The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-05-21

This is Dale's way Of escaping his ov
admission. For such a purpose, VII
could be better than the word conditio
IN Its present use It Is sufficient
:, elastic for any purpose. As men Al
always in condition wet or dry, goo
or bad, regenerate or unregenerate,
vii fit anywhere. 1t viii take in a
[ the eontraries, one side as we'll as Il
other. Give modern juggIer a throi
OF such material, and he can easily swa
low all the knives in christendom at on
gulp. Now let us see how, under ii
magic use of this accommodating wor,
Dr. Hunter disposes of some baptism
Ships baptized by storm are in
wrecked condition, SAYS the DIR Mayh
so; but what wrecked them, was it nc
the baptism? being submerged2 Th
wrecked condition was the effect of tn
baptism. What was the baptism itself
A burial under the water, without
doubt. The effect is not the baptism.
] Soldiers baptized to their arm-pits b.
wading in water, are in a "submergei
condition" Unquestionably, and clear
II ~ the submergence was the baptism
Here the same thing is given two names
Naaman, baptized in Jordan, was in
purified condition. Admit it, but thu
purifcation and the baptism are TIVE
things. Publication was the resul
of his dipping himself. The baptism
was real, physical act, and must moi
be confounded with the effect of it.
Thus, too, we cannot, without great vio
lence, eonfound the effect or symbolism
OF Christian baptism with the baptism
itself. This is DIR. Hunters capital
mistake. ''Penitent sinners, baptized
into Christ, into his death" etc, are in
regenerate condition. That is true;
but the regeneration and the baptism
are not the same thing; Baptism is
q literal act, which, in sy ,nbol, declares
our union with Christ in his death; with
the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, into
whom, one Triune God we are COM
manded to be baptized. Ritualists hold
that baptism produces the real union of
the soul with the Trinity. Baptists
hold that it declares it. Which ever of
these views are right, the case with DR..
Hunter is not changed. The effect of
| the baptism is to put one into the Trini-
Fly, either vitaily or declaratively.
''Go teach all nations, baptizing them
| into the name of the Father, Son and
Holy Ghost" Here, clearly those who
t Aach, baptize, but God regenerates, so
it is certain that baptism and regenera-
tion are two things? Simon Magtfs, was
baptized, though he was not regener-
ated. To deny that he was baptized,
because he was not regenerated; is to
fatty contradict the word of God This
paJa hraokS H. III,
down completely, John sy'abottcatiy bap
tized int u penitent condition Just
so, but John baptized in Jordan and the
result was to declare that the baptized
were penitent. That is what they con-
fessed in baptism. Here again, we see
that the baptism and the result are dis
tinct. We reach a certain condition by
being baptized. Take figurative bap-
tism. Baptized by questions. means a
confused condition, says DR.. H. Any
one accustomed to study words and SEN
tences, will see that tbs sense is the same
as flooded with questions" or over
whelmed with question. 1t is the flood
ing, overwhelming, or baptizing condi-
ton, (Which ever word You like) that
produces the confusion. The confusion
is not the baptism, but the effect. But
why try to make piainness itself plGiner
1t is stupendous bIunder to con-
found the symbolism of an act with the
act itself.
That DIR. Hunter is totally confused,
as to philolOgy, take this passage in evf-
dence2 "This sprinkling effected Juda-
ic baptism, and thus secured condition
of cleansing Now what are the facts ?
There was simple, physical sprinkling
of water on an unclean person, and he
was declared clean. Where is there any
room for baptism between the sprink- !
ling and cleansing? What was the bap-
tism ? And why crowd condition in here?
The divine narrative is as clear as light |
DIR. Hunters exposition, with baptism |
and condition "intusposed," is as clear as
darkness. There was a sprinkling and |
a cleansing, and that Is all, Worse
philOlogy, we never met. Throughout
his treatment, he eonfounds rites with |
results, effects witn causes, causes with
effects.
This is a good time to say a word
about the Fathers. They are DIR. Hun
ter's witnesses in this case. He brought
them into court. He put them on the
stand to get them to say that he is right,
as to Judaic rites. We cross-qnestioned
them about Christian baptism, and with
and clearness, they say it was
a burial with Christ in water. They
are telling too much, and the DIR. apoli
gizes for them, by saying, they lived in
an age when that was the current notion,
Did they live twice? We have supposed
that they lived once only, and that they
testified to what Christian baptism is
about the time they told us about Jew
Ish publications. Then our good DR..
tells us that Tertnllian said, baptize
meant to sprinkle, but unwilling to as
sume position now abandoned by all
scholars of note, he says he Is mistaken,
but | want you to hear him talk. Dr.,
your witnesses are against themselves
and against you. What will you do with
hem. They are in your hands. His
on the passages in Rom.
md Col. whether right or wrong as to
he main point, does not help him out of
MS present trouble. What matters 1t
the baptism is ritual or spiritual
The burial remains, and that is the point
IF issue. In every true baptism there is
/ burial, no matter what the element
That is what the passages clearly teach.
It would be easy, we conceive, To refute
he Dr's Interpretation, as whole, but
hat would he to follow him in diver
lion. and we will not to do it.
We cannot forbear to make two re-
marks however. Simon Magus, he
lftirms, was not baptized into Christ.
Then the Apostles did not obey Christ,
'or they were commanded in the conn
mission to baptize into the Trinity. t
But they did, and DIR. Hunter Is wholly
In confounding baptism with
he Trinity just as he says John baptized
Denitents into repentance sg1abolicdtly.
It is in evidence. the baptism followed
Baptism is symbolicah
openly declaratiye Of great spiritual
truths, Just as in the Supper, By literally
,ating and drinking literal bread and
vine, we symbolically declare the death
)f Christ, and onr having part inits ben
fits. 2. Baptism is with Christ into
his death, and not into pater" we are told.
Exactly, but did not John baptize isa
Jordan into repentance? We're not the
Israelities baptized into Moses u the
cloud and in the seal
It is so declared. When our brother
lfirms. that man cannot be ritually
baptized into Christ, he eontradicts
Christ himself, for this is the very form
if expression in the commission. Could
, man 60 further to keep out of Waterl
D. Doctor. You would far better be
baptized and cease this struggle, that
lrives yon to, not only refuse to 60 into
water when You say physical baptism.
-eduires it. but forces You TO positively
leeIare that men cannot do what Christ
.nioins upon them. We hold over you
ne commission, and beg you to be bap- 1
.ized into the Trinity il obedience to Il,
Il is in connection with these pass