mem
B1EL1C A L KECOHDER
2nd southern watchma n. j . ;- ; jj . . ,". ;
, . . i ' a i - - - - - "
Such seem to me to be some of the limitations
within whif h cur tfloits for the promulgation o(
truth are restricted. AVe are limited us to thej
matter and ih$ manner of propagating tlj and i
tj the motives which we are ut liberty to urge, in
order to iutlure nien to obey. 'it.. If c cannot
prtfpagate it without violating these limitation?,!
it ceases to'btj our duty to propagate it, and our:
responsibility por the result, be ti..at result what u
Hiav. f."o:!i that moment ceases.
If these be dot thtvtrue limitation?, where shnll
any limitations be found? How shall uny man
judge when of where his responsibility ceases?
How: shall anv man distinguish between the
commands of God, and the commands of his fel
low, men? I In a word, how shall we escape a
tyranny over consriei.ee, more intolerable than!
th;tt of Rome itself, by as much as the tyranny;
of many is worse than the ty ranny of one ? It
matters not how pure may be the motives prompt-;
ingto a conduct which leads to this result: the:
'result itelf is not the less deplorable, nor is it to
be guarded against with uny the less care.
; 1 : " ; i Wavlaxd.
'I " U i From the Uo?pel Witness.
TUB TRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, t
A jreeab'y: tothe pronrire made in oar last we
five lu? following summary of the-principal pro
ceeding) in 'The New School,' and Oid, school,
General Assembly,' now in session at Piiiladel
phia. i "
Xeic School ; Gen. Assembly. The following
resolutions were-adopted : -
Resolved, I hat the action of the last General
Assejubiy. declaring the synods ol th-? etern
Reserve, UiiciijGeneva and Genesee, to be out of
the ee'esiastical connexion ol the Fieshy tertan
ichurcn in the jUiled States o! America and iri
dclarin; the i Presbyt?iy of Phiiadeiphia' to be
dissolved, isentitelv at variance with the con
stitution of t'ue Presbytetiaa church and tiiere
fbre inoperative and vuid.
t Unsolved, That the rule aibpied by the last
Asseaibiy, in reiati jo to newly -forme:! presbyte ,
ricS, excludiu j their - commissioners tiom their,
, scats till after the crantdiion tf the Assently
not having been submitted to the presbyteries,
, and being contrary to the established usages of
all former assemblies, are iut" b:n Juig on this or
aay future assembly. I
IlsoIvL-d, Tiiat the n?xt General Assembly
hold its ideeting in the first Presbyterian church'
tu the city! ot-Philadt-Iphia. The committee-of
correspondence made a report, "designating the
churches ai home and abroad with which it U ex
pedient to, ccrrespond ; which are., the general
convention of Vermont, 'the association of New
'Hampshire, general conference of Maine, gene
ral association of Massachusetts, fvangehcal con
sociation of Rhode Inland, general asM)c'iatiun vi
Conneciiffj general synod of the reformed Dutch J
church, syn'jd of the G.-rman retoi med, Con-
cregatior.al Union ot ii.nr: and anil ua:es; also
tnat letters be v riiten to the General A$embJv
cf the church of Scotland, ;?hd SccesMon
' church of Scotland. , . !
Resolved, That this body are willing to agree,
- to my reasonable masurs tending to an ami. -a-Viea:Jjjsiment
ot the d.S.uIties existing, in the
Pfsbyteriaa church, and will receive and res:
pectfully caslior any roposaias ( which may be
mide fo? that purpl5.
OH School Gen. Assembly From ihe follow-i-igresuSjtions
ofiV're'd by Mr. Maxwell, u will be
. seen that this body is resolved to m ik? t iose gen
ttuoien who were concerned in the orgauiz uion
ot the'New School Aseni'dy 'a teiror to evil
dJers.' On Thursday the 24. h inn. the follow
ing proceedings were diad in refereace tu theii
ease.- ' -
'J f. Resolved, That those commissioners , to
the General Ais-jiblvl vtzr VViliia n Pation, D.
Di. E.skine Mason, D. D., John P. Cleavlaa.f.
Nathan S. S. Beuian, D. D. andorhers, who ac
cording to or Jer and usage had presenieJ their
co ii'.ni3Sions to the permanent and stated cleik-.
prior to the meeting of the bod on Thursday last,
the 17th instant, and altsrwards on that day, while
the house was organizing, and ihe clerks unier
the direction of thej moderator presiding, were ac
tuilly engiged in cosnpleling the roil, interrupted
th' prozre? of the regular proceedings, by com
bining witjfeertain othr persons present unknown
to the General Assdm'dy, and openly forming a
nolher body, which they calied l ie General As
iembiy, anlsnbeouent!y, voluntarily, and with
out leave asked or obtained," left the house to
convene in the lt Presbyterian chuich in this
city, and in so do)ng coniiiiiticd an act, which,
however intentioneit, can only be considered as a
plain and palpable Relation of order and decorum,
and in derogation oj the duty which they owe to
the ho7je. the churih ard the cause of Christ.
