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Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2011 with funding from 
 
 Princeton Theological Seminary Library 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/shortepistleaddrOObick 
 

 

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 SHORT EPISTLE 
 
 ADDRESSED TO THE PEOPLE, 
 WHO ARE CALLED 
 
 B A P T I S I S, 
 
 SCATTERED OVER THE 
 
 UNITED STATES, 
 
 AND MOST PARTS OF THE 
 
 CHRISTIAN WORLD. 
 
 3y JAMES B I C K E R S T A F F, 
 
 PREACHER TO THE BAPTISTS, 
 
 PRINTED IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, 
 1810, 
 
 Price, 6 CentfJrrg!:~zo Cents per dozer.. 
 
3K7$^^5&3&K!&3$0&Stf3&5t^^3$S3*S; ^3& 
 
 SHORT EPISTLE, 
 
 ft. TIMOTHY, il. 7. 
 
 Confider <mh#t I fay ; and the Lord give thte underJarJIng 
 in all things, 
 
 MY DEAR BRETHREN IN CHRIST, 
 
 LOVE to your fouls is the only apology I make for 
 faying a few words for your confideration. It is with pain 
 £hat I am constrained, at any time, to admmifter reproof to 
 the dear followers of Chrift. It has long grieved me to the 
 heart, to fee things among my beloved brethren, which may 
 not only bring upon them reproach, but alio wound the cauie 
 they wiih to fupport. 
 
 We are called Baptists: and this name has been given to ire 
 on account of our differing from others, in the mode and rub- 
 ject of baptifm. But, dear follower of Jefos, nair.es will not 
 make us fincere chriftians. Our doing well in fubmitting to 
 the will of God in gofpel inftitutions, v. u\ not juftify our fin- 
 ful departure from the fpirit and practice of our holy rdlgidr- 
 — It is our glory, that we follow Chrift down the banks of 
 Jordan, and are buried with him by baftifm unto death. Br- 
 ought we not feriouily to confider, whether, after honorably 
 copying the example of Chriit in baptifm, we do not neglect: 
 to put on £hrift practically. 
 
 My beloved brethren ! Give me leave to exhort yon to 
 coafidcr feveral things. 
 
( 4 1 
 
 i. What means the prevalent bitternefs of our brethren* 
 towards other proftfltd chriftians, who differ from us in the 
 doctrine of baptiim only. I am often told, and! it grieves me to' 
 fay it, that fome of our brethren are going from place to place 
 ufing harfh and bitter words towards Congregational Churches. 
 They feem to make it their bufinefs to fay hard' things ®f 
 them, and, in fome cafes, I am told, to curfe them. Even 
 fome of our Deacons are diftTnguifhed for their forwardnefs 
 in reproaching, cenfuring, and condemning Congregational 
 people. It would feem by their bitter words, that they hod 
 a peculiar hatred to them. Is this the fpirit of Chrift ? Are 
 we following the example of our Divine Matter, in being,lib- 
 eral of reproachful exprefiions ? Is it the character of a faint, 
 or of an impenitent (inner, which is deferibed in Romans in. 
 14. HTiofe mouth is full ofcurfing and bitternefs ? 
 
 Dear Chrift ian brethren, when the mind is much inflamed, 
 ^nd the intereft of a party predominates, we are in danger of 
 teeftowing our cenfures with no referve. In fuch a ftate of 
 mind, we are under ftrong temptations to fpeak falfly. And 
 j 8 it not a fact, that fome of our beloved brethren, do fay 
 things in the heat of pafiion, which they would not fay 
 in a cool moment ? 
 
 We feem to be a religious, zealous people, if zeal for the 
 doctrine of baptifm w ill entitle us to a religious character. 
 But, do we feem to be a religious people in the government 
 of our 'tongue ? If any man among you feem to be religious and 
 bridkth ?:ot bis tongue, but decehetb bis oivn beart, this man's 
 religion is tain. 1 fay, confider, whether our correct fenti- 
 meats upon the mode and the fubject of baptifm will juftify 
 us in the practice of bitternefs, vpratb, anger, clamour and evil 
 fpeaking ? By our becoming Baptifts does it become our of- 
 fice, to adminifler cenfures, and utter hard words towards 
 thofe who differ from ufi , ? Have *ve fs learned Ghrijl ? 
 
