In di-agreement with other Christians. the Disciples hold: That while both Old and New Testaments are equally inspired, both are not equally binding upon Christians; the Old was God's will with reference to the Jews, the New is Hi will with reference to us (Heb. 11. Ac cepting fully the Scripture statements concerning the Godhead. they repudiate the philosophieal speculations both of Trinitarians and Unitarians and tin not use the theological terms to the schools. but insist upon 'the form of sound words' given in Scripture concerning Father. Son, and Holy Spirit. Accepting the Bible as an all-sufficient revelation of the divine will, they repudiate all authoritative creeds and human grounds of Cullom ship. Receiving Jesus in all llis divinity and •hristhood, they accept the truth that Jesus is the Christ, the on of the liv ing God. as the one article of faith, as the creed of the Church, the fundamental fact of Chris tianity. and belief with all the heart in Jesus as the Christ is all the confession of faith they ask preparatory to baptism and Church membership. IZecognizing the agency of the Holy Spirit in con version. they repudiate all theories of special spiritual operations outside of the Word, de manding of the sinner that lie shall hear. believe. repent, and obey the Gospel in order to secure the remission of his sins. Admitting the necessity of faith and repentance, they submit no other tests, no human formula of belief, but on a confession of Christ and heartfelt desire to give up sin and work righteousness men are baptized and re ceived into the Church. Accepting baptism as a divine ordinance, they insist that "lle that !whey eth and is baptized shall be saved"; they com mand 111C11: "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remis sion of sins"; and claim that evidence of pardon and of the gift of the Holy Spirit is not in dreams and visions. but in the sinner's knowledge of his Scriptural faith, repentance, and obedience to the Gospel. Claiming the Lord's Supper to be a divine ordinance, they consider it not as a sacrament, but. a memorial feast, and keep it on every first day of the week, meeting as the Lord's people and recognizing neither open nor close communion, since neither of these is known in the Scriptures of divine truth. Regarding the
Lord's Day, they hold it not as the Sabbath, but as a New Testament appointment in memory of the resurrection. to he observed as a day of rest and worship for the assembly and communion of saints, preaching of the Gospel, administration of the ordinances, and training of families in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Cherishing the Church of Christ, they regard it not as a sect. but a divine institution. They submit that sects are not branches of the Church of Christ, but are unseriptural. The body of Christ is one. of which Christ alone is the head.
The Disciples in regard to the action of bap tism are in accord with the Baptists. immersion is with them the only baptism that is scriptural and that could he universally accepted. As to the subjects of baptism. they baptize only believers in Christ. With respect to the design of baptism, they accord more with Pedohaptists. They bap tize for 'the remission of sins': and claim that the sinner in obeying this ordinance appropriates God's promise of pardon. relying on the divine testimony (Mark xvi. 111; Acts ii. 3s). They date the, beginning of the Christian institution on Pentecost. and the New Testament with them contains the history, constitution, and laws of the Church of Christ. In Church government they are Congregational. and have no distinction of clergy and laity and recognize the local cluireh with its elders and deacons as the highest eccle siastical authority. They are organized, how ever. with district. ":.t:11.4., and national organiza tions for missionary and benevolent work.
rina /. — A. Ca mpbell, t'ltristinn System (Cincinnati. 15531: 1. Errett.
Our PoNit ion ICincinnati. Iti151; J. 11. Ed wards, Orthodoxy in the Ciril Courtv : .1. S. Lamar. First Principles und P,rfertion (New York, ISM') ; B. 11. Tyler, Peculinritics of Disciph t I str; ; II. “arrison, (1h1 Faith 1.'1.00