INTRODUCTORY.
CHAPTER I.WHY HAVE I WRITTEN THIS BOOK? [Various sects have tried to destroy the Christian character of John's Baptism. Historically, Baptists alone have maintained its Christian character.]
12 INTRODUCTORY.
CHAPTER II. Before entering upon my subject--John's Ministry
and its Proper Place in Christ's Redemptive Work--it
seems quite proper to form a just idea of him as he is
presented to us in the Scriptures.John the Baptist--In Prophecy--In His Nativity--In His
Preparation for His Work--His Characteristics--His
Message--His Audience.[Scripture is presented to show who the real John the Baptist is.
Examples: Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 4:5; Gospel of Luke & Matthew 17:10-14.
John preached repentance (turning from sin).]
JOHN'S BAPTISM. 17
CHAPTER III. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MAN.* [...]
*These are set forth in a few forcible paragraphs by C. P. Jacobs,
and as I can give no better, I therefore copy them here.[...]
[Interesting character sketch. God anointed a Baptist champion to be a voice.]
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AUDIENCE. [...]
[People from every background came out to see & hear John's message which pointed to the Greatest One--JESUS.]
22 JOHN'S BAPTISM.
CHAPTER IV. The Law was given through Moses--The people who know not the
Law is cursed--Cursed is he who continueth not in all things
written in the Book of the Law to do Them--The Law is a
Servant to lead us to Christ--The first Theory Examined and
Denied by Paul.JOHN'S MINISTRY DID NOT BELONG TO THE LAW, OR
JEWISH DISPENSATION.THE LAW--A RULE OF ACTION.
Definiton.--[...]
A LIVING QUESTION.
THE LAW FOR THE CONSECRATION OF A PRIEST.
LOGICAL ARGUMENTS.
CONCLUDING AND CONCLUSIVE ARGUMENTS.[The Law is defined over 4 areas. John's Baptism is not an institution or ordinance of the law, because it is never written in the Book of the Law. A heresy was introduced to Southern Methodists by Dr. T. O. Summers. John did not consecrate Jesus as a Jewish priest.]
JOHN'S BAPTISM. 39
CHAPTER V. EXEGESIS OF ACTS XIX, 1-7. [12 False professors of John's Baptism were 'reimmersed.'
John Calvin's twist of this Scripture. Pronouns & their antecedents.
4 Requirements for Baptism: Scriptural Act, Subject-regenerated, Qualified administrator, Design/purpose.]
48 JOHN'S BAPTISM.
CHAPTER VI. JOHN'S MINISTRY NOT AN INTERMEDIATE DISPENSA-
TION.JOHN THE BAPTIST'S MINISTRY DID NOT BELONG TO A
JOHNIC OR INTERMEDIATE DISPENSATION.[3 witnesses are presented: The Holy Spirit Mark 1:1; Jesus the Christ--'The Law and the Prophets were until John: since which time the kingdom of heaven is preached.'; & John the Baptist himself--John preached the same doctrine as Christ.]
54 JOHN'S BAPTISM.
CHAPTER VII. PROPOSITION: THE BAPTISM OF JOHN BELONGED TO THE
CHRISTIAN, OR GOSPEL, DISPENSATION.DEFINITIONS.
THE DISPENSATIONS.
FIRST PROOF.
[Graves believes our gospel is the same as the O.T. There is only ONE gospel.
The gospel must be heard & believed in order for it to be appropriated.
Papal dogma of purgatory exploded. Exposition of I Peter 3:18- 20.]
72 JOHN'S BAPTISM.
CHAPTER VIII. PROPOSITION: JOHN'S BAPTISM BELONGED TO THE
CHRISTIAN DISPENSATION.1ST PROOF.
2ND PROOF.
3RD PROOF.
4TH PROOF.
5TH PROOF.
6TH PROOF.
7TH PROOF.
8TH PROOF.
9TH PROOF.
10TH PROOF.
11TH PROOF.
12TH PROOF.[Some pedobaptists' testimony in favour of John's baptism being Christian baptism. John the Baptist was sent directly by God & Christ.
70 missionaries & 12 apostles were never rebaptized after receiving John's baptism.
The history of the election of Matthias. The church is a local, visible assembly.]