( 5 ) 
 
 Clirtft wa3 meek and lowly in heart. Are we as zealous t« 
 imitate the meeknefs of Chrift, as we are to cenfure and cor. ■ 
 demn our oppenents ? Our brethren, in feme inftance~, h&\z 
 united with Univerfalifts, in ere cling houfes for public wot* 
 fhip. An injudicious ftep in my opinion. This ciicumftacce 
 with others, has given fome people reafon t© think, that v. - 
 are more friendly to Univerfalifts than to Congregationalifts, 
 and on this account we have been taken to be a felfifb-, rather 
 than a religious people. Even impenitent finners love thofe 
 who love them. It is natural for feififh people to be friendly 
 to thofe, who make no oppofition to them. If then we love 
 Univerfalifts better than we do Congregationaiifts, we in do- 
 ing this, do no more than impenitent finners would do. In 
 my foul I believe that, of all claiTes of men. in fociety, the 
 adherents to a political faction not excepted, fome of our 
 brethren are the molt diftinguimed for evil fpeakip.g, (Under 
 and backbiting, But, if ye ham bitter envying and ft rife injqur 
 hearts, ghry not, and lie: not agair.jl the trtt I 
 
 Dear followers of the Lamb ! It grieves n:e much, lo» 
 think, that the precious children ef God fltpuJd bring reproach 
 upon our holy religion by indulging themfelvj; in a fpirit of 
 bicternefs towards their fellow creatures, I feci concerned for 
 them, left, while they are fo zealcmly engaged in detailing the 
 faults of others, they ftiouid neglect the care of their own 
 fouls- 
 
 2. Gonfider feriou fly, what means the great parade, which 
 is made among our people, in administering baptifm. It is no 
 uncommon praclice,when two or three perfeni. arc to be bap- 
 tized, for our brethren to fend many mii-es, fometimps into 
 other ftates, for one of our Elders to come and officiate on the 
 occafion. And at the fame time, to give public notice of the 
 intended meeting, that as many people might Le fawn ID* 
 
 A 2 
 
( 6 ) 
 
 - .»'ther as pofiibie. This would be ju ft in able, in cafe they 
 had no Elder among them to adminifter the ordinance ; but 
 they fend abroad for other Elders, when they have them in 
 their own town, and even in their neighborhood.. But? 
 beloved in the Lord ! The Apoftles of Jefus did not fo> 
 We take them to have been good Baptijls ; but they were not 
 *mh Baptijis as we are. When Phillip* was called to baptize the 
 Eunuch, did he fend abroad for afliftance I Did he wait fome 
 days to give fufficient time for the neighboring inhabitants to 
 be noticed of the baptifm, that they might come together to 
 fee the performance I No ; he was content to baptize him in 
 ihe public road, in a place of obfcurity, and without any to 
 vyitnefs the tranfaction but thofe who were with him. When 
 Paul and Silas baptized the Jailor, they found it convenient to 
 baptize him the fame hour of the night in which he believed. 
 They had no purpofe to anfwer by delaying it, to fome future 
 day, and in the mean time to invite the neighboring people to 
 jcme and fee the adminiftration. When Ananias;was directed 
 :o e-r uhe in a certain flreet for Saul, he obeyed, and without 
 .ail parade, Saul was baptized. In this baptifm there 
 io delay of the bufinefs ; no appearance of defigo. to make 
 it .T.ore public than the nature of the cafe required. 
 
 When Peter preached, fuccefsfully, at the houfe of Corne- 
 bse found proper fubjects of baptifrn, and immediately 
 •r.ked, Can any man forbid water, thattbefejhould not be bcp- 
 tized ? And be commanded them to be baptized, in the name of 
 ihe Lord. Our practice in adminiftering baptifm is a depar- 
 ture from apoSolie firrrplicity, and juftifies^ the conclufion, 
 that we have purpofcs to anfwer, which the apoftles had not ; 
 and however fmeere we may be, in conducting this bufinefs, 
 wc fball certainly be confidered as feeking to avail ourfelves 
 of thofe occasions to make profelytes to our party. Why 
 nee*i we make fo much parade in admiaiftering baptifm- 1 
 
( 7 ) 
 
 Does humility make a public (hew of its triumphs, and call 
 together multitudes to witnefs its glory ! 
 
 3. Con flder what awful deluGons may be occaGoned by 
 our mifguided zeal. Many of our dear brethren feem to be 
 zealous in prefting perfons to go forward in fome of the dutis3 
 of religion. They urge them to receive baptifm, as if baptifm 
 were a faving ordinance. Some alk even thofe who appear to 
 have no religion, whether they would not feel better to be 
 baptized ; and fome, when they have been baptized, have 
 gone about telling how well they have felt fince they have 
 been baptized. Many feem as zealous in perfuading people 
 to go into the water, as if baptizing them were fccuring their 
 falvation. 
 
