Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-11-21

iho pray ,rful consideration Of as many of those
who read it as occupy the ground which the author
Off left. a. ~
From the Nee Hampshire Baptist Register.
CANDID EXAMINATION.
The fact contained in the following was |
inserted in the last Register, but as the cir
cums.ances have been communicated by
abe gentleman himselfto our correspond
en-, we are glad ofthe privilege ofiaying
them before our readers TO whom they will
undoubtedly be Interesting.
Brother Worth,-The following is an
extract from a letter to me under the date
OF July z, 1888, from a gentleman resid-
lng at Marietta, Ohio, who was recently
a Congregaiionalist minister. The case
affords an admirable illustration Of the
force of truth upon a candid aud ingenious
mind. Yours truly, J.
About eighteen months ago, an Ell.
Der ofthe Presbyterian church 70 which [
was preaching, in the county, became a
Biptist. On the occasion of his baptism,
fhe minister of Marietta preached on the
peculiar sentiments of his own denomina-
Rion. This sermon disquieted some ofthe
church, and the session requested me to
preach a discourse in answer to my Ba2-
list brother. | declined, saying | had not
thought of the subject since l left Ando-
yer, and | had no time for preparation.-
IN a few days, the session repeated the re-
1uest, saying the sermon must be preach
~, as two or three members ofthe church.
Nere about to ask a dismission to the Bap-
lists. Finding this to be the ease, l in
ior.ned the church OF my purpose to pre-
#pare a sermon as soon as practicable, and
requested them TO remain quiet Till they
shoald hear what | might have 10 say.
Thus compelled TO undertake the mat
Ter, | determined 10 enter into an examin-
ntion of the whole subject-with a spirit of
eandid enquiry, to take 1t up just as If |
bad never heard or read any thing on eitn-
er side. Not that I experted to find any
difficulties in the way OF my own opin-
ians: on the contrary. | anticipated an
Easy victory over my opponent, and the
lnorc decisive because of the can Tor with
Which | proposed to examine objections.
In commencing the Investigation, | took
np Prof. Stuart on Baptizo, the abiest
nork on the mode of baptism. The in
opiry before me was, what is the mean
nc of the words of Christ in institntinG
ehrislian baptism? In following the re
searches of the learned Professor, | wa
~ustonished 10 find the accumulated evi
dence which he had collected against my
views, and in favor of the Baptist inter
nfetation. | went over the ground agar
md again. laid aside his work and en-
tered into all original invest CATION of tn
Inject, independently of all authors. 90
ing through the whole range Of class
writers, and over the Hebrew of the o.
Testament, and the Greek of the Septuc
nin, and of the New Testament. | pusI
ed my inquiries to the utmost limit Of
aonrces OF information, and Of my own c;
rcities, andthe farther | prosecuted then
he stronger was the evidence in favor
~ opponent. would now have glad
ABANDONED the whole subject, but CO
hence would not permit me. Thus
bored for several months, till at leng>
tbrely against my will, | was compell
81 conclude that Immersion, and that on
iN christian baptism. AS to the s2bj Ct
of baptism, | feared difficulty, for VII,
~ Andover | did not easily satisfy mys
MM llul pJllI, I1ONGHCIP L lOUR L
Woods treatise and read it with inter
fa1erness, and with the utmos. anxiety
ind confirmation of my long cherish
unions. | soon perceived that if
Doctors premises were admitted, his CT
t~Iusions were irresistible. But [ COZ
nDt at once admit the premises, I CO
10 avoid the impression that the comm
on -four Savior, which Baxter calls
law of the church, i. e. by which
church is constituted, ought clearly
stow 1rho should belong to Chri
ehnrch, and hoto they should be admit
could not, therefore, think with
Woois. that | was at liberty to receive
IN blptism on proof made out IN an
ef aoay' than by the evidence of Sc
fufe. read Dwight, and Scot, and f
~. and Doidridge. and Barnes, and
"a. and Knapp, and Calvin, and the {
IAN Commentators. Sc. &c. but the n
read, the greater was the obscarit
whieh the subject was involved. l
: cred for months 10 the labyrinths o
: Abrahamic Covenant, the connection
J. <feen the old and the new dispensat
) Is substitution of modern for ancient
= "a. Till at last. | was compelled to
!! ne Bible in its simplicity, and ackr
edge that the word Of God represent
tiercrs and them ALONE, as the p
subjects of gospel baptism.
no To the above conclusions, I was f
oil BY the power o ftruth, and in de6ar
~ the resistance OF education, pref,
II church relations, college connection.
y temporal interests. And Is I coul