Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-05-08
REV. HEWITT ON BAPTISM
A Learned Discourse on the Beautiful Ordi
nance, Defending Its Efheacy, Form
and Spirit.

TAN Daptlsu.
The text was Acts. second CHAPTER and
! sixteenth verse: "Then remembered the
word of the Lord. John indeed baptized
. with water, but We shall be batized with the
Holy Ghost"
He gave two reasons for discussing this
subject at this time: First, Because it is a
r sacrament appointed by the Lord, and ia
means of grace which should be properly
understood. Second, On account Of some
misunderstanding which prevails among
certain people the real benefits and uses are
lost sight Of
The first inquiry is, "What is Bsptism?"
1t is an outward aud visible sign of an in
ward and spiritual grace. What is the in
ward and spiritual grace of which baptism
is the sign and seal? 1t represents the in
ward work of the Holy Spirit. This is
proved from Acts To- 44-4S. awhile Peter
yet spake these words the Holy Ghost tell
al them which heard the word and they ofthe
circumcision which believed were aston
ished. ms many as came with Peter, because
that on the Gentles also was poured out the
gift of the Holy Ghost, for they heard them
speak with tongues and magnify God. Then
answered Peter, can any man forbid water,
that these should not be baptized, which
have received the Holy Ghost, as well as
we ~
Then from this passage, as well as from
the words of our text and many other parts
If the Bible we are taught that outward
baptism is administered to those who have
received the gift of the Holy Spirit. 1t is
the work Of the Holy Spirit that unites US
to Christ. The Holy Spirit comes in the
place of Christ to carry on Christ's work.
See John l4:l6 IL; also Goth verse, and John
1926 and John l6:l7-l5.
Our second inquiry is as to the mode Of
baptism. The mode corresponds to the
thing which it represents. Bear in mind.
now, that the thing signifed is the work of
the Spirit.
How do the Scriptures represent the ac-
ton of the spirit.
In prophecy He is poured upon the peo-
pie. See Zach. 1925. Isaiah 23:15 and 44:3.
In the New Testment He is poured on the
people, Acts 10:45. Acts 10:44 he fell
upon them; the same is said in Acts ll:15.
In the baptism which John admintered it is
said in Matthew 8: Il indeed baptize you
with water unto repentance; but he that
cometh after me is mightier than /, whose
shoes l am not worthy TO bear; he shall bap-
tie you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.
This prophecy of John the Baptist was first
fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, as recorded
in Acts, second chapter. The disciples
were baptised with the Holy Ghost and with
fire. They were not immersed in the spirit
nor in the fire, but lambant flame sat upon
each OF them. After that 5000 were bsp-
tized with water. The Holy Spirit was rep
resented as purifier by fire and by water.
Each was the sign of purifying. The mode
was no doubt significant. Read Acts
2:4l: "Then they that gladly received
his word were baptized; and
tho same day there were added
unto them about three thousand
souls" This is the account of the baptism |
of three thousand persons at one time and
and in one place and that in part of day.
Not a word is said about any difficulty, nor |
any change of place. 1t must have taken
considerable time if these were all immersed. |
| do not say this was impossible. but it is
extremely improbable. Take the baptism
of Saul, see acts 22:l6: And now why tar
rest thou; arise and be baptised and wash |
away thy sins, calling on the name of the |
Lord. And in tie 9th of Acts and 18th |
verse we have the record of the same event: |
''And immediately there fell from his eyes
as it had been scales; and he received right |
forthwith and arose and WAS baptized"
And arose and WAS baptized.
The word here translated arose Isl the
Greek word "anastas' It is the second
aorist participle And Winer, the great ali-
thority on the Greek of the New Testament.
says: The norris: part, in the course Of o
narration, expresses either a simultaneous
action or previously past action"
That is when Paul rose,
he was baptized just before or just as he
In the case of Cornelius Peter preached
the word. The Holy spirit was poured up
on the hearer. Then Peter said, can any
man forbid water that these should not be
bsptised which have received the Holy
Ghost as well as we, and be commanded them
to be baptized in the name Of the Lord.
Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Acts 10. Here some of the objections
were taken up-John 3: %. Where much
water is spoken of.
People went out in great numbers to hear
John and Of course in that hot climate all
they would need water for would be TO be
immersed in. They would not need any to
drink for themselves or their hearts. The
Greek is "there was many waters there"
And there are still many springs in that
place.
Next the preacher took up the translation
of the Greek propositions els, elk, apo
and en-.
The proposition els (the long sound Of j
is the one that our immersionest friends de-
pend on TO show where Christ was when he
was baptized. II is used over fourteen hum
dred times in the New Testoment:
See Mark 49, "Jesus was baptized of
John in Jordan"
Matthew 81: "Wise men came TO Jeru-
salem"
Matthew 81: ale went up into noun
tain"
Matthew GLIB: LEAD US not into temp
tation."
Matthew l2:l4: ''They repented at the
preaching"
Matthew 2Nl7: "Jesus going up to Jeru-
salem.''
Matthew 24:I4: "For witness unto all
nations"
John 1896: "He that beleve,h on the
Son."
Samaria-"
You see It does not always mean into. in
the sense of entering or penetrating.
Look at apo. This is the word translated
out of, and is relied upon lin the English
form) with much confidence by our friends,
the immersionsts, for they say Matthew
3:l6E "Went up straightway out Of the wa
ter. Iquote few passages to show how
the word may be translated:
Matt. 100: BY their fruits We shall know
tqem.
Matt. 1872: Came out of the same
courts.
John 2l:s: They were not far from land.
Z. X. is also translated out of in Acts s:39:
Were come come up out of the water"
May mean simply from the water.
Matt. 1912: From the uttermost parts Of
the earth
Matt. 17:9: Risen from the dead.
Luke l0:1: Go not from house to house.
Acts 1871: Chains tell of from bis hands.
4. NJ
Matt. 81: Bap;ised of John en- tin) Jor-
dan.
Matt 26:52: Shall perish en- with the