SERMON VI.

OBJECTIONS TO THE SENTIMENTS WHICH DISTINGUISH THE BAPTISTS AS A DENOMINATION OF CHRISTIANS, EXAMINED.

"We desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against."-Acts xxviii. 22.

THIS is the language of the chief Jews in the city of Rome, desiring the opinion of Paul concerning the Christian sect. They had often heard of this sect, but they had heard no good of it. It was à sect reputed to be in the lowest depths of degradation—a sect charged with heresy and sedition-a sect accounted as "the filth of the world, and the offscouring of all things"and this disreputable character was not limited to one city or country; but it was "a sect every where spoken against,” as injurious to the order, tranquillity, and happiness of community. The saying of Justin Martyr will enable us to account for the universal odium cast upon the sect of Christians. He asserts that "the Jews had not only cursed them in the synagogue, but sent out chosen men from Jerusalem, to acquaint the world, and particularly the Jews, every where, that the Christians were an atheistical and wicked sect, which should be detested and abhored by all mankind."

These Jews, therefore, with apparent candor, desired Paul, whom they supposed to be acquainted with the character and principles of this sect, and whom they knew to be now a prisoner in consequence of having defended them, to give them his honest and deliberate opinion. If he was prepared to say any thing in vindication of this despised people, they were prepared to listen, and give it all the weight to which it might be entitled.

But the very name of this sect had become odious. Nero issued from his throne the following cruel edict: "Whosoever confesses himself to be a Christian, let him be presently put to death, without any more ado, as a convicted enemy to mankind." When Polycarp suffered martyrdom, the only crime alleged against him was that he confessed himself to be a Christian. When Attalus was put to death at Lyons, an inscription, as at the crucifixion of his Lord, was placed over his head. It was not written like that of the Saviour, in three languages-Hebrew, Greek, and Latin; but in Latin only: "Hic est Attalus Christianus." The meaning is, "This is Attalus, the Christian."

There have been many seasons of persecution, since the days of the apostles and their immediate followers, when to be a Christian, was to be despised, to be hated, and to be subjected to the most cruel treatment.

But I have selected the text for the purpose of considering, and, if possible, refuting

SOME OF THE PROMINENT OBJECTIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN MADE Against the BAPTIST DENOMINATION.

The Baptists have come in for a full share of popular odium and contempt; and these have furnished additional evidence that they are the followers of the primi

tive Christians. Like the villified "sect of the Nazarenes," they have been "a sect every where spoken against."

Beza ranks them among certain religious sects, that he calls "monsters of men." "Nothing," says Milner, 66 can exceed the calumnies which were cast on these innocent people. Poor men of Lyons, and dogs, were the usual terms of derision. In Provence they were called cut-purses; in Italy, because they observed not the appointed festivals, and rested from their ordinary occupations only on Sundays, they were called insabathas; i. e. regardless of Sabbaths. In Germany, they were called gazares, a term expressive of every thing flagitiously wicked. In Flanders, they were denominated turbupins, i. e. inhabitants with wolves, because they were often obliged to dwell in woods and deserts. And because they denied the consecrated host to be God, they were accused of Arianism, as if they had denied the divinity of Jesus Christ."

The reproachful term of "watery bigots" has very frequently been applied to the Baptists. Dr. Mayo, through an excess of benevolence and politeness, says of them: "Bigotry is interwoven with their very sentiments;" and then, in the following elegant and candid apostrophe, exclaims: "O bigotry! hadst thou ever more trusty friends, or more zealous devotees, than the Anabaptists in general?"

The persecutions which they have received in almost all lands, not excepting America, where (though the dragon has not, as in some other countries, been red, nor the beast scarlet colored,) they have been interdicted, fined, imprisoned, and banished, furnish substantial evi

dence of the disreputable opinion which has been form ed of them.

But what have these Baptists done? What pernicious principles have they embraced? What abominable rites have they adopted? What iniquitous course of conduct have they pursued, that they should "every where be spoken against ?"

1. It has been objected to the Baptists, that they hold to unrestrained liberty of conscience in religious mat ters; and this has been considered detrimental to uni. formity and purity of Christian doctrine.

Even the celebrated Increase Mather once said: "1 believe that Antichrist hath not at this day a more probable way to advance his kingdom of darkness, than by a toleration of all religious sects and persuasions.

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It is true, that we have always maintained, that while we were bound to be "subject to the powers that be,” in civil matters, we could never yield our consciences to men, in things pertaining to the kingdom of God. The supporters of believers' baptism, have, under every form of government, been the advocates for liberty, both civil and religious; and for this reason, they have never flourished much, except in those governments where some degree of freedom has been maintained.

They have always protested against the interference of the civil magistrate in the affairs of conscience; and "all they have asked of Cæsar is to give them their Bibles, and let them alone." They have seen as much inconsistency in compelling men to attend on a certain form of worship, and to subscribe to a certain creed, as there would be in compelling a man, under certain fines and corporeal punishments, to love God, to repent of sin, or to believe in Christ. This principle of religious