The objection is, it prevents us, in a measure, from fulfilling Christ's
command, "Go, teach all nations, baptizing them." For, going into the
Roman Catholic or Greek churches, or an Armenian country, and making
converts, the missionaries cannot baptize them, for, alas! they were
baptized in infancy, and to re-baptize is against the law of the
countries.
Now, this seems to me no great calamity; for if the converts themselves
recognize their baptism, and adopt it as profession of their faith, it
is like a man's acknowledging the hand and seal on an instrument, made
irregularly at first, but now, under competent circumstances, declared
to be equivalent to his own act and deed at the date of this
declaration. He would not need to re-write the document, nor to use wax
or wafers again, except in witness of his acknowledging the original
act. "Though it be but a man's covenant, yet, if it be confirmed, no man
disannulleth or addeth thereto."
But, however it may be in such countries and communions as I have named,
certainly it cannot be a calamity if the practice of infant baptism
becomes such a spiritual and practical thing, that young persons are
generally converted, so that adult baptisms disappear. I love to notice,
when several persons join our church, how few of them receive baptism,
showing that their baptism in childhood has been followed by conversion.
The fewness of adult baptisms, with us, compared with cases of infant
baptism, is a good sign. They will be fewer and fewer, in proportion as
our parents make and keep covenant with God for their children.
Mr. Kelly was at this moment called out, but requested me to remain and
finish the conversation with Mrs. K. She resumed it, saying:
"Had I better read any more on the subject? My feelings lead me
strongly to take our little one to church. I feel that I should be
strengthened by the solemn act of doing what the covenant of your church
says, 'avouching the Lord Jehovah to be your God and the God of your
children forever.' I do wish to feel that I have done something like
bearing testimony before God, in a special way, that I give my child to
him, and engage God to be his God."
_Mr. M._ I should candidly examine whatever Mr. K. wishes you to read or
hear on the subject, and not be afraid of the truth, let it lead where
it may. But what first made you think of baptizing your little boy?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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