derived, is used in the New Testament in the sense of washing [Mark 7:4]
and sprinkling. [I Cor. 10:2] The baptism of the three thousand on the
day of Pentecost [Acts 2:41] and of the Philippian jailor [Acts 16:33]
could hardly have been by immersion, on account of the scarcity of water
available for such a purpose. When Jesus was baptized, He "came up out
of the water"; [Matt. 3:16] but it is quite probable that He stood in
the stream while John poured water on His head.

THE ESSENCE OF BAPTISM consists in applying water "in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost"; and its gracious effect
depends, not on the amount of water that is used, but on the Word of God
with which the water is connected.

QUESTIONS.--1. What does baptism consist in? 2. Why is baptism not
simply water? 3. What is meant by "water comprehended in God's command"?
4. What is meant by "water connected with God's Word"? 5. What is to be
said about the necessity of baptism? 6. Who are to be baptized? 7. What
is to be said about infant baptism? 8. Who may be sponsors, and what is
their duty? 9. Give some reasons for infant baptism. 10. What is to be
said about the mode of baptism? 11. Why is immersion not essential? 12.
In what does the essence of baptism consist?

* * * * *

SCRIPTURE VERSES.--John 3:5, 6. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say
unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot
enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh;
and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Mark 10:14, 15. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said