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Whole Xo. 08 K Tarhnrough, (Edgecombe CounlyX.C.) Saturday, Detnilcv 2, iS37. Vol. All- JVo. 48. KEUUKKIJ KAPTIST ASSOCIATION. The aotiti il session ol this Association was hold at . i : .. j ... . i t l vrucus nicouni; ihhim:, in I'intMoiium county, i. U. fomfim'Mjitijr Snlunl.iy hfon (lit; liri Sumifiylii October, jcr Jnsefdi Hii'ir clerk. Lmtnrs from CM cliuphcs read, irotn vnirn n nppo.inMt tmu ' durins the past veiir,0 munibers wore iidduil to. the churchy by baptism, 5 JcCcivoi by letter, 17 dismissed by Inter, 13 oxfommunica ) deceased, 3 restored whole number, 1546. Po litionary loiters fur membership wen- received from the church at Snppony, Nash county; Rocky Swamp, Ilali (a cownty; nnd Suujh Quay, Soiiilnmptoii county, Vo. Tlci",u .ssociaumi is io c nem at spring Urien meet inr iPU.-e. .Mariiii county, to commence, on Saturday hn ytlni lit tfundavin Oct. U53a. The full, win-' is the CIRCULAR LETTER. 'fjw ministers and delegates composing the Kchukeo Association f,rls37, to i!e sever.d churches they repioent, send grueling: and epistle, to all thy brethren and sisters composing the several (jiiirclses of lhat Association. Wishing gr.ee, merry and peace, with j ve an-! union, to abound among ou, in the strongest bonds of Christie Mlmvsliip, ironi U Hi our lather and the Lord Jesus Christ his Son, by the influence of bis holy and blessed Spirit on your every ie,rt, wuiu'mg in you to will .mid to do of God's good pleasure while I.. ...v., ....... .1 I... !. .... . Itere m cum, mui mi i;ij luntMjy ue prepared i'r i lie enjoyment ofhiseieriul glory in heaver, when this suffering life shall cease and vjii all enter on eternity's everlasting shore. ) " IkuiLY beloved BKKTUitEX in the Loud: You will certainly! rtpect a Circular attached ti our Minnies, when you receive them;! . ' t - r i .i.i . i lorasmucn as many 01 you Know mat there was an appointment to write one for this Association; hut not comimr to hand, we are under die necessity of drafting one in a short time, in order to meet your Mpectairons. And we knoiv of nothing at prei.mt lhat more con cerns the churches than that of some remarks on A VALID BAP TISM. For the devil in a thousand forms has through the instru mentality of man attacked the word, doctrine, ami ordinances of Christ; which it becomes the duty of the churches composing the Eihukee Association to defend, if they think they are churches of Christ. For Christ has committed al! his gospel goods to his church a:iJ ministers, and we ask yoimvho shall take care of them if his church and ministers do not? Will the world take care of the word, daciriae, and ordinances of Cdrisi? Surely not. Will the devil, or a.wl christ? Surely not. Will Mahometans? Surely not. Then 'the responsibility of the churches composing the Kehukee Associa ui's very great, if they be Christians, to transmit to the next geue h'.Jn of Christians nnd ministers with truth, faithfulness and clear ness, the holy word, doctrine, and ordinances of Christ; without the u.'loy of hypocrisy, tradition, or human inventions of any kind added thereunto; as they have received them from their forefathers, and i-mved by the wc-rd of God, otherwise void and of none effect. For you know, dear brethren, lhat the devil through false teachers Ins attacked even the person of Chris'; calling and endeavoring by' uny sophistical arguments to prove him a mere man, and not God,; nor Son of God. And equally so they have attacked the doctrine of I' gospel, and shaped it in ten thousand forms, adding and diniin- J iili'mg its various truths to suit their lust of gelling money thereby;' to shape the gospe? doctrine that il might either suit the taste of j I.Vcrites, false professors, or the men of this world. And also you bow that devilish false teachers liave attacked the Lord's Supper; &a orui upland example, lhat he that runs may read the maimer of it and end for which it was instituted by Christ, the head and lawgiver; 01 'Vis church. Vet the priests have ivtislcd and turned this to suit! t'ifir coveting, money-getting dispositions; as well as the Corinthians j to drunkenness and full bellies at their church meetings, and not j ailing. Equally so, dear brethren, 300 know that the ordinance of bap-j u has been attacked by false