The Huntington argus. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1872-1905, 1873-01-04
Christian Union.
BAPTISM

"a" VIII authii that baphSfn Is COM
mand Of Jesus Christ, and that it Is
rish, to obey it. Every sectsrian church
IN this city viii unite ON that point. The
inspired Pau, said, Brethren remember
me in all things and keep the ordinances
As delivered them TO you.' The Holy
Spirit through Peter said, Repent and be
BSptsei every one OF you Jesus told
his disciples, Go aud preach to all ma
tons Bapusing them" We here see an
ordinance COMMANDED to be obeyed in the
first century it is equally 50 in the nine
ieenth. We thea conclude to keep the
commandments OF God or we canno, be
saved.
Bu; saws one "can not be saved with.
out Haptism?' Turn to Matthew V. xix.
"Whosoever therefore shall break the
least OF these commandments and shall
teach men so, he shall be called the
least in he Kingdom OF heaven"
But says another, I'VE have thre,
modes OF Baptism" admit that It is
man, frail creature, an institution OF hir
own inveation. But the glorious word
Of God has not ouc such idea in IT, IT
cannot hc found IN the Holy Scriptures
What is that thing OF which thew are
three modes ? | pres4 the question to
the advocates of sprinkling and pouring
IL there are modes OF Baptism then the
Baptism itself is one thing aud the modes
another The Lord has not chosen a
word that cannot be defined We have
no difficulty in defining the term. We
say 1t means immersion. We are willing
To test 1t in the language that was spok en-
10y our SAVIOR, and also in all the uses Of
the word, classical. scrlptural, literal.
metaphorIcal, poeiical aud sym bolical.
''hen person is immersed he is bap
lised' the person is Baptised. When a
person is sprinkled, it is the water that is
sprinkled, and the same OF pouring. We
sprinkle water-we pour water, but i'm
merse the person. 1t s the person to be
baptised and not the water Baptism /,
init"tory, and to be performed but once
1t ought to be deliberate and accurate in
form, performed with such sincerity and
devotion as may make it to us "a blessed
memory
lis office changes our spiritual relation
ship and is the only act with which are
associated the names OF Father, Son aud
Holy Spirit 1t is an act Of faith and
changes our state, the preparation for
tbs change may ,ake years, bat th. change
Of state is instantaneous All the secrarian
churches ia this town can unite on this
question Of immersion no one will deny
that it is yaii.
Now let us review the ground mo-
meht. We have seen that We can unite
on true basis, which none will lenv. viz
Jesus, the Christ, the Son OF Col" Be
cause other 'ouniatious can no uian lay.
We have seen that faith Is necessary
because he that belieyeth not shall be
damned We have seen that repentance
and conversion T. commanded. tor God
will never receive US I we 10 not forsake
our sins. We have seen that Baptism is
a command by the Holy Spirit end that it
means immersion in water aud all the
churches ID this town will agree that it
II valid
Then Why not unite IN one common
body Sister Jesus says, Father ! pray
for all who believe on me through their
word. that they all may bo one
Then We zee plainly that We all can
unite. Bnt what name shall we have for
our church; That will be the subject Of
the next letter UNITY.
IlrNriNGruN, Dec - 1872