Parr, 
 
 ^/^^t^ 
 
 ARNEX 
 iTAOi 
 
 SMOOTH STONES FROM 
 RUNNING BROOKS. 
 
 eniton 
 
 ON 
 
 BAPTISM 
 
 •«?. . 
 
 AKD THE 
 
 LORD'S SUPPER. 
 
Smooth Stones froir\ Rur\nir\g Brooks, 
 
 Truth T\our\ded by Frictior\. 
 o ' 
 
 A SERMON 
 
 ON 
 
 ^iim and Ik 
 
 With thiogs that Baptists do not believe, and 
 things that they do believe, 
 
 '-"■■-■-:';;"'"'■■ BY THE 
 
 REV. W. H. PORTER, A. M., ^ 
 
 Pastor of the First Baptist Church, . 
 
 BRANTFORD. 
 
 Published by request of the Church. 
 
 — — o 
 
 I esteem all thy precepts concerning? all things to be 
 right : and I hate every false way, — Ps, 119, 128, 
 
 o- 
 
 Brantford : 
 
 Printed at the Daily Expositor Power Printing 
 House, George Street. 
 
 1876. 
 
I am 
 
 BAPTISM. 
 
 Meekly in Jordan's holy stream 
 The Great Eedeemer bowed ; 
 Bright was the glory's sacred beam 
 That hu'^hed the wondering erowi. 
 
 Thus God descended to approve 
 The deed that Christ had done ; 
 Thus came the emblematic Dove 
 And hovered o'er tlie Son. 
 
 S. F. Smith. 
 
 '^JAN 2 6 194a 
 
This is the love of God, that we keep his com- 
 mandments. — 1 John V, 3. 
 
 He • ix&t hath my commandmonte, and k; cpeth 
 them, he it is that loveth me ; and he that isveth me, 
 shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and 
 will manifest my love to him.— John xiv, 21. 
 
 I. BAPTISM. 
 
 (1). Who are the proper subjects ^ or, what are the 
 . scriptural qualificaiiovs for baptism. 
 
 -r'ii'-i ->■ 
 
 tJnto Nshiit then were ^e bapti ed. — Acts xix, 3. 
 
 '^' In those days came John the Baptist preaching in 
 the wiMernfss of Judea, and saying, Repent yo, for the 
 kingdom of heavf n is at hand. I indeed baptise you 
 with water unto repentance. Then went out to him 
 Jerusalem, and all Judea,— and were baptised of him in 
 Jordan, confessing their sins, — Matt. iii,l, 2, 11, 5, 6.- 
 
 ** The baptism of John, whence was it 7 from heaven, 
 or of men f T.ie law and the prophets were until John. 
 Since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and 
 every man presseth into it." Calvir , the founder of 
 Presbyterianism, says, ** It is very certain that the 
 ministry of John was precisely the same as that which 
 
4 believers' baptism. 
 
 was afterwa?. Is committed to the Apjstles. For their 
 
 baptism was not different, though it was administered 
 
 by different hands; — both baptised unto repentance, 
 both unto remission of sins ; both baptised in the 
 name of Christ, from whom repentance and remission 
 of sins proceed. If any difference be sought for in the 
 word of God, the only difference that '^ill be found is, 
 that John baptised in the name of Him who was to 
 come, and the apostles in the name of Him who had 
 come." As Dr. Barnes says, ** The import of the rite was 
 the same, whether administered bj John, or by the 
 disciples of Jesus." 
 
 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying : — 
 All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth, go 
 ye therefore and teach (disciple) all nations, baptising 
 them in the name of the Father, and of Jbhe Son, and 
 of the Holy Ghost : teaching them to observe all things 
 whatsoever I have commanded you : and lo, I am with 
 you alway even unto the end of the world, — Matt- 
 xxviii, 18, 20. Notice the order — disciple — baptise — 
 teach. " The writing which is written in the King's 
 name and sealed with the King's ring, may no man 
 reverse." ** The law of the Lord is perfect." He 
 that believeth and is baptised shall be saved. — Mark 
 xvi, 16. Then they that gladly received his word were 
 baptised. — Acts ii, 41. When they believed Philip 
 preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, 
 and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptised both 
 men and women, — Acts viii, 12. What I no children ? 
 
believers' baptism. 6 
 
 ** Search and see." And Jesus said, suffer little chil- 
 dren and forbid them Bot ^o come unto me, for of sach 
 i3 the kingdom of heaven. And he laid his hands on 
 them, and departed thence. — Matt, xix, 14, li. 
 (Though Jesus baptised not, but his disciples). — John 
 iv, 2. ** Add thou not unto his words." And at mid- 
 night Paul and Silas prayed, and saug praises to God ; 
 and the prisoners heard them, — a great earthquake ; 
 the foundations of the prison shaken ; — the doors 
 opened, and every one's bands loosed. The keeper of 
 the prison, awaking, would have killed himself : but 
 Paul cried. Do thyself no harm, for we are all here. 
 Then he called for a light and sprang in, and came 
 trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas, and 
 said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved ? And they 
 said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be 
 saved, and thy house. And he took them the same 
 hour of the night and washed their stripes, and was 
 baptised, he, and all his straightway. And when he 
 had brought them into his house he set meat before 
 them, and rejoiced, believing in God tvith all his house, 
 — Acts xvi, 25 to 34. Happy household ! They heard 
 — believed — were baptised — rejoiced — scriptural pre- 
 lude and accompanyment to believers^ baptism. And 
 Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on 
 the Lord with all his house; and many of the 
 Corinthians hearing, believed, and were baptised, — Acts 
 xviii, 18. And were none baptised except believers f- 
 " Search the scriptures." " If I tell you ye will not 
 believe.*' I baptised also the household of StephanaSe 
 
I 
 
 # BBLIEYERB^ BAPTISM. 
 
 Ye know the household of Stephanas, that it is the 
 first fruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted 
 themselves to the ministry of the saints.— 1 Cor,, i, 16 
 and xvi, 15. 
 
