is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach
(or make disciples of) all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe
all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you
alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Mark 16:15,16: “And he
said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to
every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but
he that believeth not shall be damned.”
HOW THE APOSTLES EXECUTED THIS COMMAND OF CHRIST TO TEACH AND BAPTIZE,
AFTER THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST.
Acts 2:37,38: “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their
heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and
brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be
baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission
of sins.”
Verses 41,42: “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized;
and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand
souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and
fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Acts 8:12,13: “But when they believed Philip preaching the things
concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were
baptized, both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also: and
when he was baptized, he continued with Philip.”
Verses 36–39: “And as they (namely Philip and the Ethiopian) went on
their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See,
here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, “If
thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.” And he answered and
said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded
the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water,
both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were
come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip,
that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.”
Acts 9:17,18: “And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house;
and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus,
that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that
thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he
received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.”
Acts 10:46–48: “For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify
God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should
not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And
he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.”
Acts 16:13–15: “And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river
side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake
unto the women which resorted thither. And a certain woman named
Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshiped
God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto
the things which were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptized, and
her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be
faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she
constrained us.”
Verse 40: “And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house
of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and
departed.”
Acts 16:29–34: “Then he (namely the keeper of the prison) called for a
light, and sprang in (the prison), and came trembling, and fell down
before Paul and Silas, and brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must
I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and
thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of
the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same
hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and
all his, straightway. And he led them into his house, and seated them
at the table, and rejoiced with all his house, that he believed in God,
or (as the latest translators say), he rejoiced, that he and all his
house believed in God.”
Acts 18:8: “Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the
Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed,
and were baptized.”
1 Cor. 1:14–16: “I thank God (says Paul) that I baptized none of you
but Crispus and Gaius; lest any should say that I had baptized in mine
own name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas; besides, I
know not whether I baptized any other.”
Compare this with 1 Cor. 16:15,16: “I beseech you, brethren (ye know
the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that
they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints), that ye
submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and
laboreth.”
WHAT TESTIMONY THE HOLY APOSTLES HAVE GIVEN IN THEIR EPISTLES,
CONCERNING BAPTISM.
1. _That it signifies the burying of sins, and the resurrection into a
new life._
Rom. 6:3,4: “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into
Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with
him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the
dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness
of life.”[80]
[80] He that is to have his sin buried through baptism, must first
have died unto it through repentance; and he that is to rise into,
or walk in, the new life, must first have been or walked in, an old
life; this is incontrovertible, but whether it applies to infants,
let the reader judge.
NOTE.--To the foregoing belongs also the passage, Tit. 3:5, where
baptism is called, “the washing of regeneration,” and Eph. 5:26, “the
washing of water by the word.”
2. _That through faith we become children of God, and through baptism
put on Christ._[81]
[81] It appears, therefore, that none were baptized in Galatia, but
those who had put on Christ. Concerning this putting on of Christ,
see Rom. 13:14.
Gal. 3:26,27: “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ
Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put
on Christ.”
3. _That as the ark with eight souls was preserved in the water, so
also believing baptized Christians are preserved or saved in baptism
through the answer of a good conscience._
1 Pet. 3:20,21: “When once the longsuffering of God waited in the days
of Noah, while the ark was preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls
were saved by water.[82] The like figure whereunto baptism doth also
now save us, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the
answer of a good conscience toward God).”
[82] In the ark, which was preserved through, or, properly speaking,
in the water, there were none but believing and obedient persons,
eight in number, namely, Noah and his wife, with their three sons,
Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and their three wives, eight persons in all:
likewise, none but believing and obedient persons belong in the
church of Christ, which is compared to the ark, and which must be
preserved through or in baptism.
MOREOVER, THE CONDITIONS REQUIRED IN, AT, AND ABOUT BAPTISM, INDICATE
SUFFICIENTLY, THAT IT WAS NOT ADMINISTERED TO CHILDREN, BUT TO PERSONS
OF UNDERSTANDING.
In order to receive baptism in a worthy and true manner, there are
required sorrow and repentance of sins, accompanied with a confession
of the same. Matt. 3:6, we read: “And were baptized of him in Jordan,
confessing their sins.”
Besides this, it is required that we should bear good fruits. “Bring
forth therefore,” says John, to those who desired to be baptized,
“fruits meet for repentance.” Matt. 3:8; or, according to Biestken’s
translation: “Do genuine fruits of repentance.”
Mark 16:16, it is also required, that we believe, yea, that we believe
with the heart. Acts 8:37.
In short, repentance or conversion, and baptism are joined together,
Matt. 3:6,11; as also, teaching, believing, and baptizing, Mark
16:15,16. Confession and baptism went hand in hand with the Ethiopian,
Acts 8:37. Baptism is a burying of the old man, and a sign of
resurrection into a new life, Rom. 6:3,4; a putting on of Christ, Gal.
