Baptism - Its Mode and Subjects by Alexander Carson and published by Classics.
Nothing can be farther from the intention of the following Work, than to widen the breach among Christians of different denominations, or to minister to the increase of a Sectarian spirit. There are two extremes which I wish to avoid on the one hand, a spirit of liberalism that supposes the Christian his own master, and hesitates not to sacrifice the commandments of God to the courtesies of religious intercourse on the other, that sort of dogmatism that finds all excellence in its own party, and is reluctant to acknowledge the people of the Lord in any denomination but its own.
Liberality of sentiment is not a phrase which I admit into my religious vocabulary; for though I love and acknowledge all who love the Lord Jesus, I hold myself as much under the law of God in embracing all the children of God, as in forming the articles of my creed. My recognition of all Christians I ground on the authority of Jesus. To set at nought the weakest of Christ’s little ones, I call not illiberal, but unchristian. To disown those whom Christ acknowledges, is anti-Christian disobedience to Christ.
But while I gladly admit, that many who differ from me with respect to Baptism, are among the excellent of the earth, I cannot, out of compliment to them, abstain from vindicating this ordinance of Christ. This would show greater deference to man than to God. Every plant, says Jesus, that my heavenly Father has not planted, must be plucked up. To permit the traditions of men to pass for the ordinances of God, is injurious to the edification of Christians, and disrespectful to Christ. Some are diverted from the examination of this subject, by considering it as a thing of small moment, and that time is better spent in schemes of general usefulness.
