Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-06-21
Is 1T A SIN TO FOLLOW JESUS IN
BAPTISM

Editors Richland Bcacon:
The Rev. d. A. CAMrRELL undertook to
show through your column. in what sense it
would be sin to follow JEsUs in Baptism,
explanatory Of a remark made by him in
sermon preached at Ito. From the respect
have for the Rev. Brother as biblical schol-
ar and as scientific gentleman, feel great
tifiidence in undertaking to review this arii-
Gle =; and expect many, who look up TO the
aged and respected Brother almost as their
father in the gospel, will think it presumption
in one who has never pretended to be teach
er OF sacred things, to undertake TO point out
some of the Inconsistencies of this studied and
well written article, and compare with the
Scriptures. But, to such would say, my OBJ
ject is to set my readers to thinking, and, be-
fore passing Judgment, search the Scriptures
The declaration made in the pulpit by Mr..
Campbell was new and novel to me, and his
explanation at tho time was entirely unsa,s-
factory. but not more so than the article which
appears in the BEACON. The proposition il
self is fallacy. | will ask Bro. Campbell,
if he ever heard Baptist, or anybody else,
contend tina, it wa. the duty Of believer to
wal, until they were thirty years of age be
fore they are baptized, IL not, then tho
proposition is fallacious, it is an argument
against something that does not exist. and
therefore is calculated 10 deceive and mislead
the un,hnking. Whatever is calculated to
deceive is wrong. The only logical csnclu-
sion that can form wherein it would he a
sin to follow JESUS in baptism, is for an I'M
, believer or an unregenerated person to so
through the form OF baptism, which is no
scripmral baptism at all Mark le and l6,
Acts 2 and Al. think my friend will agree
with me in this. The proposition made by
Ed Campbell that the Baptism OF JESUS by
John was in the observance Of a ceremonial
or Mosaic rite is not tenable and harmonious
with the Scriptures. Aaron and his sons
were indicted into the priestly Office under a
specific law according to specific form or
ceremony, which was conceived, made, plann-
ell and directed by God himself speaking
through his servant Moses, who was Gods
prophet and lawgiver. but not his priest
Moses was the chosen Of God to bring his
people out Of Egypt his Office was of heaven.
He made all things according to the pattern
given linn by God. He indicted Aaron and
his sons into the pres,iy office with all the
rites and ceremonies of the ceremonial law,
Lev. and 6, Tread the chapter,) The act of
obedience and the amounting them, secured
unto Aaron and his sons an everlasting priest
hood throughout their generation, Ex. 40. Is.
The holy oil poured upon the head of Aaron
and his sons in inducing them into the priest
ly Office Uev. and l2.) was typical of the
Spirit Of God descending like dove lighting
upon him (our Lord,) Mat and l6. The
law and the prophets were until John &C..
Luke l6 and l6. The Aaronic priesthood
was in force and effect until John came
preaching i'm the wilderness of Judea. John
was a chosen vessel to usher in the new or
gospel dispensation. John was of miraculous
l6, IT, He was filed with the Holy Ghost
from his mothers womb, Luxe l and H.
John tho Baptist was prophecied Of and his
coming foretold, Nal. and and and S,
his office was forc,old, lisa. 40 and 3, Nal.
and and S and 6, he was the chosen Of God
to preach repentance with the power Of the
Holy Ghost and prepare people to receive
the Messiah and believe on him Mat. 3 and
2,3. He never was indicted into the priest.
| ly office under the ceremonial law He never
served in the temple as priest, his dwelling
was in the wilderness. He never was bap.
tixed by man, his bap,isw was of heaven,
Mat 81 and "a, rs. HS&~as of the tribe OF
Levi, of the course of Alba, Luke and S, i. e.,
Abijah, Chron. - and 10, who was a lineal
decendent of Phinehas who was the son oil
Eleazar the son of Aaron. Phinehas of whose
descent John was, received the promise Of an
everlasting priesthood because he made an
atonement for the children of Israel, Numb.
25 and IL, II, 10. Therefore he was priest
by birth or descent and had the promise OF
an everlasting priesthood. 1t pleased God
to favor John more highly than any of his
prophets or priests, Mat IL and 9, 10, H.
And when the fnllness Of the time had come
according to Gods eternal purpose, the Bap.
list was Of proper age and a proper person
to usher in the gospel dispensation; he was
dwelling in the wilderness, and had his raj.
ment of camel's hair, etc, Mat. 3 and 4 (dif
ferent from Levitical priest) and his mea,
was locusts and wild honey. In this humble
state, the word of God came to John, the SON
Of Zscbarias, in the wilderness, Luke 3 and 2,
and he Immediately entered upon the work
designed for him to do, Luke 3 and 3. He
came with the power of Elias. And if ye
will receive it this is the Elias which was for
- cone, Mat II and Ia. He was the proper
peron properly chosen, called and commits.
doned - close the prophets and the ceremo
nh NV unAer the first covenant Luke l6
Lnnd e. endso usher in the Spiritual King.
- Chris and induct and introduce its
- the introduction "Behold the
Y Il