infant baptism, is the typical ^semblance of the Clu'istiuu Church, whicli is mani- JEWISH AND ClIRlSTrAN DISPFN^ATIONS. li; fosted by tlie ritos aiul ccnMnonirH, 'mrulcatod under the Jewish disjxMisatioii. Tlie Apostle expressly tells us that tiieso religious ()hservanee;s wvvc "« shadow of thins^s to conic ;"l or as it is cx|)re.ssed in another place — " had a shadow of fi;ood thiu!i;s to come ;"- and >\ en* in- tended, in that chain ol'events l»y which the will o('(jiod has been made known to nianiiiiid, to jjieturelbrtli the rites and ceremonies of th(5 more gloriors dispen^a- tion of the Gospel. Indeed, the chit)!' object of the Epistle tf the Hebrews seems to bo ta illustrate this particul r, and to shew how the religious observanc of the Jewish Tabernacle illustrated and explained the nature and tendency of the great Christian Sacri- fice. And our Saviour himself has sanctioned by his Divine authority the validity of this illustration. — " Think not," said he, " that I am come to destroy the law, or the pro})hets: I am not come to destroy but to fulfil. For verily 1 say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or tittlo shall in no wise pass from the; law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least conunandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven ; but whosoever shall do. and teach them, tlie same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."3 From these and passages of a similar meaning, we justly conclude that tliere is a very close connection between the law and the Gospel, and that the ceremo- nies of the one throw light upon those of the other. Now, applying this fact to the case under considera- tion, we shall find an undeniable and convincing argu- ment in favour of Infant Baptism. 1. Col. II. 17. 2. Heb. vm. 5. 3. Malt. v. 17. 10. fv I I 11 ;i Hi X18 TUEATi:4E ON BAPTISM. On rcadin*? tlio scvpntocntli cluiptcr of (icnosis, it will he s(M'ii, that tin* rite; orcirciiiiicisioii was instituted in toktMi of tJMi foviMiant w liicli (lod nia(liiquest ; were reler- dd re- e Mes- iii ti- ory :— Itlie in- of tlie infant btain- ecamc wliicli were rapal)lo of bp<'oiiiiiicoi)le ^^ whether bond or free" to sin'mise that its bene- fits must bo withheld from a certain portion of every community, how(;ver enli<,ditened or however ready to receive instruction. Surely, surely, the Saviour who descended from the mansions of his glory to seek and to save that which was lost, would never have institu- ted a decree, which rendered his mission and its bles- sings unavailable to infancy and childhood ; and which, in the case of premature death, rendered their salva- tion a matter of doubt in the minds of the surviving parents. To suppose that the doors of the Redeemer's fold have been widened, and thrown open not only to the adults of the Gentile nations, but also to their in- fants — to all, old and young, without any other condi- tions but those attached to the covenant of grace, — is MQ congenial to the spiiit and tendency of the GospeJ ■1 I i I JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN PI^PENSATIONS. 1-21 10 Sft- iiii^rli- in tliu were itliorri iiiovi- lU'ived It bap- e con- ibrnco ncd to liat the a t>i)i- iinpos- ivcrsnl of all benc- ' every ady to r who Ick and nstitu- b bles- vhich, salva- vivirg mer's lily to eir in- coiuli- e, — is iospel dispiMisation, and to tin; bcncvoK'nt intentions wliirli the fScriplinvs every where diseh>se towards the hu- man race, that it will find an eelio in evi'iy nineere and i»ie with propriety exelu- ded from the wider and more extensive boundaries of the latter. Yet ajrainst tliis uiost obvious and J^eriptural infer- ence, Anti[)a;dobaptist u riters arplicable to the adults in any na- tion or kingdom, hefbre they can evade the force of this argument. But it is impossihle for them to effect this, and they theretbre attempt to avoid the conclu- sion to which it evidently tends, by urging that no- thing ought to be proved from the silence of Scrip- ture, — that there is no special command for the baptism of infants ; and that when we weigh their silence on tho subject of a prohihition against that in the matter of command, the balance will be even, and the argument come to nothing. The train of rcaiioning here followed by them is ^o3 I 12G TREATISE ON BAPTISM. (i( » I IH partly true and partly erroneous. It is true in setting off the silence of the Scriptures with regard to a command, against their silence with regard to a pro- hibition : but it is erroneous in taking it lor granted that the general terms we have been noticing do not apply to Infants. And in this respect the Baj)tists im- pose not only upon others but u})on themselves. But suj)posing, merely for the sake of argument, that the absence of a prohibition in the New Testa- ment to bai)tize infants, cannot be admitted as any proof in its favour, how dan we account for the obser- vance of many customs and })ractices among the Bap- tists, which appear to be raised upon no firmer foun- dation ? How can they reconcile with the declara- tions of Scripture, and the observance of the primitive (christians, their tavourite custom and principle of close communion ? Or from what text of Scripture can they deduce that practice of their's, which consists in a declaration, by any member of the congregation when assembled, testifying, at the conclusion of a ser- mon, to its truth, and the spiritual endowments of the Preachers ? The only answer which can possibly be returned to these queries is — that the practices allud- ed to are not forbidden in Scripture, and are in them- selves considered useful by the members of the Bap- tist denomination. Such is exactly the argument which may be deduced from the supposed silence of Scripture regarding the baptism of Infants. And yet the Antipa^dobaptists would avail themselves of its hi- fcrence when it suited their purposes, and with great confidence deny its api)licability to the matter which is under consideration. This is a sort of inconsisten- cy, which can be only attributable to that spirit of par- I APPLICATION OF THE CHRISTIAN ATONEMENT. 127 tizansliip Avliicli is the natural result of their i)rinri- pies, and ^hich severely tasks the charitable senti- ments of those who differ from them. It first ])ro- inotes self-deception, and next excites a desire to de- ceive others. All this reasoning, however, is grounded on the sup- position, that the terms — " all nations," " all the fami- lies of the earth" — do not include infants; a supposi- tion which can by no means be satisfactorily proved on any canon of just criticism. We perceive, there- fore, that the silence of the sacred penman respecting a prohibition to bai)tizc infants, has considerable force evox? on the practical admission of the Baptists them- selves, and that it will be impossible for them to evade that force, without relinquishing many practical ob- servances which distinguish their Church from all other denominations. Now the inference that I would deduce from the whole is this : the Apostles were brought up and instructed in the Jewish religion, and were therefore perfectly familiar with the practice of adniitting in- fants as parties to the si)iritual covenant on which their religion was founded. They received no com- mands from their Heavenly Master to observe a differ- ent rule, under the new dispensation, in the case of in- fants. We incontrovertibly infer, therefore, that no different rule was observed: more especially since, as we have seen, the universal applicability of the christian atonement leads us to the same conclusion. .ii . !l 128 TREATISE ON BAPTISM. 