Smyrna times., 1869-04-14
For the Smyrna Times.
The Question of Baptism Continued.

Mr. EIitor:-l. "Stars" admits that there
was "onc baptism,' and one mode in Paul's
day. This is step in the right direction. We
do not read in all Gods Word Of different
modes of baptism. Stars" then, is driven
to lone mode " of baptism in the days
Of the Apostles. Jesus establishes this one
mode in Joldan, and Paul, with the pen Of in
Spiration, leaves Its meaning on record in Ro
&: 80, and Col. 2: II.
"StarS makes another admission, also, to
which his subsequent reasoning Is opposed, yet
fails to break its force.
"Convetts," he says, were crucIicd, dead, buried
and risen with Christ: and baptism the divine
rite by which the change thus indicated was profess
ed" Very well. Let expand thus thought littit.
! God commands men to repent and believe in
Jesus Christ. In the exercise Of repentance and
tIlh there is death TO sin and Il spiritual rCsuTrcc.
ton to ncwness of life. Now, the divine arrange.
mcnt is for these facts to he set firth IN emblem.
These facts the burial and resurrection of Jesus
the believers death to SIN and resurrection to a new
life. Now STARS" says that :" baEllsm had moth
ing to do with this but expressed their faith in
ChrIst-a mere pr"tcSSinn." Bot Paul teaches us
that III baptism these things eXhlb,d IN symbol,
III hgurc, Most slgniticantls and imprcssvely.
g." Buried with him by baptism - planted in the
IIkcn's IS Of his DEATH is the language of Paul
while Peter connects baptism with the resurrection
OF Jesus Christ from the dead. | Peter 3: 81.
The actual burial and resurrection of the Saviour
occurred more than eighteen hundred years ago but
he IL symbolcaiy buried and raised from the grave
whenever the ordinance Of baptism is properly adj
mlnIstered. We see him buried and raised apaln in
baptism, Just as see him dead in the hov supper
Tins is the Scriptural design of baptism. Inner
sion only can represent these facts. Sprnklino and
pouring cannot-do not. This was the one mode in
fauls day and Pau's language is the inspirt mean
ing OF Tins one mode. "Stafs'" admission on this
io;nl peaseS me. lie has but to take anuIhpr stpu
and he will agree with f4u and Peter. The Great
h'thod'st c.mtncnator, DIR. Adam Clarke took this
step Hear him on Cor Is: 80. " But as thew re-
ceIve baptism as an emblem of death in Voluntarily
going under water; they receive ii as an emblem
OF The resurr ctlon unto eternal lite in coming upo
OF the water; thus they are baptised for the dead in
per ect faith Of the resnrrcction,"
Our belief in the death, burial and resurrection
., NhrISt makes us christians-our baptism is de-
claralOn of that fact.
Ine Gospel that saves US is embraced in the SUI
teringS, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus
We believe this and obtain life. The hope Of "A
glorious resurrection gives us iOy as well as the
khowledge Of pardoncd sin. God established two
ordinances in his church. and these were to preach
these great truths. DO this in remembrance of
me-" The Lords supper tells us of his suiit?ings
aud death. The bread and the wine speak landly
to Us. TINS is one ordnance Blptisjn is the other
IL teaches and breaches the burial and resurrection
OF Jesus. Hence, PAu's angnrgc, and hence the
ScrIptnral design OF baptism. Sprluklng and pour
ing could not have served Pau'S purpose. Inner.
SION could and did So thought Clarke, and Wesley,
and Calvin.
:. stars" says that my the Biblc} talk about
the saviour gong INTO the water, and coming up out
OF the water, amounts to nothing and rives an in
stance of subject and administrator gong INTO the
water to be sprlnkled New, in this case their was
nelther baptism nor common sense. Whuever did
so foolish thing as to 60 down into the water to be
poured or sPrlnkt'd is to be pitled. There was
nothing IN the act to represent burial, &c.
The word our Saviour used in the commission
when he said $50 teach all nations baptisiun
them, %c., immersP, and had tins word been
translated, tins would have been its mcaning-I
"Stars " says | suppressed part of the truth on
this point, and adds "Anoient Greek writers never
employ the word for the act of immersion or for |
one man dipping another" He puts this as a ouo
tatIon Now, If "Stars knows no better his 49, |
n"rdnce is scarcely less than dlsgraceful. If he |
d0e$ know better, the terms appropriate 70 his pro-
ceedIng would be still less complimentary. He
surely cannot be in earnest when he thus asserts
await repetition of the above assertion. IcuI
is stu maintained by him, will prove it untrue
every word
The squib from Dr. Clarke, which STARS" nses
IN conclusion, Is blank cartridge. DIR. Clarke nor
his followers Can find single standard Greek
II xlcon giving sprinkle the meaning or a meaning
OF haPhzo. "Stars asks IN the language of Dr. |
Clarke, "can any man suppose it was possible for
Joh 10 up all the InhibItantS of JCrusa lem and Ju
deaF Who says he dipped them all 1t only needs
a little common sense To understand this expression
IN Matthew. John baptised comparatively few He
bAptSed none but those " coufrssIng their sins"
lie refused to bapse many that came to his bap-
tlSm. Matt 3: T.
Others refused to be baptiscd. "The Pharisccs
ana lawyers rejected the counsel of God against
themselves, being not baptscd OF him" Luke :: 80.
The remainder Of "Stars" article, about men and
women being dlppcd-sacly, dccency, wet clothes,
&c, is already answered by every reader who has
three grams of common | will only add
that both Clarke and Wesley gave evidence of
growing regard for the truth It is in Jesus before
they read through Romans, Cor. and Col They
were convinced and left it on record that the un-
translated word (baPtsol meant immcrse, and that
immersion was the cnstum OF the ancient church.
But | must close, Mr. Editor. Please inform
" Stars that Mr.. Flppo expects to visit his Jordan
again next Sabbath. If agreeable he would be glad
tor Stars to be present, and read the Scriptures
for him at the water.
propose. IN conclusion, to end this discussion bv
meeting "Stars" in Smyrna, and having a fritndIV \
public interchange of views or this subject Will G
ne consent? If so, name the time and place. 1
Grace, Mercy and Peace. l
LONE STAR.
Il