r the water baptism only the silence of the six Jewish
brethren who were with him from Jerusalem.[190]

Upon another occasion Peter, with others, pronounced it necessary that
Gentile believers abstain from certain meats as Jews did.[191]

We recognize no distinction in Peter's authority, whether he restrained
Gentile believers from the use of certain meats or had them baptized
with water. In both cases Peter's Jewish education was his impulse and
not Christ.

As the Eunuch rode in his chariot he read from Esaias the prophet.
Philip went up into the chariot and preached unto him Jesus. The Eunuch
was baptized by the wayside. The Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip.
The Eunuch went on his way rejoicing.[192]

This appears to have been John's decreasing water baptism without
formula, but nevertheless to have been blessed to the Eunuch's dawning
condition of belief. Had the Eunuch been reading Christ's Sermon on the
Mount with the veil which was rent on Calvary clear lifted from his
eyes, he might not have stopped that chariot to baptize with water. But
he did not so read. The New Testament was not written at that time. He
read from the Old Testament, from Esaias the prophet.

Many years after Paul said, until that day the veil remained upon the
hearts of some when the Old Testament was read.[193]

Divine condescension to the dawning belief of this Jewish proselyte in
those transition times established no precedent which should induce us
to linger in the border land of Judaism.

We hear some wonder why many apostles and believers adhered so
tenaciously to circumcision, abstinence from certain meats, etc.

Future generations may still more wonder why many believers in our day
hold so persistently to water baptism, etc.

The day is surely dawning, the ranks are filling with those who realize
that these shadows are all foreign to the Christian dispensation.

There is less excuse for now baptizing with water than there was for
those Jewish believers continuing to observe the law of Moses generally.
The law was given to Moses amid the thunders of Sinai. When Israel
obeyed that law they triumphed over their enemies. When they disobeyed
they fell before them.[194]

How could they abandon that time-honored law of Moses and their fathers
and at once embrace Christianity in its fulness?

John the Baptist foretold that this transition would be gradual when he
said, "He must increase, but I must decrease."[195]

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