8ECTI0iN 4. THE POWER DELEGATED TO THE APOSTLES BY CHRIST. This is a Scripture ground for infant baptism, whicJi is not commonly noticed by Pa'dol)aptist writers : al- though in my judgment it can be made to appear a very strong one. In the tenth chapter of St. Matthew's gospel, we find a detailed account of the mission of the twelve Apos- tles ; of the nature and extent of their authority ; and of the object for which they were sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. They were instructed as to the manner in which they were to exercise their sacred functions : they were comforted against the persecu- tions and oi)})ositions which they might encounter : and they received a promise that their labours should be accompanied with Divine blessing. " Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I con- fess also before my father which is in heaven." Verse .32. " He that rcceiveth you receiveth me, and he that receivcth me, receiveth him that sent me." v. 40. Again, before our Saviours ascension into heaven, the same commission is renewed and rendered perpe- tual. John XX. 21. "Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you : as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. - 22. And when he had said this he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost : - 23. Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are re- mitted unto them ; and whosesoever sins ye retain they are retained." [RIST. which s : al- pear a ve find Apoa- T ; and t sheep :^ to the sacred jrsecu- •unter : should )soever 1 1 con- Verse he that D. leaven, lerpe- Feace sO send ■eathed Holy are re- retain THE POWER GIVEN TO THE APOSTLES. 12U Matt, xviii. 18. " Verily I sny unto you, whatsc -er ye shall hind on earth, shall he hound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall he loosed in heaven." These passage^• may he considered as the charter of the christian church. In the commission which they contain may he traced that j)o\ver or authority hy which the Apostles assumed the goverinnent of the Redeemer's tlock after his ascension into heaven ; and hy which they were eiuihled to add to its menil)ers such as should he saved. It is unnecessary for me to affirm that I make a dis- tinction hetween the miraculous jiowers which were conferred uj)on the Apostles, and the ordinary opera- tions of the Holy Spirit, that was to have heen " poured out on all flesh." The conunission entrusted to them was of a personal nature, — inca[)ahle of heing commu- nicated in its fullest extent to any of their successors r the ordinary operations of the spirit were of a perma- nent character, and will hy the promise of our Lord continue with his Church even unto the end of the world. The principle therefore is repudiated, on which the Church of Rome has raised her vast superstructure of temporal j)ower and autliority, on which she rests her impotent claim to work miracles even at the present day. The principle to he deduced is simply this. The Apostles, in their character as first Preachers of the Gospel, were not only enij)owercd to "teach and Baptize all nations," hut to do so in the manner which circum- stances or motives of convenieiice rendered most de- sirahle. The discretionary power with which tliey were solemnly invested hy their heavenly Instructor !f: It |i f lil i i.1 i;]0 TREATISE ON llAl'TISM. iloos certainly aiitlioriso tlii.s intoriirctatinn, and 5-up- f)ort the opinion, that tlu; ol)jo(tt to Ik; attained invaria- bly occupied a greater share of their attention, tlian the particnlar mode hy ^vllieh it ^vas to be accom- plished, ir men were taught the way of salvation, and obtained remission of their sins tbrough faith iu Jesus Christ, it seems to hav(; been a matter of minor consideration with them, whether the ordinary means of grace had been observed, or the desired end brought about in some other manner. Hence we per- <-eive that the sacred historians are less particular in describing the means of grace resorted to on every occasion : because no doubt the Apostles were endued with a power by which they were enabled, if necea- saiy, to dispense with all such observances, and to pro- nounce at once the pardon of the applicant or belie\'er. The account of tlic impotent man's cure at the beau- tiful gate of the Temple, by Peter and John, does not contain the remotest allusion to his having been bap- tized ;1 — yet he was a believer, and accompanied the Apostles, when they were threatened by the Saducees and tlie people.* In the same way the particular mode in which bai)tisni was administered to the 3000 on the day of Pentecost, is not clearly specified ; although the probability is in favour of sprinkling. Neither is there any mention of the ordinance having been ad- ministered at all to the 5000 who believed afterwards. It is merely said that " many of them which heard the word believed : and the number of the men was about five thousand."3 The same remark is applicable, in a greater or less degree, to every instance of the admi- nistration of the ordinance which we have examined. 1. Acts III. 1—11. 2. Ads IV. 14. 3. Acts iv. 4. ' I; ! .!■} THE POWER OIVE.V TO THE APOSTLES. 131 Yctwc know that the A|)osth\s wer(3 coinnmiulcd to baptizo ; uiid we huve in contsocincncc stronj; rcatJona to believe that they did baptize in every intitaiioe of be- lief and converssion, ahhouj^li tlie fact Ite omitted by the sacred penman. From tliis eircnmstajiee taken in connection witli tlie discretionary jjower, which seems to have been ^nven to tlie Aj)o.stlef<, one I'act I think is extremely ai)i)arent : — that tlie Apostles acted upon their commision in its most extensive Kignilica- tion ; that they baptized the ])arents to signiiy the re- mission of sins, and the children and dependants on the faith of their parents and masters. Hence the })ractice of the Aj)ostle8 is undoubtedly the best interi)retation which can be given to our &?a- viour's command. And if we fhid both the command and tlie practice to be general, as they certainly are, in their aj)plication to christians and their children, we Iiave a strong ground for believing that they are and ought to be equally general still : that the believing })a- rent and his child sJiould still be admitted to i)artici- pate in the blessings of the 15a])tisnial ordinance. The discretionary ])ower of the Apostles to act not only in this particular, but in every other instance which related to the government and extension of the church, according to circumstances, or the emergency of tlie case, may be made apparent from another pas- sage of the Acts. In the fifteenth chapter of that Book we read of a dissension having taken jilace concerning circum- cision. " Certain men which came dow n from Judea," to Autioch, "and taught the bretl ren," who were Gen- tiles, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Il ' 13-2 TREATISE 0.\ BAPTISM. Mosos, yn cannot ])o saved."! Paul and Barnahas were of a ditiorent opinion ; and the 8u!>ieet of dis- pute was in consocjuonce referriMl to a council of tlic Apostles and cid(!rs at Jerusaloni, wlio "came toge- ther for to consider of this matter." Peter, Paul, Bar- nabas, and James, Avere tlie ])rincipal speakers. At\e* some consnltatioij, tlie assembly concurred in t!ie opi- nion that a letter >'iould be sent to the brethren at Antioch, e.\i)ressive of tiieir views on the subject of discussion. That letter alHrmed that circumcision was unnecessary, and that th(i ])ersons who stated the contrary had no commandment from the Aj)ostles for doin^ so.'i And tints the nmtter appears to have been .settled, and the Gentiles were accordiiiirly ever alter received into the Church without submitting to the rite of circumcision. Now, if the Apostolical commission or authority was calculated to sustain the resi)onsibility of so important a decision, we may certainly conclude, without having any recourse to [)robabilitiesor conjectures, that it was ecpial to the settlement of all questions relative to the Baptismal ordinance. Indeed this inference is tacitly admitted by the Baptitsts themselves ; when they so strenuously refer to the example of the Apostles as a sufficient authority on the subject. But they do not conceive it possible that the Ai)ostles could have acted up to the full extentof this discretionary power,* because the meaning of the verb to baptize is to im- merge, and for other reasons of equal weight and im- portance. In this, they decidedly err : inasmuch as thov attach more consideration to the less important argument, than it justly its due, — altogether overlook- 1 . Acts XT. 1. 