PROFESSOR RIDDLE says: "There is no doubt that the usual mode of administering baptism in the early church, was by _immersion,_ or plunging the whole body of the person baptized under water." _Christ. Antiq., p. 502._ Add to the above the testimony of Bishops Taylor and Sherlock, Witsius, Poole, Vitringa, Diodati, Calvin, Samuel Clark, Bloomfield, Scholz, Neander, and many others to the same effect, none of whom were Baptists. APOSTOLICAL ALLUSIONS What idea could the Apostle have had as to the nature of baptism, when in two of his epistles he alludes to it as a _burial_ except that it was a dipping or burial in water? To the Romans he says: "Therefore we are _buried_ with him, by baptism, into death" (Rom. 6:4). To the Colossians, in nearly the same language, "_Buried_ with him in baptism" (Col. 2:12). No one can misunderstand the meaning of these words. Neither sprinkling, pouring, washing, cleansing--nothing but a complete submersion--can represent a burial. And no candid mind could misunderstand such language, unless blinded or biased by prejudice, education, or sophistical reasoning from others. ARCHBISHOP TILLOTSON makes this comment: "Anciently those who were baptized were _immersed_ and _buried_ in the water, to represent their death to sin; and then did rise up out of the water, to signify their entrance upon a new life. And to this custom the Apostle alludes." _Works, Vol. I., p. 170._ JOHN WESLEY, the celebrated founder of Methodism, says: "Buried with him, alluding to the ancient manner of baptizing by _immersion._" _Note on Rom. 6:4._ CONYBEARE says: "This passage cannot be understood unless it be borne in mind that the primitive baptism was by _immersion._" _Life and Epist. St. Paul, Rom. 6:4._ BLOOMFIELD says: "Here is a plain allusion to the ancient custom of baptizing by _immersion,_ and I agree with Koppe and Rosenmüller, that there is reason to regret it should ever have been abandoned in most Christian churches; especially as it has so evident a reference to the mystical sense of baptism." _Recens. Synop., Rom. 6:4._ WHITEFIELD says: "It is certain that in the words of our text (Rom. 6:4) there is an allusion to the manner of baptizing which was by _immersion._" _Eighteen Sermons, p. 297._ MEYER says: "The candidate says to himself, Now I enter into fellowship with the death of Christ; I am to be buried with Christ in the _immersion,_ and in the _emersion_ I rise with Christ to newness of life." _Com. on Rom. 6:4._ Add to these the names of Bishop Fell, Doctor Doddridge, Adam Clark, Estius, Maldonatus, Fritsche, Benson, Diodati, Turretin, Zwingli, Whitby, Samuel Clarke, with others equally good in authority, and what no one ought to question seems to be put beyond doubt. THE WITNESS OF HISTORY