It is the second time that anguish of heart toward brethren is felt in this matter. Yet, with a profound longing to serve my Lord and Master, I take up pen to write an introduction to this book, which is entitled, BAPTISM: PREACHER OR CHURCH ORDINANCE? SECOND TREATISE.

When viewed through eyes, mind, heart and emotion, it would immediately come to my thoughts—avoid this writing. But, when viewed as an opportunity to speak the truth of God’s Book to men, seeking to aid them in their great need to be recovered from the grievous error and irregular practice that I fear many of them are presently caught up in, I bow to the task. And I pray God will be my guide and will help me, yea, cause me to be compassionate to those who are deeply imbedded in this error. At the same time, I trust Him to make me desirous of being found faithful to "contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." (Jude 3). Brethren, please love me enough to help me with my many errors, as I now seek to help you with yours.

Error is such a subtle and provocative thing. And it is so easy our entrance into its clutches, and so difficult and painful our extraction therefrom, that we must be ever vigilant to eschew its pitfalls. Error is very damaging to the well-being of all its adherents, whether they be individuals or churches.

Error is exemplified frequently by the errorist being found walking in darkness. By the departure from the light that God has given to safeguard the pilgrim journey of His saints, the sure portion of those saints will be to stumble at best, and to fall from their steadfastness at worst. Remember Psalm 119:105? Note this good and whole-‘ some word: "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."

This marvelous verse of Scripture sets forth truth. It plainly declares that God, having seen through His omniscient eye the grave dangers to be faced by His people, most wisely and kindly provided for their protection. "Thy word. . ." The psalmist announces the safeguard, "Thy word". Is there any other? Where is it, if there be another?

It is true that we have the Paraclete — the Comforter to direct us. But He leads us into the truth, for He is the Spirit of truth. (John 16:13). It is also true that He does so by using the word of God, instrumentally in His work. And Jesus declared, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." (John 17:17).

God has said, through the psalmist, that His word is a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our path. His word sheds light to illuminate the path that lies before His journeying pilgrims as they travel upon the by-ways of this world’s total darkness. His word "lights up" what lies ahead of us in order to provide for our over all good. Thus, the general tenor of Scripture must be ours, and it must be adhered to. We must never call up one Scripture to contest another, for "no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation." (Pet. 1:20).

God has also said that His "word is a lamp unto our feet". The lamp of God’s word Is not only to shed "general illumination", but is to provide "specific illumination", in order to expose each and every individual potential stumbling point, or pitfall that lies in our path. Think of it! God provides safety for us. His word is that place of safety.

Now, brethren, exactly WHERE in God’s Book is the teaching that authority to keep and administer the ordinance (baptism and the Lord’s Supper) has been placed, even once, in the hands of the men whom God has sent to be proclaimers? Remember, the church was brought into existence, was commissioned, and THEN was given to the churches the various gifts. "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;" (Eph. 4:11).

And why did He so give? and to WHOM did He give? Let’s look to the second question first. He gave the various gifts to His churches. The context of Ephesians 4 verifies this to be true. And WHY did He give these gifts? Verses 12 through 16 clearly shows the answer, "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for edifying of the body of Christ: etc." And the ministry is not limited to the ordained among that body, but included in "the ministry" is the whole of the body.

It was to the church at Corinth that Paul wrote these words, "Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you." (Cor. 11:2) The ordinances must be kept. They must be guarded. They must be observed AS THEY WERE DELIVERED. To let down the barriers that Christ has placed is to act treasonably, and each person or church who has so acted is a traitor to the cause of God and truth.

If error has been our downfall into this treacherous conduct, then we need to be recovered from that error, to repent of our misconduct, to seek God’s forgiveness₁ and then to seek His permission to set in order what we have profaned. May we receive grace to be made to fall upon our unworthy faces in the dust, prostrate before our Sovereign, pleading His forgiveness, being assured that "He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (John 1:9). This sin, having been perpetrated by error, is NOT the unpardonable sin. God does forgive. He does cleanse. But, He does so "If we confess our sins. . ."

Having been taught that baptism is a church ordinance, let us forsake foolish pride and admit that God set everything in order, and that He has not abdicated His position, nor has He given us, or anyone permission to set aside what He has ordained. Let us come down from our high-horse of ecclesiastical prominence, our self-esteemed position of grandeur, and confess the fact that EVERY preacher, and EVERY pastor is subordinate to the church OF WHICH HE ISA MEMBER, and that each and every church is subordinate to Jesus Christ, our Sovereign Head.

Brethren, let us not think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think. Let us not measure ourselves by ourselves. Each and every haughty, egotistical preacher who fancies himself to be superior to the saints, or to his peers is acting in a most ungodly, unchristian, unhumble servants manner. And he is exposing himself to the rebuke and chastening of God.

Dear brethren, please flee from this danger. Do you imagine that God will forever tolerate you as you seek to usurp authority that He never gave you? Do you imagine that God will reward you for seeking to "lord it over God’s heritage."?

No matter how highly you have elevated yourself among men, always remember that you too are but a man, and that God will allow NO FLESH, not mine, not yours, not anyone’s, to glory in His presence. And if the right to determine who shall be allowed to observe the ordinances that Christ gave to His church is ever taken by a mere man, then that man is seemingly placing himself in a position to take glory to himself. And God will not allow it!

I state openly and plainly that God’s Book declares that the authority has been given to His churches in the matter of the two ordinances. lam not vindictive toward anyone who takes an opposing view. But I do state, in print, to be read and remembered by all, that you are in error. I’m not mad at you, but you are wrong. Will this cause a loss of fellowship? I don’t know. I hope it doesn’t, but I don’t know. I know that pride is a powerful and tenacious enemy. Whether it is my pride, or yours, it must be put under control; it must be subdued if there is to be unity. An evasion of the truth that pride is present will greatly hinder unity. An admission of pride and the errors thusly will aid in bringing about unity.

I desire fellowship and I desire unity "in the faith" among all Baptist brethren and churches.

Brethren, I love you in the Lord. But I love God more! And I love His churches more! This is not said with any rancor toward anyone, nor with any self-righteousness on my part intended. But it is said because I believe that the time has come to stand up like men and be counted.

If division must come because of difference over this doctrine, then I go on record as being desirous of being found on the side of God’s truth, rather than being found with men against God. Brethren, this is my conviction, and upon this principle I stand.