Why Believers
Should Be Baptised
1
AND
Catholicism
Exposed
•1. P* Robinson
Robert W. Woodruff
Library
Gift of
Randall K. Burkett
EMORY UNIVERSITY
Special Collections & Archives
REV. J. P. ROBINSON, A. M., D. D., LL. D.
WHY BELIEVERS
SHOULD BE BAPTISED
AND
CATHOLICISM EXPOSED
BY
J. P. ROBINSON, A. M., D. D., LL. D.,
LITTLE ROCK, ARK.
NASHVILLE, TENN.:
NATIONAL BAPTIST PUBLISHING BOARD.
1911.
PREFAGE.
In sending out this book to the public,
be it understood that I do it so as to in¬
form our ministers and others of some of
the Catholic doctrines, because it is a new
doctrine although old in its import. The
fact that the Catholics have not done very
much among the Negro people in this coun¬
try, until the last few years, and now they
are beginning to erect schools and church-
houses wherever they can, thus making
inroads upon us. Beware of these leeches
of Romanism.
Fraternally,
J. P. Robinson.
(im
INTRODUCTION.
It becomes my pleasant duty to offer the
readers of this book an introduction, both
to the book, "Why Believers Should
Bo Baptized—Catholicism Exposed," and
to the author, Rev. J. P. Robinson,
D. D., LL. D., of Little Rock, Ark.,
who is at this writing about fifty-three
years of age. Dr. Robinson, the author,
was born on a cotton plantation in Missis¬
sippi during the days of slavery, of slave
parents. Soon after the war, he attended
the public schools in the community, and
worked on a cotton farm. Being both stu¬
dious and apt, he soon became a public
school teacher himself. While teaching in
the public schools, he was converted, (bap¬
tized and became a member of the Halibur-
ton Baptist Church in 1879. He felt called
upon to preach the gospel. In this calling
he made his mark, becoming noted as an
earnest Bible student and gospel preacher.
INTRODUCTION.
His profound earnestness and pious life at¬
tracted wide-spread attention.
In 1880 Dr. Robinson moved to Arkansas,
and in 1887, when the First Baptist Church,
of Little Rock, Ark., was in search of a
preiacher he was selected as its pastor, and
from that day until this, covering a period
of twenty-six years, Dr. Robinson has
swayed' an influence in that city and state
as well as being one of the most profound
preachers and able pastors the South has
produced. The church has grown and
flourished under his leadership until it is
known throughout the length and1 breadth
of the country as one of the best disciplined,
ablest managed and most missionary enter¬
prising churches in the entire state.
Dr. Robinson, not being satisfied with his
common school education, took his place in
the class room among the young students
of Arkansas Baptist College, many of whom
were members of his church. Every spare
moment of his time from his busy pastorate
was given to his class studies until he fin¬
ished the curriculum, graduating with hon¬
ors at the head of his class with the degree
of Bachelor of Arts. In 1903 the State
INTRODUCTION.
University of Kentucky conferred on him
the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity,
and in 1910 the Bible School of Pennsyl¬
vania conferred the degree of Doctor of
Law. Dr. Robinson is not only known in
Arkansas, but throughout the country.
For fifteen consecutive years he has been
elected chairman of the Home Mission
Board of the National Baptist Convention,
and under his wise and executive manage¬
ment that Board has been alble to spread its
influence in doing missionary work to all
parts of the United States and to the Canal
Zone, Panama.
This little volume is the second book which
the author has produced. His friends and
acquaintances, who have heard him deliver
his able and forceful discources in both
state and national gatherings, have con¬
tinued to Ibeseech him to put them in book
form for the benefit of younger or less
fortunate ministers. He has complied with
this request by publishing this little book,
entitled "Sermons and Sermonettes."
When the question, "Why believers should
INTRODUCTION.
be baptized?" began to be discussed, Dr.
Robinson was called upon to discuss it on
several occasions. This argument made
such profound impression upon all who
heard him that he was asked to put thesa
discussions in book form. Again, when it
was known that Catholicism was making
inroads on the colored people, in Louisiana,
Mississippi and Arkansas, Dr. Robinson,
time and again, was called upon to expose
some of the catholic ideas which were cal¬
culated to mislead the people who were less
informed upon Bible doctrine.
As the writer has served the Home Mis¬
sion Board for fifteen years as its corre¬
sponding secretary, under the executive
management of Dr. J. P. Robinson as its
chairman, he feels it a great privilege to tes¬
tify to the ability, to the piety and to the
foresight of this great gospel preacher. His
councils, his advice, his cool, calm and execu¬
tive ability have proved to be the chief fac¬
tors in the Board's success for the last six¬
teen years.
Dr. Robin&on is known far and wide as
the landmark Baptist preacher of the de-
INTRODUCTION.
nomination. He believes not only in the
soundness of Bible doctrine, but he is a firm
believer that the Baptist church is the stand¬
ard of religious doctrine. His sermons, lec¬
tures and discourses, like those of Spurgeon
of England, are worth far more heard than
read. It is impossible in this brief sketch
to describe the profound impression that he
makes upon all congregations who have
heard him. He is an earnest student. He
has traveled extensively and studied contin¬
uously from his early days. He has a great
future awaiting him at a time when his ser¬
vices, or the services of a profound and logi¬
cal preacher, are greatly needed, both for
the race and denomination. This little book
should be widely circulated and carefully
read. We bespeak for it great good to the
readers.
R. H. BOYD.
EVIDENGES OF A RISING
RACE.
Text: "Arise and shine for thy light is
come. And the glory of the Lord is risen
upon thee." (Jer. 60:7.)
Two of the greatest characters of Biblical
prophecy were without a doubt Isaiah and
Jeremiah. They were men of great strength
of character and ability. They were espe¬
cially strong in their mental powers. Isaiah
was as strong, bold and fearless as a lion.
He did not fail to denounce the sins of his
people, and condemned them. Jeremiah
while he was a prophet of undaunted cour¬
age, you will notice sometime in his prophe¬
cy a tinge of lost faith in his words. Som&-
times it would look as if he lost all hope
and then again he would rise up and would
speak to them courageously. This is the
spirit which seemed to have inspired him
in his last chapter, when he exclaimed,
(5)
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
"Arise and shine for the light is come and
the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee."
Here Israel is seen in her lowest state,
and • an invitation to come into the brilliant
light of righteousness. Wherever men are
actually going or a race tendering there
must be evidences of its success or its prog¬
ress, both of its rise and its fall. History
proves the upward glide or the downward
march of any race's ultimate end. It was so
with all previous nations, and it must be
true with our race. Be it remem¬
bered that no race has ruled or
reigned forever. We have only to take a
retrospective view of the nations of the past
and see them one by one as they go up to
the highest apex and then descend from
their noon tide to the low ebb of the setting
sun of that race. This brings us to look
into the faces of the several races who were
once mistresses of the world, but have de¬
clined.
In the first place let us trace for a mo¬
ment Anglo-Saxon and Jute all belonging to
the same low German branch of the Teu¬
tonic family, and at the moment which his¬
tory discovers them they were being drawn
6
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
together by the ties of a common blood,
common speech, common political and re¬
ligious institutions. There is little ground
for believing that the tribes looked upon
themselves as one people, or that we can
as yet apply to say by anticipation the com¬
mon name of Englishman, but each of them
destined to share in the conquest of the
land in which we now live. And it was
from the union of all of them when the con¬
quest was completed that the great English-
speaking people sprung. Whatever their
temper and life we have little or no record;
this was an independent body of them
linked by ties, being strengthened' every
day, and what was true of these people is
also true of us to-day. Therefore there is
a social and a political life to every race,
but the social life is between the particular
race and not to mingle one with the other.
Therefore, buried in the human soul are
possibilities which can only be drawn out by
education and Christian religion. A good
citizenship should stand by the man or men
who has had imposed upon him or them the
duty to bring out the possibilities. There
are diamonds and nuggets of gold hidden
7
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
in these untrained minds that need only to
be polished and trained for the beautiful
life of humanity and the uplift of mankind.
Be careful that your youth sit and drink
from the Pirean Spring of truth and right¬
eousness, industriously preparing for life
and its usefulness. For the time will come
that brain not brawn will rule the world.
Let it come from whatever race it may it
will find its place in the forefront of a great
country.
Why not prepare as individuals to get the
best out of one's self? The world is calling
for the! best, and ©veil you as individuals are
calling for the best. Why not, then, give
the best? It is only fair to every man to
receive the same measure that he gives.
In the quotation of the poet, "Give
to the world the best which you have and
the best will come back to you."
