Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1840-01-22
mat believers were the more added II
!ne Lord multitudes, both Of men and

a - 80 WCIc the Nt00T6 AIDED IL
.ne Lo1u multitudes, both Of men ano
!. subsequent to the appointment of the
seven; The preaching, the persecution. a nd
martyrdom of Step hen; Philip breaches
CnrlS' At Samaria. But when they be-
lleved Philip, preaching the things con-
cern'nS the Kingdom Of GOD, and the
name OF Jesus Christ they were baptized
both men and women" "T'hen Simon
himself believed also, and when he was
baptized, he continued with Philip. and
wondered, beholding the miracles and
Signs which were DONE" To whom
iDeter said. thou hast neither part nor
lot IN this matter; for thy heart is not
right In the sight of God. Repent there.
lore of this thy wickedness: and prav
GOD, IT perhaps the thought of thine
heart may be forgiven thee: for | Der.
celve that thou art in the gall of bitter
ness and IN the bond of iniquity."
The Apostle does not exhort this pro-
fessed believer to repent and be bap,ized
but, after describing his fearful state to
repent and pray God if perhaps" &c
FhIlIp Is sent to preach to the eunuch-
"Ihen Philip opened his mouth. and
.cegan a! the same scri p!ure, and preached
unto him Jesus And as they went on
their way they came to a certain wafer.
and the eunuch said, See here is water
what doth hinder me to be baptized?
And Philip said, if thou believest with all
thine heart, thou mavest. And he an
swered and said l believe that jesus
Christ is the Son Of God" "An1 he
commanded the chlriot to stand still: and
they went down both into the wat.r. both
Philip and the eunuch. and he baptized
him.
How can language more fully describe
what it is 10 preach Jesus, who are the
proper subjects of baptism, and how it is
to be performed The circumstances of
the case account for his not being Joined
to any branch Of the organized church.
No;lcr the account of Saul at Damascus,
" And he received sight forthwith and
arose and was baptized" Peter preach
ing the gospel TO Cornelius and those
assembled with him says, "Can any man
lofold water that these should not be bap
-lzed, which have received the Hoiv |
Ghost as well as we? And he command |
ed them 10 be baptized in the name of the
Lord" So also Lydia, whose heart the
Lord opened, that she attended unto the
things, which were spoken of Paul, when
she was baptized and her household" &c.
So at the conversion of the jailor and his |
household, "And brought them out, and
said, Sirs, what must do TO be saved! |
And they said, believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and Inv
house. And they spake unto him the
word of the Lord, and to all that were in
his house. And he took them the same
hour Of the night, and washed their
stripes and was baptized, he and all his
slraIghtwav. And when he had brought
hem into his house, he sat meat before
hem and rejoiced, believing in God with
all his house." Notice, they preached
he word to all that were in the house,
and again believing in God with all his
house" To the same purpose is the
example oc "Crispus, the chief ruler of
the synagogue, who believed on the Lord,
with all his house: and many of the
Corinthians hearing believed, and were
baptized" Thus in very brief manner
have been transcribed both the command |
ment of our Savior and the practice of
his apostles, under great variety of cir
cumstances The application of the truth,
thus adduced, to the questions proposed |
is left to every mans conscience in the
sight of God, remembering who hath |
said, If ye love me keep my command.
ments." And "now | beseech you, brelh-
rem, mark them which cause divisions
and offences contrary to the doctrine
which We have learned; and avoid them
For they that are such serve not our
Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; |
and by good words and fair speeches de-
ceive the hearts of the simple" w.