teachers; and warped in various forms ; ''om its original to sprinkling, pouring, &.C.; w hich was not theori-j manner nor New Testament form, as practised by John, or Christ, or the apostles, as laid down in the New Testament; to which; enov invite your attention in this our epistle. Not tliat we intend 'c0 fully into an investigation of this subject, but to make a few re ason two parts of il, and on the third to dwell somewhat; lor J0toiow our limits will not admit it in the short contents of a Cir cular letter. A first, all we have to say on this subject is couched in a few TQrds: What U n valid xrrintiiral bantism? To which we answer, iaptistn mav be divided into three parts: first, the mode or manner of. Wiethe art of hantism: second, the. subiect on whom the actoi: V'sm is performed; and thiid, the administrator that performs the ' 11 and Ins authority to do so. To the two lirst heads we oesigu 10 Wiit short, as so much has already been written, to wnicu we re- Pu; bm on the third part or head we design 10 uwen ai umC Sll, as but little has been said or written on this part of baptism, 13 "Bake a valid baptism according to the New Testament. nt)u hrst, as to the mode we will say a lew tilings. e e world to show from any history, book, or record, any aduumstra- .''Wmode or practice of baptism before the days ol John me uap l3 record! in the New Testament. Then this administrator and mode and ohWfs nrp the nrituii of baptism. Although some ;avegone back to Abraham's covenant of circumcision, and to the anil lemnle. fur snrin klinir, this is all ludge; say "e- nai baptism was in lieu of circumcision. It mis ue irue, men e brethren, are rinbu for Abraham was a believer before be was ycumriscd, and circumcision only a sign of tle faith be then had r 1 aul innkpc rifpiiinpuinn nnlvr nn nniward SICO. SO IS baptism ah . Uva'd sign of the inward work of grace and faith on believers, as jliam's circumcision was of his inward grace and faith. And a"' settles all this in these words, saying: lie is not a Jew which is outwardly, neither is lhat circumcision which is outward m the ' lut he is a Jew w Inch is one inwardly, ahd circumcision is y of the heart in the soii-it and" not in the letter: whose praise is not Vo l"er hut of God. Romans, 2. 2S, 29. And now to gospelize these irst it would read thas: lie is not a IJjptisi who has outward wa- I'MrJr' eUhe.r !cause he is baptized by water; but be is a Bap- ,,,,5 ueeu m.vardlv renewed hv H. Srti a i " . then baptized after his renewal and fahh , Aiir.i.0 : but it is sufficiently dear from the New T.nmp,,, .11 !..:,! tpes, shadows and ceremonies, were put to an end by the dispensa .on ol the gospel; and circumcision with the rest, as Paul's epistles i to ilip I . -I I ! i 1 1 i ni e- 11 ... 1 -" neurews niny shows, tor which proofread. 1 hen as John's baptism was the oritrin of hamUm n m .,.wt c.,k. ject, and administraior; to the account of it as recorded in die 'New le.iament as to mode we shall go, for onr proof of this fact. John, u. -3: And John also was baptising in iEuon, (not at, or near about, but ,,) near to Salim, (and why?) because there was much water there; and they (the people) came and were baptized. Now this verse shows plainly that the first administrator and mode of baptism required much water in order to perform the ad of baptism, bV the administrator John, who was the first that ever performed ibis rite of the church; and that tub fulls, pail, pitcher, or gourd fulls, could not have been here denominated much water, because the place is men-i noned, Anon, and much water there, is the Veasoh fciven why John baptized in this place. Then baptism performed without mucli wa ter tu the place where the act of bap'ism is performed, is not valid nor a scriptural baptism, even euoui to immerse the whole bdy is required in the place where the act ofbaptism is performed. We cite yoo Corinthians, 10. 2. Romans, 6 4, as proof. Next we cite John, 1.9, 10: Audit came to pass in those davs, that Jeshs came from Nazareth of Callilee and was baptized of John in Jordan. (Mark lhat Word, in Jordan; also, in Emm see how these verses agree both as to mode, in, and not at or about.) 