The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-04-09
,man.s Love, and Evidences of Mans Fidelity TO Him
Who Died that Might Live.

thankful to the Givcr OF NIL good for these
man ifestailons Of 1--we towards his creatures.
We are indebted TO the following person!
composing the choir for the excellent music
rendered: Judge j. r. Lyon. a. N. DuPrc
NJ. IT, Coleman, Benjamin Hughes, Mrs. ii. ID
Reese. Mrs. T.. X. Bowie, Mrs. q. II. Moore
Miss Nellie Hill. Miss Orcne Hughes, and
Miss Aylctte Chalmers, organiSt.
Rev. l.. +. Beatty conducted the services
morning and night. preaching In The morn
Ing on the "Resurrection Of Christ and al
night on tho "Rcsurrcction Of the dead.'
In the Baptist Church.
Last Sunday was the quarterly communion
season Of the Baptist church. The pastor
Rev. Jnmes 4. Brown, preached Il sermon
suited to the occasion from Corinthians.
He explained THAT it was customary for Ro
man soldiers To take an oath Of allegiance
when they Joined the ranks or their com
mander. This OatL WAS called Snc'dnie1'tunl
The early Christians very appropriately ap
piled this term TO the two church ordinances
established by Christ, and enjolned upon his
followers. Upon entering tile ranks of his
visible church they declare to Christ and Ia
the world by their baptism that they Will be
salvation. And during tie subsequent war
fare this pledge Is again and again renewed as
they gather around the Lords table and par
take of the e:nblcms Of the broken body and
shed blood OF their Redeenler.
These two are the significant sacramcnts
appointed By the Lord. The Church of Rome
upon It's own authority alone. declare thai
their are five others: Confirmation. Pcnance
Extreme Unclion, Ordination and Marriage.
The relation OF the two SnclamtniS was
then spoken OF. These are synlb0llcal of I'M
porl:li! spiritual truths realized In the lives OF
Christ ianS. The believer must tie baptized be-
fore he can become member or one ol
ChriSl's churches. According to the great
commission OF the Lord, the first duty OF his
disciples WAS to- make disciples of men. then
baptize those who were thus led TO believe
and then teach them to observe all other
things lie had commanded. This order was
followed IN the apoSOlical churches. as l.
shown IN the Acts Of the Apostles. We can
see also how properly baptism comes at the
b, gnnin. OF the Christian life, for II Is not
only Il pledge Of loyalty to the Master, and II
badge of service that we take upon ourselves,
but IL symboliZcs great spiritual fact, and
pictures u the world q great change WHICH
has just taken place in the believer. Ills
immersion declares that the candidate has,
through the regeneration of the spirit, died
and is buried in regard 10 his former life IN
sin, but Is raised again with Christ TO new
life. This Is the meaning of The act given by
Paul; when lie says in 9Th chapter Romans
"Know ye not thatSo many Of us as were bap-
tized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his
death ? Therefore we are hurled with him by
bAptiSm into death. that like rs Christ was
raised up from the dead by the glory Of the
Father, even SO We also should walk in new
ness of life" lie uses similar language In the
End chapter CUlos>ans.
How appropriate then that this act which
so beautifully teaches the change to Il ncw lille
in Christ should stand III the very beginning
Of that new life, and never be repeated. for II
represents Il single aud unalierab'e e event.
After this act has been performed, which
tcacIIes that the spiritual life has begun, the
sni:ab!rncSs OF The sui.s quent and repeated
parlaking Of the Lords supper is evident.
This, too, is Il SymhuiicHl ordinance, and pic
lures TO the mind and heart Il great spiritual
truth that follows upon that taught by hap.
tism. As baptism signifies the beginning Of
the new life. the Lords Supper signifies its
nnuriSh mrn!. The one shows II change from
the old To tl!e urw life; the either progress Is
tl!e new life. The one scis firth Il single
event, the other an uvrr-iecurring duty and
rrlrcShiucnt. As the II - of faith must be
originated before IT, can ht: nouriS'lrd, SO an
ordinance which represents the beginning nf
this life must naturally rrcccde one which
represents its existence and support.
hildrnunIlnationSh h0!d tint bay i'tism should
come before the partakIng Of the Lords Sup
per. Raplisls, as Others, hold to this general
iy received principle; but admitting The i'm
mcr>ion OF believers alone for baptiSm, com
muniun With them Is restricted To immersed
believers. Hence they practice what is com.
monty called close c0mInunion."