Baptism is often abused, also, by being used as a mere habit, an unmeaning
form, without a proper sense of its significance, importance, duties and
responsibilities. It is administered because others do the same,--because
customary among most church members, and because perhaps it looks like an
adherence to the outward of christianity and the church at least. When they
have thus obeyed the law of habit, and girded themselves with the formula
of parental duty, they feel they have done enough; and perhaps neither
their children nor the vows they assumed at their baptism ever after recur
to them as objects of specific duty.
But we would remind such parents, that habit is not always duty, and our
adherence to habit does not prove our sincerity and the truthfulness of our
purpose. It does not always imply "the answer of a good conscience towards
God." If having our children baptized is simple obedience to the law of
habit, it is not the performance of a parental duty, but the abuse of a
blessed privilege; there is in it all no living churchly expression of
willing vows. In this way we only reach its outward form, and we do that,
not because of its inherent worth, not because of a duty and privilege; but
because we desire to cope with others, and decorate our religion in the
popular dress of other people's habits.
Baptism is also abused by mistaking the object and design of its
administration.
Pages:
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124