Protestant Hierarchies in the old world were not, in adopting infant baptism, indifferent to the power which they would be able through its means, to exert over the people

Protestant Hierarchies in the old world were not, in adopting infant baptism, indifferent to the power which they would be able through its means, to exert over the people. But we are now considering its effect upon the spirituality, the purity, and other holy qualities, which are essential to the true church of Christ. In these respects what, when uninfluenced by antagonistic causes, such as those I have recited, has been its effects upon the churches of the Reformation? Survey the present aspect of the Episcopal Church, and especially in England. Her creed was in the main, evangelical. Many of her early ministers were men of great learning, energy, and piety. She took a firm hold upon a large proportion of the people. She abolished the mass, and with it purged out most of the grosser abominations of popery, but she retained infant baptism, with its sacramental doctrines. It has had time to produce its mature fruits. And what are they? “The land which around the martyr-fires of Smithfield, swore eternal hatred to Popery, is now full of Popish dignitaries, Popish priests, and Popish proselytes!” Almost every week announces the conversion to Romanism of some of her ministers, and people! Infant baptism has destroyed her gospel faith, and transformed her worship into a beggarly imitation of Italian pageantry. Of the Methodist church, a late and vigorous offshoot of Episcopacy, it is proper to say, that it has not yet existed long enough to feel deeply, the evils in question. But since it is following in the same steps, it must, at length, reach the same results. How many already, of her ministers, and members, are found going over to the Episcopal church, and some of them go on to Puseyism, and to Rome! Thus Methodism evinces that the blood of the mother courses in the veins of the daughter.

R. B. C. Howell- The Evils of Infant Baptism- Chapter 7- Infant baptism is an evil because it despoils the Church of those peculiar qualities which are essential to the Church of Christ

It means again, “Fulfil all the promises of thy covenant”

We shall talk of the text thus, What is meant by the plea before us – “Have respect unto the covenant”? Then we will think a little of whence it derives its force: thirdly, we will consider how and when we may plead it: and we will close by noticing what are the practical inferences from it.

It means again, “Fulfil all the promises of thy covenant,” for indeed all the promises are now in the covenant. They are all yea and amen in Christ Jesus, to the glory of God by us; and I may say without being unscriptural that the covenant contains within its sacred Charter every gracious word that has come from the Most High, either by the mouth of prophets or apostles, or by the lips of Jesus Christ himself The meaning in this case would be — “Lord keep thy promises concerning, thy people. We are in want: now, O Lord, fulfill thy promise that we shall not want any good thing. Here is another of thy promises: ‘When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee.’ We are in rivers of trouble. Be with us now. Redeem thy promises to thy servants. Let them not stand on the book as letters that mock us, but prove that thou didst mean what thou didst write and say, and let us see that thou hast power and will to make every jot and tittle good of all thou hast spoken. For hast thou not said, ‘Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass away? Oh then have respect unto the promises of thy covenant.”

Charles H. Spurgeon- ‘The Covenant Pleaded,’ at the Metropolitan Tabernacle Newington

The Wednesday Word: Peace with God

And, having made peace through the blood of His cross …” (Colossians 1:20).

Some years ago, a young woman lay dying of tuberculosis. A local minister visited her, and after making inquiries about her ailing health they had the following conversation.

Minister: “At this stage, it seems there is not much hope of your recovery.”

Patient: “I am told by the doctors there is none, sir. “

Minister: “Well, then, since you are facing eternity and must meet God, I need to ask have you made your peace with Him?”

Patient: “No, sir.”

Minister: “Do you not think it is time you began to do so? “

Patient: “No sir.”

Minister: “But why not?”

Patient: “Because my peace with God was made by Jesus when He died on the cross many years ago.”

“The Bible tells me that Jesus has already made peace through the blood of His cross and I have received, by faith, what He has accomplished for me. I have peace with God and now enjoy the peace of God”.

What a splendid reply! That young woman knew and believed the gospel.

My dear friend, let me ask you a question, “Have you peace with God?” Peace with God is essential but it’s a peace we cannot make for ourselves. Why not? Because our sins have separated us from Him, the all-holy God (see Isaiah 59:2).

But now for the good news. God so loves us that He came here Himself in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ and made peace upon the cross. He shed His precious blood, making full atonement for sin. He satisfied the offended and outraged justice of the Almighty so that all we who believe would now enjoy peace with God. “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).

