Second. Baptism being secondary to repentance only, and it being well known that babes having no consciousness of sin, cannot repent, so it follows they cannot be the characters to be baptised: and besides, while this ordinance can confer on them no real blessing, it may confer much evil by making them to believe a lie, as is the case notoriously both in the churches of Rome and England. Also, it brings the church herself into a most ruinous and wilderness condition, like a field covered with briars and thorns, thistles and nettles; and that because the seeds of all these are sown by the act of infant sprinkling. This is the little back door by which the world, with all her base characters in embryo, have crept into the house of God! And, Mr. Editor, you well know that as the temple had no back door, so you dare allow of none. Third. Baptism implies a washing, as it is written, and now why tarriest thou? arise and be baptised, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.' But will sprinkling a thing wash away its filth I trow not: therefore, to baptise is to dip, to plunge, to bury; and if I refuse to go down into the water, I refuse to follow my Lord, and to fulfil all righteousness. And if I refuse to take up so light a cross at the onset, is it at all likely I shall endure hardness as a good soldier? This, making void the least commandment of our dear Lord, has been the preliminary step to all that awful abuse of truth, and wilful disobedience, which in the shape of iniquity now runs down our streets like water. The devil begins in little things; and succeeding in opening a little back door he has pushed many of his into the midst of the family of Jesus. And, surely, the men who are 'fervent in spirit' can never cooly look on, and sanction these awful pranks of the wicked one. Fourth. If I refuse to join a church of strict baptist principles I shew myself either ignorant of God's way, or proud and self-willed, or rebellious, or pharisaical; and as long as that is the case the church will be better off without me; for, if I am ignorant of the nature of the mere first principles, (and baptism is one) my knowledge cannot edify: if I am proud and self-willed the world is my best place; because in the church I should strive for undue dominion, instead of humbly sitting down to learn: if I am so rebellious that I must needs set my post by the Lord's post, and my thresholds by his thresholds, and I will not become a pilgrim unless I am allowed to throw Bunyan's wicket gate off the hooks; is it not likely I shall be guilty of other abuses after I am in the church? Or, if I am so pharisaical, I cannot submit to the righteousness of God, do you not think that exclusion is the wisest course a faithful door-keeper in God's house can pursue? Thus much for reason; but still we do not make baptism a 'spiritual ordinance,' because we know it is not; nor do we wish to set the standard so high in order to keep out impostors to keep out bond children; as to exclude the least of the little ones of the Lord's family, which we grieve to say is the case with many; for baptism, as we have said, is but a first principle, and proper too, and for all those who feel that they are sinners-that they are helpless and hopeless in and of themselves, and so are constrained to look to Jesus, as set forth in the gospel, for that salvation and pardon they need. The following is our Master's order, and to that we implicitly bow :-' Repent, and be baptised every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the Holy Ghost.' (Acts ii. 38.) I am, dear Editor, your's in the service of truth, xii. 12.) Excellent and pious as many, baptism of the Holy Ghost is only a figu unbaptized persons are, they do not form a part of the visible body of Christ. Candid reader, let sectarians ridicule (for they are the true sectarians who would recognise all the sects as the true body of Christ,) but do you seriously ponder whether we are to take our ideas of fellowship from the scripture declarations, or from the vain philosophy of men? "2. There is one spirit, even the spirit of adoption, crying Abba, Father.' This one spirit anoints and seals the true believer, and gives him the earnest of the everlasting inheritance. "3. There is one hope of our calling; even that good hope which is the result of the experience of God's truth in solacing our sorrows, and which makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto us. Rom. v. 4, 5. "4. There is one Lord, even Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, who is constituted head over all things to his church; who is the head of his body, the church; who is Lord of all, highly exalted in our nature, possessing a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things on earth, and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Phil. ii. 9-11. "5. There is one faith, even a cordial belief in the operation of God, who raised Jesus from the dead; a faith which is not of ourselves, but is the gift of God, inasmuch as he furnishes the things to be believed, and induces the heart to believe. "6. There is one baptism, even the immersion in water into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; which is in token of the remission of sins, and constitutes that birth of water by the Spirit, that cleansing of the church by the washing of water, by the Word, and that laver of regeneration connected with the renewing of the Holy Ghost, and that saving, symbolically, by water, in allusion to Noah's deliverance, which are so often referred to in Scripture, and so little understood even by some Baptists as well as other professors of the present day. Sometimes men argue that this one baptism is the baptism of the Holy Ghost, but that is impossible for two reasons, among others,-1. That the rative, and not a real baptism. Now, if you consider this baptism a mere figure, yon must, by analogy, make the one Lord, the one faith, the one hope, and the one body, mere figures also. All the other six points of union are real facts, and so must this one baptism be.