2. Act XV. '^3 2a. THE rowrn (.iven to tiif, aposilfs. V^] iiabaai 1" (lis- >r thu toge- I, Hiir- Atk. le opi- rcii at cct of irision ed the Ics lor been r aller to the ity was )ortaiit having it was to the tacitly ley so s as a icy do d have )ower ,• to m- id im- uch as )ortant erlook- iiii; the reasons which are crencrallv allowed to iiave the ciii«'f |»n'i»oinl('rance in the controversy. 1 liave ah'cadv siiown that the s.icrcd i)cnn»an lia;? been less particular in recordiiiir tlie nuxh^s and ac- conl|)anilnent^ of the Baptismal rite, than in dcscrih- hv^ the fact, that the nunihcr of hrlicvers had hocii aiif,nnent(Ml; and that in several instances we find ad- ditions iiiachMo tlie Church \\ if hout the reniotr'st re- ference to tliat ordinance : althouirh we have reason to bclicvo that it could not actually have hccn oniitt(,'d in anyone case. Here then is a conii)h'te proof tiiat the Apostles performed, in the actual discharL^e of tlu.'ir sacred fimctions, more duties than \\c fmd recorded in the Jlonk of the Acts, or it umy lie in the wliole of the New Testament ; and we are led to infer that, in tloinj? so, they acted u|)on the authority which their commisbion from their heavenly Master conveyed to them. Of course, those who saw them and conversetl with them, would have no doubt as to he method whicii they sanctioned by their practice, and adopted as a ride in t.' :natter of Baptism. It would have been received as of divine authoritj', and continued in tin; Church by their Successors in the ministry. Their words, their actions, their gestures, and mode of ])ro- ceeding, would all be watched with the utmost atten- tion, and quoted as authority among their disciples and followers in matters of ceremony, and discipline, and ritual observances. And no one who has attentivly studied the subject, can for a moment doubt tiiat the practices and customs of the primitive Christians, in points of faith and discipline, would have resulted from this source rather than from what St. Luke hixr? n I !'' i! f| Is; 'I' 104 TREATISE ON B.vrTI.'^M. writtPii in tlin Arts oftliL' A|)ostlrs. What wo sonrcli fi)r ill various |)assa;;('s ol'tlu! San-cd Volume, \\ivy rei'oivoil and know froin llu; li|).s of lMs|»iratiiMi. Ifciiro tlic iinportaiicc; wliich all writers attarli to tli(! rcli^^ioU"! obscrvan(M3S ol' tlio lirst convortH to thn Ciospcl, and lionco tln5 \V('i;,'lit of tlio ar^j^uiuciit (Icdueiblo IVom this source in favour of Infant llajitism. Should any one th(;rcforo Im; disposed to (piostion tho ai)pli(!al)ility of our Saviour's connnission in Matt. xxviii. 1!) — to tho caso of Infants — and wo havo siiown that there is no ground for doubting' that apj)li- cability — he niay perceive sufficitMit reason in their ;(c- ncral authority,and the mode in which it was exercised, for believing that they baptized Infants. For Infant Baptism, beyond all controversy, was administered by the immediate successors of the Apostles in the ini- liistry, as will bo sulliciently i)roved, when wo como to trctt of that branch of evidence ; and wc can- not conceive a more direct method by which they could have learned the doctrine and the practice, than the unwritten instructions of our Lord's followers. — In any caso the practice of the A[)Oatles' successors is of much importance in this matter ; and when it can be so naturally traced to the instructions of the Apostles themselves, it will bo admitted to have a still greater preponderance. Having thus shown the Apostolical authority, in con- nection with the practice of the primitive Christians, to be a Scriptural ground for Infant Baptism, I will con- clude this section by an enumeration of the argu- ments contained in the Chapler, of which it forms a part. "1 •ell for iM.'iveil tlio I, (Uid >il tills jostion 1 Matt. llHVO icirgc- IiiiiiTit >reil hy lie mi- B comn c:ui- h thoy c, tlian vers. — lessors hen it of the lave a in con- ans, to 1 con- argu- rtns q. THE POWER (iIVEN TO THE APOSTLES i; K> I. Tlic first Scriptural ^rround for Infant najitisiin is contaiiuMi in tlir (-(rtaintv that ail men nrr coiictuvril and horn in sin, and that no one can <'nter into the kin;:doni of heaven, except he he horn a;:ain of water and of the IIoIn (ilio>t : hence tiu; Salvation of chil- dren who die nid)npti/.( d is douhtfni. ii. The Law of Moses wns a sluulow of ^ood thin<;s to COMIC, — in other Avords, a type or r«'presentalion of the (jospel disiMMisation. lUit the J^uw of Moses per- mitted Jniant Church inernhership. Therefore the Christian Church, heing the reality or thing signified, will scripturally permit the same thing. 3. The universal applieahility of the Chri.>tiun atonement Christ died for all : no exception is made in the case of lidants. Iniants therefore are Oligihle to a participation in the henefits of his death and passion. Jiut these benefits cannot he personally applied without baj)tism. Infants therefore ought to be baptized. 4. The power delegated by Christ to the Apostles was of a discretionary nature. It was exercised in teaching, and tiuthorizitig their successors in the mi- nistry, among other things, to baptize Infants. There- fore Infant Baptism has the sanction of Divine au- thority. All this kind of evidence the Baptist writers get rid of by stoutly maintaining that the Jewish Church is not the Christian Church, and that the bringing in of a new and a more perlect administration effected a eomjdetc change in every thing. But this they can no more i)rove, on Scriptural grounds, than they can convince a rational n;i.n, A\itli all his senses about him, that he is not the &an.e perton iiov ihul he \\ as ^0 iHi 13() TREATISE ON BAPTISM- years ago ; or that the tall tree, which proudly waves its branches hi the breeze, has not grown out of the slender slip that was planted some thirty years since. Christianity has followed the Jewish dispen- sation, as naturally as manhood follows childhood, and a tree grows from a i)lant. So close is the connec- tion between these difllrcnt dispeusations of God to man. i I i: CHAPTER IV. SCRIPTURE EVIDENCE CONTINUED. PARTICULAR TEXTS IN FAVOUR OF INFANT BAPTISM. SECTION 1. Jolm III. 5. '• Vorily, verily I say unto ihec, Except a man be born of water and of the S[)irit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." There are two expressions in tliis verse which re- quire some explanation, before proceeding to shew the manner in which it bears on tlie point in hand : the fii'st is "man," and the second "the kingdom of God." In the original, the term used for the former oi" these expressions, is tav ng /nt; ytwyjdtj, &c. " Except one be born, &c."— being more general in its applica- tion than one would be led to imagine, from our Eng- lish version. Bearing this fact in mind, we shall see sufficient reason for believing that this text is not only applicable to the case of Infants, but, from the nature of their situation, must actually include them in its For if our Saviour meant that the new th spoken of in this passage could take place only the case of adults, he would have certainly ernnlov- some ex-prcssion which meaning. '3 ight load us to })crceive 138 TREATISE ON* BAPTIBM. WA m U' li .i •'.: ■ i I (ho distinction; he would have jnlbrmed us of some (•urt.'iiii sign or Jiiark, l)y wliich we might distinguisli the line of demarkatioii between regeneration in In- fants, and that in grown-up persons ; and, as in other parts of tlie New Testament, would have referred to the particular individuals whom he might have had in view. But iu reading the whole of this chapter, we find no such distinction made. Our Lord's intention api)eara to liave heen, to explain to Nicodemus the spiritual nature of the Christian dispensation, and to inculcate the ne- cessity of a new birth of "water and of the Holy Ghost," as a means by which the Imman race might become i)artakcrs of the blessings promised under that dispensation. There is no mention of Infants or adults : and one may surmise, that it would test the skill and dexterity of the nicest criticism, to discover any clue which might lead the reader to make a par- tial or particular application of our Saviour's words. — They must therefare be taken in a general sense ; and in this sense will include infants as well as persons of all ages, " Except one be born again," is an expression which applies to the new born babe, with the same propriety with which our Lord applied it to the He- brew Rabbi. The other expression to be noticed in this text, is — '' the kingdom of God." These w ords are sometimes used to denote the Church of Christ on earth, as in Luke X. 9, " The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you ;" Matt. in. 2, " Re[)ent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand ;" and Matt. x. 7, "And as ye go preach, saying, the kingdom of heaven is at hand."