In The Master's Service

Print this page

THE OLD BAPTIST TEST

Elder John M. Watson

As there are certain practices maintained by the Old Order of Baptists, of which the world and other denominations complain, I will now attend to this part of my subject.

1st. They will not commune with other denominations. Is there, I ask in point here, a single instance of a sprinkled communicant among these Corinthians? Observe, we are proving our Church state with theirs.

2d. That we will not engage in modern religious institutions. Again I ask with no less confidence, is there an instance among these "other sheep" brought in from among the Corinthians by the Lord and constituted info a Church by His servant, of any of them having gone out into an institution for the purpose of educating preachers in a theological school, of hiring and sending any out to preach, subordinately to the begging or collecting of funds for the maintenance of any institution whatever? Is there the record of a single case, of any person having been on specified pay for any work of this kind?

3d. That we do not take infants into the Church. Were there any among these Corinthians? No, not one. Thus we see that we have fellowship with the Corinthians in all these acts; though we have not with other denominations. And we might adduce other things equally in point, but we will ask at once the general question, with which should we desire to be found in Church agreement, with the Primitive Churches, or with those who have departed from the ancient land-marks? Who brought these Corinthians in? Christ. By what kind of ministry were they brought? By one, according to God's calling. By whom were they constituted into a Church? By an Apostle. Of whom did they receive laws and church rules? Of the Great Head of the Church. Who has a right to change or add to these? No one on earth.

These very things, so much complained of, and spoken of in opposition to, and in ridicule of the Old Order of Baptists, cause their great resemblance to these Corinthians, in their church state. And were they to revive in our midst, we are the only people with whom they could have church fellowship! How could they commune with the sprinkled among others? How could they tolerate the various modifications of Arminianism everywhere to be found except among us? How could they listen to a hired preacher, or contribute to a salary of one or two thousand dollars? How could they deny the Lord's way of calling preachers, and sending them out according to the prayers of His people? How could they bear modern railings at the doctrine of election? How could they bear to hear preachers trying to establish the righteousness of the creature and denying the doctrine of the imputed righteousness of Christ?

Finally, well might they ask, has the Lord changed His plan of bringing in His "other sheep" since we were brought? Who but the Old Order of Baptist could answer negatively by their conduct? They verily might say ai you were brought so were we; as you abided in the ways of the Lord so do we.

Reader, these striking and undeniable characteristics on our part found in such perfect agreement with these primitive churches, must be gathered from the Bible, in the light of that "Hidden Wisdom" which God ordained for His people. The world has no eye, no ear, no heart for them; and in its presumptive blindness overlooks them.

Our denominational views of personal and unconditional election were plainly taught to them by Paul. Their state of utter depravity before conversion is what we now contend for. Their calling was of God, as we say ours was. Their ministry was of God, without the intervention of missionary societies, as ours is.

Nor alas! do we lose Church identity with them in their conflicts with each other, in their trials, and deviations from Gospel order. Money, the bane of all other denominations, had its scriptural place among them as it has among us. There are, at least, no positive evils produced by it among us though there may be a few incidental ones. Who ever saw a Baptist of the Old Order, in fellowship with his brethren, in a "Poor House?" Who ever saw one begging bread? Who ever saw one hiring himself to preach for a modern institution? Who ever met one on a mission of proselyting? Answer.

Differing as we do from all other denominations, and being out of communion with them in the externals of Christianity, it certainly behooves us with great concern to make out our identification with primitive Christians from the word of God, especially from their history as therein revealed. With these we much prefer to be found in scriptural agreement, than with any modern ones who may differ with us.

Charity, however, constrains us to state, that we make a distinction between outward and inward Christianity. Although we cannot have fellowship for many in their external ways, being in many instances modern and unauthorized by the word of God, yet when they tell us of a blessed work of grace in their souls, we have an inward fellowship for them as brethren in the Lord. But how can we walk together in those things which our very souls loathe and detest! Impossible, without hypocricy, and a violation of a principle which has ever existed among the Old Order of Baptists. Hence, among the many false charges brought against these people, one is, that they do not believe there are any real Christians among the other denominations. But we believe there are many inward Christians who are in disorder - unbaptised, bewitched, sickly and weak. With these we sympathize, and at all times labor, when opportunities offer, to teach them the ways of the Lord, and exhort them to walk therein, that we may also have outward Christian fellowship for them.

How can we reform others while we fellowship the very things which we condemn? Let us then continue to lift up our voice, however feeble it may be, and to utter the words of truth, however unheeded they may be, against the religious errors of our day. Oh! for the constant speaker and doer of Bible truths.

The hand of fellowship is on the paper, for the man who in the spiritual strength of, and love; for, Gospel Truth, shuns not to declare all the counsel of God, however greatly it may affect his secular interests, and who will not, for any considerations, teach religious things on human authority. Shall we, recreant to our trust, teach for doctrine the sayings of men? No, let us as faithful ambassadors declare the message of our King, and that only.

To be continued ...