Christ has made peace! We are brought to God by His blood.

Christ has made peace! The war is over.

Christ has made peace! There no longer is a separation between us and God.

Christ has made peace! We are blessed with every good thought from Heaven through Jesus.

Christ has made peace!

“Peace, what a precious sound!

Tell it the world around:

Christ has made peace!

We are brought to God

By His atoning blood,

And crowned with every good:

Christ has made peace!”

And that’s the Gospel Truth!

Miles Mckee

www.milesmckee.com  

To close with a few words

Now to close with a few words:

1. Let none despise this command of God, the ordinance of baptism; remember it is a command of his; be it at your peril if you do; it is hard kicking against the pricks; it is dangerous to treat with contempt any of the commands of God, and ordinances of Christ; beware, lest that should come upon you, and be fulfilled in you, behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish. (Acts 8:40, 41).

2. Let such who see it their duty to be baptized, not tarry, but immediately submit unto it; let them make haste, and delay not, to keep this command; remembering the motives, and encouragement to it.

3. Let those that yield obedience to it, do it in the name and strength of Christ; in the faith of him, from love to him, and with a view to his glory.

John Gill – Baptism: A Divine Commandment to be Observed, Being A Sermon Preached At Barbican, October 9, 1765 At The Baptism Of The Reverend Mr. Robert Carmichael, Minister Of The Gospel In Edinburgh.

It was chiefly intended to be a sign and seal to Adam, assuring him of the continuance of life and happiness

“It was chiefly intended to be a sign and seal to Adam, assuring him of the continuance of life and happiness, even to immortality and everlasting bliss, through the grace and favor of his Maker, upon condition of his perseverance in his state of innocency and obedience” (M. Henry). So far from its being a natural means of prolonging Adam’s physical life, it was a sacramental pledge of endless life and felicity being secured to him as the unmerited reward of fidelity. It was therefore an object for faith to feed upon—the physical eating to adumbrate the spiritual. Like all other signs and seals, this one was not designed to confer the promised blessing, but was a divine pledge given to Adam’s faith to encourage the expectation thereof. It was a visible emblem to bring to remembrance what God had promised.

Arthur W. Pink- The Divine Covenants-Part Two-The Adamic Covenant

A Christian should be like Christ in his boldness

First then, a Christian should be like Christ in his boldness. This is a virtue nowadays called impudence, but the grace is equally valuable by whatever name it may be called. I suppose if the Scribes had given a definition of Peter and John, they would have called them impudent fellows.

Jesus Christ and his disciples were noted for their courage. “When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” Jesus Christ never fawned upon the rich; he stooped not to the great and noble, he stood erect, a man before men,-the prophet of the people, speaking out holdly and freely what he thought.

Have you never admired that mighty deed of his, when going to the city where he had lived and been brought up; knowing that a prophet had no honor in his own country, the boon was put into his hands; he had but then commenced his ministry; yet without tremor he unrolled the sacred volume and what did he take for his text? Most men, coming to their own neighborhood would have chosen a subject adapted to the taste, in order to earn fame. But what doctrine did Jesus preach that morning? One which in our age is scorned and hated-the doctrine of election. He opened the Scriptures, and began to read thus: “Many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land, but unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none off them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.” Then he began to tell, how God saveth whom he pleases, and rescues whom he chooses. Ah! How they gnashed their teeth upon him, dragged him out, and would have cast him from the brow of the hill. Do you not admire his intrepidity? He saw their teeth gnashing; he knew their hearts were hot with enmity, while their mouths foamed with revenge and malice: still he stood like the angel who shut the lion’s mouths; he feared them not; faithfully he proclaimed what he knew to be the truth of God, and still read on despite them all. So in his discourses. If he saw a Scribe or a Pharisee in the congregation, he did not keep back part of the price, but pointing his finger, he said, “Woe Unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites;” and when a lawyer came, saying, “Master, in speaking thus, thou condemnest us also;” he turned round and said, “Woe unto you, lawyers, for ye bind heavy burdens upon men, while ye yourselves will not touch them with so much as one of your fingers.” He dealt out honest truth, he never knew the fear of man; he trembled at none; he stood out God’s chosen, whom he had anointed above his fellows, careless of man’s esteem. My friends, be like Christ in this. Have none of the time-serving religion of the present day, which is merely exhibited in evangelical drawing rooms-a religion which only flourishes in a hot-bed atmosphere, a religion which is only to be perceived in good company. No, if ye are the servants of God, be like Jesus Christ, bold for your Master; never blush to own your religion; your profession will never disgrace you; take care you never disgrace that. Your love to Christ will never dishonor you, it may bring some temporary slight from your friends, or slanders from your enemies: but live on, and you shall; live down their calumnies; live on and ye shall stand amongst the glorified, honored even by those who hissed you when he shall come to be glorified by his angels, and admired by them that love him. Be like Jesus, very valiant for your God; so that when they shall see your boldness, they may say, “He has been with Jesus.”