^ — In these, and several other pa^^sagcs of the same na- ture, the sacred writers evidently mean the dispensa- 1 I TEXTS IN FAVOUR OF INFANT IJArTIirM. IGO 1 '■} tioii of tlic Gospel, — in otlior words, tlic CJiurcli of Christ on earth. Sometimes, however, the exi)res&«ion of which we are s])eakin«r, means the " kingdom of God," or the Cliurch triumphant in lieaven. In this sense it must be understood in Luke xiii. 28, 29, where it is said, that at the day of Judgment, tlioso who should be condenmed to depart from the Divine presence as workers of iniquity, should see Alu-aham, and Isaac, and Jacob, "and all the pro]>hets in the kingdom of God, and tliey themselves thrust out" — and " that many should come from the east and from the west, and from the north and from the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God^ The A[)ostle, sj)eaking of the resurection from the dead, attaches tlie same meaning to this expression, i. Cor. xv. 20. " Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God ;" again, speaking of several sorts of siimers, he says, they shall not " inherit the kingdom of God" — Gal. v. 21*. P^inally, in this sense of the words, the Discii)les seem to have understood our Saviour in Luke xviii. 24, 25, 2G. He had said — "how hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God ?" — and " it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." And they that heard it said — "who then can be saved ?" The expression " the kingdom of God,'* is therefore used in Scripture, sometimes to denote the Church of Christ on earth, and sometimes the Church trium- I)hantin heaven. Tliis double meaning is, if wo con- sider a little, extremely ap])ropriatc. J 'or the Church on earth is not difterent in kind from that in heaven, but in degree. The one is the ciUrancc to the other ■ ; I I I ■■ I 140 TREATISE ON BAPTISM. ' r li' the spiritual enjoyments of tlic one are calculated to give lis a foretaste, however imperfect, of those more complete and true pleasures, wliich the righteous shall enjoy in the presence of God forever. Both arc i)arts of the same building : so that, as under the Law the en- trance to the Holy of Holies lay through the courts and body of the Temple, the road of the Christian towards J 'is place of everlasting rest, passes through the courts and body of the Church on earth, and leads to the holy place in heaven. Let us now enquire in which of these meanings it is used in the text : but in order to this it will be ne- cessary to make a few remarks on the term " born of the Si)irit." This expression appears, in the general opinion of commentators, to be j)ut for the cleansing and sanctify- ing our natures from the pollution of sin, by the ope- ration of the Holy Si)irit of God. It is equivalent to these words of the Apo;jile — " he that is in Christ, is anew creature" — ii. Cor. v. 17.: "we are his work- manship created in Christ Jesus unto good works" — Eph. 11. 10 : " And be renewed in the Spirit of your mind" — E{)h. iv. 23. Our nature must be changed ; changed not in its essential constitution, but in its pre- vailing tendency and inclination. It must be changed trom bad to good, from sinful to holy: it must be con- secrated to God, through the influence of his Spirit, — disposed to live to him, to honour, to praise, and to acknowledge him, as the Creator and preserver of all things. Now this thorough change of heart and mind, is commonly represented in other parts of Scrip- ture as necessary to our final and consummate hap- piness : this change is meant when it is said — " with- TEXTS IX FAVOUR OF INFANT BAPTISM. 141 i. ) out holiness no man shall sec God ;" or — " perfect- ing holiness in the fear of God." — ii. Cor. vn. 1. The heing horn of the Spirit, then, means that cleansing and i)urilication of our nattu-e from the pollu- tion of sin, and that change of heart and mind, which it is the ohject of the Christian Church to effect on earth, and which prepares tlic redeemed soul for its entrance into heaven. In other words, it means all the duties and ohservances of the Christian life. And, it is said, in the text under eonsideration, that the new birth by the Sjurit, or the effects of Christianity on the heart, must take p'laee liefore entrance into the " king- dom of God," can be obtained. The exi)ression "tnc kingdom of God," must therefore mean, in this pas- sage, the inheritance of the faithful in heaven. For it "would be absurd to say that the end or object to be ac- complished by the institution of the Christian Church, must be brought alxnit before any one can enter into- that Church. Were we to interpret the passage so, the Church on earth woidd be altogether unnecessary. — We are to understand therefore our Saviour as saying to Nicodemus — Except one be born of water and ot" the Spirit, by having his heart purified, and his mind and affections exalted by the means of grace and hopes of glory, " lie cannot enter into the kingdom of God," in heaven. We are now ready to perceive the testimony which this text affords us in favour of Infant Bap- tism. That the expression " born of water," means the ordinance of Baptisn), is conceded by the great ma- jority of commentators, although it has been doubt- ed by a few, who wished to evade the force of this .1 r • ii m- J12 TREATISE ON BAPTISM. t€Xt : it is therefore unnecessary to ■waste time ii1 proving it. " Except one be born of water" — tliat is bajnized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the IIolv Ghost, — "he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." We have ah'eady seen that the sal- vability of infants, wlio die nnbai)tized in a diristiari country, may be considered doubtful. Tliis passage, according to the view whicii lias been taken of it, di- rectly tends to confirm that doubt, and to prove the importance of the Apostle's well kIlo^^n exclamation : "How shall we escape if Ave neglect so great salva- tion r"—! Feb. ii. 3. Upon the direct question of the salvation of infants, who die unbaptized, I would of course hesitate to pro- nounce any decided opinion beyond what our Liturgy affirms on the subject. It is there asserted that those infants who die after baj)tisin, " before they commit actual sin, arc undoubtedly saved." But our church expresses no oi)inion Avith regard to the case of those who are called hence hefort participation in the bajw tismal ordinance ; although her anxiety on the subject, arising, one would imagine, from the natural doubt above stated, may be clearly inferred from her having provided an oflice for baptism in the case of sickness, which may be used in private houses. The mercy of God, independently of the prescribed means of grace,' is, as a matter of course, applicable to all, and suffici- ent for ensuring their salvation : and we have no rea- son for believing that infants form an exception in the? ai)plication of this gracious attribute of our heavenly father. But w hen it is exj)re«sly said, that " except one be born of water he cannot enter into the king- dom of God," wc ouirht surelv to consider well, and be TEXTS IN FAVOUR OF l.VFANT U^PTISM. 