A short and plain view of the outward, yet sacred rights and ordinances of the house of God

Introduction

GOD is omnipotent ; yea, and to the disobedient, has at all times been a dreadful God, this was clearly evinced in the punishment of ou % first parents, in paradise, for their disobedienco ; and aftervards by his marked displea-

, with his people Israel for disobeying his lav/ : he that despised Moses' law died without mercy, under two or three witnesses. A punctilious observance of the law was required, therefore he enjoins upon his people by his servant Moses. Deut. 4 chap. Now, therefore, hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes, and unto the judgments which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in to possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers giveth you. Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish aught from it, that ye may keep the commandments oi the Lord your God, which I command you. Nothing could be more positive than the

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command, nothing more certain than that a scrupulous attention and obedience was required by those to whom it was communicated

No less evident is it, that God requires obedience to all things that in these last times have been revealed and communicated to all the world by his son ; to them that are called Christians, especially, that they might as children of the same family, be of one mind, of the same judgment, and cultivate a unity of sentiment, following the example of the good shepherd, keeping his commands, to which the promise of eternal life is annexed as a powerful incentive for us to obey in all things, both great and small, though it may admit of a doubt, whether any of the commands of Christ may be termed small as they originate from the highest authority, for this cause the baptism with water, that Jesus commanded to be performed in his name, as well as all other ordinances and commands recorded in his will, merit our attention and obedience, for as he is, who has ordained them under the new covenant, so are we to consider his commands, and the promises which he hath annexed thereto, namely, life everlasting in addition to all the gifts of his grace, and his holy spirit with which we are priviledged in this world ; such therefore, who are rebellious and disobedient to his divine commands, have wrath and indignation to fear, as St. Paul says in his 2d epistle to the Thessalonians, that the son of God shall come in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and obey not the gospel. A similar denunciation we find in Rev. 22. 18, 19, if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy (by which the doctrines of Christ are intended) God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. Our object in publishing this book, is to endeavour to bring these things to mind, in order that he that reads may understand what the Lord requires of him, and be obedient in all things that he may go in and possess the land. That the abuses which have crept into the Christian Church, may be studiously avoided by a strict conformity in all things to the word of God.

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Preface

KIND and courteous reader, whoever thou art, into whose hand this book may come.

In order to profit by the perusal of a treatise, and to apprehend the designs thereof, we shall find that advantages will be derived, by laying aside ail prejudice, and with an impartial and unbiassed mind, and with a love of truth, investigate the subjects, with the evidence therein adduced ; and after having proved all things according to the standard of truth, hold fast that which is good : being guided and assisted therein, by the grace and mercy of our God, weighing all things in the balance of the sanctuary ; namely, the testimony of our Lord, and the scriptures of the Apostles and Prophets.

The necessity of such a frame of mind, will appear to be indispensible, when we consider the danger arising from a bias of the mind, in the examination of the best performances, or m suffering ourselves to be carried away by the current of popular prejudice, whereby our judgments become darkened, and the true spirit of examination dethroned ; the consequences of which will be uncertainty and confusion ; the native result of selfishness and pride ; occasioning that state of mind compared to night, wherein if a man walk, he stumbleth to such a state of mind, even Christ himself, and his glorious gospel, is a subject of cavil, or a stone of stumbling ; and a rock of offence. If there be any, who by criticism, or by a spirit of disputation, would wish to bring themselves into notice, by cavilling at this well meant performance; they are cautioned in a friendly manner, and in the spirit of love are reminded that from a regard to themselves, and with a view to avoid unnecessary trouble, lest they should be found to engage in a contest, that they would not be able to prosecute, although they meet with no one to oppose them, or to contend with them, the accusations of conscience as an impartial Judge, will plead for the truth ; and is sufficiently powerful in the breast of every one, to command an audience, sooner or later, to him therefore who is an impartial reader, the following remarks, will serve as a satisfactory introduction to the work.

