The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-09

not only down to the end OF the second, but IN
deed to the middle OF the third century," nave
quoted this passage at length because OF the posi-
ton the author has long held IN the literary World
FOR fifteen or twenty years ne was tne rruss'ah
Ambassador at Rome, and afterwards ior severai
years at London He enjoyed uncommon Iacin-
ties for prosecuting his iayorite studies, ana ne
prosecuted them with cOmmendabe ZEAL AS con-
scientious investigator OF eeciesastl antiquities
he acknowledges with entire 1rankness that infant
baptism was unknown TIL alter the END OF tne
second century. This IL an important admission.
1t shows that the command eco ye into all the
world and preach the Gospel to every creature,
whosoever beneveth and Is immersed shall De
saved, and whOsoever believeth not snail be
damned" was the original commission. 1t Is
known that the apostolic church received believers
upon the profession Of their faith, by immersion,
into the Church OF Christ. This we do at this hour
IN obedience to Divine command. In theory and
IN practice the Baptist Church OF this day resem.
pies In every particular the historical church OF
the apostolic age. Baptist is disciple
OF Christ. The Gospel is his rule OF faith or prac.
tice. He Is Gods mOuthpiece and Is commanded
TO FURNISH In his lie an illustrated edition OF the
Gospei. ne spurns shams and treats pretence with
contempt. lie rests on God. He becomes the re-
ceptacle or good Influences and the perpetual ex-
p0nent OF the truth. Gods thoughts are incar-
mated in him: He Is the natural standard bearer
OF truth He Tears God and is entrusted with
the secrets OF the Most High. lie seeks to be right
ana finds pleasure IN doing right. He stands with
God, and Is ut the centre round which Gods prOvi-
dences revolve, and lor which they work. He
knows the truth and the truth makes him free.
dllnmed eve, pushes on toward the sun, making
play thing OF the cloud and sport OF the tenn
pCot' 90 itsluk W HIS sublime dIlltuue nc iOOkb
GOWN Win unconcern upon storm smltten earth,
the believer in Christ becomes Indifferent to the
schemes and desires or men because OF his intt-
mate ASSOCIATIONS with Him to whom continents
and Isles are as little things and the peoples Of
earth as dust lying in the balance. He receives
the credit OF being radical madman; OF being
in advance OF men, because he looks into the light
WINE others look into the night, because as the
eye OF the maiden looks TO the hand of her mis-
tress so lie looks 10 the Lord his God He is right
at the outset anu oy keeping in line with the teach
ings OF the New Testament his faith grows brighter
n on.lg
link between God and lost world The
people learn OF God, or right, OF JUS
largely through him. He does the work to-day
committed TO his keeping, SPEAKS the word given
hlm 10 speak, knowing that the deed and the
word are part oil the unIulflled plan Of Him who
watcnetn IRON on high, and VINO seeth the end
nom the beginning. Can such child OF light have
fellowship with the works OF darkness 2 There
are SAID prominent Roman Catholic bishop, but
two parties IN the religious world, the Roman
Catholic and the Baptist; all the other divisions lie
between these cOntending divisions. AS early as
A. D. 100 we lind that the disciples in Carthage
sisted the tendency to depart from the simplicity
ism. NO nation hits up the banner OF the cross,
refuses to compromise with error and adheres,
Great numbers stood with him. But when baptis-
mai regeneration became dogma Of the Romlsh
Church, and In ant baptism was allowed place in
the ceremonies OF the Church. then the conflict
waXed hot. Those VINO contend Tor the right oil
substituting sprinkilng Tor immersion and infant
Ior adult baptIsm would take 1t hard should we
describe the characters and the practices of the
orlginators OF the scheme they are described Dy
Peaooapt.st historians. From them Noyatlan,
DOnatuS ana their successors separated, anu with
them they contended, because OF their love OF the
truth.
union because 1t substitutes Tor laith IN Christ
taith in man, and makes salvation depend upon,
not laith IN Christ, but upon the application of
water, which Is supposed to procure or produce
the new oirtn Baptists have fought this error
long and well, anu because OF their opposition
thousand have abandoned 1t. Because the many .
