The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-12-02
WRITTEN FOR THE PREss
JOHNS BAPTISM.
NO. g.

NJ. z.
l. "By what fOrmuln did John administe,
Baptism
2. Was Johns Baptism Christian BAPTISM,
8. If Johns baptism was Christian BAPTISM
why wcre the people ,oho submitted to it 6aptiz-
ed9
4. Why was our Lord Jesus Christ baptized
8. Amd, upon ,ohat profession Of Faith3
9. What does baptism represents
7. lit represents the burial and resurrection
Of Christ, what represents the descension of
the Holy Ghost, or, the baptism of the Holy
Ghost2
8. By what mode was baptism administered 2
9. If by immersion, soow how ":nto means
nnderf"
now proceed to notice the third Query.
"If Johns Baptism was Christian Baptism,
why were the people uho submitted to it re bap.
tsed2" Suppose the Disciples Paul found at
Ephesus had been baptized by John and after
wards re-baptized ut Ephesus. This could not
have proved Johns baptism was not Christian
baptism. for there is no intmation of any de-
feet in the ordinance as practised by him, but
on the other hand the fact that the Savior sub
mitted to it. is proof of its perfection as an
ordinance. and tire appointment Of John by the
Savior is a proof that there was no defect n
the administrator. The natural inference then
is that the d=fect which rendered re baptism
assumes the very thing to be proved-that their
re'baptism was rendered necessary because
Johns baptism wns not Christian baptism !;
which is nowhere intimated. But, if true, the
truth of it wouldsof course, fall upon my Quer.
list.
But if this is q case baptism it is per-
haps the only enc recorded in the Scriptures
Peter, Phillip, Andrew. Nathaniel and Apollos,
with many Others submitted only to Johns
baptism, and yet these labored by the appoint
meHt OF Christ under the Christian dispensa-
stlon, even admitting that that dispensation did
mot commence until the ascension of the Sa-
vior. What would the one case at Ephesus
prove against SO many? But I again repeat
that if all had been re-baptized, and their CO.
ses reported by the sacred historians, they
would not have proven that Johns was not
Christian baptism, unless, nay Querist will prove
that they were baptized for this reason.
1t would be ehacult to prove that these Dis
c,ples were re- baptized ut alL-sI believe, how
ever, they were. Twill now proceed to give
the most probable reason why they were, and
in doing SO, will give my Methodst Brother
the authority wsShave for baptizing those who
are 30 frequently leaving his Society for the
purpose of Uniting with the Baptist Church.
1t is not said these Twelve were baptized
by John, but "unto Johns Baptisns'' These
from their distance from Palestine had proba-
by heard vague and erroneous reports concern
ing Johns baPtism-perhaps they were entire
ly ignorant of the qualifications required by
him preparatory to the administration of the
ordinance; or, the administrator may have
been entirely incompetent, either on account
of ignorance concerning what John taught, or
from not being duly appointed to that work -
Paurs conversation with them seems very clear
ly to imply that there was a want ofproper in.
struction, either in the candidates, or, in the
administrator. IfMr. Wesley could organize
Society ton his own hook" becoming her
lawgiver, and dispensing, as he did, with the
Scriptural qualifications for baptism by adher-
Eugland,) had borrowed from the Church OF
Rome; surely is it not unreasonable to suppose
that similar thing was done in q lesser en-
lghtened age of the world. And if our pedo-
Baptist brethren re-bap.ize those who come to
their communion from the Papal Church, sure
ly they can never censure us for baptizng those
who come from their Societies to our Church,
when we remember the we'll known
fact that in several respects (such as mode Of
baptism. and it's subjects, also, Church govern!
ment, &C., there is a much moro intimate re-
iationshp between their Societies and the Pa
pal Church, than their is between theirs and
ours. II, therefore, the Disciples at Ephesus
were re-baptized because they had not compli-
ed with the terms of the commission, surely all
others who havefailed to comply with it, should
be re baptized on spplioatios.e our Churches
for membership.
HUMOROUS woRK.-.ha attractive vol
ume has just appeared fromtsthe press Of
Rudd and Carleton, entitled, "The Adven.,
lures of nv. Ve'dant Green,p by cuthbetb
Bede, one Of the acknowledged humorisls
Of England. 1t is a capital after-dinner
boOk-one to lounge over when, the nuts
and wine being disposed offs desire 10 be
amused and instructed, with the least posi-
bleexertiou on our own part, possesses us.
This work ,delineates Knglish college-life.
Nj. verdant Green is an U1iotd collegiate.
who portrays thss diasrens stages, of his
career from his initiation, as a freshman:
.. ~ 4 Nts ..s--e,a u. 49, 80 -