Charles H. Spurgeon- Christ’s People Imitators of Him, A Sermon Delivered on Sabbath Morning, at Exerter Hall Strand, April 29, 1855

We proceed still further to illustrate and confirm it, by the history and present state of the Pedobaptist world

We have now established our proposition by scripture, reason, and facts. We proceed still further to illustrate and confirm it, by the history and present state of the Pedobaptist world.

Infant baptism swept the primitive churches into popery, with all its darkness, and horrors. The earthly “Head and Ruler,” thus brought whole nations into the church, and made them subject to his authority. National governments were within, and subordinate to his, and all the people of which they were composed owed to the “Holy See” their personal and primary allegiance. Thus the Pope ruled the nations with “a rod of iron.” That all this is due to infant baptism is demonstrated by these two facts: in the first place, that he exercised this authority solely upon the ground that the people, and princes, were all members of his church; and in the second place, we all know that they never could have been of his church, but for infant baptism. May I not add, that it is by the same means that he still retains his influence over nations, and communities, keeps them in awe of his spiritual prerogatives, and holds them in servile subjection to his will? For what other purpose than to force them under his authority, does he so sedulously inculcate the pernicious dogma, that by their baptism received in infancy, they are brought into the fold of the church, within which they will be saved, and out of which they will be damned; and that therefore, if they renounce their baptism, or apostatize from Popery, their everlasting destruction is certain? Do any of these nations, or communities, dare at any time, to oppose his authority, or disobey his orders? He immediately lays them under an interdict, suspending the sacraments, all public prayers, burials, and baptisms, the obsequious priests implicitly obeying his mandates. A superstitious dread of these prohibitions, and particularly of that which withholds baptism from their children, soon reduces the people to an humble compliance, since to parents it seems most horrible that their children thus deprived must, if they die, be inevitably lost. Whole kingdoms therefore yield to his exactions, however arbitrary or oppressive, because thereby, as they suppose, they save their own souls, and the souls of their children, which would be lost if they did not submit to the “Vicar of Christ!” What a tremendous influence does infant baptism give to Popery! How cunningly is it adapted to uphold its power?[88]

R. B. C. Howell- The Evils of Infant Baptism- Chapter 7- Infant baptism is an evil because it despoils the Church of those peculiar qualities which are essential to the Church of Christ

What is meant by the plea before us…It means this, does it not?

We shall talk of the text thus, What is meant by the plea before us – “Have respect unto the covenant”? Then we will think a little of whence it derives its force: thirdly, we will consider how and when we may plead it: and we will close by noticing what are the practical inferences from it.

I. Let us begin by this — WHAT IS MEANT BY THE PLEA “Have respect unto the covenant”? It means this, does it not? “Fulfil thy covenant, O God: let it not be a dead letter. Thou hast said this and that; now do as thou hast said. Thou hast been pleased by solemn sanction of oath and blood to make this covenant with thy people. Now be pleased to keep it. Hast thou said, and wilt thou not do it? We are persuaded of thy faithfulness, let our eyes behold thy covenant engagements fulfilled.

Charles H. Spurgeon- ‘The Covenant Pleaded,’ at the Metropolitan Tabernacle Newington

The Wednesday Word: Purchased!

“Forasmuch as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18:-19).

Among the many and varied meanings of redemption in the Old Testament is the idea of making a purchase. They are one and the same. In Leviticus 25, for example, we read of how people, upon getting into financial difficulty, could sell themselves as slaves to pay their debts. They could then, at a later date, buy themselves back or if unable to do so, a near relation, a kinsman, could pay for them. In other words, they could be redeemed.

Some years ago, a young teenage girl lay on her death bed. The poor child was, understandably, concerned about her soul. Looking at her grieving mother she said, “Mum, let me ask you a question. When you pay the money for a dress or goods of any kind, haven’t you a right to take your purchases home with you?”

