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<®ur Cjofrcsiflttknts.
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For thfhJex nil !
Cermpondeme from a Baptist Hlstofle Cltjr.
In a recent infidel publication on
“ Orthodoxy versus Christianity,” the
writer asserted that the only principles
of primitive Christianity reigning in
the churches of to-day are the Baptist
peculiarities of a democratic govern
meat and unbounded religious free
dom. The paper emanated from a
Boston preße, and reached your corre
spondent in this good old historic city
of Roper Williams. It was a gratify
ing confession, a pearl of value in a pile
of rubbish, prised more highly because
uttered in the land where our fathers
were persecuted, and reaching me in a
land where, for the first time in human
history, these same refugees set up a
free church and a free State. One who,
while glorying only in the Cross of
Christ, feels at the same time a com
mendable admiration for the doings of
his religious ancestors, can scarcely help
thanking God for being a Baptist, as
he lingers around the memorable local
ities of Providence. The song of the
Rhode Island Baptists is forever ring
ing in his ears:
“ On NarraganseU’s peaceful shore
The conscience is not bound,
For men of every creed can dwell
In States that Baptists found.”
Suppose our Methodist brethren had
such a history, how their fervid natures
would bubble over with true Wesleyan
enthusiasm. The “ Amen bench" would
be perennially vocal with their charac
teristic ejaculations: “ Bless God !”
“ Hallelujah !” “ Glory to His groat
iiame!” I love ttye Methodist way of
doing. I want people to know that, aB
Baptists, by the blessing of our Heav
enly Father, we have been the bene
factors of America to a greater extent
than all the armies or navies of that
great revolution which gave liberty to
our native land. If one has no enthu
siasm over our past history, let him
know that his soul is scarcely better
than that of a man who will not con
tribute to Foreign Missions, and Dr.
Tupper says such an one’s religion is
“as dry as a chip, ami little and hard
as a bnckshot.”
Dear old Index, since you furnished
the pabulum of orthodoxy on which I
was nourished from my infancy up, I
would like to ask a question. Did you
ever know of death from dignity i Well,
I have come all the way from Georgia,
brimming full of deuominational loyalty
and love, to find our “ Old First” ip this
Baptist Mecca, giving unmistakable
symptoms of decay aud death from
tins withering disease. “ The Old
First,” you know, is the University
church, and represents the erudition
and culture and ultra-conservatism, be.
sides the wealth and social power of
Brown. Of course, it can never be sen
sational or even abreast of this rushing,
tyvpid age.* oldest Baptist church
ifi America, worshipping in the finest
specimen of the Puritan style of archi
tecture to be found on the continent,
cannot afford to mingle with the rabble
of Baptist ecclesiastical assemblies who
hitvc no such history, learning, opu
le uqe or influence. Of course not. We
take off our hats in its presence, and I,
for one, feel proud of its distingushing
characteristics. But wh) should these
qualities curb the natural expression
of simple, fervent, apostolic piety, tyy
Callihg only for metaphysical sermoiis
on science or political economy, or so
cial reform jn public morals? Why
should those things esteemed any
excuse for that blind reverence for an
tiquity which emasculates the power
of the pastor by boxing him up in a
Puritan pulpit of tho fashion of two
centuries ago r Why should this
haughty reserve be allowed to drive
away the masses, who are natunUly in
clined to be Baptists, by its cold, for
bidding formalism? Old Index, as I
sat in tbis venerable edifice last Sun
day morning, I thought I would exult
to see a crowd of good old Georgia
country Baptists • me troopiug in, to
the music 11 Am Ia soldier of the
Cross,” or “ How firm a foundation, ye
saints- of the Lord.” I imagine Roger
Williams would have rejoiced at the
sight. Ido nut believe the old gentle
man would recognize the congregation
of worthy people I saw. lets I re
member, I am a Brown graduate, and
I do love the “Old First” with all
its faults. Only give Dr. Taylor a
year or so more, and he will work a
wonderful revolution in these solemn
scenes of lofty dignity.