, Jid. Resolved, fThat by thelrsaid conduct,
Wrid'oy tiieir subeqjjenl " neglecting to a:ten 1 the
' eeHioas of the G.iieral Assembly since that day,
and at the same tine noti riously. attending tne
sesi ms of another body, convening lrom day to
dav in tiie 1st Pesl yi vrian church, calling iiseil
the Gneral Assembly oi tiie Cresbyterian cl.urch
in the United Statics of America, the said com
missioners appear to have wilfully and deliber
ately vacated "their j seats in this h-juse, the only
true and proper General Assembly of the Presby
terian church in the United Sute3 of America,
anJUo iiave originated and organ iz-d a scriisma
ticai session from ibe body to which they be
longed. - j
3.-d Resolved, Tbat the names of the said
commi'sioners be now called and recorded, in
order thai they may be tepurted. to the presbyte
ries of which they a e members respectively.
The loll was then called, and the following
names were recorder, agreeably to the foreg'iing
resolutions. - ' ' : . "
Daniel T. Smith, N. S. S. Beman, D. D.'N.
" M. Masters, Samuel T. Spear, Augustus L. Ciiap-
ia, "Lawrence Van Pyke, Jared ii. Waterbury, f
Frederic Tvler, Aarkm Raymond, Ralph Smith
E. M tsoh, D. D., Robert M. Hanly. VV.? Pat-
ton. D. .D Daniel
Pierson, S. ft isher, D. D.,
Israel Crane, W. l.
Weeks, D. D., Ohadtah
Wood ru n Iaac P
Foster, Eliphalef W. Gil
Simon K. Wilson, Pierce
herf, Wtllatd Hall,
Chamberlain, 'G-orge Kellogg, John P. Cleave-
Uad, Silas Woodbury, A. G. Hammond, Erastus
1 Nichols, Samuel G. Oonilin. Uuther (jr.,L$ing
ham. Marcus Bjwok-th. Henry VanDm4n,!
.G. Strong, RV.hard L ng, Lyman Beechtr. D.
D.. George L, Weed, ."Baxter Dickinson. John
Q,. A. Bassett, SamuJ G. L iwryT John S. Jen-
nni'J Edward Beecber, A H. liurrrtt, Cyrus
L. Watson, Josepn
Yo'itig. John Biatchfprd,
Flavel Bascom, Char
James M. Covington2
es B-ift'S- Albert Hale,
Alexander-J. Dallas, Wil-
bain Hill.D.'D., Uo$ert Jamieson. J
E. Mont
Morrison. comery,
VValteri. Mc-Gili; Lev! R
Andrew, Early, GUleoh S. White, William Dtch,
Daniel Regan, John J FattoD, A. U. Dickerson
and .William. Al' Murdock. ;l '
It may be necessaiy to observe for the informa
liqnoi s-mie of our Bajitist, that the Pietbylerief
jbavfe immediate .uridiciion over ministers, ac
ordiQj to tb rolw of lbs JPi esby terian church,
tnjoiher words thej power v( 'disciplining clergy
imp is vested its those bodies. Hence the vb ve
natiud cenilemenl ure reported lo ilie lr bv t
ne to be dealt with according lo due course vf
Ink '':..'' ., l! i " '. '
Fium the Religious Herald.
- OUR ANNIVERSARIES.
The annivctsaries commerced according: to
nr
ike on Saluidav moruiutf, and Were conliiued
iM u day. 10 Uuy uuld Wednesday evening. They
vee more numerously iatiendea than on -tnv
previous occasion, f Tnere v re I'mm 130 to 200
brethren present. Elders --Alfred Benm It. A.
Maciay, at.d Luther Craw ford, were present las
delegates Iroui the Foreign Mission,. -American
and Foreign Dibit,-and Ihe Home! Mission Soci
eties ; and Eider Adiel Sherwood, as ageul ut the
Columbian College. 5 i
(ihr Saturday '.morning Elder John Goodall,
according to uppuiuiiinut, delivered the annual
sermon of the General Association to a large
and attentive auditory. Ai the close cf the -er-ruon.
the aun.ua i report ws read,l from which it
appeared, Will 13 missionaries I1.1J been employ
ed,
(Ul.
soc
bap
I
ry wiitise labors 4 churches had been ; const l-
d, several Sabbath . wchooU and Temperance
eiies formed, and ..upwards of 350 tkriotis
kized.
