The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-05
BELIEF OF THE BAPTISTS.
SECOND OF THE SERIES OF LEG
TURES By DR.. A. J. DICKINSON.
Tho Subject OF Baptism Discussed in
Clear and Forcible Style-Importanco
OF Living Up to Details Believed
by Some Not To Be Essential.

Tho Rev. A. J. Dickinson, OF the Central
Baptist Church, delivered his second lecture
on Baptist rcculiariucs," before a large
audience.
These lectures were designed TO stimulate
the pastors people To activity and jealous
ness In view OF the coming OF the Southern
Baptist Convention, which meets here next
Friday.
THE LECTURE.
zach Baptist Church being independent and self.
governed must alsp bc teii nrsnnikci subject ohly
tu the teachings oi the word Of God. The ofoers
oi the churh, taught Ia the Scripture, are
npostlcs and pf1phcts-brth ui which belonged cx.
ciusiyely 30 the fi-st are of Christianity aud are
nos cGtnct-Cynngclists, pastor. and dcHcpnz. Ot
these paul teaches in hls letters that the only
usl oficcrs Of Christian church arc pistors aud
urntouA
J. Sc hold that the icrmz prcsbytes bishop. pas.
tor arr used i0r one aud the same Office Ia tie
New Testament which now almost all the bot
tshulnrs admit
3 we dcny that the pastor or prczbytcr OF bishop
i anywhere given prcstly authority uT Office b..
yund what y giyca "a Al Chfi-tisu men OF women
We are distinctly told ihai all Christians are made
kings aud prcsts unto God, royal priesthood. but
nowhere q this oiicc given peculiarly to the bish'
a We drny that the ruling oidcrhip ~ found In
prEby Churches has nuj where In scripture
either prucrpt or example We reject this, ns also
The idea 0i the pficstY function ui the PASTOR be-
cause u lncAh ihr allhotll ui lhsplrcu wiz ahd
il iucous isicut with ~ teaching
T. We believe the scriptures 20 teach that the
only other ncccs1try oilcc In y Christian Churh
1 that of the dol 'out WHO are 10 take charge Of
the temporal afair of the church. nut officer, nrc
10 b. elected by each church for itself. subject 10
the approval ot mo- other authority We believe
the scriptures ~ teach that these two arc the only
officers fcquip-d ni Christian church by scripture
tcachIuf, but shc has authority 10 crcaic other
oinctrt ns Jcrasiou may require. provided they do
not anifFpuso ur inlcrefr with ihosc established
10 fFNfn
above that our bclici T. identical with that of our
ncirhb1fs Of the Strangers Church.
our next point u difference from hll other
Christian sccis T. ~ to the teaching of the Scrip.
| mf,n about the ordinances. We nFfvc with oct
pr1osants Ia holding that the ordinances af, only
two ia number VIA Baptism and the Lords sup
i. We bold that the Scriptures require every 10.
iicyef b. BE- Immersed IN water as symbolic con.
lesion Of hi, death and burial 10 sinful life aud
/ bis resurrection ~ lie oi holiness
| Ne hold that the only baptism warranted BY tho
| teachings of scnpturc Il an immersion Oi the be
| i. Thc candidate must be- a believer for We hnd
nowhere In the scriptures that any other pcron,
were baptized liencr We refuse 70 baptizo babies
who cannot aud have not bcleycd.
| q We make no lssuc o. 10 the form OF baptism.
/ A believer may bc baptized face foremost, eide
I ways, IN running water, or IN standing, but hs
must BE- baptized not fantsed. We hold 70 thl,
/ aud always means lumcfse or aubincfgc, sui u
| nowhere aud never syuuny nous with sprinkle ol
/ pour, which IDEA VIC Nfffh o. Nfil ~ hll othtl
J langnnrcs expfc.s bj q different word There Il d
/ standing Offer Of d 90 By awcalthy baptist for
| duglo example IN The New Testament times or N,
/ early coniuflrs, where the word muit mean tpflu
| lie or pour. That lmmcniun was the New 1ttia
nsnt baptism Il admitted by the most Cmlrcn
schoisr, oi ali fecii and q universally taught b,
I ali thc leading icKicous ~ New Testament Nrcck
| N the fsholafs have proven The meaning ~ ail
/ Greek word beyond reasonable doubt, this Il th'
! word
Besides, although thcfc Is word IN the New
] Tcstatnslt Tor the idea Of sprinkle, viz "uuiiyc,'
set this word il never once used Of the ordinance
/ Ol baptism. -
/ Also. the contest everywhere shows that the mos
| natural meaning ui the word n tuluefsc We
| Therefore. believe that Immersion, and immcriet
| oniy Il the teachings of the tcrlptufcs ~ regard
Christian baptism And, holding that tlie author
| ity af Gods word u supreme, We arc i0rced 4
reject any aud cycry Substitute Inconsistent viii
impiielt Obedience % the commands Of God. go
says lmmcnc man slys sprinkle 'as Tor me hht
nv house. We viii serve the Lori
AFnin All substitutes which have been v cred
tseflaco he tymb1lic force oi the ordinance. How
can a burial and resurrection D. symboliked bl
effn,lonf Bat 10 the liauid grave the Object leaoi
Ne believe that every ono Riusns 10 b. i'm