I fell hi with a TJniversalist mass
meeting tlie other day, down at Rocky
Point, a watering place on the bay,
and I took catch the animus
of the after-dinner speeches, delivered,
under trees, in the open air. They
have two splendid churches in Provi
dence, and must be credited for aceoni
plishing much practical i u ;lc
cordance with their well ■■tress!
on iuu i. portauce of good works.
They ineule&tt) sound morality for the
reason that virtue is its owu reward,
and believe in the ultimate redemption, i
by a gradual prooess, of every member
of the human race. One of the speak
ers, lamenting the slow progress of
TJniversalist principles outside of N#w
England, declared his belief that fro
community was prepared for the re
ception and cordial endorsement of such
a creed, until it had attained unto a
very high state of civilisation. You
see the difference. Theiir religion is the
ovt'frov'lh of civilisation. Oar religion
is the author of civilisation, aud such a
civilization can produce Universahsm
only when it has drifted a long way
from its primitive source.
Are Baptists a saelusive sect? The
Moravians ana—that quiet, inoffensive
people wb,o surpass all living Chris—
tions in sacrifices for missions. They
wish to live in communities entirely by
themselves. The Quakers also with
draw from the world, in their social
life. Episcopacy is often arrogant,
haughty, purse-proud, clannish. Pres
byterianism is less so than either of
these, perhaps, while our Methodist
brethren, with all their liberal-mind-*
Sdness, and “ gush,” and love, cannot
isguise an esprit de corps which shows
Methodism to be entirely separate, in
its feelings from all the rest of the
world. Baptists, so they say, are nar
row, and we might suppose, therefore,
that they would accordingly become
cliques and “sets,” mingling only with
each other, wherever they go. But
this iB seldom the case. We are too
often individualism run mad, d'a'n*
tegration worse disintegrated, with but
a small affinity for one another. It
was pleasing to the writer to observe a
gratifyiqg exception to this rule, at
Buttonwood Beech, Rhode Island,
where there is a colony of Baptists,
who go out from Providence every year
and spend their summers. The land is
owned by a company of Bgptist mer
chants, aud will be sold only to Chris
tians of well-known standing. Their
aim is to have a watering place where
religion is as much at home'as it is
supposed to be, in the winter, when
they are worshipping in their own
churches. A nice little chapel, in
which your correspondent preached two
Sundays ago, is adapted for all the
purposes of ohurch and Sunday-school,
and stands as a monitor to frown down
the fashionable wickedness of most
American resorts. It is a delightful
spot to'Vest in and build up one’s wast
ed energies for a fall campaign of stir
ring pastoral labors.
Why cannot we Georgia Baptists
have a summer gathering place up in
our own mountains ? How delightful
it would be for all pastors, who can
have a short respite, in July or August,
to meet near Toccoa, or somewhere in
that section, and spend a season of rest,
mingled with brotherly communion and
conversation, and advice in regard to
the interests of Christ’s cause* in our
beloved State ? Would not The In
dex approve of it? We need to set an
example, in the South, of those pleas
ant summer reuuionswhich so rapidly
recuperate and affectionately endear
the hearts aud minds of earnest workers
in our common evangelical enterprizes.
Let brother James, of Atlanta, build a
group of cosy little cottages to be rent
ed, at a cheap rate, t ( o the brethren, ymd
let brother Butler talk up the move
ment and the task is accomplished- I
do believe, in my soul, thajk it would
accomplish great and widespread and
permanent good.
Wm. W. Landbum.
Providence, B. 1., July, 1876.
For the Index and Baptist.] ,
LETTER FROM TENNESSEE.
Nashville Jottings—Religions Progress—Third
Baptist Coroli—A Ploasaut Festival —Rev. M.
H. Lane -Baptist Notes.
During this midsummer season, it
can hardly be expected that any very
interesting reports of religious progress
can be given, yet what there is to note,
is of an encouraging character.
The new pastor of our little sister'
church, just born, and christened Third
Baptist- was publicly recognized on
Sunday, 16th ult. Brother L, B. Fish,
well ana favorably known to This In
dex constituency, will make this city
nis home, and its northern portion his
field of labor, until further orders from
tin great Leader and Commander.