the afternoon, the annual meetinn of the
V.r
kinia Baptist Foreign Misiouarv Society was t
he
Id. 1 Ue report istaied that the coniriuutions,
lor his benevolent fnleri'i ise h.id not been equal
to those of previous yeais. Tuis may be mea
surti'dv attributed not to any drcre.ise of interest
in tjte mission cause, but to ihe aiteutiuu cf our
brethren having'' been altrarted more forcibly Jo
j the Bible cause. Our cuntrii utioiis for -litis l.Ui
i: haitjed tbj -ct havej' l..;ine, railier an undue jru-
pori;toti. Utuie OisrHiUiion, tnotign a u osi iin-
r.orlnt object, is tui oue ot the vuito,us j arts io
missioiiaiy operations. Tiie missiojH.iries -must j
be s
vnt out and sustained, ''hoois established,
irac
m'J?
s pjUMled and dis:r.iuled. Ihe s-cripiure
be Cft- irativiated. and then printed, and
vvht -l trji:sliiing. Hit- mi jiouaries must be clo
'thed.aud led , about! one-litcn Si of our missionary
contributions would sulli:e ior the ciri uiatiou f
the scriptures. Tiie aec-ptai:ce of the r porl was
iid vacated in a feili'.g aadj impresie address by
Ei.l r Alfred Behne.li, in yhicn a lucid statement -(was-given
of the condition and prospects of our
tnO"j prominent riiivsionari' stations. '
j . At the cloe of Shis ' addres, subscriptions of
various sums from 5 lo 100, Were voluntarily
ina'Ie by the brethreii present. Tne meeting was
a truly delightful scene, and left obviously, a good
impression on all present," j
I A .night :t!ie lanitual sermon of the Education
Socil'ty was di llvered bv Eider N i-on.
Oik Lord's-day evening 'ai the becend Baptist
church, Lirethieh Joseph Walker and S. S. Sum
ner, werti oidaineu to ine woric ot the go-pel
. - . . .
YuiiMSiry.
The ordluatio i sermon was deliver
ed by Eider Cumberland George to an orerilow
mg tiouse.1 , " .
Oii Monday, morning, at 10
o'clock, the Edu-
caiioh aoneiy .met at ttie tirsi tJanust ciiuicn.
I'-n is! spacious building wa filieil. .After t'ae an-
iiuallrepurt nad been rea '., El ieis Ciawloril, B -n-
nctl. P.nnilcxter. and Bradbv. biddressed Ihe au-
diet:ce with mucii earuesiue-'s and feeling, Tvjeiri
rmaiks prouueeu a senstnte i.upressioa on me
audience. ' They Jwere 'plain, . practical, and re
'pjet'j wiih sound experience, and reasoned witli
pbintied aneedotes. " Elder B-nrtelt staled that be
klie.y the want of early education by painful tx
p.riei)ce; and Elder Bradley :;iaied wiih inucti
feiel ag the struggles;' he had o oji-lergo iti oh
- talining .. the uvcessary knowleigefor a prcaclier
of the word, . ' ', . i i .
Ttije ub'jjct of incorporating iheBeminary was
refried lo a commitjee of s-oj-n, who repotted
the ensuing inornitrg, adversely to incorporation
at;thsf present rfiine, wb:ch repit, jailer a stienu
ous urKa:e, w.ib aJopt-d hy a Small majority.
jThe 'considr-raiion which I'p.teftied lo have most
weigfiljwith tfiose opposed to incorporating the
Summary, was .ihe tear that it would operate
injuriously upon tiie. Columbian iCollcge. A'l
verej willing texleiid, as far; as possible, li:e
usefulness and ein ieiicy of t.e Seibmary.
Elder Goodail was ie-apjninttd j agent for the
ensuing year of ihe Virginia and Foreign Baptist
BibleiSociety. The annual meeting cl" this JSo
cie)v Was held on Tuesday moining.. j
The subject cf forming a Virginia Baptist
S.ibtiaih-schod Union was brought joiwaid on
Mujndiiv evening; after, considerable !discusion,
the'suibjecl was committed to a committee, who
reported in favor of a postponement o the mea
sure until next year. - A siihstiture forjlhis report
was moved and carried, declaring it expedient to
organize at the pieseut meeting. !A cotumittfe
A-as afipointed to diaft a consiiiution, which wa
adopiejd at a Mibseijuent meeting on Wednesday
morning ; so tiiat the society is nw organtz-d. j
Subscriptions were iaKeu on Loral's day morn
ing i.t fill the churches lor foreign and i:o;iiesiic
inissions. Al the-1-t Baptist church, the collcf
rionaiTiounted lo 27-1 ; two . ladies; having con
tributeil IC0 each. M i ?
iii.toi)E Ui WATCHMAN
RAIiEIGII, SaJurllay, June 1G, 1838.
HUMAN RESPONslBILlTY.
