The Baptist system examined, the church vindicated, and sectarianism rebuked. A review of Dr. Fuller and others on "Baptism and the terms of communion."

Preface

This boob has grown out of a series of articles published in the Lutheran Observer during the winter and spring of 1854, which, with a few emendations and additions, soon after appeared in a small volume, which has been for some time out of print. The constant inquiry for it, and the urgent solicitations of the publisher, have induced the author to prepare it for a new edition. It has been mostly rewritten, materially enlarged, and is now meant to be a compact resume of the whole controversy. The aim of the author has been to produce something more than is to be found in the ordinary and small treatises on the subject, and something less elaborate and scholastic than the larger works which are seldom found outside of the libraries of the learned. The book is designed to give, in a form adapted to the common reader, a full view of the questions between us and Baptists, and thus to aid pastors in ridding themselves of the annoyances to which an insolent, fawning, and insidious sectarianism often subjects them.

The author has endeavored to "speak the truth in love." If comment has occasionally assumed a tone of severity, facts and fidelity not only excuse but demand it. The wisdom that comes from above prefers purity to peace. Truth will admit of no compromises with

1* 5

6 PREFACE.

error. It must be spoken; and to speak it without feeling is to treat it with indifference. The malicious and slanderous intentions which have been assigned, from the pulpit and elsewhere, as the motives prompting the former issues of this work, are firmly disclaimed. The author does not beg for favors, but he insists upon justice. The teachings of Baptists are full of the grossest assaults upon the Church and its ordinances, which, with our convictions, we are in duty bound to meet and expose. ^^ Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints,'' is an inspired injunction which the writer does not feel at liberty to neglect. He believes that Baptists are in serious error, and he would reclaim them if possible, at least check their misdirected zeal, by showing that material modifications of their system are essential to harmonize it with the truth. And above all would he furnish to sincere, unsuspecting, but uninformed people the means of protection against the mischievous entanglements of a sectarianism which holds in its very life the excommunication of all but its own abettors.

May God bless this attempt to defend the Church from the imposition of a modal observance not required in his word, and overrule its destiny to the restraint of unwarranted proscriptiveness and to the praise of his ever-adorable name!

Baltimore, September 1st, 1858.

Chap. I. — Introductory Observations — Question stated 9 II. — General Arguments 18

III.— Meaning of the Word Bapto 29

IV.— The Addition of zo 43

V. — The Question of Divers Significations 51

VI. — Baptizo — The Lexicons 57

VII. — Baptizo — The Classics 67

VIIL— Baptizo— The Authorities 89

IX. — Baptizo — The Septuagint 105

X.— Baptizo— The Fathers 118

XI. — Baptizo in the New Testament — Preliminary

Question 137

XII. — Baptizo in the New Testament — Jewish Lustrations 150

XIII. — Baptizo in the New Testament — Its True

Meaning 164

XIV. — Mode of Baptism — Scriptural Hints 185

XV. — Mode of Baptism — Baptist Arguments 203

XVI. — Mode of Baptism — Baptist Arguments continued 234

8 CONTENTS.

PAGE

Chap. XVII. —History of Baptism as to Mode 248

XVIII. — Mode of Baptism practiced by the Greek

Church 260

XIX. — Developments and Tendencies of the Baptist System 268

XX. — Analogy — An Independent Argument

against the Baptist Dogma 277

PART SECOND. XXL— Infant Baptism no Sin 286

XXII. — Infant Baptism not contrary to the Commission 294

XXIII. — Relations of Infants to the Kingdom — ^An

Argument for their Baptism 317

XXIV. — Infant Baptism practiced by the Apostles 337