Θ A DISCOURSE ON THE PROPER SUBJECTS OF CHRISTIAN BAPTISM. BY SAMUEL ARNOLD, Author of two Discourses on the Mode of Baptism. Rom. iv. 11. Now I say, that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the spirit, and rejoice BOSTON: PUBLISHED BY PEIRCE AND WILLIAMS, 1829. 44,2414 NARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY 1851 May 5 tuft of Samuel A.. Green the Sonier Glass. from Groten, bain be DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS, to wit: DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE. BE it remembered, that on the fourteenth day of May, A. D. 1829, in the fifty-third year of the Independence of the United States of America, PEIRCE & WILLIAMS, of the said district, have deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof they claim as Proprietors, in the words following, to wit: "A Discourse on the Proper Subjects of Christian Baptism. By Samuel Arnold, author of two discourses on the mode of Baptism. "Now I say, that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers. Rom. xv. 8. "Circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith. Rom. iv. 11. "For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Philip. iii. 3." In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States, entitled "An Act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned ;" and also to an Act entitled " An Act supplementary to an Act, entitled an Act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the times therein mentioned; and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching, historical and other prints." JNO. W. DAVIS, Clerk of the District of Massachusetts. HAVING heard a discourse of the Rev. SAMUEL ARNOLD on the proper subjects of Christian Baptism, we regard it as scriptural, and well adapted to promote the salvation of both parents and children, and wish it may have an extensive circulation in the community. BOSTON, OCTOBER 20, 1828. LYMAN BEECHER. THE DEERFIELD ASSOCIATION, having heard the above mentioned Discourse, regard it as a valuable treatise, and cordially join in recommending it to the patronage of the churches, and to parents generally. LOUDON, JANUARY 14, 1829, FRANCIS NORWOOD, Moderator. DISCOURSE. MATTHEW xxviii. 19. GO YE THEREFORE, AND TEACH ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY GHOST. THESE are the words of Christ to his apostles. He now gives them a special commission-a commission to enlarge his fold, and mark his flock-to increase the number of his disciples, and to apply the mark of discipleship-to put the token of the covenant upon those who are in covenant with God—to proselyte all nations to his religion, and baptize the proselytes. He commissions them to go forth as missionaries of the cross, to teach, and baptize all nations. The word, here rendered teach, is different from the one rendered teaching, in the next verse, and means to proselyte,* to disciple. Go ye therefore and proselyte, disciple, all nations, baptizing them. Baptism is the token or seal of God's covenant with his church. The covenant is God's gracious plant which he pursues in blessing and saving men. 66 *The Greek word here used is matheteusate; see it explained by the following commentators. Dr. Doddridge, " Proselyte all the nations of the earth." Dr. Scott, "Make disciples of all nations." Smith, " Proselyte, disciple." xvii. 7. + By covenant, in a scriptural sense, and as I use it in this discourse, I understand, God's established constitution, plan, or promise. He Gen. ix. promised Noah, that there should not be another flood to destroy 9 the earth. This promise is called God's covenant, and is said to be between him and every living creature. He also promised to be a God to Abraham and his seed. This promise is also called God's covenant, and surely, it may refer to infants as well as the one established with Noah, which referred to every living creature. And the idea of a mutual compact, is not implied in one case, more than in the other, except as obligation is concerned. We see that God can and does make his covenant or promise so as to include those who at the time are not capable of being a party in the transaction, or of having any agency in it. Mankind, also, act on the same principle, in their temporal concerns. |