The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-01-24

an immersion into Christ (Acts xix.
II; Romans vi, 81.
Baptist Union Not Federation.
AS week ago we suggested to
Presbyterians, Congregationalists and
Methodists 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-
tlsm will apply to all Christians.
All Christians agree that Jesus and
his apostles taught baptism and that
there are but zone Lord, one faith and
one baptism" Ephesians iv, -. We can
not here elaborate, but merely suggest
that nowhere in the Scriptures is in
expression, Believe and be baptized"
implies mental development capable
Of belief beyond that which infants
possess. The original pretext for in
Producing infant baptism was set, forth
by st. Augustine, who urged that as
all mankind were going 10 eternal tor
ture except the Church, 1t was neces-
sary to get infants into the Church.;
and baptism wus set forth as the
door way. All parents, of course, wero
anxious that their children should be
immersed into the Church and saved
from eternal torture. And those good
wishes were certainly commendable,
even IL unnecessary.
Subsequently immersion was declar-
cd 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
sprinkllng continues with more or less
of fear to abandon 1t for the child's
sake.
Who will dispute that st. Pauls
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
ory of baptism, yet it supports only
one-the true one. Notice that IL does
not say, as many suppose, SO many of
us as were baptized into Jesus Christ
were baptized into tcdter. It does say,
$50 many of us as were baptized into
Jesus Christ were baptized into his
death" Is there not difference?
That difference is the explanation OF
all of our difficulty on this subject.
The clearing of 1t 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 a member of "the Church
which is his Body" Ephesians ], %,
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 "the elect
of the Lord, called and chosen; and
If faithful, they will be members OF
the glorious Church beyond the veil.
II, 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 men,
bership In the Body of Christ, but he
proceeds to tell us hoio 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 signified
water immersion! Our eyes are now
openedl 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-sacrifcings 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
uoiy, HhIulltSs, uIutbitu ohc ihib
down his life sacrificially. 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. But
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 OF
permitting us to sacrifice our human
rights and earthly interests as he sac
rificed his. The "elect" are to be dead
with him, that In the resurrection they
may live with him and be like him and
share his glory, honor and Immortality
BY conservation we present our bodies
living sacrifices holy and acceptable tC
God, as the Apostle declares Romani
xii, -. Thus we are Immersed int,
his death" and thus we become mem
6ers OF his Body.
Whoever fails to be thus immersed
into Chrlst's death will fail of thu
membership In his Body--will fail t,
be Of his elect Church, his Bride. Til,
difference between being dead will