those of others, every way my superiors, and as rats are wont to do gnaw only the outside, advert to incident things that are not to the purpose, and single out rather what seems exceptionable than what is of moment-I have somewhat else to do than to take any notice of such impertinency. If any shall offer a solid and rational confutation, which yet I am not much afraid of, and convince me, not by jest, buffoonery and railery, but by solid arguments of my being in a mistake," Cuncta recantabo argumenta, priora rependam "I will recant all my arguments, I will make amends for all my former sayings by praises, and will exalt your name to the stars." CORN'S BOGARDUS. Wynant's Kill, June, 1831. THE DOCTRINE OF BAPTISM Is naturally divided into two parts. Part first includes all that which pertains to the subjects of the ordinance. PART II, Includes that which pertains to the mode. This is the subject now under consideration, which also is divided into six chapters. CHAPTER I. Of John's Baptism. FIRST, ITS DESIGN. It was to prepare the way, and make ready a people for the Lord." Whenever the Lord was about to make a public exhibition of himself to his people, or to do some great and good thing for them; He always had them sanctified, that is, set apart or prepared for it by certain ceremonies. Thus, when he would emancipate his people Israel from Egyptian bondage, he ordered blood to be "sprinkled on the two side posts and the upper door posts of their houses," for a sign to the destroying angel, that he might pass over them, when he came to smite the land of Egypt. And again, when he was about to appear to his people on mount Sinai; He said to Moses: "Go unto the people and sanctify them today and to-morrow; let them wash their clothes, and be ready against the third day: for, on the third day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people." Now Jesus was soon to manifest himself to his a Isaiah xl, 3. Matth. iii, 3. Luke i, 17. Exodus xii, 7, 13, 22. * Exodus xix, 10, 11. See also Joshua iii, 5. people. It was therefore necessary that they should be prepared for it. Hence John was sent in the spirit and power of Elias to prepare the people for the arrival of the Prince of peace, according to an ancient prophecy: "Behold I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord." And John was that prophet, as appears from the prophecy of Isaiah, which is applied to him by Matthew: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight." This preparation was performed by John by the use of water. It is not said whether he immersed the people in the water, or whether he sprinkled the water upon them. It is said only that he baptized them. Second, The nature of this baptism. It was unto repentance. The Jews were awfully corrupt in doctrine and practice about this time. They had been a long time without any prophet among them, in consequence of which they had gradually declined from the purity of their standards, namely, the holy scriptures, until they were sunk so low in iniquity that they appeared ripe for destruction. It was evident that the vengeance of God must fall upon them, unless they speedily reformed. For, according to his ordinary dealings with the Jews, it was manifest that they could not continue much a Mal. iv, 5. 6 Acts xix, 4. longer without experiencing his judgments. God, consistent with the purity of his nature could not own such a wicked people as his church; something, therefore, must be done to save them from utter ruin, and to prepare them for the coming of the Lord. Hence John was sent to rouse them from their lethargy, and to call upon them to prepare for this dreadful day of the Lord,' and the glorious appearing of their God; which they were to do by repenting of their sins, and as an evidence of their repentance they were to be baptized by him, and thus sanctified, that is, set apart, or prepared for the coming of the Lord. And his preaching, to appearance, had the desired effect. The Jews were awakened, and came with one accord, and were baptized by him to their pretended repentance, confessing their sins. Pretended, because they were for the most part hypocritical in their professions, as their conduct afterwards evinced. Nevertheless, as we cannot discern the heart, but are to be regulated by the confessions of the mouth, and the present deportment of those who profess repentance; so, according to appearance, the Jews were at length prepared for the coming of the Lord. There were a few who did not submit to this ordinance, and they are said to have rejected the counsel of heaven against themselves. a Mal. iii, 1, 2, 3. b Mal. iv, 5. c Luke vii, 30. |