It is admitted, readily, that a child at baptism does not understand the nature of the ordinance of which it is the subject, but that is no reason why it should not derive benefit thereby. It does not know the texture of the clothes that cover it, and yet those clothes keep it warm. It does not understand the nature of its mother’s milk, and yet that milk sustains its life. The children that were brought to Jesus that He might touch them (Mark 10:13-16) did not understand the ceremony that was gone through on that occasion, and yet we cannot but believe that Christ’s blessing did them good.

Thomas Witherow, I Will Build My Church: Selected Writings on Church Polity, Baptism, and the Sabbath, edited by Jonathan Gibson, 180.

Light makes darkness disappear. A plain statement of the truth is the best way to scatter clouds of error.

Thomas Witherow, I Will Build My Church: Selected Writings on Church Polity, Baptism, and the Sabbath, edited by Jonathan Gibson, 158.

Error sprouts rankly in human bosoms without any help of ours; but truth needs some kind hand to plant and water it, and keep it in the sunshine.

Thomas Witherow, I Will Build My Church: Selected Writings on Church Polity, Baptism, and the Sabbath, edited by Jonathan Gibson,149.

The popular mind, so acute in the business of everyday life, is but a dull learner in the things of God, and at every step needs help and guidance, in order that it may reach right views on spiritual matters.

Thomas Witherow, I Will Build My Church: Selected Writings on Church Polity, Baptism, and the Sabbath, edited by Jonathan Gibson, 143.

But if, on the other hand, our distinctive principles are very important as well as true, then duty to God and the church demands that we avow, illustrate, and defend them, and press them on the notice of the world.

Thomas Witherow, I Will Build My Church: Selected Writings on Church Polity, Baptism, and the Sabbath, edited by Jonathan Gibson, 140.

All Presbyterian churches rank among their most cherished, as well as distinctive principles, that Christ alone is King and Head of His church.

Thomas Witherow, I Will Build My Church: Selected Writings on Church Polity, Baptism, and the Sabbath, edited by Jonathan Gibson, 135.

. . . we feel bound to declare our conviction that the government of the Church of England is repugnant to the Word of God.

Thomas Witherow, I Will Build My Church: Selected Writings on Church Polity, Baptism, and the Sabbath, edited by Jonathan Gibson, 128.

Nor was supreme spiritual power lodged in the hands of any office-bearer of the church, however distinguished by his gifts, his sufferings, or his abundant labors . . . Even the apostles did not claim to have dominion over people’s faith, but only to be helpers of their joy (2 Cor. 1:24).

Thomas Witherow, I Will Build My Church: Selected Writings on Church Polity, Baptism, and the Sabbath, edited by Jonathan Gibson, 122.

Ordination is the solemn designation of a person to ecclesiastical office with the laying on of hands . . . In its outward form it consisted of three things — fasting, prayer, and imposition of hands. The imposition of hands was used when spiritual gifts were conferred (Acts 8:17; 19:6).

Thomas Witherow, I Will Build My Church: Selected Writings on Church Polity, Baptism, and the Sabbath, edited by Jonathan Gibson, 114.

Human wisdom may be baffled in attempting to specify the design of every truth that forms a component part of divine revelation, but eternity will show us that no portion of it is useless. All Scripture is profitable.

Thomas Witherow, I Will Build My Church: Selected Writings on Church Polity, Baptism, and the Sabbath, edited by Jonathan Gibson, 87.