Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-02-23

n
ofthe supper until be came into the church.
If there is any place, please name chapter
and verse; Ii will be pleasure to me to
read it. You have not named the chap
Ter and verse in this communication !
will notice what you have elsewhere VIII
ten. You say :-"That brother whom you
may mean to ceusure at the sacramento
board Cor criminal blindness. in not seeing
immersion to be his duty, because ne VIII
not properly open his eyes, you VIII every
where else fellowship as good christian.
You converse. sing and pray with him IN !
loving style, as dear brother in the
Lord" We have not charged brethren
Of other denominntionswith criminal blind |
ness. This is charge Of your own
making. Name the book, chapter and
page; where you found it. You have
acknowledged that immersion is so plain,
that the convert on going to his Bible can
learn it of himself. Then. Sir, what is
the reason that they do not learn miners
on to be their duty2 leave you to de-
eide this question. ! ask you, brother:-
willyou not converse, sing, and pray with
a young convert before he is baplized2-
And will you invite him 10 seat with
you at the Lords table? We decline
union with Pedo-baptists in the celebration
OF the Lords supper, because it is a
church ordinance; and to unite with those
as church members who in our opinion,
have not entered the church by the door
Of Chrisfs appointing, would be. we con-
slider, a most unworthy reflection on his
wisdom, and disregard Of his just author
ity-since he has appointed baptism as
the way. in which all believers should be
admitted to visible church fellowship.
Who are we, that we should presume TO re-
ceive them without baptism to any ofthe
exercises peculiar to the Gospel church
as such! We should not elect Pedo-
to the Office Of pastor or deacon for they
are church officers; and on the same
principle, we decline joint participation
Of the Lords supper. But prayer and
praise, preaching the Gospel and chris
tan benevolence are not acts peculiar "a
the church. They were duties before the
foundation of a Gospel church, and would
have been duties TO the end Of time, had
no such institutions existed. Union with
Pedobaptists, therefore. in this exercise, is
nor deviation from our principles. In
such cooperation we should unite with
them, not as church members; but as
christians in pursuit of objects, in which
all good men should engage, whether be.
longing 10 church or not. In uniting
Nkh Pedobaptists in prayer and praise,
md preaching the Gospel, and acts Of
benevolence, we cultivate such an union
as is evidently our duty. But joint part
icipalion ofthe Lords supper with Pedo-
baptists would be deliberate concurrence
in such reception of the ordinance, as in
our opinion is decidedly unscriptural /;
and this cannot be our duty.
From these remarks, think you will
see thatthe charge you have made against
US, for treating a person as a christian,
and at the same time refusing to com.
mune with him at the Lords table, is
without foundation. l am led to believe,
from some statements in your communica
tons, that you make communing at the
Lords table test OF charity or brotherly
love II so, what an important series
might be rendered, in case Of a new tran
station in which mixed communion should
De substituted for the words love and
charity in all those passages in which the
expression relates to the exhibition of this
grace towards our fellow christians. No,
that these terms are considered precisely
synonymous; for though the strict Bap.
fist cannot obtain credit for exhibiting ex.
ternaiindications Of esteem towards Pedo.
baptisis. the esteem. is sort of latent
love in their breasts, not we believe in
every case absolutely denied. The fol.
lowing may serve as specimen Now
aoideth faith, hope, mixed communion
these three; but the greatest Of these i
mixed communion. Put on bowels Of
mercy. kindness, humbleness of mind
meekness, long suffarioo e.,