Be not righteous overmuch, neither make thyself overwise. - Solomon

Letter 5 - Remission of Sins by Immersion - Its Origin, &c.

      The mystery of iniquity worked in the days of the apostles. Errors, even at that early day were advocated, which required all the ability of apostles to counteract. Even then, were to be found those who would have substituted other means, besides the blood of the Savior, to forgive sins, and perhaps, no age was ever so fruitful of errors as that which succeeded a few centuries after Christ. The actual remission of sins by immersion is not of modern origin. Examine the writings of those that flourished then, and you will find this, and the doctrine of transubstantiation, believed and defended. The term baptism was used as synonymous with regeneration. And every one, acquainted with ecclesiastical history, knows that this early perversion of the ordinance led to many other errors. People shuddered at the thought of dying without baptism; and for those that did die without it, the ridiculous ceremony was adopted of baptizing some living person in their stead. Some of their death beds were wet with water, to prepare them to pass to the bar of the great Judge. Weak parents believing that their own sins were remitted by it, began to conjecture that it might be of advantage to their children; and shuttered at the thought of their helpless infants dying unregenerated (unbaptized). Papal Rome made it a part of her creed, and for many centuries immersed for the remission of sins; and the same doctrine was believed, and the same ceremony practiced in every country that acknowledged the supremacy of the Pope. Read the history of that mother of abominations, and you will find decrees of councils pronouncing accursed, and Bulls of the Popes excommunicating those that did not believe this doctrine.

      I am aware that some have urged its antiquity as a proof of its truth. Many quotations have been made for this purpose. But what might we not prove of this were allowed for evidence? Doctrines, more glaringly antiscriptural than any of modern invention, had their origin, and were taught in a very early day. Infant baptism pleads it antiquity. - Transubstantiation and the image worship of the papists set up their claims, and plead a coeval existence with the actual remission of sins by immersion. That doctrine has but a flimsy foundation that resorts to such a subterfuge for it defence. Many of the errors now in the world, would, long since, have been exploded, or rejected by this enlightened age, but for the plea of antiquity. This is the main prop of papal delusion. If novelty captivates the ear of the curious, there is something venerable in that which is old. Who picks up an old author, but with more veneration, than the works of the greatest genius of modern times? Who does not look upon the dilapidated remains of ancient architecture, with more thrilling emotions, than upon the most sumptuous edifice, adorned with all the embellishments of modern taste? And to start an error unfamiliar to modern ears, after the charm of novelty has passed away, with what renovated feelings is it received when sustained by the authority of the ancients. We ever look with lenity upon the grossest inconsistencies of those writers, who flourished in ages long gone by. It is for this reason their works are so often culled to support some visionary theory. This plea of its antiquity then, if it proves anything, proves too much. It proves that your doctrine of the actual remission of sins by immersion, had its origin with errors that you do not believe; and in rejecting which, you overthrow the reasons upon which your own theory is built.

      So far as I have been able to learn from their history, the Baptists have, in no age, believed in the actual remission of sins in baptism. Their creeds, it is true, published in some ages, have been so perverted as to favor that sentiment; but upon a fair examination of their views, it will be found that they have been uniform and consistent upon the subject. Certain it is, that Mr. Campbell is the first person, bearing their name, that was ever hardy enough to teach it in this enlightened age; and in his debate with Mr. Mccalla, is the first time, probably, such a sentiment was ever advanced among them in the west. In that debate, he said: "It may be affirmed that I have said that baptism saves, that it washes away sins. Well, Peter and Paul have said so before me." Again, on page 137 of that debate, as published by himself, you will find that he declares, "that when the baptized believer rises out of the water - is born of water - enters the world a second time - he enters it as innocent, as clean, as unspotted as an angel." These expressions were variously construed by his admirers at that time, and made to mean anything but what they say. It was long contended by you, and, until within a very few years, utterly denied, that he entertained any such views. He prepared your minds, however, by degrees, for its reception. He fascinated you by the glare of his erudition. He enraptured you by the beauty of his style, his sounding periods, splendid superlatives, and elegant diction. He taught you to despise the views of others; demonstrated to your satisfaction in what respects they were absurd and anti-scriptural. By degrees, as he pulled down others, he began to rear his own specious fabric. Piece by piece, he put it together, until, in his famous "Extra" upon this subject, the wonderous superstructure bursted upon your view in its full proportions. What before, in fancy, you saw with horror, although you more than realized the worst conjectures, you now beheld with the utmost complaicency [sic], and received with astonishing equanimity. - What, awhile ago, you called slander, your bishops. now, with great zeal, advocate; and though once very nauseating, you now digest it with the utmost ease, and receive the morsel with admirable placidity of countenance.

      So great has been the revolution in your sentiments upon this subjects, that you cannot, with any degree of patience, listen to anything else. After listening for some time to one of your bishops, who is learnedly demonstrating the superlative excellency of this plan, which, he assures you, has been kept from the world for many ages, you echo his sentiments, after he concludes, by singing in the following strain:

"The gospel of Jesus, Jehovah's own plan (immersion)
"To rescue from ruin his poor creature man,
"Has long been perverted, and hidden from view,
"By human traditions, and notions untrue," &c.

But does he wish to convert the people? - Does he invite them to the standard of the Savior? Does he want to regenerate them? Then you chant forth:

"Behold, and fly in threatening storm,
"Believe in Jesus and reform,
"Rise, be immersed without delay,
"And wash your numerous sins away."

See the "Christian Hymn Book, compiled and published by B. W. Stone and J. T. Johnson, second edition," pages 183-84.). Ob, Opinion, how unsubstantial and transient a thing thou art! Well did the apostle say there were some "ever learning, and NEVER able to come to a knowledge of the truth."
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[From the Tennessee Baptist, June 30, 1855, p. 3; via a CD of microfilm copy. Transcribed and formatted by Jim Duvall.]

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