The Church, the Churches, and the Sacraments (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1907. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... VIII BAPTISM The silence of centuries was suddenly broken ages ago, on the banks of the Jordan, by the fearless voice of a prophet of strange dress and bearing. For the first time in living memory, crowds hung on the lips of a religious teacher. While much that he said was in the strain of the ancient prophets, one thing was new, and so distinctive as to give to the stranger his most common and enduring designation. He was John the Baptizer. The religious use of water was already familiar in the ceremonial washings required in the Old Covenant: so Ex. xxx. 17-21, Num. xix. 11-22; Sirach xxxiv. 25, "He that is baptized from a corpse, and again touches it, what has he profited by his washing?" Mk. vii. 4, ** When they come from the market, except they baptize themselves, they do not eat . . . baptisms of cups and pots and brazen vessels." These purifications moulded the language of much Old Testament teaching; and the prophets foretold complete purification of the inner life. So Ps. li. 7, "Purge (or save from sin) me, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow "; Isa. i. 16, "Wash you, make you clean"; Ezek. xxxvi. 25, "I will sprinkle upon you clean water, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthinesses and from all your idols I will make you clean "; Zech. xiii. 1, "In that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness." All this, the baptism of John would recall. With baptism was associated confession of sin: so Mt. iii. 6, "they were baptized, confessing their sins." By submitting to the rite, the baptized acknowledged that the sins he confessed were a stain needing to be cleansed away: and, that the rite was never self-administered, but always received from ...