Bertha and Her Baptism, page 59 by Nehemiah Adams
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buried with him, by a Christian profession; that is, we utterly cease from the world and sin, professedly, as Christ not only died, but went into the tomb. But what does "risen" refer to in that passage,--the water or death?--"from whence also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God."
Mr. M. Why, how do you understand it?
Mr. K. I prefer, if you please, that you should answer. Many understand it thus: "You are buried in water, to denote death to sin; you are lifted up out of the water (as Christ was lifted up by the Baptist), to live a new life." If this be so, what is "the operation of God," which is spoken of there? Does it need any such "operation" for an immersed person to rise out of the water? No, my dear sir, our interpretation makes plain and thorough work of the whole passage. Our idea of that controverted passage (your great proof-text) is this: You, Christian professors, were, all of you, baptized, on profession of your faith;--when you made a Christian profession, you signified by it your dying unto sin, as Christ died for it, so that, I may say, you were dead and buried to sin. But, as Christ came to life again, so you rose with him, not to sin, but to live a new life. Hear Dr. Watts on the passage:
"Do we not know that solemn word, That we are buried with the Lord, Baptized into his death, and then Put off the body of our sin?
"Our souls receive diviner breath, Raised from corruption, guilt and death; So from the grave did Christ arise, And lives to God above the skies."
I do not believe that the mode of baptism is alluded to at all in this text.
Mr. K. I cannot agree with you, sir. The contrary is perfectly clear to my own mind.
"Mr. M.," said Mrs. Kelly, "do you think that you and Mr. K. would ever think alike on this subject?"
"Never," said I. "People almost always end where they began, when they discuss this topic; only they do not always leave off in such good-nature as Mr. K. and