J. SMYTH. 197 every ordinance administered by them, was null and void. They were for some time, however, guilty of this incon- sistency, that while they re-ordained their pastors and teachers, they did not repeat their baptism. This defect was easily discovered by Mr. Smyth ; whose doubts con- cerning the validity of baptism, as administered in the national church, paved the way forhis rejecting the baptism of infants altogether. Upon further consideration of the subject, he was led to conclude, that immersion was the true and only meaning of the word baptism; and that the ordinance should be administered to those only who appeared to believe in Jesus Christ. But the absurdity of Mr. Smyth's conduct certainly appeared in this, that, refus- ing to apply to the German baptists, and wanting a proper administrator, according to his views of the ordinance, he baptized himself; on which account he was stigmatized by the name of a Se-baptist. This is related as a fact by most of our historians; and one of them affirms, that he was baptized no less than three times.. Crosbyhas, however, taken great pains to vindicate himfrom the charge of having baptized himself; yet it does not appear that he has been very successful.+ Mr. Smyth's principles and conduct deeply involved him in public controversy, and soon drew upon him an host of opponents, the chief of whom were Messrs. Robinson, Ainsworth, Johnson, Jessop, and Clifton. The controversy commenced soon after his settlement at Amsterdam, and was carried on with too much asperity by both parties.} Many writers observe, that soon after this unhappy con- troversy broke out, Mr. Smyth and his followers removed from Amsterdam, and settled at Leyden ; whereas it is extremelyobvious, from the testimony ofpersons who lived in those times, and even in those places, that both he and his people continued at Amsterdam till the day of his death,§ which happened about the close of the year 1610. The year followingappeared, ADeclarationof the Faith of the English People remaining at Amsterdam, in Holland," being the remainder of Mr. Smyth's company : with an appendix, giving some account of his sickness and death. Paget's Heresiography, p. 66.-Neal's Puritans, vol. ii. p. 46:-Life Of Ainsworth, p. 38-42.-Clark's Lives annexed to Martyrologie, p. 56. + Crosby's Hist. of Baptists, vol. i. p. 95-98. t Life of Ainsworth, p. 42. § Cotton's Congregational Churches, p. 7.-Prince's Chron. Hist. vol. I. p. 27.
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