The times., 1897-02-12
BAPTISM.

Rev. Jehn Sweet Speaks on the Subject
Last Sunday morning Rev. John Sweet,
pastor of the First NJ. f. church, addressed
his congregation upon the subject of "Bap-
tism." From first to last the speaker re-
ceived the closest attention of the large
congregation, and the sermon was mas
terly address, showing very careful study of
the subject and abundant research into the
thoughts and opinions of eminent scholars.
Mr.. Sweet said, in opening, it was not his
purpose to attack or oppose the views or
belief of any religious body, relative to the
mode In which baptism should be admins
tered, but he purposed to defend the prac-
tice of his own church in that regard, and
to set forth the reasons for such practice.
He had profound respect for any church
which had we'll defined belief, that knew
what they believed, and why they believed
it.
He wished to call attention to few neces-
sary points to be observed in Bible study:
First. Never study the Bible with your
mind closed to conviction.
Second. DO not come to the Bible to
fortlfy your own preconceived notion.
Third. Study not superfcalIy-d not
think the truths of the Bible lie on the sur
face.
Fourth. The Bible must be Interpreted
scientifically and in harmony with itself.
Fifth. The Bible must be interpre ted
with respect to its local cooring.
He then entered upon the subject proper:
There are two baptlSms spoken of in the
scriptures, real baptism, aud symbolic bap-
tsm. In real baptism, God is the admuis-
traitor, the Holy Ghost is the element. and
the person-the real person--is the subject.
In symbolic baptism the minister is the
administrator, the water is the element and
the body-not the real person-iS the sub.
ject.
Real baptism has saving qualities, sym
boic baptism has not.
Real baptism is always represented in the
scriptures as descending or falling upon the
individual. Hence the most natural and
appropriate way for the administration of
symbolic or water baptism was to have the
element fall upon the individual. 1t was
word baptize was to immerse, hence to bap-
tize would be to immerse. He admitted
that baptize did mean to immerse, but that
was only one of several meanings. Baptize
M oh lt,tx
the English form of Greek word, which
meant to sprinkle with water, to pour water
upon, to immerse in water, etc. 1t cou 4
not be translated into English, because there
was no single word in the English language
which would express its meaning.
The speaker then proceeded to enter into
an exhaustive discussion of the opinions
held by many eminent scholars, relative to
the best mode of symbolic baptism, which
he contended was by affuson- -sprinkling
or pouring of water upon the head of the
individual to be baptised. This view he
| considered to be fully sustained by the scrip
lures, and by the practice of the apostles
and of the early church.
This was the opinion held by the Metho-
dist church, aud the administration of the
rite of baptism by sprinkling was the most
| convenient and appropriate for all classes
and conditions of people. The Methodist
church, however, did not attach great i'm
portance to the mode of baptism, the i'm
portance was in the spirit of the act, and
not in the mode of its performance.
| While Mr. Sweet cheerfully accorded to
others choice of mode, he claimed that the
practice of his own church was in exact
accord with scripture teaching and apos-
tolic usage.