Hide Article Text (OCR)
“False Christianity.’'Yesteday, by mistake the P.M. sent out with our mail a paper belonging to a neighbor. It is called the Watch-ful Pilgrim, published by Abraham Blosser, Dale Enterprise, Va, and seems to be sentrforth in the interest of the Mennonite Church. We accidentally noticed that the leading article on the first and second pages was introduced by the above caption, and that said article was a selection from the works of Menno Simon, the founder of the Mennonites. Never havingread much from his pen, and knowing that be was a much fairer-minded man than many other wonld be reformers in the days of Luther, we began to read, but were pained to find this paper devoted to the work of abusing the baptism of infants, which is thns paraded before the public by this Watchful Pilgrim as ‘‘false Christianity.” We are not surprised that the baptism of infants is opposed, as this was a part of Menno Simon s creed, and every man must distinguish himself in some way, but the language employed in his argument (?) needs some notice, lest the truth be shamed.Ho begins by saying; “In the third place they say.’7 Who they are we do not know, as he does not tell us from whence he has taken the following quotations: “That children should bebaptized, that they may the better be trained in the word of God and his commandments.’’ The Lutherans say “that children ought to be baptized, who through such baptism are presented to God, and become acceptable to him.” Augsburg Confession, Art. IX. His “they say” is not from our oreeds, aud we need not trouble ourselves about answering his objection to the purpose for which we baptized infants, but he says : “Give a discreet answer, we pray you, who assert in-faut baptism to be right, just and ne cessary.” That the reading public may not be deceived and led astray by supposing this to be unanswerable we give the word of God as a “discreet answer.*7 Our Savior commanded to make disciples of “all nations.’’ This is an express command to baptize the children in the nations as well as the adults. He does not say baptize the men, or the women, or the men and the women, but not tbo children. He makes uo exception, either in sex or age, wisdom or ignorance, riches or poverty. He meant all, unless some one can shew us words saying that he excepted the men, or the women, or the boys, or the girls, or the children. He did no such thing, and therefore men, women, boys, girls;and children should all be baptized, because Christ said so. That is reason enough for every “discreet” mind. No one need know any more about it than that Christ said so.He further says that “infant baptism is nowhere commanded nor implied in the divine word.’’ This is simply what Menno Simon said about it, and does not amount to proof. It is a certain fact that it is commanded by the Lord himself in his great command referred to above. It is more than implied by St. Paul, who knew his business better than old friend Simon. To the Corinthiaus, first Epistle, tenth chapter, he says of the Israelites that they were “all baptized,” and iu Ex. 12, 37, we are positively told that there were children among the people, and if we are to take Paul’s saying as correct they, the children, tcere baptized. This is true, and we believe it. And wo believe more — Paul says, 1 Cor. 10, G, that these are our examples. Kind reader, if the Lord has given you children, obey this example of the Lord, and have them “all baptized.” More “implied”cases might be given, but he who will not- believe one will not believe a dozen, yea, as Abraham said to Dives, they will not believe though one rose from the dead.He says: “There can bo no greater hypocrisy, mockery or blasphemy in his (God’s) sight.” But, friends, do not be alarmed. It is nowhere written in the Scriptures. If infant baptism was an offence so heinous, it would be plainly so stated in the Bible, but there is not a word against it. No one has ever shown a verse in the Scriptures prohibiting infant baptist and can it be possible that God has neglected to prohibit blasphemy?— Not a word of it. Christians, you, who have children, need not be afraid to bring them to Christ in Holy Baptism, but rather be afraid to “forbid them,” because it would be better for you to have a mill stone hanged about yonr neck and be drowned In the depths ofthe sea, Matt. 18 and Mark 10. May we not “entreat” you, may we not “persuade” you to sufTer the little children to come to Jesus. Observe that we do not venture to do this iu our own words, but iu the words of the Master, and following the example given by St, Paul, much rather than the sayings of any man who simply asserts that infant baptism is mockery and blasphemy. Itis one thing to make an assertion, but»quite a different one to prove it. Men. no Simon said these things of himself,but he did not—heoould not—refer to a single passage of Scriptnre for proof.He alleges that there is a “secretawfulness which is hidden iu infant baptism,” but be again fails to proveit from the word of God, and againwo assure our readers that there is not cause for alarm, because his words are human, and do not make a thing true. Many more extravagant things are said, bat there is not a bint as the Bible proof. We bave referred to these few to remind Christians that it is not good for them to give ear to things whioh are simply spoken like these without a fonndation in the divine word. We have also noticed them, because they are circulated in our own time and oonntry, and may fall Into the hands of some, who will take what man says for the troth, and be alarmed about the baptism of their children. Likewise, we have written with the kindliest feelings for our Mennonite neighbors, and with sorrow in our heart that they are thus misled. May the Lord shew them his way, aud turn them from man’s way*A. L. Crouse.Sept. if 1885.
Newspaper Details
Our Church Paper
New Market, Virginia, US
Thu, Sep 10, 1885
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
VA, USA 11 Nov 2021
Other Publications Near New Market, Virginia
New Market Richmond Enquirer
Our Church Paper
New Market Shenandoah Valley
New Market Our School
New Market Valley Democrat
