Notes on baptism ...

Preface

Years ago, with no thought of writing a book, I determined to possess every idea the Bible could furnish me on the subject of baptism. In preparing for study, I cut from an old copy of the New Testament every leading verse or paragraph on this theme, and so arranged them that I could readily glance my eye from verse to verse, as I studied and compared them. Long and earnest was the search, seldom thinking, and little caring, what the uninsTpired had written on the subject. Erelong I was charmed with a deep, underlying spirituality^ which pervaded every verse and constituted a harmonious system of thought.

The style and title of the book was suggested by the mode of study. It is a commentary on the verses of the New Testament relating to this theme. The title also harmonizes with the purpose to make the treatise suggestive, rather than

PREFACE.

exhaustive; an appendix, or supplement, to other writings, rather than a full presentation of the subject.

I ask the critics to deal kindly with its verbal defects, and give their best skill and strength to a searching examination of the leading^ holder thoughts.

I hope the work is new enough to merit attention, and not revolutionary enough to merit anathemas. May its influence tend to narrow the gulf that has separated the disputants upon this theme. R. G.

Mechanicsburg, III., July 31, 1880.