Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1841-03-31

Il
tist brethren might seem of itself sufficient
to inspire the Baptists with confidence in
their sentiments, yet they do not let the
subject rest here.
2. They have thoroughly examined
the Greek classics and Scriptures them
selves, and have found what their breth-
rem of all denominations had long told
them, 10 be true, viz: that the word bap-
THO is never used to designate the act of
sprlnkling or pouring, but invariably the
i act of immersion.
3. What much increases their conf
dence, is the fact that the most strenuous
advocates for sprinkllng, such as Mr.. Min
or, OF Penn Yam, aud DR.. BrownIee, OF
New York, adduce no passages but what
render it obvious that immersion, or Dip
ping, or plunging. was the idea designed
to be conveyed by the writer.
4 The history of baptism, as given in
the New Testament and the uniform prac-
tice of the Church for 1900 years, prove
we are right. .~~:...
5. The invariable practice ofthe Greek
Church from its origin to the present
time
The foregoing are some Of the reasons
why Baptists infer that immersion is es-
sential to Christian baptism. The i'm
;nersion of the primitive Church being
sustained by Jews and In6dels, Mahome-
dams and Catholics, and by every promi-
nent sect among protestants, it unavoida
bly, follows, that those who adhere invar.
iably to immersion, are in this respect
the primitive or apostolic Church, and
hence are not responsible for the numer'
Gus divisions into which Zion is now d.
vided. 1t also follows as an inevitable
consequence, that so long as any refuse to
return to the primitive standard, just SC
long there must be division in the Church
For it cannot be expected that the time
will ever arrive, when every Christian
will have forsaken the primitive order O.
Gods house 4.
Now, upon what grounds do our Pado.
baptist brethren forsake the apostolic or.
der of the church, Why. upon the mere
inference that something else will do just
as well. They assume that immersion is
not essential. And on the strength Of a
mere inference in relation to it, they are
willing to rend Zion in twain, and cause
| her to bleed al every pore.
But who has told them that something
else will do just as well? Did God when
be told Moses to make all things accord
ing to the pattern showed him in the
Mount2 Did Samuel, when he said to
Sau!, Ito obey is better than sacrifice
and TO hearken is better than the fat o
rams ?" Did Christ, when he command
ed his disciples 10 "teach them to obey al
things whatever I have commanded you
No, it is all mere inference, and that, too
directly in the face of every precept and
. example recorded in the Bible Hence
as | dare not divide the Church upon
mere inference, dare not be Pedo-b ap
A fist. ~.=
II. As my Pe1o-baptist brethren accuse
the Baptists of dividing the Church upor
5 the mere question-in what way or mode
f shall an external ordinance be performed
) dare not be one of their number. Be-
cause, first, this seems to imply that some.
thing besides immersion IS mode of bap
tism which has never been proved BY any
writer on the subject. They all, without
difficulty, prove immersion, but in nc
f work have seen, has any other act beer
proved to be baptism. Second. The ques
ton implies that the Bap,ists are particu
Fl larly about the mode Of the ordinance
! This have yet to learn. For myself,
consider it but the mere shadow of The
substance. Hence, if it Can be shown
i that sprinkling, or pouring be baptism,
, will admit them to be of equal importance
, with immersion. Until then, shall con
tend for the importance of Immersion
What is mode of baptism? The same
as mode of immersion. What then is
mode Of immersion? Why, some hav.
: immersed with the face towards the wa
/ ter. This is one mode of baptism. 9th
/ ers have first kneeled and then been incIin
ed forward nll they were immersed. 9th
ers still have been immersed backwards
This is another mode Others have beer
immersed in large lakes or riveTs-other.
in more shallow springs and small rivu
lets, and others still in oaptisteries located
in Churches. Baptism or immersion, il
any OF these why's is considered equally
f valid by Baptisis. All the desire is tina
! the act be performed. As to the mode o
' its performance they are no more partic
{ ular than their brethren of other Church
g es; hence | cannot be Pado-baptist
o III. dare not charge the Baptists with
= the Sun OF exciting the compliance with al
! external ordinance above uniform and con
Z s's'ent piety. This charge is preferred
q againsl US, because we consider INNER
o. S'ou z prerequisite to communion at tht
q Loro table Why do Baptists conslde
q oaP..sH prerequisite to the Lords sup
,e per! Not because thew ,uish 10 a,.lt