that any of them, fince it is incredible that all of them, were baptized by plunging? The baptifm of the Eunuch is another example recorded in fcripture-we have a particular history of this in the 8th chapter of the Acts of the apoftles-" 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 fpirit of the Lord caught away Philip." This is a very particular defcription of the folemn tranfaction upon which the Baptists must infift, as a clear and pofitive proof, that plunging is the only fcripture baptifm.

But I hope, in a few words to fhew, that this is fo far from proving, that dipping is the only fcrip. ture baptifm, that there is not any certain proof whether the Eunuch himself was baptized by plunging, pouring, or fprinkling. Here let it be noticed, that the Greek prepofition eis, does not always fignify, into, as it is here tranflated, but is often tranflated, to or unto-and ek tranflated, out of, very frequently fignifies, from any thing. Agreeable to this, the paffage may be thus read-" And they went down both to the water, both Philip and the Eunuch, and he baptized him; and when they were come up from the water," &c.*

I may now appeal to any impartial mind, that if

* Some fuppofe that the mode of baptifm is clearly afcertained, by ite being faid of Christ and others, that at the time of their baptifm they went down into the water, and came up out of the water. If fuch will turn to the history of Ifrael's tranfit over Jordan, they will find it repeatedly afferted that they went down into Jordan, (the fame river in which Chrift was baptized,) and came up out of Jordan, and wet the foles of their feet only. If Ifrael went down into Jordan, and came up out of Jordan, and were not plunged all over in Jordan, as it is certain they were not, then Chrift's going into Jordan, and coming up out of Jordan, furnishes no evidence that he was baptized by plunging.

any one fhould read this hiftory, who has heard of baptizing only by pouring water upon the perfon baptized, whether he will not immediately fay the Eunuch was baptized in that way; and whether he who has never feen the ordinance administered only by sprinkling of clean water, will not as certainly conclude, that Philip baptized him by that mode?-But could this poffibly be the cafe, if there were in the text any clear, and certain proof in favor of plunging? We will now confider the paffage more critically" and they went down. both into the water, both Philip and the Eunuch." The going down into the water could not be the baptifm here recorded; because Philip must then also have been baptized, fince they both went down into the water. But the plain fact is, that the going down into the water, is no part of the baptifm here, but a diftinct thing-"And he baptized him.' This fentence contains the baptism, and all that is certain about the mode in which it was adminiftered. After the Eunuch was baptized, it is faid, "they both came up out of the water." this proye that the Eunuch was plunged? and why not Philip? Since he alfo came up out of the water. Should it be granted that the Eunuch was dipped, which is by no means certain, it will not establish dipping as the only fcriptural mode of baptifm. Neither will it prove, that it is effential to the right administration of the ordinance, efpecially as it is not made neceffary by him, who is the acknowledged author of the facred inftitution.

Does

Let us now confider thofe particular paffages of facred fcripture, which are brought to prove that plunging is the only true mode of fcripture baptifm-The first I fhall take notice of is in Coloffians,

ii. 12, and the parallel text in Romans, vi. 4, "Buried with him in baptifm, wherein ye alfo are rifen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. Therefore we are buried with him by baptifm into death: that like as Chrift, was raifed up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even fo we alfo fhould walk in newness of life." It is very clear that the design of inspiration in these words, was not to eftablish any particular mode of baptifm. It was to fhew, that all those to whom he addreffed himself, who were truly baptized into Jefus Chrift, had really the internal change fignified- by baptism. They were baptized into his death, as the apoftle expreffes it. They were really dead, and buried with Chrift as to fin, and with him were rifen again; and they alfo were really alive unto God, and could not defire to live any longer in fin.

This is true with refpect to all those who have this internal spiritual change, by the wafhing of regeneration, and fprinkling of the blood of Chrift fignified by baptifm; though they were baptized only by fprinkling. They are truly and fpiritually baptized into his death-They" are buried with him by their baptifm into death ;" and they also are truly rifen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raifed Chrift from the dead."

"

Let us not, my hearers, be too ftrenuous, but candid and generous to our brethren, who seem to be a little straitened on this fubject. Let us allow, that the apostle has reference to the external mode of baptifm. It will then prove that plunging is an allowed mode-But grant that it was an approved mode; grant that it was a mode of baptifm prac

tifed in those warmer climes; and, ftill farther, grant that it was the only mode practised by the apostles, even then it will not by any means follow, that plunging is the only chriftian baptifm. It is not exprefsly commanded, and exclufively enjoined by our Lord and Master, in the original institution; neither any where elfe in the facred fcriptures, is it intimated to be his will.

Some, to prove dipping to be the only baptifm, have made ufe of 1 Cor. x. 2. "And were all baptised unto Mofes, in the cloud, and in the fea." But it is probable, that they who imagine it to the purpose, are still where our fathers were, under a cloud, and have not yet paffed through the fea. Should any think it refers to the mode of chriftian baptism, I shall only observe, that the spray of the waters on the right and left, and the mift of the cloud above, as they paffed through the fea, gently fprinkling them, do as aptly reprefent, to an impartial mind, the mode of fprinkling. But the apostle, Eph. iv. 5, fays, "One Lord, one faith, one baptism." It is true that we acknowledge but one baptifm by water, even that inftituted by our bleffed Lord in our text; but ftill there may be different ways of applying the water in the facred wafhing, fuch as may anfwer a good confcience, and may moft aptly reprefent the manner of his death with Chrift, as to fin, and his rifing again to spiritual life. The three modes ufed in the proteftant church, taken together, may moft fitly reprefent the out pouring of that all powerful influence of the Holy Spirit, by which the command comes home to the guilty foul: by which fin revives, and the finner is overwhelmed in death. They may alfo reprefent that fpiritual wafhing of regeneration.

and fprinkling of the precious blood of Chrift, by which the foul is cleanfed from fin and guilt, and rifes with Chrift to a new spiritual life and comfort, through faith, which is of the operation of God.

On the whole, it at least is evident, that our brethren the Baptists ought to be a little less pofitive on this fubject, and more modeft and charitable toward those who differ from them in that refpect. They hold that without dipping or plunging the body all under the water, there is no chriftian baptifm; efteeming themselves, from this principle, the only chriftian church in the world : they will hold no christian communion with any of the protestant churches.

The Epifcopal church adminifters baptifm by pouring, and thofe of their communion use that mode. We think the mode of fprinkling as fcriptural as pouring or plunging; but yet we can use either mode as may best answer a good confcience to him who is baptized.

The mode of baptizing, by fprinkling clean water, we think was holden forth by the Jewish types, and clearly foretoid of the chriftian church in Ezek. xxxvi. 25, 26, " Then will I fprinkle clean water upon you, and ye fhall be clean from all your filthinefs, and from all your idols will I cleanfe you. A new heart alfo will I give you, and a new fpirit will I put within you; and I will take away the ftony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh." It is exprefsly promised to Chrift, in Ifa. lii. 15, "So fhall he fprinkle many nations; the kings fhall fhut their mouths at him, for that which had not been told them shall they fee; and that which they had not heard, fhall