 The only other household haptism mentioned in 
 scripture, is that of "• Lydia, a seller of purple, of the 
 city of Thyatira, whose hoart the Lord opened, that 
 she littended unto the things which were spoken of 
 Paul. And when she was baptised, and her household, 
 she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be 
 faithful to the Lord, come into my house and abide 
 / there, and she constrained us.'* Whether this woman 
 
 i 
 
 \ was married, single or wido'ved, or whether her house- 
 hold consisted of children, relatives, or servants, we are 
 not informed. But she was then at Philippi, about 300 
 miles from home, engaged in traffic, and sufficiently 
 free from household cnres to entertain the Apostles, 
 probably '* for many days," See Acts xvi, 15, 18, also 
 V, 40. A slender prop for infant baptism, especially as 
 it is the only one. To quote from eminent Pedo-Bap- 
 tist authors : Neander nays, " V\'e have all reason for 
 not deriving infant baptism from Apostolic institu- 
 tion." Piofessor Jacobi says, ** Infant baptism was 
 established by neither Christ nor by the apostles." 
 Dr. Hamia says, ** Scripture knows nothing of the 
 baptism of infants." Prof. Lange says, *' All attempts 
 to make out infant baptism from the New Testament 
 fail." Schlucramacher says, *' All traces of infant 
 Daptism which we will find in the New Testament, 
 mtist first be put into if." Thus do the pillars of this 
 
believers' baptism. f 
 
 wondrons terople of snperstition — infant baptism — 
 crumble, and vanish at the touch. ** Every plant 
 which my Heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be 
 rooted up." And the Eunch said, See, here is water, 
 what doth hinder me to be baptised ? And PhiHp said, 
 If thou believest with all thy heart thou may est. — Acts 
 viii, 36, 37. Even admitting this passage to have been 
 interpolated, it still goes to prove, that faith was then 
 considered a pre-requisite to baptism. The scriptures 
 fail to furnish a single instance, — either & precept or ex- 
 ampler — for other than believers^ baptism. For as 
 many of you as have been baptised into Christ have 
 put on Christ.— Gal. iii, 27- But it maybe asked, does 
 the omission of a scriptural requisite invalidate a 
 christian ordinance ? It did *^^he ordinance of the 
 Lord's supper with the Corinthians. When ye comf^ 
 together therefore, iuto one place, it is not to eat the 
 Lord's supper: for he that eateth and drinketh un- 
 worthily — or accorJIing to Dean Alford's version — he 
 that eateth and drinketh, eateth and drinketh judg- 
 ment to himself, if h(3 discern not the Lord's body. — 
 1 Cor. xi, 20, 27. So also the ordinance of baptism. 
 Dr. Dwight says, ** Baptism is a privilege when ad- 
 ministered and received in the manner divinely ap- 
 pointed, but in no other. When this ordinance is re- 
 ceived in any other manner, it is plainly no obedience 
 to any command of His, and therefore, let me add, has 
 no encouragement to hepe for a blessing." Calvin 
 says, ** Because Christ requires teaching before bap- 
 tising, and will have believers only, admitted to bap- 
 

 ■* • .1 * -> 1 T' > 'I'. 
 
 believers' baptism. 
 
 ■» 
 
 tism, baptism does not seem to be rigbtly administered 
 except /ait/i precede.*' 
 
 ** 4.rd Paul came to Ephesus : and finding certain 
 disci^yies, he said unto them, have ye received the Holy 
 Ghost since ye believed ? And they said unto him, we 
 have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy 
 Ghost. And he said unto them, unto what then were 
 ye baptised? And they said, unto John's baptism." 
 Not hy John ; (for had they been , they would have 
 heard of the Holy Ghost, for ** he said to the people, I 
 indeed baptise with water unto repent i nee, but he that 
 Cometh after me is mightier than I : he shall baptise 
 you with the Holy Ghost.— Matt, iii, 11), but probably 
 by some of John's disciples : whose zeal was not ac- 
 cording to knowledge : and who, by the omission of 
 
 essential teaching, in connection therewith, invalidated 
 the ordinance. Then said Paul, John verily baptised 
 with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, 
 that they should believe on him which should come 
 after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. (Dean Alford's 
 version). When they heard this, they were baptised 
 into the name of the Lord Jesus. — Acts xix, 1,5. So 
 we^ on *' finding disciples" who ha^e been baptised in 
 infancy, '* having not so much as heard whether there 
 be any Holy Ghost," follow the example of the 
 apostles, and *' baptise them in the name of the Lord 
 Jesus." ** Whether it be right in the sight of the Lord to 
 hearken unto you, more than unto God, judge ye." 
 ** For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the 
 
believers' baptism. 9 
 
 truth/' **He that doeth truth, oometh to the light, 
 that his deeds may he made manifest, that they are 
 wrought in God." 
 
 But it may he asked, '* did not haptism 
 come in the room of circumcision?" With 
 many of the profoundest Pedo-Baptist scholars, we 
 might answer, No : hut we prefer inciting, if possible,^ 
 to scriptural inquiry. If haptism came in the room of cir- 
 cumcision, it would prevent, in proportion to its pre- 
 valence, the observance of believers* haptism : thus 
 *' making the commandments of God of none effect by 
 human traditions." If baptism came in the room of 
 circumcision, why did the Apostle Paul circumcise 
 Timothy ? See Acts xvi, 1, 3. Did he not acknow- 
 ledge the divinely appointed change, or did he not 
 know of it ? If baptism came in the room of circum- 
 cision, why is the law of circumcision not adhered to? 
 By what authority are the female children baptised, 
 and the servants omitted? See Gen. xii, 44, xvii, 23. 
 Perhaps '*by the same authority that changed the 
 ordinance of haptism from immersion to sprinkling, 
 and introduced communion in one kind." — Cardinal 
 Manning. 
 