The installation services were con
ducted by Rev. W. A. Nelson, pastor of
Edgefield church, and Rev. M. H. Lane,
of Central church. Rev. Dr. Jones,
pastor of the First Baptist, the parent
church being absent from the city,
which was much regretted.
Brother Nelson, who preached the
sermon, reviewed the progress which
the Baptists of Nashville had made
during the last fiye years, using it as an
encouragement aud incentive to in
creased diligence aud activity .
Brother Laue followed, with a few
forcible and well timed remarks. After
this, came tho ordination of three
brethren, who had been chosen to serve
as deacons. Proceedings have been
initiated to secure a 1 charter, or act of
incorporation, so that the church may
now toe considered as haring fairly
entered upon a career which, with the
blessing of God, cannot fail to accom
plish good work in its special field, and
add materially to the aggregate Bap
fist strength of Nashville and Middle
Tennessee.
A pleasant incident of recent occur*
renoe, was a festival held in aid of the
Central church, continuing for two snc
•oss'vo evenings, itnd yielding ijui.
little sum of money. Each oi
tho four churches of Nashville and
Edgefield was represented by a table
under the 'direction of some of its lady
workers, so that it was quite an agree
able Baptist reunion—a bringing to
gether and Intermingling of members
and friends of jjU&rent churches.
Some f the friends of brother Lane,
had prepared for him a surprise in the
shape of a very neat and handsome
gold watch—something which they
probably supposed no well-regulated
pastor ought to dispense with. This
was duly presented and received, with
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOTTH-TVESTERN BAPTIST.
the speeches customary on mch occa-'
*ions. Brother Lane has made many
friends in Nashville, outside of the
circle of his own church members.
Dr. Jones, pastor of the First church,
is absent on bis summer vacation—
gone east. His pulpit has been accept
ably filled on two Sundays, by brother
Whitsitt, of the Theological Seminary.
Brother W. N. Chaudoin, I hear of as
preaching in Edgefield, and elsewhere,
but have not yet had the pleasure of
meeting him.
Brother W. A. Nelson returned a day
or two ago, from a visit of some twelve
days to Trenton, Kentucky, where he
has been holding a protracted meeting,
preaching three times daily, to large
congregations, besides having a daily
prayer meeting carried on by tne young
people. He reports “ a glorious meet
ing” still going on, twenty-eight bap
tized and more to follow. L.
For the Index end Baptist. J
TIIE BAPTISTS IX DILTOX, GEORGIA.
A Prosperous Church and Sahbath-Sehool—A
Good Pastor.
Dalton, Ga., July 31,1876.
Editors Christian Index —At least
once a year business men balance their
accounts to find amount of their loss
or gain, and why should not churches
do so. It would be beneficial as it
would enable them, to say the least, to
note defects in their labors, -And the
better guard them in future.
In respecting the last year and view
ing results of labor performed by our
pastor, brotfier F. M. Daniel, we are
happy to acknowledge a decided gain.
Brother Daniel took charge of the
church in August last, when it had
been eight months without a pa9tOT ;
and found it cold, demoralized and scat
tered. By his untiring energy, zeal
and great tack in concentrating mate
rial and systametiziu 6 labor, quiet or
der was soon restored and progress
plainly visible. Cold, scattered mem
bers were gathered, and assigned to
suitable work as pupils in the Sabbath
school or as teachers, and to collecting
missions, aud were made to feel at
home, and soon loved to labor in tiieir
respective spheres. The Sabbath
school was re-organized, and is con
ducted systematically in all its details,
and has now an average attendance of
one hundred. A mission house and
lot held under a mechanic’s lien until
recently, has, by his effort, been fully
secured to and for the benefit of the
chuTch, and a Sabbath-school organ
ized with an of about forty
or fifty, and a weekly prayer-meeting is
well attended.
