As respects the mode, the B. hold that only immersion in water is baptism. They argue, that the original term Laptizo conveys this meaning, and 110 other; that nothing less can possibly answer to the apostle's explanation in Rom. vi. 4, 5, and Col. ii. 12, "buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him ;" that the many allusions in the epistles to the churches manifestly bear out this interpretation; and, finally, that the fact of John baptizing at a spot selected for the purpose "because there was much water there," is perfectly conclusive.
Their form of church government is congregational. They maintain that the only order of officers remaining in the church since inspiration ceased are pastors (otherwise called elders and bishops), deacons, and evangelists; that the number of official persons in each of the apostolic churches cannot be ascertained from the record, but must of necessity have depended—and always must depend—on circumstances; that each church is possessed of the power of self-government under its exalted head, Jesus Christ, sub ject to no foreign tribunal or court of review; that discipline is to be exercised by the rulers in presence and with the consent of all the members, and parties received or ex cluded at their voice.
The B. are divided among themselves regarding communion—one portion receiving conscientious Pedobaptists to the Lord's table and membership; the other refusing this privilege to any but Baptists. The churches of the former are, called open communion ists; the latter, strict communionists. .
Next to the .Moravians, the B. were earliest in the field of missions. They have been honored to plant Christian churches in many parts of continental India, Ceylon, in the Bahamas, the West Indies, Africa, and China. No mission band has arisen in any denomination, within the century, who have surpassed the agents of the B. missionary
society in ardent zeal, patient perseverance, and invincible fortitude, in carrying out their Lord's commission to preach the gospel to every creature. The names of Carey, Marshman, Ward, and Knibb will be bad in grateful remembrance by all succeeding generations; and their footsteps are now being trod by a long list of Christian mission aries of all evangelical persuasions, who are – the messengers of the churches and the glory of Christ." This section of the Christian church was probably less zealous than their brethren, at one time, in preparing their ministers for their work by a sound course of study in the ology and general literature; but this reproach has been long rolled away. They have schools of learning inferior to none for training young men of piety for pastoral duties, presided over by men of great ability. At Bristol, Bowdon (near Leeds), Regent's park. (London), Pontypool, Haverfordwest, and Nottingham, there exist seminaries of learning which are entitled to give certificates qualifying for matriculation at the uni versity of London; and many of the students have already taken degrees and honors there. There are also the Pastor's college, in connection with the Tabernacle, London, and theological institutions at Edinburgh, Manchester, and Llangollen.
In the Baptist Handbook for 1876, the returns of B. churches and members are as fol lows: British, 2620 churches, 263,729 members; colonial, 1084 churches, 98,149 mem bers; foreign, 22.124 churches, 1,815,868 members; total, 25.828 churches, 2,174,746 members. The United States possessed, in 1874, 21,510 churches and 1,761,171 mem bers. England, in 1875, had 4572 churches and chapels, with 191,763 members; Wales, 1136, with 62,221 members; Scotland, 192, with 8155 members; Ireland, 74, with 1610 members.