 ** Prove all things : hold fast that which is good." 
 
 If baptism came m the room of circumcision, why 
 are the baptised not admitted to the Lord's supper, as 
 the circumcised were to the passover ? See Ex. xii, 3, 7. 
 44. 
 
10 . THE SUBJECT 
 
 Bat why multiply enquiries, that lead only to per- 
 plexity. We venture to assert, that few Pedo-Baptists 
 can explain satisfactorily — even to themselves — the re- 
 lation that baptised children sustain to the christian 
 church. This question so perplexed the Rev. Mr. 
 Judson, Missionary to India, that it led him, through 
 the candid study of the scriptures — as it does, over fifty 
 Pedo-Baptist ministers a year, in the United States, — 
 to become a Baptist. . 
 
 But what seams the most unaccountable, if bap- 
 tism came in the room of circumcision, is, that not 
 even the faintest intimation of it can be found in the 
 
 New Testament. ^.r ^..*. ^^ - *^ 
 
 ■_'.*-> 
 
 .,^*-' 
 
 And this seems the more remarkable, inasmuch 
 as the subject of circumci^iun— even after the rite of 
 baptism had been administered, often came up for dis- 
 cussion and settlement before the apostles. See A.ots 
 the XV ch., where the disciples were taught, that it was 
 necessary no be circumcised, and the apostles and 
 elders held a council at Jerusalem, to deliberate upon 
 this matter. Is it not inconceivable that such disoud- 
 sion, aud decisions, as are there recorded, should have 
 transpired, if he apostles knew that baptism came in 
 the room of circrumciaion ? Impossible ! But if they 
 did not know of it, who should. Is it not presumption 
 at least, to ** go beyond what is written/' and to teach 
 and practise, as a divine arrangement, that of which 
 the apostles themselves, must have been ignorant ? 
 As Dr. Owen says, ** It is an impious and dangerous 
 
OP BAPTISM. ^ tti 
 
 thing, to affix God*8 name, to our own imaginatious,** — 
 
 •' After the commandments and doctrines of men." 
 
 Moses Stewari, the celobrated Pedo-Baptist Professor, 
 at Andover, says : ** How unwary are many excellent 
 men, in contending for infant baptism, on the ground 
 of the Jewish analogy of circumcision. Are females 
 not proper subjects of baptism 7 And again, are a 
 man's slaves to be baptised, because be is ? Is there 
 no difference between engrafting into a politico- 
 ecclesastical community, and into one of which it is 
 said, that it is not of this world? In short, number- 
 l*^ss difficulties present themselves in our way, as soon 
 as we begin to argue in such a manner as this. The 
 covenant of circumcision furnishes no ground for in- 
 f^int sprinkling." Dr. Pressense says, '* Baptism is 
 not be received, any more than faith, by right of in- 
 heritance." '* He that believeth and is baptised^ shall 
 be saved." Professor Lange says, ** Scripture 
 knows nothing of the baptism of infants. It is 
 totally opposed to the spirit of the apostolic age, and 
 to the fundamental principles of the New Testament " 
 Dr. E. Williams says: "The New Testament saints 
 have no more to do with the Abrahamic covenant, than 
 the Old Testament believers, who lived prior to 
 Abraham." Thus we might multiply the testimonies o{ 
 the most able of Pedo-Baptist authors, ad libiturd. 
 *• Their rock is not like our rock, our enemies them- 
 selves being judges." 
 
 '^Fear God and ksep his commandments.'* 
 
12 ^ THE MODE 
 
 .. * (2.) Tho mode ; or, what constitutes scriptural 
 
 baptism : ** Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it." 
 ** What is written in the law, how readest thou ?'' 
 •• The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, — even of the 
 wise — that they are vainJ*'' "But I will shew thee 
 that which is noted in the scripture of truth." Not to 
 dwell upon the facts, — that while the Greek has words 
 that mean ** to sprinkle''' and *' to pour,'*'' the only word 
 need in the New Testament to express the ordinance 
 of baptism, is that which according to every reliable 
 Lexicographer, primilarly means, to dip, to plunge^ to 
 immerse ; — that the Greek church (who ought to un- 
 derstand their own language) have always practised 
 immersion ; that the leading minds, and most learned 
 men, of almost ()Very religious denomination, acknow- 
 ledge that the primitive mode of baptism was by im- 
 mersion ; that recent discoveriesof early baptisteries, con- 
 firm the opinion : — that the Church of England prayer- 
 book directs the priest to ^^ dip the child in water:*' 
 that the Great Reformers expressed a preference 
 for the primitive mode, (immersion) as being the only 
 real symbol of christian baptism ; — and that while 
 Baptists refuse to acknowledge any other than he- 
 lievers' immersion, as scriptural baptism, Pedo-Bap- 
 tiHis acknowledge it to be scriptural, by receiving Bap- 
 tists, without re-baptism, to their communion. But 
 not to dwell upon these, and many other, humanly 
 convincing arguments, let us ask, '*What saith the 
 scriptures?" ''To the law and to the testimony, if 
 they speak not according to this word, it is because 
 
OF BAPTISM. 13 
 
 (as regards the subject treated of) there is no light in 
 them." " ....---. 
 
 John did baptise in the wilderness, and there went 
 out unto him all the land of Judea and they of Jerusalem, 
 and were all baptised of him in the river of Jordan, 
 Mark, i, 4, 4. Dean Stanley says : ** There can be no 
 question, that the original form of baptism — the very 
 meaning of the word — was complete immersion in the 
 deep baptismal waters. To this form the eastern 
 church still rigidly adheres, and the most illustrious 
 and veuerable portion of it, the Byzantine Empire, 
 absolutely repudiates and iguores any other mode, as 
 essentially invalid.*' And it came to pass that Jesus 
 came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptised of 
 John In Jordan. And Jesus when he was baptised 
 went up straightway out of the water. Matt, iii, 13, 16. 
 Leaving us an example that we should follow bis steps. 
 