Pedobaptist cnurches do not believe in baptlsnals
regenel aton infant sprlnkllng Is falling out or
use. Parents Know that it Is unsupported by
Scrptural authority, and mat the theory that in
1ants are brought into covenant relations with
Gns by ,n ae all wao are not
OF GOD is proven to be utterly absurd.
The sprinkied are not more likely TO
OF the covenant is applied to them In infancy. On
the contrary infant baptism with multltudes
proves to be a nindrance rather taan help. 1t
serves to deceive sinners regarding their peril,
anu causes them to go down 30 the retributi0ns OF
despair because OF the lack OF well grounded
hope CHRIST. immersion is the git Of Christ. 1t
ID sign to the world that the recipient has passed
from death unto lie. He mas received Christ into
the heart as KING and Lawglver, and mas received
believed on HIS name. Having believed IN Him he
finds 1t In his heart TO obey him. to put Him
before the world. and as the Saviour was I'M
mersed at the beginning OF His entrance upon His
pubic lie, that He might fulfil all righteousness,
him. Therefore we are buried with Him by
baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised
lIOu the ueau ny Inc glory Oh Tue tdtner, even
SO v G also should walk IN newness OF hfe."
SecOnd-lnlant baptism IS hlndrance to Chris
tan union because 1t ignores faith as prerequi-
site to baptism and stuitlhes the commission,
CHRIST given and spirit urged, commanding the
disciples to preach the Gospel to every creature
and administer baptism TO believers.
ThiTd-it Is u hindrance to Christian union be-
cause there Is nothing IN sprlnKhng or pouring
which Is suggestive Of the thought which Christ
Set forth by HIS immersion, an act which, IRON the
beginning OF his public ministry looked forward to
the close Of his lie work-viz., his burial and res
direction. There Is nothing in the Scrlptura &C.
counts OF baptism that would suggest either of the
modes inca dlsObedient people desire to substitute
Tor the immersion OF Christ.
FOurth-inAnt baptism insisted on Is
hlndrance because those who are loyal
to scripture cannot accept OF 1t with
out OF the supposed need arising from rhe neces-
sites OF Dapt lsmal regeneration, and Is without
significance or without apostolic authority. Weigh
1t In scrptural balances and 1t is found wanting.
Weigh 1T IN tue balance OF common sense and 1t Is
again pronounced worthless. 1t does no good and
II produces much harm and should be abandoned.
1t was the outgroWth OF baptsmal regeneration
ard It's use serves to propagate this error. AS
occupies Inc pace but does not accomplish tpe
work. Let 1t De removed and believers in baptism
ordained by CHRIST and nonored by the apostles
Will soon take Its place, without injury to those
VINO have abandoned a false iOr q true baptism and
with posltlve benefit to those who obey Christ. If
infant baptism, born IN paganism and sustained by
the papac,, is tue nlndrance to Christian union
why sAould 1t not be gwen up by those who are
loyal to CHRISTI such course would make union
not mvandate their claim to be regarded
as the children OF God and disciples OF
Christ. Immersion Is an intelligent act which from
lis nature involves, lrst, profession oil faith in
CHRIST, and second, promise OF allegiance to Him.
THIS Is clear from the command OF Christ 10 make
disciples OIL all nations, baptlzng them into the
name OF the Father, Of the son, and of the Holy
Ghost" NOW iaith should precede baptism, and
Ii this statement De true ''that every one who be-
leveth That Jesus Is the christ hath been begotten
OF God," then nave those VINO prolessedly believe
IN Chrst ana IA the scriptures as the word OF God
right TO insist upon practice which IS relic OF
Rome, and demand that those who make the Bible
their rule Oh iaith practice abandon tue teach
lng5 OF christ and the apostles IN order that they
may he III harmony WIN those who cling to a per-
niclous error, and insist upon an unscrlptural
practice
Fyh-lnfant baptism Is a hindrance to Christian
nnlon because IL introduces an uDconyerted mem
DersnIp into the church. 1t Is the offspring OF an
judalzlng spirit, anu betrays great ignorance OF
the commands OF Christ ana Of the duty to obey
them. 1t laclitates the union Of Church and State,
and urnlsheu the seeding out of winch grew re-
liglous persecution coniiscatlon, Punishment, the
dungeon, the Iack, lor u clear conscience and a
pure llle 1T was TINS wnlcn flied Europe with
murder ana prompted the thrilling prayer of Mil
ton. which under m