Chambers's Encyclopaedia, Vol. 5: A Dictionary of Universal Knowledge; Friday to Humanitarians (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from Chambers's Encyclopaedia, Vol. 5: A Dictionary of Universal Knowledge; Friday to Humanitarians

The doctrine of the 'internal light' has also led the Friends to reject the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Su per as these are observed by other Christians. Hey believe the Christian baptism to be a spiritual one, and not, like the Jewish and heathen baptisms, one with water; in support of which the quote, among other assages, the words of John the Baptist himself 'g baptise you with water, but there cometh one after me who shall baptise you with the Ho] Ghost and with fire.' Similarly do they regard t e rite of the Eucharist. It is, say they, inward and spiritual, and consists not in an symbolic breaking of bread and drinking of wine, mt in that daily communion with Christ through the Holy Spirit, and through the obedience of faith, by which the believer is nourished and strengthened. They believe that the last words of the dying Redeemer on the cross, It is finished,' announced the entire abolition of symbolic rites, that, under the new spiritual dispensation then introduced, the necessit for such, as a means of arrivin at truth, cease and that their place has been a undantly supplied by the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, whose o ce it now is to lead and guide men into all truth. The true Christian supper, according to them, is set forth in revelation Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in unto him, and will sup with him and he with me.' For the same reason - viz. That the teaching of the Spirit is inward and spiritual - the Friends ignore the religious observance of days and times, with the exception of the Sabbath.

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