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H aat Wmd A pardr da rangla aupdriaur gaueho. da gauoho i drolto. M q9 ilMrt Ml vSS* #11 pMVISfIt Nl IMHflOM Niuswfff Hi mniiocMw 1 2 3 ,l^-«> '-^: . 1 2 3 1 ^ AJf ADlREO TO THEMEMBEBS OF PRESBYTERIAN OHURGHOF NQVAQOOTIi, }K THE IBfPROPRIETT AITD INCOHSISTENCT OI' THE COVDVdT OP PARENTS, WHO SOLICIT AND CLAIM BAPTISM POR THEIR CHILDREN, WHILE THEY HABITUAL* L¥ NEGLECT THE OBSERVANCE OP THE lord's supper. g BY ORDER OPf|[| gyiyoD. «^What profit if there 9rcircnnicisioo? Maoh •?•» wty.**— Rom. HI. 1, ft. ? ■ ■ ^- ':f^ '/ » » ■} PICTO0— 1847. TrinN hf K. M. McDonald, for the Synod. M » ' €. A '^, 4f' ( f I* ■> .'J f -nit""*'- '' ■« '^ V ' " > ?, >) V, .« ;*,- /' 1 . O • ■^ : 1 . „ %4 • ^ t J 1 o» ■■«,,.,.•. ./•■ t'^'T^s^-^^-s.- -r TO THE MEMBERS OP THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF NO VASCOTIA. Dear Brethrkk:**** ^ ''^ '[, ' The Synod of the PreshyteriHii Church of Nova Scotiti whom tko Holy Ghost has made your overeeeiti, "watch for your soubi, as they that must give ncco&ht."» The^ rejoice with you in your prosperity. They sympathise with you in your adversities. They joy when they "hehold your order and the steadfastness of your faith in Ghri8t."t They are grieved when that order is suUvertbd, andjvhen any /"IibxI away by the error of the wicked, fall from their own stead- fastness."! 'I'hey *«thank God ol^ways on your liehnlf for the grace which is given you by Jesus Chri»t;"|| and they feel the neee9$ity yyU'irh i$ upon them; "according to the dispensation of Goci which is given to them to fulfil the word of God^ to warn every man, and to teach every man Hi all wisdom, that they may present every man penfoct ia Christ Jesu«."ir The children of Issachar ore said in holy writ to be "men that had understanding of the timeS) ih know what laratl ought to do."§ Christian prudence requires that to a e«f» •Il«b. xW. 17. tCol. ii. 5. 1 1 Pster iii. 17. | 1 Ctr. 1, 4, tCol i. 25, n. SI ChroQ. xii. 02. mm. mf «%^ I. Mincxffht, weadnntourinodpsof n..«« i .ion,n„.,„„.,n.ei^,L.to.h::°eS;::fr whom we labor. Umler the M J ''""* """*"« pmcticej were „erm i, In ! «"""'».«. "sages ....d hear., „f .he Je wT Jhtl' .he""""'"' "'""' """''""" "^ "■» me„,s of New Testamenr , '"P""'n>"'i'*«<'».'"d a,„i„. • Apowolic «r p„,? *• T"' "'"""'y >ep„di„.e. 1„ ,he tain admCdilu.^r^'rf '■'■""'•"'»•■'»'"''' """cer- of Nova SCO L . . ""' •"^"•« ••■•esbyterian Church «"..yie:dX.^:r:Xh""ir"''^"^^ •hey «„„,d doubt1e"rha<-r . '.i'" !'*'" ""•<•"'"*'■"«""'. brethren who nrecelS 1 '" ""•'■^">»"- Like rt,eir -ester,. wo'd;.,rMi:d.h:. '"'"'"""'!. '»'»'■'• '" *•" excusable am. Ue,, exneZl in r "^ """«' ""«•" "^ the Church; which woul I! V"''"' ""'•'^'"""■•nces of .leriy, settled state o;:bie„;rr..;"";":'r '" " """" "'■ h h! K ' '''^^ °" ''^ perfection.»--«.Our profession It has been lustlv saiil ,a rnc- as H nrZ. . explanatory standards of the Church «s^« proper grot-ndwork for progressive refor.nation "1 ' ^1 he practice of administering baptism to the chililren of ZZ ' :"" ';»'""'""y "^g'ee..heoi«ervanceof he Lord^ ttT:;J;"«'"^rr''*"''^*'^"^^'""'«'- ^^ceedh;. the Sy od firndy believes it does, from erroneous opinions respecting the nature of the Sacrament, and oTShMU *8ec. Bdok of Difcin rhtn tJ "y *v • \« . .;<, „, '%f' i ■ '**^'*a ►ur instriiC't lose nmong •sages and less of rhe iiid attain- e. In the (c present universal mine the ion it tvaa ' that cer- ^inaiii for itinew in 1 Church customs, fistances, ke tlieir I* in the night be nnces of ' lore or- srting or fiiplian-, SynotI, well ns Hessioi), a prac- 'hurch, "I Iren of Lord's ling as >inions lowship, on the part of pa'rents, who in tHfese tircUmstahceii solicit and claim baptism for their children; and connected - with o*r>mpliance oil the i)art of him who administers the rite, which cannot be justified^ its practical tendencies have been, and in the nature of ^he case cannot but be, extensively injurious to the interests of religion. In consequence of permitting its continuance so long amongst us, we have be- . come a reproach and a bye-word to more consistent Presby- ^■' terian bodies; The whole Church is therefore deeply inte- "" tested in its speedy and entireiemoval. In their endeavors to accomplish this object, the Synod ilesire to proceed with due caution and tenderness. They niight at once have is- * sued an injunction, forbidding ministers and Sessions to baptize the children of such parents, as habitually neglect to observe the dying command of the Redeemer, by sitting, down at his table. But your spiritual overseersdo not wish to exercise "dominion over your faith."