CHRISTIAN BAPTISM: WITH ITS ANTECEDENTS AND CONSEQUENTS. BY ALEXANDER CAMPBELL. "ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM." BETHANY, VA.: PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY ALEXANDER CAMPBELL. BV 811 C3 1851 197856 WESTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA, TO WIT: Be it remembered, That on the 18th day of February, Anno Domini 1851, ALEXANDER CAMPBELL, of the said District, hath deposited in this Office the title of a book; the title of which is in the words following, to wit:-"Christian Baptism, with its Antecedents and Consequents;" the right whereof he claims as author and proprietor, in conformity with the Act of Congress, entitled An Act to amend the several acts respecting copyrights. ERASMUS STRIBLING, Clerk of the Western District of Virginia. STEREOTYPED BY L. JOHNSON AND CO. PHILADELPHIA. Dedication. To Baptists of every name and party, in the United States of America and in the British Provinces, who speak our vernacular, as an humble Tribute of his respect and esteem, on account of their uniform and persevering advocacy of freedom of thought, of speech, and of action, in all that pertains to the rights of conscience and to civil liberty, as well as for their constant and untiring efforts to sustain the Apostolic institution of Christian Baptism: And especially to those who plead for the Union and Co-operation of all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, on the basis of "ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM, ONE GOD And Father of ALL, ONE BODY, ONE SPIRIT, AND ONE HOPE," this Volume is respectfully and affectionately inscribed by THE AUTHOR. PREFACE. THE important question of Christian Baptism is yet, with many, an undecided question. With many, too, it has been decided wrong, because decided on human authority, or on partial evidence, without personal and proper examination. Neither Christian faith nor Christian character can be inherited, as the goods and chattels of this world. There is no royal or ancestral path to faith, piety, or humanity. Whatever truly elevates, adorns, or dignifies a human being, must be, more or less, the fruit of his own efforts. Five points are necessarily involved in this discussion, essential to a rational and scriptural decision of the question. These are: 1. The action, called baptism. 2. The subject of that action. 3. The design of that action. 4. The antecedents; and, 5. The consequents of that action. These are distinct topics, each of which must be scripturally apprehended in its evangelical import and bearings, before this solemn and sublime symbol can be truly enjoyed in its spiritual influences and importance. And such is the prominent and imposing attitude in which its Author placed it, when, in giving a commission to his apostles to convert the nations of the earth to him, he makes this the consummating act of their preaching Christ-of converting and evangelizing the world. "Go," said he, "into all the world, |