^ ^J^. m ^ ^^ IMAQE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT.3) a ' ■ .' ' .-.'^fs-* * fc 1.0 Sf itt m 122 ■LLL - 16" «' » % W t ^ • •; fi; /■W^ .-../y' !_• =4i'iiHA'tJM!ia^i '0^"t^' '"i '■"■■(ii ••*: ^^ 41' ;\ ^. %. -«^1. Ccflparatian MVMSTMAMSTRHT ' WnSTni,N.Y.-14Sl6 (7H) tTSHUM ^ W ^i^iM«^^l< . w h-.: % ^ » ClHM Microfiche SeriiBs (Monographs) ICMH Collection de rhicroflches (monographies) / C*nadl«n IntltuM for HMoricM Micnmproduetlons / InnltM camdlwi d* nileranprodvctlora hiMoikiuw . •f .■ •t d . TM Imtinrt* Hm •mmptid to obtain tM oopv MoUiMt for f Hmint. f MtHfM ol Ms of tho iiiM(M in tiM npvowMtiont oc wmmi ilanifioMitIv diMip tho MMMt matlMd of □ Coloiirad eevtra/ CotMorturt dt ooMlMir LidCoi^ □ Covon mtoMd and/or I CoMtMrtura rMlMirte M/ou poU te iilW □ Covar titia mlMint/. La titra da coMnartura mamiua □ Coloufadi CarMjiofraphiquat an eoidaur * □ Colourad Wk (i.a. othar than Mua or Mwk)/ Enera da eoulattr (i.a. autra qua Maua ou noira) □ Celourad iilatM and/or iikMtratiom/ Planaim at/oM iUuttrationt an coulaur n Bound with othar matarial/ Raiii avaiFd^'autras doaumanti Ti#it bindint may cama diadowi or distortion alonf intarior tHttfjutt La raliura sorrfo pant eausar da I'ombra ou da la dis t brsi on ia icmt da la marp intMaura D Blank laavas addad durinf rastoration may i iwithin.tha taut Whaiiavar possiMa. thasa ha«a baan omittad from filminf/ II sa paut qua cartainas pafBs Manchas aioutias lors d'una rastauration a ppar a i ssa nt dans la taxta, mais. lorsqua eala Hait pdMbla. cm pafas n'ont paiMlfilmtes..^ . L InsiitMt a mlafofilma la maHlaur aiiampiaira qu h , m a H* poiirbli da sa proaurar. Las dMaMs da aat rapfoduMa. on qui pauvant axiiar uiia modif iaanon «»•■•■ 1 iNpsdacMdadr * or a Nfas rastorad andA»r laminatad/ at/ou paNieulAas r I^HM disaoloHrad. stainad or foxad/ Lid^Pips dtaoler^i. tachatias ou piquias ,a ftflas dataehad/ n'njlhowrthroufli/ Li^Transpar^pea pryOuality of print varias/ Lid Qualit* in4fBla da I'impBmion □ Continuous pagination/ Pafination eontinua □ n IndudH indax(as)/ Comprand un (das) indax TitIa on haadar takan from:/ La titra da Tan-ttta proviant: Titta page of issua/ Paga da titra da la livraison I I Caption of issua/ D Titra da depart da la livraison Masthaad/ Giniriqua (piriodiquas)^ la livraison I ^Additional eommants:/ 1 ^ Commantairas suppiimarittirM: This Jtam is f ibnad ait tlia raduetiian ratio chaekad balow/ Ca documant ast Ulmt au taux da rMuetion indiqui ci-dassous. There are some creases in the middle of pages. f< M. 10X 14X 1A 22X 26X 30X TA 12X ItX aox 24X 28X D 32X J ;^?- '■K •■*'■ TiMiBopy fHnMd li«rt N» to tlw B0i)svMity of* Aii|Inmi Cnu^Mi off QMWfH Sydofl AmIiivm thonki L'MwnptaIra fNmA fut raprodMh flNMw A la 94n4cooltA do: Aii«Hmm dmrah of Co^ QMMfM SyiMB AraMvw Tho imooos oppoorin^ Mpio mo tlio poaslMo eofMMoring tho oondMon of tho original eopy ond In koopkig filming eontroet spooHleotlond. quoMty teolhllltv Lot knoflot MilvOntM ont ¥ik roproduHoa ovoo lo pHio 0fond soln« oonipto tonu do lo oondwon ot do lo nottsto do I woniplolfo WniOf ot on opnfOfnunA ovoo mm oondWons du oontfot do ^. Originol ooploo fci printod popor eovoro aro-fNmod boglnninfl whh tho front oovor ond ondkig on tho iMt pogo with o printod or Muotrotod ImprMh •Ion. or tho book oovor whon oppropiloto, AN othor originol eoplot oro fHmod boglnnkig on tho firtt pogo wMi o printod or Muotrotod hnproo- •km. and ondkig on tho lost pogo wHh o printod or HIiMtratod UmprMslon. Tho iMt rooordod fromo on oooh miorafloho •hoN oontoki tho aymbol -•i^> Imooning "CON- TINUeO'l. or tho symbol ▼ (moonkig "END"). Lss SKompwIroo Originoux dont M oouworturo on poMor oot Imprimoo sont mmos on .oommon^ont por lo pto m lor plot ot on tymlnoitt soH por lo domloro pogo gul somporto uno omprolnto dimprssslo n ou dllki stio titon. soft por lo soaond pioi. Boion lo ooo* louo mo ouiroa oxoinpioifoo originoux sont fomos on oommon^ant por lo promMro pogo gw oomports uno omprolnto dimprosslen ou dTMu a tr at l o n at an tarmtnant par hi damlira paga qui eomporto uno taNa Un daa aymbaiaa aulvanta apparaftra sur la damlira Imaga da ehaqua miorofloho. aalon la eaa: fi aymbola -•>> slgnHIa "A SUIVVIE". la ' aymbola ▼ slgnHIa "HN". f-s- IMdps. platoa. charta. ate., may ba fNmad at d i ffaro nt roduetkm rMoo. Thoao too lorgo to bo ontlroly Inoludod in ono oxpoaura ara.fNmad i; bagkinilng ki tha uppar laft hand eomor. loft to right and top to bottom, oa many framaa aa raquirad. Th(%folk»wkHl diogromo Nlustrata tha . mothod: / Loa oartaa. planchas. tablaaux. aia.. pauvant atro fllmda i daa taux da rMudtlon dlff«rontik ^ Laraqua la doeumont oat trop grand 0our ftro raproiduK an un aautoNehA. H aat fllm4 A pirtkr da I'angla aup4rlaur gaueha. da gaueha A diwla* at da haut an baa. an pranant la nombro dimogoo nA c aasalra. Laa dtogramqiaa suhfanti INuatrant to mdchodo. ^ 2 3 ■ - . • ■ 1 < K n '^^•^ 6 -^r- ^4z ■«*».,, » .■«.■■■ i %fi^ **%' -Sw- rlr'' ■•li.:'-. 'W; '■••*4". '■'>^^^ ■> •^i' >. •^ -? ^ >' ^•'■■;-»'-f'^-*CiE?*t. ■■-t:-. ."J. nj..,. •V*', ** ** ->' •X* •«?'< ¥k "^C' .V m 6*- ' r^ ; M, ;' '1»^ X"- ■^' .. -.¥- -* , ' •> * - :i 1*- tuf -. • .:A *. mT "' . / V ^ ^ "^^ ♦ ,'" \!^ * ">, -A V i ^ V 'V • r ■- .. .\. ■4- \ ' V ^^ i r • "f - ♦ U^ y *^_- :>.vv-,^- -,-rv' >':-?-^'^- -'W^ -" .*L I 1^ i'S* ^^^ ilk r T? -v^ f'v -t.f -r -^ V: T- I r • "^3>*^ ••ip;\?r. *,.•;?•• ?^' •w-;;*' . .v'fi^ ••■ ;?l|li j^' -ii?*" ■■::t3|i;y.>- ^ •>M {#st.«,^.' /*" ^"^ ■■; ':^»^; #;*' thsCOtFRSE Infamt bapth^m. « * .i. # «> • II BY THE REV.VAMES REID. MONTREAL: 'PRINT.ED B.T ARMttfUR AND RAMSAT, . * ' SAINT WltXI. STUKET. ' -m ■ ... ■^Jf^fW- '^MiK'' ^^-w. "% A -^. '% ^v*l^ . '*,'■, i^ •J*--. * *> f I A ,» ** ^r '"»• 1> ' A •^ « ^ ^ >'V-' ,'•*' <*l S.'^^' ;,it^^ *« ♦.4 >^, ^f: .*»' •' *• % ' ' rt; 'y. '«:- ^-'-*-^^' ^; ->> ■•«. • -"« *te«?' ^^T "«(!