14a ime ii1 -tliat !S he Son, nto the the sal- hristiari Kissage, of it, (U- ove the mat ion : .t salva- infants, ? topro- Liturgy at those commit cliureh of those the bajw subject, I doubt r having ickness, nerev of »f grace," [} suffici- ! no rca- )n in the? leavenly " except le king- 1, and be prppai'ed to boar the rcsj)onsibility, if wo deliberately deny to infants the s[)iritual benetits that may result from tlie " laver of regeneration." For in the words of th7. There were variousopinious upon this pointatthe time of ihe reformation, for a detailed account of which see Laic- rencc' Bamptun Lecture, for 1804, p O'-i, &J, '2G'2 — ■). 1 Chap, iiT. Sec, 4. lU TREATISE ON BAPTISM. •i .,.. i I I ji *lio.sn words— "And it shall como to pass aftcrwarda that I will pour out my S[)irit upon all flesh ; and your Soils and your dau^diters shall proi)hccy, your old men shall drcani dreams, vour vounjr men shall sec visions: and also upon the servants and handmaids in Those days \\ill I pom- out iny Spirit." — Chapter ii. 28. 2D. The Apostle evidently made mention of this pro- mise, as an ar^nunent to indn-^o his I iarvrs to hccomc convert to the Christian relii ■> n , ssuring them thai "all that are afar off, even as . . .; v >. the Lord God should call," nore encouraged tu look ; 'ts fulfilment as the means of salvation, through the (jrosi)cl which he preached unto them. It had heen thought by ma- ny of the Jewish converts that salvation was to be confined exclusively to the subjects of their nation, and tliat the Gentiles, as under the Law, were to be denied admission to the number of the Faithful. — Ilencc wc find them expressing their astonishment, because the Gentiles were included in the promise of salvation : — "And they of the circumcision, which be- lieved, were astonished, as many as came with Peter because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost." — Acts x. 45. But the Apos- tle expressly told them, in the words under consider- ation, that the promise of obtaming all the privileges and benefits of the Christian covenant was given not only to the Jews and their children, but to all nations and peo})le, among whom divine Providence had pro- claimed the terms of eternal salvation through Christ. In this way that other prophecy would be fulfilled, which declared that the knowledge of the Lord should cover the earth, even as the waters cover the face of the deep* TEVTSI.X FAVOUR OF INFANT RAPTI^M. iir> 1 t Bearing in mind this gf rioral viow of ilie Apostle's meaning, let ns consider the; words — ''/o j/oii and to fjGin cnildreri^ — in reference to ilie (dtligatioli which the hiw of iMoses iinposed on the Ciiihh-en of Israel, to continue its rites and to teach itJi doctrines to their ieniotest de.sceiuUnits. And tliis will at ouog lead ns to the consideration of the Helf-i)reserving ])Ower— -if I may so express it — which was i)rovided hy special (Miactinents in the constitution of the Jewish Church and Polity, la Deut. VI. (I, 7, we read as follows — "And these words •which I coimnajid thee this day shall bo in thine heart; and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy cliildren, and shalt talk oi' them when thou sittest in ihine house, and when thou w.alkest hy the way, and when thou liest down and when thou risest up." — llencc it was a duty incmnbent u])on every true Isra- elite to contribute towards the continuance of the Po- lity of his Church and nation among the generations who should come afVer. There is no exception men-- tioned. All who were Imrn under the jurisdiction of the Hebrew Commonwx'alth, and had received the mark or sign of the Covenant which God made with Abraham, were enjoined to observe this command, regarding the mstruction of tlicir children and grandchildren in the rites and ceremonies of their religion. This observance, conjoined w^ith the rite of circumcision, was a means, under Providence, of preserving their faith to the re- motest generations, and of ensuring it a continuance amongst their remotest descendants. The Psalmist too, refers, in a strain of exalted piety, to the obliga- tion here inculcated : " We will not hide them from iheir children, shewing to the generation to come the A> 146 1KEAT!SE ON BAPTISM. ;. . I Ui i' praises ol* tho Lord, and Ins streni»tli and Ills wond(5r- ful works tliat ho Initli done. For ho estuhhslied a teatmiony in Jacob, and ai)pointed a hiw in Israel, which he commaniUid our Fathers, tliat they sliould make them known to their children: that the genera- tion to come might know them, even the children which should be born ; who should arise and declare them to their children. That they might set their hope in God, and not Ibrget the works of God, but keep his commandments." — Ps. lxxviii. 4 — 7. No observation of mine could make this obligation plainer: it was well understood by the Jews them- selves, and considered by their prophets of paramount importance. Indeed the cause of the various apostacies which are recorded in the history of the chosen pco])le, is attributed to the neglect of this obligation, and to the indifference, with respect to the ordi»^.ances of Jeho- vah, which want of instruction, and its constant attend- ant ignorance, had engendered in the hearts of the rising generation. " Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like unto the neck of their Fathers, that did not believe in the Lord then* God." — I. King's xvii. 14. The same complaint is repeated by Ezekiel and Jeremiah in various forms of expression : but all tending to shew that the different shapes in which, from time to time, apostacy made its appearance, arose chiefly from the negligence or in- difference of the fathers respecting the Spiritual edi- fication of their children. And to prevent the too frequent occurrence of such desertion from the wor- ship of the true God, Solomon assured his subjects, that if " they trained up their children in the way they •* I •r*,XTS IN FAVOUR OF INFANT nAPTISM. 14'i l(3r- scl a rucl, ould lera- drcn clare their 1, but No ration them- nount vvliich )le, is to the I Jeho- .ttend- of the Id not eck of their aint is >rms of tferent Kide its or in- al edi- he too e wor- Libjects, ay they should go, whon they were old, tlicy would not de- part from it." Here then is the solf-pros(«rving power which divine providence had estahlislicd for the continuance of the Jewish Church and the faith of Abraham until the times of Messiaii. One of its fundamental enact- ments was a law obli^^irif,' all who shonhl l)e born within the Hebrew jurisdiction, to inculcate on the minds of the rising generation its various forms and ceremonies, and doctrines and events, on which they were founded. Now the Christian dispensation, be- ing the reality of what was shadowed forth by the Jewish ceremonial, will, as a matter of course, possess a similar claim on those, to whom the glad tidings of salvation have been made known. Its self pre- serving power must arise from similar obligations on the parent to instruct his child in the doctrines and practice of the Christian faith. Should further evidence be thought requisite to confirm this deduction, reference may be made to our Lord's command to the Apostles to teach all nations, and to the words under consideration. "The pro- mise is to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord should call." The ])romise thus given seems to lay an obligation on all, to whom it should be made known, to avail themselves of its benefitvS, and to transmit, in all their purity and simplicity, its various rites and ceremonies to their descendants. At least if they do not give eai- themselves, nor allow their children to come unto Christ, they will sulyect them- selves to a charge of ingratitude. " Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold and said. It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to i I ; I I ' II- TREATISE OV RArTr.