“But of course.”

The dying girl’s eyes seemed to lighten up and sparkle, and she said, “This is good news, really good news, I´ve been thinking a lot about this. According to the Bible, Christ bought me at Calvary. He bought me with an enormous price. He actually bought me with His own blood. This, therefore, must mean that He has the right to take me home. He´ll not leave me behind like a discarded shoe.”

The grieving mother was momentarily stunned, then quietly bowed her head, and answered, ” Yes my darling, Jesus has purchased you. He now owns you, and, when He is ready, He will take you home to be with Him forever.”

I love that! Believers are bought and paid for. We are already redeemed. We are already purchased with a price, the price of God´s own blood (Acts 20:28).

Do you know what we have been redeemed from? We´ve been redeemed from all iniquity (Titus 2:14). That´s excellent news!

We were slaves to death, darkness and the devil but we have been bought and brought back by the Lord Jesus.

Do you know what He redeemed us with? He redeemed us with His precious blood the precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19).

Precious blood was used to buy us. When something is precious, it´s scarce. Oceans of blood have flowed through the centuries but none of it purchased even one of us. Great armies have spilt countless gallons of blood but not one soul was redeemed by it. But when Christ arrived, His blood was pure, precious and perfect. At Calvary, He poured out His blood to purchase us. He´ll, therefore, take care of His purchased possession.

Do you know unto whom, we have been redeemed? He redeemed us unto Himself (Titus 2:14).

Redeemed From, Redeemed With and Redeemed Unto!

What a stunning redemption!

How striking, therefore, to remember that we are not our own but are bought with a price. We are to, therefore, glorify God in our bodies, and spirits, which are God’s.”

And that´s the Gospel Truth!

Miles Mckee

www.milesmckee.com  

To observe the encouragement, motives, and reasons given to keep this ordinance, as well as others

III. To observe the encouragement, motives, and reasons given to keep this ordinance, as well as others,

1. The apostle says, this is the love of God; that is, this shews love to God; it is a plain case, that a man loves God, when he keeps his commandments; this is an evidence, that he loves not in word, and in tongue only, but in deed and in truth. Others may say that they love God and Christ; but this is the man that truly loves them, even he that hath my commandments, says Christ (John 14:21), and keepeth them; he it is that loveth me: and it is a clear care, that such a man has a sense of the love of God and Christ; the love of the Father is in him; and the love of Christ constrains him to observe his ordinances, and keep his commands; and such may expect greater manifestations of the love of God and Christ unto them; for of such that keep the commandments of Christ, he says, I will love him, and manifest myself to him; — and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him (John 14:23); which is no small inducement and encouragement to an observation of the ordinances and commands of Christ, and among the rest this of baptism.

2. Another encouraging motive and reason is, the commandments of God and Christ are not grievous, hard and difficult to be performed. The Lord’s supper is not; nor is baptism. What is baptism in water, to the baptism of sufferings Christ endured for us? And yet how desirous was he of accomplishing it? (Luke 12:50). And therefore why should we think it an hardship, or be backward to comply with his will, in submitting to the ordinance of water-baptism? When Naaman was bid by Elisha to dip himself in Jordan, and be clean; which he relented as too little and trifling a thing, and thought he might as well have stayed in his own land, and dipped himself in one of the rivers of Syria; one of his servants took upon him to allay and repress the heat of his passion and resentment, by observing, that if the prophet had bid him do some great thing, which was hard and difficult to be performed, he would have gone about it readily; how much rather then, he argued, should he attend to the direction of the prophet, when he only bid him wash in Jordan, and be clean? (2 Kings 5:13). There are many that will go into baths, and plunge themselves in them for pleasure or profit, to refresh their bodies, or cure them of disorders; but if plunging in water is directed to, as an ordinance of God, then it is a grievous thing; and, indeed, no ordinance is grateful to a carnal mind; but to believers in Christ, wisdom’s ways are ways of pleasantness, and her paths of peace. Christ’s yoke, if it may be called so, is easy, and his burden light.

John Gill – Baptism: A Divine Commandment to be Observed, Being A Sermon Preached At Barbican, October 9, 1765 At The Baptism Of The Reverend Mr. Robert Carmichael, Minister Of The Gospel In Edinburgh.