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.
Luther, the great German Reformer, says: “The term baptism is Greek; in Latin it may be translated mersio: since we immerse anything into water, that the whole may be covered with the water.” Works, Vol. I., p. 71. Wit. ed., 1582.
Melanchthon, the most scholarly and able co-laborer with Luther, says: “Baptism is immersion into water, with this admirable benediction.” Melanc. Catec. Wit., 1580.
Cave, in his able work on Christian Antiquities, says: “The party to be baptized was wholly immersed, or put under water.” Prim. Christ., P. I. Chap. X. p. 320.
Beza, the learned translator of the New Testament, says: “Christ commanded us to be baptized, by which word it is certain immersion is signified.” Annot. on Mark 7:4.
Mede, the distinguished English scholar and Divine, says, “There was no such thing as sprinkling used in the Apostles’ days, nor for many ages after them.” Dis. on Titus 3:5.