I FIND the following on baptism in a Baptist paper:
VIEWS ON BAPTISM.
(Translated from the Spanish, by Rev. S. F. Smith, D. D.)
[The following article is the concluding portion of a little work on baptism, prepared by Prof. Knapp, for circulation in Spain. It is interesting, as it presents a comprehensive, searching, and scriptural view of baptism, and especially as it gives fundamental information as to the character of the instruction imparted by our new missionary to our new brethren and friends in the kingdom of Spain.]
A. “The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7.
3. Q. Can baptism save us?
A. “By grace ye are saved, through faith.” Eph. 2:8.
4. Q. Can baptism in the absence of faith please God?
A. “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Rom. 14:23. “Without faith it is impossible to please him.” Heb. 11:6.
5. Q. Ought those who have been baptized to be faithful to their profession?
A. “They continued in the apostles’ doctrine.” Acts 2:42.
6. Q. Is it lawful to decline baptism, or to change it?
A. “What thing soever I command you, observe to do; thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.” Deut. 12:32.
“See, saith He, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed thee in the mount.” Heb. 8:5.
“And at that time He blessed them, saying, In thee shall Israel be blessed. And it shall be said, God make thee like Ephraim and like Manasseh. And he set Ephraim before Manasseh.” Gen. 48:20. Jesus Christ says, “He that believeth and is baptized”—putting faith before baptism. Men say, It is of no importance, either as to the mode or the order, or rather we ought to do just the opposite.
“Whosoever shall break one of these least commandments of mine and shall teach men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of Heaven; but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of Heaven.” Matt. 5:19.
“Teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world.” Matt. 28:20.
7. Q. Is not then the baptism of infants sufficient?
11. Q. Did they not baptize infants when they baptized entire households?
A. In every example of household baptism the “instruction” they received, the “faith” they exercised, and the “consolation” of those in the house who were baptized, are spoken of. Consequently, if there were infants who received baptism, they were able to understand and to believe in Jesus Christ.
12. Q. Then is not the baptism of infants in opposition to the word of God?
A. There is no command for the baptism of any but believers.
Infants cannot be taught; they cannot repent; they cannot believe; they cannot use their reason; they cannot confess their sins; they cannot be baptized voluntarily; they cannot obey; they cannot walk in newness of life: they cannot understand the meaning of baptism. But those who were baptized by the apostles could do all these things. Consequently, the baptism of infants is not the baptism which the Scripture commands. Children who die in infancy, before they are able to understand, are saved through the death of Christ.
Do not say it is of little importance which one practices—the immersion of believers, or the sprinkling of infants; for every ordinance of Jesus is of importance, and ought to be observed in the manner which he has indicated. To “break one of these least commandments” of Christ, whether through ignorance or for any other cause, cannot but be wicked. I entreat you to observe the ordinance as it is commanded, otherwise you may possibly have cause to cry, “The Lord our God hath made a breach upon us, because we sought him not after the due order.” 1 Chron. 15:13. Indeed we have been disobedient in practicing baptism “otherwise than it was written.” 2 Chron. 30:18.
Christian reader, the very words of God himself teach you his will respecting baptism. Follow neither custom, nor the multitude, nor the tradition of men, saying “I will conform to what my fathers did,” but follow Christ. Take the Bible as your only guide, and rest upon it as upon a rock.
Be fully persuaded in your own mind (Rom. 14:5), for he who doubts whether infant baptism is right is condemned if he practices it. Rom. 14:23. Either infant baptism, or the baptism of believers—one of the two—is contrary to the Scripture. Eph. 4:5. Think of this. Let us pray one for another; and may God in his infinite grace guide us to the true knowledge of his will, and to obedience to it, that you and I may both have “one Lord, one faith, and one baptism.”