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T'T
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THE
lelatton of ilMdren
AS
Taught in the Holy Scriptures,
AND
Interpreted by the Fathers
of Methodism.
MY BEV. CBAKSWICK JOST, A. M*
PICTOU, N. S.
PRINTED BY WILLIAM HARRIS.
1876.
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TO THE READER.
the following Essay appeared, in part, in the
.Ni a ffew months ago, it was the writer's
Jndly sanctioHed by the Editor, immediate-
cement it, by such an appeal to the Fathers
|lsm as is now made. Want of leisure delav-
mtion of this purpose, and in order that the '
be conveniently brought to the reader's
fs presented in a pamphlet, rather than in
>arated News-paper articles, which might
lly. collated.
several Authors have written at length upon
discussed, none have been directly consult-
ing those whose works are a part of ** the
%udy to be pursued by Candidates for our
long these,* besides Wesley and Fletcher, is
i Whose Commentary is fast superseding those
^ve hitherto been most generally used by
And AH this Commentary presents the
>sis of the views advocated in this Essay,
5S on Matthew, 19. 14., Luke, 18. 16., John,
^mans, 5. 18., 11. 32., Eph. 2. 3., &c.,) it may
de. In reply to an objection which has been
\tsi want of harmony with the older Standards
lism, to observe how cordially and unre-
It is recommended by the leading publica-
iritish Methodism.
[jssLEYAN M. Magazine says, editorially,
imerous popular and portable Commentaries
re appeared, this is undoubtedly the best.
In all the qualifications essential to a Conin*
Dr. Whedon is second to none, so that he may
as a safe and sure guide of the inspired Word.
The City Road Ma(JAZINE also says, edi
** Indeed it is not too much to say that the Ct
ary upon Romans is a work of sanctified ezege
nius. Trained scholarship, keenly aecurii
powerful original thinking, minute carefuln* %
produced an exposition as fresh and startling,
truthful and vigorous."
Judging from the expressions of surprise a:
proval with which this Essay, as publishei
WESLBYAN was met, the writer regards the ap:
of it as very opportune. Surely it is time fori
thodist to return to the horn-books of his ear!
to whom it is needful to say, as did Fletcher,
reply to his opponents, he proved from the 8
the very truth for which we contend, ** I ti
could speak as the oracles of God without exp to
truth ot the gospel to the smiles of Christian
That the truth ** may have free course and ^
fied," is the prayer which accompanies thiDK
humble eil'ort towards its dissemination. e:
1
r'A
PiCTOU, N, S., Feb., 1876.
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.1
LATION OF CHILDREN TO JESUS.
, »
II /y
ious culture of the young, occupies to- u
of unprecedented importance in the (
d labor of the Christian Church. We it
on abandon the Prayer-Meeting, or the u
the ordinary acceptation of that term, as
ored Sabbath School. mi'
it has become a custom in some quarters i
the morning sermon and the school, in :
service, in which parents and children
e united study of the word of God, the ,
osing with the exposition of the day's ^
other appropriate Scripture, by the ,.
t is more than probable that such a ,
spending the morning hours of the Sab-
be, in many cases, for the advantage of
d. It would be of advantage to the ^
giving a prominence to their religious |
hich is not generally secured, and by hab- ;
em to regular attendance upon the Public ^
God; whereas, it is a lamentable fact |
of them are now found only in the Sab- ^
1. It would be of advantage to parents
them to a more careful and consecutive ^
w
6
home-study of the SeiiptuieH. It would be of ad.
vantage to the Pastor by enabling him to compassij
his preaching a wider range of truth and niakeliii
preaching more exi)ository than is usually possibfe,
thereby better accomplishing one of the grand objedj
of preaching, namely, to make the heai'ei's familiir
with truth in all its various phases. Such a custom
also appears to conform closely to tlie habit of tlie
primitive Church, for, it was not until the fourth or
fifth century of our era, that the sermon, as we
understand that term, was introduced.
But, the design of all the Agencies of the Chnitli,
in their i^elation to children, is to train them up for
God; and back of the question as to the manner
in which these Agencies may be most successftilly
employed, is the question we now propose to con-
sider; the question of the relation which children
sustain to Jesus, in virtue of which we expect them
dying to he sailed, or, living to be trained up to (Oi
early exhibition of the blossoms and fruits of
genuine piety.
It has come to be regarded, practically, as afa«t,
by the different branches of the Protestant Chureii,
that all children dying in infancy are saved. The
Westmmster Confession of Faith says, ** Elect
mfants, dying in infancy, are regenerated 'and saved
by Christ through the Spirit, who worketh when,
where and how He pleaseth." The logical infer-
ence from this assertion is that non-elect infant^
dying m infancy, are not regenerated and saved
i
Ind that such was the belief of the framers of that
nfession, and, generally, ofthat school of religious
inkers, in former times, cannot be reasonably dis-
11 ted. Occasionally of late years, though we believe
mparatively rarely, the same opinion has found
pression in the pulpit. The present v'^riter once
ard a prominent and well known Minister attempt
emphasize and justify the awful announcement,
most in these exact words, "We may say, poor
tie things, poor little things, and may pity their
ndition, but, it is written in the Word of God,
d we cannot get over it."
We have however, the testimony of a Presbyter-
n divine, that "the theologians who hold to this
estminster) Confession (now) generally maintain
at all infants (who die in infancy) are elect, and
any of them think that this article in the Confess-
n would express the truth more clearly if the word
elect" were omitted. It is omitted in the Con-
ssion of Faith as p mended by the Cumberland
resbyterian Church." " ' . ...