^-- .1 *'. , " ><¥ j:*' v«^ •ity\ JiMi '*- '^ ^ , *> ■<,? ttt:*- w. '» .JBtei-^ ." wif. # "T* «- %^ Hi m. T' RIGHT REVEREND GEORGE JEH08HAPHAT, D.D., LORD BISHOP OF MONTREAL. ' MtLow, . TkfalHUabook.lwTiiitAriUoldMt topt«M(«tlMbMt intovMinr Um jmngar put of owr floeka, by* etllii« Um Mtkwa ittintiM oTaU ptrtnU, balgaging to oar eoBUBuniao, to faaprora the prifibgM wUeh oar Haoveiitj Fother hu, Oran uekot Itew, gtiekNuly voaeiMM to o«r •UUrea, butwfafeh u«,iB oar defeaenUo age, my mueh negleetad, I hrnn herriir, withmoehdUUnee, tokan Um liberty ofiiiMfiMiig to yoor LoiMlp. IhftTo not, iadeed,mjLord,UiepiwuBipUoato think that it k a tribute worthy of yoor approbatloB I eatjr I M aaaorad, ftoB ypar blown candour and Uai- ne8a,that,tomeetwttha(kirouraUereee|rtionatyourhanda, it la notbidia- penaabie thatitAould oone up to your LonUbip'a diatiiyiifriied attafauMnto, if, hi ite humble cndeanmre to do good, it wiU be Ibund to ban pneoadad fW» weU-nwant faitenliau. Raneoibetinf that it ia a my hnportant part of your Loaddrfp*a Ame- Uoaa teiMtthe Churehae, under your Epiaeopal Juriadietioo, at aueeeeaifo perioda,rorthepurpoeeoradnihiiiteringtheapoatoUe rite of eonflrmatloo to the young, and to atir them up to a Ufa of religion, pkty, and Tirtuo, to punu- anee of their bapliaaMl vowa wUehthey then take uponthenueWea } and Oat, in the perfotmenee of theae your aolemnly^oileetioc Bpiacopal dutiea, ao lo- maikably identiying the eUefihepherd of the flock with the endearing ehar- aeterofa Ather, addreaaing, idmonlahtog, and biatrueting hk ^tual chil- dren, I A|t very deeiroua, though it ia wUhout your permiarioo, to dedicate to I your Lofdihip tide humble attenq^ of fdhnring up the UiDruettoae which yourlUidriiipgafo tothe youthof my ehaiige, aa wdlatthelaat aa on ibrmer Tour Lordriiip ie to the haUt of taUng euch pattkular pofaM to MpUn- I Ing the aatora of the BaptaMl Coranant, airi the obUgatioM to „„«- but «*omm«-l the «Ug»-« «f H- who ^ To your Lord^P. th«^. I ^^ ^^ZJ^^!^' d- « A If you ao not thi. J. U lu.fU-' unwcrth, of ,00, «e.p»«- I un, ay L«'«*» your LcnbMp'. '"T obedU-t «d obUrd -T'"'. JAMB8 »WI>« St.A«.ndEut.adNoT^l>«,»M»- lui* .^Jik. '.!* PREFACE. TBI wrlMr of Ihe Ifailowkig pa|M hu not tiM vtaity to pnmtmt, Uwt Um Aallpodo-lapliirta will bo iniluoad to ehu^ their MotliiMiita ■b4 thdr pn«tlM, m Iko ml^Mto/lnftnt Baptim, mmly by tho forae oTtny thiiiK l|My m to fMd ia then rfiMtt. they haforapealcdtywiUMtood the ftimormueh better tiMtieeo. Hie eflbrte are, therefbre, not ao much diraelod to Iniiienee thea, Mtonumbhthememborelorhieowneomiiiuiiionwith ■ few argumenta and praoA fipom the Holy Scrtpturee, hi eupport oTwhat they bettevo and praetiM, — ae a dMiK onilnanee. . ,. ' To our Antipedo-BapUst brethren I firanUy and cordially allow aa much iberty to exprea* t^ MnlimenU a* i claim mywlf They etate and publidi teir «iem ft«ely and boldly, in regard both to the •entimenU which flieyhold aad Ihe practice whkh tliey follow, and are never at a loae to give their opinioa of our principlea and practice. To thia I have nomaaiMr o^iA^eothm. All I aak ia, that they allow me the aanie prirOege. ^^^"' Naw, according to them the Abrahamic ci^iknt embraeed Only ear- Balcedhiaiicca and carnal pnnniaea, having no more reapect to the Ooepel D^- pentfation than aa mere carnal typea, much hi the aame way aa the LandoTCa* ■Ha waa a type of the heavenly biheritanee { that the Greek worda BrnwrtrftH ud B«MrTil|>f have but oni^ unvaried meaofaig, which they aver ia fmmir tkmt that the baptiam ofinfanU hi ^uman device, founded oq human tra- dition, and, therefore, ao far flrom being of anj uae, that H ia only a corruption of a aolemn Goapel ordfaiance*. They urge theae viewa with inddhtigabla ioduatry and peraeveranee. But ao far m they have been aueeeaaAil, fa tha pnpagatiMi of theae their peculiar teneta, the vnriter of theae pagea eonaden. tkmafy believe* that they have ao far nuUifled the covenant of grace. BeUeving that the aul^jeet ia of great impwtance, and that emtr «t the tknilihold or Chriatianity, which ia Bapti*m» muat have a fatal fafueaea on an tha artklea of our fldth, I have boneaUy and fatthOiUy made my appeal to MiaHolySeriptnreaan-faformationontheauIOeetorBaptiam. Tothefa hava , qvealed, vrith, I taruit, afaeen prayer to the Father of L%bU for the g«id- aMe of the Holy Spirit, without reference t« lUIible eontroveraialbta, aa tha aale gnwad and antbority oftUi^aiid eveiy ordfaanee, wUch lays daiai to a iifiDeiMtltutkB VM, i*f: L*. w«y •*» wrtur, toM«tag hh-rfrUirt h. fci- ■* !«■ 1^ Ing In fiUs, I MiMi **«»»«•» »»f* «< •••'H ••^» •« ""^ "^ •" •'""'"''^ •114 MiiMUy iwlt»«mHii| to iMlt to* U» iii4 th. inith »-'• If tiiy ■«• «!<. «• win, tm rfmll know oTUie dMtflM. wh-U-r U *• rfO«». •»» »•-*»" ' f^ •f Biywlf ••— Ht.John »U, 17 . " My AMfhrnrmj nlm,mAltoiawikm,»KA UwT follow m«."-llt. John «, 87. Th.t I haw wHlUn in ih- •!*«« of ••ndour uid chMtty. wd lta». u-d no MjMwrf thrt nuy ji«Uy k« iUM. to lh..«h.rgoofu.ir»lrn«#i,ll«l9««no»b«o««««topn»oam«. 1"^*^ •wn h..H, U WM «, d» «d A-if to wHto M on. U-t ««M r«tor M .ew«nttb.lU«hU«H,.J«d|,. Whial«««i,.tota«mKlndo«trf«or -,«U«,|lh|nliI*ouiah*t«tr%lKtoeoirfMnnMw.«MW*f9*d. nm becMM fw eondwnn wiythbig to b« wi .rw lb*! w« •»«*! It- ••» •» Clrtitan«.nlttonoiinypro»i««toJydg.. W. « .U rfnA.1. WUbta, «d, Ihertlbrt, b.bl. to wmr. Ood, tor CM-fi ta., k p»Uent .nd long^ft^; IM with .11 Wi chlldmi. Md lh«fc« our broU«Hy Ion. rtwuld ..Und to •■ who we follower, oif >iu. ChrUt, though th«y m.y not fWlow him In owy ,lepw.da«itobon«cM.My. To hb own .Mto? owy «« —rt •U«! lUtingnowpeeUUonofbetof r«u«r.tod by tha id. of tbk BWI. • book. I w» obUgwl to .tody brofHy. lh.t I might, .t .«ch •«l«««|^"y eiKumMweMeuiOrord, bo .M. to put Into th. hwd. of our own i«oplo « •ntidoto .gdMt Ihemauenee whldh b In eonUmi.1 «wrd« totd-.w^ wh«tlb«)llo«)tobeMordlnMC.ofGod. •• What I. the UM of bopUiUv tofc»«- 1'* ■"» l**-^ "• f^^V"^ Mhed. Miruiithfaig UlM twrlpuird orrttiond M^rer toltwM mi taipo-i- U«r «rt the oHJeetor him.«li; without the gr«» of God. It i. ct vo m» J» b«.tl.etaf«.U,lh.y..y> «l,lf«N they ought to ln&r,««wtatUH.b^ i?.„whfch.;-.cLKhofOodh«deriTedrVom.th.irria-!V ""T' wrtaln that th« JewUh Chureh wm encumbered with tofwU. On the fd^ e.,!.. ofour Antlped^BM^ breth^n. the ChrUtl« CJ«j«^ frUihe burden. Fn.m being the lender mother of IhUdw,^ to ~w S^ed Into i cruel o-trlch in the wiWemo... "''»**'^ri^-«'^ J^uUd wwmeth them In the duet, »d fergettoth ^^^^ "^ ^«»* . Z!^rth»t the wild U^t may bn^dcthMB."-^!^^ The «ru.d of b.pii«. to our children, I boltony to «» -pP-Wto" ^Jj* pr«yer which our 8a»loor t««ht «. to u«. ewy day throughUfe « " n^ llngdomcome." itwt^^«>>taMrt^r^^>^i>«^.^^^ hir«ld.«dom,» «Kl hen. nodclre that hto «'fctogdom" ri»«ld«t«dit. . nrlrilcfcoe and blowlug. unto them. * Much to Mid, and much to printed about the oonwnfai of a» wofM » iHit If ew the world ibaU be ooBTertcd, thoec whBtwcdled ChihUM ■«•«• ;f: wiMllHrltpMk I knowUiMif MM in llM tiiMl of wUy b« lUMa to I. irikMway wiMt rendar M ror bt doetriM or W AvoU. U to rold It. ■ut of iinii,r«uibi«, uMi, •Ml long-«iftr- Kuid cxtrnd to ■■ iw him In vmy f one muat lUiid tab «r thk Hub ich «>pMiM M aqr Mir own paopb •■ dM ^Ukatwty •tbn b nPM|iMtaly it wu Ml i eaiMiot I but Mi- lt b of no wa to ut what the bMM- e^. It b T«nr lis. On the pria- reh b iww rattmil Unq, ahe b now ratiiberoHiinUto ho (hot may cnuk iJobnDdz,14,15< ' I oppooitioB to tlw iroughlUei "Thf Ira kaep tbeafinMi » liioitMulMdita leaCJybtfaiM ) «1 .SB,. W|>i to allow tho teetod, or aUUUlly tended, aa preebua ahooU of the tine In the l^rd'a tbw- yatd, they ara caat orer Ihe hedRe j but when they ara wanted by the W»- tlMtM ahepherda, or the carabm irlnedreeeer, they an (bund to have beeoae wohuo, or branehea of the " wild oyre," and, in moat eaaee, too wild (br la- atnietlon, or toosMUTand dry (br Intp'sftiiiK. In order to aWaken paranU to a aenae of their duty and aolemn obliga- UoM, I hare endeavoured to ahew that chiktren wen alwaya, IVom the befl*-. nfaig of Uie world, Included in every covenant whfeh Ood made with their parenU j and that from the Ume of Abraham, in partfeular, a courae of i»» etnietlon adapted to the eaae of cMldran haa ever been in Ibreeand praetlaed, on the ground that they wera truly withbi the purvbw of the covenant, and, aa ^ueh, to be brought up In the <'nurtura and admonition of the Lord.'