* They would not have your " faith stand in the wis.lom of men, but in the power of God.''t As in the natural body, the removal of those irregularities which constitute disease, can be rationally expected, only by the removal of the causes which have pro- duced them, so \n our attempts to remove those irregularities in the ecclesiastical body, which mar its beauty, enfeeble ite activities, and impair its efficiency, we must address |g^ selves to the correction of the erroneous opinions m wl» the evil has originated. Pursuing this method, the Synod labour to reform this .buse by endea^vering to instruct hose who have been committed to their care, m the truth as it is^ in Jesus. ' . . Th^ remote effects of unsound but commonly received principles, often remain and develope themselves with great SClincUs, long after the P^-'P^f^ ^^^^^ ^,::X7yS exploded. The time has been, when in almost every pArt rrScndom, Baptism was considered ds indispens.ble to ^*«Cor. i. 24. tl Cor. ii. 5. % • '#*% i-^iML •mrntMm ' > » l * .. .*»» G Salvation. Persons dying uulmpiizeil, were unhesitatingly declared to be excluded from heaven, and consequently were denied the usual rites of Christian burial. In cases of emer- gency, laymen, and even women, were permitted to adminis- ter the ordinance, lest leaving the world unbaptized, the gates of the heavenly city should be fast closed against the unhap- \}y individual. The same mistaken opinion respecting the jndispenaible necessity of this ordinance in order to salvation, and of its power to confer grace upon the soul of the reci- pient, led to its indiscriminate administration. Few if any enquiries were made re-pecting* the religious knowledge or personal piety of the parent^;, It was sufficient tlTat they were free from the suspicion of heresy. In these circum-* stances It is not wonderful that men should have exhibited ftn eagerness to obtain this rite for their offspring, far beyond that which they manifested for the observance of other means of grace, in their own sphere equally iniportant and valuable. Again, at the same period, the firm belief generally pre* Vdiled, that in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, the ele- ments of bread and wine were changed into the real body and blood of Christ. The opinion that in this Sacrament Christ was not only spiritually but corporeally present — that theconnnunicant beheld and tasted the real body and blood of Christ, — tended to throw an adventitious solenmity around it, which terrified tender and weak consciences, and tnade even the stout-hearted approach the table with emo- tions of reverence and awe which he seldom experienced in the observance of other ordinances. But though these errors, in their more gross and palpable forms, have been long exploded, and can never find accept- ance in any Church based upon sound Protestant princi|>les; yet among those of our connnunion whose opportunities for acquiring religious information have been limited, vestiges of these superstitious notions may be easily detected, and their remote efTccts arc often ileveloped with painful dis- ti isitatingly ntly were 3of emer- ) admin ici- , the gates he unhap- 2cting the salvatioii} r the reci- ew if any wledge or timt they le circum-' exhibited iir heyotid of other Drtant and ;rally pre* r, the ele- real body sacrament sent — that and blood solemnity snces, and with enio- irienced in d palpal)Ie nd accept- principles; unities for I, vestiges icted, and nlnful dis- tinctness. To them we truce ilie irrt'tjuluriiies upon which, we are now>nimadvertin!;. They orij^'inated and fostered the opinion that baptism, if not alisolutely indispensil.le to - salvation, is of such urgent necessity, that, in cases of e^ner- genry, the order which ihe Head of the Church has esta- blished, am! which in yrd^inary circumstance*^ they admit ought scrupulously 'to be observed, may be violated,— that the' ordinance of the Lord'rf Supper is much more solenm than the ordinance of Baptism,— that the qualifications ne- cessary for ayur attention to the following doctrinal statements:— l_Baptism is not a regenerating ordinance. A person may be, and many are, regenerated without or before Bap- tism; and many who have been baptized give ample though melancholy evidence, that tb^ce still strangers to the grace of the Gospel. ThoughfaTu may ifidmit the truth of these statements in general, yet that the opposite opinion exercises a powerful influence over yoSV feelings, is evident from the two '.following considerations; Ist, From the term by which the administration of this rite "is frequently designated. The person baptized h often said to have been christened. Some, it may be admitted, employ the expression through inattention, and some through ignorance; many, however, it is to be feared, employ it of design. With Mcb, to christen and to make christian, are expressions of th$ 4 -I y -/ 5 hi r V'r}-,w,e „„|,o,r. J |,e n.o ,'. •"■<"" ll>ee„ge.