3:27; and the answer of a good conscience toward God. 1 Pet. 3:21.
These and other conditions required in baptism cannot exist in infants,
who know neither good nor evil, cannot discern between the right hand
and the left hand, and do as children do, Deut. 1:39; Jon. 4:11; 1 Cor.
13:11.
Here we might adduce much more, but since it is not our purpose to
dispute about this point, but simply to show from the unadorned
testimonies of the holy evangelists and apostles, that baptism was
administered in the first century only to adult (that is, penitent and
believing) persons, we shall leave this subject, and proceed to give an
account of those who, according to history, have, either by word or by
deed, maintained this doctrine.
OF THE TESTIMONY OF THE FATHERS CONCERNING THIS ARTICLE; WHO LIVED FROM
THE DECEASE OF THE APOSTLES TO THE END OF THE FIRST CENTURY.
Although we might entirely conclude this first century as touching
baptism upon faith, with the testimony of Holy Scripture, we, so as
not to appear deficient, nevertheless deem it expedient, to add the
testimonies of the fathers, till the end of this century.
_About the year 52._--_Jac. Mehrn. Bapt. hist. pag. 578. from Simon
Metaphrastes, D. Vicecomes_ records the following incident (_lib. 1.
cap. 4. in the life of St. Auxibius_): When St. Mark, the apostle
of Christ, saw that Auxibius had a desire for Christ, and that he
was believing and instructed, he descended with him into a pool and
baptized him. This is the first example of which we read in history,
outside of Holy Scripture, of those who were incorporated into the
church of Christ, through baptism upon faith.
_About the year 60._--In, or very near this time, it is recorded,
even by several papistic writers, that there were such people and
such a sect as were afterwards designated by the name, _The Poor of
Lyons, Waldenses, Albigenses_, who were also called _Anabaptists_, or
_Baptists_, on account of the like faith which they had in common;
as shall be shown hereafter. Therefore the papists complain of their
being considered of such high antiquity; for some say that they
existed in the time of Sylvester, A. D. 315, and others assert, with
more justness, too, in the time of the apostles. _Baptism, histor.
pag. 615_, from a very old book. Also, _pag. 670 and pag. 682. from
Flaccius_. Also, _D. Balthazar Lydius_ (though he misinterprets their
doctrine) in the tract, “Where the church was before the year 1160,”
printed at _Dort, A. 1624. pag. 2. col. 1. from Reynerius Priester_.
_About the year 68._--It is stated that in the time of Nero, two
daughters of Valentinian, a Christian at Aquileia, who had been brought
up by their father in the Christian faith and the fear of God, were
instructed by the priest or teacher Hermagoras, and baptized at a
running water. See _De gantsch klare en grondige bewijsinge van den
Doop_, printed _A. D. [15] 81. letter Bv._
_About the year 70._--In or about the time of the death of the apostle
Peter is placed the bishop or teacher Linus, of whom it is testified
that he baptized, after preceding instruction, the son of Perpetua, a
Christian woman. See the above. Also, _Kort verhael van den loop der
werelt, by F. H. H._, printed at _Franeker, A. 1611. pag. 47._
_From the year 71 till the year 111._--It is stated that between these
years there flourished Ignatius, who was the second bishop of Antioch
after Peter, and, according to the chronicles, discharged the duties
of his office in the time of the apostle John. Writing of baptism, he
employs no other manner of speech, than which clearly implies that
baptism must be accompanied with faith, love and patience.
In his letter to Polycarp, bishop at Smyrna, he writes among other
things these words: Let none of you be found an apostate: “Let your
baptism be your weapon, your faith your helmet, love a lance, patience
a full armor.”
In a letter to the Tralienses he writes likewise: “It appears to me,
that you do not live after the flesh, but after Jesus Christ, who
died for our sakes; so that you, believing in his death, may, through
baptism, be partakers of his resurrection.”
Again, in the letter to those at Philadelphia he writes thus: “Seeing,
then, that there is one only ungenerated God and Father; and one only
begotten Son, Word, and Man; one Comforter, the Spirit of Truth; and
one faith, one baptism, and one church, which the apostles have founded
with their sweat and labor, in the blood of Christ from one end of
the earth to the other; therefore, you, as a peculiar people and holy
generation, must also do all things with a unanimous heart in Christ.”
Who does not see here, that Ignatius by joining together in this order
of sequence, preaching, faith, baptism, and the church, intends to say,
that according to the ordinance of Christ, preaching has the first
place, and, therefore, must precede; that after faith comes baptism,
and that after baptism the one baptized is a member of the church?
and that then the members of the church, as a peculiar people and
holy generation, must do all things with unanimous hearts in Christ?
