The Conservative Reformation and Its Theology - Saint Mary ...

ody of the Jewess by the minister. An immersionist contends that the
whole body must be immerged by the officiating minister; not, indeed, that
he is to lift the whole body and plunge it in, but the whole immersion is to
be so conducted as to be clearly his official work, the person being led by
him into the water, and the immersion completed by his bending the body,
and thus bringing beneath the surface what was up to that time uncovered.
Luther preferred, if there was to be an immersion, that the head only, not
the body, should be immersed by the minister (not illum sed caput ejus).
Even to the extent, therefore, to which he allowed immersion, Luther was.
no immersionist.
7. If Luther could be proved, by this letter, to be an immersionist, it
would be demonstrated that he derived his view from the Romish Church,
and held it in common with her. In like manner, the Church of England,
the Episcopal Churches of Scotland and of the United States, and the
Methodist Churches, would be carried over to the ranks of immersionists,
for they allow the different modes. But these Churches are confessedly not
immersionist; therefore, Luther was no immersionist.
8. Whatever Luther's personal preferences may have been as to
mode, he never even doubted the validity of Baptism by pouring. But
immersionists do not merely doubt it, they absolutely deny it; therefore,
Luther was no immersionist.
9. An immersionist is one who makes his particular mode of Baptism
a term of Church communion, and an article of faith. Luther was in a
Church which did not prescribe immersion as necessary--never made it an
article of faith; therefore, Luther was no immersionist.
10. Finally, the letter of Luther shows that he preferred pouring. He
says expressly that it would please him that the water should be poured
upon her, and gives this the first place; and his directions in regard to the
immersion, are given only in the supposition that that mode might be
decided upon--"if she sit, etc., her head shall be immersed," etc., si sedens.
Whatever, therefore, may be the difference between the doctrine of
the necessity of immersion, and the "doctrine