MACKNIGHT says: "Christ submitted to be baptized, that is, to be _buried_ under water, and to be raised out of it again, as an emblem of his future death and resurrection." _Com. Epis., Rom. 6:4._ And with these agree Campbell, Lightfoot, Whitby, Poole, Olshausen, Meyer, Alford, and many other commentators and scholars. All those whom John baptized he buried beneath the waters, and raised them up again. MUCH WATER NEEDED It is recorded that "John also was baptizing in Enon, near to Salim, because there was much water there" (John 3:23). Why need much water except for dipping, or burying candidates in the act of baptism? JOHN CALVIN, the great theologian, scholar, and commentator, whom Scaliger pronounced the most learned man in Europe, says: "From the words of John (chap. 3:23) it may be inferred that baptism was administered by John and Christ, by _plunging_ the whole body under water." _Com. on John 3:23._ POOLE says: "It is apparent that both Christ and John baptized by dipping the whole body in the water, else they need not have sought places where had been a great plenty of water." _Annot. John 3:23._ WHITBY says: "Because there was much water there in which their whole bodies might be dipped." _Crit. Com. John 3:23._ With these agree Bengel, Curcælleus, Adam Clarke, Geikie, Stanley, and others. PHILIP AND THE EUNUCH "And they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip" (Acts 8:38). Why go down into the water, both, or either of them, if not for an immersion? VENEMA, the ecclesiastical historian, says: "It is without controversy, that baptism in the primitive church was administered by _immersion_ into water, and not by sprinkling; seeing that John is said to have baptized in Jordan, and where there was much water, as Christ also did by His disciples in the neighborhood of those places. Philip also going down into the water baptized the eunuch." _Eccl. Hist., chap. I., sec. 138._ To this may be added Calvin, Grotius, Towerson, Poole, and others to the same effect. THE TESTIMONY OF SCHOLARS Great men are not always wise. Our search should be for the _truth_ wherever found; and though our final appeal in these matters is to the New Testament, still we are glad to use the testimony of distinguished scholars where it affirms the teachings of the Scriptures and confirms our position on the baptismal question. Especially so, as these scholars are not of our own, but of other denominations. ZANCHIUS, the learned Roman Catholic professor of Heidelberg, whose opinion De Courcy declared, "is worth a thousand others," said: "The proper signification of _baptize_ is to _immerse,_ plunge under, overwhelm in water." _Works, Vol. VI., p. 217. Geneva, 1619._