 Down to the sacred wave 
 The Lord of life was led ; l^. , 
 
 And he who came our souls to save. 
 In Jordan bowed his head. 
 
 He taught the solemn way ; 
 He fixed the holy rite ; % 
 
 He bade his ransomed ones obev. 
 And keep the path of right. 
 
 ^* If any man will come after me, let him deny 
 himself, and take up his cross and follow me." *• For 
 whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of 
 him shall the son of man be ashamed, when he shall 
 
14 THE MODE 
 
 ■ ■&-t 
 
 come in bis owd glory, and his Father's, and of the 
 
 Holy Angels." And John also was baptising in Enon, 
 
 near to Salim, because there was much water there, and 
 they came and were baptised, John, iii,23. As Calvin 
 sa} » : ** From these words, it may be inferred that 
 baptism was administered by John and Christ, by 
 planging the whole body under water.'* And as they 
 went on their way they came unto a certain water : and 
 the Enuch said, see, here is water : what doth hinder 
 ine to be baptised ? And they went down both into the 
 water, both Philip and the Eunuch and he baptised him. 
 And when they were come up out of the water, the 
 spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, <fec.. Acts, viii, 
 36, 38, 39. '* Understandest thou what thou readest." 
 ** They are all plain to him that understandeth, and 
 right to them that find knowledge." ** The wayfaring 
 men, though fools, shall not err therein." 
 
 Dr. Philip Schaff says : **As to the outward mode 
 of administering this ordinance, immersion^ and not 
 sprinkling, was unquestionably the original, normal 
 form. This is shown by the very meaning of the Greek 
 word baptizo, baptism, baptismos, used to designate the 
 rite." •* I have a baptism to be baptised with ; and how 
 am I straightened till it be accomplished, Luke, xii 
 50. Tilenus says : ** Plunging into water exhibits to 
 our view that dreadful abyss of divine justice in which 
 Christ, on account of our sins, was for a time, in a 
 manner, swallowed up." Prof. Lange says : ** A more 
 striking symbol could not be chosen." Matthie says : 
 
OF BAPTISM. 15 
 
 '* That it has been changed, is indeed a calamity, for 
 it placed before the eyes most aptly the symbolical 
 meaning of baptism.'^ Planted together in the likeness of 
 his death, Romans, vi, 5. Martin Lather says : ** On 
 this account, I could wish that such as are to be bap- 
 tised, should be completely immersed in the water, 
 according to the meaning of the word, the signification 
 of the ordinance, and because it would be beautiful to 
 have a full and perfect sign of so perfect a thing." 
 
 How fair along the rippling wave, .;, . ^i r^ 
 
 The radiant light is cast : 
 
 Fit pymbol of the mystic grave 
 
 Through which the Saviour parsed, 
 
 H. F. Smith. 
 
 Know ye not that so many of us as were baptised 
 into Jesus Christ, were baptised 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, Rom., vi, 3, 4. Mr. Wesley the 
 founder of Meth'^dism, in commenting upon this pass- 
 age, saySv in substance : ^' The allusion is doubtless to 
 the primitive mode of christian baptism by immersion,'^'' 
 Again in his journal from Georgia, 2nd Edition, page 
 40, February 14th, 1745, he says: ** We baptised Mary 
 Weltch this morning, by immersion, according to the 
 apostolic mode and tbe rule of the Church of England. 
 The girl was ill before, but she became well from that 
 hour." Doubtless she was benefited by ** the ansv:'er 
 of a good conscience toward God, 1 Pet. iii, 21. 
 
16 THE MODE 
 
 Scriptures speak only of baptism by immersion. But 
 
 the dogma of the Church is to sprinkle, and we should 
 
 in this, as in every thing else, follow the Church." 
 It is with this weapon that many of the most able Pedo- 
 Baptists have been vanquished, in controversy with 
 Roman Catholics. Dean Stanley says : ** The Latin 
 Church has wholly altered the mode, and with the two 
 exceptions, the Cathedral of Milan, and the Baptists, 
 a few drops of water are now the western substitute for 
 the three fold plunge into the rushing rivers, or the 
 wide baptisteries of the east." ' - ; 
 
 /■ •. -i -t^ 
 
 J- • i* 
 
 Against this papal usurpation, and papal compli- 
 city, upon the sufficiency and supremacy of the Holy 
 Scriptures, we take our stand, with Chillingworth to 
 maintain, that the Bible alone is the Religion of Pro- 
 testants. ** Happy is he that condemneth not himself 
 in that wbichhe allowoth." ** Teaching for doctrines 
 the commandments of men." ** Behold I am against 
 the Prophets, saith the Lord, that use their tongues, 
 and say. He saith." "The Prophets prophesy false- 
 ly, and the Priests hear rule by their means ; and my 
 people love to have it so." As Patrick Henry once 
 said : ** There are periods in the history ot man, when 
 corruption and depravity have so debased the human 
 character, that man yields to the hands of his oppressor, 
 and becomes his servile, abject slave. He bows in pas- 
 sive obedience to the mandates of the despots, and in 
 this state of servility, he receives the fetters of perpet- 
 ual bondage." •* These were more noble than those 
 
OP BAPTISM. 17 
 
 in Thessalonica, in that they rect-ived the word with all 
 readiness of mind, and pearched the Scriptures daily, 
 whether these things were so/* 
 
 Thousands of Pedo-baptis s are dissatisfied with 
 their infant sprinkling, for baptism ; but who ever 
 saw a Baptist dissatisfied with believen' immersion, and 
 wishing rather to have been sprinkled in infancy. **We 
 are buried with him by baptism,''^ ** If ye know these 
 things happy are ye if ye do theaa.'' ** One Lord, one 
 faith, one baptism, Eph. iv, 5. Cardinal Manning, in a 
 recent controversy with Lord Redesdale, an Episcopa- 
 lian, says : ** It was at that day (in apostolic times) the 
 practice to baptipeby immersion,'" (So alsc says the Bom. 
 Oath. Catec, as quoted above.) ** By what authority 
 then was baptism by sprinkling introduced ? By the 
 same authority which introduxjed communion in one 
 kind." But the objector says : Is it not a little thing ? 
 And *'Lot said — behold now this city is near to flee 
 unto, and it is a little one ! Oh ! let us escape thither 
 (it is not a little one ?) and my soul shall live." 
 
