Since the first or common meaning of the word baptism, is to dip, to plunge, to bury, nothing less than burying or overwhelming is true baptism.

In the Bible the words baptize and baptism are used in their first or ordinary meaning: baptize to dip; baptism a burial. "The priest shall dip or baptize his finger in some of the blood, and sprinkle it seven times before the Lord." Lev. iv. 17. "Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water." Mat. iii. 16. "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism." Rom. vi. 4. "And they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him; and when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip." Acts xviii. 8.

BELIEVERS WERE BAPTIZED.

"Many of the Corinthians hearing, believed and were baptized." Acts xviil. 8. The Jailer and his were baptized, "Believing in God with all his house." Acts xvi. 33. Consequently, in order to a right or legal baptism, there must be a legal act, a legal subject; and a legal administrator. The lawful or legal act is to be baptized or "buried" in the water. Rom. vi. 4. The legal subject is a penitent, loving believer. Acts ii. 37;  viii. 37. The legal administrator is a gospel preacher set apart by the true church to baptize. Then true or valid baptism is the immersion in water of a penitent loving believer, by a gospel minister with authority from the true or scriptural church. If one of these links be wanting, the chain is broken, and the baptism or act is invalid.

Now if sprinkling is used instead of baptism or dipping, or if the subject is a babe or an unbeliever, the act is not true baptism. And if a reputed church is unscriptural in doctrine or practice, its authority to baptize is unscriptural. If a church is bad, its baptism is bad.

Then if a given denomination by its unscriptural doctrine or practice is shown to be not the true local church of Christ, then of course baptism performed by such authority is not true baptism.

Only those whom our Lord has killed to the love of sin are ready to be buried with Christ by baptism.

If you are killed to sin and love Jesus, come to the church and be baptized.
Pottsville, Tex.       M.D. DENMAN.