4. Resolved, That in our opinion, the use of intoxicating drinks as a beverage, and also the manufacture and sale of the same for such a purpose are contrary to Christian morals, injurious to personal piety, and a hindrance to Gospel truth, and that persons so using, making, or selling, are thereby disqualified for membership in this church.
5. Resolved, That we emphatically discountenance and condemn the practice of church-members frequenting theaters and other similar places of public amusements, as inconsistent with a Christian profession, detrimental to personal piety, and pernicious in the influence of its example on others.
6. Revolved, That the members of this church are earnestly requested not to provide for, take part in, or by any means encourage dancing or card-playing; but in all consistent ways to discountenance the same as a hindrance to personal godliness in their associations and tendencies, and an offense to brethren whom we should not willingly grieve.
CHAPTER X
baptism considered
What is Christian baptism? This is the gravest question which enters into the baptismal controversy. Other questions of moment there are in connection with it, touching the design, the efficacy, and the subjects. But it is of primary importance to know what constitutes baptism.
Baptists answer the question by saying that baptism is the immersion, dipping, or burying in water, of a professed believer in Christ, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Pedobaptists, both Roman Catholic and Protestant, answer the question by saying that baptism is either the sprinkling or pouring of water upon the candidate, touching the forehead with wet fingers, or dipping the person wholly into water; in either case in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit; and that it may be administered to a candidate on his profession of faith, or to an unconscious infant on the professed faith of parents or sponsors. This would make four kinds of baptism, and two classes of subjects for its reception; and would consist rather in the application of water to the person, than putting the person into water.
Baptists hold to a unity of the ordinance, as well as to a oneness of the faith; insisting that as there is but one Lord, and one faith, so there is but one baptism. And the dipping in water of a professed disciple of Christ is that one baptism. Neither sprinkling a person with water, nor pouring water upon him can by any possibility be Christian baptism. That this position is the true one, we appeal to the New Testament, and the best extant historical and philological authorities to establish.