* The whob haa been written in the aimplfclty of my heart, and .aeeordinf to ■V eonacbntioua belbf. If I am mbtaken, the miatake b an error of Ju%- mant, not of my will. For the truth 1 have diligently acarched aa Ibr Uddaa trtaaura. The applauae of men b nothing to me, who have arrived tkt bto Uh Tab of declining yeara. firror nuy ploaae (br a thno ; but truth akwa b v Ihat wUch will atand the teat at bat, and " raaketh not kahamed." When compelled to dUTer (hmi othera^-ihmi men mora wbe, and ho|f , and batned than myaelf, and to aet forth what 1 beUeve to be the will oT Ood, In oppodtion, I ^ruat I havo made it my atudy to wound their Chrbtiaa feaHnga aa littb u poiaibb. Some expreeaiona may have eeeaped me that • llttb mora reflee^ might have mended ; but I am not awaM that I eouM bmoppoaed aayatem, and aet up a eoatrary one in a bm offenaive manaac than I have done. iVre ara many Antipedo-Baptbto whotti I reapeet very highly for Omk pfaty.kanilag, and leal, and, thereflira, I do not wbh to be eonaidered •• attacking them, cither aa a body or aa indlviduab, but on(y on one petal. Oa that petal tbjf, u a whole, «tta«k iM. Tkej eumot, tbia^ IT 1% aia Vv, • / / fcl -_. A-^-t-j^'-:-;;-— :-■/-. HlJiii •>i A PISCOURSE ON INFANT BAPTISM. CHAR I. Twi A»mi tt , «m c CoTawAUT, its Tbbus^ amo Pkotisions /XHrtntt. OATBO.WITH A TI>W TO AlCBBTAUrlTHSTHSB THK CUILDKEH Or Chbistiani, ukb thou or rax Ancikmt Pjcopls or Gop, amm /wrtuar TUB dovsNANT or Okack. . Il* will not be disputed, I presume! that the New Testv* ment is the fulfilment of the Old. If it is so, it must be very obvious, that in order to understand the former we must study the latter. ' * In the Old Testament we read that God conde- scended to enter into a covenant with Abraham ; that he renewed the same to his son and grandson ; and thiit the covenants into which it pleased him to enter did iiot em- brace them as solitary, aiscbnnected individuals, but a^ federal heads of nations. .' / The space which this Discourse is intended to oc- icnpy will not admit of large explanations, and on that I account I will endeavour to compress as much as I can Iwithin small bounds. To the law and to the testimony ^f Qod I desire to appeal, and not to the opinioilt^ or Vuffragesofmen. While 1 thus, I trust, humbly imd raithfnily desire to sow the good seed, may the Holy Spirit bf God follow it with his blessing ! Paul may plant, ^nd AppoUos may water, but it is God alone that can ive the increase. God made a covenant with Abraham, in which we ad oar children, to the latent generations, aro as luch interested as the Jews, the lineal descendants of Ibraham, ever were ; for, as Christians, it is in that co- nenant we stand. I will, at t h e out se t , l a y before the reader th e very "I and stipulations wbieh God himself delivered from H J|:^H| 10 his own mouth : — '< And I will establish my covenant be- tween me and thee, and thy seed after thee, in their genr erations, for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee."— Gen. xvii, 7 : " And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great, and thou shalt be a blessing ; and I will bloss them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee, and in thee shall all fhmilies of the earth be blessed.*^ — Gen. xii, 2 : " And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries, and in thy seed shall all the na- tionrof tlbue earUi be blessed."— Gen. xxvi, 4. This is the renewal of the covenant to Isaac, in the second eenent- tion, and was dlerwards renewed to Jacob :— " And b»> hold the Lord stood above it [namely, " the ladder set up on the earth, whose top reached to heaven," seen in the vision}, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac : the land wherein thou liest to thee I will give it, and to thy. seed ; and thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and t))ou shalt spread abroad i6 the west, and to the east, and to. the north, and to the south ; and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blesKd" — Gen. xxviii, 13, 14. Here is the renewal of the same covenant to the grandson, in the third generation, ill the same terms as at the first. A covenant, then, was made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob which embraced not only their own posterity in lineal descent, and at that tin^ unborn, but also all other nations ; for, to each oi thimkf it was expressly promised, " In thee, and in thy seed, shall all the fhmilies of the earth be blei^^d." The blessing here conveyed was purely a gratuitous favour, gift, or donation, such as none could jhave a ri^t to .claim, wheUieradult or mfant, but on (he footing of free and unmerited grace. It was on the part of God a free gift, wiUiout any regard to merit in the recipient, be* cause it is evident that it existed, and was declared, before the capacity of performing any part of the conditions had existed. Hence, the same covenwt assumes, in the lan- Siiageofthe Apostle, who wrote under the guidance of tvin e inspiration, the nam e of "prowiMw" ; — "For the jiroffNw, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abnjham, or to his aeed through the law. but thm..»i, the ngfatooumeas of fiuth."— SSl ir^n- «ChrS! if^ wn»w» of the Spirit through fd£ • mdif «, hi after h,m mall the nations of the earth, are ofST^ G5"ff »ato", including an iaSS'in Uie piSSar^ «I wJl be a God unto thee» and to thv seed iii«rtl^ S.Pjf'^:". These gracious promises unquestionaSS embrace all the blessings which the MesriS SmiS?2 S!3tt„rih' '^f^-^'ntheirr^tuWj^ •ted to inspire the mind with a sense of gratitude StTiI w«timrf)le benefit, and a sense of deep oteSoS to fiSf . ^bedience, so it is not only ^t buf nSTth^t^ mem?^ ®^ »"<* • gracious and noble draSn^hoald hJ «J»fuliy preserved to all succeedingS^tiZ kv^ gjMnn sign token, ormemorial aSS,S^1^ Ood to msutute the rite of drcumcisionraS^^k '^hS fc*jwt«Ji was toth a seal and a confiSiSS; S Z promise oftemporal, spiritual, and eternal bl«Sn« -Kit •Ign or seal of circumcision was a DernebiJijS.-.i- •^•«_ .'.;:, J^ IS which ihe children of l«.el 5*^^^ for, if it had not been ap^^ to ^JjfhT^ve" eviJence come to the y««»^£^'*Sie^l then their oEbdi- of$heirper8onal piety and obedwn^M ^^^.