According to this interpretation the article refer-
3(1 to is now generally understood to mean, infants
lying in infancy are regenerated and saved &c., and
ihus corresponds de facto with Arminian views.
1 But, what shall we say of children who live and
lor whose Christian nurture and training we are
) largely responsible ? What relation do they sus-
lin to Christ 1 Is the salvation of the dying child
jcomplished by a special work of grace in view of
i
8'
deatli, while the living child is left in a state of con
demnation until an age is i*eached, when pemnal
faith and obedience are iK)ssible 1 Or, are all child
ren, through Chiist, free from condemnation, and,
therefore, in a gracious state of meetness for
heaven, until guilty of actual sin ]
If we can arrive at the Scriptual answer, wewiE
be led to a more intelligent and adequate consolatioii
in the one case, and, in the other case, to a more
successful use of the necessary means of Christian
tramine.
" As Christ is at least equal to Adam, it
FOLLOWS, THAT AS AdAM BROUGHT A GENERAL CON
DEMNATION, AND A UNIVERSAL SEED OF DEATH UPOS
ALL INFANTS ; SO ChRIST BRINGS UPON THEM A GEN
ERAL JUSTIFICATION AND A UNIVERSAL SEED OF
LIFE." — John Fletcher,
We regard it as incontrovertible, that every one
born into the world inherits a sinful nature. Tlie
sad consequences of the first sin are universal.
Pain, suffering, and sinful tendencies, are manifest
with the first development of human faculties.
But, a Saviour has been provided, and, wide-reach-
ing as is the influence of sin, so wide-reaching is the i
influence of His atonement. m
^ These two great truths are thus placed in an-
tithesis to each other, in <Hhe most complete com-
position of the greatest Apostle," (Rom. 5, 18. 19.),
"As by the offence of one judgment came upon a«
men to condemnation ; even so by the righteousness
;-":^
n one, the free gift came upon all men unto justi-
ication of life. For as by one man*k disobedience
nany were made (i. e., "constituted, or, assigned the
)Qsition of") sinners, so by the obedience of one
ihall many be made (i. e., " constituted, or, assigned
bhe position of") righteous." Here is the broad truth
bhat by t'le sin of Adam, the sentence of death has
)een pronounced upon the entire human race and that
ill are thus constituted, or, assigned the position of
isinnera. But, here is also another equally broad
Itruth, that by the righteousness of Jesus Christ,
the entire human race, is placed in a position of
!" justification of life ", and, that all are thus con-
jstituted, or, assigned the position of righteous.
" This justification, which comes upon all men
[in their infancy, is certainly previous to anything
we can do to find it ; for it always prevents us, saying
to us in our very infancy, Live, and in consequence
of it, our Lord says, let little children come unto
me for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven". —
Fletcher's Appeal and Fourth Check. . . ^ * j .
Dr. Whedon, in his notes upon the above passage,
presents the contract expressed in its antithetical
clauses in these words; — ** From Adam's offence
resulted condemnation upon all men ; from Christ's
righteousness, justification upon all men. The
condemnation would have produced the exclusion-^
of the race from existence by the infliction of imrae- ' ^
diate death upon Adam. But, the justification of {
all, in view of the atonement secured the continuity :;
10
of the race, l)y which every ix^rsoii comes into the
world in a justified state." Tlie same writer
elsewhere illustrates this last i-emark, as follows ;-
" The true statement would be that they (infants)
are bom into the world depraved, but, as Fisk ex
presses it, the atonement meets them with its pro-
visions at their entrance. Their justification, or,
regeneration, so far as it exists is not congenital, but,
postgenital. The atonement fills this probationary
world with its influence, and, the human being re-
ceives his atoning justification, consequent upon Lis
entering into it. It is as if a room were filled with
a purifying influence, and, a leper is cleansed by
entering within its walls." ,
Now, we believe that every child taken away from
the earth in the period of its infancy, in viHue of
this "justification of life," goes to swell the number
of the saved, and be a star in the Redeemer's crown
forever ; and, also, that every child who lives, con-
tinues in the enjoyment of this '* justification of life,"
until by an act of his own free will, he voluntarily
i-efuses tlie good and chooses the evil. Dr. Wilber
Fisk, referring to those who grow up in Christian
lands, expresses the thought thus ; '' Guilt is not
imputed, until by a voluntary rejection of the (Jos-
pel i-emedy man makes the depiuvity of his nature,
the object of his own choice." The more general
truth applicable alike to heathen and Christian
youth, 18 thus stated by Fletcher; " when infante
grow up, they are called to believe in the light of
il
11
mm
their di8i)eiisation, and, till they do, their jjersonal
sins condemn them."
Keligious biograph} abundantly confirms, in
our opinion, the statement that there are instances
in which children have never lost this " justification
of life.*' By careful instiniction and guidance their
feet have been kept in the way of life, and, there is
no remembrance of a time when they did nob enjoy
a conscious assurance of the love of God. They
have never had such an experience of sin as to make
a separation between between Grod and them, more
than that which any adult person, though in a jus-
tified state, may experience, and, consequently, they
cannot point to a period, as the majority of con-
verted persons can, when by the operation of the
Divine Spirit upon their hearts, they were changed
from a state of nature to a state of grace.
