19th Century Southern Baptist scholar P. H. Mell--'infants are saved but not by the Gospel'

Patrick Hues Mell (1814-1888) is said to have "held more official positions in Baptist life at every level than any other Southern Baptist in history," holding the presidency of the Southern Baptist Convention a staggering 26 terms. Mell is considered a strict Calvinist on virtually anybody's terms and by some an "original founder" of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Below is a selection from Mell's book, Baptism In Its Mode and Subjects published by the Southern Baptist Publication Society, Memphis Tennessee (1854).  Speaking of the nature of the Great Commission being given only to adults who can understand the gospel, repent, and believe, Mell writes:

"Infants are not, like adults, saved by the Gospel. Those who die in infancy are saved by the atonement of Christ, and not by the Gospel, which is the proclamation of that atonement. The glad tidings of good news are never addressed to them—the prescriptions of the Gospel being applicable only to those who can hear, understand and believe it. Faith in Christ secures the salvation of adults, not because there is any saving efficacy in faith itself, but because, by divine appointment, it is the means by which they realize the benefits of Christ's atonement.

"By divine appointment, then, infants are saved in some other way, and without faith. What that is, by which they are brought into saving relations with Christ's atonement, we know not. Nothing in God's word is addressed to this class of human beings, nor are his ministers commissioned with a message to them. The Bible says enough for the consolation of parents who are bereaved of their infant offspring; but it does not satisfy their curiosity by informing them as to the means by which they realize the benefits of the atonement. All that is necessary to secure the salvation of adults—the only class addressed—is revealed in the Gospel; but it says no more with regard to the salvation of infants, than will suffice for the consolation of bereaved parents and friends" (pp.211-212, italics original; paragraph divided for easier readability)

--Patrick H. Mell, Baptism In Its Mode and Subjects, Southern Baptist Publication Society, Second Edition, 1854

Comments

[Christiane]

'but not by the Gospel' . . .

all salvation is through Christ the Lord who IS the Good News

some Christians have truncated the meaning of 'the gospel' and defined it so that it does not bear the image of Christ on their definitions

I think that is a mistake. When a person speaks about the 'gospel', they ARE speaking about Christ Who said He had come to find those who were lost. If He said He would, then He will.

I think the 'gospel' IS Christ, because He has the words of eternal life. A denomination may have many 'truncated' versions of the 'good news', but it must never leave out the Guardian-Shepherd shown on the walls of the catacombs, bearing a lamb on His Shoulders. Any description of 'the gospel' must be formed from the Mind of Christ and the Heart of Christ, or it has no relevance in the Kingdom of the Lord.

[Adam Harwood]

Thanks for finding and posting this quotation from Mell.

[Scott Shaver]

Must be slipping. Had all but forgotten Mell. Definitely not of the same ilk on this issue as some present day folks of the same theological mindset.

likewise thanx

[peter lumpkins]

Thanx Dr. Harwood. And, I hope NOBTS is a permanent home for you, brother...