The Rev. James Ballantyne, a prominent preacher in Melbourne, had issued a tract. It was no offense for him so to do: it was right—even noble from his view of it. But did he present the truth? was the question, and it is the question even now, and ought to be inquired into by everyone. To help in this it was resolved that a REPLY be issued. To "avoid all offense" Mrs. Carr was requested to go over the manuscript word by word. What she approved it is hoped will not be an "offense" to the reader. The language of the author was quoted, his very words, and the reply followed each paragraph, thus:
"BAPTISM"—"ITS ORIGIN."
"It is not of man, but of God. Jesus Christ himself instituted it. We find it in the apostolic commission, 'Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in (into) the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.'"
True.
"ITS DESIGN."
"It represents and seals the union of the soul with Christ. It is the pledge that all covenant blessings will be bestowed. It is the visible sign of our engagement to be Christ's, by receiving him in faith, and laying ourselves on the altar of his service. It is our initiation into the membership of the visible Church. It is the badge of our public Christian profession, proclaiming our separation from the world and our union with all who bear the name of Jesus."
The above is in substance, what the presbyterian Confession of Faith says, instead of what the Bible says is the design of Baptism. Whoever read in the Bible that Baptism is a sign or a seal, or a symbol of anything? Paul says, "Ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit," Eph. 1:13 and 4:30. The Rev. Ballantyne says, BAPTISM is the seal. The object of his tract, as stated in his preface was to utter a warning word to the young, not to let feeling take the precedence of enlightened conviction, and not to make TOO MUCH of Baptism. And this is the way he begins: By putting Baptism in the place of the Holy Spirit, and by making Baptism seal the union of the soul with Christ. Remember this: "Ye ardent and impulsive minds" what saith the scripture on the design of Baptism, "Thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness," Mat. 3:15; "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved," Mark 16:16; "Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus the Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit," Acts 2:38; "As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ," Gal. 3:27. Baptism is a Bible theme, And why not write about it in Bible language?
"The words do not declare that Faith must go before Baptism. The Greek word translated BAPTIZED is baptistheis. The proper meaning of this is, HAVING BEEN BAPTIZED. Anyone who knows the parts of the Greek verb knows this. The passage, then, reads thus: 'He that believeth, having been baptized, shall be saved.' So then, after all, the passage is just as favorable to infant baptism as any passage could be."
Baptistheis means having been baptized. This is STRICTLY TRUE. It is also strictly true that "Pisteusas" is the first aorist participle, and literally means HAVING BELIEVED. "Anyone who knows the parts of the Greek verb knows this." The passage, then, reads thus: "He having believed, and having been baptized shall be saved." So, then, after all, the passage is just as UNSUITABLE TO INFANT BAPTISM AS ANY PASSAGE COULD BE.