10th verse: And Jesus siraitway coming ip out of the water. .Mark this verse also proves lie had been in the yater, while the mode was per formed or act of baptism. Then het are two ins, to prove the rtiode or aci of baptism was performed in mch water; for Jorduu was a riv er, and of course there was much wabr there. Again: we cite you Acts, 8. 08,39 And ht? commanded the cha riot 10 stand still, and they went dowi both into the water, both Phi lip and the Eunuch, and he baptizedhim. Then ibis verse shows a gain the mode of b ipiism was in the vater, and thai the subject and administrator must both be in the wattr, in order to perform the mode ot a New Testament water baptism; and we challenge (he world to how by the New Testament that bapism was ever performed out of tne water. e have produced three uis, the water, for the mode of baptism; now, if you can, produce three outs, of the water, from scrip ture, or even one. Now we know. de;r brethren, that no man can produce one baptism in the New Testanent, where the mode and act ol baptism was performed out of die v. a er, not founded cn supposi tion; much less by express scripture, out of the water. Then we say to you, dear brethren, thai any thing called baptism, the mode noi being performed in ihe water, is not a valid and scriptural baptism. Next we come lo make a few remarks on the valid and scriptural subjects of baptism. What sort of persons did this John, the first performer of baptism baptize, as th6 subjects of baptism for God who sent him to baptize? Certainly let him know the proper valid subjects of baptism, as well as the mode; or how else would he have went a boul performing baptism, a thing he never saw practised nor bad been done since the world began. And had he have asked all the wife of the world put together, they could not have told him either the mode or subjects of baptism. Then God made know n to John both the mode and subjects ofbaptism. In the same way he made known t htm the Lamb of God thai takelh away the iJu of the world, and to reject the pharisces and not baptize them. S then the subjects of baptism aie a peculiar kind of people, forasmuch as John refused baptism to the pharisees it shows al! men are not the proper subjects ol baptism, but a particular kind of persons only. And in order 10 nice laid down so plain in the New Testame nt, both bv pre-i ; prove which, to the book. Mark, 1. 5: And there wt i)t out unto 1 . . .. . 1 1 : ... 1 1 . 1. 1 1 . 1 . 1 1 . i . i- 1 ..... 1 1 11 1 him all the land of Judea and they of Jerusalem, and were all bapli zed of liim in (maik that word in, "again, that makes four ins) the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. Thus y ou can see by this text the persons John baptized, such as confessed their sins; these were his subjects of baptism, and of course John then did hoi admit chil dren to baptism Nor were they subjects of his baptising becau? hey could not confess sins; for those he baptized confessed then ins. Then we say, brethren, children are not valid scriptural sub jects of baptism. Acts, 19.4: 1 hen said Paul, John verily baptifted with the bap tism of repentance, saying unto the people that they should believe, on him which shoufd come after him; that is, on Christ Jesus. So j then, from the above text, according lo Paul's exposition of John's j Imniiiin John rpnnireil failh in Christ Jesus which Was to come 111 a subject before be would baptize him; w hich clearly proves three cha racteristics in the subjects of John's baptism, to make them subjects of valid baptismrepentance, confession of sins, and faith in him lhat was lo come; that is, Christ Jesus. These were ihe prerequisites required by John to make a valid subject of baptism.which neither chil dren, nor ihe pharisees, nor scribes, nor men in a state of nature possess; therefore neither of these are valid and scriptural subjects ofbaptism And further, the whole tenor of the gospels and all the epistles show, that repentance and faith were required by Christ and his apos tles to fit "any person for baptism; such as, repr.t and believe the gos- slmll nil likewise nerish repent, lor the kingdom of heaven is at hand he that neitevetn ami i un.j shall be saved go teach all nations, baptizing them, &e. ami ma ny of the Corinthians believed and were baptized, Uc. &c. &c with a hundred other proofs that it is the man lhat repents of his pasi sins, amends bis life, and confesses