„e.s,a,„h,„xio,y,vJ,ich,„a,ry,,a,-e„t3 ' --ma,n.„,st,,9ol,ta,„b„p,is,,,fo,.,hei,-cl,,,<,ren,>vte,,s,,U-M tor >e cly,„g, co„.,„s.ee already such, as being born members of the Church.*** In the (loclrlnal statements of the United Associate Synod of the Secession Church, udopted and sanctioned inl827, hin-, gunge. to fhe same effect is emjiloyed. <<}3nptism ought to be regarded as declarative of connection >vith the Church. "t Again, *' one special design of the ordinance is, to acknow- ledge the bnptizpd as Church mendiers; and therefore th« Church has a right to know what claims they have Bytheir parentage^ to such an acknowledgment."! The children of Jewish parents wdre mernbcrs of the Chrn'oh before they were circuinciseci. This is evident from the threatening of exci- sion from th^j congregntion of Israel, wherever there w«s nc*- gleet or contem[)t of this seal of the covenant. "Theunclr- cumcised nianchild, whose flesh of his foreskin is not circum- ci8ed,that sonhshall be cut off from his people ; he hath broken my covenant. "jl Now, as there can be no cutting off where , there is no connection, it plainly follows from this threaten- ing, that, unMerthe former economy, the children of Jewish parents were members of the Church before they werecir- cumc»«j£d. The same doctrine may be proved from the ap- pointment of circumcision to be the sign or token of a cove- nant previously made, and of a justified state previously attained. IT By a parity of reasoning we conclude, that the infant seectof parents, one of whom is a believing professor, are meml>ers of the .Church by birth, and that the adntinis- tration of baptism is to them an acknowledgement ^ declara^ tioUy or recognition of a connection with the Church pre- viously subsisting. 3. Joining the Church, and sitting down nt the Lord's table, are acts of a professor of religion, essentially different and distinct. Many evidently entertain the very opposite opinion. Accordingly, by many, the term "communion" i^ employed exclusively to denote participation together of • T««limrtny, p 7?, iec. eil. t Testimony, p. 136, fourth ed. t.Ibi. i$v.» MfiU 2 it* t SitMM^«# Principlei, p. T. -it.^- - \ 1 tf ^v ^fn m m— 'fM*^ - the prot»ah(e origin of tH^HpEftke. T6i« iloctrine, .lii»«# vcr, no sound Protestant wiffir can avow as the reason why he esteems the one sacrameot to be more solemn than the other. The usual, if not the only arguiijent brought for- ward to support the opinion which we are now opposing, is the declaration of the Apostle: "He that eateth and drink- tth unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself."* No assertion of such terrible import, it is triumpljantly liTerred, can be found respectingxbaptisra, in the sacred icriptureg. Now,, it is readily conceded^ that these wordf %f the Apostle are very solemn. They were doubtless de- signed, as they are well calculated, to excite emotions of ,h61y awe in the soul of the person who contemplates a sof* J«mn approach to God in this sacred rite. Far be it froni us to attempt to diminish the reverence for this holjr institution, which the words of the Apostle, properly unr derstood, have a tendency to awakwi. But is it Hot possi- ble, nay probable, that you under-estimate the solemnity * iiot be found in Scripture respecting Baptism, may be fairlf 'questioned. But not tp dwell upon matters of doubtful di»* ;^utation, let us enquire into the mind of the spirit, by com- paring spiritual things with spiritual. Eating and drinking "^unworthily, doubtless deserve eternal death. But this yon know, is true of every sin.f The same language which is iMre employed in reference to eating and drinking unwoP» ^ly, the same Apostle applies to resisting "the powers that be."t It may be observed further that the original terti translated "damnation," may with equal propriety be lraiii» lated "judgment;" and you will find it so rendered in tNl margin. This is the translation preferred by the authors of • 'W'* - . t iJe^^ii. M. t aMter Calecblsiii, Qasst. M. tRomans aiii. 2, . I ^^iP^TT- 1 iiiffi' 14 the Shorter Criteebism.» By nitendiiig to the explanation which the Aiiostlo has given of this subject, it will nppenr evident, that damnaiion, or jiulgrnent, in this passage, refers td bodily diseases or death. "For this cause, many ar« * weak and sickly among you, and many sleep."