 ** Come out of her my people, that ye be not par- 
 takers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her 
 plagues." ** If any man's works shall be burned, he 
 shall suffer loss ; but he himself shall be saved ; yet so 
 as by fire." ** Oh that my people had hearkened unto 
 me, and Israel had walked in my ways I I should 
 soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand 
 against their adversaries. Ttie haters of the Lord 
 should have submitted themselves unto him ; but their 
 time should have endured for ever." 
 
II. THE LORD'S SUPPER. 
 
 (1.) With whom was it instituted, and for wl.om 
 was it intended ? 
 
 Now wh«n the evening was come, he sat down with 
 the twelve. And as they were eating, Jesus look bread 
 and blessed it, and brake, and gave it to the disciples. 
 — Matt. XX, 26, saying '* this do in remembrance of me. 
 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, 
 ye do shew the Lord's deaths till he come." — 1 Cor. xi, 
 24, 26. Thus the supper was instituted with, and for, 
 those who were personally, and avowedly interested^ in 
 the Lord's death. But had th^se disciples been bap- 
 Used ? 
 
 (1.) They bad been disciples of John, as well as 
 of Jesus. Wherefore of these men which have com- 
 panied with us, all the time that the Lord Jesus went 
 in and out among us : beginning from the baptism of 
 John, unto that same day that he was taken up from 
 as, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of 
 his resurrection. — Acts i, 21, 22. Bat John came bap- 
 tising, as his title indicates. '* Then came John the 
 Baptist'' — **I indeed baptise you with water" — "He 
 that sent me to baptise'^ — ** Therefore am I come bap- 
 
THE LOKD's EUPPEB. ' 19 
 
 titingJ*' It is more than reasonable to conclude that 
 all of John's discipks were baptists, or had receiTed 
 believsrs^ baptism, 
 
 (2.) But JeeuB also had his disciples baptised. 
 
 Then came some of John's disciples and said unto 
 him, Babbi, he that was with thee bejond Jordan to 
 whom thou bearest witness, the same baptiseth, and 
 all men come unto him. When therefore the Lord 
 knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and 
 baptised more disciples than John, (though Jesus him- 
 self baptised not but his disciples). — John iii, 2C, iv, 1. 
 To have been a disciple of John or Jesus, then, one 
 must have been a baptised believer, 
 
 (3.) Those disciples were to go, " and disciple all 
 nations, baptising them." Would they be com- 
 missioned to isnjom a command upon others, which 
 they themselves had not obeyed ? *• Thou which 
 teachest another, teachest thou not thyself ?** Or rather 
 would they not like the Apostle Paul, be able to say, 
 in announcing their great commission, *' Follow me 
 as I follow Christ." 
 
 (4.) We have seen that to be a disciple of Jesus, 
 in the New Testament sense, was to be an immersed 
 believer. Now none but disciples, are found in the New 
 Testament, at the Lord's table. *' Then they that 
 gladly received his word, were baptised, and the same 
 day (not even upon trial) there were added unto them, 
 about 3,000 souls, (less than an hour's ** labor of love" 
 
20 THE LOBD'S SUPPBB. 
 
 for the " seventy,^^ allowing oue minute to each candi- 
 date, — even admittiog that they baptised the whole 
 
 3,000 then, which is not bo stated), **and they con- 
 tinued steadfastly iu the apostles doctrine and fellow- 
 ship, and in breaking of bread and in piayers.*' — Acts 
 ii, 41, 42. The Rev. Robert Hall says : ** The apostles, 
 it is acknowledged, admitted none to the Lord's table, 
 but such as were previously baptised." The Rev. Dr. 
 Doddridge says : ** S) far as my knowledge ^f primitive 
 antiquity extends, no unbaptised person received the 
 Lord's supper.'' The Rev. Dr. Wall says : ** Among 
 all the absurdities that were ever held, none ever main- 
 tained tbat persons should partake i f the Lord's sup- 
 per, before they were baptised." If the ordinances 
 symbolize anything, we might as well talk of giving 
 food to a child before it is born. 
 
 The American Presbyterian says : •' Open com- 
 munion is an absurdity, when it means communion 
 with the unbaptised, * ♦ ♦ from which 
 stupidity may we be for ever preserved." Lord Chan- 
 cellor King says : *' Baptism was always precedent to 
 the Lord's supper. This is so obvious, that it needs no 
 proof." The Rev. F. G. Hibberd (Methodist) says : 
 ** We both agree in rejection from communion at the 
 Lord's table, and denying the right of Church fellow- 
 ship, to all who have not been baptised. The only 
 question that divides us, is, what is essential to valid 
 baptism." The above quotations are all from open 
 communionists, and pedo-baptists. •* But we have a 
 
