And now I wish to give a clear explanation upon the subject of Baptism, for there has been so much said upon this matter, and it is so hard to be understood by those that believe not. Now my dear brethren and congregation and all that will hear this, I call your attention to this important subject, for it is worthy of our notice, for it is the commission of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I fancy to say, according to the gospel, “he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” This cannot be truthfully denied. “He that believeth not shall be damned.” The text saith “go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Every human being that can hear and understand, for “faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.”

Again, our Saviour saith, “when any one heareth the word of the kingdom and understandeth not, then cometh the wicked one and taketh away that which is in his heart,” catcheth away that which is sown in his heart, that is, to hinder him from obeying the truth of the gospel, for the word of the kingdom is the truth of the gospel which shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations. Again, the Scripture saith, “whoso readeth let him understand.” So then I fancy to say that the Messiah did not leave His Apostles without understanding, when He said unto them “go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature: he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” For I am persuaded that the Apostles understood the meaning of this word baptize; but some men say there are more ways than one to administer baptism, but I fancy to say that this is the doctrine of men, for the Scripture saith, “if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself for battle,” and if the Messiah give an uncertain way to administer baptism, how shall the people or how shall the minister know when he has baptized those that believe? I am fully persuaded that believers are the proper subjects for baptism, and this is that which I shall prove by the evidence of the apostolic doctrine, for the Scripture declares that “when they believed they were baptized both men and women,” but not before they believed, and it is evident that they could not believe until they heard the Word of Life and understood it. And again some men teach this false doctrine which do not bear witness with Scripture, and that is this, they say “be baptized first and then believe,” but I fancy to say that is contrary to the doctrine of the apostles; and we are taught by the Scriptures to “mark them which cause dissensions and offences contrary to the doctrine which you have learned, and avoid them.” Avoid them, believe them not, because their doctrine and practice are not Scriptural. The Holy Scripture is the voice of God, speaking through his Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, and “he that believeth not shall be damned.”

“He that believeth not shall be damned,” because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved, and for this cause shall God send them strong delusion that they should believe a lie, that they all might be condemned that believe not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. Paul to the Thessolonians, 2d chapter, 11-12 verses: “Therefore, brethren, stand fast in the doctrine of the Apostles which you have been taught, for the wicked shall not stand in judgment, for the Lord shall consume them with the spirit of his mouth and he shall shine them away by the brightness of his coming. Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned.” All the world where men are found preach the gospel—proclaim the glad tidings of salvation through Jesus Christ. He that believes; he that receives the testimony of God and is baptized, (that is, dipping or immersing the believer in water in the name of the Holy Trinity,) he shall be saved, he shall be set apart for Heaven.

Baptism did not come in the place of circumcision, but was ordained for the new Covenant, for if baptism came in the place of circumcision, what was Jesus baptized for? He had received circumcision and then He was baptized. Circumcision was of the old Covenant and the old Covenant was of the law, but the new covenant is the Gospel system. Again, “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 ye are witnesses of these things.” And again: “behold I send the promise of my Father upon you, but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem until ye be inbued with power from on high.” When the day of Pentecost was fully come “they were all with one accord in one place, and there came a sound from Heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” And again: “when they heard this they were pricked to their hearts and said unto Peter and the other Apostles, ‘what shall we do?’ Then Peter said unto them, ‘repent and be baptized, every one of you,’ and they that gladly received the word were baptized.” Receive the word, believe the word. Again: “when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized;” and again: “Philip preached Jesus unto the Eunuch, and the Eunuch said, ‘see here is water, what doth hinder me to be baptized?’ and Philip said, ‘if thou believe with all thy heart thou mayest,’ and he said, ‘I do believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’ And they went both down into the water, and Philip baptized him with water, and not with the Holy Ghost; for Peter said, “who can deny water that these should be baptized which have received the Holy Ghost, as well as we, and he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus.” I am certain the Apostles could not be deceived, for I fancy to say that God did send John to baptize with water, but He sent His Son to baptize with the Holy Ghost and with fire. He that believeth and is baptized with water in the name of the Holy Trinity, he shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Again: he that believeth not shall be baptized with fire, that is, he shall receive the fiery wrath of God's avenging law, for Christ did not promise to baptize his apostles with fire, but He said unto them, “ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” Hark again. Paul to Romans, 13 chap. 2d verse: “Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God; and they that resist shall receive unto themselves damnation.” And again we must confess that baptism is the ordinance of God; and again: ministers of all denominations that wish to save souls, must be wise enough to put their knowledge into the knowledge of God, and then they will clothe themselves with Godliness. And again: “John was baptizing in Enon, near Salem, because there was much water there, and they came and were baptized;” but these that John baptized were baptized unto repentance, yea, to prove that they confessed their sins, and they that would not confess their sins, he would not baptize them with water. And again: he that does not believe cannot be scripturally baptized; and again, he that doth believe the gospel, cannot renounce the water baptism. “What doth hinder me to be baptized?” “If thou believe with all thy heart thou mayest,” and he said, “I do believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and he baptized him.” “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.”

Scriptural baptism is the outward sign of the inward faith in Jesus' blood, and that leads us that do believe to confess the Lord Jesus by the water baptism. But whosoever renounces the water baptism, and then saith they are baptized with the Holy Ghost, they are deceived. “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature: he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned.” He that hears and has the ability to understand, and does understand, but will not obey the gospel, he shall be damned. And again, scriptural baptism is essential to salvation, for baptism professes to hate sin and corruptions, and professes a new life in Christ Jesus. “Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins.” Infants are not charged with sin until they can understand, therefore they are not proper subjects for baptism; and if we baptize them before they can renounce their sin, their baptism is nothing, for their sins are dead and their baptism is dead; his baptism was put on him over his sin, before he renounced his sin, and of course when he renounces his sin, he must renounce his baptism, which was put on him over his sin; for his sin was put on him by Adam, and he must pull it off by the knowledge of Jesus, and then put on Christ by baptism, and he shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Again: all true religious practice is based upon the doctrine of the Bible, and all religious practice which is not found in the Bible is utterly false, and it is not the worship of God, but it is the worship of men, for all true religion can find rest in the Bible. Again: some saith that baptism is not essential to salvation, but the Scriptures declare that “men shall live by every word of God,” and if believers are baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity, it is essential to salvation, for God commands us what to do through Christ, and Christ commands us to believe and be baptized in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

And now may the God of peace and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen.

