BALAAM'S CHILDREN

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 2, 1877

BALAAM'S CHILDREN.

A Methodist living in the State of Georgia became dissatisfied on the subject of infant baptism. He frequently urged his preacher to tell where in the Bible it might be found; but the preacher, like all other preachers, could not produce the scripture. At last the preacher hit on a happy plan. He told each member of his class at their next general meeting to bring the best proof text on infant baptism, the dissatisfied brother among the others. The time arrived, and all appeared equipped as directed. The first brother read: “Suffer little children to come unto me.” “Well,” said the dissatisfied brother, “what has that to do with infant baptism?” “Oh,” said the preacher, “the inference is that Christ baptized them.” The next read: “And when she [Lydia] was baptized, and her household.” “Well,” said the brother, “there are no infants mentioned here.” “But stop,” said the preacher, “the inference is that Lydia had children in her household.” So they continued until every text that Methodist skill could warp was exhausted. Then the dissatisfied brother’s turn came. He arose and read: “And Balaam rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass.” “My brother, what has that to do with infant baptism?” “Don’t you see,” said the dissatisfied brother, “the ‘inference’ is that Balaam saddled his ass to carry his children to church to have them baptized?” That convention adjourned sine die.—Texas Christian Messenger.