^^ ^ enJe or inversion would J«^«^*Xefo?e. the grant or their interest in ^^^^J^T^f"!^^,^^^^ pronrise wou^^d^haj^JJt^^ - jit3^,f, B^. to Snk that, when they ^«*i,>^. iSnSg ^^^ "" was ready to adopt Uiem ^'^^^^emVtog^er wiA ^ $:^hn^' Ae Soi^t^^^^ of h^ing the the breath of hfe, the "f f"^* "Tthrouffhou^ the journey gpccial objects of his paternalearemrougr^u^^^ ^ Sufe. Su^,ly this <^»«f "^Sfstobribg ^ their chil- endearing obhgation «{»" ^'S"*? hiSlliSg in Christ dren suitably to^ttonaUiw^ofrtie«wgnc^^^ ^, ierve him wiAaU their hearte. , ^„i declared the Circumcisiondid not confer, but omjraeo rilAt to covenant blessines, which had beOT^rcra^^ ^grant Which was ^'^^"^ZnT^f^Z^ given or conferred by the promise ; ^^JJ^Jich «isttd Son was onlv a declaratwn ^f^^^^^^^Zi^ and before it. All the posterity of Abtah«^^ now ^ females, had, by Tirtue »f,^f „JfTSe^tnMit7^ xighvby gra(^, to ^^^^^ J^p^ia to Se maU« only. the Tight of ttie le""**^'",^"-- thev were as macb unquationably recognised, becjuse tney were the see d of Abraham as th« "^^ ordinaneC ^^^tha^ Circumcision was^the, ""^^rf^ale^uli or which was •dininistered to every perwn, mwe •« " " M MM child, at his first entnince into the ancient Church of G«rf It was the first visible ple^ ond token ofS love S.* Z'^S^ir^^ "" "^'«'' "» *« Wessing^SnfirlSlS; the Abrehamtc covenant. It was once odmi«UterSl«nJ «irituirb^iJiT.if*^^"'^ "J^ observations to the SJES? ""^"fiP of the covenant, and passed ovet th^ SSm^JTak^ ^ '^'"P^"! P'^*""' «»d^iHa?t?SJ terilt^? Jl« v**"^' according to the flesriVjiho jS! tenty of Abruhom, in the ine of Isaac and Jacob thiF^ i;«wnt contained two grants,^rth^^SsS;^^d^ ^tual inheritance : the former was a m^f the hSter -HCircumcision was the seal or token of tolhwS Abj^m stood tefore God^ and received. lI??oVenJSS I SS^' 'M" be o God unto thee, and to thvseS «fS*!^*"J**f''^R^«'»»'«n8, for ever": "fnthi^ ia thy seed shall all the families of the earth te blSiSS J he did not stand merely as a nrivnt« rJ^^L -♦• Y^» for himself alone, but;.Jt1?eUro?u5'a"^^^^^^^^^ KTih I'iS Y^*^" ""^^ 7""' on tfeeir^embiS^' SreS^S .i."'^**°*^^t^ **^^*^. »nd become^ jrested in the promise which was ffiven unto hirrT Si lus manner, Abraham was Uio fothef Jf ST^nattoiu. V 'ifV. u ■\ ' \ CBAk^U. sk- Inns Chmst ««coojiii»D thi Cotbhaht which Got §*»» wmt, AamAHAM, At coMTAimiio thb P»omw«s which h« caii« rwW HB&vKir TO rwLFii. Th* Cohmimiow which h« OAITH ■!■. KtimVU TO TiACH AMD Battim ali. Natiom., M rOUHPBP THBMOTOH. Th« AWITLBi, WHO TAWOHT At TH« HOIT OHOITOAT^TH«M«HOWUiBO» AKD OTT..A1IC., ■WWOHT »•► WAW>.OIIALL OCCAtlOHl, TH« A«»AHAHIC COTIIIAlIT, Al TB« WTO0ATIO1C or ALI. Goir.L PmOliI.«8 AND 00«».L FmiTII,«OM I, A»P SHEWED THAT A. TH. CHILDB.N Or ABMAHAM, W «▼«»» AM or THE MOSAIC Ptt«M8ATI01», WE« ADMITTED TO TM - : niTILEOES or THE COTEHAHT, SO THE CHILDBEN Or CHEIWUM OVOUT TO BE ADMITTED OITDBB THE GOSFEI. Ooa Lord Jesus Christ declared ond cwifi""*?^**.'^;^ covenant of grace to his Ap<»tl«, m ^^»»'«h, ncconlin^^^ its true meaning and tenor, both they and all Chnsiiant 1^, and are, wilhont exception, mtercs ed ; . ^r, when- ITW salvation of Uod, or the Messiah's kinrfom,» said to be nromised, or to be extended, to all liotirtns, re- ference, undoubtedly, is mad«, exprc^, orim^«4. to the covenant which wns made wi h Abraham. 1 new ij no other foundatiofi for this promtee in »ny^P«'^, ^f^^, Holv Scriptures bnt the Ahxahamic cdvenuntj— " Askoi S. and 1 will give thee the. heathen for thme mhen-^ S?o^ and the uttermost part of the earth for thy \>c^ 8ion?-Fsalm ii. 8. There are ^P^iy promises of toj kind in the Old Testament, r^spectmg the calling ottne Gentiles, which, from their being ?o well known, 1 nesa ' not cite, and wl ich, one and all. are founded on thfe Ah- SSamic covenant they are thickly scattered m ^j Bible, as the stars in the heavens m a clear "'gj*; "J ^rtne of them we, as Cliristians. have been caUed to. the knowledge of the true God, and of his son, our Saviom , ^^^The'covenant raade^h Abraham was confirmed or | ratified of Godiu Christ :— " And Uiis 1 say, that the cove. MmM T Wi. . ;■ - Atm^ ■ IB Bant, tliat was confirmed befi/re of God in Ghriai tha tow which wns four hundred and thirty yean after can. not dwanmil, that it should make the promisn of non» ^^-.T^"'- *"'. *^ T*"® covenant of which tha Apostle here speoks, is, undoubtedly, the covenant whieh was mode with Abraham, as appeors very ploiiilv frbm vem, 14ih;-.. That the ilessin?^Abrah«m rn^ht cSS upon the Genules througli Jesus Christ, thot we miritt receive the promise of the spirit through faith." ^^ ^ I hove stated that all the Jewish males were re- ceived into the covenant in their inloucy, by o sensible sign, token, orseol, distinguished bvthe nameof circum* cision. Baiog an ordinance of God, it followed, os a nX c«sary consequence, that those who refused to comnlv with It, were cut off from thb congregation of the LoVl Ihe Tight and obligation to receive it stood in the com- "^T!u* 2l ^'^' .«««'«•'. therefore, xvas rebelli^ against the Most High, and a renunciation of the Wessin* that was promised. *«»uif The very same covenant exists now in full force, and ?! h "iT "^ uf T'' "V**® f^^'^""^ «f the Christian^ 2«i K ' ?°- "«^^ ***.***" *''*''^'^«"' therefore, to be rocSr- ^«l : ' '? '""«««*^«!? to their birth, because it is notSf works, but of grace. - If it were to be waited for until th^ come to the years of discretion, then, on every rule of sound reasoning, it would have been of works. It is on this ground that the Apostle St Peter says, in his fim sermon, after the descent of the Holy Ghost on tE ||' glorious company of the Apostles," '« for the promise te»- aSk^q!** ^W "*""'""' •"** *° '^^ '**'*^'° ^ LhiHJ!? JSlt""!^ ^ ^~" ***^ ^*»'y Scriptures that th« Ichildren of Christians are as much within the scope imd Iprovwionsofihecovenant as the children of AbrahaS kcconling to t|«fl«h, were, while the Jews were iS . &„„. • ?"^'>**'''*i^'^^' ^ P"' <>n them theseal of the ^!^-"yl'l*^ ^^JP°t.*^Qco^e»"nt itself; for, when wa »fU se t udedica t eourchildrentoGodinbaptism.~tteiS i^ «r th//Sl^T Vy*'''* ^ »' ^'^ to "fuse *e sal^. loo of the Gospel 7 God commanded that the children n SL. «JSTto The mci.nl .ign »«• '"*<» •»**"*<»*• fl^m .h. n.m. ortte f^h.'.