 It has been obferved by judicious hearers of other denom- 
 inations, that fome of our preachers are extremely cautious 
 of prefling upon chriftians the dur/ of felf-examination„ 
 They feem to exhauft their zeal in faying encouraging things^ 
 and in fome cafes, they virtually, and in others cxprefsly 
 pronounce perfons chriftians. A raih, and dangerous ftep> 
 In my opinion ; for finners, who art pronounced chriftiaiW, 
 will readily adhere to the idea, that they are what they zxc 
 pronounced to be. What means this hafle in urging perfons 
 fo hard to fubrait to baptifm ? Is it to fecure them in the Bag.- 
 lift caufe ? 
 
 Not long ago orfe of our preachers, in his zeal told fever* 
 al perfons, then about to be baptized, that u nothing but the 
 efficacious grace of God could bring them to follow Chrift, 
 as they were now doing." In fhort he told them, that " their 
 forfaking their former finful companions and now appearing, 
 In readiness to receive baptifm, was certain evidence that they 
 were the fubje&s of the faving grace of God." How dan= 
 gercus it :s to flatter pccpk ! Hew wicked it i$ to m&&>Q 
 
( 8 ) 
 
 h\em when the object in fo doing is to make them Bapti'fts t 
 If men, in the days of bloody perfecution, did profefs Chrifr, 
 and in fome inftanccs, when chained to the flake, did re- 
 nounce their religion, it is certainly poffible, in times of tran- 
 quility for Onners to profefs Chrift, and yet^be deflitute of 
 the faving grace of God. The Apoftles of our Lord did not 
 flatter men. They did not tell them, that merely their for- 
 faking the multitude of their finful afibciates and profeffing 
 Chrift was certain, infallible evidence of their having the 
 faving grace of Godi They warned them of the danger of 
 felf deception. They had no felf interefted purpofes to an- 
 fwer by encouraging people to make hafte in religion. Mak- 
 ing men Baptifts does not neceffarily make them true chrif- 
 tians : and altkough, we maintain there is no baptifm but im~ 
 merfion, yet merely the circumftance of being dipped in wa- 
 ter, does not avail to, falvation, w^iile the fubjecl of it is art 
 impenitent finner. Simon the forcerer was baptized, and 
 yet remained in the gall of bitternefsy and bond of iniquity. 
 My foul trembles, to think, that many poor finner6 are in 
 danger of being made to believe they are the dear children 
 of God, while they are gciBg the road to hell. Gain is not 
 godlinefs. 
 
 4. Con fidcr, that great zeal in matters of lefs importance; 
 and no zeal in the weightier matters of religion, is one of the 
 ftrongeft evidences of hypocrify. It is to be feared that ma- 
 ny of our brethren, are mvich more zealous about the doctrine 
 of baptifm,than they are for the good of fouls.? In my heart, I 
 believe, that the water has in it a cbarm> in the eyes of fome of 
 them. Kow char-using it is, they cry, to follow Chrift into the 
 water ! As if following Chrii^in this command, was fweeter to 
 the foul, than following him in other commands. Sweet Jefus \ 
 • all thy commands are precious in the eyes of thy followers * 
 .Wb*t joeaas that excefijve zeal in feizing perfons by the- 
 
( 9 J 
 
 hand, and leading them to the water to be baptized, ttfieli 
 they had not deliberately made up their mind to be baptized ? 
 Zeal, which is in great difproportion to the object is ufuall? 
 falfe zeal. To be zealous in the extreme about religious oid> 
 nances, and not zealous for the converfion of fouls, is great 
 evidence of hypocrify. Is there a merit, a faving efficacy at- 
 tached to the performance of any duty, be it done as it may, 
 either in obedience to the will of God, or witrrfelf intereftcd 
 motives \ Behold, to obey is better thanfacrifice. My confciesce 
 compels me to do you an act of kindnefs, in warning you 
 againft falfe zeal. Is it not true, dear brethren, that whiifc 
 ibme of you are a zealous people, in fupport of Baptifm, that 
 you are cold and unfeelicg in the duty of prayer and other 
 religious fervices ? Are not fome ready to pray in public 
 meetings, who negleft both family and fecret prayer T What 
 fliall I fay to you ? What will the world fay of you ? Zeal in 
 one duty, and coldnefsin another ! Zeal to pray in public and 
 no zeal to pray in fecret ! This grieves my foul. I tremble for 
 you : you make me think of ancient hypocrites, ivie Irved to 
 pray Jfanding in tkefynagoguet and in the corners ofj?reets } that 
 tbey might be feen of men* You make me think of Ephraim. 
 Epbraim is a cake net turned ; raw on the one fide, baked on 
 the other. Be not deceived. Doing one duty will not 
 atone for the fin of neglecting other duties. Our being zealous 
 about fome religious duties, and negligent of other impor- 
 tant duties, is a reproach to us. O, make it manifeft> thai 
 jo* are a peculiar people, zealous of a!! good works. 
 