Punctual in all his engagements ar-d
appointments, he has instilled that
virtue to a degree never.before attained
into the membership,*paiticuli\rly in
the point of paying the pastor’s'salary,
monthly in advance. A practice wor
thy the consideration and yidoptfcm. of
all churches that fail to do so. For
merly, pastors here were pitid only as a
little money could be raised; some
times not enough to meet positive, im
mediate necessities, but brother Daniel,
at first, as justice to the church As well
as himself, insisted that he should be
promptly paid monthly in advance,
aud so far it has been done.
Summing up all these and adding
the fact that more than twenty addi
tions, of which fifteen were by baptism,
twelve of the fifteen being pupils of the
Sabbath-school, have been made to the
church, aud it aggregates such a gain
we feel our cause has prospered, and
thank God for all these results. Q.
Vor the Index and Baptist. |
LETTER FROM TENNESSEE.
Dear Index —My second letter has
not been forthcoming as soon as I ex
pected, and mainly because, between
preach daily for some three weeks and
the extremely warm weather, I was not
able to do anything else.
New Bethel church is about 9 miles
from Nashville, north of Cumberland
river. W. S. Adams is pastor, mem
ship 81, good house of worship, a
Sunday-school. This is the church
into baptized by Rev. W.
F. Luck, in April 1845. This church
licensed me to preach; at it were made
some of my first efforts, and much
sympathy and encouragement I ie
ceived.
Eppy Cunningham, the last but one
of the older brethren whom 1 remember
tenderly, sweetly* calmly passed away
a few days after I preached here. He
wus & true man and Christian, and
Baptist, and “full of years," passed
<iway, leaving the “savor of a good
home." By faith “he being dead yet
speaketh" to his church, bis family and
to my heart. When young, full of
teal, out uncultured, and a novice in
Bible knowledge, Brother Cunning
ham was truly a friend, because a
friend in need. He “held the mystery
of the faith in a pure conscience,’' and
could “give a reason of the hope within
blr /' and ' >ved tt do it- Many a
valuable lesson did I receive from bis
lips. How I regret not seeing him on
my recent visit; he was not at church,
though no worse than usual—but,
happy reflection, sweet hope, I trust to
meet him, to see him in our “Father’s
house," with Hitt, and Booth, and
Reynolds apd wife, the sisters Cunning
ham, of the older and many of the
younger members of this my “mother
church," who have passed on before.
Yes, and Baldwin too, the meek, faith
ful true and tried “man of God," onr
long time pastor, awaits me there.
“By the grace of God, I will meet you,”
I
dear ones, and blessed be my God and
Saviour for the fact and hope expressed
in the words
“Through many dangers, toll* anfinares,
I have already come,
%is grace has brought rue sate thus far.
And grace rrflrTend mtfhome.**'
Of other churches I may write anon.
This letter is long enough, and I could
not restrain well the feelings that
prompted me as I continued to write
of my former church and kindred
things. W.N. Chaudoin.
—The Congregationalist looks down the vis
ta of a century :
Especially do we anticipate great mission
ary triumphs for the next hundred years. To
make the church honest is to make it a mis
sionary church. And to fill her with the spir
it of missions, so that each one of her mem
bers will not rest content without some con
spicuous link of sympathy and help connect
ing him with some less favored one elsewhere,
will be to settle it tfiat'by 1078 there shall be
no settlement of hufnan beings bn the round
earth which shall, not have at least begun to
know the blessed uplifting of the cross of the
Crucified One.
Ptsston pfaviment.
Rdv. T. E. Skinner, Macon, Editor and Chairman
Committee ou Missions.
RxV*. C. M. Irwin, Atlanta, Agent for the collection
of funds for Mission and Sunday-school work.
Rxv, T. C. Boykin Atlanta, Sunday-school Evangelist.
ABF. THF. BAPTISTS ALL DEAD !
It was supposed that they were, so
far as Georgia is concerned. In Vir
ginia there may be a few still alive;
but they are chiefly “ dreamers,” and a
sleepy prophet, like a sleepy anybody
else, need not be a cause of alarm to
wide awake people.
But this thing is catching. Contact
is the thing to be avoided in the most
fearful diseases.
