8 be saved. An apostle says, “ Without faith it is im* possible to please God.” Men must be “ born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh—(mere human resolution)—nor of the will of man—(agency of others)— but of God.” No man-made or inherited religion. None born into churches by fleshly birth. No hereditary church membership through parents, sponsors or godfathers. No regeneration of infants or adults by mere ceremony of ritualism and sprinkling or pouring water upon them. Children as well as adults must be born of the Spirit before they should be baptized; the fact precedes the figure—birth in Christ before baptism into Christ. Jesus deals with conscious, voluntary subjects. No manipulated piety; no machine religion. Christianity is a spiritual life, and not a physical force. The kingdom of God is not like a lever, but like leaven ; it changes the hearts of men. Consider how greatly this principle involves the purity, the intelligence, the activity, the mission, of churches, and so the life, freedom, holiness and power of the republic of Christ. Churches that gather into their membership unconscious infants, and confirm among their number unregenerate persons, marry Christianity to the world, and open their doors to superstitions, ritualism, formalism, despotism, and spiritual death. Christ never ordained such an order. Churches should be spiritual, voluntary bodies. Baptists have held this principle from the days of the founder of the Christian republic. No other denomination, save the Baptists, even claim such a record. 5. Fifth Pillar. Mark it. One law of baptism, and baptism the ceremonial door of a church. We read, “Repent and be baptized every one of you.” “ They that gladly received his word were baptized.” They were
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