POURING & SPRINKLING

VERSUS

BAPTISM.

Modern Pouring and Sprinkling.

"MR. W. came to Melbourn, to preach a sermon on Baptism, in the Wesleyan chapel, and to administer that ordinance by the unscriptural method of pouring.

"The text was Matt. xxviii. 19. After insisting upon the necessity and importance of Baptism, the preacher proceeded to notice the mode, or as he expressed it, modes; he insisted upon three-dipping, sprinkling, and pouring; all of which he said were scriptural. He allowed that none could deny that the literal meaning of the word baptize, was to dip, immerse, plunge, &c.; but he said that in the Scripture it had different meanings, as, to sprinkle, to pour out, &c.; thus making the language of Scripture anything, till at length it may become nothing. As for the subjects, he said that both infants and adults were proper, and that faith was required in one case, but not in the other.

2

POURING AND SPRINKLING.

"After he had made an end of these contradictions of Scripture, he proceeded to administer the ordinance after his new manner, by standing up betwixt two young men in the middle of the pulpit, and after asking them several questions, poured the water upon their heads. On this occasion, the chapel was crowded, chiefly with General Baptists, who gave up their evening service that all might have an opportunity to see and hear. This is the first time that ever such a circumstance was witnessed at Melbourn, and will, very probably, be the last, as the people were well satisfied." Extract of a Letter.

"At the Wesleyan chapel, Loughborough, on Tuesday evening, the ordinance of baptism was administered to the adult family of a respectable individual at Loughborough, by the Rev. E. S-, of Castle Donington. It was a solemn and most interesting sight. Seven of them females and two males, appeared before the communion rails, when they were addressed by the preacher, in a very affecting and impressive manner; they afterwards kneeled down and were baptized in the names of the holy Trinity; they then arose from their knees, when the preacher affectionately took each of them by the hand, acknowledging them his brothers and sisters in the Lord."

Nottingham Review.

Ancient Scriptural Baptism.

"Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou

to me?

And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him; and, lo, a voice from heaven saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Matt. iii. 13-17.

"And the Eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee of whom spoke the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the Eunuch said, See here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the Eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the Eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. Acts viii. 34-39.

1. Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John to be baptized of him. Matt. iii. 13.-2. Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. Mark i. 19.3. Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water. Matt. iii. 16.

The candidates went up the pulpit stairs.-2. They had a little water poured on their heads in the pulpit.-3. Having had a little water poured on their heads in the pulpit, they came down the pulpit stairs.

1. As they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the Eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? Acts viii. 36.-2. They went down both into the water, both Philip and the Eunuch. Acts viii. 38.-3. He baptized him. Acts viii. 38.

The Sprinkling at Loughborough.

1. The Candidates drew near the Communion Table, on which a basin of water had been previously placed.-2. The Minister went within the railing of the Communion Table, and they kneeled down around it.-3. He sprinkled them.