The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-01-19
JUDAIC BAPTISM.
BY JAMES w. DALE, D. D.


this from the hands of brother every way most
competent; but not having received it, prefer to
wait no longer
The volume of Mr.. Dale on Classic Baptism has
been before the public for some time. Our Bap-
fist brethren have made immersion the corner
stone of their denomination. Of course this has
concentrated upon it an immense amount OF atten-
ton, and their doctrine of immersion is magnifed
inordinately. Throughout the whole range OF
Greek literature bdptizo means to dip and nothing
but to dip:-tkiS has been the boast of books,
pamphlets, newspapers and preachers for genera
TONS There has been no time in which it has
not been well met and refuted But the most
searching investigation of this question ever yet
made is by DR.. Dale. He denies that this word
means ito dip, even in single instance. lie
maintains that it does not refer to mode at ALL does
not describe any specific act whatever his posi-
ton is that it denotes condition OF result, no
matter by what mode or act it is brought about.
The word "dip, refers to a body put within
foreign element so as to be enveloped by 1t, and
then Immediately withdrawn. But the primary
meaning of 6aptizo signifies body brought into
certain condition, which Mr.. Dale describes by the
word iat1ss position (ntus, aoithin) no matter how
it got there, and that it has reference to It's ever
being withdrawn Thus among the Greeks they
said a ship was baptized when it was sunk perma
nenty in the sea when man was drowned; when
the tide flowed over a coast; when man thrust a
sword into his body all these things were said to
be baptized DR.. Dale shows that it will not do to
use the word dip" in reference to them. Do we
take up the coast and dip it in the sea? Are sunk
ships and drowned men dipped, plunged into
the sea and Immediately taken out again-as dip
means.
The result of his discussion is, then, that the
classic usage of the word does not denote modal
act as BaptiSts assert, but that whatever act is
capable OF thoroughly changing the character,
state or condition of any object by placing it in
condition of physical intus position is capable OF
Japtizing that object and whatever influence is ca,
pabe of thoroughly changing the character, state
or condition of any object, by pervading it and
making it subject to its own characteristic, is capa
Die of baptziag that Object; and by such changes
of character, state or condition, these acts and in
auences do in fact baptze their objects"
This second volume, is devoted to Judaic Bap-
tism. Here he leaves classic Greek, and takes up
what is called Hellenistic Greek. The Septuagint,
Josephus, Philo, the ApOcrypha, and the Greek
Christian fathers are all subjected to close exam
nation, wherever the word occurs. Here the reli-
gious application of baptizO begins to appear,
which is that of p1rifcaton. The fundamental
idea is, as before, the subsection of an object to
some foreign controlling influence. The sprinkling
of clean water, or the ashes of heifer or the
blood of lamb, or the washing of body in whole
or in part, and ma, other things in which no sub
mersion was involved, were all said to bdptize them
So the conclusion, reached from a copious eta
ton of Jewish writer's, is the same as that from
classic Greek, that baptizo does not express the
mode of an act and therefore does not mean what
Baptists affirm. The authors own statement is the
following:
"JUDAIC BAPTISM is condition of CEREMONIAL
PURIFICATIoN effected by the washing of the hands
or feet; by the SPRINKLING of sacri6cia blood or
heifer ashes; by the POURING upon of water; by
the TOUCH of coal OF fire; by the WAVING of a
flaming sword, and by divers other modes and
agencies dependent an no aoiSe on any FORM OF ACT
or on the COVERING OF THE OBJECT.
w G rejoice III tue pIOSIGSS vi ILLS great uUuST-
taking. The present volume is in every respect
equal to the first, and if Dr. Dale should be spared
to finish the next on Johannic and Christian Bap-
tism, in the same style, he will have erected an
enduring monument of learning and argument
1t may be safely predicted that he has given our
Baptist brethren great deal Of exercise for gen.
eratons to come. 1t is evident that they feel this
for while some have confined their notice of his
work Cuo one we believe has attempted reply
within the limits of courteous controversy, not
few have vented their grief in abusive language
The most extended review is from the Rev. Pro-
fessor Kendrick, D. D., of Rochester, New York,
in the Baptist Quarterly. The following are only
few of the expressions he uses in reference to the
author and his work: "Upstart, "pedantry,"
"ignoramus las ignorant as if he had lived in
another planet" 'pitiful drivel and the book full
of it" incredible puerility, spirit of narrow
and bitter partisanship," partly false and partly
nonsense, with his accustomed insolence," &c,
&C.
While DR.. Dale is necessarily controversial, we
have never seen more thoroughly good natured
antagonist If he takes hold of Baptists and
pinches them sorely under an iron grip it is not
for the satisfaction of hurting them but because it
cannot be helped One Of the most pleasant parts OF
the present volume is in the sixty pages in which
he reviews the criticisms they have attempted upon
his former work 1t is first rate specimen of
mastery, KEEN but good tempered controversy
He is always gentlemany, aud therefore never de-
sends to the use of ungentlemanly language, even
when most strongly provoked by its application to
himself by others. This may be seen in the an
swer given to Professor Kendrick, which is as fol-
lows:
Zone of my theological professors, with whom
universal courtesy was as the breath Of life, once
said to me: If the devil were to pass me and sa-
lutte me courteously. would courteously return
the salute He did not say that if the devil came
with horns down and tail up, and hoof stamping,
and breath sulphurous, that he would have any
salutation for him. suppose be would get out of
the way. do not know that can do better than
to follow his example. | have therefore no salu-
tation for the Professor of the Baptist Theologi
cal Seminary of Rochester, New York. mot even
a railing accusation, y but proceed to get out of
his way"
This is beautiful volume, issued by VIM. Rut
ter & Co., aud we can assure all brethren who may
wish to furnish themselves with this panopy on
the Baptist controversy that they will be finely re-
paid for all it may cost them.
What it Comes to-The following is from the
last Christian Union of New York, the paper now
edited by the notorious Beecher.
1.-THE mixed school question has been brought
up again in Washington, coored child having
been forced into white school through permit
from one of the Trustees, political demagogue.