" Adults are personal offenders, infants not;
AND the very wisdom OP GOD MAY ASSURE US, THAT,
IN PRESCRIBING THE TERMS OF SALVATION, * * *
THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE PERSONS MUST BE TAKEN
INTO ACCOUNT. ThE REASON OF PARDON, IN EVERY
CASE, IS NOT REPENTANCE, NOT FAITH, NOT ANYTHING
DONE BY MAN, BUT, THE MERIT OF THE SACRIFICE OF
Christ. — Watson^s JnstiL
It may be objected, that the views we haxe ex-
pressed, do not harmonize with Scripture teaching, re-
specting the necessity of becoming " a new creature"
of being "bom again," and, of being "converted" for,
if a child may retain the justification of its infancy.
12
l>
there need be no subseiiueiit necessity for the change
which is indicated by these phnises.
To ilhistrate onr idea of the relation such Script-
ures sustain to the opinion we advocate, we refer
the reader to the Great Commission ; " Ooye into
all the world, and preach the Gospel to every
creature ; he that believeth and is baptized shaU
be saved, but he that believeth not shaU be damned,
Mark, 16, 15. 16.
>^: A Af~«^<^« .VI
11 we are to interpi-et these words in t^eir widest
significance, we, at once, exclude every infant, dying
in infancy, from the possibility of salvation ; for,
such an infant "believeth not," and, therefore,
"shall be damned." From this conclusion, we
shrink with horror. It is worthy of remark, as a
historic fact, that Ambrose, Augustine, and others
of the church Fathers, made a corresponding mistake
in their interpretation of the words of Jesus to
Nicodemus, " except a rpan be bom of water and
o/ the spirit, he cannot see the Kingdom of Oo^P
Taking this statement in its widest sense, they said,
all unbaptized children must be excluded from the
Kingdom of God; though, as if to mitigate tlie harsh-
ness of such a conclusion, they assigned to them
the mildest grade of perdition. This error was the
result of a waut of consideration of the circumstances
of the persons. We at once see the necessity of a
similar consideration in the case of the Saviour's
last command, and, consequently, of limiting its
direct application to those who have attained such a
uiiiturity of understanding as renders personal faith
in Christ possible. In like manner, we must limit
the direct application of the phrases before quoted,
to those who hare lost the justification of infancy,
and, therefore, need a renewal, or, we may say
another renewal, of their nature, by the power of the
Spirit of God. And, this phrase, another renewal,
will occasion no surprise to one, familiar with Fl-
etcher's remarks, that, all who are lost " foifeit
their initial salvation," by their own sin ; and, all
who enter the heavenly glory, are saved, " by keep-
ing the free gift which is come unto all men," or,
" by recovering through faithful obedience to re-
converting grace." — F. & G. Creed. « ' "* - -«^
Any other opinion of the relation of children
to Jesus, than that here urged, involves in diffi-
culty and doubt, the familiar saying of the Saviour
four times repeated, in substance, in the Gospel,
*' SUFFER LITTLE CHILDREN TO COME UNTO ME,
AND FORBID THEM NOT, FOR OF SUCH IS THE KING-
DOM OF God." \^ =
For example, examine this saying m the light
of the opinion, that a child is justified and regen-
erated, only on condition of its dying in infancy.
Then, we must take one horn of the following
dilemma ; either, we must believe that only these
children who were there in the Saviour's presence,
not all children, ai-espoken of and that they were all
justified because they were to die m mfaney or,
we must believe that Jesus spoke, not of children
**
,M
I'l;
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14
themselves as members ot the king<loin of God,
but, of certain characteristics of childhood, as
finding a resemblence in adult Christians. Which
alternative will we choose? Will we say Jesus
meant only some children, or, that He was only
employing a bold figure of speech? Did he not
certainly mtend a deeper meaning than either of
these alternatives would imply ?
Or, examine the saying in the light of the
opinion, which appears to have been invented in
order to avoid the legitimate conclusion to which
the Saviour would lead us, viz., the opinion, that,
"regeneration is not the condition of admission
into the Church ot Christ," and, that, therefore,
both children and adults may be in the kingdom
ot God, and, yet, not in any sense justified or re-
generate.
On this ground ^ve have the spectacle of Jesus
holding up as models to which His disciples must
conform the unjustified and unregenerate ! A
view we cannot admit, because self-contradictory.
As a lucid, and to us a convincing, exposition
of our Saviour^ meaning, we give the following
extract from Watson's "Note^' on Matthew, 19
14. "That the kmgdom (of God, or Heaven)
signifies the spiritual kingdom of Christ on earth
. and also that glorious reign of God over redeemed
, and glorified men in the future world are Doints
[ not to be disputed; and, the word Vou?S
If they relate to one, must relate to both If UtS
children are the subjects of his spirit i ki^do
15
on earth, then, until the moment that by actual
sin, they bring personal condemnation upon them-
selves, they remain heirs of the kingdom of eter-
nal glory ; and, if they become subjects of the
latter by dying, then a previous vital relation
must have existed on earth between them and
Christ, as their Redeemer and Sanctifier; or else,
we must assign the sanctification of the nature of
man, which even in infants is fallen and corrupt,
to a future state, which is contrary to the Scrip-
tures."
To this exposition there is a natural and neces-
sary conclusion. All children are "members of the
spiritual kingdom of Christ on earth." As mem-
bers of this kingdom, the true Church, they are
morally qualified for membership. The Scrip-
tural terms by which the corresponding qualifi-
cation for adults is designated, are justification,
regeneration and adoption. Children, therefore,
before the period of actual sin, possess a moral
qualification for membership in the kingdom of
God, which is the same for them as that which in
adults is indicated by these terms.
We now turn to consult more fully the ac-
knowledged . . !. . f, :»r .fj.
