Mexico weekly ledger., 1886-03-25

49, fSN @NN SIN'sF s"INA@-N' A"N1 h"~
one body of Christ, aud thus fitted
for heaven, are certainly seriptarai
subjects of baptism. If they are
not who on earth are? You need
not say that these children, thus
eleansed and baptized by the one
spirit into the body of Christ can be
saved without the symhol-baptism
with water. | know that. We
teach and have always so taught,
that water baptism is not essential to
salvation of the dying person, infant
or adult. But the question is, are
those infants thus ''baptized by the
one spirit into the Ii body" fit or
proper subjects for water baptism!
There is but one answer to that
question-they are!
Well then in the fourth place, we
have seen that multitudes of infants
who do not die in infancy, are saved
by Christ through the SPIRIT or in
other words, are baptized into the
body of Christ by the one spirit.
Jeremiah did not die in infancy, yet
he was baptized by the n spirit
into the one body. Jer. Is. So
was John, the Baptizer, with water)
Luke LIS. So was Timothy-2nd
Tim. 3-i5. So are thousands of the
most cody, pious Christian people
now on earth. In answer to the
prayers of gearing, believing parents
Christ did, by the Holy Spirit, bap-
tie these thousands into the one
body - did %regenerate and saw
them. Now tell me, are not all these
| children who are regenerated and
saved by Christ through the spirit.
baptized by the n spirit into the
one body, are they not proper, fit,
scriptural subjects of baptism with
water They are already by the
spirit of the living God regenerated-
created new creatures in Christ Je-
sus. Why not give them the exter-
nal symbol baptism since they pos
sess hat of which the water is only
the sign or symbol? All these infants
who do not die in infancy, but are
regenerated by the spirit, who are
by the one spirit baptized mi the
one body, are certainly just as fit
and scriptural subjects of baptism.
with water as can be found on earth.
No n who has any proper concep-
ton of the gospel plan of salvation
through Christ by the sanctlication
of the spirit can for a moment hest
tate to admit that all such infants are
certainly scriptural subjects of bap-
tism.
Then again fifth. The Lord claims
all the children born of our race
they of right belong to him. "Ctil-
dren are the heritage of the Lord and
the fruit of the womb is his reward"
Psalm 1878. All infants are born
under a bounden obligation to be the
Lords in heart and life. This obi.
cation rests forever upon them, and
neglect or Reputation of it does not
remove it. Christian parents recog-
nize that the same obligation rests
upon themselves and their children.
They have themselves been baptized
in recognition Of the fact that they
belong to God and should be his in
heart and life. Now l feel confident
that every Christian mar and woman
that becomes a parent does pray fol
their children-pray for spiritua
blessings as well as temporal-ever
before their birth. If any prayers Of
the human soul are ever earnest anG
agonizing they are the petitions that
rise from the yearning soul of father
and mother as they view (even in an
ticlpation) the dear children God has
!, given them to bless and cement the
nearest, dearest and hottest of al
=, earthly unions. Now will the Lore
, "whe took little children into hi.
I Bonded arms and blessed them" an.
, swer such prayers? Can he answer
them? How can he? Mr.. Duncan
!, dare not admit that he either car Of
will. He has no room for any sucl
, truth and doctrine in his fimsy Cos
E pei. Now we say that God both car
and most certainly will answer these
earnest, yearning, loving, trusting
prayers. He answered the prayer.
of the pious Hannah. 1st Sam. /
27:2S. He answered the prayers ant
blessed the instruction of the godly
and faithful Eunice, mother of Tim
othy. I'd Tim. LIS. So he has il
millions of instances. He told US il
Luke lib that he is more ''willine
to give the holy spirit (the very agent
we want to regenerate and baptize
our children into the one body OF
!. CHRISTI to them that ask him that VIZ
are to give good things to our chill
dren." We know we cannot regen
crate the souls of our children, so VIZ
, pray to the Lord to send his holy
spirit and reach and regenerate theil
precious souls. Can any one blame
, us for believing that the Savior car
and will send his spirit and cleanse.
renew and baptize these children thu:
brought to him?
We have confessed to the world
: that we belong to the Lord. awe