! It is a 'y chastisement sent for the very purpose of preventing eternal damnation. »' When we are judged we are chastened of the • Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world."t But farther, observe the language which the spirit of in- spiration enriploys respecting another ordinance. It will be readily admitted, w€ presume, that the phrase, "A savour «f death unto death," tho^ugh it may not grate so harshly on the ear, conveys to the mind an idea equally awful and ter- rific, as the phrase "eating and drinking dijmanation." It -would n«t be difficult to shoyv that it is ev«n more so. Yei that expression is cmi>loy*ed by the Apostle to denote the effect which follows unprofitable hearing of the word. "To the one, (that is, to them that perish) we are the savour of death unto death."|| It is evident then, that.thc phrase, ' -"eating and drinking damnation," will not^prove that the Lord's Supper is a m*ore solemn ordinance than the preaoh- ingof the word. It cannot, therefore, be held ^s proving that it is more solemn than baptiim. We do not however^ intend to assert that the sacraments are not more solemn or- er to hind fruni its appuihtmeut for that purpo;}e by com- petent authority; and all its importance depends upon the importance of the promises and obligations of the document to which it is api>ended. Both Sacraments have been ap- pointed by the same Divine authority, and they are both seals of the same covenantj — ^a covenant in which the same blessings are conveyed, and the' same obligations ini-" plied. In this respect, then, it is manifest that no greater ' solemnity should be attached to the one sacrament than to' the other. Again, a seal annexed to a covenant among men, is a more arbitrary and coventjonal sign. Apart from the ob- ject which it is intended to serve, it has no signiiicancy. — Not so the seals appended to the covenant of grace. They nr« wisely adapted to enlighten the understanding, as well as to confirm the faith, of the recipient. The signs are sig- nificant — calculated to convey important instruction in an im- pressive form. They both refer primarily and principally to the death of Christ, and to the blessings which thence accrue to the believer. In its exhibition of these blessings, the sa- crament of baptism gives particular prominence to the pu- rifying efficacy of the Saviour's blood. Its encouraging de- claration is, "the blood of Jesus Christ," God's " son, clcanseth fiom all sin."* In the Sacrament of the Supper, particular prominence is given to the nouridiing and glad- dening influences which flow from communion with Christ the Head. His language in it is, <'my flesh is meat in- deed, and my blood is drink indeed. "f "Baptism is to be^^ administered but once, with water,— and that even to in- fants:— the Lord's supper is to be administered often in the elements of bread and wine, — and that only to such as are of years vid ability to examine themselves. "f From these .diflTorenoes, not in the kast affecting the nature of the Sacra- •1 lohn i. 7. tJohn vi. 66. tLarger Cdtechiim, Qaett 177. ^ 1f "t " af^- 1 i 't -r^x ^mst ■Jf ments as seals, it surely cannot be inferred that the one .3 more solemn than the other. Since, then, the author of rt r^T'1 '" ^°''-''''=* 'h-^spiritual pari of bo,h is Chr St at,d h.s benefits-since they both represent the sa.ne fundimental doctrines, privileges, and duties;-ii„ce the, are seals of the sanre covenant, to be dispensed by the same office-bearers, and by none other-and since both are to be contmued in the Church ofChrist until his second cora,„g,._we are shut up to the conclusion that, in point of solemnity, they are perfectly equal. • f i 5th, The qualifications which entitle parents to receive ' baptism for their children, entitle' them also to occupy a sent a he fable of the Lord. If the correctness of the preceding -statements be admitted, the truthof this assertion will, i? may be presumed, be readily conceded. On account of the .mportance of this point, however, a few additional ol„er: vattons may be useful. What then is the grand qualification, the ossessmn of which entitles a parent to ba,«ism for M. child.' 1 he answer is simple and explicit. It is faith in ofTaith '"T J'r ''•"r'y ■'""■^'--f the Confessi „ of Faith. "The infants of one or both telieving parents are ^beb.ptized."t Such infants the apostle pro'nou: 'es " be holy, while he declares that the children of unbelieving parents are unclean-t This scriptural statement fully ,u.- ains the position that faith on the part ofone of the parent, at castas mdispen«.bly necessary to the baptism of the child. The same doctrine is taught in the shorter catechism where u ■. stated that "the infanu of such as are membe™ of the visible church are to be baptized;"|| and in the l»r«r catechism ,n these words: "Infants descended from par«,t, ^!dt K , ""'."'■''• '" """ "'P"'- ^"'hi- the covenant, ".d to be bapt,zed.»f The church, it i. true, cannot j^C B.'