The Madisonian. (Canton, Miss.) 1850-1855, 1850-09-19

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yours to enlist the sympathies oflhe people,
or TO speak more explicitly, and to the
point, he utters the cry Of illiberality, per-
s%ecutiOn &c., as soon as-some notice is
taken Of sumo of his proceedings.
From my knowledge and observation
Of human nature, | think, | may venture to
assert, land think history will bear me out
in the assertion that, as a general rule,
the illiberdt person, and the prosecutor,
are always the first, to cry out tliberality
and persecution. And now for The proof
of the assertion, in this case. Its dnown
by The citizens OF Canton, that the Rev
writer has lately been preaching on The
long controverted sdbject Of Baptism"
and in one Of those discourses on the ac-
ZION or mode twill be, recollected by ma
ny Of them, that he asserted, that the
"Reformers, Luther, Calvin, Knox, and
others, and the most celebrated and dis
tinguisbed men Of the Presbyterian church,
or perhaps of the world, believed that i'm.
mersion was the proper mode, and the
mode practiscd by the primitive christians,
and yet they would not practice il, and
he could not offer any apology for them"
Nov, | would ask, was NOT that a grave
and sweeping charge, 10 make against the
best and most useful, and most celebrated
men in ancient, and modern history? a
charge Of Inconsistency, and hypocrlcy u
and does il not evince an illiberal mind, a
prosecuting spirit, and a want OF charity !
| always have felt a great delicacy in lm-
peacling, or even doubling the v%eracity OF
any respectable man, aud particularly,
that Of a miDisler of The gospel, but IN
'this case, | must take the liberty of saying,
that | have some acquaintance with church
history, aud particularly with the practice,
and belief Of the Presbyterian ministry,
and I have never yetread or heard ofone
(much less Of many who believed that
immersion was the mode, or action, auth
orized by scripture, or practised by The pre-
miIive christian 4, but on the contrary, they
belev d that spriukling was the mode
practlsed under the newtestament dispen-
%salion, and by the apostles, that being the
most convenient, and decent, and answers
all thespdrposes for which Y was intended;
baptism being only an initiatory, moi a
soul-saving, ordinance; and | have never
! heard but one Presbyterian minister say,
that he would ba?tize by immersion, a
candidate for church membership, though
the person applying, might desire it; but
there are three things; that they will do,
they will give a member, in good standing,
in the church, a certificate to join auy
other evangelical church, they will receive
members, who have been Of good standing
il other churches, without requiring them
to be baptized the second time, and they
invite all evangelical christians, to unite
with them, in christian fellowship, and
communion, at the Lords table. Enough
on this point, and | leave it TO the citizens
of Canton. to say whc are the illibeial and
prosecutors. am glad the Rev. writer
has come to the conclusion to publish his
sermons, and hope the good people OF thi,
community will be much ~enlightned, anC
ediied.
will now proceed, to notice some of tn,
most important points, in his address
with as much brevity as possible, FL
; says, "recentIy he has been preaching o.
christian baptism, 10 his church, and L
as many as mere disposed, 10 hear III.
subject discussed. All thiihiag persons
odmitthe prop riety, Of doing SO. MIN
listers are under obligations, 10 prepc.
tie Gospel" admit the %propnety, if h,
= chooses, provided it be done in a prcpe
; manner, and that is, not to tread upon tn
toes oil others, who may honestly diff
: with him, and charge them with i%nconsis
tency, and hypocricy. also admit, tina
il is the imperative duty, of ministers /
preach the gospel. What is the gospel
My understanding Of it is, good news, {
e glad tidings, or IN other words, it IS lhi
he plan Of salvation purchased by the sufIt
ings and death of Chlist. All christian
$, believe in the ordinance OF baptism, an
rs perform tin their various churches in di
ne ferent ways; but cannot perceive how Il
to writer could edge In the Gospel, 10 tn
ID place; when he set out with preaching, {
&c the ordinance of christian baptism b
he there is some thing, still a little further 0
es than the ordinance, which the writer
ial using all the power Of his eloqueuce,
Wy impress On the minds Of the people. al
that mode or action, is immersion; Y
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