Smyrna times., 1869-06-02
For the Smyrna Times."l
CAMDEN. DEL, May II, $50.

Friend H0fecEcr Il belong to that large
class of individuals who believe that any cause
which has Eternal Truth for its foundation,
does not need to nis0pply that truth for its de-
fence, but can afford to ''be just and fear not "
My object in this letter is to charge the Bap-
tist writer with the crime above referred TO-.
| refer to EPH. 4: 5: Zone Lord, one faith,
one Baptism"
lst. There is no evidence to prove that the
mode Of baptism was ever discussed by the
Christian church of that dav.
Cd. 1t is known that the Jews and hcathcns,
among whom the Apostles preached, had their
divers washings and baptisms.
Sd. The text quoted does refer to there be-
ing but one baptism in contradistinctiOn to
many-tO their being but one to be practiced
by the Christian church.
Their rule of Interpretation compcls the
Baptlsts to arogate to themselves the one
faith, making it a Baptist faith, instead Of
the christian faith, which drives them to ex-
cluslveness with the Roman and H. G.. Episco-
Iallans. This shows their line of argument to
be wrong, as 1t tS
Adam Clark and DR.. Barnes give Zone bap-
tlsm as there being but one Christian water
baptism, and not many.
Let us next look for the riirtue of water-bap-
tiSm. The Apostle Peter seems to have met
with some who claimed that er-baptism was
always accompanied by the baptism of the
Holy Ghost, or was 1t. But hear him in his
First Epistle 3 chap. and 2l V: 1.-The like
figure ". 20) whereunto even Baptism doth
d5so "oto save Us mot the putting away Of the
Nth OF the flesh, but the answer of good
conscience toward God) by the resurrection of
Jesus Christ
This shows the falsity of the assumption
which torestalls the requirements of the word
OF God by water-baptism as u baptismal re-
generation.
A word more on the mode of Baptism. The
most ancient translation of the Testament was
into the Syriac language In that version the
word 6dpto is translated ''sprinkle," giving
that construction the preference over all the
other rcnderings of the original text.
The great law of christian charity is disre-
garded by these exclusive lmmersionists Were
one OF their own wOuld-be members ton dy-
ing bed, unable to be immersed) to request the
administration of the sacrament, the clergyman
OF that Church would refuse this last request
OF dying Christian because the applicant had
not been immersed, though he does not claim
baptism as saving ordinance Such refusal
Is unchristian. Christ administered the sacra
ment to the twelve apostles though none had
received Christian baptism. Finally: Itwould
seem that the Baptists make more effort to
149S"Jfe Christians from other Churches than
IIliNv Iui lOIIH W lcdu sinners TO Christ. Other
Churches rejoice when a Holy Ghost revival
comes in Baptist church, when by blessed
oo"tPom'ng Of, the spirit many are sprtnk1ed
from an evil conscience. But until their
sheep.steaIng practice is abandoned there
cannot be full fellowship between them and
other Churches. Such conduct cannot be ex.
cused or palliated either here or at the judg-
ment. BY prOselyting from one evangelical
Church to another Christianity gains nothing.
the Church gains nothing, the world loses moth
ing but respect for such narrow-minded exclu-
Slveness. Why not rather take up the last
bidding of the Lord Jesus Christ when he ex.
claimed:
The spirit and the bride say come. Let
HIM that heareth say come. Let him that's
athirst, come. And whosoever will, let him
take the water of life freely" Preach chris
tlamty that makes every man the chooser of his
own destiny and not charge it upon the Lord
mercitul and gracious, slow to anger and plen-
teOus in mercy
Yours, hoping for the unity of the Spirit in
the bond Of peace ARGUS,