.ao3J: ^Tctr,'.!^T'7a"' ■ tC^-f-i". chap. „viii. dUthMMMiitfl V»^«' ^.- (-: f th« h«art, and must be satisfied with the ptofeision; Mid when that i^rofession pf faith is hot contrlidicted by the life, the Church charitably believes'it to be true as well as sincere. (t is on the ground of the presumed faith of the parent that the child becomes entitled to this holy rite. And what it the grand qualification indispensably necessary to entitle an individual to a seat at the Lord's table? Our answer to th« question is equally plain and explicit. It is faith in Jesus Christ. Wherever this faith exists, manifesting itself by leading to holiness of life, there is also a right to a seat at the Table of the Lord. This statement, it m believed, will not be disputed. The grand qualification which a parent must possess before his child is entitled to baptism, is also the qualification which fully entitles the pa- rent himself to a seat at the Lord's Table.* • These remarks, it may be olisei;ve«l in passing, refer espe- cially to the baptism of infants. The haptism of adu^ may, in some respects, be different and peculiar. -^^^ If the correctness of the preceding statements be admitted, the inconsistency of those who claim and ceceive baptism for their children^ while thev habitually neglect to observe the other sacrament, can bfTTetther denied nor evaded. Why, permit us to ask, are parents so exceedingly anxious to obtain oneof the seals of th^^ covenant for their offspring,' while they evince so little solicitude to obtain the oth^r seal of the very same covenant for themselves? If the blessings' of that covenant be so necessary to the well-being of their infant seed, they surely cannot.be less necessary to the well- being of the parent. Infants being guilty of no actual tran»- gression, can be considered as chargeable only with original sin. But to original sin, the parents have added a vast am- ount of actual, trangression. Whence, then, this great anx- iety respecting those whom the Scriptures represent as com- paratively innouent,t contrasted with their sad indifferenc* •See Appendix, No. 8. f Jeremiah U. M. . ©I % Iff "W 1- 'A f!i« : / 1» respecting themselves, immeasurably^ more guilty And' ef loo- sed to immeasurably greater danger than they are for whom such painful concern is pretended ? Is there not much rea- son to suspect, that this anxiety originates in the belief that^ ba^tcism operates to some extent like a charm — that it has, to some extent, an efficacy in itself, to take away sin — ami that it produces its effect in some mysterious way — in a way quite different from the mannner in which other ordinancw^ lend to promote the salvation of-the soul? If this supersti- tious sentiment be repudiated, must we suppose that the anxiety proceeds from a desire to conform to existing cus- toms, and from the opinion that to allow their chihiren to remain unbaptized,is a reflection on their own moral charac- ter? If so, we have no hesitation in saying that, to present a child to God in baptism from such 4^ motive, is an awful' profanation of a holy ordinance. It is a solemn mockery of the most High, and deserves the severest rebuke. It is far more likely to entail a curse than to procure a blessing. Dtr" they assign as the reason of their application, that baptism* is a holy ordinance, instituted by Christ, which, consequent- ly, it is their duty to observe, and that so long- as its obser- vance is neglected, they have no reason to expect the appr»»^ Bation and blessing of the Great Head of the Church? I^ 80, the reason is good,-^tbe very best that can be assrgned'.. But why does not the same reason constrain them to observe the sacrament of the Lord's Supper? Is it not also an in- stitution of divine appointment? And have they any reason to expect the favor of God, while they refuse to recognise his authority; or to hope for the salvation of their souls, nhile they neglect to use the means which he has appointed for its attainment? Permit us also to enquire, whence proceeds-tfie reluctance to comply with the request and injunction of' the Saviour, made in circumstances which 'appeal so eloquently to our tenderest sympathies and sensibilities, — his dying request — bis dying injunction, — contrasted with the forward eagernesg 1^ %' A>^ ? u ^ - ^i'jJkxai^d iBiiil ^i^>--- ^L' 4>. f 19 ^ytiih Which application is Tnade fui- the baptism of their chil- dren. Is it hecausethey stipposethat, by sittingdown at the Lord's Table, they become bound morerigidly to the duties of a holy life, than when they only present their children to Gpd in baptism? Wh^t more solemn vow, or what mor« comprehensive promise can they make at the