Christian herald., February 29, 1884, Page 2, Image 2

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order them in quantities, they could
readily dispose of them to their
friends. Prices: Cabinet size 25
cents, Panel size 75 cents, sent
by mail to any address. For large
orders,
tret-fop rates,,
etc. Send money by postal note,
postal order or in registered letter.
Address ill communications to the
artist, Prof. G. W. Sittier, Spring­
field, Missouri, who will give his
prompt "attention -fo-Xlie Jibing.^ of
your orders. Don’t fail to send for
these fine photos at once.
One of the greatest hindrances
ie
toTbuFwof*----- ”
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habit of many of oar sisters and
brethren in connecting themselves
with denominational churches and
sending their children to their Sun­
day-schools. It is astonishing to
us that good brethren can not see
and feel the evil effect this habit is
having on our plea for. primitive
Christianity. Because there is no
church where you may chance to
locate which is satisfied to be known
a? simply the church of Christ, is
that any reason why you should
commit spiritual adultery by re
pudiating,.the authority of Christ
and identifying yourself with a
sectarian body ? Does that make
you any more of a Christian than
you are, or give you any advantages
of working for Christ which you do
not already possess ? But is it not
true on the other hand that, by
such an act you compromise your
plea and lend your influence to the
up-building of sectarianism and
other unscriptural and injurious
doctrine and practices—all of which
you believe to be positively sinful ?
No Christian man or woman has
any right to thus forsake the Lord
and the brethren. If all are right
and it is simply a matter of choice
i.i uniting with a church, then the
sooner we abandon our plea and
join some of the denominations,
the better. Butif we are advocat
iag and defending the doctrine of
Christ and his apostles, then the
Lord will hold us guilty for com­
promising these grand principles for
the sake of sectarian affiliations or
popularity. There is no neutral
ground in this matter; it is to be
on the Lord’s side, or against him.
If any one is a child of God and is
providentially deprived of the as­
sociation of his brethren, he is none
the less a Christian and a member
of the one body on that account,
provided he does his duty as best
he can under the circumstances.
Let all such be true to their calling.
As for sending our children to the
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CHRISTIAN HERALD
churches were thus properly bap­
tized is unquestionable. Besides, if
this objection is worth any thing it
may be urged with as much force
against baptism itself, as against
its design ; for if the apostle paid
no attention to baptizing any one,
DI
to
tic»
In the first chapter of first Cor­ preach the gospel, a
inthians, and in the seventeenth ist brother follows his example,
verse the Apostle Paul says: “For why does he baptize at all ? Why
Christ sent me not to baptize, but not argue that he is simply sent to
When'iBFNeW "York 7w/*pc,n4L-.|lQ.preach _ the _ gospel,1 and this preach the gospel ! This w^uld
ent in a lengthy article on the statement has beenused by some soon put an end to the unscriptural
“ Power of the gospel,” argues that as an argument against the doc­ practice of infant sprinkliffg. We
the successful ministry of our Sa- trine of baptism for the remission insist that he follow the example
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£S-was largely of sins. We have before us a letter of Paul; and if he does so he will
not only baptize the people, but he
due to the influence of the Holy fronTaTjfotlrc'rm (
Spirits with which they were rich­ he says that in conversation with a will I>apUzeTlrcTn
ly endued, it is evidently quite minister of the M. E. church, South, and in doing this he will bury
right. But when it draws the con­ the position was taken that the them with their Lord in baptism •
clusion from this fact that the gos­ apostle never baptized any one, be­ and raise them up to walk in new­
pel to be preached now, is a “ mes­ cause Christ sent him not to bap­ ness of life. Rom 6: 3, 4.