In; the present and wo preceeding numbers of
the Recorder, will be Ibind Dr. Wayland'a chapter
on the propagation of lnth. If any of our readers
have' been led to overlook this article, which, for
Wan o room, we have been compelled to cut into
three pieces, we would recommend them to lake an
early' opportunity lo read! the whole overat a sitting.
They Will thus gt ibej sense, the argument, and
the impression of the entire article.
W axe induced to (jail the reader's attention to
this' sec jion, as we have said in reference to former
ones mfiinly for the purrjose of fixing borne of the
leadjfag thoughts in hi si memory. It is remarkable
for clearness of perception, com ctness of illustra
tion, jand still more fori the practical importance of
the matter involved. -
The author remarks, in the first place, that the
a i . j t . i i
moral precept respecting veracity, does not com
mand; us to testify it duly forbids us to testify
fal-sely. It requires us iottt 11 the truth so far as we
tell any thing; bat by no jmeani requires us to ttll
thetoloi? truth that is, every thing we know.
It il observed, iu the next place, that, as the sim
ple fact that a thing is true imposes noj obligation
to promulgate it, .trie obl gation to promulgate it
must beiajpDsed by the known will of God, either
as directly expressed ia liis word, or as" clearly in
ferred j'frorn known and 'unquestionable data. In
the former case thvre need be no hesitation : for we
act under the express command of the Almighty.
In the latter, much more cautioa is requisite; for
we have 'to learn our dutjr. by the exercise of our
onders'iuading. 'pi- . ",.' !. ; . :
i'Hh -..I I'!-. -.-I r .
-it
The author's th
rd general fijmark relates to the
manner in which j truth hho Id be promulg ited.
The substance of if is, that we have no riht tofoixe.
lite truth tipjn another. That U we have nuj right
to prets tvtn ihe most important matter uprin the
attention of others,afttf a dt lejmint d unwiilinpt ss
on their part to hfai or receive it. This posi'on is
foundeu on ilie plain, clemt iilary principle, that tv
ery man has a good a tight tothe u-eof' his ears
a-s any oue tle has to the use ol his tongue.
We are acordiiily required to set the trutbuch
as it may be ourjduty to promulzate, jplahdy and
faithfully before men. If they hear uv, u,ll. If
they refuse, 'we have no more to do.. Ourresponsi
bilttv is at an endj ! I. I i
The author's lourih remark relates to the drgn
mmlx and motivr's by which the ttuth may be law
fully and consist'rntly enfoiced. It is coatended
that, with a; view luf iiidaoing men to embrace and
practice the tuth, no 4irgumcnt or fact should be
urged which is noi believed to be strictly veracious
that every a'ternpl toexagerate, concml, or mys
tify, for ihe purpose of advancing whatlj is believed
to be truth i as insulting to God, as it must be
subversive' of its own ends. As it rejpt cts the mo
lice to be presented,' we are required to offer, such
as God h.u oifi-red, an I we have no right to offer
others: If GjJ' motives will not prevail, we are
gai!tles. . Having prcntd those, we have dime
our whole duty our responsibility extendi nu fur
ther. I'M
Should it h? c intended .that certain m a'u'res
should be allowed, pougit not coin. nan Jed, In-c luse.
inc'rlain cases, they have been f.jund productive of
good results tje r-plv i, that up.m tuts principle
of utility were first introduced '"tlie most odiouf
a iditions which the Romi-h church has evermJde
to ihe command of GoJ." On this principle there
can b- no end to innovation. i I
In conclusion, we b- g leave to say, that, injour
humble opinion, abolitionist, new measure men,
and all ultraisls and innovators o( every escrip!
tion. will find this said fifth seetion of the D cur's!
' amazing hard to get over." At any rat we invite
them to give it a tivjrouzh perusal. and thJi t. be
ure and all w suaiieat time fr rummatiou and
digestion.
TIIE CHEROKEESi
: : i r 1 . i ,i
"What we have for some time feared, has at length
jcome to pas. ltjnow appears from .documents
! which we presume to be unquestionable, that fhe
late treaty' with the' Chi rokees.o culled, about
which so much has been aid. and under which .an
attempt has been made to expel th-se p o. le from
their laud.-, is a ratik and scandalous imposture.
What makes the matier wore is,r this aid traiy
appi ar tube ihe elf. ct of a serie. of i'ttri'rues. nlo'
t d before baud, tenaciou ly and p rseyeringly. ad
hered to, and at length consummated to a given
extent, in di-regarduf every prin,cipleof Justice and
even of common decency. And what ps worst of
nB, the whole contrivance seems lo have b-en con-
coaled and tlaborattd by a man ; j rofessing to be a
minister of the go-pt l! A certain It v. Mr. Scher
merhorn, one of the 'government agents, is ihe man.
a it appears, to whom tSe nation ii mainly indebt
ed tor this admirable'piece of diplomacy. Ourau
morny lor uie aoovu siaieni'.-rus, is io Oeitound in a i
series of extracts from public ,ocumentj pnbli, bed
, hYr , ' i 1 r 1"U' un' j
r
I.
