BIBLE BAPTISM, OR THE IMMERSER INSTRUCTED, FROM VARIOUS SOURCES. BY GENERAL LIBRARY JAMES E. QUAW, A. M., V. D. M. AUTHOR OF THE COLD-WATER-MAN, &c. University of To the law and to the testimony-ISA. 8: 20. Make all things according to the pattern-HEB 8: 5. He who hates truth shall be the dupe of lies-Cowper. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good-1 THES. 5: 21. Second Edition. DETROIT: BENJAMIN WOOD, PUBLISHER, 1844. Entered according to Aet of Congress in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty-four, by BENJAMIN WOOD and JAMES E. QUAW, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the District of Michigan. PROEM. Many of the materials for the following work were collected while the Author was traveling in primitive apostolic style in different parts of the great American valley. In these his ministerial journeyings, he usually preached six or eight times a week; while he often traveled on foot without purse or scrip or two coats, sometimes with scarcely one, often for days without bread, and occasionally without water. But the mighty God of Jacob was always with him. This book was written in a western log-cabin; in a room which, at one and the same time, answered for a study, a parlor, a sitting-room, a dining-hall, bed-room, and kitchen. The hours which, for six or eight months, the Author could spare from the discharge of the duties of a New Testament Bishop, he has, in this rather romantic study, devoted to this work. The reader must determine whether they have or have not been profitably employed. That the work required labor will be manifest to those who may read it with care. Indeed, this is evident from the single fact, that to complete it on the plan which the Author adopted, more or less words from twelve foreign languages, ancient and modern, have been introduced into the work. The learned reader will perceive that for the sake of those who are not acquainted with any language except English, the Author has invariably so placed the words taken from foreign sources, that the mere English reader may omit them entirely without injuring, in the least, the sense of the passages where they are used. He will also perceive that in consequence of this, the style, in such passages, is not quite so smooth as it would otherwise have been, especially for such as read and understand both the foreign and English words. But such persons will be the last to find fault on this account. This work was written to remove the rubbish that learning and ignorance and learned ignorance have thrown round a plain Scriptural truth and duty; and then to place these clearly before the reader's mind, with the evidence in their favor. It has not been written in answer to any book, or in opposition to any class of men. The subject of baptism has been examined with some degree of care. What men have said in favor of immersion being the only mode of baptism, has been brought to the test of truth and examined. Their assertions, as a substitute for Scriptural evidence, often, when examined, appear ridiculous. But when this is the case, the fault is not in the truth, or in those who present it to the mind; but in those who, by mistake or otherwise, substitute unsupported assertions for Divine Revelation. Many men have written well on different parts of the subject of baptism. The names of several of those are mentioned in this work. Not a few of them are an honor to the age and country to which they belong. The writer of this, honors and respects them. He does not wish to derogate from their usefulness or well-earned and justly-deserved fame. From the writings of some of them he has, with pleasure, made quotations. These, it is believed, are all acknowledged in the places where they are made. But while he cheerfully does all this, he humbly hopes the arrangement of the arguments in this work, together with the original matter introduced, will render it acceptable to all who love God's truth; notwithstanding the occasional repetition of an idea, in order to carry out the plan. If this work is noticed publicly, by the friends or enemies of Divine truth, not with sneers, assertions or questions, but by facts and arguments which point out any error in the proof presented, or in the positions taken, the Author will be much obliged to those who do so. This will enable him to correct any mistakes or errors which it may contain. Those who "gnaw at the cover," quibble at trifles, or misrepresent what it contains, will only show what they would do if they could. That no man ever has or ever can prove immersion to be the only Scriptural mode of baptism, is certain; because the word of God makes no such declaration in any form of expression. But notwithstand |