Doctrinal Standards of Methodism, -^
and, we will find that Wesley, Fletcher and Wat-
son, (the latter under certain conditions, which
will be noticed,) acting upon the axiom that
things which are equal to the same thing are
! ill
)|
. 10
I «
|i
equal to one juiother, employ the J^amk terms
WHEN 8PEAKINU OF THAT STATE OF FAVOR AND
AiJCEPTANCK ^VITH GOD IN WHICH CHILDREN
STAND, AS THKY DO IN THE CASE OF ADULT CHRIST-
IANS.
As the Scriptural doctrines chiefty involved are
those of Human Depravity, and, "Justification
with its attendant blessings," our remarks will be
embraced under these two heads. , .
Human Depravity.
• > ) <
•M
According to the teaching of our Standard wri-
ters, the very continuance ol the human race,
after Adam's sin, is conditioned upon the promise
of a Saviour. Were it not for such a promise,
the full sentence ol death would have been imme-
diately executed, and, the human race would
have ended where it began. ,,.!.. .,.'4
"What the race would have been^ had not the
redeeming plan been brought in, the Scriptures
no where tell us, except that a sentence of death
to be executed "in the day" in whiqh the first
pair sinned, was the sanction of the law under
which they were placed; and, it is great presump-
tion to amme it as a truth that they would have
multiplied their species only for eternal destruc-
„^lv V'? '''''^ ^^^^^^^ ^ave been propagated
bSJ^acw''^r^^^^^^^^ ^^ sinnii^,.^tn^d, of
17
lyed are
i^ation
willl)e
ii'd wrl
ri race,
Tomise
romise,
iranie'
would
lottiie
ptures
tleatb
B lirs(
under
lump-
have
}truc-
^ated
J, of
)JdIy
(s an
biite
whicli the Script uivs ascriln' tu (rcjil." — Wat807iS
JnsHL l\)l. 2. Page 51).
"As we sinned only Heminalhim Adam, if God
had not intended our re^leinption, His gocxlness
would have engaixt'd Ilini to destroy us seminal'
li/^hy crushing the ca])ital otiender who contained
us nil; so there woulcl have been a just proportion
between the sin and the )»unis]iinent; for, as we
sinned in Adam witliout the least consciousness
of guilt, so we should have been jjunished with-
out the least consciousness of pain." — JFleic/ur,
Ml Vhexk.
Ilunian beings, therefore, come into the world
^' under a constitution of mercy which actually
existed beiore their birth " ; and, " until the mom-
t^nt that by actual sin, tliey biing personal con-
demnation lipo?) themselves, they remain heh's
of tlie Kingdom of eternal glory".
If it be asked, how this diilers from Pelagian,
or, Semi-Pelagian theories of the natural inno-
cence, or, angelic sinlessness of childhood, as, e.g.,
that of Dr. 'J\aylor, to whom Mr. Wesley's "Tre-
atise on Orii^inal sin " is a rei)ly ; we answer, the
difterenee is^very great. Dr. Taylor taught, and
his theory contains the substance of all those to
which we have i-eferred, that " no evil but tem-
poral death came upon men in consequence of
Adam's sin." Methodism follows the Scripture
in teaching that temporal death is only one con-
sequence of Adam's sin; other consequences are
^'the being born into the world with a corrupt
o
l«
^!
v.-.suif!ir
(1;
1
k tt
18
nuture, always teinlin<j; to actual otUMice, ainUlieB*^'^-' .
conditional Uabilitv to eternal <le;^tli." ■:\U'1»^'^'
It may again be asked, if the atonenuMit nioit
the human being at the very dawn of Hfe, so thai
he is justified, does not this imply a removal of
his depravity; and can we judge of the purity of
heaven by the temper of an infant's mind? We
reply, by no menus. These questions incorrectly
suppose thai no depravity can exist in a justitied
nature. We cannot judge of the purity ofiieiu-
enby the mind of any Cinistinn a<lult. Tliereis
enough depravity there to lead him every day!)
confess himself a siimer before God. In the high-
est state of grace on earth there is depravity suffi-
cient, if allowed to have its sway, to lead to a fall-
ing from grace and to the end of a cast-away.
Our natural depravity is never totally renioveil
until heaven is gained. Then, if depravity does
exist in a justified adult, mav it not also exist in
a justified infant ?
A justified adult is conscious of the presence oi
an "enemy within." Children whose powers are
just-developmg, are conscious of the same "enemy
within. If properly instructed and nurtured, they
may begm to conquer this enemy with the first con-
experience. If unbstr^ot V"'^'^."'^ ^^'^^' ""1
thev fill nn no! ^"instructed and unnurtured,
they tall an easy prey, as we believe many justifi-
10
(I adults to have riono, tlirouufh io'n()i"nn(*o, nn-
.itcliiuliu'ss and iU'i»l(H't lo seek divine aid.
And, it may 1k' lioro rcniarktM], that FIctclierV
Wqws, wliicli Miv, in sul>sianc(' timsc of this Kssay,
iri'touiid in his ^sVppcal;^' ;i woi-k which Annin-
I'liis have ahvays projK'rly ro^'ardod as jnvscntini^
llie Scrihtural idt'a ot" human d.coravitv most nn-
piiswcrahly, the coincidence' proving that in his
lopiiiion, thci'o is no want ofharniony ))ct\vccn the
It wo (lo(.'trincs.