' - - . . - --- " - i m - ,
,U',UUI . 71 "-rueaoy enororue-jiore,
-v t-.t-u.iiv ii wiu:
be promptly corrected, , If there be hi t, we fruit that j
all concerned in this nefarious project, the Uev. Mr. I
ocuermeinorn oy.no means cxc-pte.i, will oe duly
liulil tin 1a f'ui in:nuTinn rvf n .lnniiiud .in.l d
jmu u. uv. iuv-cmu . u wwv.ti.tu uuu uunaru :
people.
II. w surh men as
G )v. Cas;, the Presi lent of,
the Un:ted Siatei. and others in authority, should '
come lo listen to suorj ;Sugg?slibn3--sliil more, how :
they could be induccdito give their sanction to such
conduct con
now the means
unquestiouab
aforesaid docuru
upon common
uisgrace upon ine national character of the United ;
otaiies. iiow struinciy tio -s such conduct conlrast j
wit'i the determined and raagr.aniinous resolution
of the devoted Clu rokees, to live on loot? and the
r ... - .1 - . t .. "-.
1
supoi trees ramer man comprcmu their integrity, 1
i..avMi'iwiMiviij (iilu tvr iiair iiui iiiuitv iiiaiuttLC. Liiti it'a pi rie inn . h i s
ofsolv.nrr. ThiJm,1,hi.,;, U. in it.Jmn.i.t ti i f ., t ' ..." sa?e 15 uninteuigiuie. I tie i-ruarisecs-eace
e. if reltai.ee is lo be laced on the I slons. in water, in the icer inL, U,, J J wash their hands oA, eat mf-and when th,
eiu. uie wuoie auair is an ouirnr me icuer. ud out or me inn 1 01- i ..- u i . 1 .1 : k '
....-.i i -it- 1 .i . . r .. i i "i i cor tie irotn uie maiKti. excel -i i.uv wau tut v
i t :. r. ' , - - ...v- r . , . . . 't .1.1
cun:J. n,i .. :.'n:... J :.i J 1 : : i! . t . -i '. rn.'''f.. I not." WhaL we would a.k. k expressed in thelat
' "'"'v o inueiiuie . s'lurt. in tuiuieuuie connexion with the act of bin-1 ,1 . . ' .i- . .
.1 - ' . . . ' . . I i , . -I' I ohtii0 -k.i !i'ni ,r:,l f.'i I . m tnrmpl lin
anu to lie cown anu die on the graves of their fa-! 'sls so learlessly j rec6mmtud the common ver
ifiers, rather than submit to the impositions of a j sion, notwithstanding iu difecti, to all inquirers on
fiaudubnt and trearhTous compact. Indeed it j the subject of baptism. I "
would seem that iustibe and magnanimity have in .The fourth argument is founded ! or! the supposi
this cae chanoerl siilel anil that f..r ilucJim ! tlin il.i. If fh. ; t. a Ji.i -1 1 1
now r. pair to the fastness.- of the mountain,, and1
j - mu-i
the wild nnd uncultivqt.r! hani.tc nfcl,.,L nr.. " I
-r .-v. amsi nu,
c ua e ouiy 10 auu, ifiai, us Df lore Kiiim iled, we
trust this whole affair j will be duly and thoroughly
sifted, and that every nin knowingly concerned in
the promotion of fraudulent or dishonorable meas
ures, my be-made to answer for bb conduct before
iht bar of the American people. j .
There is one thing liowever, connected with this
matter, which we are glad to see. The Secretary
of War, for r aons known to himself, has proposed
to ihe Cherokee delegation, to allow.them two more
years to remove their effects, providt d that they
will -ngage to depart m peace within the limits of ;
that peViod. Ifow the, worthy Secretary will man-
age to reconcile all parties to the provisions of ibis
new atrangement, We know not. N.rcan we wtH
see now our government is to escape the imputation
of imprudence, mdectdon, aud imtt ciliiy. I But all
this ivtnatter of se condary contquerice. If me.
or goveruments bring! themselves into dilficulty,
they must get out ofit pt course, as well as they
can. The proposed arrangement, under existing
circumsiantes, is perhaps the best that could be
made. It will give the Cherokees lime for a peace
able removal; it will perhaps measurably rtqoncile j
them to their fate; and! it will save the U. 'States
from the sin and the scourge of another Indian
war -or the still more flagrant proceeding of an un
provoked outrage on the persons and property of a
pxo&tiateand unoffending people. I
For the documents alluded to above, the reader
j is referred to another column. As we are compei-
d to suppress a part for
room, we shall
probably give the rest uext week.