<»M. (. i t yoti : l)Hl pooiiipr yo put it froiii you, and jiid^P yonr- *i(!lvo.s niiwortliy of rvcrlastiii;.' lil'c, lo, we turn to tlio Ciontilrs." — Acts xni. Id. St. IV-tn's MS!«i('rti»)n provos the same t]rm<<:: — "And lie ronnnnndt'd us to prracit unto tlio people, and to tostily that it wu"' lie which WiiH ordainrd of d'od to he tlie judge of jpiii'k and dead."— Acts x. 4'2. Fronitiiese and surli ])assairesuf^ may f)erroivo that tlic scdt-proi^ervin;,' ])ou('r, wliirli Providence has or- dained for the transiuiission of th'* (lospcl, and I'or the cnhu'gement ol' the Messiah's kinccomc partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ. The very fact, — the bare cirumstance, that Christianity is preached in the land, lays a direct obli«^ation on all the inhabitants, not only to use the means of grace themselves, but to extend them to their children. The Providence of God has thus put salvation w ithin their reach ; and surely they cannot disregard the calls of that Provi- dence, nor neglect its warnings, without manifest guilt. If they believe the Gospel they must believe that it is for a perpetual covenant : " Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." That children therefore be spiritually nurtured through the appoijited means of grace, is a truth, which forms one of the j)illars of the constitution of the Christian Church : it is the fonnd:it!on, on which, in each succeeding generation, the discijdes of Christ build, in a great measure, their faith and practice. ;; I f ] TF,XTS IN FAVOIR OK INFANT BAI'TISM. 11!) onr- I tlio ovrs ciu'b lia'h and ? that IS or- )r tlic hlijfa- so tlic en in not a )r will of tho fact, — led in itantp, but to ice of and rovi- anifest 3clieve hi with That irougli which of the ich, in Christ ractice. It if, morrovor, ronjrciiinl to tlic diclntt'H of tho na- tural roiistitutjou of niiiii, and tiu; <;(ii(>ral ti'iidriicy of tli(; luiiiian lirnrt. For tell a child that it is |u>r- fcctly optional with liiiu to he a niciidH'r of the Kc- dcc'iMcr's ilock, it is ten to one wlu'thcr ho \> ill over join it at ail. Hero then the d.'chiralion of the Apostle, respect- ing the children's share ol* the promise, resolves it- self into the i'ollouin;,' ({uestion : "Js tho Church of Christ a voluntary association? — or is it not? hi other words — can men with impunity r<'fuse to listen to tho terms of salvation, when it is within their power and their reaeh to take advantage of the hea- venly hoon ? 3h»st certainly they cjuinot. The ever- Jastintian world, for instance, once adopt this principle as a fundamental tenet of their discipline, — let them act in this particular, not as men born in Christian parts of the world, but as men who listened daily to the calls of salvation, and might with impunity refuse to be instructed, if they saw fit, — let them do all this, and one would not re- quire the gift of proj)hecy to foretell, that our Holy religion would soon be extinct in the world ; that its ordinances would be utterly despised, and its Sacra- ments trampled under foot. Such, most assuredly — at least so far as I am able to judge of the probable results of things — such would certainly be the con- sequence of the universal adoption of the very ' l!( I TEXTS IN FAVOUR OF IiNFANT BAPTISM. 151 principle on wliioli the Antipiedobaptists rear the superstructure of the social edilice of their Church. The natural inference from this reasoning is this : if the Baptists have thus erred with regard to a pri- mary principle of Church discipline, in order to ren- der their system consistent, the cause which rendered the adoption of this error necess iry, must also be er- roneous or opposed to Scripture. The cause in question is the principle of adult baptism in every case : leading to such results it must undoubtedly be the effect of an erroneous supposition regarding the things of God. SECTION 3. Mark X. 13, 14. "And they brought young chil dren unto him that he should touch them., and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it he was much displeased, and said unto them, sufler the little children to come unto me and forbid them not : for of such is the kingdom of God." The transaction recorded in these verses lias been noticed by St. Matthew and St. Luke; but in the main particulars with no variation. The former states that the intention of the parents of these children in bringing them to Christ wa*», that " he should put his liands upon them and praif^ — IMatt. xix. 13. — and the latter informs us that they were "Infants". — Luke xvni. 15. It is very evident, from these pas lages of Scripture, that the persons who thus brought their children to J K ■ } M' J' ^ ir>-2 TREATISE ON BAPTISM. liie Saviour, were (lis('ij)los, or tliosc wiio l)clie\ od in his divine mission and])o\V(!rto work miracles, and to confer blcssinirs. Tiioy iiad imdoubtediv lieard of his fume, and conversed with many tJiat e\])erienced the good effects of liis sojourn amon.ir the sons of men: for he went about doing good. Indeed there is notliing in the sacred narrative that mihtates against the suppo- sition that they had been admitted to the benefits and privileges of liis earthly kingdom, by JJaptism, and were among the number of those who were baptized lny his ilisciplesatyEnon. Should this su])position be granted, there will appear to be but littl'* difhculty in account- ing for their motives in bringing their children to Christ, "that he should touch tliem." It will at once be sufiiciently evident that their wisli was to afford an opportunity to their offspring of benefitting their spiritual interests, by those means which they them- selves found so effectual in purifying their hearts, and raising their thoughts and asi)irations towards heaven. Be this as it may : it is not intended to j)roceed on mere supposition ; more esi)ecialh' as a surer founda- tion for argument may be discovered in the passage under consideration. It was unusual, it ap])cars, for persons to bring their children to Christ after the manner described above: fortius disciples rebuked those that brought them," under the impression, no doubt, that they were acting in accordance with his wishes. But Jesus was much disi)leased at thein, for offering any obsta- cle to the wishes of those who might come to him; and reproved their interference in terms, which are at once expressive and significant, and which aflbrd TEXTS ry FAVOUR OF INFANT BAPTISM. 153 mug 1 1 •ibcd 1 ught vere esu3 )sta- J ini ; e at lord ns a singularly clear evidence in favour of Infant Baptism. To perceive tlie manner in which they bear refer- ence to this ordinance, it will be necessary for us to ascertain, in the first place, the meaning of the terms ^^comins: to Christ,''^ and of— "/or of such is the kingdom ofheaveny The former of these modes of phraseology can be best explained, by reference to other passages where it is used. Our Saviour uses it in Matt. xi. 28. — " Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy la- den, and I will give you rest:" evidently inviting- those who felt the burden of their sins lying heavy upon them, to come to him and receive the benefits and blessings of that salvation which he came to preach in the world. Again the same phrase^ occurs in John v. 40. — " And ye will not come to me that yo might have life :" where it manifestly bears the same meaning. And in Luke xiv. 26. we read " If any man come to me, and hate not his father Sec, he cannot be my disciple." So likewise in John vii. 37, " If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink." In all these passages, and many more which might be i)ro- duced to the same effect, the verb cowe implies an ap- proach to Christ, with a view to particii)ate in the blessings of human redemjition. It is used in a me- taphorical meaning, signifying the action and conse- quence of drawing near to the Redeemer. Like many other terms and modes of expression, that occur in every ]>age of Scri])ture, it is used in reference to tho operations of the human mind, and may be under- stood to describe the ])articular action, which it is ne- cessarv for the intcUertual lacultics to undergo, ii. entering u\)ou the disci]»lcshi]) of the Gos^ptl. 154 TREATISE ON BAPTISM". ill- IB i ■I !i. 