sage that is to be accompanied with tize, but to preach the gospel. We
But did Paul baptize ? He ex­
are
asked
for
an
explanation
of
the
power, and that not natural power,
pressly states that he baptized
but the supernatural energy of the passage. We supposed that in this Crispus, Gaius and the household
Holy Ghost working in and witlr enlightened age and country a of Stephanas. Hence that he did
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the minister of the gospel,” it Methodist preacher, nor one of any baptize is a settled fact unless we
speaks without the evidence of other order, could hardly be found impeach the divine Spirit. Would
either the Bible or of experience who would not be heartily ashamed the apostle raise his hand and in
We had an idea that the apostles to still urge this objection to the the name of The Lord Jesus Christ
were supernaturally endued with design of baptism; but it seems do that which he had not sent him
the Holy spirit that they might that there is at least one who has to do ? That Paul fully knew the
be able to reveal the will of God to made but little progress in biblical will of his Master in this matter is
the world and fully demonstrate knowledge for the last thirty years. beyond doubt ; and if it was not
their mission by the miracles they This preacher doubtless accepts the will of Christ that he should
did; but since the gospel revela­ Paul’s language in the same con­ baptize all, why did he do it?
tion has been completed and we nection in a literal sense, which While the apostle received a special
have the same words that were says, “ God hath chosen the foolish call from the Lord, yet he was
preached, heard, believed and obey­ things of this world to confound the laboring under the same great com­
ed in the days of these inspired wise.” But as in all probability mission as were the rest of the
men, ive fail to see the evidence or foolish objections will be made to apostles.
But that commission
necessity for a supernatural energy the teaching of the Bible till the commanded them not only to
of the Holy Ghost to accompany millennium, so we continue to ex- preach the gospel to the people, but
the preaching of the modern pro­ plain.
to baptize them also, and the pro­
Now suppose it should be ad- mise was, “ He that believeth and
claimed Our contemporary furth­
er says: “Not only is the ministry mitted that Paul never baptizec is baptized shall be saved." Hence
of Jesu& characterized by the pres­ any one, does it therefore follow Paul was only doing what the
ence and power of the Holy GhostT thht baptism rs not for the remis- commission required him to do on
but it is the purpose of God that all sion of sins ? So far as the record all proper occasions, eitTier Th peF-----
the ministers of the gospel, who be­ goes, our Savior in person did not son or through some one else. So
seech men as though God did be­ baptize any one during his minis when he says Christ sent him not
seech by them, should be similarly try, for “Jesus himself baptized to baptize, but to preach the gospel,
endowed with power. Therefore not, but his disciples,” John 4: 2, it is evident he does not mean that
we find Jesus during his ministry yet the baptizing was done all the he was not to baptize at all, but
training his disciples in the way of same; and this baptism was for tie that he was not sent to "baptize
ministry and power, by sending remission of sins. See Mark 1:4; only, but to preach also. Or per­
them forth to preach the gospel and Luke 3:3. So we might argue in haps that his chief business was to
giving them power over devils and reference to Paul. If the baptizing preach the gospel while others were
disease.”
was done, it was immaterial who to do the baptizing. Paul 'did not
Now is it not a little strange if did it, and this transfer of the ad­ thank God that he had not baptized
God intended that all his ministers ministration from Paul to some one any one, nor that baptism was a
through all time should be endow­ else would not affect the design nor “ non-essential,” but that he had
ed similarly to Jesus and his apos­ invalidate the act in the least. It baptized none of the Corinthians,
tles that we d(f not occasionally see was necessary that the baptizing except those mentioned. And he
some demonstrations of that “ pow­ be done, whether by the apostle gives as a reason for this, “ Lest
er over devils and dis&Use ?” We himself or through some one else any should say that I had baptized. i *
should remember that the day of di<l not matter ; and that the people
own
. . . in mine
'
...... 'hame.
.
The Cor-
miracles has passed, and hence all where he preached and established inthian church was divided over
denominational Sunday-schools, we
are fully satisfied that in many
places it is doing more to weaken
and destroy our peculiar plea than
the continued opposition of all the
inations on the coast. While
the children are sen
it is useless to object to their be­
coming members.of their churches.
When wilfdur brethren fully realize
this fact ?
the energy of the Holy Spirits'put
forth in the conversion of sinners is
to be found in the word of God, and
that this gospel faithfully preached
and accepted is God’s power unto
the salvation of the world.
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