I It will i>e observed, hy a comparison of qnota-
Itions, .ilready given, tliat Dr. Fisk agrees precise-
ly with Watson, so Car as these quoted statenn nts
iiiv concerned. J>ut, as the statement of'the forin-
|t'r lias been strangely construed into a denial of
•Icpravity, exce])t sucli as is one's own making,
wereter^o it again, "Guilt is not inii)uted, until
involuntary rejection of the Gospel-renie(iy,
man makes the depravity of liis nature, the object
^'t'liis own clioice." So^far is this hmguage from
^It'iiying human depravity, that it most clearly
ii!i|)lies the very opposite^ conclusion. For,^ how
^Mii it be said that "man makes the depravity ot
his nature the ohject of his own choice, it his
naturc^ be not depraved. And, the fact that this
depravity is "of his own nature" no ^«;« F^ e^^
it to be of his own making, than the foct that Ins
.'.ffections are a part of his nature, F^^^^ ^X)se
l)e of his own m akino-. And, as a man may choose
to bo .uS"^^^^^^^ ''' ''
20
)|
y
1
i 1
[i
\-\
miiy cl\()()se tu b»* <j;ui«kM| \)y \]\v <K'|travily
nature, ns ii whole.
JUSTIFKWTION wrrit ITS ATTKSDANT RlE'SlNf,
Wo pvesmne it will not be «loii])te«l, tli;ii
child (lvin<>' in int:inev. must Ix* iustilieil,rei:«|
SSlOll
ate<l and a(h)|»ted, in order tu its a(hni
heaven. Siieli is the ojjinion, we beUevvi
the grand Sections of the Christian Charcli.
Westminster '^ ConiessioiT' distinetly dei'l:
and, so do our own doctrinal Standards. \
son remarks, "All the nivsterv in the ciise
fi'om this, that in adidt
s we 'see the Mrcegiil|
connected witli its end, actual Justilication,
acts ot their own, repentance and taitli ; 1
.)\\l
to infants we are not infortned by what i»rom
justification with its attendant blessini]:s, is J
ually bestowed, thouoh the words of tlie AH
hteousncss
^111!
are express, tliat through 'the rij* -
one,' they are entitled to it. NorTs it suipvi^iii|
that this process should be hidden from us, m
the Gospel was written for adults, though W
benefit of It IS designed for all; and, the huv
S'r^n^ ' ''^"'^ "^'^'^^^' "^ tiie si>irit ot aniii
ieTt^t P^^«;^nn;ose an acquaintance with tli
p opeities of the human soul wliich is, in iaf
out of our r..^r^^j,stit. A T'^a^;,^.
blefo7kllnJ^S'rr^ '' ^^^^^^"'^^ ^^- ^'"P"
tificatiou wtf its H ^^'^"^^ P'^^-taker ot ''Ji
..ot r...nJu^'^^^^^^^^^^mt blessings," we shoi
not regard it as absurd
^^ bn[)(^ssible, tor any
21
\]\) tu the very inoinciit ul doiith, a dying
^i jiossosscs no niental or moral Ciipabilitics,
•h a living diild does not possess, and, what-.
i|»iritnal condition or qualification is possible
tlic ()ne case, is possible also in the other.
p, so fin- as we can discover, the Fathers of
tliodisui, with one ))Of:sible excej)tion, are clear
[heir testimony, not only as to the possibility,
as to the fact, that all children occupy in the
)r of God, a j)osition corresponding to that
pch in adults is called by the names of justilica-
1, regeneration and adoption. The one possi-
cxception to whom we refer is
RiCHAUD Watson.
'liis author seems, in the Institutes, to advo-
to the o})inion, that "justification with it attend-
blessings," is only bestowed upon children in
?e of their death in infancy. In his exposition
liomans, 5. 18., we meet this remark; the free
it "did not come immediately upon children,
bother they die in infancy or not," and, subse-
iently, it "is actually applied in the case of all
lose dyin^ in infancy." The inference is, that,
[e "free gift" is only applied in hnmediate ante-
<lcrice to their dying, and, prepares them for
int event.
Now, we are greatly puzzled in our attempt to
n-monize this opinion with other statements of
le same author. For example, in his exposition
^fore quoted, of Matthew 19. 14., he says, If
littli' I'hil.lrfll Miv Ih,. siil,j,.cTs of IIi>s,.iriJ
kn.<;,l<,mo„,.:,Hh, (w|,i,.l, luMlocs iu,t .hiUJ
tnon, until till' 111. )iiuMil tli.K l>v tn.,i ';,. .i'
Ltson a](ls, -Whether vvc understand this
m such &c.) of future felicity, or, of the
pmrch, ho case is settled ; in neither case
iu, they be under wrath nnd liable to condemn-
tion He afterwards remarks, " all tlie children
Ironoht to Christ Mere not liable to die in in
Vicy." The question arises, what is the moral
tiite of those who would not die in infoncy'^ He
jis just said, they are not "under wrath and
able to condemnation," but accordino- to his
lieory, they could not be justified except in case
If dcMth in infancy. Is not an impossible moral
ItMte here implied? If not " under wrath and li-
ihle to condemnation", must they not be in a
justified state ?
We confess our inability to solve the problem
bf this evident inconsistency. If the only di/Jl-
[iilty were in the " Institutes" versus the "Notes '
ke m\<rht suppose that the latter, being last writ-
leii, ex])ressed the matured judgment of the
butlior, but, it is not so, and, the difHcidty remains.
^11 we can say is, that Watson does not argue on
fills jioint with his usual clearness and cogency,
lliough, in his expositions, he generally admits,
IS we will see, all that Fletcher would demand.