It pleased God, in the beginning of the last century to cause his saving grace to be experienced, and the voice of his mercy, to be heard by many, stirring them up to repentance, and awakening them from the sleep and death of sin, to seek salvation and a permanent rest in Jesus, who viewing at the same time the general defection, and departure, from the genuine principles of Christianity ; and feeling their minds devoutly pressed, and inclined to bear a testimony to the truth ; and for this purpose private meetings were established, for the edification ; and building up of the newly awakened souls ; this laudable undertaking, was however soon powerfully opposed, by the jealous and embit* tered ecclesiastics ; influencing the earthly power, and commencing a series of persecution, in various places, namely : in Switzerland, in Wirtemberg, in the Palatinate and at Hesse Cassel ; where they were cast out as exiles ; but the Lord provided for them a place of rest, or security, in Witgenstein, under the protection of a prince, emminent for his moderation, where also, the awakening power of God, had previously found its way to the hearts of some honorable females of his court ; there at a place called Schwartzenau, in the vicinity of Berlenberg, liberty of conscience, was graciously afforded them. Witgenstein, though a rough, and barren country, by becoming the place of refuge to the awakened, who now, very generally resorted to Schwartzenau, became in the course of few years, a place of considerable repute, though otherwise little thought of.

Of the number that collected here, there were those of different opinions; habits, and manners ;

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they were all denominated pietists, but they considered each other as brethren ; here circumstances very soon occurred, which led to conclude, that the salutary counsel of our Lord, Matthew 18, if thy brother trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault, between thee and him, alone &c. is not acceptable, or practicable, where a fraternity is unorganized by obedience to the truths of the gospel ; here also some turned back again to the religion, from whence they came out, being offended at the discipline of the Cross ; others fostered a spirit of libertinism, more to be dreaded in its consequences, than their former depravity, there were some however, who, notwithstanding this state of perturbation, were sincerely desirous of finding the footsteps of the primitive Christians, and following and imitating the example of Jesus Christ ; and apprehend and appreciate the testimony and commands of the head of the Church ; being fully convinced, of the necessity of faith and obedience, in order to the obtaining salvation ; their solicitude paved the way to the discovery of the ordinance of baptism, which they considered as the door to that union and organization, which they earnestly desired. The subject of Baptism, underwent various discussions among the pietists and spoken of, in such manner, as to grieve the hearts of the lovers of truth.

Till in the year 1708, 8 persons entered into a covenant with each other, by the help of God, tf> endeavor to attain to the answer of a good ccnsience by rendering obedience to all the commands of the Lord Jesus and follow him as their good shepherd and leader through good and evil report. Those 8 persons, of whom five were Brethren, and three Sisters,* covenanted with each other, as brethren and sisters under the cross of our lord Jesus Christ; to dwell together in the unity of the faith, as a society ; by consulting history, they found that the primitive christians, in the first and second centuries uniformly, were according to the command of Christ, planted into the likeness of his death, by baptism in water, by a three fold immersion ; not resting their faith, however upon the authority of history, they searched the scriptures, of the New Testament and finding explicit testimony, to that import, they became desirous of practising a mean, so strongly recommended by the example of our Lord, and emphatically enjoined by his written precept, believing that it became them thus to fulfill all Righteousness.

But who should now administer the ordinance to them, was a difficulty not soon got over ; one of their number, who labored among them in the word, visited the societies in different parts

* The names of the Brethren were as follows : George Graby and Lucas Fetter of Hesse Castle, Alexander Mack, of Schreisheim, in the Palatinate, Andrew Bony, of Basle, in Switzerland and John Kipping, from Wirtemberg ; and the names of the Sisters were Johanna Bony, Anna Margaretta Alack and Johariaa Kipping, of Germany, to collect the opinion of the awakened generally, upon the subject of Baptism, the greater number acknowledged that immersion, was the mode practised by the Apostles and primitive Christians, but still endeavoring to satisfy themselves, that an handfull of water by pouring, would answer the same end, provided it was administered to proper subjects only.

The consciences of the beforementioned, could however find no satisfaction in these ; they therefore, desired him, who was their minister, to baptise them by immersion ; according to the example and practice of the first and best Christians, and all primitive believers ; he felt a diffidence to comply with their request on account of his not being baptised himself, he desired therefore first to be baptized, before he could conscientiously baptize any of them ; they betook themselves to fasting and prayer, in order to obtain help and direction in this case, from him who is the restorer of paths to dwell in, for they were all desirous to be baptized ; in this dilemma a testimony of scripture revived in their minds, where two or three, are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst. Wherefore with an unshaken confidence, in the precious promise of God, they cast lots, which of the four Brethren should baptize him, who was so anxiously desirous of being baptized, they pledged their word at the same time, that it should remain a secret upon whom the lot fell, that no one might take ocrcu'

sion to call the Society by the name of any man, as was the case with the Corinthian Church, which was sharply reproved by the apostle.

