| 501 with Christ, in respect to the mortification of your sins, represented by lying under the water; and in the same baptism ye rise up with him in newness of life, represented by your rising up out of the water again, through that faith of yours, grounded upon the mighty power of God; who hath raised him from the dead.
Pietetus.-That immersion into, and emersion out of the water, practiced by the ancients, signify the death of the old, and the resurrection of the new man.
Bp. Davenaut.-In baptism the burial of the body of sin, or the old Adam, is represented, when the person to be baptized is put down into the water; as a resurrection, when he is brought out of it.
Dr. Boys.-The dipping in holy baptism has three parts; the putting into the water, the continuance in water, and the coming out of the water. The putting into the water doth ratify the mortification of sin by the powers of Christ's death, as Paul (Rom. 6:3.) Know ye not that all we which have been baptized into Jesus Christ, have been baptized into his death, and that our old man is crucified with him? The continuance in the water denotes the burial of sin, to wit, a continual increase of mortification by the power of Christ's death and burial. (Rom. 6:4.) The coming out of the water, figured our spiritual resurrection and vivification to newness of life, by the power of Christ's resurrection. (Rom. 6:4, and Col, 2:12.)
Grotius.-Buried with him by baptism. Not only the word baptism but the very form of it intimates this. For an immersion of the whole body in water, so that it is no longer beheld, bears an image of that burial which is given to the dead. (see Col. 2:12.) There was in baptism, as administered in former times, an image both of a burial and a resurrection.
Dr. Hammond.-It is a thing that every Christian knows, that the immersion in baptism refers to the death of Christ; the putting the person into the water denotes and proclaims the death and burial of Christ.
Bp. Nicholson-The ancient manner in baptism, the putting the person baptized under the water, and taking him out again did well set forth these two acts; the first, his dying, the second, his rising again.-Into the grave with Christ we went not; for our bodies were not, and could not be buried with his; but in our baptism, by a kind of analogy or resemblance, while our bodies are under the water, we may be said to be buried with him.
ATA.
For the Times and Seasons.
Nauvoo Mansion, March, 1844.
Mr. Editor:-Before I take my departure, permit me to express my views relative to the leading men of your city, where I have been these few days.
I have been conversant with the great men of the age, and last of all, I feel that I have met with the greatest, in the presence of your esteemed prophet, Gen. Joseph Smith. From many reports, I had reason to believe him a bigoted religionist, as ignorant of politics as the savages; but to my utter astonishment, on a short acquaintance, I have found him as familiar in the cabinet of nations, as with the bible; and in the knowledge of that book, I have not met with his equal in Europe or America. Although, if I should beg leave to differ with him in some items of faith; his nobleness of soul will not permit him to take offence [offense] at me. No Sir, I find him open, frank and generous, as willing others should enjoy their opinions, as to enjoy his own.
The General appears perfectly at home on every subject; and his familiarity with many languages affords his ample means to become informed concerning all nations and principles, which his familiar and dignified deportment towards all, must secure to his interest the affections of every intelligent and virtuous man that may chance to fall in his way; and I am astonished that so little is known abroad concerning him.
Van Buren was my favorite, and I was astonished to see Gen. Smith's name as a competitor; but since my late acquaintance, Mr. Van Buren can never re-seat himself in the presidential chair on my vote, while Gen. Smith is in the field; forming my opinions alone on the talents of the two; and from what I have seen, I have no reason to doubt, but Gen. Smith's integrity is equal to any other individual; and I am satisfied he cannot easily be made the pliant tool of any political party. I take him to be a man who stands far aloof from little caucus quiblings [quibbling] and squablings [squabbling], while nations, governments and realms, are wielded in his hand as familiarly as the top of a hoop in the hands of their little masters.
Free from all bigotry and superstition, he dives into every subject, and it seems as though the world was not large enough to satisfy his capacious soul, and from his conversation, one might suppose him as well acquainted with other worlds as this.
So far as I can discover, Gen. Smith is the nation's man, and the man who will exalt the nation, if the people will give him the opportunity:
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