THE lord's supper. Jl 
 
 more sure word of testimony." ** Write th** Tision and 
 
 make it plain upon tables : that he maj run that 
 readeth it.** ** Go, disciple all nations, baptising them, 
 teaching them to observe all things^ <fec. In a recent 
 number, the Guardian (Methodist) says : ** No Chris- 
 tian denominiation denies, that, as a matter of order^ 
 the communion follows baptism^ (Italics ours). " They 
 received his word, were baptised, the same day were ad- 
 ded to them, and continued iu breaking ofbreadJ*^ Upon 
 the tirst day of the week, when the disciples were 
 come together to break bread. — Acts xx, 7. When 
 ye come together in the churchy to eat the Lord's 
 supper — take, eat, this is my body which is 
 broken for you, this do in remembrance of me. — 1 Cor. 
 zi, 18, 24. But restricted communion is essential to 
 the discipline and purity of the church. I have a few 
 things against thee, because thou hast there them that 
 hold the doctrine of Balaam. So hast thou them that 
 hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I 
 hate. Kepent : or else I will come unto thee quickly, 
 and will fight against them with the sword of my 
 mouth. — Rer, ii, 14, 16. Withdraw yourselves from 
 every brother that walketh disorderly, and not 
 after the traditions which ye received from us. — 2 
 Thess. iii, 6. Purge out therefore the old leaven. I 
 have written unto you not to keep company, if any 
 man that is called a brother, be a fornicator, or 
 covetous, &o., no not to eat* For what have I to do to 
 judge them that are without. Do ye not judge them 
 that are within?—! Cor, v, 7, 11, 12. Open com- 
 
23 THE lord's SUPPEB. 
 
 munion, would be to unarm the church of its discip- 
 line, by practically allowing those excluded for error, 
 
 to commune. Open communion, would be, practically 
 to acknowledge the scripturalness of infant baptism, 
 which, with the religious erudition of Christendom, 
 and with the foregoing conclusions, we deny. Open 
 communion, would be for the cburc i to renign to the 
 various and multiplying opinions of men, the divinely 
 delegated duty and responsibility, of preserving in 
 their integrity, the doctrines and ordinances ** deliver- 
 ed to them." ** Now I praise you brethren, that ye 
 remember me in all things, aud keep the ordinances 
 as I delivered them to you." 
 
 But we are charged, in restricting the communion 
 of the Lord's supper, to those who are scripturally 
 qualified, or to baptised believers, with causing divi- 
 sions and discord in the church of Christ. And so 
 has it ever been. ** We found this fellow perverting 
 the nation." *' Behold ye have filled Jerusalem with 
 your doctrine." " The^se that have turned the world 
 upside down, are come hither also." ** And it came to 
 pass when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, 
 Art thou he that troubleth Israel 7 And he answered, 
 I have not troubled Israel, but thou and thy father's 
 house ; in that ye have forsaken the commandments of 
 the Lord, and thou hast followed Balaam." Let the 
 fact be fairly put and met, that Baptists disclaim the 
 responsibility of existing divisions upon the baptismal 
 question, and charge them upon those who accept and 
 
BAPTISTS DO NOT BELIEVE. 23 
 
 practice for a divine ordinance, human rites, — ** teach- 
 ing for doctrines the commandments of men." ^ ^^^ ^- 
 
 Is the Baptist position so impregnable, that its 
 assailants are compf'lled to assume false grounds, and 
 persist in ascribing to us doctrines, which we neither 
 hold, nor teach, but positively repudiate f - - '^ 
 
 gOME THINGS THAT BAPTISTS DO NOT BELIEVE. 
 
 First. That any portion of mankind are pre- 
 destinated, or elected, to b« lost. *• The voice of free 
 grace'* rings as clear from the Baptist pulpit and press, 
 as from any other. We believe that '* the Lord is not 
 willing that any should perish ; but that all should 
 eome to repentance." "That he died for all.*' That 
 ** he is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours 
 only, but also for the sins of the whole world." That 
 if any are not saved, it is not because the provisions 
 and offers of salvation are inadequate, but as the 
 Saviour said : ** Ye will not come unto me that ye 
 might have life." ** Whosoever will, let him take the 
 wateis of life freely." ** So we preach." ** For we are 
 not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it the power 
 of God unto salvation, to every one that believeth." 
 •* But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a 
 stumbUng block, and unto the Greeks foolishness ; bat 
 unto them that are called^ both Jews and Greeks, 
 Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God." 
 
 Secondly. We do not believe that baptism has any 
 saving efficacy,—" Not the putting away of the filth 
 
24 Baptists do not believe. 
 
 of the fleBh, but the answer of a good conscience to- 
 ward God." Hence we baptise neither unbelievers, 
 the dying, nor babes, but such onlj as give credible 
 evidence of being regenerated. ** Circumcision is 
 nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keep- 
 ing of the commandments of God." 
 
 •* Did Christ the great example lead, 
 In Jordan's swelling flood ? 
 And shall our pride disdain the deed 
 That's worthy of our God 1 
 
 Nay : but the ».rdour of his love, 
 Reproves our cold delays : 
 And glad our willing footsteps move 
 In his delightful ways." 
 
 Fellows. 
 
 " If a man love me he will keep my words. 
 
 »» 
 
 Thirdly. We do not believe that the only princi- 
 ple for which we, as Baptists, have to contend, is the 
 quantity of water in the ordinance. Behind that, and 
 of more vital moment, is the question of scriptural 
 qualiflcation ; or who is entitled to christian baptism ; 
 —a question involving the real nature and design of 
 the christian ordinances, and also the constituent 
 elements of a New Testament church. Whether it is 
 a repetiton of Judaism, forming a christian nationality ; 
 or whether it is a spiritual society, composed of con- 
 verted members ; •* called to be saints," ** sanctified 
 in Christ Jesus." ''Lively stones, built up a spiritual 
 house." Not till the New Testament character of a 
 
BAPTISTS DO NOT BELIEVE. 25- 
 
 christian chjrcb, or, a converted church membership ^ — 
 
 as well as the scriptural observance of church 
 
 ordinances, — is universally acknowledged, will Bap- 
 tists, we believe, be allowed by their Great Captain, to 
 strike their colors. But while fidelity to our Divine 
 King, compels us to *' contend" for the truth ** till we 
 all come to the unity of the faith ;" yet out of a full 
 heart we can say ; ** grace be with all them that love 
 our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.", 
 