|.nd of th. Son. and^^ their generntiofls, f^o^er- :^'^T%„^Yiswomaei» which St, Peter spoke, when he saia, r or »n f* '^^•^rS^U^crHhifk wSyoudo whenyoum partSt^U'andleavet^^ have embraced the faith of Chr St, DiweKiuujr Kngdomofhemen. '»'»»"' iPZstrino logically rtieOT mat the *» .'l»*<^P"efenl8 rtirt die >efi>i to„lvra ihc ^"f™ J ri,SSe if Aal-. tnu- rn all eases, do you Ihink that he «»» ™^ ~^^ „^ jijIj , \ ■•■■ nant,— if they an not veceired by the King and Head of the Ctiurch as well as you, when you embrace the fititbi on what ground does the inspired Apostle refer to them ol oil 7 ' Kelerriiig to them in expriass terms, ns if they wen as much the subjects of the promise as their believiof parents, and, at the Siima time, if you teach the truth aa ft lain Jesus, allowing them no interest in the covenant or promise, is a most extraordinory woy of acting, cer tainly what wo should not have expected from nn inspired Apostle of Jesus Christ ; for, if whai you speak concerning the rightof infants to the baptism of Christ be I rue, you make the Apostle, while speaking as the Holv Ghost gave him know edge and utterance, to pour out flattering words to the ear, but a stern refusal to those who tqok him at his words. But you take the promise to yourself. When you deny to your childj can you give any good reason for presuming to apply it to yourself) To any unprejudiced render, it must be very obvious that he who gave it to the parent, gave it also to the child at the same time. Both, then, must stand or fall together : ^-" The promise " of the covenant «< is to you ondto your diildreu," as much and as directly to the one as to the other. As truth is consistent with itself in all things, so error, however small, afff. If our cliildretrhftve ever been excluded from ttw Drivileires of the covenant, tho deed ot^ exclusion must, JomeiSiere, in the New Testament, be fouijd on re- SSu But can any such deed be found? «»»«»»»» Advent of Mcssiiili, the children of^ believing palronto were, undeniably, within the scope of the covenant, and enrttlcd.-nay, required-to bear its token or seal The S^naAt wi mi only confirmed hy Jesus Chru^ but also adopted by him ashisowii, astherreuud wi which hflcbmniissioni his Apostles to preach the Gospel to ^ the^nntions of the earth. It wosj and is the same e^ venant of grace, as well under th/old, «• «jnder the now dSSation, and was the ground on which tho Aportle t^ his authority, whe>i he>id that «« the promise it untoyou.^ndtoyourchildren.** " w . it iluot riocessa ry flir'm e to s hew nn expre s s c omm nnd- on the pagcto of the New Testament, for the admissionor children to the sacrament of baptism, because it^hos been proved, tivit ou«l the cominjf of Jesus Cbnst they w^ ■ 0. Ji j^i \ • 19 „ . . eluded, «a ou?AwrpeJi.&7,;,|^^^^^^^ bound to produco ihVdeed TcxSLZ^ Th.?^*~ Doen prodiioed ? No, and never will. Indeed, if it had bjrotoodeiugn of our merciful Saviour to cu off u2 hiE «„ o°". **" n»«»deroiia deeds, when thevaS ni gn e d our Saviour before the Bomau iuX« iK^«m I S^JL J'^^y ^*»"W hayemoredheavcn nndeortE ' a«v down vengeance on the head of the daring Sn^ 1 Thore ia not, how«f«r, on« iolilaTf m. ^^^ ^ ^,,^^^ ,,^^ ^ , aound of oompiatnVmi'thTa htaA in all the Nhw Tettmnent. Tha •|inb«ll«tlnffJew«are>ilent. The conyerted J«^.«f* •ilem. 'I'he Council wlKwe decrrea ■'»,^®J°^JJ2 Aela XV. ia allenL All from ih«! beffinninir « J- """"^ Id Um end of ftevolntiona nre toloUy aileiit. What la ine ttmininff of thia universal aikjnco 1 It ndinita of only oo« •olntion. The admlaaion of children into the Goapel eove- nam with thoir parents waa never denied, doubted, or q««j- lioned,till many centuries had einpaed alter the inspired wrt- tnra of the New Teatamont hadiMH in their gravea. ^Tie flueation, tlien, ia not— Shew n#Irprecept for the baptiam ' ^rinfanta? but rather— Shew melho deed of their ex- 4Klaion from baptism 1 Shew me when, and by whoaa •nthority they wore excluded ? Name the place wharo Ihey were first turned out of the fold, aa lomba, to be daj. toured by wild beasts '/ Point out. the law, chapter, and Teitte, which in exprcaa terpna haa ahnt them out irora iieir ancient privileges 1 If they have been excluded, m 'gmn Antipedo-Baptiat brethren mainuin they are, they on ^htMtid to ahew us the law that haa excluded them. We hav« ahewn by expreaa acriptnre antlioniy »hat tnfimtt Wer^ a component part of the Church of Ood, odm"iaA. tty the Almighty himaolf, and th(j|,hia admittance of WW the grounds of the proiniaemiaie "unto you andf* dWIdren," and, consoqu«ntlyi a demonstrative nro they do aiill, by the grnciona favour of our Heavenly ^ continue in the enjoyment of the aame prurrt. ' ir the Goapel. If they have been excluded, ' " that our Antipedo^Baptist brethren an ' enactment which haa repealed thair iti tiSy condeacend to do thia ? They it yi^ and if we may reason from tve don^W need not expect any othar that which they have repeatedly giveny— tero aaaertiOD. But, until they ahew ua the e^PIv^ weerota of exduaion, w o m u a t re main m the by a t tftet none ia ready at their hand, and that their pf«ctioa, iHMMd of promoting religion, ia desolotiog to the QluiNft «ra«i» ■aail»lD0ih hiB eovenaiit of » naue efbet'r < ^"^ ^ J si S^% \. 4. M-' • V CHAP. la ■'I n- lU. THI .AM i*«c,.Z.. i! ° CHItO«M *|W», i».P<«Ie., 1.1 lho« word" "oTJo .tif'ix^"^* .*'» "• •nd of the' son, ai/of th? Hali^SK""?!f "^ "'? '■"«*»«'l bf our L,rd 'oT,e fun «5^'r ?**°^u'" ^^«* i"»««^ •n«'«?«»■ «»i«^aDd^othy««4X*hi«^in *? 2 °^ "n«o •nd in thy;«id3Minil SL";;:^ • *^5 ^ •• "^n «*>«» the belMTtiiff Qontilea n. J^i ""?»«*• It included Th«ttiiV«'SiiihTtoToIl»«riV"' *'4: '^"*""»' Po«'te"ri(j; r6ftho_fhiihf„U?;uSr'^S^J^«l^»r^ to the, ii«her6f thiSfToi^luS^'^^it"' ^^ conteyiheGbspel conimi2!II^^.u "?* ^''"» «'*»»<* hit Aposi|«, aVJny tZTS ™"*" J**'^ < '^rist nor tion JmttSnrivSLJiT^f A?'^ gave the least inUn^ tu te d. ir l f icli did notTw SV ^ "^* " *"^ * "*"* * ^ iV- 'C> ' ../ 2Jt cordinjc ta the o/??^""^,^^^^ (^^^ xviih the token 4l»ble88iiigs which It conveyed to^ children as the pa< of them, were granted " ^^" {^ '"''vould noi otherwise wnts. The ArH>rtlo3, being Jews.^^^^ ^.^ ^^^^ have «ndef«tood the toOBfl ^J Z"So( the Jivine com- mand aU the J5«lS"^t5 S^r'tS^embrnced. toother with mand, considered cnimrcn jw^ therefore, Wiititled tO Xir parents, in the covenant, and, m^^^^^ ,„„„^ Se token. Th.^ snch was J^J ""J , he first stmon that tt from the ^^"^"XKraf^r 'eScivh.gthe Gospel was delivered by any of thc«" n»g^ Ghost :f" Repert coinniission.aiuithegins onheHo^y^ .^^ and be baptised. ^^P^^J'^^.^Xi ye shall Tcceive tho Ch^•s^fortherelm^ovof8l^^^^^^ gift of tho Holy Ghost , lor trie prm^ ^^^„ „3^„„y £, ypur children, and «>\\h"^ " ,lXts ii 3S, 39. Tl«, „ & Lord our Ood shjUl c«U ^^cts n ^^^ .^^^^ ^^^ , Abrahamic covenant embroceau _ Ogj p gSSilies of the «'?* \;i »^i^^^^^^^ sn&o OS that and, thence, I J'^CSel^ 41. we are informed,]hat when of the covenant. >" 'J'^.^^!, "discourse, and 'received the people heard the Ap<«tles^discoiiree r ' ShisVoJd," they ".^7^ai^V^. ^XVZI alone, here that looks hkd a «oeiving i j,^,^ cw^ whil^their children ^;^^ Jj ^e" Jews, sanctio .ed.-.my torn which prevail *«"9"f S^feVer sincJ the time eiijoined.