'i When our Saviour therefore said "Suffer httlc children to come unto me and forbid them not," ne meant to make known to his disciples his desire that little children might be permitted to participate in the privileges and blessings of that redemption, which he came to purchase for the whole world ; and that it would be an act deserving of rebuke if any person attempted to prevent them from the enjoyment of these blessings and privileges. This is the evident meaning of the term, sanctioned by other passages of holy writ : and they are quite sufiicient to convince every rational person of the good will of our Saviour to- wards those and all such Infants. For "he took them up in liis arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed thcm."l The other phrase to be explained is — " for of such is the kingdom of God." I have on a former occasion so fully explained the scriptural meaning which is commonly attached to the words "the kingdom of God," tluit it will be un- necessary for me at present to enter into detail. They mean sometimes the Church of Christ on earth ; some- times the Church triumphant in heav * In which of these meanings they may In) take.! in thj passage imder consideration, appears to be a matter of indif- ference : because the Church on earth is only the be- ginning or commencment of the Church in heaven: so that the one infallibly leads to the other. Let ua suppose, however, with a view of attaching to them a precise meaning, that they refer here to the Church militant on earth, or that state in which men look for jBfilration through Christ. 1 , IJupltimal Office. : I- lEXTS IN FAVOUR OF INFANT BAPTISM. « ■>' >• Now, wlien our Saviour declared that those infants %vho had been broiiglit to liiin, were fit to belon<^ to the "kingdom of God," he meant evidently that they might become members of his visible Church on earth. " Of such is the kingdom of God." In other words, the kingdom or Church which he came to es- tablish, was designed for and iniglit include the children upon whom he Jiad then laid his hands. It is implied that they must be suftbred to come into a condition to enjoy the blessings and benefits of that kingdom, — they must be sutfered to be engaged in the duties which are incumbent upon, and expected from, the subjects of that spiritual community. Moreover the privilege is not conlined to the chil- dren here mentioned: the phrase "of such," renders its application general. Our Saviour did not say ' of these" is the kingdom of God, but " of such," mean- ing children of the same age, and under the same circumstances, in any })art of the world. The origi- nal word bears this extended signification ; and no other will answer the particulars of the context. Our Lord therefore requested his disciples to suf- fer little children, or Infants, to become partakers of the blessings belonging to the subjects of his king- dom ; thus pronouncing them in every way qualified to be admitted as members of his Church. But to this the Baptists object : " true, these chil- dren were brought to Christ, but he did not baptize them." We do not say that he did baptize them; because the Scriptures afford us no authority for such an assertion. But we insist, and the most celebrated commentators agree with us — we insist that in these words our Saviour pronounced Lifants to be perfectly • I f I'M i 1;jG TREATISE ON BAPTISM. fjiialifiod to become nionibors of liis Clir.rcli. Their pai)ability or acknouiedf^ed (iiialirication for admis- sion into tlie congregation of Christ's flock, is all tho inference I would wish to make from this text. And I conceive that the sense of Scripture is so clearly in favour of such inference, that no one who is uninflu- enced by i)arty feeling', would venture to contro- vert it. Here therefore infants are ])ronounced capable of Church membership. In a text which I have already examined — John in. 5 — it is expressly said " Except one be born of water and of the Sj>irit, he cannot see the kingdom of God." This therefore is the estab- lished mode of coniinar to him — by the water of Baj)- tism. Ifo has himself j)rescril)cd the manner in which people should come to his kingdom ; and the words of the command leave us no room to surmise that any other mode would l)c Scriptm-al. Compare these two texts tlierefore : in the one our Lor ' states and explains the mode f admission; in the other he com- mands children to be admitted. The result will un- doubtedly amount to a positive command to baptize Infants. I iiave seen no argument or gloss on the other side of the rpieslion which even pretends to re- fute this view of the subject. The reason, of course, is obvious. It is inn)o ^sible to And a refutation of it in the pages of insi)iration. Tho Autipa^dobaptist writers, as already noticed, get over the text under consideration, by simply stat- ing that " Christ did not ba})tize these children.*'— May I be permitted to ofter a remark or two on this .assertion ? 1 TEXTS l.\ FAVOUR OF INFANT BAPTISM. 157 to re- ;ourse, of it 31i. this J It is very true our Saviour did not perform tlio cere- mony or ordinance of B.qjtisin ovor tlio^e children, indeed ho ba])tized none. Ilur are we to infer tiiat they were still unbaptized when they left his pre- sence? Are we to believe that his disciples did not admit them, in the usual way, anionj^ their own body ? There is nothing in the passage under consideration, or in the parallel passages in ,Matthe>v and Luke, that will support us in either ot'thesc inferences. Are we to believe then that these infants had been previously bap- tized, and were among the nund>er of those who swelled the multitude of Christ's di^^ciples, and made it greater than that of Johifs followers? This in- ference is not at all improbable, for the ibllowing reasons : 1. They were brought to Christ in order to be tonch- edf or as St. Matthew expresses it, that "he might lay his hands upon them." 2. In every passage of the New Testament, where Uie ceremony of the laying on of hands is recorded, bai)tism appears to have been previously athninistered. Hence we have reason to suppose that they liad for- merly been baptized. And this fully accounts for any objection which the disciples otfer to their second ap- proach to the Savioin*. Further, the omission of baptism in tliis instance is DO argument against the ])rinciple laid down in tiie precept. For even sUjiposing that our Saviour had not only favourably received these infants but actually bap- tized them, we should have merely an example of baptism ; we sliould merely see exemplitied by liis ac- tions, what we know" to be the ])rescribed mide for entering into liis kingdom. But every example implies 158 TREATISE OX BAPTIS>r. H fi a previous command, — implies a prineiplo, which is previoiinly woli known and understood. Consequent- ly the meanin;^ of the jirecept oreommtind, is of viore authority than the exHn)ple in which its fulfihnent is recorded. Hence, as we have discovered that the texts which are comi)ared above, amount to a i)ositive com- mand for the haptizin<( of* infants, tlie omission of the historian in recordin*^ the act of baptism, is no argu- mc' whatever agahist tlie i)rinciplc whicli this com- mand imi)lies. Again, tlic Antiiifudobajitist writers infer from the text wiiich we have been examining, not that infants may be baptized, but that they may be saved in case of their dying without it. Now, in the wiiolc range of the arguments by which these writers endeavour to maintain their principal tenets, there is not perhaps a weaker specimen than this. Let us just sec how it will stand the test of scripture. In the Epistle to the Ephesians — chap. ii. 5 — the Apostle informs us, that grace is a means of salvation, "by gi'ace y- ai'e saved ;" and in the eighth verse of the same cuipter the affirmation is repeated more fully — '^ For by grace are ye saved through faith." — The meaning is, that the grace of God disjdayed in tlie advent and sufferings of his Son in the flesh, and in his willingness to accept of his perfect obedience as ail atorement for the sins of mankind, is a means of salvation to all who should believe hi the name of Christ. Now, it is admitted by ever^' one, that Infants are, in tlieir own persons, incapable of exercising an act of faith ; and that if they could not be baptized upon the faith of another, they would be incai)able of en- J TEXTS TN FAVOUR OF INFANT BAPTISM. 