The Democratic Whig. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1843-01-05

their emerging from the water wise a enble,l
ot the resurrection Of the BODY and 81 fllam Z
q total change oflife.', - : : =
Mr. Wesley says vol page 90. ! Mar
WEIGH, aged eleven days, was baptized accor'
ding TO the custom Of the first church. and m
rule of the church Of England bv i,an,ersaon
The child was III then. bur recovered from thai
hour" Same vol page "a. he SAYS, II wa;
asked to baptize child Of Mr.. parkerss. sec.
onu 0aliff Of Savannah, but Mrs. Parker told
me .Nelther MIR. P. nor will consent to is
beng dipped answered. II Won certify
.nat your child is weak, it win suffice (the ru.
oric says)to pour water upon IT, She replied
may the child is not weak, but / am resolved
II shall not bedipped." This argument could
not confute, so went home, and the child 3 a.
baptized by another person.
Wesley's com. Rom, vi A, ssThis alIudes ia
the ancient manner Of baptizing by immersion.
There were two other points brought for.
ward by Mr. McF. which must briefly no.
tlcesbefore concluding, viz. the resisting of the
Splrst by the Jews when Stephen spoke to
them, and the conversion of Cornelius and
family.
1t viii be recollected that Mr.. McF. ouoted
Acts vii, 81, for the purpose of shelving tina;
the Spirit (wthout the agency of words) en-.
tiers mysteriously into and regenerates the
heart of the sinner; but in this, as in his other
efforts to subvert the things believed bv the
disciples" he has no scriptural evidence to
support him, which the reader will see bv a
reference to the context, Stephen told them
That they resisted the Spirit, as did also their
fathers, now if it can be ascertained in what
manner their fathers resisted the Spirit, then
the matter is settled beyond controversy, Ste
phen tells them in the next verse how their
,%014 81 Co., H.
the prophets have not your fathers prosecuted!
and they have slam them, which Showed be.
fore the coming of the Just one," thus when
the Spirit through the words ofthe prophets re.
proved them for their iniqutics, tthey oppo.
sed its instruction, they would not hearken to
the words of the Spirit, they hardened their
hearts, theyIeven went so far in their opposi.
ton to the Spirit, as to stone, imprison and
murder the inspired prophets, and teachers
of the most high; and these very Jews,
when Stephen spake were cut to the heart
". 54) by the words of the Spirit spoken
through him. (not by a mystical operation)
and in order to resist the Spirits influence on
their minds. they stopped their ears, aud re.
fused TO hear its voice or give heed to its ad.
monitions, so even now, men resist the Spirit
by refusing to hear and submit to its comm and
ments as communicated to them through the
words of Jesus and his apostles. II we wish
10 be led by the Spirit we must follow the
words of the Spirit, as given US in the Bible
and all who teach men to believe or act differ.
emily or refuse to square their faith and their &C
tons by the sanctifying precepts of the Bible
do virtually resist the Spirit of God. Take
heed Mr.. McF. that you do not teach men tt
resist Gods Spirit when you tell them, thai
some of Gods Commandments are "essentia
aud others nonessental,' for just in proportion
as wearefuse allegiance to his precepts, so do
we resist his Spirit.
The conversion Of Cornelius was brough
before the audience by Mr.. McF. as proc
against the doctrine of .baptism for remission
| ofsins." would not notice this objection, wa.
it not for the fact that [ am often asked by m,
Methodist friends s'what do YOU do with tn
case of Cornelius" as if it really was IN oppo
sitlon to s:baptism for remission OF slns,' AM
favored the cause Of AIethodiSna, and the NOR
| reflect upon it the greater my commiseratiol
| for them to think that the cause of methodisn
requires it's Infatuated votaries to seize and re
" upon such false and Elusive testimony /
there any thing really in The case of Corneliu
| that favors Nicholson, let us see; Did Pete
| tell them tn kneel down or to come up to a
| altar. aud he would pray for them that the
mirht eget religion" did he tell them to go I
the dark and gloomyarecesses of the forest, an
theE to agonize and groan until the Lor
would graciously manifest himselfto them, c
did he tell them to retire to the closet, an
there Gid would speak peace to their soul:
Had Peter been a Methodist he would doubt
/ less have required some of these things, br
that religion was not Ill vogue IN those day.
land consequently he gave no such direction;
He simply commenced preaching Christ ST
him and all that were in his house," and sait
Acts x, 43 ITO him give all the prophets Wi
ness that through his name whatsoever 'bt
ilieve IN him shall receive remission otsns.
| Here we learn PERMISSION was through h
name,' and we find (verse 49, and he con
manded them to be baptized in The name of th
Lord Jesus. Here we see that they receIS
the benefit Of his name in baptism, and as the
were to receive remission through his nam
then of course they were pardoned in baplisf
But saws Mr.. McF. 'sthe Holy Spirit W;
i oiven TO him before his baptism, and ho
3 could this be unless he had been pardoned
81 Very true. he did receive the Spirit befo
= hanti3m. but he was not 1then pardoned b
caIse Peter told him that he would be pardon,
. lthrouph his (Christ's1 name, and the virtue
{ that name had not then been applied to hil
g But Mr.. McF. would say "why was the Ho
s Spirit given to him, if he was not pardoned
E | the HOLY Spirit was given as confirmation
/ the testimony OF Peter and 10 convince
Jews who accompanied Peter that God b
q Also granted repentance to the Gentiies,
n Heb. Il. 8, A, we learn that the words OF s.
: vatier sswere confirmed unto US by them tn
heard him, God also bearing them soit'less, be
= with SIGNS and aooalders and with Diners mn
'e cles.s and gifts Of The Holy Ghost. according
N his own will.'' So God bore witness or &C
. firn1ed the truth of what Peter said to Corr
illus by this display of .signs and aoonders q
Is gifts eftke Holy Ghost" am aware that
p Is sometimes said that the Holy Spirit
s. niven to Cornelius to produce faith, but Il
IS cannot be true, for Peter tells him Acts K
lis. .sThat word [ say We know. which v
pubIished throughout all India and began fr'
SaliIee. after the baptism which John prea'
S. "a. how God annoinied Jesus of Nazareth 10
r. the rTTozu Ghost and Nth po,cer." So IT
nears from this, that CorneliEs knew and
y iieved that "God had Amounted Jesus OF n;
y areth with the Holy Ghost and with powe
le Tie fact of the outpouring of the Spirit
:. no evidence of his pardon. did not the wick
Ralaatn receive miraculous manifestation
20 fife Spirit SO as to enable him to propeecy
IN this ffo when be was an enemF to the Soc