But, beyond these considerations, where i« the
Scriptural i)roof that the Ploly Spirit distinguishes
ijetwocen a dying and a living child, and, perfor-
ins for the first a s|)ecial work of grace, which He
pes not j)erform for the other? The only spe-
pil references to tlio influence of ciie Holy Spirit
11
■I
.>"m,oMl,osowI,„|,vo,itoini.turit.v.
i'ng ?;;ir??.?cte ill'lv^^ ^^ ^--'-Pt-s a. toaol,.
oneofthem^!, . ; '•''■■■^^"•-'^f-'' This is, inW,
>n this belief thntl.n ^^" ,':""fi'''^^''tly .Iocs he mi
chargcfl him wi'ti, ,; '"'^l''.'*-^*" I'is opponents, wli,)
"you are both con^.?'""^'"," '' ""-'''' J»^t'fication,
f <?ctri„es will anS""' *'''''^' >">""• ^^^'o favorit;
fe'th is true/' ''<^'=«'"'« o/" «« »«/;w<. without
Ofv»'
5':^ r"*^ etS iS '''^'"'' "^^i^-^ "i> ■•» !,'"*
i^f>' ft great leiS •'"',"•'" "' "!>"» ^vhicl ho
J'!!:^J'^«•»t "whieC^J;'" '"« ^««'-'^» ^Aec-fc, the
"Vthe offence^n „'""» 'lescribed br St Pml ' 4v
from thl ^ ^^ ^Wte n ?K \f ''^' "the washin?
etema^p„S^^«"gisnt°' ^' *^^ ^^=""^'
punishment of if » "' ^« as to remit the
Ut this lie <,„,
»»e« should i!^'^' "G^od fflA»„, , ,
■ "^ ^y saved with an
ill*-''
(;o»K«M,y sav-1. -^■'^'\^^^ ,,,,,,v an, Scriptural,
These arc st.-ou;,' ^^■" ;:;';„„ {,,0 one hau.l, as,
from fatalis... •'•;/';",\2' i, ,e.ar.lH tmus.lf aHl'^'V-
m:,M-vo4 "the iust.uca o t .^ ^
„„outhisKvounaiv^^- '- , ,oviug, wb>«;t '«
thoso wl.o 'li>\"\''\^;^'"'"V,, ",1 -ral .iustiticatio.v
implies a prepan-'lness toi
v(>"wievation. , , ,,„(;,;(, a pi-evious quo-
' in,e iv,aaer is n3qm« - to -^ ^^ ,,,, U.as.-.
totio. fvonx t'u%-'^*^\"\, ',, ra.l.l tl.e foUowng-
another rene««i, '"^'1' ;*^,; „„uo point, in e^l^<'«-
from fue sune souvc<, on the^^^_^ j^i^thatnghteo -
„.HH is i.nputo.l to 'vU "t^ * f^,^.^ tiorl, accon S
proved, they «^*!^'^j"\t,tl.evaren,.lev. W -
lo tlv. inferior <1^«1«"^;J' ^^, tnttb in ""^''f . ^ ^i-
thev "row up, an.l, li"''!, ,' :.. u„i,t, personal unqm
n ss by sinning «f«"?^* fu "thev 6«^•«"^«ii'f «;
reproves, they i^"' • Slon,- con-lem-
totheTn,,that^,fo ^^^^. .pevsons,^^;,,, „f
them as branches that
li
if
••I
u
—Fourth Clark "'"' """^^ "* '•'.-''"'"'".surs,"
lie
SPA
dii
^v.•>s„u^e a vipt-m «>A<':vsr.ri,KH, that
iMofGod. ' • ^^ »v..oncM-atc aiul julopted
'A»ii\ W
^.>^|>i'es.st^.s.substaii{ia.llv tl
J:s!j:v
i«ii^^ to l.i
lio. (lid
.s (»\vii case, 1
Uiio
5) f. , . .
1 lie i-(H'()
'<' ^anic opinion. R(>f
id.s tl
('!•
^'''' ^>^'^v].ie:}, Li, 1
outward .si
Beiucr tl
(u mil
li'tisi
t' convict ion tliat
<>.•' THK KoiA'
'^'^'^^^^'^•^^^i^outton vrars of a^e
g tiuni reiiioN rd f
1^^:^^^ to evil iufln, 'Z f''"^^^^'^ oy(4-si^l.t, a;i;i
1*0 a 1
^^^^^>^ led into will
^d
' iJ^ .-i ''oardin.r-scliool, 1
-itu will,, sill ir / ;• '^ ov.,m;uj, m
.^;;^ ^^^>«% fat).... M ; "^/'^ ^ ^^- 1. ^^^ J)8
?-l piety, tlia L -'^^''^ ^'ouvinced of ]
cliildb
of eight
about til
pox, and, 1
'^' lie admitted 1
!ii.s
^iiii, at the a«:e
years, to tlif> ^^ --^ — — '
iesMinea,,. w. ;'^''^"^^'^t'»l table. Wl
W(^sl
i«»Sw:;;y r«,-*.
y ^va.s attackcjd I.
