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improper by some plain declaration. The propriety of the act, as a symbol, is evidently the only source of propriety in using the language, descriptive of the act, as a symbolical exhibition of that, which it denotes; to wit, Regeneration.

To these observations may be added, the unsuitableness of Immersion as an ordinance of public worship, to the circumstances of many nations in the world.

In a nation, whose manners are like ours, there is, to say the least, a degree of impropriety in this practice, which is very unhappy. This, it will be easily seen, is a subject, on which I cannot here expatiate. It will be sufficient to say, that, whatever impressions may be made by this practice in countries, where Bathing is a standing custom; here, they are of a very unfortunate nature, and such as are directly opposed to every religious feeling. I speak from facts, and not from opinions; and from facts, repeated through a century, and therefore operating, not by their novelty, but by their nature.

At the same time, the Health, and the Lives, of those, who are baptized, are often injured, and destroyed. Here, also, I speak from facts. Both these considerations form, I acknowledge, only a presumptive argument in the present case; for God has an unquestionable right to require us to undergo this exposure, or any other, according to his good pleasure. But the presumption is a very strong one; and to be admitted in its full force, unless the practice, contended for, is expressed with indubitable clearness.

On the texts, alleged by those, with whom I am contending, as proofs of Baptism by Immersion, I shall make but a few observations: because the discourse has already been long; and, particularly, because they appear to me, to furnish very little support to the side of the question, in behalf of which they are alleged. It is said of our Saviour, that after He was baptized, he went up straightway from the water, ανεξη απο τα ύδατος, He ascended from the water: the word avalava signifying to go, or come up; to ascend; in whatever manner. This passage appears to be descriptive, solely of Christ's ascending the banks of Jordan, after he had received Baptism. That this is not the meaning of the phrase cannot be shown; nor rendered probable. The preposition aro, is erroneously rendered out of in our translation. Its proper meaning, as every Greek scholar knows, is from; and can be out of, only by accident; as in Matthew vii. 4: Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye. Even here it would be much better rendered, Let me take the mote from thine eye. If Matthew intended to expressChrist's rising out of the water; he has certainly used phraseology of a very peculiar nature.

Another passage, often triumphantly alleged for the same purpose, is Acts viii. 38, 39: And they went down both into the water, both Philip, and the Eunuch; and he baptized him, and when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away

Philip. To the translation, here, no reasonable objection can be made. I will, therefore, not avail myself of what might, however, be justly alleged, to wit, that as may, with equal propriety, signify to, and ex, from. Still I object to the construction of my antagonists, for these reasons:

First; That we as naturally say that they went into the water, of those who went in to the depth of the knees, or even of the ancles, as of those who have plunged themselves.

Secondly; The declarations, here made, are made concerning the Eunuch and Philip alike. Of both it is said, that they went down into the water; if we render the word ss, into. Of both, also, it is said, that when they were come up out of the water; if we render the word sx, out of. Now let us see what will be the true import of the passage, according to this mode of construing the words in question. And they went down, both, into the water, both Philip and the Eunuch: that is, they were both plunged. And he baptized him; that is, Philip plunged the Eunuch. And when they were come up out of the water, that is, when they had both been plunged the second time, and risen up from their immersion, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip. In other words, both were plunged twice; and the Eunuch, the third time.

It is, I presume, unnecessary to comment on this version of the text under consideration. The only remark which I shall make upon it is that the adoption of such a sense for the two words, αναβαινω and καταβαινω, by some learned critics, in the face of this construction of this text, is not a little surprising.

Thirdly; I conclude, as I think, with certainty, that these words have no reference to the immersion of either; but are barely descriptive of the fact, that they went down to, or into, the water; in which, perhaps, they waded a little distance.

Another text of the same nature, is Romans vi. 4; Therefore we are buried with him, by Baptism into death. The word buried is here supposed to denote Immersion. In the next verse it is said, For if we are planted together in the likeness of his death. My Antagonists are bound to show, that this figurative expression, which refers to the same thing, does not as strictly signify the mode, in which Baptism is received, as the word buried; and, if it does, to point out the particular mode of administering Baptism, denoted by the word planted.

These are among the texts, most frequently alleged by those, with whom I am contending. I do not suppose, that they are regarded as being of any great importance to the controversy. Their principal strength lies, as I conceive, in their own view, in what they suppose to be the original meaning of the words Bar, and Barrw; and these texts are pressed into the service, as auxiliaries. If, then, their principal support fails, as, if I mistake not, I have shown that it does; these texts will be alleged without success. VOL. IV.