-by the Alnugh^y »"^^ with them on of Abraham. w«« *? J'^n,' ^.f^itik; xvi. U ^«i.l2. every solemn occnsion.r- 1 'e"J-»"- " .W jj i r leligiOUJI How! then, ^'V' m\^£ would tS^^ privileges were held »>y thom. «^ouiu y admitted Lir^ildrenbecnneelectwl Jhen^^^^ ^.^.^^ i„ io receive the knowledge oi «^ J^^^^^;';^ | bable thut tiie long-expected Messiahj Js rt a^i> ^^ P , Here, auch a neglect would have pa«^ over m J^ ^ ^^^^ ^^^ it is obvious that the prom^ was """oun^^ ^m have much as to the parents. >vno, mm. ^_ dren a s much m to »"« I""'"'';^^ JhUd rc n weie.not bap ^hardihood to «ffif™;X A^iecerttidl f excludes Used ? The language , of ti^l.Ap^;^^!S». ^They thai ^LSuSs^i;^^^ M JiM - ■ ■ ■ » ' ■ ■" ' " f btjiefed, and rlodly raoeived the woicl, aeparetnd them. •eivM itom the impenitent, and imn baptized to the number of three thousand soulo. This lonffuaim doe* i|ot exclude childiwn— only the impenitent. ThS bein* the first sermon that was preached oiler the divinS commission was issued by our Lord, and the effusion of the Holy Ghost, on the doy of Pentecost, the proceedinn 01 tjie inspired preachers ougfht surely to passforaiair com- ment on the meaning, design, and application of their eDmmission. In their next sermon they wain refer to t^ Abrahamic covenant, as furiiishiog the ground-work oftheir preaching:— « Ye are the children of the Phn phete, and of the coTenant which God made wilh ouf fathers, saying, nitfo Abraham, and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earih be bleswd."— Acts iii. 25. The Apostl^ referred to the Abrahamic covenant at the open- wg of their commission, as containing the substance of what they were required to preach to the world. Thai oovenom included ond embraced children: it admitted thenri to a panicipatioh of religious privileges. By brinff. ingjt forward, m addresses made to theJews,.who knew &i;i'-^J5"i **'*L"«^. **»»*»«•' «*>»W«n. i' follow. thM the inspired preochers had no intenUon of impuffninff this article ofihe national faith jatid that, therefore, theS converts were allowed to hold the belief that their chifc rS "nM"'^' ^o"^ admitted into the covenant t/itb them. The same docf rine that was preachpd to the Jews WM likewise preached to the Gentiles ; « For I am mM a!!nl!l^''uf-f^^^''^^^"^^>''^y^ the Apostle of the ^rl S« J^^l Ji? ^he power of God unto salvation uX «S »"* D*"* *^'lT*5i **' **•« Jew first, and also to the Greek^^Rom. i 16 Believing GehtileJ, then, ond tbS ^ren are «ireJy .tealt with fn one and the i^me w^ Otoe law, as of old, there is for the home-bom and& Uw^rongor. Accordingly, as we proceed in the Acts of JheApostles, we find that believers and their household.. JWB uniformly baptized. Lydia and her household were, tafjiaed : tlie jailor and his family, and the household of 8ffliana9,werebaptized. Womnstnot . howev e r,forgetthtt. ' ^"«lJlSr^ how we knowthattheyhadchildi^ i?ri^ awtteholds J to which it need only be np^ed, thM w M JtMmm know there vnn children at least os well os ihey do the Snuary, when ihcy say there w«re not. There ""Jg^ be for ally thing ihot is known to the contrary ; or thero ^ht not for my thing that we affirm ; fo'J»" I^'f ^ ine that there were children is surely as good in e?i- drace as their presuming there were none. But the lan- guage used is clearly in our favour, without foing any ffi2g for them. Familiesjind h<>"«holdsmc«t gcn^^^^^ all over the world are the nurseries of children , and itrange if those families baptized by the Al»s»>«»,^ none of those little beings that ore s.> coniinou in all fimn- Ues, rich or poor. Besides, the languaj;o itself is in oh- ^8 agreement with the command given lo Abraham, to cireumcise both himseUand all the in«»«fhildren of l«s house. When Uie Apostles, then, fxy that t^y. h«d baptised a certain man and his household, they were na. turally understood by those who were inuroate witb the customs of the preceding dispensation as including young and old. but nothing like the Apostolic language isev«r found in the narratives of our Antipedo-Bantists, whm thev publish their accounts of conversions either at tiome or abroad. No families are ever converted or haftijcd but solitary, disconnected individuals. Parents and ctal- dren are instnnlly divided. Their practice, not jew thaa their language, is at variance with the Apogohcnarra. Uvea of conversion, as given by the inspired St. *;•««»._ Had any change been anticipatedfihat would afect the privileges of children— privileges of long standing, and stamild with the authority of our Heavenly FathOT, the Apostles, nateachere of God's will, were toiind, to make it known in the "most explicit terms. BtttjJMf made no^ exception; They used the same mode of ipeakimc which a long succession of ages had appropri- iMuTUie subject of children. The endmuig msoci- ations connected with the privileges of their children, oontinnally bringing to mind that God was their father, rendered the privileges which belonged to parents and their household^ familiar to every man, woman, and chad thrmighnnt the twe lve tribes of Israel. They knew that children were included in such descriptions of tiimi- lie% and thikti therefore, infants were jvptiaedwlMreTtf 161 the1 i/::i: mi' MjMM the baptism of in&nts is mBaUb^ed; This furnishes a sufficient reason why infonrtwptinn kt not more explicit- ly mentinM rHA hate been mistaten. Sideratbod the meaning <»( »J!«Lf wI^I^LiSd^f - us of^andi^ty y«ai» oldj^bf?^ "*?«' ^jJS^ Stodplajl ?« nuide disiinlos toX&ristXi^^ SoSne nncorrapteS." Thia tof«»?SL*» 1?S?» JSJ S«Sl Persons iroSmade disciples to ^ toAar SSod. Hso. thy ~rt^l7S-S^if5£^ the time, and under the eye of »f ^?«»*«lvSr^5f*5 ^3^ forty yeais after them, lavmy2S<>^„j5iS cipSte hA in view to hav« be«"J?°gJ"^£^ ySSof age when the lastof the A pos fl e s d i ed. Ju agn SSs the very word which we meet ^^ »«" J^ S^ii8sion,namdy,«fkriter mankind : but sanctifyinff every aeveral age by the lUceneas that-it haatohim. For he came to sa^aU persons by bidMalf: dtt, I msan who by him an regentrt^M [renascuntur] or baptised unto God : Want9y and little ones, and cfail^ dren, and youths, and elder persons. Thbiefore, be went through the sevend ages t for infants, being made an in- ftnt, sanotifyiiur inia|its : to little ones he was made a little one, sanctimngthoae of that age;, and also giving them an ezanq>Ie of godliness, justice, and dutifo&eas : to jrouthSj ho was a youth," ^^ This fiitherieekons infimta, aa well as adults, among thma that are nigwMrfltfMl. This last wOid was univer- aatlynsed in theprimitive Ghuroh for thoae that Were baptiaed. Our Ohnrch, i^ her bantiamal offices, eon- forma to the same venerable use of the word. Not only — **" word a r e g e n e ration >> appli e d to " ^bap t ia nr^ M but also the worda « enlightened " and^« sanetified " wwa Interdian^for «ba|Btisid.'' <intbMaaii«^ .