Chapter I: Preface

Not only does the ordinance of baptism hold a position of pre-eminent honor, as being the door of entrance to all the privileges of the visible church, but it has been distinguished with a place of paramount importance and conspicuity in the transactions of the two grandest occasions in the history of that church,—in sealing the covenant at Sinai, by which Israel became the church of God, and the grace of Pentecost, by which the doors of that church were thrown open to the world. Proportionally interesting and significant is the ordinance, in itself, as symbolizing the most lofty, attractive and precious conceptions of the gospel, and unfolding a history of the plan of God in proportions of unspeakable interest, grandeur and glory. And yet, heretofore, the discussion of the subject has been little more than a disputation, alike uninteresting, inconclusive and unprofitable, concerning the word _baptizo_.

The present treatise is an attempt to lift the subject out of the low rut in which it has thus traversed, and to render its investigation the means of enlightening the minds and filling the hearts of God’s people with those conceptions, at once exalted and profound, and those high hopes and bright anticipations of the future which the ordinance was designed and so happily fitted to induce and stimulate.

Eighteen years ago,—in a catechetical treatise on “The Church of God, its Constitution and Order,” from the press of the Presbyterian Board of Publication,—the author enunciated the essential principles which are developed in this volume. In 1870, they were further illustrated in a tract on “The Bible History of Baptism,” which was issued by the Presbyterian Committee of Publication, in Richmond, Va. The reception accorded to these treatises has encouraged me to undertake the more elaborate disquisitions of the present work. The questions are sometimes such as require a critical study of the inspired originals of the holy Scriptures; and occasional illustrations are drawn from classic and other kindred sources. It has been my study so to conduct these investigations that while they should not be unworthy the attention of scholars, they may be intelligible to readers who are conversant with no other than our common English tongue, the richest and noblest ever spoken by man.

The circumstances and manner of the introduction of the rite of immersion into the post-apostolic church presented a rich and inviting field of further investigation. But the volume has already exceeded the intended limit; the Biblical question is in itself complete, and its authority is conclusive. To it, therefore, the present inquiry is confined.

The fruit of much and assiduous investigation and thoughtful study is now reverently dedicated to the glory of the baptizing office of the Lord Jesus. May he speedily arise and display it in new and transcendent energy; pouring upon his blood-bought church the Spirit of grace and consecration, of knowledge and aggressive zeal, of unity and power; baptizing the nations with his Spirit, and filling the world with the joy of his salvation and the light of his glory.

COVINGTON, KY., Feb. 8, 1882.

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION, Page 15

BOOK I.

OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY.

PART I.

_BAPTISM AT SINAI._

SECTION I. _Baptism originated in the Old Testament._—It was
familiar to the Jews when Christ came. There were “divers
baptisms” imposed at Sinai, 21

SECTION II. _No Immersions in the Old Testament._—None in
the ritual. None in the figurative language, 23

SECTION III. _The Old Testament Sacraments._—1. Sacrifice.
2. Circumcision. 3. The Passover. 4. Baptism, 24

SECTION IV. _The Baptism of Israel at Sinai._--Scene at the
mount. The covenant proposed and accepted. A great
revival. Baptism of the converts. The feast of the
covenant, 25

SECTION V. _The Blood of Sprinkling._—It was a type of
Christ’s atonement, 30

SECTION VI. _The Living water._—A type of the Spirit. Living
and salt water. The river of Eden. That of the Revelation
and of the prophets. The Dead Sea. Rain and fountains.
Their symbolic functions, 31

PART II.

_THE VISIBLE CHURCH._

SECTION VII. _The Abrahamic Covenant._—It was the
betrothal,—not the marriage. Its terms spiritual,
everlasting, exclusive. The Seed Christ. It adumbrated the
covenant of grace. No salvation but on its terms, 37

SECTION VIII. _The Sinai Covenant.—Its Conditions._—Moses’
commission. 1. “If ye will obey.” 2. “And keep my
covenant,” 42

SECTION IX. _The Sinai Covenant.—Its Promises._—1. A
peculiar treasure. 2. “All the earth is mine.” 3. A priest
kingdom. 4. A holy nation. 5. Palestine, 45

SECTION X. _The Visible Church Established._—The Church
defined. Its name. Its fundamental law. Membership. Family
and eldership. Ordinances of testimony. The relation of
the ritual law, 49

SECTION XI. _The Terms of Membership._—Professed faith and
obedience. The same to Israel and Gentiles. Separating the
unworthy, 56

SECTION XII. _Circumcision and Baptism._—The former sealed
the Abrahamic covenant. The latter alone sealed the
ecclesiastical covenant of Sinai, 58

PART III.

