John."-Acts i. 22. "After the baptism which John preached."Acts x. 37. "Knowing only the baptism of John."-Acts xviii. 25. "When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel."-Acts xiii. 24. I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished."-Luke xii. 50. "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized into his death. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead, by the glory of the Father, even so, we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection."-Rom. vi. 3-5. "Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him, through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead."-Col. ii. 12. "Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you but Crispus and Gaius; lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas; besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel."-1 Cor. i. 13—17. "Ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints."-1 Cor. xvi. 15. "One Lord, one faith, one baptism."-Ephes. iv. 5. "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free, and have been all made to drink into one Spirit."-1 Cor. xii. 13. as many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ."Gal. iii. 27. "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead.". 1 Cor. xv, 29. "Of the doctrine of baptisms."-Heb. vi. 2. "Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud, and in the sea."-1 Cor. x. 1, 2,. once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ."-1 Peter iii. 20-21. "For "When Thus have been quoted all the passages of the New Testament that have reference to baptism. Two simple questions arise,-What is said of the subjects? who were they?-Men and women; persons who heard, repented, believed, rejoiced, &c. What of the mode? It was administered in rivers, and where there was "much water;" the parties went down into the water, both of them, and came up out of the water; and what they did was called a burial. The believer was dipped. One more question. What is said of infant sprinkling? NOTHING! LEICESTER: BAPTIST DEPOSITORY FOR TRACTS AND SABBATH SCHOOL PUBLICATIONS. PRINTED AND SOLD BY J. F. WINKS, HIGH STREET. Catalogues Gratis, on Receipt of One Postage Stamp. IMMERSION OF BELIEVERS. MODE OF BAPTISM.-Scripture Testimonies.-John baptized in Jordan-"Were baptized of him (John) in Jordan."-Matt. iii. 6, and Mark i. 5. John baptized where there was much water-" John also was baptizing in Enon, near to Salim, because there was much water there, and they came and were baptized."-John iii. 23. The Apostles baptized in the same way-"They went down both into the water, both Philip and the Eunuch, and he baptized him."Acts viii. 38. Baptism was a washing" Arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins."-Acts xxii. 16. Baptism was a burialdipping represents burial, sprinkling does not. "We are buried with him by baptism into death."-Rom. vi. 4. "Buried with him in baptism."-Coloss. ii. 12. Podobaptist Testimonies.-"They (the Primitive Christians) led them into the water, and with no other garments but what might serve to cover nature, they at first laid them down in the water as a man might be laid in a grave, and then they said these words, 'I baptize or wash thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.' Then they raised them up again, and clean garments were put on them: from whence came the phrases of being baptized into Christ's death; of being buried with him by baptism into death; of our being risen with Christ, and of our putting on the Lord Jesus Christ; of putting off the old man and putting on the new.-Rom. vi. 3-5; Col. ii. 12, iii. 1-10; Rom. xiii. 14; Expos. xxxix.-Bishop Burnet. Art. p. 374. "To baptize signifies to plunge, as is granted by all the world." -Bishop Bossuet. "The word baptize signifies to immerse, and the rite of immersion was observed by the ancient church; and from these words it may be inferred, that baptism was administered by plunging the whole body under water."-Calvin. Obs. on John iii. 23. "The custom of the ancient churches was not sprinkling, but immersion."-Bishop Taylor. Duct. dubit. B. iii. "The person baptized went down into the water, and was, as it were, buried under it."-Bishop Pearce. Note on 1 Cor. xv. 29. "We grant that baptism, then, (in the primitive times) was by washing the whole body. Though we have thought it lawful to disuse the manner of dipping, and to use less water, yet we presume not to change the use and signification of it."-Baxter. On Matt. iii. 6. Mr. Baxter here allows that men had made some change in the ordinance of baptism. Is there authority for making any? The Almighty says, "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you."-Deut. iv. 2. "Therefore, in our baptism, we are dipped under water, as signifying we are dead and buried to sin.-Baxter. On Rom. vi. 4. being so expressly declared here (Rom. vi. 4, and Col. ii. 12) th 66 we are buried with Christ in baptism, by being buried under water, and the argument to oblige us to a conformity to his death by dying to sin being taken hence, and this immersion being religiously observed By ALL CHRISTIANS FOR THIRTEEN CENTURIES, and approved by our church, and the change of it into sprinkling, even without any allowance from the Author of the institution, or any license from any council of the church, being that which the Romanist still urgeth to justify his refusal of the cup to the laity, it were to be wished that this custom might again be of general use."-Whitby. Note on Rom. vi. 4. "In England, of late years, I ever thought the parson baptized his own fingers, rather than the child."-Selden. "It is certain, that in the words of our text (Rom. vi. 3, 4) there is an allusion to the manner of baptism, which was by immersion."— Whitefield. Eighteen Sermons, p. 297. "Buried with him in baptism -it seems the part of candour to confess that here is an allusion to the manner of baptizing by immersion, as most usual in those early times.