-2. That to make this one baptism mean the baptism of the Holy Ghost is to confound this point of union with the one spirit before mentioned: for such interpreters mean (though they are not correct) by the baptism of the Holy Ghost, the gift of the Holy Spirit in conversion or adoption. There would then be a useless repetition. All the other points are distinct from one another: the one body is not the one spirit; the one hope is not the one faith; the one Lord is not the one Father: and why, then, should the one baptism be the one spirit previously mentioned? There was no such confusion in the apostle's mind; and but for sectarianism, there would be none such in our's. "7. There is one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all, even the source of all our blessings; who so loved the world as to give his only begotten Son for our redemption; by whose wisdom the whole plan of mercy was devised, and whose glory all its operations must ultimately display. Here then, is a glorious and perfect foundation for Christian union. The stones that will not square with this foundation must be rejected. This plan of the great Master Builder alone will answer, and finally secure the desired union; but every plan of human devising, however seemingly fitted to the exigency of the times, will only tend to the confusion of all that place their hopes upon it." Here, then, dear 'Apollos,' we for the present, leave the matter. We candidly confess that, to us, the Ordinance of Bap believe in Jesus, appears to us to be so tism by immersion of all who profess to plainly and repeatedly commanded, and authorised in the Word of God; and that, too, quite distinct from the baptism by the Holy Ghost, that we stand oftentimes amazed at the blind prejudice of even good men, who will even dare to ridicule and cast noured of God, and so strictly observed by contempt upon an institute so highly hothousands of the Lord's faithful servants in every age. Our only concern is, that with clean hands and a purged conscience, we may stand fast by, and in this holy ordinance. As a church we know it sets a limit to our numerical increase, but with that we have nothing to do.-Editor. BEING THE SUBSTANCE OF A DISCOURSE PREACHED AT BETHESDA BAPTIST CHAPEL, JAMAICA ROW, PREVIOUS TO BAPTISING FIFTEEN PERSONS. To the Members of the Church and Congregation meeting for Worship in Crosby Row: ACTING under what, I trust, is divine direction, I am now about to lay before you a brief outline of the discourse at baptizing, and of some things said at the Lord's Table, when several souls were added unto us; and who are, I hope, of such as shall be saved. During the four years we have been at Crosby Row, we have had many baptizings and additions; but I do not recollect ever being so inwardly blessed and supported in and through the services as on this occasion. I do, therefore, desire (as did good old Peter,) in order that you may have these things in remembrance (2 Peter i. 15,) to present you with a more permanent record of them; and I do this the more willingly, because I do believe that herein are contained some few things that are calculated (under God) to be useful to Zion, and to such as are attendants on her holy courts. The night previous to baptizing, as I was retiring to rest, (my mind being much solemnized with the thought of the work that laid before me,) these words were spoken in me with some little light and power "That thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." Throughout the next day, they were uppermost in my mind, though I certainly did not think I was to preach from them at the baptizing. No. I did not think them suitable; and, therefore, I set to work to find a baptizing text; and a very nice one I thought I found in the first chapter of John's Gospel, 33rd verse, "And I knew him not; but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptiseth with the Holy Ghost." I was well pleased with this text; and had some hope of making out a sermon from it; but I could not get rid of Paul's words to Timothy-"That thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself," &c. My mind was at last rivetted to these words. And I began to consider First That here the church is called "The house of God; the church of the living God." Secondly-I began to inquire why she is called, "the pillar of truth?" Thirdly-Why, the ground of truth? And Fourthly-to notice what kind of behaviour becometh the house of God. Of course, it can only be a summary of what was said. First-the church is called, the church of the living God.' I will not play with the figure; but simply notice the materials of which this house is built. The principal materials of which Solomon's Temple was built, were trees and stones. Trees of high and long standing were cut down; and stones deeply buried in the bowels of the earth, were raised up. Of such materials (figuratively speaking,) is the church of God built. Sinners that have stood long, and grown high, and become hardened in sin, are, by the righteous law of God cut down, as Saul of Tarsus, and thousands like him have been; and poor souls deeply sunk in darkness, in disgrace, in torments, and misery, are raised up; and these trees and stones being cut and squared, and made fit for the place they are to occupy, are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.' This is that building of mercy; that habitation of God in which he delighteth, and by the Spirit, he has promised to dwell. But I leave this part, and come to shew why the church is called, the pillar of truth.' A pillar is for manifestation: for entrance : and for support. 