For this is the import of the words of Ignatius. See, concerning the
aforementioned letters of Ignatius, H. Montanus in _De nietigheyd van
den Kinder-doop_, printed the second time, _pages 4 and 5_. Also, _Jac.
du Bois_ (though he misinterprets these letters), _Tegen Montanus_,
printed _Anno 1648. page 16–22_.
_In the year 95._--It is here recorded that Clemens, the fourth bishop
of the church at Rome, ordained: That the heretics’ baptism is neither
to be supported nor accepted; therefore, he that has received baptism
in conformity with the truth of the church, shall not be rebaptized;
but he who does not rebaptize the unclean, that is, baptized by the
ungodly or heretics, shall be deposed, as one who mocks the cross
and death of Christ, and does not distinguish the false priests, or
teachers, from the true ones (distinct. 30. cap.). Again, in his second
epistle he speaks of baptizing on the feast, and that the candidate
for baptism is to be examined three months previously. _P. J. Twisck,
Chron. 1st Book, in the year 95. page 32._
It certainly appears clearly from these words of Clemens that at
that time no other baptism obtained in the church, than that which
was administered after preceding instruction: for when he speaks of
baptizing on the feast, and that the candidate for baptism is to be
examined three months previously, it is certainly expressed, that then
no new-born children were baptized; for who does not know that children
are born throughout the whole year, and not only on feast-days (namely,
on Easter or Pentecost)? Besides, infants cannot be examined in the
faith three months previous to their baptism, as is required here of
the candidates for baptism.
Moreover, in the third letter of Clemens, the following words, which
still more clearly express the preceding meaning, are found: If any
one desires to become a believer, and to be baptized, he must prepare
himself to lay aside the former wickedness; so that he henceforth may
obtain, by a good conversation, an inheritance of the heavenly riches,
according to his own deeds. Let him that desires this, go to his
priest, or teacher, and hear from him the mysteries of the kingdom of
heaven; let him exercise himself diligently with fasting, and examine
himself well in everything, so that after three months he may be
baptized. Every one shall be baptized in running water, and the name of
the blessed Trinity be invoked over him. _Jac. Mehrn. Bapt. Histor. 2nd
part, on the second century, page 209._ from _Clem. Epist. 3_.
From the _Constitutionibus Apostolicis, lib. 7. cap. 23._ by the same
Clemens, these words are taken: Concerning baptism we commanded you
before, O bishop, and say this also: that you shall baptize as the Lord
has commanded us, when he said: “Go, and teach all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.”
Matt. 28:19,20. _Bapt. Histor. page 200. ex. Constit. Apostol._
The above words of Clemens speak so plainly of the true order of the
baptism of Christ, that they need no explanation whatever. We shall
therefore pass on to the martyrs who suffered in or about this time.
AN ACCOUNT OF THE PIOUS MARTYRS AND WITNESSES OF JESUS CHRIST WHO
SUFFERED DURING THE FIRST CENTURY:
That is, from the death of Christ to the year A. D. 100.
SUMMARY OF THE MARTYRS OF THE FIRST CENTURY.
This first century did not pass without the shedding of much blood of
the saints; for, since Jesus Christ himself, the Leader of all true
believers, was subject to it, it was just, that his members should
follow in the same path; yet John died before Christ. But after the
death of Christ, the fire of persecution raged exceedingly, consuming
nearly all of the beloved apostles and friends of Christ, according to
the flesh. We have described those who followed Christ, their Captain,
into suffering and death, according to the order of time; they are the
following persons: Stephen, the deacon; the apostles, James, Philip,
Barnabas, Mark the evangelist, Peter, Paul; some companions and friends
of Paul, as Aristarchus, Epaphras, Silas, Onesiphorus, Prochorus,
Nicanor, Parmenas, Olympas, Carpus, Trophimus, Materus, Egyetus,
Hermagoras, Onesimus, Dionysius of Athens, and Timothy; but the latter
was slain a few years after the others. In the meantime the preceding
ones are followed by the apostles, Andrew, Bartholomew, Thomas,
Matthew, Simon Zelotes, Matthias, Luke the evangelist, Antipas, the
faithful martyr of Jesus, John, whom Jesus loved, Urticinus, Vitalus,
etc., all of whom obtained the martyrs’ crown, as may be seen from the
following account.
To Jesus Christ, the Son of God, we have accorded the first place
among the martyrs of the new covenant; not in the order of time, for
herein John was before, and preceded with his death; but on account of
the worthiness of the person, because he is the head of all the holy
martyrs, through whom they all must be saved.
JESUS CHRIST THE SON OF GOD CRUCIFIED AT JERUSALEM.
[Illustration: CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS CHRIST.]