_ADMINISTERED BAPTISMS=SPRINKLINGS._

SECTION XIII. _Unclean Seven Days._—The meaning. Childbirth.
Issues. Contact with the dead. Leprosy. Characterized by
(1) inward corruption; (2) seven days continuance; (3)
contagiousness; (4) requiring sacrifice and sprinkling, 60

SECTION XIV.—_Baptism of a Healed Leper._—Seven sprinklings.
The self-washings. Meaning of the rites, 66

SECTION XV. _Baptism of the Defiled by the Dead._—The
ordinary seal of the covenant. The ashes. Manner of the
baptism, 68

SECTION XVI. _Baptism from Issues._—The law seemingly
incongruous. The water of nidda, 69

SECTION XVII. _Baptism of Proselytes._—Talmudic traditions.
Question between the Schools of Shammai and Hillel. The
Levitical mode exemplified in the daughters of Midian, 76

SECTION XVIII. _Baptism of Infants._—The principle of infant
membership recognized. Evidence of the baptism of Hebrew
children. Example of the infant Jesus, 82

SECTION XIX. _Baptism of the Levites._—Sprinkled with “water
of purifying,” 85

SECTION XX. _These all were one Baptism._ The rites were
essentially the same. Slight differences explained, 86

SECTION XXI. _The Symbol of Rain._—Descent from heaven. Life
and fruitfulness imparted. Testimonies of the prophets.
Carson’s doctrine, 88

SECTION XXII. _It meant, Life to the Dead._—Men dead by
nature. The Spirit shed down gives life to soul and body.
Jesus at the grave of Lazarus, 92

SECTION XXIII. _The Gospel in this Baptism._—(1) The red
heifer. (2) Without the camp. (3) Blood sprinkled, and
blood and water. (4) Seven times. (5) Seven days’
defilement. (6) The ashes. (7) The water. (8) The
sprinkling. (9) The third day and the seventh. (10) The
self-washing. (11) Things defiled and sprinkled, 95

SECTION XXIV. _These were the “Divers Baptisms,”_—The
argument of Heb. ix, 8, 9. The sprinklings were the theme
of Paul’s argument. They were his “divers baptisms,” 103

PART IV.

_RITUAL SELF-WASHINGS._

SECTION XXV. _Unclean until the Even._—From expiatory rites.
From contact with the unclean. Self-washing, 108

SECTION XXVI. _Grades of Self-washing._—1. The hands. 2. The
hands and feet. 3. The clothes. 4. The clothes and flesh.
5. Shaving the hair, 111

SECTION XXVII. _Mode implied in the meaning._—The
self-washings meant the active putting off of the sins of
the flesh, 115

SECTION XXVIII. _The words used to designate the
Washings._—1. Shātaph. 2. Kābas. 3. Rāhatz, 116

SECTION XXIX. _Mode of Domestic Ablution._—By water poured
on. The patriarchs. Mode in Egypt. In the wilderness.
Story of Susanna. Purgation of a concealed murder. Washing
the feet at table, 119

SECTION XXX. _Facilities requisite._—The water drawn from
wells by women. No vessels for immersion. The bath of
Ulysses, 126

SECTION XXXI. _The Washings of the Priests._—Symbolism of
the tabernacle. The laver. Priestly washings. The laver
and river of Ezekiel. No immersions here, 128

SECTION XXXII. _Like these were the Self-washings of the
People._—Designations and meaning the same. Immersion
would have been without meaning, 134

SECTION XXXIII. _Purifyings of things._—One case of
immersion. Minor defilements cleansed by this immersion
and by washings. The major, by sprinkling, 136

PART V.

