1st. It has been abundantly shown above that the command to baptize is a command to purify by washing with water, and it hence follows that even if it could be shown that the apostles baptized by immersion, that fact would not prove that particular mode of washing to be essential to the validity of the ordinance, unless it can be proved also that, according to the analogies of gospel institutions, the mere mode of obeying a command is made as essential as the thing itself. But the reverse is notoriously the fact. The church was organized on certain general principles, and the public worship of the gospel ordained, but the details as to the manner of accomplishing those ends are not prescribed. Christ instituted the Lord's supper at night, reclining on a couch, and with unleavened bread. Yet in none of these respects is the " mode" essential.
2d. But, in fact, there is not one instance in which the record makes it even probable that the apostles baptized by immersion, and in the great majority of instances it is rendered in the last degree improbable.
(1.) The baptism of the Eunuch by Philip, Acts viii., 26-39, is the only instance which even by appearance favors immersion. But observe a the language used by Luke, even as rendered in our version, applies just as naturally to baptism performed by affusion as by immersion, b The Greek prepositions, elg, here translated into, and en, here translated out of, are in innumerable instances used to express motion, toward, unto and from, Acts xxvi., 14 ; xxvii, 34, 40. They probably descended from the chariot to the brink of the water. Philip is also said to have " descended to" and to have " ascended from the water," but surely he was not also immersed, c The very passage of Isaiah, which the Eunuch was reading, Is. Hi., 15, declared that the Messiah, in whom he believed, should " sprinkle many nations." d Luke says the place was " a desert," and no body of water suf- ficient for immersion can be discovered on that road. (2.) Every other instance of Christian baptism recorded in the Scriptures bears evidence positively against immersion, a The baptism of three thousand in Jerusalem on one occasion on the day of Pen-
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tecost, Acts ii., 38-41. b The baptism of Paul, Acts ix., 17, 18 ; xxii., 12-16. Annanias said to him " standing up, be baptized/' dvaardg p&nrioai, and, "standing, up he was baptized." c The baptism of Cornelius, Acts x., 44-48. d The baptism of the jailor, at Philippi, Acts xvi., 32-34. In all these instances bap- tism was administered on the spot, wherever the convert received the gospel. Nothing is said of rivers, or much water, but vast multitudes at a time, and individuals and families were baptized in their houses, or in prisons, wherever they happened to be at the moment.
Subjects of baptism.
18. Who are the proper subjects of baptism ?
Conf. Faith, Chap. XXVIII., section 4 ; L. Cat., question 166 ; S. Cat., question 95.
All those, and those only, who are members of the visible church, are to be baptized. These are, 1st, they who make a credible profession of their faith in Christ ; 2d, the children of one or both believing parents.
19. What in the case of adults are the prerequisites of bap- tism ?
Credible profession of their faith in Jesus as their Saviour. This is evident, 1st, from the very nature of the ordinance as symbolizing spiritual gifts, and as sealing our covenant to be the Lord's. See below, Chap. XL., question 23. 2d. From the uniform practice of the apostles and evangelists, Acts ii., 41 ; viii., 37.
20. What is the visible church, to which baptism is the initiating rite ?
1st. The word church, knitXrioia, is used in Scripture in the general sense of the company of God's people, called out from the world, and bound to him in covenant relations.
2d. The true spiritual church, therefore, in distinction to the phenominal church organized on earth, consists of the whole com- pany of the elect, who. are included in the eternal covenant of
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grace formed between the Father and the second Adam, Eph. v., 27 ; Heb. xii., 23.
3d. But the visible church universal consists of " all those throughout the world that profess the true religion, together with their children, and is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, the house and family of God, out of which there is no ordinary pos- sibility of salvation," Conf. Faith, Chap. XXV., section 2. This visible kingdom, Christ, as Mediator of the covenant of grace, has instituted, as an administrative provision, for the purpose of ad- ministering thereby the provisions of that covenant ; and this kingdom, as an outward visible society of professors, he established by the covenant he made with Abraham, Gen. xii., 1-3 ; xvii., 1-14.