Jell
I'S fatl
^■'^ testinioii
.>v small-
i«'rj-cki,asw:;Tr' -i'owa«„b:
y, expressed
>ient, in London,
nwl ; 1 , "^^lue lis Hi\„ , ""- "-^^i, iu -ijonuoi
"Note , ^'^ *'^^^*''- «« X / ^ T '^'^'^ ^^'•- ^V']h.<Ic.u',s
Note, upou tl^ j,^,^ £- :1^-<1 i<n,]i.d iu tl.o
'tlie kino-doni of
tile world ' ^^p^ i •
^'eiierate earthly
') that
l^^ tl
lie \\
""m^-^r--
,„,,„tvr' thnt kinvd.m -r Cliun-lr, .iii^l li.'t tl".
l;.sol•tlH.kin,.^.m'^M•.sn.;.^'tl.Ms, "
T,,,tM..n.h..rsln,.lM.iut..v,.vrst»U.Mu.t.-ou W^^^^^^^^^
Wesley .ouU<b.w,w,.Wvo^;evsn^^^^^^
,'s;;tvN;;'s:on^i;j-.«^^''«^
tlM- lliiit> ^^^'^'. 'V , . wiwOi -IS lie ;U)])Voved ot,
li.sl,..<l Clnnrl. ot i'^".^''^'" '";';„ Methodis.n,
:rB:t-::r;i::^.Hn.o,.donsa.e.^.^d^
. ,„ mul uuuk ot hrt.n(j^^*' ^^^ ^,;„ „,t l>ai.t,.od,
,Ustiug«isl>ed fvo;n « ^ ;„^.,^,,„,tion, or the new
Imt, \i is also a sign ^ _^^^ ,,ii,,i.en is to l>e i-e-
t,un-l in the »', i, tis.n to m. ndult ns a
We then »*l'""",j!;' ihich we have reason
sicm of the vegeneiat w ^^^,^^ ^^ .^ ^,g.„
to'bclkna.hu.tuken I'-e- .^ ^^ ,;.„ of u re-
h, the case ot an uitant
I
I
1
il
''\^<Msc. oiMc...jt|
m » \-
uill
*"i- riii.'ini will cnjov
('iijov if
' "• 'ntinH.y^M- uI„V), ,,.^. I
<'*»<nit;i!,iiit
P-nviI to the t
()
tl
"»l'-r 111 ti
I)
ocs tin.
mi(» of JMM'SOIl.ll
po It
111 tl
.1
'^' (•.'ISC of jl
:ic-
'^* ^'-«S(* of tl
IC
H'llllt
'►'■'im;inc(' nici
Mild
n one
"lotlior tliii)
'^'^ ^"^'.'in tut> tl
)H>tl
intcM
I>iit
\'' '"^'nt y Alost (TrtMinlv
'f
» ca
scs tli(.
"'•i;'S unless tl
X It
•*'n' IS virtnajlvin
I'JX'tat
;;;"n^;s|Mritual state. This is 'tl
'^>'» wliicli Fh.t- I
le
\v\
AppoaP
'niK
C
sa\
•^XKli
VKUv
^''I<>\ A I
^^J^^l^XlMiocj.viM
'cr III the ^^
j" <|U('stion. "An<l
»<'»''s iiit(M|. rotation he
IX<; r.IV|\(i IXFANT
()
]>'in)oit
'npar
1'^)L:\
l>ATI
I^^'Hin- /.NFANT
Ulld,
on
With tho t
>a|)ti
^^'^ <>i"^ oru (^iii]
nATTlMM FROM
urn
??
^^•tho].: :'^^'^^*^IMVSSCM1
'>»'^\i.^<>in.u: "Artich\" tl
le
inL>-
in our CatcThisiii
01
()
quosti
J^ovvo til
^^ THK S
ons.
Sin
the
('h
anr]
y bai
^ toll
Tl
^< liA:NrK\VTS.
o\vino..,,i
•^^verstoc'onospondin
se
made
)li
srn i
'Ward and
(V
H
urch
thev
new
'^ ^'n- l,cij,jy (Ii
•*^I>intual rrrace
Pnvi]
^•J-oatdros
eansed from
mi
asth
Ot V]
U'e
^.2:(3 of t3
i» Clirist Jesiii
^?
\v
uiud
e
i'St: 1. /^^"»l>ers of
jptistvl ])orsons are
tl
ien
the visible
K?»'t>-e,;;? ";»'M« so£:^; ;'!.tho Me.li,.tor of
^»"eh thoJ'"' to all t.L:"'^ '"ereby recognized •-
ey av
th,
" Ml hi Oof,, ,)
yects,
lis
cssincfs of
DlsniMJNK <»l' <>''«< ('hi'H''II.
hiri
t to US liir tnir ha.sis uj»()]i w
liicli
wliirli points out U) us uir ii««' • — ;■ -i
tli.Smntunil pnu'tuv of iniant l>:ii;tisn. ivsts
'•Wehol.ltlmtMllrluMiv.uUy v,rtu(M)i tlir im-
,,,,li,i^,,,i ,,,,Mits ot' tlH> atonen.ont, anMuenJ^^^^
" flOlLSlV
,rtlK'ldiig<loin oMJo.1, an.l ( here fare, i^u
tutitl<Ml to Uaptisiii
lire (Mititlrd to l»ai»tisin
Is all cliildren
b
111 otlicJ' won
becaMse, tliev are uwinlm-^
the kiiii-aoni of (;n(l. To l>e i
uei
ubei's
kiiii^doin is, as we
spi
have semi, to
of that
l)e ''siibjectH of His
Htualkiui^aoin/'tobe-heirsi
)f tlie kingdoin o
f
eteniaUh)i-v;' to lioM -a vita
1 and beueticiar' rela
tiou to Jesus; lu o
,ther wovas,
u
justitic
iatioii
lo'j^icMl inference then is
th its attendant I
,ls, to be partakers of
.wi.M.f l)le8siniifs. ihii
are enti-
that all children
tied to baptism on
adults are so entitled, i^^^
hich
itarrelation to Jesus
ti; same grmind upon vv
.- . .w, ,,,(,, I, iiiiiii nU'y jirt* trill |[^'
'"'" *''"^- " iltvl tlicvmusti
»«' SMIIIC |)lVini' IIU'IVV
V
m
'>t'artu.il sill. \V
M'rk tofo-ivrnrss till dultIi * 1 1
Nvliicli
tl
u'lr
»n<'t Mirir I'.Msr a( tlie v.-ry en 'nct'iiMMit di
^'X'stciKM', -not im|.utiii;,r to tlinu ori^iiiul
»»nt() ftcnial drath, a,,,! Mottii
SlILl
ti-ausLrrrssiniis in t|
ILT out tlirii' jM-rsoiinl
li<'art
unt(» riirlitrtmsii
K' mojiirnt tlu'v hcliovr wirli tl
m
cs-^.
