Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-02-23
. o#rgz ri : For the Telegrap b.
THE CLOSE COMMUNION OF THE
BAPTISTS.
BROTHER GRANTS REPLY.
c. o n t ! 70 ne d :.


COntan
Let all christian denominations turn
their faces towards the table of the Lord
IN the Baptist church, as it stands spread
with the significant emblems OF our Saw
ior's -mangIed body and streaming blood
and inquire what bar is put to their con
sciences, to prevent them from coming to
that soul reviving feast. We say to them
believe in Jesus Christ, be immersed in
water in the name of The Holy Trinity,
unite with the church, aud sit down with
US at this holy feast. They unitedIy say
to US, that every step of this requirement,
is according TO Gods word. They have
often by their practice, and their declara-
tons protested their perfect fellowship 10
I all this. Here then is an open road. from
the table in our church, 10 the consciences
of all surrounding christians. We ask
what is free and open communion at the
Lords table, but In such way as to put
no bar at the door of christians con-
science2
In this sense, the communion in the
Baptist church, is the only free and open
communion in the church on earth.
SprinkIing and pouring for baptism, is a
bar to our consciences. And it avaiIs
nothing how kind and pressing the invi-
t7tion u.s. for US to come and sit down with
them at the Lords table, so long as they
keep this bar against US. 1t more efec-
tGallv secures to shut them from our COM
pany at the Lords table than bar of iron.
The bar that separates Us at the Lords
table, the Baptists have had no hand in
putting up; but their belief, practice, and
their prayers have constantly tended to
pull it down. There are now not fat
from half a million Baptist commandments
in these United States. We stand at the
door of other denominations wishing the
way 10 be opened, that we may conscien.
tiously 60 in and celebrate the suferings
of Jesus Christ with them. We should
truly rejoice in such an act. But what
Go the Baplists ask to be done tc open the
way for them! We ask our brethren to
give up non-essential, and practice be-
LEVERS baptism. Their consciences would
be perfectly satisfied with such a baptism,
and yet they hold to their none essential ,
and keep half a million of Baptis,s out oil
their doors. We will hear what Mr. -
says: g think this impression, that
they feel that their brethren (not the Bap-
tsts) are church criminals, is very fixed
one. And their manner, aid the extent to
which they carry out the matter, goes to
prove, however unwilling they could be
on all occasions openl Y to avow it, II
any OF their own members sit down with
others to the feast, they will excommuni,
cate them as soon as they would horse
thief. gambler,or profane person. Delive!
them over to satan, simply for sitting down
with these men and commune, to remem.
Der the death of our Lord"
We deny the charge of placing our
selves in an attitude of hostility towards
the whole christian world. But we d.
Iclaim-and of this presumption. yor
equally with ourselves are guilty-tha
tthe Baptist church is the only church il
the world which keeps the ordinances a:
they were delivered. And ifthis occasion
the unmingIed emotions of surprise ane
indignation, so be it. We are not care
full to shun the honest avowal of our prIn
cipIes. four Pedo-Baptist brethren al
low your misrepresentation of our con
duct, together with their own misconcep
tons, and antipathies 10 prevent the per
cep,ion oftruth, the blame does not lie a
our door. If We ale as bgoted as som
of our liberal friends are pleased to re
present; or ten thousand times more sc
, the word of God is just as true and as i'm
pera,ive as though the most liberal of al
! in the pale of the Catholic Church
Who, but Yourself my friend. would eve
imagine, that in refusing to receive Pedo
I ba ptists to our communion, our object
10 treat them as heathen'' or to intimi
> date, or 10 let them know that they ar
wiIlfuily ignorant, OF blinded2 Our oh
iect is to keep the ordinances as they wer
4 delivered to Us; regardless OF new form