•^ ^'- ^ is uspd by Justin Martyr in a passage of bis works which precedes tha(,wbich I quoted. It was not Without ample authority (Kat such words were so applied in th« primitive Church. The ancients thoufffat much of bap- iismjthe moderns Tory little. Our Savionr says, " except aiijt one [in the origmai, which takes in old and young, inuints and all classes enumerated by IrenesiTsI be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."— St. John iii. 6. Regeneration, as spoken of in the New Testament, and in the lanffuage of the priiooitiTe J Church, required the awlication of water, as well as the Ihfluenceof theH61yOh«gt. In modern theology the cape is .different : regeneration has nothing to do i|rith water ; consequently, ancient and modem regeneration are two diflerent things. Let the reader jud^ whic^ is the truest, the divine or the human— the ancien^ wnteh has divine inspiration, the word spoken by tl» Lord Jesus Christ, for its authority, or the new^ which has partici- pated largely .in modem discoveries. Irensous distincUy says that infants were r^nerated, i e., bap^ised^ Sfe speaks of it as a commoo-^^currencu, which knew no ob- position from any ^at called thetnselveB Ghnstiane. u It possible that this universally-respected &ther, who flourished only sixty-seven years after the Apostles, and therefore must have known the Apostolic obctrineand praeticoj would have been-mistaken as to the questaou whe< ther infants were, or were not baptised ? c^ TertnUian : flourished one hundred vears after the Apostles. This father was a very leamed man, a keen disputant, Well acquainted with the nsagds of the Church, but withal somewhat singular in many of his notions. Lik» all the other fathers, he speaks of mfant baptinaa as w common, unopposed, and undisputed, and derived fiKHB .•Jesus Christ and his Apostles ; bnt sinsularly enough, he argues from the text, « lay hands muidenly on no mant neither b6 partaker o/otherfnen^sfatOtSf^tofenvut^ •pec^le that the 'baptism of iniants should be delayed until . they are' grown up. Yet he says, « Whereas it is an.ac- knowledg^ rule, that nfthe can be saved without bap- tism, grounded espeaally on that sentence of our Lord, tinleia me be bom qf ioa<«r, 4e eamot be saved / " »"(! and teUevirtff that ia&aUB eould hot be Mved without hap)> tism, he baptiaBd « a dying ehild to save it" From the iMgaegea qnoCed hf Wall fiom this ftther) it does not «p- {ear iSwthis meaiuiig is either very clear or consistent ; j^ notwithstanding, his evidence respecting the practice . of the Ohurdi is perfectly clear and uninmeachable. If he alone, of. all the men of that age,* pleaded for delay in the baptism of inftnts, the truth that the custom was to.baptise them is not ajBTected, but strongly confirmed. Quotations out of Origan. This very ftmons &ther ftoQrished one hnndted aad tm:yeax8 after the Apostles :■-<- « Besidesvall tUs, let it be oonsidlred what is the reason that whereas tlM baptism of the Church is given for the forgiveness of sins, infants, also, are,hy the usage of the CSiuidb, baptised : When, if there is nothing in in- ftnts that wanted forgiveness and mercy, the grace of bi^itihm would be needless to them.'* ' <( Having occasion iriven in this place, I will men- tion a tfiing that causes nequent enquiries among the bre^ thren.' InlBknt^i are baptised for the foi^veness of sins. Of what sins T lot when have they sinned ? None is fiee firom pollution, though his life be but of the length of one day upon the earu. « Pot thia also it was, that the Church had from the Jiobstles a tradititi«m even to mraats : fbr they, td whom the divine mysteiite were oonnnitted, knew that there is in all persons the natural ^pollution of sin, tHiich must be done awav by water and TfiMGhpirit: by teaiBon of which tl^e body itself is also oallea the body of sin." Ndti^ing eui be plainer and mc the testimony of the celebrated Orig lett, speaks of m^aitbaptism,->not Imt in the narrative s^le, — as of sbtAidoA fiom ISm Aposttes that no one disputed or gain- slq^edii ■ .,if 'A oaotatioil from Cyprian, who flourished one hun- dred aAd fifty f&Mtpfit tiie Apostles ;— - to the purpose than |»n. He, like all the tlie controversial, In usage which de- Ifty y6&y< after 1 reil Wit lette « We rettd ^ttr letter, most deaf brother, in which y&tt ivrite of one Tidor, a priest, &«. . " But as to the case ot infimts.' W hereas you judge I .v, ■ ^ 30 that they murt not be baptised within two or three daw Ster they aw born ; and thenileofcircumcwonui toU observe? .0 that none should be baptised Mid sanctified before the eighth day after he is bom. We were all in our assembly of the contrary opmion : for as for whaj you thought fitting to be done, there was not one that waj of vour mind ; but all of us, on the contrary, judged that the^ice and mercy of God is to be denied to no perso« **^** It is ^ery certain that Uie baptism of infants had no opponent irf tie days of Cyprian. Here was a CounciJ Smxtv-six Bishoi4, not voting that mfants should, or ShoiK l^^Sptui^. ThatVoy shojuld, had nem S di8l»uted in the period which U f "^Pfd «nce .«)« Ume of Jesus Christ. The quesUon of mfont baptwm tZ was not discussed at all, neither by the Goun"l, nor by Fidus, the Presbyter, but only whether thfi c^4 should be baptised within two or three days aiter it was hSro, or riter^it was eight days old. Fidius thought r| Sd not till it was eVt days, but there was not oneof the Council of his mind. ', ^^..^-.v,^ auotations iirom St. Chrysostom, who flourished two hundred and eighty years after the Apostles :— two tjttg"^^^ circSmcisibn, I mean the grace of bap- tism, eives cure without pain, and procures to us a thou- W Wfite and fills us with tlie grace of the spirit :. Td^tlTno'deteLnate time, a»thathad; but one tha^ S^in the very beginning of his age, or one that is m the, Se of Mrone that is in his old age, may receive th». ^•"TS'SujfwSJpfStn^^ ^'^ tt. ASSLrSiiSSS\t^^^^^ and eight years ^ JS^S^h^^id men are wont to i«k to^ V^also, wh?t JSd the sacrament of Ghrist's baptijm does^to ^fnSiSiwWs after ministering, they disturb the holy mysteries : and yet no Christian man will say they are baptized to no purpose. And if any one do ask for divme authority in this matter : though that which the wfu^le Church practises, and which has not been instituted by Councils, but was^ ever in use, is very reasonably believed to be no other than a tiling delivered [or ordered] by authority of the Apostles. Yet we may besides take a true estimate how much does the sacrament of baptism avail infimts, by the circumcision which God's former people received. " So ii) infants baptised the sacrament of regenera- tion goes before ; and [if they put in practice the Chris- tian religion] conversion of the heart, the mystery where- of went before in their