The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-02-07
BAPTIsTS AND TIE DUKE OF
BRUNSWICK,

bAEAl5IS AND IhE DVA6 w
BRUNSWICK,
The Religious Herald Of this city has been
publishing G series Of articles on " Distinctirs
Baptist Principles, which 1t Is announced
ere from the pen Of It's senior editor, the
Rev DR.. Jsser. We never could see that
Che Baptist denomination was built upon any
distinctive principles, that is, principles in
which they differed from all other evangeli-
cal denominations, except on the question of
bapsism-its mode end It's subjects. OF course
we agree that they hold otheTs-for certain
ly they accept all the essential doctrines of
salvation held By other branches Of the
Church. We are now speaking Of what Is
distinctive; snd the question they here insist
upon so Enormously hes slWays seemed TO
Pres5y.agians, Mathodists, Episeopalians and
others, very narrow basis for o separate
organization. Il looks Ike g pyramid set
on its point instead Of It's base. But to their
own Master they stand. We have no dispo-
sision 60 deny them their liberty; only this
is Co be remarked, that it seems to put them
under a kind Of necessity of being always in
batslo over tho water; or under it; or,
perhaps more correctly, trying to get every
body else under it. Accordingly it vas to
Be expected that our venerable friend of the
Religious Herald, one Of tho best and most
aniabla Of men, would have en- article declar-
iag that " only immersion is baptism" There
aro many things in It about which, Of course,
wo muss widely differ from what are to be
considered mere Bsp.iss assertions, without
asy -o-l1--.9n in historical fact, or in
Scripture, or in any just and necessary in
ference tlarafrom. In this We only take
sides With the general sentiment Of Chri9ten-
dom.
Before gong to the main point in view st
present, We beg q moments notice Of one re-
mark made by tho Herald. Its at the close
Of the article, and as follows;
"BsDtfsts have great confidence that their views
Of baptism are plainly presented IN the Scriptures.
Lt i5 quite common for them 60 refer young con-
vaT7 DO the Bible Co learn their duty in regard to
baptism The common version OF the New Testa-
m8nt, prepared b. Pado5aptsts, is the best book
for guiding Dlan honest iCquIreTs Ia reference to
The ordinance. Do the advocates OF sprinkiiDg ever
direct rQuirerl for information on the SIT lsct OF
heDti7m 90 read the Scr;Dt1res2 We have never
heard of such q case. We doubt whether one can
be cited. We Judge that it would be decidedly I'M
polite ana unsafe for the advocates Of sDrinbliGg
20 - n fna
lures t3r Che solution OF their doubts and the guild
oaos Of their conduct 10 regard TO the ute Of bap
tm."
TO ell this It is enough TO reply
/. Pre5by.arians and others are net at sI
wanting in confidence that their views on
this subject are founded on the Bible; and
tley have no hesitation in referring inqair-
er5 60 that soaroa whatever the Herald may
say to tho contrary.
>. IF Sc were as the Herald afflms, that
BaPtis.5 have 50 much more confidence il
the plain teachings of the Scriptures than
others have, how arc We to account for the
undsaia5la fact that their pulpits and
their press are 50 constantly teeming with
discussions on this subject? Take up a Bap.
tss newspaper, examine the basket of . Bap-
ts5 c5poEteur, 90 into a Baptist church, and
:. IS anoderato statement to cay that you
uees these themes, in their controversial os-
rcc.s, ten times oftyner than among other
denominations. An observation of many
years as aa editor gives the most positive
o2ni-nasao A. ta,s in regard 90 5te religious |
newspapers Ele-e IS hardly one on the
Baptist side, which Is not habitaaIly byis.ling
wish & debate. In the others il Is bat
seldom presented, and then commonly in de-
fence a1ss assaults. In fact this pecul- |
ar,g 30 marked as often TO remind US Of
tho ao-oans tle Ic.sbnaa gave Of his sick
ness f5n fever" He juss lay entirely |
s2ayoll-15 SAX IoPg wakes in the long month |
Of Aa5 doing nothing ia The woruld bat
crying a lue, gatEsr, gatIsy, wath
Docs he perpetual CT Of cur Bap- |
s1, from pulpit and press, indicate
as .-sg ca573 aa dgelay5 on the face of
Che aa., have confidence il the naked testi
u,ry IF ,le Bi5le2 Does is not indicate
IaAar he reverse Of tbis-t5as there l., az
t-r a Of tlo bottom a secret misgiVipg that
readers Of t1e Scriptures will fail to find cut
5r .aa distinctive Bgpti8t Dria-
which OIL, brother, the senior editor,
places .as head eff bis article, VIZ that
i.ufs.0a Is Blptism."
Il ".ls common version of the New
prepared By Pado6aPtisss, is the
1--. beck --r guiding plain, honest ilqoirers
ia reference Be- 80 ordnance is it not Won
.ar.oI .a1s so many Baptists in the United