About three thousand, nine hundred and seventy years after the creation
of the world, in the forty-second year of the reign of Augustus, the
second Roman emperor, when the whole world was at peace, Jesus Christ
was born of the virgin Mary, in the little town of Bethlehem, being the
only and eternal Son of God, the Word by which all things are made,
yea, God blessed forever. Matt. 16:16; John 1:14; Rom. 9:5.
But his entrance into this world, as well as his progress and end, was
full of misery, distress and affliction, indeed it may be said: He was
born under the cross; brought up under the cross; he walked under the
cross, and, finally died on the cross.
Touching his birth, he was conceived of the Holy Ghost. His birth
ushered him into great poverty; for he was not born in his maternal
city, Nazareth, but on the journey to Bethlehem; which was the cause,
that no suitable place could be prepared for his birth; yea, even more,
he could obtain no place in the inn, but had to be born in a stable;
and when he was born, he was wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in
a manger.
Touching his bringing up, it was attended with much sorrow, for when
he was still less than two years old, Herod persecuted him even unto
death; on account of which his foster-father Joseph, and his mother
Mary, had to flee into Egypt, and remain there until Herod’s death. But
meanwhile there were killed in his stead, that he also might be killed,
all the children of two years and under, in and about Bethlehem, so
that the voice of lamentation was heard in all the boundaries of that
region; of which Jeremiah had prophesied: “A voice was heard in Ramah,
lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for her children
refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.” Jer.
31:15; fulfilled, Matt. 2:18.
As regards his life and conversation among men, he was considered an
enthusiast and vagrant, because he had no permanent place of abode;
which latter was nevertheless thus bitter for him, that he complains:
“Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man
hath not where to lay his head.” Luke 9:58. Meanwhile he was reproached
as being the friend of publicans and sinners, a glutton and wine
bibber, yea, that he was possessed with the devil; and this, until the
hour of his departure was nigh at hand.
Concerning the end of his life, it was the most miserable, for it was,
so to speak, the day, when all the fountains of the great deep broke
forth over him, and the floods of suffering overflowed him, to swallow
him up altogether.
First of all, he was betrayed by his disciple Judas, who sold him
for thirty pieces of silver to the high priests and Pharisees. Matt.
26:14–16. Then he was delivered unto them, sharply examined, yea,
adjured by the living God, to say, whether he was the Christ, the Son
of God. And as soon as the Lord had confessed this, they cried, “He is
guilty of death.”
Then they spit in his face, and buffeted him. Others covered his
face, saying, “Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote
thee?” Matt. 27:67,68. This having continued till about morning, they
delivered him to Pontius Pilate, the judge, to pronounce the sentence
of death upon him, and to put an end to his life. Matt. 27:1,2.
Pilate said, “What accusation bring ye against this man?” They
answered, “If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him
up unto thee.” Pilate said, “Take ye him, and judge him according to
your law;” for he perceived that for envy they had delivered him. They
answered, He perverts the nation, and forbids to give tribute to Cesar,
saying that he himself is a king. In short, “We have a law, and by our
law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.” John
19:7.
Thereupon Pilate took Jesus into the judgment hall, and, having
examined him, said, that he found no cause of death in him. Therefore
he sought a means to release him; moreover, in order to move the Jews
to pity on account of his innocence, he caused him (though against his
conscience) to be terribly scourged, crowned with thorns, mocked, and,
thus disfigured, brought before the Jews, saying, “Behold the man!”
so that they might now be satisfied with his suffering, and spare
his life. But it was of no avail; they cried the more, “Crucify him,
crucify him; if thou let this man go, thou art not Cesar’s friend.”
Verse 12.
Finally, when Pilate saw that the Jews were not to be moved, and
fearing that they might accuse him before Cesar, he went and sat down
(at about eight o’clock in the morning, according to our reckoning) in
the judgment seat, in the place called _Lithostratos_, and in Hebrew,
_Gabbatha_, a paved elevation in Jerusalem; and there, though quite
against his conscience, pronounced the sentence of death upon Christ.
Thereupon the soldiers again very dreadfully mocked him, laid his cross
upon him, and drove him out through the gate up to Mount Calvary, where
they, after having stripped him of his garments, nailed him to a cross,
and raised him up between two murderers, John 19:18; which was done,
according to our reckoning, at about nine o’clock in the morning.
In the meantime they gave him vinegar and gall to drink, parted his
garments, and again derided him most shamefully and above measure, till
a great darkness came, continuing for about three hours; and then the
Lord cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani!” that is,
“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Matt. 27:46.
Then, having fulfilled all, he commended his soul into his Father’s
hands, saying, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” Luke 23:46.
Thereupon he bowed his head and expired, having suffered excruciatingly
six hours on the cross, from nine o’clock in the morning till three in
the afternoon.[83]