BAPriSM.-0)ip'u.
The mode -properly raUrfUhe act. ,
Having presented and reviewHjthe first two a r
guments from the Advocate & Jornal, in our last,
we nroceed this week with1 the foW next in order.
They are as follow ij- !
2. Tliecondtict of the Engli?
i' translator of
ti e B,U (forty seem learned itih) in reference
to the Original word Itajitito. TjWy have not ren
dered it lo imiiierse r dip in nlisingle intari'e,
thougii ihe word is ued about eir)ly limes ;n ihe
New Testament. Tiiev did norifanslate iitprin-A-.Tiecaus
i hey knew it does ni lways s-inify
prii kl?. They did jnot translate! it. poMy or iw
merge, or xtashl for the same reaslm. 'They knew
il signifies the aVltcation of watr!or other liqnid,
either by fprinhlinr, pouring, '-tithing, or im
mersing.' Thus, like lionesi meif; they only gave
itan Enulish form, and left it unlransbiied ; sn! -iiiiiliiiir
it. as the sacred writers lo every' man's
conscience, to practise 'that mode. f baptism which
Sfeuis tiiost proper and mosi conVnb nt.
j 4. 'i Christ and Ibis aposiles iad Intended to
confine us to one onlv 'node, theviwould haveuefil
a wonl ol t!ieinot ifefi liri; -igni(caiif i. a dnplo
lo dip, or dive under!; runtizo. io'spnnkle ; ekclien,
to pour; lonn lo wah ; but by uniformly uin2
ihe wi.rd Onplizo, he irresisli.MeroncJtiim is
that thev did not intend t res'ricLus to one mode.
D. V nen Oippmz .i ?pK-ri in me iev
haptizo. Thi i n remarkable jii;!, that when
they speak ol Hipping, thW: ue aoSlier word, dif
l''ieutfrm whai tney do when thvi speak of bap
tizing, and leave the couclusfon iu our mind iiai
liiey did not consider the only meaning of baptizo
lo be imrrerion." , i i I
6. Tt.e assertion
l bnt ' J bn I npi7rd in Jot-
dm,' ihough !erived lrom the Gpiipel itelf.proVes
it kf It l . . . liu.ineu ft... inil.J.r
Ja,;n
hapt: l ji the -.vvil l-rnesn
in SB 'thahara
in
E'lon,' ccc. The fact, th it ihe eui)rb whou'i Phil
in naiitizeii 'we.jt iiown in ihe winter, and came
up out oMiie waier, prove noiiHii, pecause, rti it-
ipalso '--went down into," s.nd - fjrtne up . r-ui
oi me W3'er , ' ior jne ; sacreu, iihshh tan avs,
"They went down both into the ' uglier, both Phil-
ij and the eunucli. From lhee wurds, then.
there is no evidence that ! the hai'Z. 'd W re- put
undfr water ; but tlyj fad that Siulj arose and
was baptized,' satisfies us that an'olher mode uiay
answer." . " " . t ' i ! : J
' ' , . - I ' If :i
The t'lird argument against Immersion is taken
from the conduct of the tran -lators "of . the common
version, in refrrruce to ihe word hqptizo. Allow-
ing these translators to be enmpt ti pt iind diinter-
eted witnesses the fact that th t ''left the word in
iewun!ran'slote.d hows that ihy did not
testify on the u bj -ct. Jin argu nlntUlrawn f.om
ihi fact, in favor of sprinkling and pgainu
immrr
sion, must therefore
amount to ryeci-sely noth-
" - .--!-:- i"-- "
ing.
Hut fhe q-iestion whirh nPcesVaruy presents it
self here U thiswhy; did not jthesetranlators tes
tify ? If the word biptizo ever tnc'qttt to pour or to
sprinkle. Avhy did they not so render if: ? They were
all practical anti-immersionists, arUJ f the word
1 ... . i . i . . 5 i
could have been fairly rendered so a to favor their
own practiceit is to be presurm d.! pt cbur,hat
,U7 W0UlU naFe so rdered .t. I if jlact, there -
mat they lelt the term untratffetat. d, proves
ina, in lunr esitrnarion, it couJu nDtijbctendrrrd to
sprinkle or to pour ; -while thelfact 4ai tluy could
not render it to i nni-rse wih iut
contradicling
j,lheir own practice, will account to
! "1 . .1 t ' .11
hiapy for their
unit rm uence on tne;Sunji ct
After all, however, the conduct of'thse tranh-
tor has been not quite so ?tnfrtl, as sreems to be
supposed. Although 'they ha ve studlt ully avoided
the ;ranlalion of baptizo.xhy hav heen ohli?ed
to trandate other terms eon-trued
i
li ilb it, Which.
