Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-06-17

| D,fmout, which is the fourth quota
t!on Of the article under considera-
| ton. Will risk my case, however. on
the assertion that distinctly remember
| that Ypelg and Dermout hold the Bap-
| tists q be descendants from the An
cient waldenses
| Twisted TO suit Ills Views.
The Rev j. NJ cramp. ID. D.. who
can go as far az amy writer in twisting
history to suit his views" admits, in
his Baptist History published by the
American Baptist Publication Society.
that there was no uniformity among
them (the Waldenses) a number OF
them. particularly In the early part Of
their history, judged that baptism
should be administered 10 believers
only, and practicsl accordingly; others
entirely rejected that ordinance, MS well
as the Lord's supper; a third class
held pRedohaptism." j.. 49, That they
almost universally believed IN absolu-
ton and confession, and practlced both,
ErbCdy disputes. ] am sure they were
not Identical In doctrine and govern
ment with the i3nptlsts Of today.
Connect the NTH and eight quota
tons OF the communication. both OF
which are from Moshelm, and you find
that great historian speaking of per
sons" adhering to principles" yet we
find no single line Of history referring
to a single Baptist congregation.
Distinctive Principles.
In the sixth quotation from Evervin).
n Baptist body is spoken of as being
'amongat the Cathari." AS the one
ara only distinctive principle mem
timed IS not holding infant baptism,
1t follows that they were like the
Cati an IN everything that was COM
saa..t a.. oil ..fala ~
pie. They were very diverse in their
views" Some of them rejected water
baptism altogether as something In
signincant. They had parishes and
dlcoeies, with doacons and bishops in
their ministry. They were not, In any
OF their schools Identical either In doc
trine or discipline with the Bap,ists Of
today.
The quotation from Robinson goes
back only to 1913, a. D.. and the people
spoken Of as never having had af-
iin.ty for Rome are still classed as
"Annbnptists," not "Buptists.'
The same is true Of the quotation
from zwingli with this addition; The
"institution" there spoken Of MS ak
ietng for 1900 ycarn was all the time
III the church" For several years
ppst wo have had some people who
"caused great disturbance In the
church," but hey still have the govern
ment OF tho church. and her essential
doctrines. and .hey have not gone out
to make q new sect.
The opinion of even so great a
scholar as Gesenius, is not history; and
if 1t were, Il is to be noted that the
expression attributed to him was made
when he "flrst heard Of the Baptist
churches, What he might have said
when he was more fully Informed Is not
recorded
that challenged only the history. so
called. OF the Baptist churches. Az to
Their doctrines, | have not said word,
either In my former communication,
nor In this. In common with
All Evangelical nodIrs,
the Baptists, as n denomination and MS
individuals, hold the essential doctrines
Of the Christian faith. In their declara-
tlon OF faith they make the Bible "the
true center Of Christian union and the
supreme standard by which all human
conduct. creeds. and opinions shall be
tried" In our Articles OF Religion 1t
Is declared that Holy Scripture CON
tainoth all things necessary to saliva
ton, SO that whatsoever Is not read
therein, nor may be proved thereby. Is
not to be required OF any mnn, that 1t
should be believed IA an article OF the
faith or be thought requisite or neces-
sary TO salvation"
The difference is one OF verbiagc only.
Both bodies bold precisely alike as TO
the use of the scriptures The differ
enre IN that we stand squarely by our
declaration; our Baptist brethren do
not. Having had water poured or
Anrlnkled upon him In adult life, by
what he regards us a validity ordained
man. upon q profession OF faith ana
repentance and II promise to lead the
new life by ubediently
Keeping Gods Holy WIN
and commandments, and walking IN the
same all the days OF his life. and be-
lieving repetition OF Baptism to be
saorilege. Methodist, Presbyterian, or
| Eplscopallan applies for membership
| IN the Baptist church. lie will not be
receive ON any other condition than
| that he be Immersed. That Is because
| there are words In the Bible that con-
vince the Baptists that Immersion IL
| the proper foim OF baptism. On the
other hand. a Baptist asking admission
To the Episcopal church tand / am sure
l may say Methodist or Presbyterian
" hrst told what that body believes
about infant Baptism. and then with
out being required 10 change his be-
lief or practice IN the matter he Is add
mittcd 10 membership.
Two mon approach Baptist
preacher. both make the necessary pro-
fesslon of faith; one wants Ia be bap-
tlzed by immersion, the other helleVes
that sprlnsllng or pouring Is not only
Just as good, but has soriptural author
ity Tho immcrsiOnlst IL accepted. tho
other must change his opinion. or sub
init 10 immersion without changing his
opinion, or seek some other denomlna-
tlon. II the same two men came to a
priest IN the Episcopal church each