159 lich is qiicnt- if more iiciit is lie texts ,'c com- n of the o argu- lis com- Tom the ■ infants in case range of avour to icrhaps a )W it will I. 5— the lalvation, verse of led more faith."— )layed in esh, and (bedience a means name of Ifants are, lig an act zed upon lie of en- jojing the gram which flows through that channel. No passage of Scripture can be pointed out — at least, I never could discover any — by which it may be made to ni)pear that spiritual blessings may be prociu-ed otherwise than by following and using the means ai)pointed in Scripture lor that purpose. — And at present we are examining })assages of Scrip- ture, and intend to abide by the decision to which they lead us. Consequently it will fldl to the share of those, who assert that infants may be saved without baptism, to point out the manntr in which that is to be done. To say that we may leave them to th« mercy of a graci- ous God is not enough : the same thing may be ap- plied to all heathens and idolaters, and to all j)ersons in a Christian country who are impenitent, liut this will not satisfy the diligent enquirer in the j>rescnt in- stance, lie mn*?t have a surer foundation to builtl upon. And it remains with the Antiinctlobajjtists to point out that foundation, — to shew in what way sal- vation may be obtained, whilst, at tlie same time, the usual means of grace are slighted and neglected. Until they can sjiew this, — and 1 believe it to be im- possible for th<3m to sliew it — rational i)eoplc will be perfectly content with the belief, that " Bai)tism is a means of grace, and that their children, if they die in infancy, may be saved througli grace" — a conclusion which, I trust, will be admitted by every one, who will take the trouble of satisfying himself on the subject fi'oni the pages of inspiration. I IllO TREATI.«iE OX BAPTISE. 'f ,1 I 'I! ' t'i, ml ^KCTION 4. I. Cor. vn. 11. "For the iiiib('Iit!\iii|»('5irs tlint liis fpears to have been cnlbrced by divine authority, so long as the Jevv- isli peo]tlc remained together as a nation. • And after their return from the Babylonish ca})ti\ ity, we ihid their neglect of this in j miction recorded as an act of transgression against Jehovah. ''For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the liolv seed have mingh.'d themselves with the pco])lc of those lands : yea the hand of the ]u-inces and rulers have been chief in this trespass." — Ezra IX. 2. It is probable that the Corinthian Jews had tres])as- «cd, like their fcilicrs, this divine command, and, on R.3 IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // ^ !^. I 1.0 I.I hitM |2.5 |50 "^ ■■■ ■^ Uii 12.2 £? 144 ™^ H^ 1^ 12.0 m ■•25 III 1.4 16 ■* 6" ► Photographic Sciences Corporation 33 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 '^ •Sb^ a. 102 TREATISE OX BAPTIS-\r. tlicir roiivoislon to tin; (Miristinn rrli^qon, Jiad been foiciljly .■'inick with tluj ini|»ro|»ri«;ty ol' tlioir conduct. \V«3 may inter I'rom tlu; tenor of tlii^ Apostlo's answer, wliii'li is recorded in tin; (•li!i|>t<'r lioni wjiicji the wordri under consideration are selected, that their chief en- ([uiry, conveyed to him by letter, respected the subject ol' divorce in cases where tlie husband was a belie- ver, and the wile a heathen, aiul the reverse. They ni)parently w islicil to ascertain whelhcr the kw of the (jospel, lik(.' the law of INIoses, reciuired that the unberu'viuiT partiKU' should 1m) divorced, and thus ex- cluded by a Iwoad line of demarcation from polluting the members of the established Church? — Having been accustomed to live luider a dispensation which permitted a married i)air to sejjarate, tlR-y Avcre natu- rally led to this cufpiiry, both because they knew and understood that the (jJospel was the lullilment ()f the Law, and becaust; the subject involved, not only their their own spiritual interests, but those of their chil- dren. The answer of the Ai»o»tles is full and sa- tisfactory : — " If any brother hath a w ife that believcth not, and she is pleased to dwell with him, let him not })ut her away. And the woman which liuth an husband that believcth not, and if he be i)leased to dwell with lier, let her not leave him." Then follows the reason for which it would 1)C their interest to obey this injunction, and which is expressed in the words imder discussion. " For the unbelieving husband is sMuctified by the wife, and the md)elieving wife is sanctified by the husband." If it were not so; if the faith of the believing partner were not to])e admitted as a ground of sanctilication, lo the one who continued still in unbelief; then the IM TEXTS IN FAVOUR OF INFANT BAPTI^^M. 1(13 hcca idiict. iswor, vvordrf uf en- ubject belic- They tuw of lat the Ills ex- )liiiting Having which 3 uatu- ,cw aiul t of the ilv tlieir \i\r chil- and sa- iiot, and : put her iiul that /ith her, ason for junction, scussion. the >vifo, uibband." r partner titication, ; then the children that iiii^dit he Ixuii to a ])air tlius united would he "unclean." Jhit on the supi»ositit>u \\hich the Aposll(.''s wonls .seem to imply, — thai is, that the belief of the one (jualities the uidiclirf of the other, then in that case their children would he "holy." This is a most impc»rtant testimony in favour of In- fant baptism: inasnnich as it fully proves that the laith of tliei)arentsconsi(h'rably influences the sjtiritual con- dition of the children ; antl that it is accepted as a suf- ficient ans of IJaptism. To make this appear, it will be necessary for us to attend to the meaninj; of the several terms which the Apostle makes use of in the verse under consideration. The sens(3 ol'th<; first clause depends altogether u|)on the si<^nification of the word "sanciilied." Let us therefonMMiquire into the conunon iiua;iing of this Scriptural ajipi-llative. To be " sanctified," is used in the Old Testament to point out any thin^^ or ])ersoii that has been consecra- ted to the service of (iod. "Cod blessed tho seventli day and sanclitied it." — Cen. ii. -l " And Moses puri- fied the altar, and poureii. If (.'nee, avImmi flio Jews spoke of any individual aa Wixu'^ SitncUfud, tlipy meant that lie was ready, — that he was lully |)repared to olTer any act of devotion to the Lord liisGod ; they were auare that even under com- mon circunistane(,'s, jiersons mi^dit be occasionally dis- qualified from renderiMraise anil adoration to Jehovah. Inde(.'d their Law contiiiued a special enact- ment to this efi'ect. And thev knew that they could not he freed from this disposing the reverse, and drawing' a conscqc^nceiVoni thatsnp- position which appears to have been eontiary to aAVell known and acknowhul^^ed fact. Tliis j)rocess of rea- soninjf is called " Rcdudio ad (tbsiirdtitn" a demonstra- tion of the trnth by shewing the absurdity of a contra- ry or an opjiosite conclusion. The case is therefore as the Apostle says, with re«i,'ard to tho reciprocal in- fluence of the faith of the married pair ; tor if it be otherwise, — if this reciprocal influence did not aftect the condition of the unlMdieviiiff party, then the chil- dren were unclean. JJut the fact is they are holy : you know that they are lioly and act accordin