When brother Warren left us for
Virginia, he had no visions, no dreams;
indeed none of the attributes, nor pre
rogatives of a prophet were accorded
him. He was the plainest, simplest,
best, and most beloved of the brethren
—all true now, as then ; but since he
uttered his little prophecy about the
uew method of directing the missionary
work of Georgia Baptists, why, we have
had quite a number of little prophecies,
connected with little (?) hopes, from
some of our Georgia prophets, come to
life.
They don’t seem to see clearly, and,
like the Virginia prophets, seem to be
a little dreamy. (Have we reached
again the time when our old men shall
dream dreams on Missions?)
Thos. E. Skinner.
For the Christian Index.|
TO THE BAPTISTS OF GEORGIA.
In consequence of the organization
by the Convention of a State Board of
Missions, the District Secretary of the
1 Home Mission Board, Rev. W. N.
Chaudoin has been withdrawn from the
State, aud we must now depend upon
the new agency created by the Conven
tion. To make this effective, it is in
dispensable that there should be a
hearty co-operation on the part of
Associations, churches and pastors
with the State Board. This involves
the necessity of voluntary contribu
tions. Our receipts fluctuate with the
seasons, but our expenses are uniform
and ever necessary.
We are endeavoring to meet past
liabilities, aud to pay our Missionaries
as their salaries become due, so that
while tho old indebtedness is diminish
ing, we shall not embarrass future plans
by creating new obligations without a
reasonable probability that funds will
be in the treasury to meet them.
Georgia has been in the past, the
undeviating friend und supporter of
the Southern Baptist Convention and
its Boards. I have no doubt of her
fidelity in the future, and if the breth
ren will giye heed to the wise counsel of
brother Ryals, the author of the report
on the State Board, and co-operate
with brother Irwin, the General Agent
of the Board, the years to come will
exceed in liberal things, the honorable
record of the past. Will you not, dear
brethren, bear in mind the great work
of the Home Mission Board, and pray
for it, and speak for it in your churches
and Associations, and give to it as God
may prosper you, and induce others to
do likewise.
Wm. H. Mclntosh,
Corresponding Secretary.
THE UNIVERSAL ANSWER.
Please bear in mind, brethren, when
yop propound your queries to the Com
mittee on Missions, that a sufficient,
because practical, answer to them all
will be found in this question : “ Has
your church appointed a committee on
missions ?” Have you all decided to
work in this matter of securing contri
butions from every member of the
church to aid our missions ?
If you have not decided to work, you
will not work, of ccerr"
If you do n f work, you will not get
the money in .liis any more than in
any other thing. No work, no money.
No work, no spread of the Gospel,
so far as you are concerned. Paul
commanded the Thessoloni&ns “ that if
any would not work, neither should he
eat.*’ The reason why so many brethren
have no spiritual appetite is because
they do not work for the Lord, live and
labor for the salvation of others.
Now, brethren, do you ask us to ex
plain this point or that as to our work
in missions? We answer, have you
appointed your committee on missions ?
going to work in this matter?
•PaDoes your board- (you mean com
mittee) have any power to appoint your
own missionaries?” Well, my brother,
haf your appointed their com
mittee on missions yet ?
That is. the universal answer. We
might answer thus, as the report
adopted by the convention shows, that
no man can be appointed as missionary
except he be recommended by the Geor
gia Baptist Convention, through their
Committee on Missions, but still we
prefer the question : “ Has your cbvrc’i
appointed a comraitte on missions ?”
Tnos. E. Skinneo.
HOLDING OX TO THE OLD WHILE TRY IMG
THE XEW,
Is it .wise ? Does the farmer attempt
two different systems of cultivation in
the same field at the same time ?
If, in agriculture, such a course is
unwise, how is it in religious work ?
The truth is, the action of the last
Convention contemplated nothing less
than an entire change in the system of
missionary effort on the part of Geor
gia Baptists.
The old system served its day, and
it was believed that the new system
would answer a better purpose at the
present day.
But how ran we test that question,
if we intend to hold on to the old while
we try the new ?
