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Could you discuss the ordinance of baptism? More specifically,

the church giving authority for pastors or deacons to perform the baptism. Can any Christian baptize a confessing believer? Great question. This is another one that we got ahead of time,

so I'm prepared. I've got my 1689 confession here.

This is one of the distinctions between the Westminster. There's not much, but there are

distinctions between the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Second London Baptist 1689

Confession of Faith. This would be one of them. All right. So I'm reading from paragraph 11.

Paragraph 11, this is chapter 26 of the church.

Chapter 26 of the 1689 confession of the church.

Paragraph 11 says this,

although it be incumbent on the bishops or pastors of the churches to be instant in preaching the Word,

meaning that they would be the ones who are ordinarily and frequently fulfilling that duty in the church, preaching the Word on the Lord's Day,

by way of their office, yet the work of preaching the word is not so peculiarly confined to them,

not so peculiar to them, that others also gifted and fitted by the Holy Spirit for this ministry,

and approved and called by the church church may and ought to perform it.

All right.

So this is not addressing baptism, but I want you to see a principle here.

This is a principle within Baptist polity, all right, reformed Baptist polity,

mid-church governance, the way that the church is set up.

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