THE OLD BAPTIST TEST
Section 11
Other Modes of Worship, Observations, Etc.
Elder John M. Watson ... From the book "The Old Baptist Test"
Having learned that there are several varieties of Christians here, I earnestly inquired for the one which most resembled the primitive brethren I had just left; when I was told that one of them claimed for their ministers a direct succession from the Apostles. This decided my determination at once to hear one of them first of all. I accordingly attended their next Sabbath meeting. Being rather late, their service had begun before I entered the house; and to my great astonishment I saw the people seated in boxes, slips, or as I have since learned, provincially termed pews. Some of the congregation looked around at me with supercilious surprise when I entered one of these boxes, with half-open door, and seated myself in it. Even Mr. Formula, as I afterwards learned was his name, looked up for a moment from the paper which he was reading. I soon perceived that it was not a transcript of any portion of the revealed word of God, but some strange things which he had written, either on his own authority or that of his people. He read about episcopacy, - of its great orthodoxy - of its divine right to change the things of the gospel or to add things to it - of its great strength in civil law - of its scholastic culture - of its great wealth and literary strength. He read much about a great Southern Universty, which seemed a very good thing in itself, but he associated it too close with the spiritual vitality of the gospel of Christ, and I began to fear he was reading about "another gospel." After treating of the great and vital importance of this institution, he read about Arch Bishops, Arch Deacons, curates, catechists, catechumens, catechizations, beneficiaries, salaries. His reading then turned on the subject of Puseyism and Puseyites; and he concluded these strange things by referring to confirmations, infant baptisms and several other religious anomalies, which I could not receive in a gospel sense from him; no, verily, not even if an angel from heaven had been reading them! After getting through with these adjuncts, the half seemingly not having been read, he read some fine compliments about Christ, rather, however, of the Nicodemian kind; but still from his great gravity, and apparent sincerity, I hoped according to the charity of the gospel, that he was better prepared than was Nicodemus to receive and teach the fundamental truth of Christianity as was taught to him by Christ.
Having listened to such a mixing and blending of things - of civil law and church government - of the "world'' and the church of gospel ordinances and human institutions - of gospel teaching and human learning - of Christ and the bishop - of the adult and the infant - of riches above and wealth below my heart grew worse, and I felt greatly inclined to leave, which I did unobserved, as soon as the minister sat down and another took his place. I left indeed with a heavy heart, wondering how great and complicated must be the machinery which carries on the religious affairs of these people, but still hoping there may be some inward life among them, greatly as it may be obscured by the things which I had just seen and heard. Thus grieved and perplexed, I had scarcely passed the shadow of this house when I heard a great noise in another large building just before me. Almost unconsciously I went in, and saw some standing, some sitting, some kneeling, and others prostrate. Some were singing, some praying, some speaking in whispers, while loud outcries and shoutings proceeded from others. The most surprising of all, some of the principal men seemed to be very anxious to keep up this strange state of things, in which men, women and children were so zealously engaged! My mind turned to the Bible for a parallel of what I was looking on, but could recollect of none. Neither the conversion of the three nor five thousand as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles afforded one. They were said to be drunk on one of those occasions, but not so much on account of the conduct of the hearers, as in consequence of their speaking in so many tongues, "as the spirit gave them utterance." "They were amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, what meaneth this?" Then the mockers said, these men are full of new wine. There was no confusion simple amazement and rational inquiry on the part of those who heard them speak in their own tongues. Just as we would suppose illiterate men to be drunk in the present day, who would attempt to speak to a mixed congregation of English, Germans, Frenchmen, Italians, Spaniards and Mexicans in their own tongues. The Apostles on that occasion had to speak in more than a dozen tongues, and no wonder that they who were ignorant of the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, should have concluded that they were drunk. Besides, when they were afterwards cut in the heart their words were orderly and much in point, saying "to Peter and the rest of the Apostles, men and brethren what shall we do?"