84 JOHN'S BAPTISM.
CHAPTER IX. THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH ON TRIAL BY JOHN'S
BAPTISM."How can
John's Baptism serve as a criterion of discernment be-
tween His true and faithful churches and the multitude
of human organizations claiming to be churches, that
men have set up?"[Matthew 16:18 {RCC fails to meet the stranger's criteria}]
JOHN'S BAPTISM. 89
CHAPTER X. THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH TRIED BY JOHN'S BAPTISM. [The stranger exposes the Episcopal Church as the daughter of Rome.
He further proves that the COE has changed the ordinances of God.
Christ was immersed.]
JOHN'S BAPTISM. 95
CHAPTER XI. THE CAMPBELLITE SOCIETY TRIED BY JOHN'S BAPTISM. Faith, Repentance, and Baptism." BAPTISM FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS.
THE CHANGE OF ORDER.
IT IS A MORAL IMPOSSIBILITY FOR AN IMPENITENT
SINNER TO EXERCISE FAITH ON CHRIST.PAUL'S COMMUNION WITH THE CHURCH AT TROAS
THE ONLY AUTHORITY THE CAMPBELLITES HAVE
FOR THEIR WEEKLY OBSERVANCE OF THE SUPPER.[The Campbellites are more deceptive. They COC seems to be more biblical. Isaiah 62:1-6 does not refer to the Campbellites but to the city--Jerusalem. The word "for" has 2 meanings.]
116 JOHN'S BAPTISM.
CHAPTER XII. THE BAPTIST CHURCH TRIED BY JOHN'S BAPTISM.
[Spiritual songs attracted the stranger to the Baptist church.
Graves mentions separation.]
PART II. (121
JOHN'S BAPTISM. 123
CHAPTER I. MEANING OF BAPTIZO.
[Graves implies KJB translators made a mistake with the word baptize. He is simply wrong here.
Philip & the eunuch went down into the waters. Baptism is to be a burial.]
136 JOHN'S BAPTISM.
CHAPTER II. SACRED USE.
[When the true, historical facts are examined one can find that baptism meant only immersion for several centuries originally. Oriental churches today still practice immersion.]
JOHN'S BAPTISM. 141
CHAPTER III. PHYSICAL OBJECTIONS TO IMMERSION CONSIDERED.
[Some of the objections are just plain ridiculous...others were out of ignorance. Graves estimated that 3000 souls could have been baptized in 20 minutes by some 82 baptizers.]
144 JORDAN.
CHAPTER IV. THE RIVER JORDAN--DOES IT AFFORD WATER ENOUGH
FOR IMMERSION?--ARE ITS WATERS ACCESSIBLE?
THEY WERE IN THE DAYS OF MOSES AND OF DAVID.[Biblical accounts of the river Jordan are referenced: Joshua 3:12-17; II Kings 5:13-14; Jeremiah 12:5; II Samuel 19:17-18; II Kings 6:4-8. Graves' own personal witness of Jordan River's geography.]
160 AENON.
CHAPTER V. AENON--WAS THERE WATER ENOUGH TO IMMERSE A
PERSON?[Shechem (Nablus), a city near Aenon had / has a Baptist church.
There was "much water" at Aenon for Bible baptism (immersion).]
166 AENON.
CHAPTER VI. AENON, NEAR TO SALEM. [Some ancient baptistries are mentioned.
A Greek person is reported to be surprised that baptism is practiced by sprinkling or pouring. Aenon is located by Graves.]
PART III.
INFANT BAPTISM UNSCRIPTURAL
(175)
INFANT BAPTISM UNSCRIPTURAL. 177
CHAPTER I. INFANT BAPTISM.
AXIOM--Expressio unus est exclusio altenus. The specification of
one thing is the prohibition of every other.THIRTY-FOUR LOGICAL ARGUMENTS.
Christ positively forbade Infant Baptism, for He speci-
fied believers as the subjects.[...]
[Infant Baptism is subversive to the Church of Christ & is also a perverted, human tradition. Infant Baptism is SIN.]
192 INFANT BAPTISM
CHAPTER II. THE OLD TESTAMENT COVENANT GIVEN UP AS AFFORD-
ING ANY GROUND FOR INFANT BAPTISM.[Bible baptism is not modern-day "circumcision".]
