CONFUSION OF TONGUES by R. F. Cottrell

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 30, 1880

CONFUSION OF TONGUES.

By R. F. Cottrell

ON a baptismal occasion, of late, I heard the discourse. The speaker recommended immersion as the mode concerning which there could be no doubt. For himself, no other mode would answer his conscience; yet if any desired to be sprinkled or poured, he would administer the rite in that way. Baptism was the answer of a good conscience, and if their consciences were satisfied with either of these modes, he would not bind them.

Now there can be no doubt that one of the principal reasons why he chose to be immersed and could not be satisfied with anything else is, that baptize means to immerse. How, then, could he say to a candidate, "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," when he knew that he did not baptize him at all? He need not be conscience for others. If any wished to be sprinkled, and call that baptism, they could do so, provided they could find one to administer whose conscience was like theirs; but how could one, whose conscience, in his own individual case, could accept of nothing but immersion, because he believed that nothing else is baptism, conscientiously thus lie to another in the most solemn manner, in the sacred names of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?

The Lord's Bible is no such book as the confusion of creeds represents it to be. Say they; "I can't see it as you do." But it reads just alike and speaks the same things to all who will let it mean what it says. The duties required by the Bible are plain to those who will open their eyes. The fault is in the reader, not in the revelation.

R. F. COTTRELL.