The crisis for the camp to move forward was now arrived ; they were now made willing in the day of the Lord's power, accordingly they went out in the morning, to a stream called the Ader, and there, he upon whom the lot had fallen, baptized the brother who had discovered so great anxiety to submit to that ordinance ; this being done he was now acknowledged as duly qualified, he baptized him first by whom he had been baptized, and the remaining three breth- Ten and three sisters ; thus were these eight at an early hour in the morning, baptized in the water by a trine immersion ; and alter they came up out of the water, and had changed their clothes, they were filled with joy, and by the grace of God, these expressions were revived in their minds with peculiar energy, " be ye fruitful and multiply ;" this is recorded to have occurred in the before mentioned year, without reference to month or day.

After this evidence of their love to God, by obeying his command, they were powerfully strengthened, and encouraged to bear testimony for the truth in their public meetings, to which the Lord added his blessing, and believers were more and more obedient, so that in the short space of seven years their society became numerous ; not only at Schwartzenau, but also in divers places in the Palatinate ; a society was

B c likewise formed at Marienborn, to which the awakened from the Palatinate attached themselves, for in endeavouring to form a society for themselves, they were persecuted and banished. And even at Marienborn their external priviledges were soon blasted, for as the light diffused itself the truth spread, and their numbers increased, it excited alarm and envy, persecution arose ; they were driven out as exiles, and under the direction of Providence found an assylum at Crefeldt, under the jurisdiction of the king of Prussia.

Within this short space of time, it pleased God to awaken many laborers among them, and send them into his vineyard, for whose names and places of abode you are referred to the note,* the greater number of whom resorted to Crefeldt ; some few, however, attached themselves to the society at Schwartzenau. But as they found favor with God and men, so enemies of the truth were found, and persecutions because of the word were agitated in divers places; here then were those vho took joyfully upon them the spoiling of their goods ; others experienced bonds and imprisonments for years y

* Names of the brethren referred to from above, were John H. Kalkloser, from Frankenthal, Christian Libe and Abraham Dubois, from Ebstein, John Naas, and others, from the north, Peter Baker, from Dilsheim, John H. Traut, and his brethren, Henry Holtzappel and Stephen Koch; George B. Gantz, from Umstadt, and Michael Eckeriing, from Strasburg.

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some also for shorter periods ; one of their numberf was confined on board of the gallies, and coupled at the galling oar with execrable miscreants ; from these distresses they in time were all conscientiously delivered, their lives being' given unto them for a prey.

The persecutions which they suffered, the poverty, tribulation and imprisonment that they experienced, only made them the more joyful, and became prepared for new dispensations of trial ; their graces were tried by being arraigned before another tribunal, men of learning and abilities proved them with hard questions, with a view to sap their stedfastness, which questions to the number of 40," the reader will find proposed, with their solutions towards the sequel of this treatise.

About that time it was deemed expedient to issue this publication, for the instruction of the uninformed, in which every impartial and unprejudiced reader, will find sufficient matter connected with this preface, to justify the occasion of this production.

In the year 1729, a number of the society emigrated from different parts of Germany and Holland to North America, where persecuted virtue found an assylum under the government of William Penn. The emigrants settled first at Germantown, a small village about six miles north from Philadelphia, where they soon formed themselves into a society, which through

t Christian Libc the kind providence of God continues unto this day, notwithstanding repeated removals into different parts of the continent, where societies have since been formed, namely, in the interior of this state, in New Jersey, in Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, and in the state of Ohio, where instead of the fathers are the children, who are risen up as their successors to bear witness to the truth of those principles, in which many of their predecessors lived joyfully and died triumphantly. In none of the churches is divine service as yet performed among them wholly in the English tongue, but in many of them partly in English and partly in the German; they believe that God is no respecter of persons, but in every nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is accepted with him ; and that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life ; and that God sent his Son into the world, to seek and to save that which was lost, believing that he is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God through a crucified Redeemer, who tasted death for every man, and was manifested to destroy the works of the devil.

This book was re-printed in America in the German language, in the year 1774, by the desire of many for the benefit of the youth, in order that they might be established in the truth of those things, wherein they ha$ been instructed, but primarily to the glory of God, who has manifested his guardian care, in the rescue and protection of his truth in these latter days.

To the feet of the merciful and all wise God, be this testimony prostrated, imploring in its behalf his Almighty protection, wishing also to the courteous reader, that frame of mind, and spirit of discernment, by which he may be assisted to receive and digest the instruction adduced, and he led by the spirit into the paths of truth ; and to such as do not resist him he will bring into their mind all things, which Jesus began both to do and teach. Now unto the Immaculate Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world, in communion with the Father, and the holy spirit, be ascribed, honor and glory, and blessing, by all the church of the first born which are written in heaven^ and on earth, for ever and ever-. Amen.

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A CONVERSATION BETWEEN

A FATHER & SON,

IN QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.

Son. BELOVED Father, as we are here quite alone, in a desert, I will relate to thee the treatment given me by a certain company since my absence : I was attacked on the subject of baptism : I was called an anabaptist, because we baptize such as even have been baptized in their infancy. Thus too I was severely attacked by those who in their riper years were baptized, that is only by sprinkling, and whom we baptize by immersion, should they wish to enter our congregation. This was connected with our mode of keeping the Lord's supper, excommunication ; our close observance of feetwashing, and the use of unleavened bread at our communions. Thus I was opposed by divers ingenious discourses that I was not skilled enough always to give satisfactory answers. I shall therefore intreat thee beloved father, to give me better instructions in all such cases which still lie in controversy, and that as near to the tennor of the holy scriptures and the primitive christians as possible, my wish is to become firm in my faith, and be able to give other persons a true account of divine knowledge, for which friendly act I shall always be indebted to thee?

Father. Dear child, I will comply with thy request, and give thee as plain and sufficient instruction as I can ; I shall therefore intreat thee to hear me diligently, and enquire of me all the particulars of which thou still art ignorant, to which end we shall hold a plain and instructive discourse.

Son., Beloved father, it gives me pleasure to see thee thus inclined, for which purpose I should wish to know where baptism by water is confirmed in scripture.

Father. The Eternal and Almighty God is the proper author of baptism. As early as the days of Noah he began to manifest a figure of baptism by water in the new covenant ; for when men became wicked, God sent a flood of water to drown the ungodly. Of this the apostle Peter has these words, 1 Peter iii. 20, 21. The like figure where unto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience towards God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Thus observe further, when the Lord God intended to give a figure by his scr-

I vant Moses in testimony of what afterwards should be manifested by his Son, Hebr. iii. Moses therefore had to be drawn out of the water by Pharaoh's daughter, therefore said she, he shall be called Moses, because I drew him out of the water, Exodus ii. 10. Thus when God by a mighty hand conducted Abraham's seed by this same Moses out of Egypt, it so happened that the children of Israel escaped from the Egyptians, which escape was made through the Red sea, and which act of course represented very strongly the baptism in the new covenant. Paul too calls it a baptism unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 1 Cor. x. 2. Thus when the Lord God caused Moses to erect a tabernacle, it was intended as a figure on the

church or congregation of the Lord Jesus

With this intention God ordered Moses to make a laver before the tabernacle, wherein Aaron the priest and his sons were obliged to wash themselves before they were admitted into the tabernacle, Exodus xxx. 18, 19, 20, c. xL 12.... This too proved to be a powerful figure of baptism which Jesus commanded : That none can enter or serve in the Lord's congregation without previously having been baptized in water upon the confession of their faith in Jesus. Thou mayest see further what God commanded in the law ; if a leper has been cured of his disease, he was obliged to w r ash his body in water, Lev. xiv. 8, 9. The women too, in order to their purification, were commanded to bathe in ?

or wash their bodies with water. In a word, numbers of these ceremonies commanded to be performed in the old, all alluded to the baptism in the new testament. I will now endeavour to inform thee respecting the baptism in water, commanded in the new testament. Observe, when God the father was about manifesting his Beloved Son in the world, a forerunner by the name of John w T as to precede him, agreeably to God's commandment, by preaching to the people in the land of Judea, the baptism of repentance for the remission of their sins, that they may believe in him, who was to come after him, namely, in Jesus, the Son of God. He baptized at Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there.

Son. Did not this occasion great alarm among the people, that John did such an uncommon act, as to baptize them in water.

