Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1840-01-29
B 4 p T S NJ
4 PRE-REoUIslTE TO coIMUNloN,

4
\ PREREQUISITE TO COMMUNION.
by Rev. Peter Sim nson.7
The following observations are address.
ed PARTICULARLY TO such persons as believe
that immersion isthe onIy mode of Ban.
tisn.
Ia our researches afer TRUTH in divini-
ty as well as in philosophy, much assist.
ance is often derived from analooy.-
Whca we have collected all the evidence
Of any truth which tie scriptures afford.
our conviction of that particular truth
play be strengthened by Computing the
esidence Of it with taat or other truths
which are not doubted We assert that
baptssm IS a prerequisite 10 communion
1--we can prove that this proposition is as
well sustained from the scriptures as 9th
Htuths generally admitted, then we are
hound TO receive it as one of the es,ab-
IIsned prmciplcs of the Gospel. 1t is
generally admitted bv all Baptsts. that
fan Is a prerequisite 10 baptism. 1t is
also generally admitted that Baptism is u
prerequisite 10 church membership. These
'fo principles are sustained by The same
evidence which proves that baptism is
prerequisite to church Communion. The
EVIDENCE THAT either of these three nr;nc;.
Pies is true, is derived from the examnle
cfthe Apostles. The commission which
Christ gayeeto his Apostles, implies
rule lor communion, equally explicit with
ibe rule Of baptism, or the rule for the
admission Of members into the church.
Go teach all nations, baptizing them in
The name Of the Father, and of the Son.
add of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them
10 observe all things whatsoever | have
commanded YOU" 10 this commission,
TIE order of faith, and baptism, and com
mpnion, as was recognized by the apos-
ties, IS announced: FIRST, they were com
manded e teach or disciple all nations;
secondly they are required TO baptize all
such as were so taught: thirdly, they
were enjoined to teach them ali things
whatsoever Christ had previously COM
manded And he had previously com
manded them TO observe the Lords Sup
PER- for he had said, This do in re-
nenbrance OF me9' Now if this be the
order Of the gospel institutions, then GER
lanly BAPTISM precedes the communion
This is the oTder;in which the institutions
q the gospel are given in the commiss-
Oni and the practice of the apostles is a
p'tlect commentary upon the meaning of
his commissions. Ii they uniformly re-
gurded this order, in administering bap-
lsm and the Lords supper, then we have
no scriptural right TO devia,e from this
oder, when we observe tn So institutions;
for the example of the apostles constitutes
an obligation, as binding upon all the
churches of Christi as any obligation
nruIcaled by expressed precepts Or
his account, the conduct OF the primitive
Christians, in relation to the ordinances
constitutes our rule for the admission O
communhants at the Lords table. lie
Us therefore learn our duty concerning
Baptism and the Lords supper, from til,
Practice OF the apostolic churches. w
lrarn from the scriptures, that it was tn
practice of their members to be baptizet
before parlaliing of the communion. Al
who composedlhe communion. All VIII
composed the commandments, when III
Lords Supper was Instituted, were bap
Yea persons, These consisted of tn
Lord Jesus Christ and the twelve apps
les No one need doubt that the apo;
YES We're baptized. Upon The election {
,,naposlle 70 Gil the place from'whch j.
gas by transgression fell, Peter SAID
Wherefore Of these men who have CON
lanled with us all the while, beginnn
Ron Johns baptism until nov, must on
% ordainedt TO be a witness with us of hi
'esurreetion.' This implies that all tn
apostles commenced their religious pr,
'ssion near the time Of Johns ministry
ana Of course must have been baptize
,'ner by. him or by some ofthe other 70
sweTs Of Christ Itswas the practice |
yaFlst, to bartize BY means OF his disc
Pes' all thai believed on him, while h
vas yet in the world and certainly ii
spos'les were not excepted. 1t is expires
\ said that Jesus made and baptized mo
uscipes than John, though Jesus bap'i
g not. but his disciples. 1t is thereto
Nundantiy evident that the first commul
ants at the Lords table were bantiz
Persons. Another instance of commu
% recorded in the sculpture, was aft
ne day of Pentecos.. Those who par
c,Pated inthis communion were the dis
Pies Of Christ, some OF whom believ
lelore his cruciixion. and Others We
vnong the three thousand who were cc
'e''ed on the day Of Pentecost, and W
Unplied with the exhortalion Of Pet
xnich was. Repent and be baptized >
'aa the same day they were added to
.aOfeh. OF these il IS said they CONT,
: sseadfsstly in the apostles doctri
sSo ~ breaking Of bread Therefore