 5. Con fider, what menns the cry of perfecutioa, fo often 
 heard among our brethren, Are they imprifoned ? Are they 
 chained to the flake I It is frequently faid, " We exped to 
 fuffer pertecution. Chrift was perfecuted." What is this 
 but faying, " We are like Chrift ; and expect to be treated, 
 at he was treated." Is this humility, or fclf exaltation^ 
 
( KJ } 
 
 £imf and Silas when imprifoned for their religion did n'of 
 make this complaint. To the trembling Jailor, they preached 
 falvation by Chrift. They might have made the complaint 
 of being perfecutcd with more propriety than we can. The 
 A ponies of our Lord rejoiced that they were counted wor- 
 thy tofuffer fhame for his name. They exhibited humility, 
 under the hand of perfecution, a fpirit very different frorre 
 complaining of perfecution, when we have fuftained no injury* 
 
 Much is faid, at times, by fome of our beloved brethrett 
 about taking up the crcfs in baptifm. How abfurd is it t<3> 
 boaft of taking up the crofs, in doing a duty, which we have 
 pleafure and joy in doing ? Is it taking up the crofs, for a man* 
 to do offices of kindnefs to his wife and children, whom he 
 loves as himfelf ? What is this boafting but vain glory I 
 
 C Confider the danger of our being rain and prefumptu> 
 ©us in our confidence, that we are perfectly corre& in our 
 notions of baptifm. If we are the only people in the world, 
 who embrace the gofpel fyftem, in refpcct to the mode an<3 
 fubject of baptifm, it becomes us to be humble and thankful. 
 If the Lord has given us only a true and right underftanding 
 ©f thefe things, we ought to blefs his holy name, and walk. 
 humbly before him* 
 
 According to our faith, we are conftrained to refufe com- 
 munion with other profeiTed chriuians. We, and not they 
 bar the door of communion'. Now, if we are the only people 
 in the world, who are correct in our notions of baptifm, it 
 concerns us to be modeft in our opinion and practice. The 
 Lord doe3 blefs the labors of fome who differ from us. The 
 Lord does pour out his Spirit upon fome who difagree with. 
 us upon baptifm. To us it is myfterious, that the Lord 
 &ould own and blefc a people fo erroneous as they ax^ 
 
who oppofe us «pon the fubjects and mode of baptifin. W^ 
 confider it among the unfearchable things of God, that he 
 fho&ld grant feafons of refrefhing from his prefence to a peo- 
 ple who difobey fome of his exprefs commands. We do 
 rot own them as churches of Chrift. But s 
 
 What, if after all our confidence in the correclnefs of 
 «ur opinion, it mould prove that we have erred, in matters 
 lefs efiential to falvation ? What, if after all our bold and 
 pofitive declarations, the church of God, in its future profper- 
 ous ftate, fhoukl not adopt our faith refpefting baptifm, but 
 fhould give encouragement to infant fprinkling ; neglecting 
 to ufe the only mode we deem effential to baptifin ? 
 
 I {hall be cenfured by fome of our dear brethren, In what I 
 lha.ll now declare. I have no doubt, that infant fprinkling, fo 
 called, without interruption, has been in ufe among profefTed 
 chriftian* from a very early period of chriftianity. Some of 
 our eminent divines have called it one of the corruptions of 
 popery ; but I think without reafon. Antiquity has furnifh- 
 ed us with abundant teftimony in fupport of the ufe of infant 
 iprinkling, in the early ages of the golpel church. 
 
 What then, if the time mould come, when the whole church 
 of God mould difagree with us in baptifin, and give fupport 
 to the practice which our opponents maintain 1 If then, this 
 is barely poflible, and who can fay it is not ? then, in what 
 light fliall we appear, in our bold,and in fome cafes, overbear- 
 ing expreflions concerning baptifm ? If then we are right, as 
 we truft we are, let us be meek and humble, and be cautious, 
 that we are not inttmperately ralh. If it be poflible, that we 
 may be found wife above what is written, let us beware of 
 taking a (land, which, in future, will do us no honor. In 
 
< M J 
 
 i ftfl ia all oiht~ things, let us give heed to Jefus who faid, 
 Teh my yoke upon cu, and ham of me ; for lam meek and 
 k:^j tn heart. 
 
 Beloved m the Lord— conGder what 1 fay— Far iweli. 
 
-rw^