Smyrna times., 1872-02-07
For the Smyrna Times.l
Jesus and Baptism.

Mr.. EDITOR In Beecher's most admira-
bic life Of Jesus the Christ" in narrating the
incidents of this eventful life during the first
year of his ministry, occurs the following
paragraphs which [ would commend to the
attention Of all interested in the subject of
Baptism, and especially to Bro. Flippo:
''The only incident mentioned by the Evan
gelsts in connection with Christ's stay in
Judea is that he baptized there. Yet it is
expressly said, Jesus himself baptized not
but his diciples" The use of water as
sign of ceremonial cleanness is as old as the
institutes of Moses, and probably was borrowed
from Egyptian customs. 1t may be said to be
a custom almost universal among Oriental
Nations, 1t was natural that water should
become IN like manner a symbol and declara-
ton OF moral purity. In this important
element, the baptism of John, the baptism of
Jesus, and the baptism of the Apostles in the
early church are substantially one. There was
undoubtedly, variety of formula.
1t IS, however, remarkable that only in
these early and obscure periods of his ministry,
and while he was in Johns neighborhood and
surrounded by a community that had been
aroused by that bold and stern reformer, did
Jesus continue in the use of baptism. There
seems to have been special reason why he
should drop it. A dispute arose. between
Johns disciples and those of Jesus about
purifying" What it was is not said. 1t i:
supposed to relate to some form of baptzinq
Where men had been trained in the school:
OF the Pharasees it would not be hard to fnd
occasions of difference. The moral duty O
accuracy in outward forms was the peculia
spirit of Pharaseeism."
Indifference to all religious forms, if onl
the interior reality be present, was the splrl
OF Christ 10 him baptism was secOndar
matter, Incidental and declaratOry. 1t wa
not an initiation, but the sign of one. 1t wa
an act which required disclosure of feeling
t1e manifestation of purpose, cOmmltmer
OF vital decision and so far as by this Ou
ward action, men could be aided in th
struggles ct new life, it was useful,-S ii
and no further"
Already Jesus had expounded to NicC
demus the imperative nature of baptism, ;
mere sign of reformation: Except man
Into the Kingdom of Cod; which is saying,
effect. Do not rest in the mere fact that yC
have been baptized. John. indeed, baptiz
to repentance and reformation. That is b
the lowest step; it is a mere shadow al
symbol. Hast thou been baptized? That
not enough. Except a man be born OF wat
dad Of the spirit he cannot enter into t
Kingdom of God"
But this long dispute that had beg
Between the diciples Of Jesus and Of John
not ended yet Which of two baptisms
b'st,-either of which is good enough as
symbol, and neither of which Is good tor al
thing else,-still eng ages good men in c.
sHent!ous and useless controversy. The Je
who had been baptized by John thoug
doubtless, that they had been better baptii
fhOCa nth I.xu hn had hnpn
by the dciplcs of Jesus. 1t is very Ink
there was some slight difference in the way
handling the candidates. Doubtless the wo
spoken over them in the formula OF bapt
were little different But the Jews
peen reared to a ceremonial worship, and
become very rigorous in the observance
each slightest particular of an external
vice; lest the absence of any single part
would leave leak through which all the
tue would run out.
CeremOnlalism tends to scrupulosity, s.
Pulosity to superstition, and superstition
l1olatry. 10 this day men are yet camI
down beside the Jorian, disputing about
tlsm; and now, as then, in the full blaze {
system whose whole force is spiritual, disci
are divided, not even on an ordinance, bu
the external method Of its admlnistrat
Tool men have intrenched their console
oehlnd an externality OF an externaity.
Is the whole common spiritual wealtl
christianity able to unite men who have
relied over the husk and rind of symbo
ordinance"
There came near being two sects.
needed only that the leaders on this que
Of baptism should take sides with their Q
pies effectualy to split their common m
ment into two warning halves Jesus Sc
sne danger, not only left the neighbour
out ceased baptizing. There is no recor
hint from this day that any of. his diciple
even of his own Apostles were baptized.
nnlnrnd gentleman aqed SO. was