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The general conclusion, therefore, appears to me to stand on solid ground; to wit, that Baptism is in the Scriptures instituted as a symbol of the Affusion of the Spirit of God, upon the soul, in regeneration, and the cleansing of its sins by the blood of Christ; and that the Mode, in which it is administered, is not in the Scriptures exhibited as a subject of serious importance, and is no where declared to be Immersion.

SERMON CLX.

THE EXTRAORDINARY MEANS OF GRACE. THE LORD'S SUPPER.ITS NATURE AND DESIGN. THE QUALIFICATIONS OF COMMUNICANTS.

MARK XIV. 22-25.-And as they did eat, Jesus took bread and blessed, and brake it ; and gave to them, and said, take, eat, this is my body. And he look the cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them; and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many. when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives.

And

HAVING considered at length the Nature, Intention, and Subjects, of Baptism, and the Manner in which it is to be administered; I shall now proceed to examine the other Sacramental ordinance of the Christian Church; the Lord's Supper. In the progress of this examination, I propose to consider,

I. The Nature, and,

II. The Design, of this ordinance;

III. The Qualifications necessary for attendance upon it;
IV. The Disposition with which it is to be attended; and,

V. The Motives to this attendance.

1. The Nature of this ordinance may generally be described in the following manner.

It is a symbolical religious service, instituted by Christ as a commemoration of his death. The symbols are Bread broken, and Wine poured out: denoting the breaking of his Body, and the effusion of his Blood upon the cross. The bread is to be broken, and the wine poured out, by a Minister of the Gospel only; and, by him, both are to be distributed to every member of the Church, who is present. All these are to receive them both: the Romish doctrine, that the Laity are to receive this ordinance in one kind, and only the Clergy in both kinds, being merely a human invention, uncountenanced by the Scriptures. Before the administration of each of these elements, a prayer is to be made: in which the blessing of God is to be implored upon the celebration of the ordinance, and thanks are to be given to him, for his mercy, and goodness, generally, and, particularly, as displayed in the interesting event which is commemorated. The whole service is to be concluded with singing a psalm, or hymn, by the communi

cants.

This solemnity has been commonly styled a Sacrament, from the resemblance between the engagement, made to Christ by the communicants, and the oath of the Roman soldiery, by which, they

pledged their fidelity to their general. This name, however, it bears in common with the ordinance of Baptism.

It is also often called the Eucharist; Euxagusia; probably from the use of the word suyagisnoas, having given thanks, found in all the accounts of this Institution, contained in the New Testament. But the most usual name, which it bears among Christians, is the Lord's Supper; the origin of which needs no explanation.

The Time, at which this ordinance is to be celebrated, is of no material importance. It was instituted in the evening it is, however, celebrated most commonly at noon. This fact seems to have been determined by mere convenience: and, as the Scriptures have laid no stress on the time of celebration, it has been determined, I think, with entire propriety. I cannot but observe here, that as the time, and manner, of celebration, when this ordinance was instituted, are distinctly exhibited: those who contend so strenuously for Immersion, as essential to the ordinance of Baptism, from the meaning of the word Barriga, and the few hints, which they think they find in the language of the Scriptures, at the best doubtful, are bound on their own principles, to spread a table in the evening, to sit in a reclining posture, and thus to celebrate this sacrament on the evening preceding every Lord's day. All this ought, also, to be done in a large upper room, contained in a private dwelling. It is presumed, no reason can be given, why so much solicitude should be shown concerning the mode of administering Baptism, and so little concerning the mode of administering the Lord's Supper.

This ordinance is customarily celebrated by a great part of the churches in New England, on the first Sabbath of every month. This seems to be as frequent, as convenience will ordinarily allow. In the Presbyterian churches, it is celebrated either twice, or four times, in a year: an infrequency, for which, I am unable satisfactorily to account.

II. The Design of the Lord's Supper may be summarily exhibited in the following manner ;

It is intended,

1. To represent the great sacrifice of Christ on the Cross.

The truth here declared is sufficiently evident from the breaking of the bread, and the pouring out of the wine; and completely, from the words of Christ; This is my body which is broken for you. 1 Cor. xi. 24. And this is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for many. Mark xiv. 24. Accordingly, all Christians, so far as I know, have admitted the position as true.

In a former discourse concerning Baptism, I have remarked, what indeed is felt and acknowledged by all men, that sensible impressions are much more powerful than those which are made on the understanding. This truth is probably neither so fully, nor so deeply, realized in any religious ordinance, as in the Lord's Supper. The breaking of the bread, and the pouring out of the wine,

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