108 COMMISSION, The, C. H. Cayce On another page in this paper the following questions are asked us by J. S. Garrett, of Denton, Ark.:
1. To whom was the commission given?
2. If given to the apostles alone, and expired as they expired, where do we get authority to baptize?
It is not necessary to answer at length. We simply call attention to Mark 16:14-15: “Afterward He appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen Him after He was risen. And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature,” It stands out clearly that the antecedent of the pronouns them and ye must be the eleven. He said to the eleven, “Go ye.” Mark 16:20 says, “And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them.”
In 1 Cor. 11:2 the apostle says, “Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.” This shows that the ordinances were delivered to the church. Baptism is an ordinance; the ordinances were delivered to the church. Hence baptism is administered by the authority of the church.
The eleven were sent out by the personal call or command of the Saviour, the second person in the adorable Trinity. The ministers are called and sent out now by the Holy Spirit, the third person in the adorable Trinity. The Primitive Baptist, Oct. 31, 1911.