Both systems employ agencies as
instrumentalities in the work. The
difference in the agencies constitutes
the chief advantages of the new system.
One man, as an agent, superintends and
directs the entire work, at an expense
for salaries at least two-thirds less
than the old system. But important as
such economy may be, in these times,
this saving of expense is by no means
the most valuable gain secured by the
present system.
The best thing about it is, that the
work is thrown directly upon the
churches themselves, if they will only
adopt the plan recommended by the
committee.
Now, we love the brethren too much
to enter into anything like a contest,
however friendly, about this matter, or
any other; but we ask the brethren to
consider a moment, and ask themselves
if fears expressed as to the success of
the plan will probably aid the proper
testing of it, notwithstanding suen fears
are accompanied with Itopes for its suc
cess.
Brother Irwin asks that the brethren
everywhere will pray for him, that the
Lord will give him health of and
wisdom from above, to accomplish the
arduous work comimtted to his hands.
He begs that no nP>re /earn be ex
pressed, or prophecies be made, but
that all may become pleaders before
God for the success of the work en
trusted by the Convention to the Com
mittee on Missions.;
Thos. E. Skinner.
Special Contributions
For tue Index *nl Paptlst.)
NOTES ON THE ACT Af BAPTISM.
NO. XIII.
Appeal to the Orlglixi—Pouring lan-ideroil.
REV. J. H. KILPATRICK.
H iving tested the claims of sprink
ling, and found them utterly ground
less, we now turn our attention to
“pouring.” D-.es the Greek wotd&ap
tizo mean to pour ? I answer euufflhat
ically, no. JW
1. The original gives the
support to this meaning.
Let the reader go through with all the
examples before, givt&i, substituting
pour for baptize f atid he will not find one
which makes Sense at all, much less a
probable sense. With reference to
“sprinkle” I made the assertion that
not a single instance ’tad yet been found
whefe the wo +A bpiUrf ftecessarily have
that meaning; With, reference to
“pour” S'will without fear of
truthful C'^tradicti^'that not a sin
gle instance as been found when the
word baptizo c Art possibly hare suetr a
meaning._ For
2. This rendering involves a glar ng,
self-evident absurdity. What* pour
a man. The thing can’t be done. We
can powr water, or other liquid—we
can also pour meal, or powder, or sand,
but we cannot pour a solid, undivided
substance. We cap pour water or sand
upon a person, but we cannot pour the
person hirnsdf, without indeed, first re
ducing him to a liquid, or to hi* origi
nal “dnst.” If, therefore, we would
make baptizo mean to pour, we must al
so make the candidate a liquid, or a
powder, or something capable of being
poured, and one job is just as easy and
as rational as the other.
3. So] absurd |is this rendering, that
notwithstanding the wide-spread prac
tice of pouring, affusionists themselves
never use the word pour us synonymous
with bapti? T * .Ik t*rr> ,st!v of
baptizing by pouring water, upon me
candidate, but never speak of baptizing
water upon him, which latter would be
perfectly legitimate and natural if the
word baptize meant to pour. The can -
didate is always said to be baptized, but
is never said ,to be poured ; the water
is always said to be poured, but is never
said to be baptized j therefore affnsion
iats themselves being judges, the word
baptize does not mean to pour. If the
word meant to pour, then whatever is
poured would be baptized; and as the
water is poured, it would be baptized
aud not the person.
4. Bo manifest is the incbngruity and
absurdity of making this word mean to
pour, that some advocates of affusion
do notscrupleto say that pouring and
baptism are very different things—
that while they baptize by pouring, the
pouring is not the baptism. So far
as these are concerned, then, (and
their number is increasing,) this, of
course, ends the matt ir— the Greek
baptizo does not mean to pour.
Since, therefore, the original knows
nothing |ef pour as; the meaning of
bapt’zo —since the thing itself istranspa
rently and ridmuously absurd—sinceaL
fusionists themselves never use the word
pour as synonymous with ’baptize, and
many of them hesitate not to say that
baptizing and pouring are very differ
ent things, surely we must conclude
that the claims of pour to be a transla
tion of baptizo are utterly and hopeless
ly groundless, and so must be rejected.
