| 536 By this we plainly see, that the promise of the Holy Ghost was not confined to the apostles, neither to that nor any other particular age of the world; for Peter distinctly and positively said, to you; and to your children-to them that are afar off-even as many as the Lord our God shall call. Now, if this promise of the Holy Ghost was to continue, then, certainly, faith, repentance, baptism, must continue also: as the Holy Ghost was granted as the seal of their obedience unto these ordinances. If one of these principles be not essential, you may lay aside the whole, since all are equally the commandments of God. In proof of this, the Savior, in the last chapter of Mathew [Matthew], says, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have commanded you. And lo! I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Now, every person possessing common sense, must allow, that when the Savior said all things he did not mean a part. The question is frequently asked, on hearing a quotation from the word of God, "What does it mean?" We wish to be distinctly understood, that when the Lord speaks, or reveals his word unto the children of men, he means just what he says. The manner in which the word of God has been spiritualised, and the diverse interpretations which have been given by commentators and the teachers of the people, in this day and generation of the world, is one great cause of the apostacy [apostasy] of the churches of the present day from the ancient Apostolic Religion. There has evidently been a departure from the faith once delivered to the Saints. Of this the many different systems is a sufficient proof, as the scriptures teach us that there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one body, as set forth by Paul, in Cor. xii. In Gal. i, the apostle also says, "Though we or an angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." What was the Gospel which Paul preached? Why that which was taught by Jesus Christ, and the rest of the apostles-baptism for the remission of sins, &c.
We now refer you to John, the forerunner of Christ, who preached faith in the Son of God, and baptism for the remission of sins. We read that "all Judea and Jurusalem [Jerusalem] came to John, to be baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins; and John testifies of him (Jesus) and said, I indeed baptize you with water, but he that cometh after me shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire. Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan, unto John, to be baptized of him; but John forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Suffer it to be so now, to fulfill all righteousness, then he suffered him; and Jesus, when he was baptized, went straightway out of the water, and lo! the heavens were opened upon him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon him: and lo! a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." If it were necessary that the Savior, who was a holy Being, should be baptized in order to fulfill all righteousness, and to obtain the approbation of this Father-how much more necessary it is that we, being unholy, should be baptized for the remission of our sins, that we may lay claim to the promises of God. We find, in John iii, that "Nicodemus came to Jesus by night, to inquire concerning these things; and Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus inquirid [inquired], how can these things be? Jesus answered, Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." Thus we see that these same principles were taught by our Lord Jesus Christ. Many persons believe that the Savior intended this in a spiritual sense: whereas Jesus distinctly said, of the water and of the Spirit.
Now, we can no where, in the teachings and sayings of the Savior, find anything that can justify the custom of sprinkling, because the Redeemer said, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." Now, we know that the word birth, as it is here signified, is a transition from one element to another; and this could not possibly take place unless a man go down into the water, and become buried in it. Paul, in writing to the Romans, says, "Know ye not, that as many of us were baptized into Jesus
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