UNSCRIPTURAL. 195
CHAPTER III. PEDOBAPTISTS ANSWER THEMSELVES--A MOST SINGU-
LAR ARGUMENT.[Dr. Lange (Lutheran) of Germany declares that infant baptism is opposed to the very genius of Christianity and spirit of the gospel. This is quite a statement. Principle: the specification of one thing, is the prohibition of any and every other. Matthew 19:13-15 observed.]
TESTIMONY OF CHURCHES. 201
THE TESTIMONY OF THE CHURCHES, IN THE ORDER
OF THEIR ORIGIN, TOUCHING THE MEANING
OF BAPTIZO, AND THE PRACTICE OF
THAT CHURCH.CHAPTER IV. THE GREEK CHURCH, A. D. 3D CENTURY.
"We represent our Lord's sufferings and resurrection
by baptism in a pool."--Justin Martyr, Questio; 13, 7;
Greek.
206 TESTIMONY OF CHURCHES.
CHAPTER V. THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, 7TH CENTURY.
[Douay (Catholic) bible defines baptism as being done by immersion or dipping under water originally. They admit, however, the right to change the ordinances.]
210 TESTIMONY OF CHURCHES.
CHAPTER VI. LUTHERAN CHURCH, 16TH CENTURY.
[Various admissions by Lutheran intellects that immersion is Biblically correct. Why then no apparent obedience by any of them?]
TESTIMONY OF CHURCHES. 213
CHAPTER VII. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 16TH CENTURY.
"The very word baptize, however, signifies to immerse;
and it is certain that immersion was the practice of the
ancient Church."--"Institutes;" vol. III, p. 343; 1816;
John Calvin.
TESTIMONY OF CHURCHES. 217
CHAPTER VIII. THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND AND THE PROTESTANT
EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF AMERICA, 17TH CENTURY.[Lightfoot, Bishop Ellicott, Conybeare & Howson, Poole together admit that baptism should picture the death, burial & resurrection of Jesus Christ.]
TESTIMONY OF CHURCHES. 221
CHAPTER IX. WHAT DO THE SCHOLARS OF THE INDEPENDENTS, OR
CONGREGATIONALISTS, OF ENGLAND AND AMERICA
SAY IS THE MEANING OF BAPTIZO?[Without controversy the Baptists are right on the historical question of Baptism's mode by immersion.]
224 ENCYCLOPEDIAS, ETC.
CHAPTER X. UNSECTARIAN WORKS, ENGLISH ENCYCLOPEDIAS AND
DICTIONARIES--[The "pope" of Geneva -- Calvin - - favoured immersion?
Because of convenience & climate...circumstances...the Latin Church altered the mode of baptism from complete immersion.]
228 COMMENTARIES.
CHAPTER XI. WHAT THE COMMENTATORS SAY. [Elizabeth & Edward VI of the Church of England were both immersed. Stanley views immersion as the mode by which Christ, His apostles & His churches were baptized.]
232 MISCELLANEOUS.
CHAPTER XII. REASONS WHY I SHOULD PREFER IMMERSION, WERE
SPRINKLING AND POURING ADMISSIBLE?1. I wish to honour and obey my Saviour, and enjoy
the blessing of obedience when I am baptized. [...][4 good reasons--new converts should be taught these.
2. Your new love for Christ & His commandments
3. Visual & effectual pledge to God the Father
4. Satisfied conscience toward God]
238 MISCELLANEOUS.
CHAPTER XIII. THE CHILDREN OF CHRISTIANS NOT BAPTIZED IN THE
EARLY CENTURIES-- ACTS OF COUNCILS.[John Chrysostom was baptized at 21 years of age.
Jerome (Protestant) was baptized at 30 years of age.]
240 MISCELLANEOUS.
CHAPTER XIV. WHY I AM A BAPTIST.
[The Church & its ordinances belong to the saved only. John 3:5
See also Acts 2:41]
242 APPENDIX.
APPENDIX A.
[Alexander Campbell's comments on the God-given name for his 'church of Christ'.
"Christian" as a religious term was originally used by enemies of God.]
APPENDIX. 251
B.
CERTIFICATES vs. DITZLER.[Rev. Jacob Ditzler surrenders the Abrahamic covenant as having no ground for infant baptism.]