An education which does not make people
better is not worth the time which it takes
to receive it. Education is not given to
make men worthless or profitless, but it is
given to draw out the useful powers, both
physical and mental. And when mental
powers are developed they will be seen beam-
S
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
ing from the very face of the man. You
have begun a mighty task as you attempt
to build for God, time and eternity. I call
upon you to-day, my friends, to stand by
the man of character and learning, for he is
worth his weight in gold to your communi¬
ty.
A race coming uip out of obscurity has
nothing to do with the status oi; to-day.
There was a time, according to history,
when the English-speaking race rose up out
of the ignorance and superstition, but they
have struggled with themselves and against
others until to-day they are the most power¬
ful people who live on God's green earth.
PROPOSITION I.
Education, honesty and virtue are in a
great measure responsible for so much
thrift and push; combined with the reli¬
gion of the Lord Jesus Christ they will make
a nation blossom and bloom like a rose in
May. Added to these industry will start
a million commercial wheels to rolling.
And as they hum and whine of innumera¬
ble spinals, moaning and groaning of en-
9
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
gines will start the fires of thousands of
furnaces. These God-given powers must be
put into execution to develope any people.
When each man in the world's history-
shall be held personally responsible for his
acts and justice will have taken his
seat on the throne and righteousness and
truth shall be exclaimed upon the house top,
then shall the nation rise and go forth as
a lamp which burneth. We are not far from
the time when bloodhounds gnashed their
fangs together, and when every outrage was
laid at the doors of those who, because of
their blood and color, were held guilty of the
crime. But with principles just mentioned,
Ethiopia shall soon stretch forth her hands
unto God.
In the exclamation of the prophet, Arise,
shine for thy light is come and the glory of
the Lord is risen upon thee, the prophet had
a vision of God that led him into the very
heart of racial life as well as the day of
gospel grace and life. We need an educa¬
tion that not only teaches us how to work
but works itself. Such an education will
bring something to pass.
Besides the letter in the head, the hands
10
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
must be taught to be cunning' in the art of
doing something. Therefore, it is not a
matter of how much you know particularly,
but what can you do. You must labor to
have a record of doing something tangible.
The old time Negro, both mothers and!
fathers, were philosophers after all. Sup¬
pose they had had linked to their industry
education, what race would have measured
arms with them commercially or otherwise?
But they had one at the expense of the
other, and yet the record they have made
is wonderful. So wonderful is it that no
race has done so much in any age of the
world's history in so short a time.
The art of brick making and house buildL
ing, scientific farming will be in great de¬
mand a Jong time after you and I have gone
from earth to heaven. The same is true
in the home. Domestic science—making
home what it should be; learning to make
home an earthly paradise while the husband
fells the trees and makes the fields bloom
like a rose. After all, man's complexion
has little to do with him in the race of life.
His condition has more to do with him than
any other thing can possibly have; every
11
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
man should learn to know how to support
himself and depend upon himself for ailive-
lihood. Until this is a fact there will ever
be a race question. If other races who have
started low in the scales of progress and
civilization have learned the art of self-
support, is it not possible that this race of
whom I am proud to identify myself with
can and must learn the same art?
When a man goes out in the battle of life
with his hands only full of books, he is vir¬
tually disarmed. But when you have given
him a handicraft you have given the world
a useful citizen. Scipio said, "I would ra¬
ther preserve the life of one citizen
than to destroy a thousand enemies." This
tells us what a great claim and respect the
world has for a good citizen. A race be¬
ginning nearly fifty years ago without ed¬
ucation, ar.d within a short time can make
the showing of reducing its illiteracy more
than fifcy per cent may evidently be put in
t>e list of a rising race. And we may sur¬
mise that this very thing is the urgent
cause of friction and animosity. If this is
true, and I have no doubt but that it is, we
should not be blamed nor judged from the
12'
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
heights upon which we stand, but from the
depth from which we came.
Paul has said that God has made of one
blood all of the nations which dwell upon
the face of the earth. God, therefore, being
the potter has power over the clay to make
of it just what has pleased him. A man
in this age should be a round man. The
hand, the heart, the head! and the feet. Let
the hand be taught to be cunning; let the
feet be swift of duty, while the heart shall
beat sympathetically for the uplift and
progress of all mankind. A people like that
removed from a country, the power and in¬
fluence of its usefulness will be felt for cen¬
turies to come.
In our last year's crop much of the prod¬
uct was sold' at a high price, especially cot¬
ton. Out of more than eleven million bales
the Negroes of the South made two-thirds
of it. Cut out two-thirds of this product and
there will be a great deficit in the commer¬
cial demand for cotton. I am no prophet
nor am I a son of a prophet, but the day
will come when the race will be both needed
and wanted in our great Southland. When
the Negro was imported into this country
13
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
against his will, he brought with him his
tears and his ignorance. He was made the
drawer of water and the hewer of wood;
he has been true to his land; he has his
first time to betray or to attempt to betray
this government. Bring on your Italian
and his dynamite, carrying with its deso¬
lation, havoc and ruin, and others with
their tons of fire and heaps of destruction;
it will be seen after all that the Negro is
this government's friend and not its foe.
It is evidence of his success that he is in
truth a rising race. The all-wise God has
brought about the mighty changes in this
race, and it has been done in his own wTay.
No philosopher can understand God in his
working with the race. The race may look
like a dark aloud at a distance but there are
gr^at signs of its brightness in the future,
for it is rising by leaps and bounds. There
is nothing that should discourage us while
God, the Omnipotent, stands at the head of
the helm.
In the second place, honesty. No one will
doubt the honesty of a race held for more
than two hundred years, hands and ankles
manacled, turned adrift without money or
14
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
what not. After serving the most cruel
slavery, yet on the pages of history they
remained true to those who had held them
in slavery. They soon learned that a re¬
sponsibility had come; they bowed their
heads and bent to the yoke they had just
pulled off. It had at some times galled the
neck, yet they proved true to the trust. We
should rejoice that we had the God-given
power to wait until our change came. And
after all no race has been so trusted as this
new race rising under the sun. Bred and
born upon the American continent; nobody
knows this better than the Southerner, and
as a people we must ever pursue this policy
of honesty. We must strive at all times to live
at peace with our next door neighbors. One
thing which will help us to rise and shine
is to let the head of each family own a home,
let it be big or little. And toil on in an honest
endeavor to purge the race of crapshooters
and dudes, the vicious characters who im¬
pede our race. Let it be known to the world
that there is no room in our hearts for dis¬
honesty. We are living to-day in the light
of freedom and we have a double task; we
must convince the world that we are not a
15
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
worthless asset to the American continent
as can be proven anywhere upon the face
of the earth. Many of our grandfathers
were trusted with all of the gold and silver,
stock and bonds, houses and land of their
masters in the ante bellum days. When the
day came to report, not a single dollar was
stolen nor a piece of silver misplaced.
These same people lived upon the farm dur¬
ing the awful days of rebellion, and also
were entrusted with the care of the wives
and daughters of the men at war. And when
they returned with sore feet and tired limbs
they found their loved ones unharmed and
their homes sacredly guarded. Let us see to
it that the honor of our mother and father's
name is sacred to us.
With the searchlight of education and
the scientific laws of investigation upon our
brows we may go forth from our institutions
of learning doubly sure of greater service
than was the privilege of our forefathers.
Some one has said that honesty is the best
policy. With this I do not agree, for if
honesty is the best policy it is likely to
change at every happening. But I claim
that honesty is a principle, the bed-rock of
16
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
our moral and social life, and to be void of
it is to win one's way to the prison, to
the grave and to death. Do not begin life's
great battle without this great principle. If
you do you are defeated to begin with. This
principle will open doors which would other¬
wise be closed. Again, if this principle is
within the soul it will not only be given
to the classes but the masses, and it has so
much to do with making your conscience
free.
Thirdly, Industry. It was Solomon who
said, "Seest thou a man diligent in business
he shiaill sitand before kings." Industry turns
stones into gold and the wilderness into
laughing fields. Industry conquers enemies
and turns sorrows into joy. It is industry
that is making a garden of the world and
leading men up nearer to God. Once this
glorious land of ours was only known by the
savage tribes of Indians who were ever on
the war-path, but when industry got into
the saddle and began to ride, she kindled
the fires in the hearts of eighty millions of
people and lighted up the torches of a mil¬
lion power-houses until to-day it is called the
"home of the free and the land of the
brave."
17
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
Allow no man to give you a place, for if
you are industrious you will make a place
for yourself, for industry reaps a sure re¬
ward. Are you tired? Toil on. The in¬
tellectual capacity all depends upon indus¬
try. Industry is a man's mainstay in youth
and his comfort in old age. The man who
teaches his children industry in youth pro¬
vides better for them than if he had given
them a fortune. I agree with a certain writer
who said that industry, whether with brain
or hand, is the ever-acting principle of suc¬
cess.