-Doddridge. The same excellent writer, noticing the case of Philip and the Eunuch, says," It would be very unnatural to suppose that they went down into the water merely that Philip might take up a little water in his hand to pour on the Eunuch." Mary Welsh, aged eleven days, was baptized according to the first church and the rule of the Church of England, by immersion."-Wesley. Journal of the time he passed in Georgia. 66 SUBJECTS OF BAPTISM.-Scripture Testimonies.--The persons baptized were not infants, for they were capable of repenting and confessing their sins. "John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins-and were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.”—Mark i. 4, 5 ; and Matthew iii. 6. Persons were exhorted to repent before baptism. "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins." Acts ii. 38. The fruits of repentance were required from those who wished for baptism. "Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, Bring forth, therefore, fruits worthy of repentance."-Luke iii. 7, 8; Matt. iii. 8. Persons were discipled before baptism. "Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John."-John iv. I, 2. Our Lord commanded that persons should be taught and believe before baptism. “Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." -Matt. xxviii. 19. "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned."-Mark xvi. 15, 16. They who received the word were the persons baptized by the Apostles. "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized."Acts ii, 41. "When they believed Philip, preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.”—Acts viii. 12.“She (i.e. Lydia) attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul, and when she was baptized," &c.-Acts xvi. 15. "Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord, with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing, believed, and were baptized.”—Actsxviii.8. The Apostles would have refused the ordinance to those who were not possessed of belief. "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."-Acts viii. 36, 37. The persons baptized had arrived at such an age, that they could understand Christian doctrines, enjoy Christian privileges, and unite in Christian duties. "They continued steadfastly in the Apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."-Acts ii. 42. The persons baptized had arrived at such an age, that they were capable of receiving the miraculous gifts of the Holy Ghost. "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we ? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.”—Acts x. 47, 48. See also chap. viii. 15-17. The persons baptized had reached such an age, as to feel the power of conscience. "The like figure whereunto, even baptism, doth also now save us, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience towards God." -1 Peter iii. 21. Podobaptist Testimonies.--" The subject of baptism, to whom it is to be administered, is a believer."-Limborch. "I think that illumination, as well as regeneration, in the most important and scriptural sense of the words, was regularly to precede the administration of that ordinance," i. e. baptism.-Doddridge. Note on Heb. vi. 4. "Faith and repentance were the great things required of those that were admitted to baptism, this was the practice of John; this the practice of the Apostles in their ministry."-Watts. Berry St. Sermons, vol. ii. p. 177, 178. "By the first preaching or making of disciples that must go before baptism, is to be meant, the convincing the world that Jesus is the Christ, and sent to be the Saviour and Redeemer of the world, and when any were brought to acknowledge this, THEN they were to baptize them, to initiate them in his religion.”—Bishop Burnet. Expos. xxxix. Artic. p. 34. "Go and teach or disciple all nations, and so on, where there are two teachings, the one before, and the other after baptism.”—Bishop Patrick. Discourse on the Lord's Supper, p. 455. "Go disciple me all nations, baptizing them. This is not like some occasional historical mention of baptism, but it is the very commission of Christ to his Apostles, for preaching and baptizing, and purposely expresseth their several places and order. Their first task is, by teaching, to make disciples, which are by Mark called believers; the second work is to baptize them, whereto is annexed the promise of their salvation; the third work is to teach them all other things, which are afterwards to be learned in the school of Christ. To contemn this order is to renounce all rules of order, for where can we expect to find it if not here? I profess my conscience is fully satisfied from this text, that it is one sort of faith, even saving that must go before baptism, and the profession whereof the minister must expect.”— Baxter. Disput. of right to Sac. p. 149, 150. "Because Christ requires teaching, before baptizing, and will have believers only admited to baptism; baptism does not seem rightly administered, except faith precede."-Calvin, in Harm. Evan. in Matt. xxviii. 19. CHRISTIAN READER! the foregoing brief quotations from Holy Scripture, on the mode and subjects of Christian Baptism, ought to convince you of what is the will of God in this matter; and doubtless they would, had not your mind received a previous prejudice by education and custom. Throw it off! act like those noble men, who are honoured above all others, for their candid and generous resolution to search the Scriptures, to see if these things were so. Go to that Holy Volume which is the guide of our faith, as it will be the standard of our judgment in that day. Dare to be faithful! Despise the world's frown-it is but a vapour, which the smile of Jesus will disperse. Cheerfully then, take up your cross and follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth-follow him down into his watery grave-tread in his steps below, and he will hereafter lead you to living fountains of waters! FOLLOW THE LAMB. HUMBLE Souls, who seek salvation Be baptized in my name:' He himself, in Jordan's river, Was immersed beneath the stream. LEICESTER: BAPTIST DEPOSITORY FOR TRACTS FUBLICATIONS. AND SABBATH SCHOOL PRINTED AND SOLD BY J. F. WINKS, HIGH STREET. Catalogues Gratis, on Receipt of One Postage Stamp. |