We have now presented eight questions on the probabilities of the case. Now for the possibilities of the case:
It is a fact that the Lord was baptized in Jordan, and it is a fact that he went up straightway out of the water. This shows that when he was in Jordan, he was in the water, or he could not have gone “out of the water.” As a question of fact and possibility, could the Lord have been sprinkled in the water?
It is a fact, stated by Paul, that in baptizing, or, as a result of it, the “body is washed.” As a question of possibility, can the body be washed, or, as a question of fact, is the body washed at all, when sprinkling is performed in the usual way?
It is a fact, stated by the Apostles, that “we are buried with him in baptism.” As a question of fact, is this done in sprinkling? As a question of possibility, can persons be buried in sprinkling?
It is a fact, stated in Scripture, that “we are buried with him by baptism.” As a question of fact, are persons buried by sprinkling? As a question of possibility, can persons be buried by sprinkling?
[“A MIGHTY GOOD FOUNDATION.”]
SOME years ago, our Bro. Burnet resided some eight miles in the country. We were in Mt. Healthy, a short distance from his residence, and took an omnibus for the city. In a few minutes the omnibus stopped in front of the residence of Bro. Burnet, with two respectable looking gentlemen in it, one sitting facing the residence and the other with his back towards it. The one facing the residence said, “Here is where Mr. Burnet resides.” The other replied, “Who is he?” “A celebrated Campbellite preacher,” was the answer. “What do the Campbellites hold?” inquired the other. “That the Bible is their foundation—their only creed,” was the reply. “They have a mighty good foundation—a very good creed,” answered the other. “Yes,” was the reply; and here the conversation ended. The same must be the response of every honest believer in the Bible. It is certainly a good foundation—a good creed. If there is any good doctrine, or teaching, as the word doctrine means, in the world, it is in the Bible, and the man who takes the Bible, finds it in his book. If there is any sure foundation for all our hopes beyond this life, it is found in the Bible. If there is any sure lamp to the path of weary and dying pilgrims in this world, it is the Bible. All other books are nothing compared with the Bible. It is the book of all books, the authority of all authorities, the only sure and infallible guide from this world of sin to the land of rest.