The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-01-27


the remission of sins belonged to the
Jews, and none of it to Gentiles. The
Jews were exhorted by John the Bap
list and others to renounce sin. to
return to harmony with Moses Law,
and to show this change of character
by water immersion. But those Ephe
slams who believed in Christ and
whom Apollos baptized for the remis-
sion of sins did not receive the holy
Spirit. ST. Paul explained to them
that their baptism was an improper
One-that they as Gentiles required
an immersion into Christ (Acts xix,
II; Romans vi, 81.
Baptist Union Not Federation.
AS week ago we suggested to
Presbyterians, Congregationalists and
Methodists a union of heart and head
as better than federation, so now we
suggest to the denominations whose
doctrines we are considering today.
What we shall suggest respecting bap-
tism will apply to all Christians.
All Christians agree that Jesus and
his apostles taught baptism and that
there are but lone Lord, one faith and
one baptism" (Ephesians iv, 81. We can
not here elaborate, but merely suggest
that nowhere in the Scriptures is in
FAINT baptism commanded or urged The
expression, Believe and be baptized"
implies a mental development capable
Of belief beyond thdt which infants
possess. The original pretext for in
tr01 20 I.o, f~p
by st. Augustine, who urged that as
all mankind were going to eternal tor
ture except the Church, it was neces-
sary to get infants into the Church;
and baptism was set forth as the
doorway. All parents, of course, were
anxious that their children should be
immersed into the Church and saved
from eternal torture. And those good
wishes were certainly commendable,
even if unnecessary.
Subsequently immersion was declar-
ed to be unnecessary and sprinkling
became its substitute with all. The
thought of preservation from eternal
torment thereafter attached to the
sprinkling. Although our minds have
broadened, so that comparatively few
believe ST. Augustine's presentation,
nevertheless the custom of infant
sprinkling continues with more or less
Of fear to abandon it for the child's
sake
Who will dispute that st. Paul's
words Of Romans vi, 3-5, are the clear
est presentation of the import of bap-
tism furnished us In the Bible! The
passage is cited in proof of every the
DRY Of baptism. yet it supports only
one-the true one. Notice that it does
not say, as many suppose, So many of
us as were baptized into Jesus Christ
were baptized into aoater. 1t does say,
Jesus Christ were baptized into his
death.' Is there not a difference?
That difference is the explanation Of
all of our difficulty on this subject.
The clearing of it away furnishes the
foundation for harmony between all;
and not merely for harmony, but for
union amongst all classes of consecrat-
ed Christians.
| Consider the passage critically.
| First, immersion into Christ signifies
to the justified believer his immersion
into, his burial into, the Body Of
! Christ as member of "the Ghurch
which is his Body" (Epbesians l, %,
23). The Apostle sets forth clearly a
distinction between the Church and
the world and between the salvation
of the Church and the salvation of the
world. The Church are 1.-The elect
of the Lord, called and chosen; and
! if faithful, they will be members of
! the glorious Church beyond the veil.
! 1t, as the Bride of Christ, will be his
companion and Queen during the Mil
lennial reign of glory for the blessing
of the world-for the blessing Of the
non-elect considered last Sunday.
st. Paul not only tells us of our
need to be thus immersed into mem
bership in the Body Of Christ, but he
proceeds to tell us hoo that member
ship can be brought about. The
words, Baptism into his death" ex.
plain the matter. How strange that
we ever thought these words signitied
water immersion. Our eyes are now
opened. Plainly, now, we see that
Unto his death" signifies our partici
patton with our Lord Jesus in suf
fering for righteousness, in self-de
malls, self-sacrificings Of the same
character as those endured by the
Master. 1t is true indeed that the
whole world suffers pain, sorrow, dis
appointment, ETC.; yet our Lord suf
fered differently from all others, and
our dying must correspond to his. He
suffered, the Just for the unjust. The
holy, harmless, undefiled One laid
down his life SCIENTIFICALLY. voluntarily
joyfully. And we, to share in his
death, to be baptized into his death,
must do the same.
True, Jesus was spotless, while we
are members of the fallen race. Blu
we are justified through faith in his
blood. And hence we have in the
Divine sight through him a standing
of human perfection or justification
This standing is granted to us or i'm
puted to us for the very purpose O.
permitting us to sacrifice our human
rights and earthly interests as he sac
rificed his. The 'elect" are to be dea(
with him, that in the resurrection the,
may live with him and be like him ant
share his glory, honor and Immortality
BY conservation we present our bodie
living sacrifices holy and acceptable t,
God, as the Apostle declares (Roman
vii ~ rt.txc sfx,at,N Int