 -, . ■ ■-! ;:. ;. "i " V :■ ' ■ 'i- -- i ■ ■ ."-^ ''' 
 
 Fourthly. We do not believe that infants are lost. 
 We bring them to Jeius, belie\iGg as others do, that 
 " of such is the kingdom of heaven." But that is no 
 reason why they should be members of the church on 
 earth, or that they should partake of the Lord's sup- 
 per, or that they should be baptised ; any more than 
 that angels should, were they living visibly among us. 
 They might as appropriately — at least as intelligently 
 — put on Christ by baptism, and shew forth his death 
 in the Lord's supper, as infants. But the observances 
 would be inappropriate. Christian baptism is a typi- 
 cal burial and resurrection, symbolising the grand 
 doctrines of the christian faith, — *'That Christ died 
 for our sins according to the Scriptures ; and that he 
 was buried, and that he rose again the third day, ac- 
 cording to the Scriptures" — **that he was delivered for 
 our offences, and was raised again for our justitica- 
 tion ;" — that in him we are ** created anew in 
 Christ Jesus, unto good works ;" — ** crucified with 
 Christ," and ** begotten again unto a lively hope, by 
 
♦HI BAPTISTS DO NOT BELIEVE. 
 
 the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead :" — and 
 that, ** as Jesus died and rose again, even so them also 
 which sleep in Jesus, will God bring with him.*' **For 
 as we have been planned together in the likeness of his 
 death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrec- 
 tion." — Rom. vi, 5. Such a confession of faith, is im- 
 possible for unconscious babes ; (fortunately, I wag 
 going to say, the modern substitute expresses no such 
 confession) and hence we do not baptise them : especial- 
 ly as we find in the word of God neither precept nor 
 example for doing so. But a Pedo- Baptist writer says : 
 ** The Jewish children were all circumcised*' (the male 
 children and servants, h^ should have said — which, as 
 we have seen, supplies another rule for infant baptism, 
 than that which Pedo-Baptists follow), ** therefore we 
 ought to have all our children sprinkled, or show gortse 
 positive command that forbids our doing so." Truly 
 " necessity" must be the '' mother of invention." 
 Would anything buf a forlorn hope, have driven to 
 such argument. And so we may reason, that the 
 sprinkling of bells, and of altars, and a thousand other 
 inventions, are christian ordinances, if we cannot find 
 *• some positive command forbidding'''* them. ** They 
 speak a vision out of their own heart, and not out of 
 the mouth of the Lord.'^ ** Saying thus saith the 
 Lord, when the Lord hath not spoken." ** Add thou 
 not unto his words lest he reprove thee, and thou be 
 found a liar-" ** If any man shall add unto these 
 things," &c. — Rev. xxii, 18. 
 
 But the argument that seems conclusive with 
 
BAPTISTS DO NOT BELIEVE. 27 
 
 mau>, soothing the conscience, and resting re- 
 ligious enquiry ; hut on«^ that seems indigenous to 
 hereditary faith, and obedience bj^ proxy, — an argu- 
 ment that obtains only in proportion to existing 
 narrowness and superstition — is the duty of people to 
 abide in the faith of their fathers. What undutifuU 
 ness, to question the faith of the honored living, and 
 of the venerated dead ! ** Children obey your parents 
 in all things." Yes— but does this mean when the 
 parents' commands are contrary to those of the Bible ? 
 *• Children obey your parents in the Lordy for this is 
 right. **We ought to obey God rather than men,^^ 
 **He that loveth father or mother more than me, is 
 not worthy of me." ** If any man come to me, and 
 hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, 
 and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, 
 he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not 
 bear his cross and come after me, cannot be my disci- 
 ple." The argument is as unscriptural as it is super- 
 stitious : and would have bound Christendom to the 
 faith of the dark ages. It would have held Paul to the 
 teachings of Gamaliel ; Luther to the monastery ; 
 Wesley and Whitfield from the Moor-fields ; and Carey, 
 Judson, and Spurgeon, from becoming Baptists. Such 
 a spirit would stifle enquiry and fetter the conscience. 
 Such a spirit. Dr. Owen says, ** lies at the bottom of 
 all the superstition, and idolatry, and confusion, and 
 persecution, and blood, that have for so long a season, 
 overspread the christian world." **Why call ye me 
 Lord, Lord, and do not the things that I say." *' Be- 
 
89 * WHO ABE THE BAPTISTS. 
 
 hold, to obey is better than to sacrifice, and to hearken 
 than tho fat of ramc." *^ Whosoever therefore shall 
 break one of these least commandments, and shall 
 teach men so, he shall be called least in the kingdom 
 of heaven. But whosoever shall do, and teach them, 
 the same shall be called great in the kingdom of 
 heaven." *' Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I 
 command yon.'* 
 
 FINALLY — ** WHO ARE THE BAPTISTS ?" 
 
 *' Not to boast of things without our measure." — 
 ** Let another praise thee, and not thine own mou^b." 
 Bftily says : ** The Baptists are a people very fond of 
 religious liberty." They have contended for it always, 
 and equally for all. They have been most bitterly 
 persecuted, but persecution is at utter variance with 
 their creed. They believe in an open Bible ; — in the 
 entire sufficiency, and the absolute and supreme 
 authority of the Word of God in all matters of chris- 
 tian faith and practice. Do any enquire after our 
 creeds, and tests, and church standards ? We 
 refer them to the New Testament. As our polity is 
 congregational, we lay no claim, and attach no im- 
 portance to that shifting chimera, ecclesiastical *' suc- 
 cession," but we do claim that ** from the days of John 
 the Baptist until now," there have been those willing 
 to suffer and to die — as thousands have — for the doc- 
 trines that distinguish us as Baptists. As** there is 
 no matter of church history, that is better established, 
 than that for nearly 200 years at least, believers^ im- 
 
WHO ARE THE BAPTISTS. 29 
 
 mersion was the invariable practice of the primitive 
 church," it is evident that ** durinij the apostolic age, 
 and the age immediately succeeding, all were Baptists.*' 
 It is sometimes asked, is not the Roman Catholic, the 
 most ancient chri-tian church ? She is the most 
 ancient apostacy from the christian church. 
 
