In The Master's Service

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The Old Baptist Test

Elder John M. Watson   From the book, The Old Baptist Test

THE DOCTRINE TAUGHT BY PAUL AGREES WITH THAT OF THE OLD ORDER OF BAPTISTS

"Other Sheep I have which are not of this fold, them also I must bring; and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold and one Shepherd." John x:15.

SECTION I. [Part 3)

But to proceed with the Romans: A failure of the Gospel to these Gentiles, whom Christ said, He must also bring, would have been, as we have seen, through the power of God! Just as if those "other sheep" unto whom Paul and Barnabas preached at Antioch in Pisidia had not believed, the failure would have been through.the ordination of God! Acts 13:46. A thought too wicked, and too absure to be entertained for a moment! As far as preaching the Gospel was concerned they were brought in under the last general commission. "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature, and he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned." Every creature, bond and free, male and femane, all sorts, all grades, from the king to the peasant, in all countries and in all times and ages are included in this broad and general commission. But, observe, preaching the Gospel according to this commission, latitudinous as it is, never did, nor ever will add to the number of God's chosen ones. Christ still says in His word, "many are called, but few are chosen." Further, that this commission does not extend to any who are incapable of believing, under the operation of the blessings of the Gospel. Hence, infants and idiots are not subjects of Gospel address; but we know they may become subjects of its grace when the Gospel becomes the Power of God unto them in the bestowal of grace. And, inasmuch as christian baptism can be received only through the faith of the operation of God, they cannot become visible subjects of the Church. Therefore, we see no account of infants having been brought into Christ's fold from among the Romans. Had there been as much ceremonious sprinkling of them in those days as in ours, he, who did not shun to declare all the counsel of God, surely would have given full instructions on the subject. Nay, when "the Lord added daily to the Church such as should be saved." not a single instance is recorded! Therefore we with confidence assert there were no infants in the Church at Rome.

Although the holy scriptures are thus explicit on the subject of preaching as ordained in subordinate agreement with the inward calling of God, they are no less plain in regard to the general call of the gospel as proclaimed under the last commission which embraces every creature. As it is very necessary for us to entertain correct views of this part of our subject also, I will offer a few remarks just here for the consideration of some of our ultra brethren, who, I fear, have imbibed erroneous views on this important, and just at this time very interesting subject. And I further fear that all such will object to my exposition of it; but see, brethren, that you do not, by so doing, refuse the testimony of the Bible!

There is, strange to say, an error entertained by some brethren, that the minister of the Lord should not call on "all men every where to repent;" on sinners to look to Christ and be saved; nor on unbelievers to believe. They are constantly saying, to preach in this way betrays Arminianism on the part of the ministry which thus exhorts its hearers, and also on the part of the Church which tolerates such preaching! Observe, shall we become Arminians by faithfully preaching according to the commission given by the Saviour? Some, indeed seem to think so! For when the minister discharges his duty zealously, faithfully and in a gospel manner, there are certain ones who cry out, he is an Arminian! The great error, that this is one of the varieties of Arminianism, is affecting both our pulpits and Churches; for instead of requiring this kind of preaching, and sustaining it as a Church, we fear some are opposed to it, and use their influence to suppress it. I ask now, in the name of this worldwide commission, including as it does every creature capable of hearing, and which authorizes and commands the ministerial servants of the Lord to preach the gospel to every creature, who does so? with that love, zeal and regard for the sinner, I subjoin to the question, which the Lord enjoins. Further, is it not to be feared that we have in this way grieved and silenced to some extent the spirit of exhortation in our pulpits? The spirit of exhortation which spoke out plainly and fully, through primitive ministers in the great affair of bringing in these "other sheep" we fear is now with us only in a grieved and vexed state! Primitive preachers did not suppress it, nor attempt to confine its word of exhortation to believers only, as some affect to do among us! The following scriptural truths may be read with profit by all. Yes, reader, I am willing for you to lay down this production until you search the Scriptures and examine the subject according to the following references: Luke 3:18; Acts 2:40, 13:15; Romans 12:8; I Timothy 4:13. Others of equal force might be added. It is high time that our Churches were looking after their preachers in this respect, and calling on them for those pointed warm gospel exhortations which accompanied Christ's primitive ministry. Brethren, have we not deviated somewhat in this particular from the Apostolic mode of preaching? If so, let us correct our errors by the word of God. Who is willing to attempt it? Who is ready to lead off in this great but neglected work as "examples" to more timid and fearful ones? Let those undertake it who are able to convince the gainsayers from the word of God, that such preaching of His servants as long as we have a Scriptural history of it furnishes a practical example of this mode of preaching the gospel.

To be continued ...