Lord's Supper, or any where else, than the vow and promise which are asiially made by parents at the baptism of' their children? There they avouch the Lord to be their God; and there they promise, in the strength of divine grace, to walk before him hi newness of life. Is it,becnuse they coniiriier themselves unfit to sit down at the Lord''s Table? If so, and if the es- timate which they have formed of themselves be corrects they are un^t also to present their children to God in bap- tism. By their application for baptism they declare that they have faith. By asserting that tfiey esteem themselves unprepared to sit down at the Sacramental Table, they de- clare that they have no faith. If they are believers, they are the children of God — they have a right to the children'^ bread, and to a seat at their Father's table. But if they am unbelievers, they have no right to baptism for their children, and their children have no right, through thenij to receive, it. Whilst they refuse to give themselves to the Lord, th^jr «re utterly incapacitated to give vp their children to him. Upon no principle of common sense, rdason or scripture, can they acknowledge the covenant for their children, while they continue to reject it for themselves. Their children may indeed be baptized, but not in virtue of their relation to un-. believing parents. Any member of the visible Church, un- der ^hose control they may be providen;jally placed may present them in bajjtisai; but such members then become, in a certain sense, their moral parents, and are responsible for the%.* Are they deterred from the Lord's Supper through ■fear that eating and drinking u;iworthily they eat and drink * int. to Bradbury on Bnplism, p. 12. M: \ fmrn jadgment to themselves? Great,. very great indeed, is tn'e sin of eating and drinking unworthily at the sacramental , table; and severe and greatly to be dreajded, are the rebukes and chastisements to which the unworthy communicant ex- poses himself. But are no fears to be entertained of an un- worthy approach to God in the equally solemn ordinancedf baptism? In that Sacrament there is a renewal'of the co- venant. Now, if an individual professes to take hold of God's covenanti and yet has no faith, or, in other words, is an unworthy receiver of that seal, he approaches to God with a lie in his right hand. He lies not unto men but unto God; and we know how fiercely.the anger of Jehovah burned against Ananias and Sapphira, for a similar transgression.* Again, if, having made his vows at the baptism of his child, he afterwards neglect conscientiously to fulfil them, he ex- poses himself to the threatening denounced against those who forsake the covenant of their God. " They have spo- ken words, swearing falsely in making a covennni; thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field. "t "But unto fhe wicked God saiih, what hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? sjeeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee. When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentcdst with him, and hast been-partaker with adulterers. Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit. Thou sittest and speakest against thy bro- ther; thou slanderest thine own mother's son. These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as th'yself : but I will reprove thee, and set them in order beforfe thine eyes. Now consi- der this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces ahd there be none to deliver.''^ Let those, thpn, who scrupl* to approach the Hdly table ontheground of their unworthi- ness, but boMly come forward to the baptismal font,— let all • Act! y. 1—10'. t Hog. X. iv. J Pi. 1, 16—22. ^1/ Aj»r^ MM Vi/ ^-r. it , thog^who consider the qunlificniioiMinecessnry for n ft ac- ceptable appearance al the former ordinance, higher than those which are required in order to un acceptable obserr- ance of the Iatter,--let all thpse who consider one sacraraeiil more solemn than the other, r^d attentively^ and ponder prayerfully, the following passaged Go^*8 Holy Word.-— Lev. xxvi. 15--39; Jer. xxxiv. 18, 20; Hos. viii^ " Wo speak as unto wise men. Judge ye^hat we say."