Do you want wealth ? Industry will bring
it, for he rides in no other car. Most all
men who have massed wealth and fortunes
have been men of close busineiss habits and
industry.
Men grow old because they have taught
themselves to do nothing. People who are
active in body and mind will grow young
rather than old. Make industry, then, a
part of fireside education. Teach it to
your children as a duty. It is a principle
of true pleasure. Industry is the foundation
stone of true happiness. The machine keeps
bright for many years while the idle one
18
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
rusts with bitter experiences of doing noth¬
ing. Have you a trade? Then you must
work it industriously or the trade will work
you. Try and work the gout out of yourself
and you will not come in contact with evil.
A thing which speaks loud for a rising race
is the amount it has in the commercial
world. Think of a race increasing from
four millions to about twelve millions with
no homes> nor lands, but now has about
three hundred thousand homes (unin¬
cumbered, saying nothing aJbout their bank
accounts, stocks, bonds and the rest.
Where is there a race on this continent who
has more than two-thirds of its constituen¬
cy members of the church? Therefore, let
us arise and give God the glory for it is he
who has made us and not we ourselves.
19
WHY SHOULD BELIEVERS BE
BAPTIZED?
"Now when all the people were baptized,
it came to pass, that Jesus also being bap¬
tized, and praying, the heaven was opened."
(Luke 3:21.)
We need not discuss baptism nor its
meaning, for we know it means immersion
in water; so there is no dispute or argu¬
ment against it; the excuse one may have
may seem plausible for non-baptism, but
remember that he has not entered into the
vineyard of the Lord, and therefore has no
identity in the family of the Lord. He is
entirely out of harmony with the Lord's
command.
(1) It is in keeping ivith the command¬
ments and walking in the footsteps of our
Lord and Master. Then cometh Jesus from
Galilee to Jordan unto John to be baptized
of John; but John forbade him, saying, I
have need to be baptized of thee, and com-
(20)
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
est thou to me? And Jesus answered and
said, Suffer it to be so now, for thus it
becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. The
"us" referred to here is the believers in
Christ. And Jesus when he was baptized
went up straightway out of the water, and
lo, the heavens were opened and the voice of
God was heard saying, This is my beloved
Son in whom I am well pleased.
(II) Because Jesus himself was baptized.
All believers should follow him. Why not
follow him? Is the servant greater than
his lord? I should think not. It is there¬
fore the great duty of every one to go in
the way of the Lord into the watery grave
and to death. When he came up out of the
water, he saw the spirit like a dove's body
lighting upon him; and lo a voice from
heaven saying, This is my beloved son in
whom I am well pleased. Here it is seen
that the Lord is well pleased when believers
are baptized. The Lord speaking out when
his commands are obeyed, just as a great
general gives ascent to his soldiers on the
battle-field. When a soul is born again God
expects that souil to obey his command.
Jesus came up out of the baptismal grave
21
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
and the heavens were opened as much as to
say, "All heaven look;" see him as he bows
his head in the grave. (Mark 1:9, 10.)
From what these Scriptures say, the only
way to follow Jesus is to walk where he
has walked, and go where he went, or in
other words, to go where he has gone. Only
believers have this right. He was talking
to believers. His word alone stands. We
have no other proof.
(III) It is also in keeping his command¬
ments. (Reiad1 M!ark 16:1-5.) Go ye there¬
fore into all the world and preach the gos¬
pel to every creature, he that believeth and
is baptized shall be saved ; he that believeth
not shall be damned. Would a believer like
to go up to the tall white throne of God in
heaven where the Judge is seated to give
every man according as his work shall be,
after looking at this expressed command
with guilt upon his face? I ask in all seri¬
ousness, can the believer stand this at the
bar of God? I think not. Can the believer
afford to do less than his Lord? The com¬
mand is given to believers only, and not to
those who will not obey the Christ of God.
(IV) Notice the extent of the command.
22
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
Go into all the world. When the church
and its followers will have carried out this
order I suppose there will be other orders
given, but by the same head. Daniel said
in the second chapter and 44th verse of the
book of Daniel, "In the days of these kings
shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom
which shall never be destroyed; and the
kingdom shall not be left to other people,
but it shall break in pieces and consume
all other kingdoms, and it shall stand for¬
ever.
(a) There are signs to follow believers.
And these signs shall follow them that be¬
lieve ; in my name shall they cast out devils;
they shall speak with new tongues; they
shall be as serpents, and if they drink any
deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they
shall lay hands on the sick and they shall
recover. Here it is seen that all believers
have a task or duty to perform. If it was
true then it is also true now.
(b) Every believer is a victor. He con¬
quers devils and serpents. He is master of
a new tongue, even over drink; although it
may be the dreaded poison. All of these
things should be no more than a toy to him.
Glorious encouragement!
23
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
(c) The authority to teach them to ob¬
serve all things. This is the burden of the
believers' message. Jesais says, my yoke is
easy and my burden is light. Are you will¬
ing to rest your case upon your own weak
arms, or rest on the arms of God or him
who gives the order? I tell you, my friends,
your safety rests on the strong arm of the
everlasting God. He is also in obedience to
the commands of the Saviour. If you love
me, said Jesus, you will keep my command¬
ments. I go a step further. If we are
really believers, we will love to obey his
commandments. When we do his will there
is no dark cloud in the midst nor apathy in
our souls. Then with a clear conscience he
will do the rest. Every believer proves a
valiant soldier in accordance with his work
in the Master's service. Unto you that fear
my name will the son of righteousness arise
with healing in his wings. This is another
reason why believers should be baptized.
This old world is full of whys. Some of
which may be answered by you. But this
why requires strong faith. Faith in the
atoning blood of the Son of God. And this
obedience should enter into the bosom of
24
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
every true believer in the blood of the Son of
God. Unless we obey there is no promise
that we are to come into his mansion above.
This healing balm is the cure for our guilty
hearts. 0 God, save us to-day.
Listen when he says, "He that heareth
these sayings of mine and doeth them, I will
liken him unto a wise man who built his
house upon the rook, and the wind blew and
the storm raged and the floods came and
beat upon that house and it fell not, because
it was founded upon the rock. But you who
heareth these sayings of mine and doeth
them not, I will liken him unto a foolish
man who built his house upon the sand, the
rain and flood beat down upon that house
and it fell because it was founded upon the
sand." Let your feet stand upon the rock
of eternal ages. Whosoever falls upon this
stone shall be saved, but upon whomsoever
this stone falleth it will grind him into
powder.
Ought believers be baptized? The an¬
swer is left with you and your God. Why
was this world made, and why were the
waters made to gallop down the rugged
steep and down the rushing streams? The
25
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
answer must be left to the Almighty God.
Why do not men obey God and leave the re¬
sult with God?
In 1576 the Queen instructed the Arch¬
bishop to see to it that these prophecies
were everywhere stopped. Grindal wrote
her a sharp reply. She called him to court
where a stormy scene awaited him. She
told him there was too much preaching in
England; that four or five preachers were
enough for a country, and that as for the
prophecies she would have no more of
them. But Grindal could not be moved.
He said I cannot, with safe conscience and
without the offense of the majesty of God,
give my consent to the suppression of these
exercises. I choose to offend your earthly
majesty rather than the heavenly majesty of
God. Elizabeth then called a meeting of the
star chamber to deprive the Archbishop, but
they prevailed on her to make the sentence
milder and give him five years in prison for
his disobedience. Here are signs of a be¬
liever in Christ. When a man is converted
of sin, his next step is to surrender to the
great Head of the church.
Nothing will bring a man into the grace
26
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
of God but total and unqualified surrender.
There is no instance in the Bible where an
infant is commanded to be baptized, poured
or sprinkled. The Day of Pentecost was a
memorable day. It was forty days after the
resurrection of Jesus Christ, The disciples
were told to tarry at Jerusalem until they
be embued with power from on high. This
demand was obeyed to the letter. Peter the
apostle commanded them on the Day of
Pentecost to be baptized. It reads as fol¬
lows: "Then they that received the word
were gladly baptized and the same day there
was added unto them three thousand souls."
Here it is seen that those receiving the word
were conscious and therefore knew what
they were doing. Let us ask in all serious¬
ness, is it possible tha,t an infant can re¬
ceive the word of God? If an infant can re¬
ceive the word of God, then he can receive
the joy of faith in the religion of the Lord
Jesus Christ. But if he cannot receive the
word of God through consciousness, he can
not receive the joy of salvation; and there¬
fore infants could not have been baptized
on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:41.)