_LATER TRACES OF THE SPRINKLED BAPTISMS._

SECTION XXXIV. _Old Testament Allusions._—The rite
everywhere, from Moses to Zechariah, 139

SECTION XXXV. _Rabbinic Traditions._—One heifer from Moses
to Ezra. Eight thence to the end, 142

SECTION XXXVI. _Festival of the Outpouring of Water._—Feast
of tabernacles. The outpouring. The festivity. Its
meaning, 143

SECTION XXXVII. _Hellenistic Greek._—Alexander’s favor to
the Jews. Alexandria. Hellenistic Greek. Its literature.
_Baptizo._ Dr. Conant’s definitions. _Baptisma_ and
_baptismoi_, 151

SECTION XXXVIII. _Baptism of Naaman._ _Tābal=baptizo._—The
law of leprosy. Office of Elijah and Elisha. Naaman was
sprinkled seven times, according to the law, 157

SECTION XXXIX. “_Baptized from the Dead._”—Ecclus. xxxi, 30.
The water of separation here called baptism. “Baptized for
the dead.”—1 Cor. xv, 29, 169

SECTION XL. _Judith’s Baptism._—Story of Judith. Her
baptism. Mohammedan washing before prayer, 172

SECTION XLI. _The Water of Separation in Philo and
Josephus._—Philo on the subject. Josephus’ description, 175

SECTION XLII. _Imitations by the Greeks and
Romans._—Diffusive influence of Israel. The stain of
crime, and purgation for it, novelties in Greece.
Purifying always by sprinkled water. Ovid and Virgil. The
Greek mysteries, 178

SECTION XLIII. _Baptism in Egypt and among the Aztecs._—The
libation vase of Osor-Ur. Aztec infant baptism, 189

SECTION XLIV. _Levitical Baptism in the Fathers._—Tertullian
on the idolatrous imitations. Other fathers on the water
of separation. They recognize it as baptism, 192

PART VI.

_STATE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT ARGUMENT._

SECTION XLV. _Points established by the foregoing
Evidence._—Twenty-one points of evidence enumerated, 196

BOOK II.

NEW TESTAMENT HISTORY.

PART VII.

_INTRODUCTORY._

SECTION XLVI. _State of the Question._—1. Baptism by
sprinkling,—fifteen centuries old,—the Jewish Scriptures
full of it,—the Jewish mind molded by it. 2.
Immersion,—new,—incongruous,—unmeaning. Carson’s double
symbolism, 201

PART VIII.

_THE PURIFYINGS OF THE JEWS._

SECTION XLVII. _Accounts in the Gospels._—Purifying before
the feasts. The marriage in Cana. Washings and baptisms, 208

SECTION XLVIII. _Washing Hands before Meals._—Origin of the
rite. The marriage feast, 210

SECTION XLIX. _Baptism on return from Market._—Market
defined. Jesus at the Pharisee’s table, 214

SECTION L. _A Various Reading._—Baptizōntai and rantizōntai.
Care taken in transcribing the New Testament. These two
readings, 216

SECTION LI. _Baptisms of Utensils and Furniture._—Their
prototypes in the Levitical purifyings of things, 219

PART IX.

_JOHN’s$1BAPTISM._

SECTION LII. _History of John’s Mission._—The accounts of
it. John the herald of the Angel of the Sinai covenant, 221

SECTION LIII. _Israel at the time of John’s Coming._—No
longer idolatrous, but apostate. Prophetic warnings. They
were excommunicate from the covenant, 225

SECTION LIV. _Nature of John’s Baptism._—Elijah the champion
of the covenant, to the ten tribes. John the same to the
Jews. His baptism renewed the Sinai seal, 228

SECTION LV. _Extent of John’s Baptism._—Testimony of the
evangelists. Other evidence. A great revival, 232

SECTION LVI. _John did not Immerse._—The circumstances
forbade it. It would have been unmeaning, 237

SECTION LVII. _John sprinkled with unmingled Water._—Why the
prophecies speak of water only. “The kingdom” John’s
theme. Hence, water only. It was sprinkled. Some may have
stood in the water, 241

PART X.

_CHRIST’s$1BAPTISMS AND ANOINTING._

SECTION LVIII. _His Baptism by John._—Various explanations.
It was part of his obedience. It sealed him Surety of the
covenant, and certified to him triumph in his
resurrection, 247

SECTION LIX. _His Anointing._—The Spirit given him, at his
birth,—at his baptism,—and at his coronation. Meaning and
purpose of his anointing, 254

SECTION LX. “_The Baptism that I am Baptized with._”—Matt.
xx, 20-22. The kingdom was to be after the resurrection;
and upon condition of being worthy. “The regeneration” was
typified by the Levitical baptisms. The baptism was his
resurrection. Luke xii, 50, 257

PART XI.