 Some of the religious bodies have seceded from her, 
 and others from these again : but each, alas ! like 
 Rachel, bringing some household gods with them. 
 As Drs. Starr and Flatt say : ** It is certainly to be 
 lamented, that Luther was not able to accomplish what 
 he wished, in introducing immersion in baptism, as he 
 did, in restoring wine in the Eucharist." As we have 
 seen. Baptists existed prior to Roman Catholicism. Sir 
 Isaac Newton says : *' They are the only denomination 
 of Christians, that have not symbolized with the 
 Church of Rome." Long before Methodism came into 
 existence, during the raign of Henry VIII, 70,000 Bap- 
 tists in Great Britain, suffered persecution or martyr- 
 dom for the truth as we maintain it. — Dr. Cramp's 
 Baptist History. 
 
 *^*T-* 
 
 " When Luther burned the Pope's Bull outside the 
 walls of Wittemburgh he was hailed with joy by the 
 Baptists," as also '* when he blew the trumpet of re- 
 ligious freedom, and they came forth from their hiding 
 places, after long years of concealment, to share in the 
 gladness and the conflict." For, as Mosheim says, 
 " before the time of Luther and Calvin, there lay con- 
 cealed many who adhered tenaciously to the doctrines 
 
'dQ WHO ARE THE BAPTISTS. 
 
 if the Dutch BaptistB/' " From the 12th to the 16th 
 
 century there ahounded those who int>isted on faith as 
 
 a prerequisite to haptiem, and during that period sev- 
 eral Councils condemned those who rejected infant 
 bapti-im."— Dr. Tay'or's origin of the Baptists." 
 
 During the 12th century, Peter of Bruyes main- 
 tained in France, that believers should be baptised, and 
 tht^y only ; tiiat the church should be composed of con- 
 vert^-d members ; and that for lack of faith in Christ, 
 as an essential pre-requisite, infant baptism was un- 
 scriptuial and invalid. Several Baptist churches were 
 established by him and his i^uccessor. Mr. Wall, 
 though upon insufficient authority, dates with this 
 movement the origin of the Baptists. But history 
 leads us to a remoter past ior their origin. As Mosheim 
 says, ** their origin is hid in the remote depths of an- 
 tiquity." Dr. Ypeij, Professor of Tbeology at Gron- 
 ingen, and Dr. Dormont, Chaplain to the King of Hol- 
 land, say, ** The Dutch Baptists are descended from the 
 Waldenpes, who were driven from their homes by per- 
 secution during the 12th century, and many of whom 
 settled in Holland. They existed, therefore, long be- 
 fore the Reformed Church of the Netherlands." ** All 
 the Waldenses did not hold the doctrine of believers' 
 immersion ; bat many of them did, and the t-^stimony 
 of history is conclusive, as Dr. Cramp says, that their 
 early views were in harmony with those of the Baptists." 
 We are rea<;hing the haze of that **obPCure period" where 
 the well authenticated history of the Baptists meets 
 
/who ABE THE BAPTISTS. 81 
 
 and mingles with that of their faith and practices, as 
 handed down by the Apostles. *' The light is not 
 clear," but following Pedo- Baptist authority, we pball 
 be guided safely ; for we may be assured that it will 
 not testify falsely against itselT. In 1570 Cardinal Hos- 
 sius said,** There have been none for the past 1200 
 years more grievously punished." Zwinpjle speaks of 
 them as having ** for 1300 years caused great disturb- 
 ance in the church*" Truth disturbs error always and 
 everywhere. •* Error wounded, writhes in pain." Dr. 
 Ypeij says, ** the Baptists may be considered the only 
 Christian community which has siood since the days of 
 the Apostles, and as a Christian society has preserved 
 pure the doctrines of the Gospel through all ages." 
 The Rev. Dr. Chalmers says, ** Let it never be forgotten 
 of the particular Baptists of England, that they form 
 the denomination of Fuller, Carey, Byland, Hall and 
 Foster ; that they have originated one of the greatest 
 of ail missionary enterprises ; that they have enriched 
 the Christian literature of our country with authorship 
 of the most exalted piety, as well as of the finest talent 
 and the first eloquence ; that they have waged a very 
 nobl« and successful war with the hydra of antinomian- 
 ism ; that perhaps there is not a more intellectual 
 community of ministers in our island, or who have put 
 forth in proportion to their numbers a greater amount 
 of mental power and activity in defence of our common 
 taith ; and what is better than all the triumphs of 
 genius and understanding, who, by their zeal and fi- 
 delity and pastoral labour among the congregations 
 
32 
 
 WHO ARE THE BAPTISTS. 
 
 which they have reared have done more to swell tho 
 lists of genuine discipleship in all the walks of private 
 society, and thus to uphold and to extend the living 
 Christianity of our nation.'* 
 
 The wondeifal growth and status of the Baptists 
 of America, are too well known to need a passing no- 
 tice. But what availeth all this, if we do not still 
 maintain and cherish pure and simple, ** the doc- 
 trines once delivered to us ;*' and by the purity of our 
 character commend our principles. 
 
 •* Not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word 
 of God deceitfully ; but by manifestation of the truth, 
 commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the 
 sight of God." 
 
 ♦* The word of our God shall stand forever." 
 
^^^ -m