Only believers ivere baptized. Philip
27
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
preached to the eunuch. The eunuch was a
reading man, and was reading at the time
Philip accosted him by the Spirit of God,
and told him to draw near the chariot.
When Philip began to speak with him, he
asked him if he understood what he was
reading. He confessed that he couldn't un¬
derstand it unless some one should guide
him. Philip rode in the chariot with him
and preached to him Jesus. Coming to the
stream of water, the eunuch felt his convic¬
tion and was impressed with the gospel,
and cried out, "See here is much water,
what doth hinder me from being baptized?"
The apostle answered, Thou mayest if thou
believest with all thine heart that Jesus is
the -Son of the living God. On this point he
confessed that he did believe and both Philip
and the eunuch went down into the water,
and he baptized the eunuch, and the Spirit
of God caught away Philip that the eunuch
saw him no more and he went on his way
rejoicing. Here it is seen that he confessed
Christ. He became a believer and was
therefore willing to take on the whole ar¬
mor of God. He seemed also to have been
impressed with the much water. In the
28
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
second chapter we are told of the baptism
of Cornelius and all his house. It also goes
to show in this passage that all who were
baptized in Cornelius' house were capable
of exercising faith. Believers only should
be baptized because it is a world-wide com¬
mand, viz: "Go ye therefore into all the
world and preach the gospel to every crea¬
ture, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Ghost. Thus it is seen that the command
to baptize is given only to those who believe.
Can infants believe, do they believe, are
they capable of believing? Are they con¬
scious of confessing faith in our Lord and
Master? If not, they could not be baptized.
To my mind it is ingratitude to go before
the judgment seat of God, having spent our
last moments in this world, going to spend
eternity in another world, and not having in
the least obeyed the commandments of our
Lord and Saviour Jesus Chirst. It seems
to me that every step which one would make
in disobedience to the command of our
Lord is simple mockery and shame. Again
believers should be baptized because bap¬
tism is essential to obedience and obedience
99
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
is essential to salvation. No wonder Jesus
said, why call me Lord, Lord, and do not the
things I command you? He that believeth
on him is not condemned, but he that be-
lieveth not on him is condemned already,
because he hath not believed in the name of
the only begotten Son of God. The condem¬
nation is on the unbeliever and not the be¬
liever; not upon the innocent babe who is
incapable of believing. Why would vile man
tamper with the high command of God?
Ours is to believe and obey What the judge
of our salvation says. These commands are
positive and final. Can you not see that it
is both ungrateful and disobedient to dis¬
obey a positive command? God sent not his
son in the world to condemn the world, but
that the world through him might be saved.
You say that to baptize believers is unnec¬
essary. Do you mean to say that God
gave a command that is unnecessary,
or that you know better than your
Lord and Master? We are simply clay in
our Master's hands and he is the potter. It
is he who can make a vessel to honor and
another to dishonor. In the other place, if
it is not necessary to baptize, why did he
30
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
give a command to baptize the whole world
who believed on him? Believers should be
baptized because it is the command of our
Lord Jesus Christ, and the act is simply in
obedience to his command. It is also noticed
that all those who were baptized by house¬
hold baptism, were evidently believers.
For every iota goes to show that the in¬
mates of every house spoken of in the Acts
of Apostles were believers. And nowhere is
there a single intimation that an unconscious
infant was commanded to be baptized. We
believe, therefore, that each one who dis¬
obeys the commands of God will be held
responsible before the great white throne
of God,
I know of nothing which gives me more
pleasure than to take you abroad tonight,
and before starting upon my voyage, I desire
to return my sincere thanks to those who
were interested in this trip, the trip of my
life, and to-day I am much benefited by hav¬
ing made the long journey. My trip from
Little Rock to Atlanta was uneventful.
Reaching Atlanta, I went directly to the
church where I found the National Baptist
Sunday-School Congress in session. My
31
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
many friendis there greeted me, and there
among the number was my traveling com¬
panion, Prof. Charles Stewart, who shook
hands with me and expressed for me a safe
voyage. I was suffering with my back, and
he advised me to take all the rest I could
and get in shape for the long voyage.
I enjoyed being at the Congress, and did
not take any particular part in the delibera¬
tions. Sunday night I tried to preach the
closing sermon. Saturday all arrangements
were made for the trip from Atlanta to
Washington. My friend Stewart secured
my transportation and sleeping-car ticket. So
immediately after preaching Sunday night I
went to the sleeper and soon found myself
in bed fast asleep until Monday morning.
At Danville, Va., Prof. Stewart left us to
deliver a lecture in Danville. I was sitting
in my seat talking to a friend, when all at
once a crash was heard and I was thrown
violently from my seat, and before I could
realize what had happened it was all over.
A wreck on the road. It was several hours
before we were permitted to go on.
Washington is reached. After remaining
around Washington under treatment for
32
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
nearly a week, Saturday or Friday night,
June 3, I took sleeper on Pennsylvania road
for New York prior to sailing on the 4th.
I again took a Pullman sleeper. Getting up
at Jersey City I went over on the Ferry to
23rd street. Had a porter to carry my suit
case to the boat. It was placed in the room
where we were to spend a week or more.
I visited the New England Baptist Con¬
vention and was introduced. Many, many
of my friends! Word had been received!
there that I was dangerously ill and had to
return home, hence my visit to the conven¬
tion was a surprise to many. They seemed
glad to receive me.
Now let us prepare for the trip. I re¬
turned to the boat. We are to sail on S. S.
Caledonia, of the Anchor Line Co. It is a
beautiful steamship 560 feet long. It is just
a little city on the ocean, a floating palace.
Returning to the ship there were a number
of men, employes who were busy receiving
the passengers. These men are as polite as
can be. I was ushered to our room, found
my baggage, also the baggage of Prof.
Stewart in the room. It is a nice room
mid-ship, a folding chair, folding wash
33
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
basins, two in number and three berths. A
little closet for our clothes and grips and
curtains over each bed. Taking a seat in
the room, it was not long before Prof. Stew¬
art came in accompanied by two ladies, one
of Newark, N. J., and the other from Hack-
ensack. I was introduced to them. They
brought some flowers telling me I was to
share them. Soon Dr. J. W. Rankin, of Wax-
ahachie, Texas, came along and he, too, was
to room with us. Now the party is together.
Thousands of people are down to see their
friends sail. The boat is crowded. We are
now ready for the voyage across the Atlan¬
tic, not knowing what awaits us, or how
the ocean is going to behave. I hear a
voice on the ship saying, "All 'shore, going
ashore." "The boat is getting ready to
sail," said my friend. Promptly at three
o'clock the gangplank was drawn in, and
with the aid of a little tug, we were soon
headed for the ocean. The people were
waving their handkerchiefs, some were cry¬
ing, I am told. Not feeling well I did not
see the ship leave the shores of New York,
but remained in my room. Both of my com¬
panions were on deck taking their last look
34
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
at land for a few d'ays. A few .hours, and
I was informed that we had lost sight of
land. Dr. Stewart brought down a plate of
sandwiches. He seemed to know all about
the eating business. I joined him in eating
them. They were very much enjoyed. I
went to bed and so remained. A little short
man entered the room and informed me that
he was our room steward and would look
after our wants during the voyage, and as
I felt I would have to remain in bed during
the voyage, I arranged with him to bring
my meals to the room. Stewart secured
our seats in the saloon for meals.
Saturday night my dinner was served
and I enjoyed it very much. Sunday morn¬
ing Stewart and Rankin were up and Stew¬
art ordered me up. Getting his stick, he
insisted that I had to get up and dress my¬
self. Being sick, I obeyed and then he in¬
sisted on me going to breakfast. We had
a nice table and comfortable seats, and I
enjoyed the meal. Let me here say that
every time the bugle sounded for meals
after this I was ready to occupy my seat,
and had no more meals served in the room.
After breakfast I went on deck, found my
35
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
scut and enjoyed myself taking- in the fresh
air and looking at the sea and land. 1 felt
the presence of Almighty God and had no
fear. At 10:30 I went to church. Rev.
Arthur Brown, of the Presbyterian Church,
preached; I enjoyed the sermon. Well I
spent sometime in the afternoon in the
rcom reading my Bible. Sunday night T
■w i nt to church to hear Bishop Hamilton, of
the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Now you may talk about the ocean voy¬
age. Seeing land. Cape Race is passed.
The iceberg 150 feet high, three times that
deep in water. A great cake of ice.
Speak of the concert Tell how prejudice
melted away. How the people sought to
know you; how friendly they were; you
made them seek you by acting independent.
