Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1869-03-19

tury. The light we thus derive from
Mr. Mason directs us to the Apostles
who were writing MSS. for the Bap-
lists new version at least two hum
dred years before they were born! !!
This argument is every way equal to
the cause il is brought to sustain.
Mr.. NJ. calls to his aid what DcLange
says In his new Commentary on
Matt. 8: II: II, indeed, immcrsp you
In water. He shall immcrsc you in
tho Holy Ghost and fire" HE will
either entirely immcrse you in the
Holy Ghost rs psnitenfs or, if inp1cn-
aents, He will oycrwhelm you with
the fire of Judgment and Mt last with
hell-nrc." DcLargc is the man who
says that "JcsUs was immersed in
water for the purpose OF washing
away his moral impurity." The
author Of such q blaspEemous doc
trine Is only fit to be quoted in be-
half Of the new version.
Mr.. NJ. inquiries: Are there no
examples of water baptism in the
Testament by which one may learn
how that ordinance should be ad-
ministercd ?n Yes, many-John l:
IS: "Thesc things were done in
Betlabara beyond Jordan, where
John was baptlzing." The term
Bethahara signifies q house of pas
sage and it stood, not in Jordan, but
beyond. Chap. II: 80. 40: "There-
fore they sought again to take him;
but he escaped out Of their hands,
and went away beyond Jordon, into
the place 'ghcre John at first baptized ;
ami there he abode" Did Jesus
make his abode in the river Jordan :?
So the new version would have us
believe.
The new version more than init
mates that the Israeltes were all
"immersed' on "dry land, and dry
shod." Three thousand were bap-
tized in the house on the day of Pen
tecost. Saul, subsequently called
Paul, was baptized in the city of Da-
mascus, OH the street called Straight,
i'm the house Of Judas. Cornelius
and his company were baptized in
the house. Many others also, whom
we have not space TO name.
Mr.. NJ. still inquiries: "Do not
Mcthodists and others believe the
immersion of bClierers to he Divine
ordinance from heaven?" Method
lists do not thus believe. When the
Savior commanded his disciples to go
into all the world, and preach the
gospel, he gave no special direction
rs to their mode of travelling. So
also when Inc commanded them to
disciple all nations by baptism, he
gave no direction to put any person
under the water. Hence those who
lose their lives hy so rash n practice,
which is quite often the ease, cannot
plead n Divine warrant. Many good
people, though Improperly educated,
are immersed, and ought to have a
place in the Church OF Christ. Geo.
Washington could not be received
into the Baptist church because he
was not immersed. He was received,
beyond doubt, into the Church Of
Christ. The same is true OF scores of
martyrs who died for their Master.
Mr.. NJ. tells us that "Mcthod,sts,
Episcopalians, Preshytcrians," etc,
"are employed imthc work Of trans
lation." do not know but some
Methodist, Episcopalian, or Prcsby-
terrain, may be employed in the
translation of the Shaster. If so,
are we to have it understood that
these several churches are necessarily
committed TO such 4 foolish enter
prise? According to the logic Of NJ.
it must be 50. A worthy cause does
not require such support.
This discussion has taken wider
range than we had desired, and as we
only set out to correct the statements
and impressions made in reference TO
this important question, we shall not
continue it farther, unless it be to
rectify some special error that may
be advanced.
J. BOWMAN.