The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-11-19

and when is Christian baptism ever so desig'
mated? Nowhere and never 1t was never
once administered upon the profession oil
faith in the Messiah expected, but always
and only its significance is concerning the
Christ who has come, who was crucifed for our
sins, and who rose again from the dead Tor
our justification. Such profession of faith Is
necessary in the adult who enters into cove
nant with God for himself, or who gives to
his child this token of the covenant. The
simple call to repentance. is not enough
For repentance was professed by all whom
John baptized, yet how few really be-
heved in Christ. Does Paul know to what
faith John called the people? He says
Acts xix: 4, "Saying unto the people that
they should believe on him aObieh should
come after ham, that is, on Christ Jesus.
And John did preach just that, and no more.
But what sort of faith was it? Did it look
to Christ already crucihed, as Christian faith
and Christian baptism do? No for Christ
had not even began his prslic ministry
when John preached and baptized. Well
then, what sort of repentance did John
preach? Types and shadows and ceremonies
had for ages filed up the form of the Wor-
ship of God. But these types and shadows
were all fulfilled in the coming of Christ.
Therefore to continue in these after MS COM
ing would be actual sin and unbehef, because
an actual rejection of Christ. The whole
people had also become corrupt, and formal
in worship. Here then were the chief things
towards which John was directing their re-
pentance-their change of mind and turning
away. 'The Messiah is about to appear.
Therefore repent ye;-turn not only from
your transgressiOns, but also from longer
dependence upon the types and shadows
which have so long taught you to expect
Him. Believe that God is now about to
fulfil his promise, and in testimony of such
repentance and belief, come and be baptized
By me, Messiah's forerunner." Such was
the nature of Johns proclamation; and it
was great day among the Jews when they
heard it. For they were desiring and wait
ing for the Messiah. Therefore they fOcked
to Johns baptism And after all, he has
only called them to prepare their faith to
receive Him who would soon come. Was
the New Dispensation opened before its
cause and life had come? There was and
could be no New Dispensation without Christ.
John g came into all the country about JOr-
dan, preaching the baptism of repentance,
says Luke. And then (iii: 2l,) teaches that
"all the people" in that region were baptized
before Jesus was. Matthew sustains this
assertion, iii 5, 6-1S. And so does Mark
| lass. But how could "aIl the people"
belong by this baptism to dispensstiOn Of
which Christ was the whole being, when he
had not appeared, and did not appear until
they had been baptized =? Such cOnsidera-
tions show conclusively that John was not
administering the baptism of the New Dis
pensation. For had he been doing so, not
only must that dispensation have preceded
Christ, instead of being established by him,
but the aOhole country would have been Chris
tianized, and there would not have been
enough Opposers left to cruelty Jesus. The
great mass of the people would have been
His followers. But all know that this was
not the case. Moreover, ask again Did
Paul know about this matter? He refused
to recognize as Christian, the baptism ad-
ministered by John. See Acts xix. Those
twelve disciples of John, he baptized in
the name of the Lord Jesus, though they
told him that they had been baptized unto
Johns baptism. They had never $50 much
as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost" "
What? Is not Christian baptism always
and by Divine command to recognize the
Holy Ghost2 Is not His name called in
every administration of it? Certainly. Well
then, of course the rite administered by
John was not Christian baptism for here
are t,oslus men who had been baptized "untO
Johns baptism, yet had never $50 much
as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. "
They never had nor knew Christian baptism
until they came to Paul, long after the
resurrection of Christ. Does not the pro-
position stand good? Much more can be
said. SEwAH.