Page:Complete Works of Menno Simons.djvu/44

33 Having briefly noticed the Lord's com- mand, and the apostolic doctrine, prac- tices and signification of baptism; that it is and will lie the true baptism to the end of time, we will also, now, thi'ough the grace of God, as a duty, refer and reply to some scriptui'al passages of which the learned "WTongfully make use, to make void the ordinance of the Lord, and place in its stead their own.

In the first place, they teach that we are all the children of wratli, and sinfiil; born of the sinful seed of Adam, and therefore, say they, children are to l)e baptized, in order to be purified and washed from original sin, «&.

To this we reply thus : With the word of the Lord, we believe and confess that we all come from, and are born of unclean seed; that we tlu'ough the fii'st Adam, who was of the earth, became wholly depraved, and cliildren of death and of hell, Rom. 5: 12. Nevertheless, as we fell, and became sinners in Adam, we also believe and confess, that through Clirist, the second and heavenly Adam, we were restored to grace and justi- fied. For he appeared upon earth, that in and through him we might have life. Through him only we glory to have ob- tained grace, favor and the forgiveness of our sins with God our Father; and not throiigh baptism, whether we are children or believers; for if redemption, and the washing away of original sin, were through baptism, and not by the blood of Christ alone, then would the sweet smelling sacri- fice, which is of eternal worth, have been in vain, and without effect, or, there would be two remedies for our sins. Alas, no! the Sci'iptures speak but of one, which is Christ with his merits, death and blood, 1 Pet. 1 : 19. Therefore, he who seeks the remission of his sins through baptism, rejects the blood of the Lord and makes water his idol. Therefore, let every one be careful lest he ascribe the honor and glory due to Clirist, to the outward ceremonies and crea- tivce elements.

It is true, Peter says, "Repent and be bai)tized every one of you in the name of | Jesus Clu'ist, for the remission of sins." But this is not to be understood, that we receive the remission of oiu- sins through baptism. O no ! for if it be so, then Christ and his merits must fall. But we receive the remis- sion of oui- sins, in baptism, as follows : The Lord commanded his gospel to be preached to every creatui'e, so that all who believe and are baptized, may be saved. "Where there is faith, which is called the gift of God, l)y Paul, there also are the power and the fruits of faith. Where there is an active, fruitful faith, there also is the promise; but where such a faith does not exist (we speak of adiilts), there also is no promise. For he that hears the word of the Lord, and believes it with the heai-t, mani- fests his fruit, and faithfully observes all things the Lord commanded him; for the Scriptiu-es teach, the just shall live by faith, Heb. 10: '6S. Then the remission of his sins is preached to him, as Peter teaches and in- structs.

Had Noah and Lot not believed the word of the Lord, they would have fared ill. Had Abraham not believed, he would not have obtained such glorious promises; but they believed, and did right, and became heirs of righteousness, Heb. 11: 8.

Had Moses and Israel not believed the word of the Lord and been disobedient, how could they have been succored in the sea and in the wilderness? But they believed, and according to his promise, were protect- ed by the mighty hand of the Lord. But those who provoked him, and believed not his gracious word, and the great miracles, fell in the wilderness, and entered not the promised land.

There was also reconciliation connected with the sacrifices of the Old Testament, not on account of the worth of the smoking offerings upon the altars; for it was not possible, says Paul, that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sin, Heb. 10: 4. Before it was offered, it was all the Lord's, and the cattle upon a thousand hills, were his, says David, Ps. 50: 10. But because the rigliteous believed the word of divine promise as true, and walked in obedience