Now getting ready to land Sunday morning.
Reached Greenoch about 4 o'clock Sunday
morning. Describe the scenery along Scot¬
land. The mountains. Sun rises at 2:80 a.
m. At 8 o'clock Sunday morning we were
in the waiting room, getting ready to have
our baggage inspected by the custom officers,
prior to landing. We were to land at Glas¬
gow, but on account of the tide we were
36
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
landed at Greenoch and took a train for
Glasgow. Soon a large door was opened
and we were admitted into the Custom
House. We soon located our baggage and
had it inspected, and then went into thd
station. Our carriage. The trains are
called carriages. Describe them. The lit¬
tle engines.
Stewart informed us that he had wired
ahead for room in Hotel St. Enoch. We left
all arrangements to him. He has traveled
extensively and understands how. He is a
good companion.
At 10 o'clock we were found in the sta¬
tion at Glasgow, and soon Stewart returned
from the hotel with a young man to handle
our baggage. As I said, we had quarters
in St. Enoch Hotel, which is one of the fin¬
est hotels in the city—a six-story building
with 300 rooms for guests. We were soon
in our palatial room, getting ready for
church. We went to the Baptist church and
heard a fine sermon by the Rev. Mr. Martin.
We were invited to remain for communion
which we did, except Dr. Rankin, who left.
After services many people gathered around
us to ask various questions about our coun-
37
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
Glasgow is the second city of the United
Kingdom and third of the British Empire,
with a population of nearly a million, is of
an earlier origin than the Scottish capital,
and is almost as crowded with historic, lit¬
erary and antiquarian interest, and in addi¬
tion stands as the model of municipal enter¬
prise and management of the world. I
would here mention only a few points of in¬
terest, telling you how they can be reached.
It is strange to an American to see two-
story street cars, so we must stop and look
at them for a few minutes. See
women jump on and off cars like
men. Now after looking a while I
took the yellow car which carried
me through Sauchie/hall street, Glas¬
gow's fashionable promenade and shopping
region, and reached the Art Galleries. This
beautiful building stands on the site of
the great exposition of 1888, and I am told
was partially erected out of its profits. The
pictures and statuaries which it contains
form the finest collection in the country out¬
side of London, and its industrial, antiqua¬
rian and natural history collections are of
absorbing interest.
38
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
Behind the Art Galleries rises the finest
public park in Glasgow, Kelvingrove, laid
out by Sir Joseph Paxton, designer of the
Crystal Palace, and containing1 some fine
fountains and statuary and a granite stair¬
case that cost 10,000 pounds. Overlooking
it rises the pinnacled Gothic front of the
University of Gilmorehill, founded by a
bull of Pope Nicholas V. in 1450. The college
stood for four centuries in the High street,
and among its students and professors have
been Andrew Melville, Amad Smith, Thomas
Campbell and Archibald Campbell Tait,
Archbishop of Canterbury. Its library con¬
tains many famous collections of books, and
its Hunterian Museum has one of the best
coin collections in Europe. Ten minutes'
walk from back of the university lie the Bo¬
tanic Gardens, the scene of Lyle's fine song,
"Will ye gang to Kelvongrove, bonnie las¬
sie, O?" and possessing a notable collec¬
tion of tropical plants under glass and a
winter garden of glass, once a concert hall
that held 7,000 persons, and now the home
of some wonderful tree-ferns and plants.
About the gardens lie some of the finest
mansions and terraces of Glasgow and from
39
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
the gate a green car conveys the pilgrim
through the city's finest streets to George
square. Here stands the first monument
feet upl to Sir Walter Scott, along with
statues of such sons of Glasgow as
Sir John Moore and Lord Clyde. But the
sight of the Square is the notable pile of
the City Chambers, on its floors and roofs
of mosaic, its stairs oi; marble, its pillars
and balustrades of alabaster are probably
the richest in the kingdom; ;.rd the saloons
and council chamber and noble banquet hall,
with their pictured walls and marvelously
wrought electroliers, display a magnificence
more than royal.
I took another car, riding a few minutes,
for Which I paid one penny along George
street and up High street, and was soon off
at the venerable Cathedral. The front of
the royal infirmary at the gate occupies the
site of the early Roman or British strong¬
hold, which became, in the feudal centuries,
the Bishop's Castle, and saw many an epi¬
sode of seige and sack. One of the crypts of
the Cathedral again, Blackadder's Aisle,
covers a burying ground consecrated by Ni-
nian, the earliest British saint, about the
40
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
year 395, and the lower church occupies the
spot where St. Mungo reared his cell in 543.
There St. Mungo's well and tomb are still
to be seen, and the memory of many a
famous prelate lingers. At the high altar,
while he spent a fortnight in Glasgow in
1301, Edward I., of England, made several
offerings and at the siame high altar, five
years later, Robert the Bruce was absolved
for the •stabbing of Comyn at Dumfries.
David I., while still only a Prince of Cum¬
bria, or Strathelyde, came here and set up
the Catholic bishopric in the year 1115.
The building, as it stands, dates in part
from 1175, and it was the only Cathedral on
the mainland of Scotland which escaped de¬
struction at the Reformation. From the
Cathedral gate one may take the Mt. Florida
car and descend High street by the Bell o'
the Brae, where Wallace won his victory
over Bishop Beck, and pass the old Tol-
booth, with its people where the famous
scene of "Rob Roy" took place; through
the saltmarket, famous as the residence of
Bailie Nicol Jarvie and the place where
Cromwell and James VII. lodged, where
Pritehard and many other criminals have
41
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
been tried and hanged, across the river and
away through the working-class quarter of
Hutchisontown to the southmost suburbs of
the city.
Mount Florida occupies the ground where
Queen Mary's army drew up for the battle
of Langside, and in a few minutes' walk one
may follow the march of her attacking van¬
guard to the monument at Langside itself,
where the brunt of the battle took place.
Queen Mary watched the struggle from the
hillside, near Cathcart Castle, a mile to the
south, and the dead were buried in the low
ground in the opposite direction, near the
gate of what is now the beautiful Queen's
Park, adjoining the battlefield.
From that gate a car run of a mile and
a quarter carries one back across the river
at the Broomielaw to the center of the city
again.
Having given you some of the historic
scenes in Glasgow, perhaps little personal
experience will be added. After dinner at
6 o'clock. Speak of the Dinner Bill in
French. Out in the street. Crowd sur¬
rounds Stewart. A number of street meet¬
ings. Monday morning start for Edinburgh.
42
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
The trip and incidents. Arrival at Edin-
burg. The Royal Hotel. Our quarters.
Front room on Princess street. Sir Walter
Scott's monument in front of our window.
Describe the room. Stewart arrives.
43
ROMAN CATHOLICISM.
Text: "I say unto thee, thou art Peter
and upon this Rock I will build my church,
and the gates of hell shall not prevail
against it." (Matt. 16:18.)
The theologians of this particular faith
define the word Catholic as the Universal
church consisting of the faithful united to
their lawful pastors in communion with the)
Sea-of Some. At first one would accept the
definition as true so far as universal is con¬
cerned, but when we are to be connected to
Rome for our faith and practice, thus being
Priest-ridden and Pope-outlawed, Protest¬
antism, the faith of Jesus Christ, cannot
stand for it. In the same stroke of the pen,
it is also said thM the obedience of its
bishops, the Pope who is claimed to be the
successor of Peter and the Vicar of Christ
on earth. The church of Rome professed
to have been founded by St. Peter. They
maintain that he is primate among the
(44)
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
apostles, and that his primacy i3 inherited,
by the Pope or the Bishop of Rome. For
that reason they have a right to govern the
universal church, and separation from her
communion involves the guilt of schism.
To prove this contention it must be proved
that Peter was invested with the primacy
or that ho visited Rome and was the founder
of the church. These are controverted
points and are very extensively argued in
theological polemics. This view is said to
be taken by Catholics because Peter is
styled as the first of the apostles, and that
he alone received from the Lord a new
name. We admit that he was styled the
first of the apostles. The Catholics also
claim the primacy of Peter divine.
Grotius and some other Protestant com¬
mentators admit that our Lord expressed
primacy in these words: "Thou art Peter,
and' upon this rock I will build my church,
and the gates of hell shall not prevail
against it/' They contend that the primacy
of Peter is recognized generally by the New
Testament. Proof is brought out by the fact
Ibeneous in the second century as having
been constituted and founded by Paul and
45
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
Peter. The two apostles, he said, of whom
Paul speaks to Timothy. The first bishop
and from him traced the descent of the epis¬
copate down to Elutherious, the twelfth
bishop in succession Who was then living.
