The Biblical Basis for Infant Baptism by Dwight Hervey Small. Baker Book House.
This book written by the pastor of the Warren Park Presbyterian Church, Cicero, Illinois is a very useful study of the Biblical principles involved in the baptism of infants. Due to the fact that the anti-paedobaptists are out of line with the general teaching of the Christian churches on this particular subject, they are very vociferous in their claims, and generally well-informed with respect to their own arguments. They are not, however, so well-informed about the arguments in favour of the baptism of infants, but due to their laying great emphasis on their own arguments, the impression is often given that the baptism of infants has no Scriptural basis, but is merely a tradition carried over from the Roman Catholic Church. Mr Small has endeavoured in this particular book to go back to the covenant relationships which the Scripture so clearly teaches, and to demonstrate that both baptism and circumcision are closely bound up with these particular relationships. He makes a careful study of these doctrines in the light of the Scripture, and his arguments are very convincing.
Since his study is based upon the covenant relationships revealed in the Old and New Testaments, the theological viewpoint expressed is that of the covenant theology of the Scottish reformers. It is interesting in this connection to notice that, contrary to the views held in some quarters, in which the case for adult baptism is examined and then the case for infants, Mr Small takes the opposite point of view: “It was distinctive of the Scottish reformers that they saw infant baptism as the basic pattern; baptism was primarily applicable to the infant heirs of professed believers. They did not view baptism as primarily applicable to adult converts, and then seek to adapt it to infants. For them baptism by its very nature was a sacramental ordinance of entrance into the covenant community of God’s people, with its privilege and contact with the means of grace.” (p. 9).
There are one or two phrases and points of view with which the present writer would not fully agree. A typical example is as follows — “Circumcision certified that relationship. The little ones were as explicitly and as fully invested with the part and title of this covenant and all that it implied as were the parents. They were to be regarded and treated as of the number of the elect.” The true position was that they were regarded as of the number of the visible church. Apart, however, from these blemishes which are few in number, the study can be profitably read by all who are interested in discovering the Scriptural principles involved in infant baptism.
We are very much in agreement with the following statement — “These are truths which must be taught to the children of believers. or of course it is of no avail to place them under the sign and seal of the covenant. For this reason it is an appalling thing that countless thousands participate in infant baptism in our churches who are never instructed in the promises or obligations! Could anything be of greater importance within the life of the church and its families? It is not difficult to understand the negative reaction of immersionists who witness the apparently meaningless rite as practised in a vast number of churches. It is cause for deep repentance on the part of ministers of reformed churches. And it may well be that the precious truths for which they stand shall not have the blessing of God upon them until there is just such a repentance. The practice of the church can never rise above the preaching from the pulpit and the instruction given to individuals who apply for the administration of the sacramental ordinance.”
The book may be purchased from the Church Bookroom.
D.M.
The Christian, his Conflicts and his Armour. The Bible Christian Unity Fellowship, 52 Oatlands Drive, Weybridge, Surrey. Price 60p plus postage.
This well-printed paperback contains a series of sermons by way of exposition of Ephesians vi, 10-18, which were preached before the University of Cambridge by the Rev. Charles Simeon, M.A., Fellow of King’s College, Cambridge (1759-1836). The book contains a short resumé of the life and times of the Rev. Charles Simeon by Bishop D. A. Thompson of the Free Church of England. During his fifty-four years in Cambridge and as incumbent of the nearby Church of the Holy Trinity, Simeon exerted a tremendous influence on university life. His labours were blessed in Scotland and also in the provision of workers for the mission fields. Probably the most noteworthy of these heroic heroes of the Cross was, by common consent, Henry Martyn, who served Simeon, his beloved teacher in the things of God, as curate for two years. He then went to India, moved on to Persia, and when he was on his way home, died at Tocat in Asia Minor at the age of thirty-one.
The sermons themselves deal with the various parts of the Christian armour and their interpretation and use. The Bible Christian Unity Fellowship are desirous that the book should be sent out to all students studying in Divinity as an antidote to the false teaching which is so widespread at the present time. This worthy purpose deserves every encouragement.
D.M.
Jesus The Messiah: An Illustrated Life of Christ. By Donald Guthrie. Pickering & Inglis Ltd. £2.75.
This book is a comprehensive devotional study of the earthly sojourn of the Divine Redeemer, as unfolded in the record of the Four Gospels. The author is a distinguished scholar, Professor of New Testament Studies at the London Bible College, and the work itself is written from a basically evangelical standpoint. It is encouraging to find in a modern publication in this particular field of study, an approach to the subject matter of the book, which is intellectual, and yet humble and reverent; for the author, the authority and authenticity of the Scriptures are unquestioningly accepted and his task of harmonising the four records, of elucidating any difficult points, and of interpreting the whole, is fundamentally based upon his conviction of the infallible truth of these records.
His treatment of the great mysteries of the faith, as these are revealed in the pages of the Gospels, is admirable. He allows the Scriptures to speak for themselves. His approach to the Messianic conception of the Divine Mission of the Redeemer is one which does justice to the Old Testament Scriptures, and serves to confirm in the minds of his readers the truth of the words at the beginning of the Epistle to the Hebrews, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son…”
Despite the use of the phrase ‘Christmas story’ and ‘Easter Day’ — terms which we would naturally have avoided, the great events associated with the Incarnation and Resurrection respectively, are handled in a proper and evangelical spirit. The mystery of the Virgin Birth and the Physical Resurrection of the Lord of glory are accepted in the spirit of faith, as essential elements in the Divine Plan of Redemption.
The book is handsomely illustrated throughout, with scenes from the Holy Land, depicting the particular subject matter from the Gospels, under review at the time. The language and style of the author are pleasing features of the work, while the division into sections that can be used, if desired, for daily studies over a period of six months, makes the book admirable for Bible Study among young people and others.
While there may be places in the book where we would differ slightly on points of emphasis or interpretation, we commend the perusal of this work, especially in this day and age, when there are so many books of a thoroughly different outlook on the same subject, on the market, and desire for it a wide circulation.
A.M.C.