A Novel Sermon on Baptism at Lebanon, Kentucky

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 17, 1879

A Novel Sermon on Baptism at Lebanon, Kentucky

A NOVEL SERMON.—The Western Recorder, of Louisville, makes a note of a novel but impressive sermon recently preached by Rev. J. E. Carter at Lebanon, Kentucky. There were candidates to be baptized, and a large, mixed audience had assembled to witness the ordinance, among which were members of several other denominations. After the opening exercises, Testaments were distributed through the audience. This done, the preacher requested all present to turn to passages of Scripture which he would indicate, and accompany him in the reading. The following are the passages read:—

Baptism Commanded. Please turn to Matt. 28: 19, and we will read.
John’s Practice of Baptism. Matt. 3: 1–19.
Baptism under the Apostles’ Preaching. Acts 2: 37–42; 8: 12.
Theory of Baptism. Rom. 6: 3–5.
Baptism a Profession. Gal. 3: 27.
Who are to be Baptized. Mark 16: 15, 16, etc.
Of the Baptism of Jesus. Matt. 3: 13–17.

The Recorder adds that for “thirty minutes the audience sat turning from reference to reference, and reading the word of God concerning baptism. Then a hymn was sung, after which the pastor baptized the three ladies. The effect of the whole was wonderful. One man left the house saying, ‘I have always been on the other side from the Baptists, but I am satisfied now.’ Another said, ‘I am a stronger Baptist than ever.’ The next morning two applications were made for the pastor’s brief of that wonderful sermon on baptism. What a power in God’s word when a people unbiased will read it!”