Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-06-28
For the Southern Argus.
PAIDO-BAPTISM.
Mr.. EDITOR,

in your paper of the 18th inst. over
the signature "a Reviewer"purPorlIng
10 be review Of the doctrines as set
forth in a phamphlet recently publish
ed and circulated in this town by our
fellow citizen DR.. Spillman, "Local
minister Of the nlethodist Episcopal
Church"
The subject would have been noticed
sooner, but having been informed and
believing that the article referred to was
in all probability written by the author
orthe phamphIet reviewed, | deemed
unnecessary to notice il. Know
ing that his reputation for Biblical lore
was not sufficient TO give 1t much
weight in the community, but latterly
having been informed'that 1t emanated
from one of our most distinguished
cIergymen, one that is considered as
the Oracle, the Magnus Apollo OF the
Paido baptist parties of this town,
have thought it would not be imProP-
er TO notice it. In lact, think it is
necessary thatit should be noticed from
the fact, that he not only gives a syn
opsis c! the contents Of the phamphlet
but also the three other principal
grounds, upon which Paido baptists
rely in support of Infant baptism, to
each Of which his sanction is appen-
ded.
The first point noticed by ga Re-
viewer"is the identity Of the church OF
God in all ages of the world. This
says he, they Thick is established by the
following scriptures, Jer. xi 16. Rom.
XII II IS. Eph. ii chap. Acts XIV 16.
Mat VS. IL. Mat. Xxx 33 81. Col. ii
Bur for the time and space il
would occupy in your columns, !
would endeavor TO show the mis-
application of all the above reieren-
ces, | hope the reader will exam
ne all of them with their context
keeping before his mind the persons
addressed and the object of the writer
If however it should ever be necessary
| will at some leisure time review al
OF he above quotations and endeay-
or to show their true meaning.
Our Author, after giving US the Pai-
do baptist argument in favor OF the
identity of the Jewish and Christian
churches, says that. "The conclusion
is, if infants were members of tn,
church under the Jewish economy
which all allow, it follows as a matte
of course they must be members IN
der the Christian Dispensation."
Now, Mr.. Editor, | presume tina
nearly every Sunday School schola
knows that the Jewish religion was
national as we'll as spiritual religion
and that the Christian religion is
spiritual religion only. The Jew
were the recipients of temporal ant
spiritual bene6ts-alI received tempo
, raj benefts-all were entitled to tn
benefits of the Promised 1and--bu
all did not enjoy the spiritual blessing
none but the believing Jews wer
entitled to the spiritual blessings =
! Hence Abraham was the Father {
T the JeLiering, not Of infant or unbeliet
: ing Jews. Rom. tx 6 Z. All are NJ
Il Israel that are Of Israel-neither be
e cause they are the seed of Abraham
s are they all children, but in Isaac sha
) thy seed be called. Rom. iv IL. An
} he (Abrahaml received the sign ,
Is circumcision, seal Of ike righteous
:! ness of the faith which he had yet b.
n ing uncircumcised: that he might |
W the father O. all them that belieUe. An
II since there are no temporal blessing
+ to which children are entitled undo
l. the Christian as under the Jewish iii
al pensation, | would ask why baptiz
z, them, more particularly since it is o.
Is posed by the whole tenor of Apostle
Ell ic teaching.
Now we all know that Jehova
= was the King of the Jews and q
IL children, as soon as they were Dor
D were legitimate subjects or citizens
the Kingdom, and did not have to
- circumcised to constitute them mer
al bers, but they were circumcised as
49, token Of the covenant made with Abr
u ham. Therefore if las represented
ga Reviewer baptism came in t
room of circumcision, hope Review
wiIlnever attempt to initiate another
FAINT by baptism,as circumcision did I
make infants members of the Jewi
church. The Jews were command
to circumcise all their servants. NJ
ifBaptism be in room of this ordinant
Of course our author and all Pal
baptists, that agree with him, are l
cessarily bound TO baptise the hou
hold servants of all believers. Z
e6 idea is ridiculous. Again, Accord
10 Paul, we are not made children
baptism but by faith, see Gal. iii,
no Therefore if circumcision constitu
Jews members or children of the Je
ish Kingdom, Paido baptists, 10
consistent, must say that faith came
the room of circumcision; and "
therefore, baptize children.