The contention is that there is one apostle
whose successor has been recorded. The
one church, the line of which has been un¬
broken, and they contend that this church
is the church of Rome and the apostle
spoken of is Peter.
The creed of the church was elaborately
defined by the Council of Trent, which his¬
tory tells us was in session from 1545 to
1563. The decree of this council was pre¬
pared with a great deal of care so as to
check the spirit of reform which was agi¬
tating the western Christendom at that
time. In hope of checking its triumphant
march from nation to nation, I quote
here one paragraph of this council: "That
Christ has established a church upon earth
and this church is that which holds com¬
munion with the sea of Rome, being holy
and catholic and apostolic." I have only to
ask any intelligent church of Christians
with an open Bible, is it possible that we are
46
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
to hear this self-styled church with its sac¬
rifices and suffering's, with its Mosaic laws,
rules and regulations, when God speaks out
from heaven, saying of Jesus Christ, "This
is my beloved Son, hear ye Him." It is also
stated in this council, because of the afore¬
said propositions, that she is infallible by
the guidance of Almighty God in her deci¬
sions regarding faith. That Peter by divine
communion was appointed head of this
church under Christ the founder, and that
Pope or Bishop of Rome as successor to Pe¬
ter has always been, and is at present, by
divine right, head of this church. Can this
be true? If s.o, why didn't Jesus say it as
plainly as to recognize the firm faith in
Peter, when he said, "Thou art Peter, and
upon this Rock I will build my church, and
the gates of hell shall not prevail against
it?"
The creed of Pius the IV. universally re¬
ceived by the Catholic church speaks thus
by an oath: "I do acknowledge the holy
Catholic church, as the mother and mistress
of all other churches, and I do srwear obed¬
ience to the Bishop of Rome, the successor
of St. Peter, the prince of the apostles and
47
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
vicar of Jesus Christ. That the Virgin
Mother of Jesus is entitled in her own right
as chosen of God to receive the humble
homage and adoration of those who profess
to love her son.
Now, I ask in all seriousness, does this
statement come out of the bosom of the
father who said that "Thou shalt love the
Lord thy God with all thy heart and with
all thy soul."
Does the mother of Jesus have anything
to do with the Fatherhood of God and the
brotherhood of man? That the cannon of
the New Testament as proposed to us by
this church is the word of God; that all tra¬
dition preserved and handed down by this
church, as delivered by the fathers, is re¬
ceived with equal respect and credence.
But both the written word and tradition
must be received only as defined and ex¬
pounded by the Aba. The creed of Pius
the IV. makes every Romanist say, "I do
admit the Holy Scriptures in the same
sense that the holy mother church does,
whose business it is to judge of the true
sense and interpretation of them, and I
will interpret them according to the univer-
48
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
sal sense of the fathers. Here it is seen
that this oath takes away from you all per¬
sonal right. That honor and veneration are
due to the angels of God; that the saints
reigning together with Christ are to be
worshipped and prayed to, and that they do
offer prayer to God for us; that their relics
are to be had in veneration; that the image
of Christ, the blessed virgin of God are to
be had and retained, and due honor and
veneration ought to be paid them; that sal¬
vation of Christ is through and on account
of faith and good works; that God not only
assists the faithful in ood works, but rec¬
ognizes the spirit of such good work.
Let us ask this question: Are these the
words of God, or do we hear him saying,
when Paul was almost discomforted and
disconcerted and seemed that he was about
to give up the ghost, he heard the voice of
God saying, "My grace is sufficient for thee."
Not only this but, "By grace are ye saved,
through faith and that not of yourselves,
it is the gift of God." And not only so by
precept of divine law, they also say that we
merit eternal life which is a diversion of the
Scriptures. How does this statement look
49
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
by the word of God, which says that "God
so loved the world that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on
him should not perish but have everlasting
life?"
They also contend that there is ;a purga¬
tory or middle state. That the souls of the
imperfect Christians are therein detained
and are helped by the prayers of the fathers.
When the only account in the Scripture is
the place of endless torment and the place of
eternal life. John teaches us that, "The
wicked shall be turned inito hell and all these
who forget God." While we are taught by
John the apostle that the happiness of heav¬
en is for those who love God, they contend
also that there are seven sacraments of the
law instituted by Jesus Christ, and are neces¬
sary to the salvation of mankind; namely:
baptism, confirmation, eiucharist, penance,
extreme unctions, orders and marriages;
that they do confer grace. This is also, I
believe, an irreverent interruption of the
Scriptures, for the Scripture teaches that it
is the blood of Christ that saves from sin
and death. In the next place, there is
really and substantially the blood in this
50
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
Eiucharist or Sacrament, that the wine and
bread are turned really into the blood and
flesh of Jesus Christ; that the power of
indulgence was left in the church; that
the sin committed after baptism should be
forgiven us. Thou shalt be called Cephus, a
stone.
51
ROMAN CATHOLICISM, PART II.
"And I will give unto thee the keys of the
kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou
ahalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth
shall be loosed in heaven." (Matt. 16:19.)
We begin this second chapter by consid¬
ering first, the confession which must be
made by Catholic communicants. The con¬
fession must be made to the priest. The
efficacy of his absolution, and decreeing the
absolute and perpetual celibacy of the clergy
of all orders and recommending the same
to all other laymen and laywomen. Abso¬
lution here is the unconditional forgiveness
of your sins. The communicant is taught
that to make a confession of his sins to
the priest that he has the authority and
power to forgive absolutely the sins of the
penitent. Now, listein to what the Lord
says, "Whosoever therefore shall confess
me before men, him will I also confess be-
(52)
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
fore my father which is in heaven." (Matt.
10:32.) Does this look like we are to con¬
fess our sins to the priest? Shall God be
heard, or man? God says, "This is my son,
hear ye him."
Under the Pope's dictation, the priest is
the absolute authority of forgiveness. We
have already heard God out of his word.
The leading ground of the great reforma¬
tion, as each of these doctrines were the
subject or protest on the part of the re¬
formers. The part still forms a wall strong¬
er than granite between Romanism and
Protestantism. The final clause of the
creed of Pius the IV. is very explicit, viz:
I undoubtedly receive and profess all other
things which have been delivered, defined
and declared by the sacred cannon and ecu¬
menical councils, and especially for the holy
Synod of Trent, and all other things there¬
to, and all heresies condemned and rejected
and anathamatized by the church. I do
condemn and reject and anathamatize.
Thus I say to you, my friends, no man or
set of men living in the flesh have the au¬
thority to make such a declaration. When
we read Isaiah 45:23 which says, I have
53
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
sworn by myself, the word is gone out of
my mouth in righteousness, and shall not
return, that unto me every knee shall bow
and every tongue shall swear," herein
this verse every man is guilty before God.
Who is the priest but a man, as other men
are? Subject to like passion. There is also an¬
other doctrine which has been recently put
forth; it is the doctrine of the immaculate.
This dogma is the doctrine which declares
pure and clean the conception of the Vir¬
gin Mary, which was solemnly published in
St. Peters on the 8th of December in 1854,
in these words: "We declare, pronounce and
define that the dogma which holds the
blessed Virgin Mary at the first instance of
her conception, by a singular privilege and
grace of the Omnipfotent God." In virtue of
the merits of Jesus Christ the Saviour of
mankind was preserved immaculate from
all stain of original sin. Now you must re¬
member that up to the death and resurrec¬
tion of Jesus Christ, all had sinned and
come short of the glory of God, which
makes the Virgin Mary of sinful creation
as all other mankind. Now turn to the
word of God and read, "But as by one man
54
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
sin entered into the world, and death by
sin, so death passed upon all men, for that
all have sinned." If this is true, of which
I have no doubt, for the Bible is the word
of God, this doctrine is an absolute prever-
sion and prevarication of the Bible. A
bull that same day, so history says, con¬
tained an elaborate defense of the doctrine,
pronounced that whoever presumed to think
otherwise had suffered shipwreck of the
faith, has revolted from the unity of the
church, and if he gives utterance to his
thoughts, incurs the penalties established
justly against heresy.
Again, the feast of conception introduced
in 1140 by St. Bernard wrote to the can¬
non reproving them for introducing into the
church such a feast. This controversy went
the rounds for quiite a while, possibly a
century. Finally decided that the concep¬
tion may be held as a personal opinion.
Next comes the infallibility of the Pope.
