Page:Complete Works of Menno Simons.djvu/37

Rh not, shall be damned," Mark. 16: 15. Thus has the Lord commanded and ordered; therefore, let no other be tanght, or prac- ticed forever. The word of God abideth forever._^ Yonng children are withont under- standing and cannot be taught, therefore, baptism cannot be administered to them withoutperverting the ordinance of the Lord} misusing his exalted name, and doing vio- lence to his holy word. In the New Testa- ment there are no ordinances enjoined upon infants, for it treats, both in doctrines and sacraments, with those who have ears to hear, and hearts to understand, Matt. 13: 16. Even as Christ commanded, so the holy apostles also taught and practiced, as may be plainly perceived in many parts of the New Testament. ;'^hus Peter said, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost," Acts 2: 38. Again, Philip said to the eirnuch, "If thoubelievest with all thine heart, thou mayest," Acts 8 : 37 ^_ Here, faith did notfollow baptism, but baptism followed faith,. Mark 16: 16.

Christ has thus commanded baptism, and received it himself, according to the follow- ing manner: When the time had come, and the hour had approached, in which he would fultill the commission enjoined upon him, preach the woid, and make kno^vn his Father's holy name, he came to John, to the Jordan, ancl desired to be baptized of him, that he might fulfill all righteouness. He prepared to meet temptation, misery, the cross and death, and as a willing, obedient child, resigned himself to the will of his Al- mighty Father; he himself saith, "I came down from heaven, not to do mine ovm will, but the will of Him that send me," Jn. 6: 38. He was baptized of John, attested to by the Holy Ghost, and acknowledged by the Father, as a beloved Son, Matt. 3: 17; 17:5.

Behold, thus Christ commands, and was himself baptized; thus the apostles taught, and practiced. Who will rise up against the Lord, and say, it shall not be so? Who will teach and instinact wisdom? "Who will accuse the apostles and evangelists with falsehood? It would be entirely unbecom- ing for a raild to command and judge his 4 father, or a sei-vant, his master, and it is much more unbecoming for the creatm'e to exalt himself above his Creator. But now it is manifest that the whole world, with its unprofitable doctrines, and commandments of men; with its anti-christian customs, long standing usages, its tyrannical, murdering sword, judges over Christ and his word. The tiiiths of Christ are esteemed lies; his wisdom, foolishness; his light, darkness, and his gospel, pen^erted and false. In short, Christ must be silent and suffer. Now it may probably be said, that this was necessary in the beginning of the gospel, because at that time, there were no believers ^ whose chilcli-en might be baptized ; but now, " if the parents are believers, then are the children also to be baptized, even as Abra- ham, when he believed, circumcised his chil- dren, Gen. 17 : 23. O no ! this does not follow. Although Abraham believed God, only one-half of his seed v/as circumcised, name- ly, the male children, and not the female, though he was the father of the female, as well as of the male children, of which, l)y the gTace of God, more shall be said in the replication.

In the beginning the gospel was to be preached, and faith followed hearing, and baptism followed faith; this,is incontrovert- able, for so the Scriptures teach, Rom. 10: 17. But that the children of believers should be baptized because Abraham's children were circumcised, can in no wise be sus- tained by Scripture; but if it could be es- tablished, though it cannot, there would then be but few children baptized, for the number of true believers, it is to be lament- ed, is very small, as any one may see.

They are not all christians who are so called. But those only who have the Spirit ^^ of Christ, are true christians, though I know not where many are to be found. Yea, what more shall we say ? All who with Abel bring an acceptable offering; those who are born with Isaac of the free woman, and with Jacob have the birthright, and have ob- tained the paternal blessing, must be slain by bloodthii-sty Cain, mocked by Ishmael, and hated by Esau, even as we hear and see on all sides. May God effect a change for the better.

Behold, this is the word and will of the