REVIEW OF T. B. B by D. P. Hall

Publishing Committee · Rochester, N. Y. · Apr 3, 1855

REVIEW OF T. B. B.

By D. P. Hall

In his Article headed, "The Kingdom of God," published in the "Sabbath Recorder," February 8th, 1855.

T. B. B. commences by saying that "Some sections of our Denomination (that is, the Seventh-day Baptist Denomination) have been disturbed by a set of disorganizers." It is very evident from what follows, that he intended in this declaration to point out a class of people known as Adventists, and more especially that portion of them, who are striving to keep all the "Commandments of God, and the Faith of Jesus." That especial reference is had to the Sabbath keeping Adventists is evident from what follows. He says, "In some instances, these preachers are Sabbath-keepers, and by their zeal and ability in defending the integrity of the Fourth commandment have won their way to the hearts of our people." I have now quoted enough of the article referred to, to show clearly that T. B. B. charges the Sabbath-keeping Adventists with being a set of disorganizers.

If he understands all to be disorganizers who do not fall in with his peculiar notions of organization, or the notions of the Denomination to which he belongs, this statement may to his mind be true; but it will bear with equal force and truth, upon all classes who differ with him and his people in their views of organization, so that in this accommodated use of the term, disorganization, the Methodist, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, &c., are "a set of disorganizers."

But we deny that this declaration is true of us in any literal, or obvious use of the term, disorganization. The Sabbath-keeping Adventists believe and advocate the most rigid system of organization. They prefer, however, the Divine to the human, and this is what stirs the ire of sectarians. We would ask T. B. B. if a disorganizer is one who prefers the Bible as a rule of faith and practice, to the creeds of men; one who prefers calling a congregation of "saints," the "Church of God," instead of the

Seventh-day Baptist church; in short, one who prefers the entire arrangement, touching the Church, as laid down in the New Testament, are such disorganizers? We answer most emphatically, No!

It is stated by T. B. B. that this set of disorganizers, by their "zeal and ability in defending the integrity of the Fourth Commandment, have won their way to the hearts of our people." That such should find a warm place in the hearts of all those who regard the Fourth Commandment, as important, is not at all surprising, and especially when we call to mind the fact that the zeal of the Seventh-day Baptist ministers in defending the Fourth Commandment is waning. Some of them will preach month after month in communities of Sunday-keepers, and seldom, if at all, name the Fourth Commandment in their public ministrations.

The next point in the article to which we invite attention, is the declaration that the "doctrine of the Advent is made the bond of fellowship in the formation of new societies." To this affirmation we enter a positive denial. The doctrine of the Advent is not made the bond of fellowship. We labor as zealously with Adventists as with Seventh-day Baptist. We regard both classes as being in error: one class with reference to the Commandments of God, and the other with reference to the Faith of Jesus. We believe that the Law and the Gospel are united by the wise Master builder, and should not be sundered by man. What God hath joined together let no man dare to put asunder. The Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus are the bond of fellowship for the Saints. See Rev. xiv, 12. "Here is the patience of the Saints: here are they that keep the Commandments of God, and the Faith of Jesus."

Note again—"In some instances" says T. B. B. "we hear of their baptizing over again, all who join them, thus conveying the idea, that the former baptism of such was not a baptism into the faith of the gospel. And true enough it is, that, if the doctrine of Christ’s second coming implies, necessarily, that his kingdom has not yet been introduced; or that the particular time of his coming is a matter of revelation; or, that the dead all lie in a dormant state, and will continue so, till he shall come, the great mass of those who claim to be his people are far astray." I will notice re-baptism and defer other points until another time.

It is true that several of the members of the Seventh-day Baptist Denomination, have been baptized over again, upon learning the relation which they sustained to the Law and the Gospel. This is also true of many of those who were believers in the Advent, future kingdom, dormant state of the dead, &c., so that Adventists, as well as Seventh-day Baptists, are baptized over again. One class because of their imperfect understanding of the claims of the Law, and the other class, on account of their imperfect conceptions of the Gospel. We understand Baptism to be the golden link which binds the Law and the Gospel together. Baptism is a burial of the dead. Those who are buried, while living in transgression of God’s holy law certainly need burial after they die. If a person be buried alive an hundred times, it is no good reason why he should not be buried after death. Reasoning in this way, many Adventists have been re-baptized; but this is not all. Baptism is a burial of those who die, with the hope of living again, by a resurrection from the dead, or that which is equivalent. Who then can receive a gospel baptism? Those who understanding the claims of God’s law, die to it by the body of Christ, by ceasing to transgress it and at the same time place their entire hope of Eternal Life in the promises concerning the kingdom of God through the medium of the resurrection of the dead to immortality, or a change which is equivalent thereto. Seventh-day Baptists reasoning in this way concerning the gospel have been baptized over again. Several of the Seventh-day Baptist Denomination have learned by an examination of God’s Word, that the fight of an immortal soul, to realms of bliss, "beyond the bounds of time and space," is no part of the gospel of the book of God, and learning that the commission reads, "Go preach THE GOSPEL" and that there is but one hope, [Eph. iv. 4.] and therefore but one gospel, have received the one faith, the one hope, and the one baptism, into the same. The kingdom, dormant state of the dead, &c., hereafter.

D. P. HALL.