And Paul even thanks God, in his epistle to the Corinthians, [Note 4] that he had baptized none of them save Crispus and Caius, and adds: "For Christ sent me, _not to baptise_, but to _preach_ the gospel." Paul, therefore, certainly regarded preaching as far more important than baptism.

Of the apostles, Luke informs us, they _daily_ in the temple and in every house, ceased not _to teach and preach_ Jesus Christ; Acts v.

41, 42.
And in order to gain more time for their great work, they appointed deacons to attend at tables, that they might give themselves "continually to prayer and the _ministry of the Word_," but they say nothing of baptism and the Lord's Supper.

Paul expressly tells the Romans (x.

13-15,) that faith comes by _hearing_ (not by baptism); and to the Corinthians he says, "For in Christ, Jesus I have begotten you, through the _gospel_.