Transcribed from the 1850 Seeleys edition ,
BY E. H. HOARE, A.M.
VICAR OF BARKBY,LEICESTERSHIRE.
JESUS“SAID UNTO HIM, WHAT IS WRITTEN IN THE LAW? HOWREADEST
THOU?”—LUKE X. 26.
SECOND EDITION.
Seeleys.
FLEET STREET, AND HANOVERSTREET.
LONDON: MDCCCL.
At a Clerical Meeting in thecountry this Question was lately proposed fordiscussion;—“What may be deduced from HolyScripture concerning Baptism, as a Sacrament of the ChristianChurch?”
In order to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion, it appearedto one of the members present to be necessary, that everypassage of Scripture bearing upon the subject should beconsidered, and its true meaning sought; and that care should ofcourse be taken, that no text be so expounded as to make itrepugnant to another. This course was consequently pursuedby him. Each passage was examined in succession; and thoughthe inquiry extended much beyond his expectation, and was notcarried through without pains, yet the interest of the researchmore than compensated for the labour of it.
The subject being of great importance, and more especially atthe present time, it was thought that the cause of truth would beserved by the publication p. ivof what had been written; and arequest was made to that effect. In the hope, and with theearnest desire and prayer, that such may be the result, thewriter has consented to its publication: and as the Church, towhich it is his privilege to belong, has declared concerning HolyScripture, “that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may beproved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it shouldbe believed as an Article of the faith,” (Art.vi.)—he feels himself fully justified, as a Minister of theChurch, in having endeavoured simply to ascertain the sense ofScripture, in the several texts which have come before him.
January, 1850.
It is thought by some, thatbaptism, or the washing of the person or clothes, as a religiousceremony, commenced immediately after the deluge. St. Petercertainly speaks of baptism in connection with that great event:(1 Ep. iii. 20, 21,)—“While the ark was a preparing,wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water: the likefigure whereunto, even baptism, doth also now saveus.” But, however this might be, we read of it at anearly period. The first instance on record in Scripture ofthis washing as a preparation for God’s service, isprobably that which is found in Genesis xxxv. 2. God hadsaid unto Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there,and make thee an altar unto God that appeared unto thee when thoufleddest from the face of Esau thy brother. Then Jacob saidunto his household, and to all that were with him, Put p. 2away thestrange gods that are among you, and be clean, andchange your garments; and let us arise, and go up to Bethel,and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in theday of my distress.” The direction—“Beclean,” taken in connection with the change of theirgarments, did probably, amon