’ Further, since, according to the un
mistakable testimony of the original,
as well as the usage and even the con
fession of affusionists themselves,
pouring is not be found in the word
baptizo, I would ask, where is it to be
found, and wbat is the authority for
trving to lug it into the baptismal or
dinance ? As for the seeming argu
ment derived from the outpouring of
the Spirit, that has been ground to
powder —nay, it is annihilated. The
fact is,*pouring must be found in haptic,
or most assuredly the Saviour never
commanded it—whatever He command
ed so far as the- act of baptism is cpn
cerned, is and must be found in this
word, for this word only is used. Ad
mit that pouring is not found ir* bipti.
zo, and its connection with baptism at
once sinks to the level of a mere human
ordinance.
POUR UPON.
Some seeing the absurdity of trying
to make baptizi mean to pour, and vet
unwilling to lose the prestige of this
old Greek word as designating the di
vinely authorized act of baptism, have
resorted to pour upon. But this clum
sy substitute is, in some respects, even
worse than the principal. For while
that put only one word in baptizo which
does not belong there, this puts two.
And nobody would ever have thought
of either principal or substitute, but
for the desire to find some support for
a previously adopted practice.. A can
did study of neither classic nor New
Testament Greek ever suggested the
idea that either sprinkling or pouring
was connected with baptism. And
since their adoption, their friends have
ransacked the world to find something
to justify them, but the case is hope
less.
Let us test pour upon by some exam
ple from the original: “Shall I not
laugh at the man who having poured
upon his ship by the abundance of
freight, finds fault with'the sea for en
gulfing it ?” ‘ See Ex. 3 of foregoing
list. “It happens that those who can
not swim are not peured upon, but float
like wood.” Ex. 6. “So readily does
the water crystalize around everything
that is poured upon into it, that when
ever they let down a circle of rushes
they draw up crowns of salt.” Ex. 9.
“The ship being just about to be poured
upon, the sailors, the captain, and the
pilot began to pray,” etc. Ex. 12.
‘ As I also should esteem that pilot as
a very great coward, who, fearing a
storm should, before the. storm came,
pour upon the ship of his own accord.”
Ex. jo. _ I will add just one more (not
given in Jthe preceding list,) which is,
if possible, still more decisive. Jose
phus speaking of the death of Simon,
a distinguished Jew, by his own hand,
says : “Stretching out the right, hand
so that no one might fail to see it. he
plunged ( ebaptise ) the whole sword late
hisown body.” See Jewish War. Book
11. chap. 18, sec. 4. Now, instead of
saying plunged in the above example,
we may say buried, sunk , immersed, and
the sense is the saihe. But let us try
pour upon —“he poured upon the whole
sword into his own body.” Is rot the
thing preposterous ? No possible
sense can be made out of it. And so
with the other examples given ; in none
of them can the word baptizo possibly
mean pour upon —nothing but immerse,
bury, siuk, or some word of equivalent
import, will meet the case.
But someone may say, “I grant
that the word does not mean pour up
on in the examples just given, but are
there not instances where it does have
this meaning P” I answer that if there
be a single case in the whole range of
Greek literature, previous to or contem
poraneous with the apostles' times,
where the word baptizo necessarily
bears the meaning pour upon, the ardu
ous aad anxious researches of affusion
ists have not yet found it. If any one
has found such, let him publish it to the
world, and his name will be held in ev
erlasting rememberance by grateful
millions.
“But are there not instances where
the word baptizo may bear this meaa
;ng?” I answer, yes possibly—pro
vided there was a single instance in
which it necessarily bore that meaning.
This proviso, however, is au insupera
ble barrier that one instance has not
been found. It would not matter that
there were a hundred or a thousand
eases where the word might mean pour
upon, so long as there is not a sinyls
cate where it must mean that, and suck
a multitude of cases where it cannot
possibly have such meaning. I envy
not the perspicuity of the) man who is
unable to find immerse as the meaning
of bopiito and yet is able to find
sprinkle, or pour, or pour upon.