!i ,, , '
t'sai, canlt ave nodoi bt in theniind of an unnrciu-
diced person, one would, think, eitht; with regard
to the ininbrt of the original term, or with regard to
z the convictions of the translators on the subj ct.
1 1 It is "wing partly to this circumstance that the bap-
ins owing partly to this circumstance, that the ban
ii uuiim imu juuiiufu 10 piescrioe tnva-
riablv an aet of i,.,m.rL U iJ
.i tr .1 ...... . ' . . ' J
im uiiu nuivn ut ui itiv ana tint irm u iiunnfo.i
finitely and uniformly denoted
such act. This argument, as will be perceived is
founded on the asumption that baptizo does not
definitely and properly mean to i mmers-which! is
the ideuiical proposition to be proved. iBot as eve
ry one must know that' ah argument !w2iieh takes
for granted the thing to be proved, can jbv) worth
nothing, further remark here is uncalled for;
VVe must be permitted to drop a-wordprtwo,
however, on the proposed substitute, dupol This
term,,we are told, means "to dip or of re under."
uTouV.rr-Ho dive"! And this ik whnt
ri nl, would call ua word of the most definite
niufdl!ou ' And suppose it had been'used in the
r,ew 1 es,arap"l iustead of baptizo, hor should, w
kaow whether it sfgnified an act of dipin or a
e
actofdi
an
. jtv ue ioiu luai jis meaning
could be determined by its connexion, then Wm
would a.k, in what re?pect the substitule Would be
better ihan the. original? ; The fact liowever is
the, subitiiute is not as good as the oriJinaL The
.lii,, ,1 is aumttieo, nas (wo meabings iof equal
prevalence and a uthorityl-o dip and tf dhe. No
such thing is! admitted iwithregard !o the lat
ter.' ; ; J -r- . ; :j; '
This however is not all we have tcJ say about
this said substitute. Its! meaning welare told, is
y dip or to dice" To dive, as every U knows,
is an intransitive verb, and denotes an act perform
ed by the subject himself. From thefmanner in
which this is connected with thX woridip in the
definition, it ia plain thai the latter is here taken in
a .unilar sense, ud ia like banner dcndtei an act
Testameni, ihe wi-rd baplo (nof rfap'tiz) is gene- W h. n the dipping of a Ihiiig or a pa, I old thing,
ridlv used. See Greek .Tietaniii Malt. xxvi. j was to be t reused, .uch as ai band, a ; Gngt r (k or
23; Maik xiv. 10 ; Luke xyi, 24 1 f hn, xi. 2H ; 1 a sup, a bunch f hyssop, &A tc, Wova ner
Rev xi.i 26 Ineaeh ol;hese eeS of dipping h 4 illVjinablv eilJFoyfd.- rcordin,lv ' m
the A polite have u$tJ the word if bttpta . and' not , . 1 ,. 1 1 f J- 1,,a iV "
peiiormvu uy ine suDjecl himself. Ti.'r
confirmed by the fact that the Luia d.G rition f
Huplu, as given by Scltrevt ljU5, ij -uq:Ja,u SuW--rlgo
under thr water.. Tjietru. meanino of lllt
substitute, therefore, seems to br, "to 20 under th
water-lo (live to dip one'J sell." U hat kind of
business the substitution oftlas word fur bupHZo
in the N ew feitamenl, woud have inaJe for tra
Utors, may be more readily nagined than describ "
ed. As a single illustration he following may suf.
fice,.? "John was diving or djippiug hiin,e!i:..in gaI
len near to Knon, because tjure was much Watr
there." So much for our friend's proposed emenda
tion. - ,
The fifth argument is derived from the fact that a;
distinction has been made jt the New Testatui uf
between the root Laplo, and jti derivative inptizc:
Because ihe word 67j?ijeriployt d when xv dipl
ping of a thing or part of a tiling is spoken of, our
friend supposes that the sanfe term should ll ne
cessarily employed to d ndte the immcrsit n of ihe'
human body. And having dopted this supposi
turn, he thence ihfirmhax bcij.tizo mut have some
other meaning besides immer?ion ! That ail this
is a mere matter of supp fo, we presuiue our
fiieiid himself w ill not he.-itate to admit.