For many ages the infallibility of the Pope
was argued by theologians of the Catholic
church, but where and how this infallibility
would be obtained was a disputed question
for centuries. This, Protestant writers
55
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
have been on the alert and protested against
even until this day to the satisfaction of an
intelligent world. The doctrine of infalli¬
bility, after many years of argument, has
been adopted, and every Romanist who sub¬
mits himself to the teaching of the church
to believe that the Pope is the sole foun¬
tain and seat of this attribute. In 1870
Pius the IX., by virtue of his apostolic au¬
thority, approved the sacred council, de¬
fined the infallibility and declared this to
be the divine authority that the Redeemer
wills in this church to have or to be endowed.
Thus on July the 18th, 1870, the Pope of
Rome was declared to be invested with an
attribute of God. It was expected, how¬
ever, that the Bishop who had held out
against this doctrine would revolt, but they
submitted to it and thus another doctrine
was added to the church of Rome. The
Pope as vicegerant of God. For many
years, the Roman Pontiffs succeeded in mak¬
ing good their claims to temporal suprema¬
cy in almost all European lands, so history
records, making and unmaking kings and
emperors and compelling the highest to do
reverence to the priests. But as further
56
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
stated within a few years the Pope had
lost temporal sway and even lost his Italian
states long known as the states of the
church. This doctrine led to alienation of
some of the most powerful in the church,
and dissatisfaction which resumed in a
more liberal basis. The worship of the
church is liberal or formal, and is gen¬
erally used in Latin. But the doctrine of
Jesus, according to Protestantism, must be
given plainly so that every man may under¬
stand for himself. She does not require as
a condition or communion the doctrine of
the Latin language. Mass is of two kinds,
high and low. Mass is adopted into solemn
or high Mass. The solemn mass by a
bishop or priest attended by deacons or sub-
deacons and other ministers, each officiating
his part. Such a mass is always sung.
Hen.se a choir of singers accompanied by
an organ, if possible. The government of a
Roman Catholic church is hierarchal. Cns
Roman writer explairs it thus: Roman
Catholics hear their bishops. The Romans
consist of saints and many other holy days
which consist of forty days. In imitation
of our Saviour having fasted forty days in
57
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
the wilderness, this is kept once a year
to do penance for sin and as a preparation
for celebratihg the great feast for Easter
Wednesdayis, Fridays and Saturdays in
each session of the year are annual fast
days at which time all saints must ab¬
stain from all meats. It is also essential
to a fast day that there be only one full
meal and that not before noon in four and
twenty hours of the day. Every Friday in
the year is kept as a day of abstinence
from eating flesh. Now let us again turn
to the word of God and see what he says
about fast day: "Moreover, when ye fast,
be not as the hypocrites, of a sad counte¬
nance, for they disfigure their faces that
they may appear unto men to fast. Verily
I say unto you, they have their reward."
It is also stated in the Bible that, "When
this gospel has been preached into all the
world, then shall the end come." Catholi¬
cism, according to reports, has belted the
world, but where is the end? It can be
seen, therefore, that the gospel has not been
preached, or the end would have dawned.
Several orders amongst them, the chief be¬
ing, Racillians, Benedictines, August i-
58
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
nians, Dominicans, Franciscans, Cannons.
All of the orders take the solemn vows of
poverty, chastity and obedience, and all
hold firmly to the Catholic faith.
59
THE VALUE OF THE PRINTED
PAGES.
"Oh that my words were now written!
Oh thalt theiy were printed in a book! That
they were graven with an iron pen and
lead in the rock forever!" (Job 19:23,24.)
The Patriarch Job was celebrated for
three things, viz., patience, constancy and
virtue. Some have thought that the man
of our text was a fictitious character, but
from the manner in which he is mentioned
in the scripture, to my mind he is a real
man. Read Ezekiel 14:14. Though these
three men, Noah, Daniel and Job, were in
it, they should deliver but their own souls,
saith the Lord God, by their righteousness.
Now, if we reason rightly, if Daniel and
Noah were men, then it stands to reason
that Job was a man also, for they are seen
as 'men. Jaimeis 5:11, "Behold we count
them happy which endure." You have heard
of the patience of Job and have seen of the
< 60)
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
Lord that the Lord is very pitiful and is
of tender mercy. But aside from the in¬
spired writers, we have the strongest inter¬
nal evidence of the book itself that Job was
a real person. For it specifies names of
persons, places, facts and circumstances
connected with his history. Thus we have
the name, country, piety, wealth and family
of Job described. No man can do more.
The acts of his children and conduct of
his wife are recorded. His friends, their
names and country are delineated. There
is no reasonable doubt as to his real per¬
sonality. He is mentioned by the author
of the book of Zobit who lived during the
Assyrian captivity. It is said that he is re¬
peatedly mentioned by the Arabian writer
as a real character. The whole of his- his¬
tory wais known among the Syrians anjd
Chaldeans, and many of the noblest families
boasted of being descendants of him. Job
speaks of the most ancient kind of writing,
that is sculpture; that spoken of in our
text. This book contains the history of a
man distinguished for purity, for high
character and dignity, a strong and digni¬
fied man.
61
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
I think that enough has been siaid of the
real Job who moved, lived and hiad his being
to establish the fact in the mind of every¬
one.
Our name and worth to the American
civilization, unless we bestir ourselves, will
oe blotted out. Much of our lives and
worth have already be^n blocked. No rac*
can ever amount to much which is not en¬
gaged in that which it takes to make his¬
tory for themselves that others may read in
the time to come with pride. No race
can ever make such history unless it profits
by the history of other races. God on 'o
permitted for trial of faith all of the bless¬
ings that he had bestowed upon Job to be
snatched from him. The greatest afflic¬
tion, the most bewildering distress and the
most excruciating pains overcame him.
But in all of this he sinned not. We today
are doing the work of a newborn nation ;
we are making the history of a race. How
well we will do our work it remains for
unborn generations to tell.
i.—the printed word.
T, like, Job, would rather suffer and be
discriminated against and let our words
62
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
and deeds be printed so that the unborn
generations in their flight of triumph to
glorious achievements may sing, not of
Sorrow, but of joy. Thus, fifteen hundred
years before the Christian era the man of my
text wanted that his words be printed in
a book so that his character might be shown,
'his deeds studied and his examples emu¬
lated; so thialt the greatness of his life
might be handed down to the nations which
should follow him. Job knew that if he
made but a set speech, words would soon
be fortgoitten. But print my «leeds, my
sufferings and my virtues, for I am speak¬
ing for the benefit of and to the nations yet
unborn. After all, the world's history
would have been incomplete without the
nam© of our faitherliand, Africa, in it. Had
his words been carelessly or loosely spoken,
we would have lost the richness of this
sublime poem to-day. But he asked God
for the printed poem and he got it.
Jeremiah, in speaking of the sins of Ju-
dah, said, "The s-ins of Judaih are written
with an iron and with the point of a
diamond." This is what has called together
this band of Christians to impress the world
63
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
with our religious fervor and our Christ-
bound faith. It should never be forgotten
when we remember that our mothers and
fathers were robbed of this. The mightiest
day in the American civilization! They
sleep, but their spirits revisit their children
here to-day and our hearts are touched, our
souls are stirred with emotion.
II.—THE WRITTEN WORD.
In our rush for recognition in the world
of religion todlay, miany of these religions
are simply human agencies, for they are
creedless, crossless, Christless, and I go a
step further, heavenless; and remember that
blessed is the nation whose God is the
Lord. In hewing out oiur own destinies let
us agree with the poet and sing:
"Jesus shall reign wherever the sun
Doth his successive journey run;
His kingdom shall spread from shore to
shore,
'Till moons shall wax and wane no more."
These men of great learning and ability
here to-dlay are but God's advance guards
and the great army of Christ and his king¬
dom.
64
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
It may also be conceded that of all
the instruments used by man the writing
pen is the most powerful. It is said that
Mosies was learned in all of the wisdom
of the Egyptians. He was, of course, fa¬
miliar with all o»f the modes of writing of
that day and the ages before his time.
The Hebrew Legislature and writer ap¬
peared after the Exodus, before the giving
of the law upon the mount of God. "And
the Lord said unto Moses, Write this for
a memorial in a book and rehearse it in
the ears of Joshua." (Ex. 17:14.) "And
Moses wrote all the words of the Lord."
(Ex. 24:4.)
The instruments for writing were of va¬
rious sorts. Mention is made in the Bible
of stone pilate on which the words were en¬
graven, great stones plastered with plaster.
"And it shall be, on the day when ye shall,
pass over Jordan into the land which thie
Lord thy God giveth thee, that thou shalt
set thee up great stones, and plaster them
with plaster: and thou shalt write upon the
stones all the words of this law plainly."