«>
w
Pn
ArricM,
of
now set. tlic i-.tional an.l
^^'onitnrt to tl
Scriptural L^rouiK
•^tlicii- rliil.ji
ios<' wlio niomii tin* deatli in iiit'
'<'H. It lias 1»(
''.^' t(,Lrrii„.p all till' (vnt
ill
<^*o\intn(.rs, liall
^'^"'lan race liavr .litMJ I
iK'i-soiial
'•♦'•S|H)nsil,ilitv I
inc
on cstimatod tli.'t talc
iirics of Ininian Ijintorv niKi
or nioir than lialf of tlio onlii'
H'foi'c tlio period at whii'
l;':!;'^'''-<'o,li,,('l,;i.stun,uil,.af..l
x'.iiriiis. Tlu'MO throiiLdi tin
\n 1
loavcn
Sat
V troasuHM
I ui
half 1
ti'opliies of' the i
ni IS ri.ldxMJ at onco of more thai
^;« ^'xpectiM i.ivy. a,,l an^H
eomes, as luM)ftf.n a
s rejoice over thcsi
^''•KMMncr's victory. ' When dcatl
and cuts oir tl
'*'- loto the <rai.(|on of the faniil
i": ^>'«d.s Just Id
^eumsnes, of HfV and' 'l
ooniiiiir into tlie con
»»ddst of oiir te;
'*^';% We may .smile in th(
ii
«i
ti
U's as we listen to 1
f '^'noap^^r^l^^l -^thoso fh>vv-
When He was nl^.r. .^.^*^. ^"'^^* thov
lis word
s.
orets KiiV
» 1
^r'^.?y ^l' «hall
^"f-eachild.
hlooin
And sa nt« ,,r* ^^^ »»^y <'slyo - ^"'^
nd saints unnr. i^i^^^ <'^i*e ;
white.
.»iiMiii;liirMiS
... .-'iti, ^> mi iiiuvi'v, Hi liiH .........»«..'..
. ^ Jii' 'IVmihs :" *'(\)hsi<ln* tin's, yr \vc»'|»iii;,
lnviits, and <lry up y<Mir tn.Mi's. Prrlmps the Sn|>-
ki!i«* |)isj»().s('i* of events tores.iw some iiievitjil)le
'lare of teniphition torniini,', or some (li'e.nlt'ul storm
ii'lversitv impenilin^r. And wliv slioiiM vou l>e
>satisrh»(l Nvitli that kin<l ju'ecantion, which has
iisei! yoMi' |)h'asaiit plant, and »'<'mo\ed int<»shelt-
I ii tender th)\vrr, hefore the tlnnhlers roai'ed, l)e-
IV the liLjhtnini^' tlew, hefore th<' tempest poni'ed
h raiij;e. ( ), remcmher, they <••>'(* not lost, hut,
\v\\ awav from the e\ il to come."
To tliose whose Connnission in part, is, ** Feed
v lyamUs," and (\spec'ially to parents wJiose cliild-
,!i ai'e s[>ar<Ml to yc^ars of I'esponsihility, it v. 11 ap-
\\v that the >i<'W's w<.' ha\'e advaneed oive iiicreas-jp;
JempIiMsis to tlie iiispirefl eommand, ''Ti-ain np a
|Rhl in the way he slionld ,i>o, and when he is oIcK^,
r will not depart fiH)n\ it."
It is not our ]»res(mt purpose to speak at any
i-rth of the nuiTUier in wliicli this work of trainini-'
ly ],e best acconiplishod. It will satisfy \r\ if
1 it we believe to be the Seriptural teach in-s of
m'sIcv Fletcher au<l otlioi's of onr Armiiiian Antli-
is" aiCallowed to exercise their le^itnnate inHuence
|mi the (liristian and parental heart. ^
Tin that case, the result may lead us all to say, a.s
Louathan Edwaids, when he had wi nessed so
any evidences of genuine c nldhood piety, m con-
En with the gi^eat revival m which he ook so
/
/
Ml < H hlhPllHl \ci: »ii;FWi:KN « niLlUlKN ASh
I'KIISONS, AS WK AKi: APT To IMAtilNK.". AihI
there is a<hiniiiHteie<l to o\ir children that
meiit wliose eh'iuent is the si^^n of an inwan
Kpiritual <,'nh'e. we will siiij,' intelli;r<'»itly, a8 \i
tliunkfully,
•
♦* .I(»sus the aneient-t'aith eonlirins,
Tooin jj:reat Father j^iven ;
He taken our eljiiilren to his aiJiis,
Ami calls them herrA uf /toimu"
tM^\Ht'
.^^^MAMtaK
i