Thus I referred these new exercises to the word of the Lord, which I perceived was not sanctioned by any portion of it, and felt so much confounded that I left the house. I was soon told in the street after leaving the house, that they were a very wealthy, respectable, and devotional variety of Christians; but that unfortunately they were governed in their doctrines and external worship by one JOHN, of Britain, more than by the Evangelist, that he has taught them to believe and speak harsh things about the doctrine of the Apostles, and even about those who still taught it, that their religion was very active while it lasted! That it was liable to great fluctuation, but that it generally acquired great strength in the fall season; and yet, after all, men and women would frequently loose it, and never find it during its most favorable season. Yet, he said, nevertheless, it must be admitted that they have done much good notwithstanding their delusions. And many of them are pious, exemplary Christians, serving the Lord with reverence and godly zeal, drawing nearer unto the Lord in their inward feelings of love, devotion and fear, than they do in their outward worship. I also learned that they were the most numerous variety of Christians here, and had it in their power to dispense more loaves and fishes than any others. Besides, I was told that they had a great official, who presided over an institution, that gave carnal direction to all their ecclesiastical affairs!
Just about this time, having gone slowly down the street, we saw a large assembly coming out of another house, very large, with two towers on the fronting end. I was told that they were very orderly people, and quite the reverse of those I had just left. And on hearing that they would hold one of their meetings at 3 o'clock, p. m., I was much pleased and felt greatly inclined to attend. I did so. Here I also found podia or pews; but a grave looking old gentleman, perceiving that I was a stranger, kindly invited me into the pew in which he was sitting, with an assurance of countenance that I was very welcome to the seat. About this time a select few commenced singing a beautiful hymn in the gallery, and as they were closing the song of praise, I began to look around for the select few who were to do the praying, which I concluded would be in conformity with the singing, but to my agreeable surprise an elderly, venerable gentleman then arose and offered up a solemn and appropriate prayer; though a little longer than I had been accustomed to, yet of which I will not complain. He then read a portion of Holy Scripture, and spoke of many blessed and familiar things, to which my heart responded with hearty approval, and I began to feel like I had found some of the primitive brethren, with whom I had so lately been; and yet think so; but one circumstance arose in the conclusion, which greatly disturbed my feelings. The preacher announced to the assembly that he was going to baptize the infant which was then held before him in its mother's arms! Had he said that he was going to circumcise it I would have been less surprised; for I had read in the Bible of the circumcision of infants, but never of their having been baptized. Nor did I ever see or hear of anything of the kind all the time I was among the primitive churches.
A strange scene was passing before me. The venerable minister, who had just won my Christian respect and affection, was speaking of baptism; a small vessel of water was on the little table near him; a lady held a tender infant in her arms, which, after he had prayed, she presented to him. He put his fingers into the little vessel and sprinkled a few drops of water which adhered to them into the face of the child. The babe cried, and the mother made a suppressed effort to quiet it, when the official pronounced it fully and duly baptized! Had he not made frequent use of the word baptism, it would not have occurred to me that the strange ceremony which I was witnessing was in any way intended for Christian baptism; for it was entirely different from any thing I had ever seen among the people I had so lately been among. In every case I had seen there was a baptizer, a believer, a "river" or much water," a declaration of faith the faith of the operation of God a dipping or burial of the subject in the water; and a raising of him up out of it, the answer of a good conscience, an emblematical washing away of sins, a rejoicing, a bringing forth of fruits meet for repentance, and a walking in newness of life. Not a single thing of the kind was seen in connection with the strange ceremonies I had just witnessed. No, not even a baptizer, for Mr. Pedo Erudite, as was his name, was in that respect a mere mocker!
At this place of worship I was made both to rejoice and to mourn. I felt joy and gladness in a high degree while I listened to the able expositions which the preacher gave of the word of God, but felt great grief and mortification when I saw the strange-looking ceremony over the infant. By the performance of these unwarrantable acts, my outward fellowship for these people was broken, although an inward union and communion had been produced by the gracious words the minister had spoken.
To be continued . . .