his sins with a broken and contrite heart, and believeth in Jesus Christ with all his heart as did ihe Fu nuch, that are only the valid and scriptural subjects ofbaptism; any thing and every thing said to the contrary notwithstanding.. In this truth of the mode and subjects of the ordinance ofbaptism for validi ty dear brethren, stand fast; and let no man spoil your faith through vain philosophy, tradition or deceit, lhat any other person is a scrip tural subject of baptism but the man or woman that repenteih, con fesses their sins, amend their lives, and with the heart believeth in our r 1 1 . . r. Plr'mi nitd run fesses the same with their mouth as uiu me j()I U cJc&ua li . 1 c c Christ to be the oon 01 God We have only made these remarks on the mode and subject ofbaptism, merely to refresh your memories and put you m mmd ol ... u., itnfnre written vou on the subject ol baptism. We now dear brethren, come to our third head, and lhat is, to show who the man is that is a valid and scriptural administrator of j baptism, according to scripture; for we conceive there is as mm h in j the administrator to make a valid baptism as there is iu the mode or Jstdiject. For the mode of baptism and the subject of baptism can't make a scriptural baptism, without an administrator lo perform ihe mode; for the subject t an'l perform the mode on himself. For it il-. l.,nl. i T .1... i ' .i..v .1 . - in .1... i.v. i,n" in isi uuu tfuim me uapiiM it lauea i uinp iiiiu ine cu- nut h it lakes Ananias and Paul to make a valid baptism with the) jmodfe beside. Then here in the three above c ases you can plainly see the three things proposed, essential to make a Valid baptism; nof is the administrator the least of the three in making baptism valid.. For without the administraior, and lie Vested with proper authority lo per form the riVe of baptism, there can be no such a thing as valid or scrip lura) baptism. Then we presume no man will deny but John was the first admin istralor'of a valid and scriptural baptism. From whence was his au thority, from heaven or of men? John, 1. 33: And I knew him not4 but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto ine upon whom thou shall see the Spirit descending and remainiu'g on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. 34ih verse: And I saw and bare record that this is the Son of God. Now the a bove verses show that John WAs Sent to baptize who sent him? vly God the Father sent him to bear witness to the light. He svM him thai Christ Jesns might be made manifest to Israel. He sent him to baptize with water all which the chapter proves. So then John, the first administrator of bapiism, had bis authority from heaven; and it was this heaven-commissioned authority that made him a alid ad ministrator, otherwise his baptism would have been invalid. Of this we offer as proof -suppose Jesus Christ hdd baptized a person with water, would such a person's baptism been valid or not? We pause for you to think. We answer, no; because Jesns Christ had no com mission from heaven to baptize with water. God had given him no such commission, therefore if he bad baptized with water without the commissioned authority, uch a bapiism would have been invalid; forasmuch as it was John's authority from heaven lhat made his bap- Jism valid, having a right mode and right subpet. Then all bapr tisms are invalid by any man thai is not divinely commissi oucl !roni heaven; thus it iakvs God's prescribed mode, God's prescribed sub ject and God's authorised minister lo make a valid and scriptural bnp- tim. And this further appears from the following reasons: John was sent of God lo baptize with water, and not with the Holy Ghost; John could not, nor did not, baptize with the Holy Ghost; nor did he even cooler nor cuuld he confer the Holy Ghost, or could he work miracles, nor ever did he work a miracle, 'llien John was just such a Baptist preacher as those in those days, without Ihe gifl ot the Holy Ghost which gift alone qualified men to work miracles. Hut Jesus Christ was sent of God not to baptize with water, as was John, but to baptize; with the Holy Ghost; and had he baptized with water, he had no au thority to do so. Then bis baptism would have been ihvalid, tor he had no commission lo h.aptize with water; therefore the scriptures show