Tiie. facts of the case,' so ir as we can see,- ap
pear to be these: The Gre. V did m. ke a ditinc
tion bttween the-use of .'a U) a id laat vS Ln t;n"
V Ii. n the dipping of a Ihing) or a pa, I of a thin
ii .
is uedjn all ihe case-referred to in (he New Tes
tamentj The saflie term is f
niforn.ly used in the
Septuagint, to express the various panial 'dippings
prescribi
read for
'd m the law and t Ut where. Thus we
x ample, "And the pfiest shall dip his fin
ger m the blood," etc. Lev. 4..6. "And b t him dip
hifiX)t n oil." &c. Deut. 2'1 21. uAnd ve h-1!-
take a bdjich of hv -sop and dfp it in th bbod t!iat
is in theLaion'.' etc Ex. 12 2.. . 'See abo divers
other plabes. But .whet; 'the !tnnerston of the ett-
j lire nnmau ooay is io ne expressed, to ti2 is the
. u.ord generally it not univemdly used: Thus, to
express the corporeal ablntion !Utotnarily observe,!
among the J: ws.'after having een at market or itj
a crowd, alluded to Mark 7. 4 jhoptizn i the Word
employed. 'And when t!eypCome from mark' f,
except thly wash ea;i hit apliHonlai, exept
they im ijrse themsclves'the eat not." Ib ref-r- .
ence to t e same custom, I fie siame term is i sfd in
the same sen-e Luke 11 3S HlAi d when th- J har
isph saw;it, he marvelled that hf had not fir-st aah
ed of i tin proton eba pi sfhe, that he h id not first
immersed htm e!f before . din nlr." Thee are t'le
only cars in which this nord is i used in the New
iTetamrnt, except when applied to the hapti mial
jordriance. It is employe i bowevt-r some tw.) nr
three times by the Scver.ty ant? in the vame.sense.
iTiitis. o express tle action of! JVaan ah wi en. ;n
Lb'-tJit nee lo jthe word of i lheJpJopb t, lie dij ptd
himsilfin thj? Kiver Jordan, iljji said ''Hewint
down and dipped himself kai.ibapiizuto, midim-
nersedhinxrlf seven timejjitt the Jorda..." 2.
iugs, 5. 14. The ;arae tennis' u?.ed to express
liO nArnriri-jl ! n r i fiMt iin nf Iri ith vhil in ill a
c,mp 0f Hoblf, rne3. "And she went 0it by night:
! if,lo (the valb y. of, B, ibulia, ajbd washed. hersJf,
I rkai ebnptizet and immeredlher If in a flvn
lain of water by the camp." Jijdiih. 12. 7. , J'hu
term is aIo used in ihe same sense in Ecclei-ia-ticts,
34. 23. 'He that washt th himsj If, baptisometic
he tint imulTseth himself after the touching of a
dead body, f he touch it again,
wa-biug" I
what availcth hi
jThat baptizo is used Mark, 7.
4., as ahoV- t.itpd,
to denote a jcorporeal immoriionj is made sulTi Mer.t-
lw ieerl.-i :n hv tit mnnPiiiinJ Ini the present Eui?-
! 1" ! . 1 ,, , , II- ' " '
lish verio we hrizzard notiungtn saving, tne j as-
Ft
tat"
ter
less the latter Washing be, undi rsluodio include iht
whole person, wiitcn ablution wils necessarily p r-
forimed 111 a bath? And whyji we ak furtner,
should the in-pired writer employ dffT n nt term,
if His olject wa to express the saijne thing by both ?
Ooj the contrary,' let the passage be rendered as
above -"The Pharisees, except-! they w'ah their
hands, they eat not and when tliitv come frofn ihe
niatket. except they immerse thunSelves, th y eat
Rm ana not "lY vv,il t,c reamng ne tnumg.u.r,
out;the sense of the autho will
)e conaistent aci
.
complete. j
I?or fuitber proof onthispQint
t 1 .
the reader is re
ferried to Jahn's Archeology, par. '20. The words
ds-
of the author are these :Theyi ihe Pharisee-,
taught that, if a persoa haJ not dU parted from the
houe, the hands, without the finers being ditcn
ded, should be wet with water poll red ovrr them,
dcc.; This practice is alluded to ' Matk, 7.3, fan
me pngmanipsontai. On the contrary those who
had departed lrom Ine house, washed in k balh,; or
at least immersed th ir hands in IVater. with their
- : i
fir.gvrs distended. The ceremony in this ca;er
Mark 7. 4, is denominated cm ike bapliznutui?
SuC. Should tlji testimony not be? found sutSoinV
we can probablyfurnish a little moje lo the ariie ef-'
fct. That the same custom is alitfded to, Luke II.-
38, is evinced a3 well by the circtmstances cf the'
case, as by the original term employed.
! . '
If the foregoing distinction be correct and that
it is, will, we think, be denied by nj one who txam-
ines the subject -while it fully accounts for the d if-"
' ference of expression noticed in the article under
consideration, it most fully cohfirtfis the exclusive
use which baptists make of baptize. From this it,
appears that this term not only derjotes a, corporeal;
immersion, whatever the object for which "he im
mersion may be effected, ;but als,ci that this is the
appropriate and exclusive term uniformly applied?
to sucii act. Oar friend's fifth argument, therirfore,
instead of operating against immersion, turns out,
as it would seem, unanswerable inSts favor.
.... - ii
The queerest argument of all, ano indeed we taay;