* But besides the inconsistency of the practice upon which we are animadverting, its baneful ifnd withering influence upon vital religion, ought not to be overlooked. Error is always injurious in proportion to the importance of the'sub- ject about which it A entertained. The Sacraments of ih'e New Testament are exceedingly important iifstitutions. ^ Erroneous sentiments respecting their fftrture and design, are correspondingly mjurious. Now, the practice which we are so anxious to remove from our midst, by seeming to countenance, tends to cherish and strengthen the incorrect opinions upon this subject to which we have already adiver- ted. Many, througlj^ignornnce of the nature and design of baptism, consider it aglihle more than an unmeaning form, by the observance of which respectable men pay a hollow compliment to religion. Others expect from it some sub- stantial benefit, but of the manner in which baptisuijs to be instrumental inJts attainment/ they have very crude ant] in- accurate conceptions. Many appear afraid to leave their children unbapitized, and yet seem to^have no fear of; God before their o^n eyes. They appear to esteem biiptism as more indispensably necessary for th^ir infant seed, than faith and repentance for themselves. f . By all thes^classdh, in order to obtam what they think a privilege, through the fhfluence of custom, or example, or ignorance, or something worse^ truth is, violated. They profess what they do not believe, and promise what they' never intend to perform. ml 1 Cor: X..15. t BfKdbury en Baptiim, p. 44. -iByt thiMi i •rmf>^ TtTKoiis who nr« Itl every rUlpect confoni* xxvili. 19.' f Rom. i\L li. 1 •I ) \. \ -y *■/ o ^^I^J f - f^ ' •^ . N ^-^^ r V ^^'V 4 i It- ■ "■■r T...f4- -.. .. '■■■ ■■ - .4 ' , , happtiy ailapted to secur^ these iemls}. Durinij the i>eri« worli out the grand design fo ttlT.^ Pmj'erfully been appointed will fi„/.i^ ■ J . * "" ""'""mce ha, a load of aocuttiula.e.l liT, f ' ■ P^^^^^own under many sorrow, wTe*K' ^ """■"■ '"'" ""'""Sh with J "iiuwB. '^nere this ordinance is finlJnW«,i , . conformity with custom, or forsunersti in^. f '•'""■*'^ '" provng a l,,.„i„g, ■„ „;„ u^J^Sa^'ZuZ ' '"''"'i"' cause the curse." "But l.~,h" '"« """et- waters that .^ .nd t.„gs that f:tn^:i-,-x::; tx: rstdinan'inzTeXrtc^rir^ rr oTrd:-;^f'?:i::-:;- »n the truth. "Train .... n .uia- I children walking .»a When he is oht" e-^i^.r ^t fZ^^r W*° P.renu, and eiders, ind n,emher. oAh! crrc'hM„,^;;: t * * Heb. vi, 9. t Pro. xxii, fi s -^ i ' ■ • '. 4 . ' t -rt: tt'^'^'*''' .'■■"» *■' '».f -. s faithful la the Alischarge of the duties tlistincily shallowed out ia this ordinance, and connected with it, the Church Mroul(| soon present an altered and greatly improved aspect, " The lig-|it,af the moon" would be "tis the light of the sun, and the lif^htof thesnn" would be "seven fold, as the light pf seven days,!?* "The righteous" would "see it and. re- jpicf ;,ttnd all iniquity" wouM "stop her moutb.'t "Ti'uth" woldd "spring out of the earth, and ri||iteousness" would look down from heaven. "J Zion would "break forth on the right band and on the left; and" her "seed?', would "in- "lierit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to I>p inba- bited."ll "the wilderness and thesolitary plac»" woul4 "rejoice and blossom as the rose U" VTOukl "blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon" would "be given to it, the excellency of Car- mel and Sharon; they" would " see the glory of the Lord and the excellency of our God."§ i ; t -.-May the Lord hasten itik his time. .■"if (i ■ ,,.■„■'■■■■■■■■■> ' . , • 1b. x«. 26. t Pi. evil. 48. % Pt. laxxv. 11. i. H !■. Ht. S. I jg. XXXV. 1, a. ' -* - •^T'"' ♦ ■ mmmmmimmt^ if ' » * ■» *** . ,,*. ./» , • * V -> «.i ' !:*';! 1 ') / !,> M'..ii.', '. it. < '.a •!,■.■: i j; ;■' .- , APPENDIX. '.'■ :.* ■' '-' f I>-.;»1 ■;». ,B.;ri,*i'i!iJ "f--/f siUii »M'il : -: >,_r' l.^'^Wff edjfig address ^yill doubtless i»ll ii,td*W|mi&^ ^m wha haye bu|.|e^oppprt«niU«a of perusHi.oZr ^ia«^.,^fpftft 0.0 sam^ sulyect. ,tlV such, tbe ptai^meiitt^ ^^«^ J^:<^«»^'«s may upp^^r »avel anil extreme,,. tTe,^ t; ?^ the reader that this i. not the case, the writer of ^ n.ldres4, o.. hi^ own responsibility, subjoins a few extracts ^.naju^r, pf app^-ovecl orthodoxy, containing state^n^^ m PC feet unison wuh the senti.nents here expressed A --l^»' Vvi^ «.( Z, .v I"" ™« ,hIJ"m '™",'' ""'"" '' "'"•'"■'" '•■•'"".'he ,o„.„f biire~ .,")^» rto, imli > Ihinfe with n g.o«tcleM bfjuMii^ '^^'J r: :^^ . «Jb" i " ;, *'.' 'fi<»'*'wmmmifmmmi(mi9i!iimmm I *s|: i - • 4S hiwJ 1 cannot see but the nigunjent is as conclusive Hgninst this nbuso of Baptism. He that believes makes not haste, If God has given me a child 1 shall resign it to him very often before ! do it in a solemn ordinance; and if he denies ♦tie an opportunity of expressing this, in the manner I think it ought to be done, it will bfe no part.of my Uneasiness, if it dies unbaptized. It is better, I think^ to leave such a duty tmdane, than not to h'a^ it well done^ God never expects it, either from you or mc, when he has thrown a bar in our iv.ny, that we break it or leap over it. There is no more harm in your not doing it, than there was in David's not boriding the Temple. You had made provision for it^ and l^lMi did m^MH that it vfas in your AcaH^^^Perhaps you arc not Bo mttch ift haste for the baptism of your child fVom thfl mipposition that there is no salvfttiott Without It* But tvhat if *ri oriinstructed neighbour puts thi* sense on the zeal yod^ sliow to have it done, and conclude it is, for the same rea-« »bn that would h^te moved him to do so? You may in this liy the foundation of a gi'eat uneasiness to him, if the Pro- vKlence of 6od should do, what we hare ten thousand ex- amples.