us.Jesus baptized not, but that his disciples baptized. Then from scripture it is clenr lhat John had authority to baptize with water, but not with the Holy Ghost; so from the scriptures It is equally clear, that Jesus had a commission to baptize with the Holy Ghost, and not with Water; so then each followed his commission, as the whole tenot of the gospel shows, and neither intiiided into ihe comnisdon of the other. Had they have done so, each baptism woulJ have been invalid. And this further appears from God's call to tl priest office. None wne oalh-d to this t Gee but the tribe of Levi; none commissioned but them; therelore, those who assumed the oflk'e and offered incense Ueie burnt with fire from heaven; as no pritMly office was valid but he that was failed and commissioned by Cue to that office. Tin rc fore, says Ps.u!, no man taketh this cflicd lo linsstlf, but he that was called ol Gud as was Aaron. Because nothing he dime was by divine command; or of divine authority; theieloie invalid and r (Tensive to God. And Paul applies this to the minslrv. And God misht v who hath nquired'his at ycur hands; for 1 have not sent you to do so, and by what authority do you these things? So then il lakes the, divine call ami commission "to make a priest and Ids offering valid; so also it lakes the divine Call and commission of God to make a minister and his office, and act of !,:,ni.m i--!it nrwl mitiinr siw it ni this can do it. Then il Christ had baptized, nod did not baptize because he hall no commission 10 dosoi how dare others w ho have no commission from God to do so ? Such are intruders into office, and shall be dealt Willi by God as such saying, you run and 1 sent you not, &c. Having thus shown that il takes an administrator divinely com missioned to make baptism valid, we pursue our third head lurlher; Jes ts Chrisi, the head of all principality and power, the head of his church, God's king in Zion and lawgiver of his church, and further, the Father vesting him with all power in heaven and eafth, after his death assumed the right and authority of calling, qualifying and com missioning men to preach and baptize nations according to the mode he himself was bapiTzed with. For he himself says, baptism was ihe council of God, and that it.was a commandment of God;asilwas righteousness in John to administer it, as being sent ; and him lo obey il, as a command of God, and thus they would fulfil all righteousness as respected the command of God concerning baptism. Nor can wet believe that Christ would pervert the command of his Father con cerning baptism, either as to mode, su'ject, or administrator; tint en Ibiced the same by commission and his authority on his disciples. And thus he says i Go ye into all the world; he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. And thus : Go teach all nations, bap tizing.them, &c. So then he does not tell them the iode, and why ? becaue they well understood this. But he tells ihem Ihe subject : He that believeth. Then it follows that all the apostles were cow missioned and delegated with power and commission to baptize be lievers from Jesus Christy who rs the rightful head, sovereign and lawgiver of his church. And thus all they baptized, if believers, by the original mode their baptism was a valid baptism; because they had Christ's commission so to do and not otherwise. But we still pursue our third head, as to a leg;d administrator makiu" a valid baptism. Now let it here he underwood lbl John was authorised by God the rather to baptize with water; ami that Chrisi was only authorised lo baptise with the Holy Ghost, and not with water. And here let il also he fully understood, thai the apostles, and not the seventy sent out, were fully commissioned to baptize both with the Holy Ghosl and water by Christ, the head of Ns church; and that the seventy had not ihe power nor commission fO give the Holy Ghost nor work miracles; bul that this of giving the Holy Ghosl was exclusively given to the apostles for reasons we could easily assign, by the laying on of their hands; bul neither John nor Ihe seventy could do so. Then they were just the same as mitw
The Tarborough Southerner (Tarboro, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 2, 1837, edition 1
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