1. For manifestation. The truth is made manifest by the church, in that God's ministers are raised up in her, and are called to proclaim the truth and her members by grace divine, are called to abide by the ordinances of his house. Thus, ministers and members standing together in the faith and fellowship of the gospel, they do make known the wondrous grace and truth that is in Christ Jesus the Lord. Solomon 2. A pillar is for entrance. 3. A pillar is for support. The church truth. Let C but the Lord cease to raise up ministers, which seem to me to carry fresh weight with let the Holy Ghost cease to bless their min-them. First, he said-'I AM THE WAY.' istry, and down comes the truth. But, That is, 'I am your Leader, your Pattern, blessed be God, he goes on to take the poor your door of access.' And all this Christ is out of the dust, and the beggar off the dung- unto the church. He leads her in the way. hill, and to set them among the princes of He is her pattern of behaviour; and ultihis people; the Holy Ghost goes on to make mately her door of access, and final entrance his word precious to his ministers' souls into the kingdom of God. Let then our and powerful in their lips. He goes on to eyes be upon him. Secondly, Christ said, make it life and power in convicting, call-'I have given you AN EXAMPLE that ye ing, sanctifying and delivering sin-bound souls. He goes on to form a people for himself; and to preserve and unite them in the truth; and thus the church of God becomes a pillar to bear witness; an instrumental door of entrance; and a great mean of support to the glorious gospel of Christ. And, for that, she is called the GROUND of the truth; I will only say, that the whole intent, cause, design, and end of the truth, was to bring up the church from the fall, and to take her into glory. For her the covenant of grace was made; for her the Son of God was manifested; for her the gospel is preached; for her Jesus ever lives. She is, therefore, the ground wherein truth is sown; and on which, and in which, the pillar of truth is erected. Reader! art thou an inward possessor of, and an outward witness to, THE TRUTH? It is well; and that soul bids fair for heaven, in whose experience the truth abides, and whose life witnesseth to the purity, power, and preciousness of the same. Now, the last and principal thing that I have to speak of, is the behaviour that becometh the house of God. This is an important point. I wish I had two things. Ability to set it out fully, and the power of the Spirit of God to impress it upon the children. But I can command neither. I must content myself with just casting my morsel of bread upon the waters, beseeching the Lord to work his own blessed will by it. This behaviour, I may say, layeth principally in two things: First, In the divinely appointed way of entrance into the house. And, Secondly, In attention to the prescribed rule for walking therein. Let but these two things be duly examined and weighed up in the soul; let them be prayerfully and carefully carried out in practice, and we should not have such confusion, careless behaviour, and vile loose living as now so awfully abounds. First, as to the divinely appointed way of entrance into the church, my words are to be but few; but they shall be God's words; such as have been dear to my heart, and decided in my soul's experience; and if you despise these words, remember what you may expect. See Revelations xxii. 18, 19. There were two sentences which fell from the lips of our Lord in the days of his flesh, should do, as I have done to you.' Now, wHAT IS THE PATTERN CHRIST gave, as regards coming into the Church? There were three things in Christ's public entrance into the church and the work of the ministry, that I believe are safe things to follow. First, he came to John. Really and truly regenerated souls, who are made to hunger and thirst for righteousness, will be sure to come to the gospel, and they will cleave unto, and feel much affection for the real ministers of Jesus Christ. When sinners come voluntarily, lovingly, and steadfastly unto the gospel, depend on it, there is hope of such souls. Secondly, John saw the Spirit of God descending from heaven, and it abode on Jesus. (Read John i. 29 to 34.) This is an essential thing to discover in persons who seek to enter into the church. Have they the Spirit of God upon them? Have they the work of the Holy Ghost within them? Where nothing of the Spirit's work can be traced, we may well hesitate and fear; but where the life, the breathings, the revelations, the wrestlings, and the anointings of the Spirit can be traced, there may a hearty welcome be given. Thirdly, Christ requested John to baptize him. John, with a solemn sense of his meanness, compared with Christ, at first refused. But Jesus said, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.' And while this, 'THUS IT BECOMETH US stands where it does, I can never believe that a entering into church communion, or, sitting down to the Lord's Table, before the sinner has been baptized in water, is following the pattern Christ has given. I wish to make no more of baptisin than it deserves; and by the help of God, I will not make any less of it. This, then, is the divinely appointed way of entrance