Richland beacon., 1873-05-31
FOLLOWING JESUS IN BAPTISM.

explain. in what sense it would be a sin 10
follow JESUS in Baptism.
Iexplained a, the time, that it would be
sin 10 delay christian baptism until we were
thirty, as JESUS delayed his baptism until
that age, and that i, is an error for rs, under
the christian dispensa,ion, 10 follow JESUS, in
the observance of Ceremonial or Mosaic rite.
/. it sin to follow JESUS in babtism, If
the intersga,sry has reference solely to the
mode and manner in which JEsCs was bap-
tized-I answer no. presume that the
mode in which JEsus was babtized is the
same as that Of all whom John the Baptist
and the Apostles baptized. Again: 1t was
no sin for the Levitss or Priests, after the
baptism Of JESUS, and until hi. death, TO follow
his example in beng indicted by baptism in
10 the Priesthood, but, on the contrary, obedi-
encs 10 God law demanded il.
But the couduc, Of JESUS CHRIST, in waiting
until he was thirty years old for his baptism,
was never designed for an example, except
for obedience to positive and specific law of
induction into the Presthood.-See Mum. 4th
chapter. Ii would be a sin TO plead or Prac-
tice his example for ordinary or christian bap-
tism. John the Baptist, as well as JEsUs,
waited until they were thirty years old, for
their induction baptism, but we are not to
teach and practice thu. in christian baptism
There was positive and specific law Of God
requiring them to wait until they were thirty
years old They obeyed that law to the let
ter. Is obedience to that positive law, by
them, an example for christian baptism now
do not hesitate to say, tina, it would be sin
so 10 teach and practice, and think that my
worthy friend will agree with me in this.
The ordinary baptism ofJehn differed from
the baptism Of CHRIsr, and was 50 explained
by JEsus 10 John, and 50 understood by John,
as the fulfilment of Righteousness or Of Spe-
cifc law While there was no difference in
the node, yet they differed as 10 the object
or end.
The object Of CHRIsr's baptism, was his in
ducton into the Priesthood, and was thus the
ful6lment Of tue righteousness Of the Specific
law regulating that matter. True, he was
not Levite, yet he was an unredeemed first
born, and according to the law, under obliga-
lion to service as the Levites. The Levites
were substituted ia the place Of the first born
Son (see Mum 3rd chapter) but through the
poverty (probably) of Mary, JESUS was not
redeemed, and therefore had the right in him
self, and thus he was made priest after the
order of Melchizedec-See Heb chap, 20
verse, and Luke chap. % verse.
When be presented himself TO John the
Baptist to be baptised, John forbade him,
saying have need to be baptized of thee, and
contest thou to me, and JESUS said unto him,
suffer it to be 30 no,r, for thus it becometh us
to fulfill all righteousness" As soon as our
Lord explained it, as the fufllment Of Right
eeusness, John at once understood it, and
proceeded to fulfill the Obedience required.
The Baptism of JESUS, therefore, was the
ful6llment Of positive and specific ldc, and
that fulfillment conferred upon him all the
power Of Priesthood and service in the Tenn
pie. In the exercise Of that power he enter
ed the Temple, and drove out those, who
made his Fathers house house Of merchan-
disc. When the chief priest came forward,
and demanded his authority for thus exercis-
ing the power Of Priest in the Temple, say
ing by what authority doest thou these
thingsan (JEsus answered) Il also will ask
you one question, answer me, and ] will tell
thee by what authority ! do these things
The Baptism Of John, was it from heaven or
Of mem" Here JESUS referred directly 10
the baptism Of John for the authority Of acting
as Priest in the Temple; thss sustaining the
position that his baptism by John was reg
ular induction into the Priesthood according
TO the Mosaic Law Of ceremonies. Now l
ask again, are we, while under the christian
dispensaton, to follow JESUS in has obedience
to the ceremonial law!
As to the Righteousness which JESUS told
John it was Necessary to fulfill, | will give
you an extract of nste of explanation on
NAT III, IS, found in the Baptist translation
OF the Bible: Whatever may be the
full depth Of meaning in the language Of our
Lord, so much as this, at least, We are to un.
der.tand by it, that had he omitted this act OF
obedience, he would have left incomplete,
that perfec, righteousness, which in our ma
rure be has wrought out. II aught that it be-
came him to fulfill, had been unfulfilled some
thing essential would have been wanting"
Yes-It would have been essential, to have
been indicted by Johns baptism, in order to
assume the authority for acting as he did in
the Temple, and consequently he referred to
Johns baptism as authority.
We assume then that the baptism of JESUS
was his regular induction as Priest accord
ing to the order Of Mehhizedec.
If then his baptism was his induction ae-
cording to the righteousness of the law, that law
specifies the mode and manner Of induction,
which reveals to US the mode Of baptism used
by John on that occasion. See NUN VIII chap.
9th and 7th verses: take the Levites from
among the children Of Israel, and cleanse
them. And thus shalt thou do unto them, TO
cleanse them Sprinkle water Of purifying
upon them, The Levitss were cleansed by
the ceremony Of puri6cation-and Johns baP-
n.