mission of sins." Also Acts 22, 16, "And now why tarriest thou? Arise
and be baptized and wash away thy sins." Here the grand question arises
what does sin consist of? Is it not the violation of law or the break-
ing of a command, and is not the sin of ommission as great as the sin
of commission? Surely the commandment "Remember the Sabbath day to keep
it holy" is just as binding as the one that precedes it "Thou shalt not
take the name of the Lord they God in vain"; yet the failure to obey the
one would be the sin of ommission, while to break the other would be the
sin of commission. [Exodus 20:7-8] And are not the commandments issued by the Savior
and His Apostles as much the commands of God as those uttered forth from
the coloud-capped peak of Mount Sinai? And if so, a failure to comply
when "God commands all men everywhere to repent" as in Acts 22, 16, or
where Peter commanded them to "repent and be baptized for the remission
of sins" as in Acts 2, 38, brings us under the condemnation of a broken
law and adjudges us all as sinners before God.

Having now discovered the door of the straight and narrow way that
leads to eternal life, which is baptism, and the object of that baptism
that it is for the purpose of remitting or washing away our sins, it
now becomes particularly interesting to decide who are proper candidates
for baptism. Among the various sects and creeds of modern christendom
many believe in the practise of baptizing little children. We unhesi-
tateingly say without fear of successful contradiction, that no foundatio
or justification of such a practice can be found in the Scriptures.
It has been shown beyong question according to the Scriptures, that
baptism is for the remission of sins. Sin is the breaking of laws or
commands of God. The child, until it comes to the years of understand-
ing, is not able to comprehend law or understand the binding nature of
a command—to obey or disobey; hence it is irresponsible. For where
there is no comprehension there is no law; and where there is no law
there can be no sin; and where there is no sin, baptism is uncalled for
and out of place and is the direct violation of the commands of our Sav-
ior. For if by baptism one child who dies in its infancy may be ushered
into the arms of Jesus, and for the lack of baptism another child dying
in its infancy is forbidden His sacred presence, then are we not bereak-
ing His direct command where He said, as in St. Mark 10, 13-15 "And they
brought young children to Him that He sholuld touch them, and His discip-
les rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it He was much displeased, and
said unto them 'Suffer little children to come unto mMe and forbid them
not, for of such is the Kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, whoso-
ever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child, he shall
not enter therein. And He took them up in His arms, put His hands upon
them and blessed them." The testimony of St. Luke is almost identical.
It reads as follows (Luke 18, 15-17) "And they brought unto Him also,
infants that He should touch them, but when His disciples saw it they
rebuked them. But Jesus called them unto Him, and said, Suffer little
children to come unto Me, and forbid them not for of such is the King-
dom of God. Verily I say u)nto you, whosoever shall not receive the King-
dom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein." Clearly
then, baptism was never intended for little children, for baptism hav-
ing been instituted for the purpose of washing away sins, sins already
committed, and the child not having committed any, the ordinance would

mission of sins." Also Acts 22, 16, "And now why tarriest thou? Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins." Here the grand question arises what does sin consist of? Is it not the violation of law or the breaking of a command, and is not the sin of ommission as great as the sin of commission? Surely the commandment "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy" is just as binding as the one that precedes it "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord they God in vain"; yet the failure to obey the one would be the sin of ommission, while to break the other would be the sin of commission. And are not the commandments issued by the Savior and His Apostles as much the commands of God as those uttered forth from the cloud-capped peak of Mount Sinai? And if so, a failure to comply when "God commands all men everywhere to repent" as in Acts 22, 16, or where Peter commanded them to "repent and be baptized for the remission of sins" as in Acts 2, 38, brings us under the condemnation of a broken law and adjudges us all as sinners before God.

Having now discovered the door of the straight and narrow way that leads to eternal life, which is baptism, and the object of that baptism that it is for the purpose of remitting or washing away our sins, it now becomes particularly interesting to decide who are proper candidates for baptism. Among the various sects and creeds of modern christendom many believe in the practise of baptizing little children. We unhesitatingly say without fear of successful contradiction, that no foundatio or justification of such a practice can be found in the Scriptures. It has been shown beyong question according to the Scriptures, that baptism is for the remission of sins. Sin is the breaking of laws or commands of God. The child, until it comes to the years of understanding, is not able to comprehend law or understand the binding nature of a command—to obey or disobey; hence it is irresponsible. For where there is no comprehension there is no law; and where there is no law there can be no sin; and where there is no sin, baptism is uncalled for and out of place and is the direct violation of the commands of our Savior. For if by baptism one child who dies in its infancy may be ushered into the arms of Jesus, and for the lack of baptism another child dying in its infancy is forbidden His sacred presence, then are we not breaking His direct command where He said, as in St. Mark 10, 13-15 "And they brought young children to Him that He should touch them, and His disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it He was much displeased, and said unto them 'Suffer little children to come untoMe and forbid them not, for of such is the Kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And He took them up in His arms, put His hands upon them and blessed them." The testimony of St. Luke is almost identical. It reads as follows (Luke 18, 15-17) "And they brought unto Him also, infants that He should touch them, but when His disciples saw it they rebuked them. But Jesus called them unto Him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not for of such is the Kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein." Clearly then, baptism was never intended for little children, for baptism having been instituted for the purpose of washing away sins, sins already committed, and the child not having committed any, the ordinance would