The first proposition of the text treats of the foreknowledge of God, which is an important subject. We are taught by the Scriptures that the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made—even his eternal power and Godhead—even his eternal power to make what we see; and that the visible things of Him teaches us of His power, yea, His everlasting power, yea and His Godhead, His foreknowledge to know all His people whom He chose to dwell in the light of His countenance. And now I will illustrate upon the foreknowledge of men—for men do have a future thought of things to suit the wishes of their minds, and men do have a foreknowledge even in constructing their farms, and their buildings, and all other things that are connected with the pleasures of this life. And now, my dear brethren, we must acknowledge that God did foreknow what subjects would please him. And again, I fancy to say that predestination does not destroy the free will of men to act as agents for themselves; for when the employer hires his tenants he first intends to pay them, and that should make them more willing to work that they may be paid, and then predestination and free agency is united together.

Hark; God speaks by Isaiah in chapter 55th, 8th and 9th verses, in language like this: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord; for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Then let us express our highest gratitude to God who did foreknow what was his pleasure, and also what was his displeasure. O, hearken, before God created the visible things—the sun, and the moon, and the stars, and all the created objects—He did foreknow that His word was the purest of all the created objects and He glorified it; and God's Word is His only begotten Son, and it pleased God that in his Word all fullness should dwell. And again, we beheld His glory—the glory of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth—and he was clothed with vesture dipped in blood, and His name was called the Word of God. And again, “For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son,” for God did foreknow the objects of his choice. And again,“whom He did predestinate them He also called” to partake of His divine nature: he also called us by His Son, that we should return from sin's destructive ways to perform the services of his own will, and again, this is the will of the Fattier that we might know Him and Jesus Christ whom He has sent to call us with a holy calling; and again; this is the call of His Son, “except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish.”

But some do not understand this being chosen in God before the foundation of the world; but this was God's choice in His son, and His son came down from heaven to do his Father's will, and to make his glory known, yea the glory that was hid in the Father before the world was created. But some men say if they were chosen in God before the world was, that they will be saved whether they exercise faith or not, or whether they pray or not; but all such men will see that they had lost their first fellowship with God by the sins of their forefathers, and that Christ came down and bore the cross and shame to restore them to the fellowship of the Father by the gift of His divine nature, which is the love that was in God before the foundation of the world. And again, the love of God that is in Christ has the power, through faith, to re-make all the attributes of God's choice of that same love that was in God before the world was created. But these objects are not re-made or regenerated without faith in God. And again, I wish it to be understood that the scripture saith that without faith it is impossible to please God; and again, God has commanded all men every where to repent that they may partake of his divine nature; and again, before God did lay the foundation of the earth and the heavens he looked to see who could hold them up, but in the midst of all the created objects He saw none but His own Word, and He did make a vessel of honor and put His word therein, and He made it low into the form of a man that it might be near unto us, even in us, that we by obeying the truth might be stamped into the image of the only begotten of the Father. And again, Jesus did not sit still and say “my Father can save the people whether I die for them or not,” but he said “it is meet that I should be about my Father's business;” and he should be our example. But these men that sit still and will not exercise faith in Christ are yet in darkness. Let us cast off the works of darkness by exercising faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, that we may receive his gracious promise of eternal life, even in his Son; and again, “behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him.”

Now I fancy to say that in this I do see three creations of men, and that is this: the first Adam was made a living soul, and the second Adam was the Lord from heaven, and was the new man which was made by God's own word; and again, of His own will he hath begotten us again by the word of truth. For God does change the work of His hands, but God is the same, and his love changes not; but we shall be changed from glory to glory, for our last creation shall take place when Christ shall appear.

And now may the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Dear Readers: I publish this essay for the general good of our country; for the white people and the colored also. But this is particularly for the white people, for they are the stronger, and more able to do more good generally.

The good Lord will bless the strong for bearing the infirmity of the weak. How shall we have a good country without the aid of each other? The first step of a good country is to take notice that God is our only source of happiness. Secondly, we are God's creatures, and he has put us here to take care of his weak creatures—that the strong shall bear the infirmity of the weak. The question may be asked, how shall the strong help the weak, or how shall we have a good country? I will answer it, sir: by opening fields of labor of different capacities; and give the poor people employment—pay them reasonable wages—let them work faithfully, then the rich will be helping the poor and the poor the rich. The good Lord will bless our country, and the people will flourish like a rose. Again, open fields, of labor. I will name some of the fields. First, let the farmers plant their respective fields, hire laborers, and pay them reasonable wages. Secondly, let the respective merchants aid the poor farmers. Thirdly, let the Executive Committee erect school houses and employ teachers; and let the respective teachers give our children light. Let the people erect places of worship; and let the humble minister stand upon the hill and say to those in the valley, Thy God reigneth! Let the talented minister stand upon the highest mountain and say to those upon the hills, come up higher, for the Lord of hosts saith by Malachi, “bring ye all the tithes into the storehouses, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of host, if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it. I will rebuke the devourer for your sake, they shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine cast her fruits before time in the field, saith the Lord of host. All nations shall call you blessed.”