^f, snatch away the chihl on n sudden. The error of his judgment is enough to throw him into melancholy, rt'nd thus througli tby^knowledge shall thy weak brother of- fend, "-^^rarfftury on Baptism. "Appliciitions to ministers for dispensing the ordinance of baptism to jiick infants, as appeals to their aumpathy, nre not easily resisted j and yet compliance withisuch requests is rather to be excifsed than jusitified.^if it indeed admit even ^f excuse. * In most cases, ^be application ; proceeds from Muperstition; and in all cases, compliance htis n tohdeucy to ^iicouragc this pernicious emotion, if not )n! the parties im* Inedintefy concerned, certainly in others who come to the knowledge of the faclf The tender sorrow excited in the, bosoms oi* parents by the sight of suffering infancy, ftnd lh«. painful apprehension of the death of a belored child, are PkJii^i* Pf^turallAj nllio |«wiih unpeisniioiis fearf^ in tK# i M r ' ■. "*■ ^ - -miA i. i-. ■ . breasts i,t l\im Wh - Thi« i, the only argument worthy W bemg at all examined on this *.ulyect; and even this has mi Vve.ght when placed iq the balance agairist the powerful reasoning of the author. The baptism of dying infants, and the aportuuity for doing so, according to due order. The seal of t-lrcum* Cjsmn n^s applied to infimts on the eighth day; and this fact ^ Hjiows that the correspohdihir s^al onght mi in its applica. ' timi to be needlessly delayed, or Uilberieirmgty hastened. Many infants must have died in Israel l)efore the eighth dTiy, and of course rtncircttmcised, The private baptism of tbesick leads to private baptism,, as h g^m^t i>ractice} and - the general ptactice leads td the abuse of this sacrament by Its ftdministratian:to;t»re Unitorthy. A sacrameftt, belohginrf tq the.Chttrph of Gd.! as a visible stfci6ty, in covenant with him, ought to be admiriisf6red publicly before the Church >t- , ^Note on the preceding eztVmcr by Drt. liomeyn and Me' ,^ >^' HALr WAf Cat.NAHt.-A schrfjme adfipted by th« Coffi gregatiortal Churclies of New Enghind in 1657-1662 i* order to extend the privilege.* of Chiwrh membership «i.| m^ant baptism beymid the pah of„acHf«» ccflttm#nic«L «| ' '"^ &.S # ^su ^ Lbrt!»a TaMe. ^The name Itself imlioates,? srt/illjW Wcsiier, :i n . .-tiiut v""<:'-'1- M ♦le 6f the Lord. Nor should fvny a,;dult person be alh wed one ordinattiiiB, i^hd gtViis' fetffi ficient ground of del-rarrin^ hiin from the other.— Brarftwn/ t)nBdpHsm, ''" ?«*>-j*^j^w«' |ji#-.it^«fM<-;-u^%i'<''oik- '" BaptTsm and the Lord's Stipi»eT ani the tt^o ant! drily Shferaiil^n'ls o^' the New TestHfmeiit. The qii.lHficationii for , hdmissian are the satne, vvhether a tnon^applyfoir baptism ttthimsdAjr his child, or apply for a setttxtt the Lbrd^s Ttt-i bte, because the covenant in wacb Case is thfe/sh ine. IWt iiift^who seeks to havfe his childbaptized, and has'nb inteti- tiori to ksoiTimemorate in tt»e' otiier safchinicnt th« ileatt of the Redeferfier, cannot huve thought botft serfousrly arrd accu^ raleJy upon tbe suUjofrl of »apcr«m*fit*. ' ff a IVi^fnl sh6uld enter into n bond with ine, to which the law required thb n{)pfication of two distinct seals, I must esteem him cither very weak or very insincere, if, while he is anxious to np- i)ly one seal he is dolermineil othi1iei¥o pHVilc^es, (Imptism and the Jjohl'a 8u|>p»rv] #f €llriiWjla*i felte^^liijii ft rt thef&etuf cml>raclnig.the w V,. v:3^ '■ft:;.' EXTJRACTNo. IV. "Q. Wherein appears the folly of those who solicit bap- tism for th^ir children, while they neglect the L.,rd»a Supper? , A. The observance of the one cannot be acceptable in the iieglect of rtie other. Q. How are we to account for the conduct of those who^ claim baptis|n for their children while* they oWrve not the Lord's Supper? * A. Were it not discreditable in the eyes of the World to have children in a family unbaptized. they would neglect both. • Q. How have such persons been so long Indulired in the Church? ' . \ A. From false Impressions of the necegsity pf baptism and from the influence of a worldly spirit."— I?n Bel/Yage^t Guide to the Lard'$ Table. '^7: ' 4 .T - :«# i •&:' •/I' V / S0 & ^• 411' tic)* . 'MS \ ^l^MXr:A,, J ;• >.) J y V _J —-'-». v i \ ^ w 9 <:> H7 ■^'" ^t'T'i- 'life '•'?'/ V, ^