Why are licentiates sent to preach the Gospel and not allowed to baptize?
R. P. L.
According to the usages of several churches one licensed to preach is not an ordained minister of the Lord. He simply has the permission of the brethren to prove his call to the ministry, nothing more. He must demonstrate by his ability to preach and win souls to Christ, and to show by a well-ordered life and conversation and example, that he is worthy of ordination as a minister. If he proves this to the satisfaction of the brethren, it naturally would follow that he would be ordained as a minister, and, of course, would in that case baptize. There is no law, it is true, to prevent a man from baptizing if he feels so disposed and somebody is willing to be baptized by him; but one who is connected with an organization, and has associated with him others in serving God, certainly ought to be subject to those who send him out and who are by this very act bearing responsibility with him. In such cases it is well to remember the advice given in 1 Peter 5:5: "Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility; for God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble."