The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-16

csssss Of which the Baptists have at times been
guilty, and he II careful to supply excuses for
Abe rigor Of their oppressors and opponents,
where such excuses are suggested by circum-
stances and the spirit Of the times.
The name Baptist was not self-chosen. In
thk early Reformation times, those who with
drew from the dominant churches because of
khsir failure 10 discriminate between the Church
and the world, and who sought to organize
churches of believers only, laid much stress on
ths lack Of scriptural warrant for the baptism
OF infants, and the incompatibility of infant
baptism with regenerate membership. Follow
Ing what they believed TO be apostolic precept
and example. they made baptism on profession
OF faith . condition Of church fellowship. This
rejection Of infant baptism and insistenco on
believer,' baptism was go distinctive Of these
Christians that they were stlgmatized as
Anabaptists, Catabaptists, and sometimes As
simply Baptists. These party names they at
Hrst earnestly repudiated, preferrinR TO call
themselves Brethren, Christians, Disciples Of
Christ, Believers, &c.
Let US sec how Dr. Newman defines the dis
tinctivs PRINCIPLES of this sect. He points out In
the nrst place that Baptists Of all parties have
from the beginning persistently maintained the
absolute supremacy Of the canonical Scriptures
ssa norm Of faith and practice. They have In
sisted on applying the Scripture test positively
and negatively TO every detail of doctrine and
practices. II has never seemed to them sufficient TO
show that q doctrine or practice. made q matter
of faith, 10 not contradictory TO Scripture; IL must
DO distinctly . matter of Scripture precept or
example to command their allegiance OF secure
from them n recognition of its right to exist
We should note In the second place that tho
application Of this principle, which has done
-. NhAn ArU n n rnN -
variance with other evangelical Christians.
regards tho matter of infant baptism.
They have failed to find scriptural authorize
ton, whether by precept or example for the adj
ministration Of baptism to infants. They have
pcrsistently maintained that this practice is not
only non-soriptural, but that It is distinctly con-
tra-scripturaf; that It is not merely the intro
duction Of q rite not authorized by Scripture.
yet innocent and useful, but q complete perver-
sion of one of the two ordinances that our Lord
gave to His Church for the symbolical setting
forth Of the great truths Of REDEMPTION. Be-
iieving that baptism merely symbolizes but does
not bestow or condition regeneration, they have
regarded II as preposterous that the symbol
should antedato by years the thing symbolized;
nay. that the symbollcal rite should be be-
slowed without any assurance that the
thing symbollzed would ever occur. In the
third place may be mentioned as no less charac-
teristic and separative the contention or Bap-
tists Tor reseherato membership lhey nave
stoadfastiy COMMENDED That the New Iesta-
ment conception OF the Church universal Is
that Of the entire body Of those that have be-
como personally partakers OF the salvation of
Christ; while the New Testsment idea of q local
church Is that of . body Of believers who have
peen regenerated ana sanctined' rms prlnci-
pie, oven more than the reJection OF INFANT Dap
csm or insistenco on believers baptism. or
contention Tor the precise new Testament form
OF baptism dmmersion)' has always been
fundamental with bapusts. Tho baptism
OF Infants has been rejected not simply be-
cause II Is non-scriptural. but even moro
because OF It's incompatioiiity with regener-
ete membership. we come to . feature OF
the Baptist faith which entities them to special
honor In the eyes OF civilized mankind. Believ-
ing that faith Is a matter between the individ-
ual man ana God' they nave from the beginning
OF their denominationai history. regarded AZ an
Pnormity any attempt TO force the conscience or
20 restrain men ny outward penalties 10 this or
that form or religious belief. They have always
held that persecution may make men hypocrltes
but true Christians never. Their advocacy OF
absolute liberty or conscience has been due not
simply 10 the fact that they have been among
the suffering parties but Is rather = logical re-
suit OF their fundamental principle. Lastly, we
note that while DIR. Newman would not omit
from an enumeration OF Baptist principles in
sistenco on immersion as the only allowable
form or baptism, neither would he assign to 1t
tho capitai place that many OF the opponents OF
tho sect are wont to give 1t. The uncompro-
missing position that Baptists have long held on
this matter is a corollary OF their maintenance
OF the authority ana the suffieiency OF Scripture
IS q form OF faith and practice, and their firm
conviction that the outward act commanded by
Christ and exemplihed by Him and his imme-
diAte followers was the immersion OF believers
In water. Anything short OF complete INNER
sion they have long been unanimous in regard
ing as an impertinent substitute for that which
Christ appointed. and as voiding the ordinance
or its true symbolical significance.
Such are the distinctive principles OF the
BAptists, but It Is worth while To mark their re-
iAtion TO other bodies OF Christians from some
other points OF view. Obviously, their rejection
OF sAoerdotalism, rituslism, and all forms OF
eeremoniAlism has put them out OF harmony