(Deut. 27:2-8.) "And thou shalt make a
plate of pure gold and grave upon it like the
engraving of a signet, Holiness unto the
Lord." Job refers to the custom of writ-
65
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
ing as being with an iron pen and lead in
the rock, the letters being first deeply cut
in the rock, and then filled with lead. And
there are other things used by the ancients
too numerous to mention here. But it is
said to show that our predecessors left no
stone untouched. They left as legacies to
the unborn generations signs of their cul¬
ture, refinement and religion.
So it was with our race for two hundred
and) fifty years. Others had the writing of
our history. But at the close of (that period
God Almighty broke the shackles from our
feet and the chains fell from our wrists.
That same hand that wrote the black laws
for years is ever ready to write of the crimes
committed by the lower element of our
race. Hence, God has removed the tilings
which did bind us and has written with his
own finger, blessed is the nation whose God
is the Lord. Let us go to him with leaps
and bounds and by faith find shelter under
the cross of the blessed God.
III.—IT IS THE PRINTED PAGE THAT TELLS
THE WORKS AND DEEDS OF A NATION.
Can only a nation be told everlasting by
the printed page? We trace to-day the
66
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
footprints of the nations passed by the
printed page. Sculptures are so remote un¬
til modern idetas have not time to wait to
fathom out their depths. When Job was
about to write he made no hesitancy in tell¬
ing the world what he wanted. "Oh, that
my words would be written so that the
forward march of the nations to come
should reiad of hiis deeds and work and)
gather inspiration and direction from his
life. He wanted a pen because the words
of the pen aire mighty and powerful.
It was on the 22nd day of September,
1862, when the immortal Lincoln wrote
with an immortal pen, the voice of which
rang down through ages, that all men were
created free and equal. Had this man of
God simiply spoken it extemporaneously, the
limits of our race would possibly still be
bound. But he wrote it, he printed it, and
it has been handed down to the children in
history.
(A) As a race, we must print and situdy
print. And this need not exclude us from
industrial life; but on the other hand it
should cause living industries to spring
forth into activities as living springs of wa-
67
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
ter coming forth from yonder rock. I fear
very much that my race has made the wrong
conclusion to be in a few years what it has
taken others hundreds of years to accom¬
plish. We should build materially and not
superficially. Let the air-castles burst
where they are, but let our race build per¬
manently, for in the end it will cost much
less. There is one command that we find
in the Bible that we had better study with
interest where it strikes at the very root of
our racial life. I speak of that command
in the fifth chapter of Matthew which says,
"Blessed are the meek, for they shall in¬
herit the earth." Here is a God-given in¬
heritance. Why not cultivate it? Why noit
own the land?
The most prevailing idea of my race to¬
day seems not to be of inventive genius,
but of graveyard and death. He is teaching
the children aibout how to be buried; how
to wink the eye; how to be craifity. I claim
that this is no new idea. It is written in
the Bible, "Thou must die and Siha.lt not
live." The graveyard always follows death.
That will come to a man by natural con¬
sequence. We must write our own history.
68
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
We musit print our own pages. Millions
and millions of pages which have been
banded down as a legacy to the generations
of the American people and the pages of
legislative enactments and of congressional
records are everlasting signs of the worth
and progress of the Anglo-Saxon race.
Where does our race come in to share the
honors of these printed pages?
When we look back upon the past and see
the names of our great men, Frederick Doug¬
lass and others, who now sleep the long
sleep of death, although their achievements
were bright, their culture and refinement
grand, yet history in moist parts is silent.
Why? Because both their deeds and achieve¬
ments have been left for others to write.
But my race, like all other races, will have
to plough tiheir own furrows, bend their
own bows and cure their own ills. If we
take the Anglo-Saxon in history, we find
him commencing on the American continent
more than five hundred years ago. What
has been the result of his push and thrift?
Not only did he conquer the savages, but
the earth upon which the, savages trod.
He bored into the heart of the earth and
69
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
there bursted forth living rivers of water.
He made the lightning his steed, caught the
muttering thunders and they belched forth,
spitting fire and smoke, both in war and
in peace. Deeds, great deeds, have been
handed down of his achievements until to¬
day he is the world wonder, while my peo¬
ple dwell amidsit graveyards and darkness
and in the forgotten.
(B) The Worth of a Printed Page. Blot
out the decisions of our supreme courts and
What would happen? Our country would
go into darkness and confusion. But no;
the printed record that stands out to the
intelligent skies, to possibly the greatest civ¬
ilization ever known to mankind, I make(
this plea because as a race we are separate
and distinct from all others. But because
of this fact, shall we sit and pine and think
of our black Skins and mean environments?
No; what others have done we can do. The
white man has not only driven back the
savages and taken their country, but hais
pushed forward the torch of industry and
civilizatoin until it was thought that he
had discovered aill land and seas; but it
came to us the other day that he had pushed
70
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
his face into the frozen frigid zone, to the
extreme North Pole, further by far than
Maine or the Lakes on the north, but has
overcome more than five hundred years of
adventure, hardships and trials by reach¬
ing that much coveted goal and nailing the
stars and stripes to it, thus exclaiming to
all of the world thait we have conquered.
In doing this, he tells of a land of ice and
perpetual snow where there is no life,
animal or plant; thus proving to the world
his undaunted courage and victorious
achievements. Who knows but that beyond
that there is another land, fin Which my
race may stoop down and bathe their cheeks
into perpetual showers of freedom, joy
and love?
(C) The Ultimate End of Triumph in
the Printed Page. It is to give to the wortf
from scientific investigation that we hav
lived, that wei have had our being, and thai
we have had our day. That a newborn
nation arose from the fleeting pen of Abra¬
ham Lincoln, though weak in the begin¬
ning, by reason of strength and encourage¬
ment they became strong and mighty. They
became a resourceful hand, a powerful hand
71
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
both in war and peace. But we must not
forget that it was the hand of God that
guided it. Now comes news to us from the
printed pages that another new country has
been discovered.
All these achievements should stimulate
us to rise in our might and power and bring
things to pass. Our base must be founded
in the everlasting God. Through Jesus
Christ, whom we glory forever, Amen.
PART III.
Roman Catholic-ism does not claim to be
a religion of the Bible. It is the reverse.
Roman Catholicism claims that the Bible is
like other sacred traditions among them.
It is the creation of the Roman church. It
is said that the religion of the Bible is the
religion that the Bible has produced. If
the Roman Catholic Church had to have
produced the Bible, it would not be possible
for the church to change the Bible at will.
But the Romish church claims the right to
make any change in the Bible that she may
desire. I claim that God hasn't given any
sect such a right since he has written the
Bible by inspiration and therefore, any
change made by dignitaries, Pope or Bishop,
is unwarranted and unscriptuiral and de¬
serves the condemnation and is condemned
by all true believers of the Lord Jesus
Christ. Although Catholics admit that
only immersion is bantism, when asked why
73
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
they sprinkle or pour, they answer, that the
church has the authority to make the change
in any way it sees fit.
I challenge any scholar and assert that
there is no such teaching admissable in
God's Holy Writ. To this I ask, "Is the
creature greater than the creator?" Or is
the creator superior to the creature? Com¬
mon sense will answer this question. It is
admitted by all civilized Christians that
the Bible alone is the inspired Book of God.
Therefore, its superiority to all creeds and
conditions. The Catholic Church does not
teach men to obey the Bible, but it teaches
obedience to the priest and reverence to
them.
President Roosevelt said on one occasion
referring to the Catholic Church, that they
taught the people to obey law, but a casual
look and thought will teach you to see that
the ex-president was mistaken in this idea,
since the Catholics teach obedience and rev¬
erence to the priest.
The Catholic constituency is by no means
a free people, since the pope!, who is styled
the head of the church, is the absolute
monarch. He is the head of the church so
74
Why Believers Should Be Baptized.
far as Catholicism teaches, but the Holy-
Scriptures teach that Christ the Son of the
Living God is the Head of the church. The
authority of Rome is herein expressed.
When one is said to become a Roman Cath¬
olic, it means to surrender the right to do
your own thinking or to follow your own
conscience. I claim further that Roman
Catholicism is a church of slavery. The
Negro race, above every other race, should
have little or nothing to do with Roman
Catholicism, for the fact that when this
continent was divided between the North
and South and the two governments were
set—Southern Confederacy and the North¬
ern Federals; when the great question of
slavery was hanging in the balances, the
Pope hastened with speed to recognize the
southern confederacy, thus putting his
everlasting stamp and approval upon slav¬
ery.
Let us remember that this game Pope
is the head of the Roman Catholic Church,
he is the absolute monarch, and his deci¬
sion, they are taught, is infallible. As
Christians of the New Testament, we be¬
lieve only in the fallibility of God.
75