_CHRIST THE GREAT BAPTIZER._

SECTION LXI. _The Kingdom of the Son of man._—“The kingdom
of heaven.” Destined to man at creation. Satan’s scheme.
The kingdom in the prophets. John’s proclamation. Christ’s
triumph and coronation, 267

SECTION LXII. _Christ is enthroned as Baptizer._—His
commission,—to purge the universe. Order of precedence in
the Godhead. On earth, Jesus was “in the Spirit.” On the
throne, the Spirit is in and subject to him. “The promise
of the Father,” 273

SECTION LXIII. _Note on the Procession of the
Spirit._—History of the _filioque_ clause. Objections to
it, 281

SECTION LXIV. _The Baptism of Fire._—The Holy Ghost, and
fire, two several things. Fire means wrath. The places
cited against this view. The contrasted language of the
evangelists. Grace and wrath inseparably connected. John’s
theme and imagery are from Malachi. Arguments to identify
the two baptisms in one. _Baptizo._ Mode of the baptism of
fire, 284

SECTION LXV. _The Baptism of Pentecost._—The apostles must
“wait for the promise.” The Spirit poured out, 297

SECTION LXVI. _Manner of the Baptism._—_Pnoē_,—a breath.
_Pheromenē_,—borne forward,—impelled. “He breathed on
them.” It was affusion, signalizing the height where Jesus
sits, 299

SECTION LXVII. _The New Spirit imparted._—The Spirit no
novelty. Peter’s explanation. Hitherto, the church’s
office was conservative. Now the aggressive Spirit of
missions given, 304

SECTION LXVIII. _The Tongues like as of Fire._—Not “cloven,”
but “distributed.” Like the flame of a lamp. The
candlestick. The seven stars. “Arise! shine!” 310

SECTION LXIX. _The Gift of other Tongues._—Signified the
union of all people in God’s worship. The phrasing of the
historian. History of the sign, 313

SECTION LXX. _The Baptism of Repentance._—The firstfruits.
John’s “baptism of repentance.” Jesus gives repentance and
remission. His baptism unites to him and the Father. Its
manner. The Spirit’s relation to it, 318

SECTION LXXI. _Paul’s Doctrine of this Baptism._—Titus iii,
4-7. Meaning of _loutron_. 1 Cor. xii, 12-14. Eph. iv,
4-16. Gal. iii, 27-29. Rom. vi, 2-6. Col. ii, 9-11. The
doctrine of these places, 323

SECTION LXXII. _Noah “saved by Water.”_—1 Pet. iii, 17-22.
Peter and Paul. The theme,—the saints persecuted with
impunity. Noah persecuted, and saved by means of the
flood. Christ’s people saved by antitype baptism, 333

SECTION LXXIII. _Christ’s Baptizing Administration._—It
covers his whole work on the throne. In the end, triumph
complete, physical and moral. When he shall have purged
earth and heaven, then will his baptizing office cease, 338

SECTION LXXIV. _Argument from the Real to Ritual
Baptism._—The real baptism has to do, not with abasement
and the grave, but with exaltation and power. But
immersion looks only to the grave. It is incongruous to
all the phenomena of Pentecost. Immersed in “the sound
from heaven,” 343

PART XII.

_THE BAPTIST ARGUMENT._

SECTION LXXV. BAPTIZO _and the Resurrection_.—Elements of
the Baptist argument. Dr. Conant on _baptizo_. It leaves
its subjects in the water. Dr. Kendrick’s admissions. A
second meaning in _baptizo_, 347

SECTION LXXVI. _The Prepositions._—_En._ _Eis._ _Ek._ _Apo._
They indicate, not the mode, but the place of the
baptisms, 354

SECTION LXXVII. “_Much Water there._”—Aenon=The Springs.
Many waters. Why Jesus and John resorted to waters, 360

SECTION LXXVIII. “_Buried with him by Baptism into
Death._”—Rom. vi, 2-7.—“Buried with him by _the_ baptism
into _the_ death.” Analysis of the passage. Spiritual
baptism alone referred to. Immersion incongruous to Paul’s
conception, 364

SECTION LXXIX. “_Buried with him in Baptism._”—Col. ii,
9-13. The doctrine the same as the preceding. Union with
the Lord Jesus the controlling idea. “Buried with him in
(or, by) _the_ baptism.” The idea of immersion perplexes
the exegesis, 371

SECTION LXXX. _End of the Baptist Argument._—Baptist
scholars concede that _baptizo_ does not mean, to dip,
only. It can not then decide the mode. They admit that it
leaves its subject in the water. It knows then nothing of
the resurrection. The prepositions and waters of Enon do
not help the cause. Paul’s burial “in _the_ baptism,” does
not allude to the ritual ordinance. In all its parts, the
argument fails, 374

PART XIII.

