A Syllogism on Baptism.
By Uriah Smith
ONE of our brethren has sent us the following syllogism on the subject of baptism, by one who believes in trine immersion:— “I now offer a syllogism which you may overthrow if you can. Christian baptism was practiced in the first century. But backward immersion was not practiced till the sixteenth century. Therefore, backward immersion is not Christian baptism.” The trouble with this syllogism lies in its minor premise which expresses a falsehood. To say that backward immersion was not practiced till the sixteenth century, is, we have no hesitation in saying, to state that which is not true. We also will present a syllogism: The apostles practiced Christian baptism. But they practiced backward immersion, and that only. Therefore, backward immersion, and that only, is Christian baptism. Another: Christian baptism was practiced in the first century. But trine immersion was not practiced till sometime subsequent to the first century. Therefore, trine immersion is not Christian baptism. These syllogisms are infinitely better than the one our friend offers, because they express the truth. We can trace trine immersion only to the foggy, boggy times upon which we enter when we leave the New Testament age. Its origin is lost in the quagmire of incoming superstition and corruption in which the church so speedily swamped when its first teachers no longer lived to guide and counsel it. We cannot carry it through to the solid ground and steady light of apostolic times. And this fact is fatal to the claims of this theory. For it matters not how soon the church may have so far departed from New Testament teaching on the subject of baptism as to adopt the unnatural and meaningless form of three, face-foremost, forward plunges, nor how general this became, nor how long continued, even though to the present day; if it is not found in the New Testament, it is without authority. The links of a chain may for a long distance be connected and sound; but if the link which should connect it with the staple is wanting, it will hold nothing. Trine immersion don't reach the staple. Our only wonder is that any one with the New Testament in his hands, and any idea of the design of baptism in his mind, should adopt a form which so utterly destroys all its beauty and significance. Baptism illustrates the burial of our Lord. But who supposes that Christ was inhumanly thrown into the tomb upon his knees and face? Away with such a perversion of the ordinance!