Father. A mere ablution by water in those days was not counted a very strange act from its lawful custom among the Jews for the purpose of cleanliness. All the surprize it occasioned proceeded from its connection with preaching repentance, announcing the appearance of the Son of God, and recommending faith in him.

Son. Did the scribes and the great men of the world suffer themselves to be baptized ?

Father. Oh no ! To them it was too contemptible a deed^ they rejected the counsel of God against themselves, and ivere not baptized, as thee raav see in Luke vii. 30. But Jesus the

Son of God in this respect was obedient to his Father, because he knew that the baptism of John was from heaven, he therefore came a considerable distance from Galilee to Jordan in order to be baptized of John, Matth. iii. 13.

Son. It was a wonderful deed, and a great submission in the Lord Jesus, allowing his servant John to baptize him in water.

Father. Yes it was truly wonderful and submissive in the Son of God. It was left by him its a forcible example for all his disciples to follow him.

So?i. Did Christ suffer himself to be baptized, merely because we should follow his footsteps in this particular ?

Father, The son of God was so well acquainted with the will of his Father, that he said to John, " for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness." As it was the intention of the Son of God, to order and institute a water bath for his church, to answer as an initiating seal, and an external mark, for all those who should believe in him, he in the first place fulfilled his Fathers will, because the baptism of John was commanded by God, and thus made a beginning of baptism. This was not necessary for repentance, but alone for such who had already repented and believed in Jesus the Son of God and upon this faith and confession, were baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. The moment the Lord Jesus was baptized and arose from the

Water ; a voice was heard from Heaven, which, said : this is my beloved Son in whom I am 'well pleased ; and the Holy Ghost, like a dove alighted upon the Lord Jesus. Thus has the beginning of baptism by water in the New Testament a very powerful author, namely : God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. In whose three most exalted names Jesus commanded baptism to be administered.

Son. Did Jesus immediately after this recommend and perform baptism ?

Father. Yes, he immediately began to make disciples and to baptize ; as thee may read in John c. iii 26 c. 4 1. The disciples of John came to him and said, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. John answered and said, he must increase, but I must decrease, he that cometh from Heaven, is above all, and what he has seen and heard he testifieth ; and no man receiveth his testimony, but he that hath received his testimony, hath set to his seal, that God is true. In confirmation of this, John says in his first epistle c. v, 6. That the son of God came with water, blood and the Holy Ghost ; and that these were the three, who bear witness upon earth.

Son. Do we find too, that Christ after his re* surrection commanded baptism to be performed.

Father. Yes, this I will shew thee ; In the first place, therefore, when the Lord Jesus was atxmt to send his disciples into the world to preach his gospel, he gave them this strict charge : That they should teach and baptize, in his name, all such who should believe in him ; Matthew, xxviii, 19, 20, Teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have commanded you. This case to thee further is exemplified in the acts, chapter ii, 37, 38. When the people asked Peter what they should do, he answered, repent and be baptized, every one of you, in thename of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Son. Do we also read of others who administered baptism ?

Father. Yes, we do in the Acts, c. viii, v. 5, 12, That Philip preached Christ to the people at Samaria, and those who believed were baptized, both men and women.

Son. But Father, because it is written here that both men and women were baptized, were not children, also baptised.

Father. No, no ! In the New Testament, we do not find a single instance of the kind, for the apostles only baptized such, who by a true repentance confessed faith in Jesus, because he their master, did not command any other than baptizing such, who are capable of being taught both before and after baptism.

Son. True, but did not Christ command that the children should be baptized, and did not the apostles obey him I

Father. Christ only commanded to baptize the faithful believers, and not children.

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Sqn. But is it not written in Matthew xix, where Christ said suffer little Children, and forbid them not to come unto me ; for of such is the kingdom of Heaven ?

Father. Observe that Jesus laid his hands on them and blessed them ; but with respect to baptism of infants the scripture is silent.

Son. I was even informed, that the Apostles baptized, whole familes among whom there were children ?

Father. Carnal reason only saith that there were children amongst them ; but the Holy Scripture on this head is entirely silent.

Son. Admitting then that baptism is of such importance as thou hast shewed me in the New Testament, how is it, if a child dies without baptism, does it not suffer injury as to its salvation, and numbers say that baptism is instituted instead of circumcision, and when a male child was not circumcised on the eighth day, it was to be expelled.