Baptism of the Holy Ghost

The following is an excerpt from Circular Letter on the “Baptism of the Holy Ghost,” by T. B. Montanye. It appears in the minutes of the Philadelphia Baptist Association in 1802. The entire letter can be read HERE.

The narrow limits of a letter call us to a close. We must, therefore, leave you to gather further instruction from the few inferences deducible from the whole.

1. That though regeneration and sanctification be essential to the character of a Christian; yet neither of them constitute the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

2. However much you may enjoy of the Spirit, as the Spirit of life, light, and love; you have no Scripture grounds to call this inward baptism, and so the one baptism, and thereby live in the neglect of the appointments of Jesus Christ.

3. That as the baptism of the Holy Ghost was given for the confirmation of the gospel dispensation, it has effected its design; the sacred prophecy is fulfilled, and it has ceased.

4. That as the extraordinary work, and no other, is known in the gospel as the baptism of the Holy Ghost, and that took place after faith in Christ, or regeneration, we have no right to call regeneration baptism.

5. Though we are the hopeful subjects of divine grace, and live in the smiles of heaven; it is both our duty and privilege to submit to the appointments of Jesus Christ, as laid down in his word.

And now, dear brethren, you may perceive, that our intention is not to deny any of the blessed operations of the holy Ghost upon the human mind; but to distinguish between truth and error.

Circular Letter, by T. B. Montanye, October 5-7, 1802, in Minutes of the Philadelphia Baptist Association, from A. D. 1707 to A. D. 1807, A. D. Gillette, editor, Philadelphia, PA: American Baptist Publication Society, 1851, p. 376.