into the gospel church. Now as to the prescribed rule for walking in and with the church, you have this laid in seven things, in the second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles from verses 42 to end. Believers in Jesus Christ! Members of the gospel churches! Hear THE SCRIPTURAL RULE by which you are called to walk. Let your behaviour in God's house be measured by this. The First, is, STEADFASTNESS. Oh, it is a good thing to find a man or a woman steadfast, firm and constant, in their attendance Lastly, 'Gladness, singleness of heart, and praising God,' are things which will flow out of a diligent and faithful perseverance in the good old ways. But I add no more. See here the prescribed rule of walkingthat thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God.' on, and observance of God's holy ordi- the poor of Christ's flock is certainly here nances! How much, now-a-days is flesh inculcated. consulted, and God insulted in these things! 2. Abidance in the Apostle's doctrine is another part of this rule of good behaviour in the church of Christ. Men are shifting and turning about in all directions: but steadfastness in the truth is a most beautiful evidence of having come in by the door; and of having vital union to the living Head. The truth once wrought in a man's soul by the Holy Ghost, can never afterwards be either disliked or forsaken. 3. Fellowship, or communion with God and his people, is very essential for a right and proper walking in the house of God. The man that talks with his God in secret, and participates in his love and mercy, is well fitted to hold communion with saints, and such poor sinners as are troubled in their souls about their eternal state. In fellowship with God, a man's conscience becomes eased by faith in the Redeemer's blood; his heart is warmed, his faith is strengthened, and he can speak with confidence of the goodness and mercy of the eternal God. Oh, for much of this internal fellowship, be you, my friends more than ever concerned. 4. In breaking of bread.' This do in remembrance of me, (said our Lord.) How many, even of the Lord's people, are hindered from an observance of this sacred ordinance because they feel they are sinners; and feel they are unfit to sit down. But, in connection with your sense of unfitness, is there faith in Christ's fulness? Do you believe he is able to save unto the uttermost all that come unto God by him? Then do not turn your back upon the table. dear Hart has it, "Venture on him, venture wholly, Can do helpless sinners good." But as 5. In prayers.' This, I apprehend, not only includes private, but public prayers. Meeting with the church and unitedly supplicating the Majesty of heaven to pour down his blessing on our souls. Many of my most sober, solemn, and really happy moments have been found in meetings for prayer. And it looks well when members of churches feel and find it to be their privilege to be constant at the time for seeking their Father's face. How many I have seen who run well in these things for a time, but afterwards fall away. Reader! how stands this matter with you? Many hearers of the gospel never darken the doors of a meeting for prayer. Can this be called good behaviour? Think of what the Lord hath said I will make them joyful in my house of prayer.' 5. They parted to every one as they had need. Christian charity, and sympathy for I then baptized nine men, and six women; and never did I more enjoy that truly gospel ordinance. I will now add a few words respecting RECEIVING THE New Members into Church Commuuion. ON Lord's day evening, June the 4th, we assembled at Six o'clock; and commenced the service by singing, reading and prayer. There were sixteen brethren and sisters sitting around the table, waiting to receive the right hand of fellowship. It was a pleasing and encouraging sight. Before receiving them, I was led to speak a few moments from the words in John's first heard,' declare we unto you; that ye also epistle, That which we have seen and may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." I was enabled to shew that the ground-work, origin and strength of all vital godliness laid in fellowship with God. Where there is no fellowship with God, there can be no spiritual fellowship with the people of God. That man, or ship with God, and totally ignorant of that woman who is living without fellowwhat it is, is not a proper person for church communion. Here two questions arose in my mind. First, What is this fellowship? Secondly, How may I know that I really have this fellowship with the Father and with the Son? Fellowship lays principally in two things. In Association, and in Participation, By the power and grace of the Holy Spirit, the sinner is brought to fear, and (by faith in Christ) he is drawn near unto the Lord; he pleads for pardon, and this pardon he he seeks for mercy; this mercy he finds; receives; he asks to be sanctified, preserved, and though these blessings may be long and raised into communion with the Lord; delayed; though they may not be so fully realised, as the soul may desire; though the seasons of enjoying them may be few and far between still, they that wait on the Lord do find a renewal of strength; and they are frequently raised up into much solid nearness and happy communion with the Lord. No sinner can be brought from sin, and ignorance, and enmity, into these blessings and not know it. I was also led to shew that where this fellowship is, there will be a manifestation of it; and a desire that others may realize the same. That which we have seen and heard, declare we unto you; that ye also may have fellowship with us," &c. |