_BAPTISMAL REGENERATION._

SECTION LXXXI. _Contrary to the whole Tenor of the
Gospel._—The mystery of iniquity early developed. The
gospel church viewed as the antitype of the Levitical. The
Scriptures are not so. Treatment of baptism by the
evangelists. Paul’s testimony, 377

SECTION LXXXII. _Born of Water and of the Spirit._—John iii,
4-8. Metaphor of water. “Water _even_ the Spirit.” John
had already stated the way of the new birth, 384

SECTION LXXXIII. “_The Washing of Water, by the Word._”—The
bridal bath. No formula of baptism. “Sanctify them through
thy truth,” 390

PART XIV.

_THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH._

SECTION LXXXIV. _The Ritual Law is unrepealed._—Christ so
left it. The apostles were zealous for it. The council of
Jerusalem exempted the Gentiles only. James and Paul unite
to show it still in force. Paul’s practice. He obeyed the
law, but repudiated its righteousness. This view alone
harmonizes the history, 393

SECTION LXXXV. _Why the Gentiles were exempted._—Not because
the law expired. But, unsuited to a world wide extension.
Its chief end accomplished. What its survival implied, 406

SECTION LXXXVI. _The Christian Passover._—Wine, and blood.
The passover a type of Christ’s atonement. It is
perpetuated in the Supper, 408

SECTION LXXXVII. _The Hebrew Christian Church._—The
synagogue system. The sects of Pharisees, Sadducees and
Nazarenes. The number and diffusion of the Nazarenes. The
Hebrew church after the destruction of Jerusalem, 411

SECTION LXXXVIII. _The Gentiles Graffed in._—Mixed churches.
Gentile churches. “Out of Zion the law.” The Gentiles
graffed in, 418

PART XV.

_CHRISTIAN BAPTISM._

SECTION LXXXIX. _History of the Rite._—The cotemporaneous
baptisms of John and Jesus. Both were the same Christian
baptism. Christ did not _institute_ baptism, but gave it
to the Gentiles. Rebaptism at Ephesus. Note on rebaptism, 424

SECTION XC. “_Baptizing them into the Name._”—1. Into the
name. _En_; _epi_; _eis_. “Into Christ.” “Into the name of
Christ.” 2. “The name of the Father and of the Son, and of
the Holy Ghost.”—“The name of the Lord Jesus,” 431

SECTION XCI. “_He that Believeth and is Baptized._”—It
refers to ritual baptism; and is a caution against trust
in it. Faith is the essential thing, 437

SECTION XCII. _The Formula._—Ritualistic view. No formula
prescribed by Christ, nor used by the apostles, 438

SECTION XCIII. _The Administration on Pentecost._—There was
a baptism with water. Dr. Dale’s objections, 440

SECTION XCIV. _The meaning of this Baptism._—It could but
symbolize the baptism of the Spirit. The two formulas thus
reconciled, 446

SECTION XCV. _The Mode of this Baptism._—Immersion
incongruous and impossible. They were baptized in groups
with a hyssop bush, 448

SECTION XCVI. _Other Illustrations._—The eunuch. The apostle
Paul. The house of Cornelius. The jailer. None of these
look to immersion, 451

SECTION XCVII. “_Baptized into Moses._”—Moses and Israel
were types. Dr. Kendrick contradicts the record. By this
baptism Israel were brought into a new state of faith and
obedience, 457

PART XVI.

_THE FAMILY AND THE CHILDREN._

SECTION XCVIII. _Christ and the Children._—A retrospect.
Christ’s attitude toward the lambs. Peter’s commission.
The Jews predominant in the church. The Sinai covenant
recognized the children and made place for the Gentiles, 461

SECTION XCIX. “_Now are they Holy._”—Unclean, and holy.
Israel a holy nation. “The saints.” The Baptist exegesis
of the language, 466

SECTION C. _Household Baptisms._—Not “infant,” but “family
baptism.” Lydia’s house. The jailer and all his. The house
of Stephanas. These, in the light of fifteen centuries
preceding, and of the everlasting covenant, 471

CONCLUSION.

Christ’s real baptism with the Spirit is the criterion of
all baptismal doctrines and rites. Baptismal regeneration
tried and rejected. The evidence against immersion
cumulative and overwhelming, 476