body, comes after. <• So in in&nts that die after they are baptised, it is to be believed that the same grace of the AUnighty does 1 moke up that defect, that by reason, not of a wicked will, but of want of age, they can neither believe with the heart to righteousness, nor confess with the mouth unto Isalvation. I - , " ^^ ^® *"* infant, though he be not yet constituted la fidel [o faithful Christian], by that faith which consists' lin the will of believers ; yet he is, by the sacrament, of l^t faith : for as he is said to believe, «o he is called a •fidel ; not from his having the thing itself in his mind, but from his having received the sacrament of it "Parents run with their infants and little ones to ^roOTre the grace of holy baptism : in whom, if that t»pnd of sin be loosed which is of the body m^, and not J5iTJ"chisoftbesonltoo,it may well be iwked what urt it would do them if at that age they should cUe nthout baptism : for if this sacram^t be for the good of Mir body, and not of their soul too, they might be bap. •^. afipr they were dead. But when as we see that the ^ -«> I Smv are oUre, and to help them while they are alive, lew UKn Sey aw dead there*^be nothing to be done that can '^X£^SS|i««>..deci«.eth^ S^ was introduced, as a new «Wng,j^J»t the^m rftheADOrtlee. and do m with any Jr^sonable^w i"™^J»«SS'^"^^J^JS* ftithftal to'ODpose them with tne sworo m ui« op".»,i • SSmoftaftnts be an innovaUon. how is ^^J^^ HkB Pihneas. in Ae breftch, that ha wigit, » i^^'MX* v'^- 33 ^r any one to bewail the evil, until the beginning ot the \titipedo-Bapti8ts, soon after the reformation from Popery Thus, we have seen that infants were, under the ^llodaio law, admitted into the Church of God— under the pfeisonal miiaistry of Christ, who issued his commands as the Elini^ Of Zion. " Suffor the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not "—under the Apostles, who began to execute their commission by saying, " the pro- mise is unto you and to your children " — and under their successors, as we Ibam trom the testimony of the prim- itive fothers. The Antipedo-Baptist scheme of etoluding children, then, has no parallel in any a^e, under any rdigion, divine or idolatrous,; for there is no religion upon earth of any kind, true or'ialse, Christian, Jewish, mahoinedan, or HeathejP, that leaves out children (rom its 'embrace. V / ^ - CHAP. V. Tn C«rM« Of Utioiotr. I«t.vct.o« which t.. "^"T™ •» TM Ou> Aim Nbw T«iTAi«im bwoiii oioh rA««i«Tt to onri TIWiB Cwwami, » rooiii)«0 on ?■■ "« »«** t"" *»■ *"■, CmUBM OF TW 00ir»I|*IIT. AIIS Ail llJk* to » WiTWCTM w I THBfAlTH. T»AT oar childwn •« within Uietmbrwe of tlwi oojjj. cxhOTtetion and wnnmnd giwen io Scnptare, V> inrtru* Semto thf knowledge oT God, mort clearly pwwnj. U?bM«^ that Uwaie the childwa of the corenant VM S^aw commanded to be brought up " m «»J!?«"; SSiSadmomtionoftheLonl.'' .T>«»r ""^^^^fiS^ Snlte in the sane de«gn of training them M^e chil- dren of God :-«« For 1 Jpow him tnamely, Abi^l Sat he will comnM hichildren. and hw houjdjrfid SeThim, And they •h«llK«ep the way of the Lorjl^ C^XTiiLl9: "And these words wWch I comAa^ tSrSsdayihallbeinthyheart; and thou shalt towh SSidTugeJt^to thy children, Mid rfmlttijk o/ th«j when thousitisst in thv house, and when thou walkert on Se way, and when tUu lieet down, and when thou Sertup."-D«utTi. 6,7 : "Therefore shall ye lay up !Km%prd.in yo^r heart,aadiny2«r«alj^^^^ them for a aiim upon your hand, that tjiey may oe as dOldron, speakfng land w ^^^^ S2J fiS« to give them them as thedays of heaven upon W«ff£;»--l4utxi. 18-21: "Thou ahalt wad Uus S^bSwealltoaelintheirheMrinf. G«th(Br thejeople tSJito^ «Hl woDiw ittid cWdien, and thy stranger LiOtd«war e B gto^ -•, .: w - iMy Iwn, «id Aw the Lord ]poar Ood, ma pfawm todS •II the wrndt of (hie lew ; end that theif ohildrao whidb heTe not known eny thing may heer, end loem to fcer the Lord frar Ood, ee long ee ye live in the lend whither y«iro«WJordontopoeeeeiit.«--Ueutxad.ia: «TnS ff i^JlHilL'ZL**^ ^""S^ «"' -Bd when he ie old he will iwt depurt from it"— Piwr. xix. 18 : « The rod II5r JT?? ^^ wiedom j but a child left to bSmZ Dflogeth hie mother to ehame."— Pror. xxix. 10 : u And re fothers proroke not yonr children to wreth, but brink wm tip in the nurtuie end edmonition of. the Lord "2 ffTi* ▼;. 4 : «« Children obey your perenti in ell thinge. ?JJ"*^'* ^".P'««n« onto the Lord.»--n. I SEES» ^.**»^«» «* iMtraotion of chihftMn waaJarMl^ ai* eommonded to reed and aearch, so there wee the lea iiMd""tJ^t « that Biontem felt cbneemed abo«t . v 1 ■ • ' / o " ' • • ' * . ) I % '■' • a 36 household ? On Antipedo-Baptist |)rincii>le8 the words have no more meaning, nor better calculated to give ease to his troubled mind, Uian it they ^ere meant for some unheard of fiimily, any wh^ else in the world. Tbd Oosjpel teaches us that when it c6mes to a fiunily, espes- cially to the parents, it brings salvation. The Gospel is the.yoni of a Kin^r, and commands obedience. The parent has authority from the source of all power and \dsdom, and is, therefore, commanded to exert his au- thority for the honour of God and the satvation pi his family ; and, therefore, when the Gospel comes to a house, it is presumed that he who has authority'to stand at his fireside and say, (•Asformeaudmyhous^ we will serve- the Lord," will teach his children the gbod way of •the Lord. God himseif said this of Ateaham. llie Apostles, then, knowing that the promise was « unto you and to yojir children," to the pttrents and also to thdr little '<»ies, cmoke to the jailer as they did— " Believe in the tiord Jesus Christ and thou shialt be saved, and thy house.'' He believed and was baptised— he and all his straightway 1 This never can be realiaed under the ' theory of our Antipedo-Bap«ist friends. The thing is im- possible ; therefore^ tiieir views of baptism are opposed to Apostolic preachwg and practice. No consistent Baptist ; could have saiictioned what is here recorded to have been both said and done by an inspired Apostle. < The principles which we have endeavoured fo lay down andf apply from the Scriptures of truth, shew dis- tinctly that our children are induded in ttopvimuse of tfuT covenant, and that, therefore, we are as qiacsb boun&to^t uptm them the seal of the covenant, and to instruct A^in the knowledge and practice of the Christian fidHi, as ever the Fatriarcbs were to give dieir children Uie tma of dr< | cumcision, and the knowledge of the law. T%oae who refiised the token of thecovoiant, rtrfnsed by that act the covenant itself, and, for thdr contumacy, they weitt cut 'bfffiontltMtdongregatiimoftheLind.- Can we pteamne' that it will £»e- better with us than withthe^staioewe ' are under a more ezoeUentdispensaitioh? Indeed, the ii^- j :noranoe, unbelief; and disobedience that prevail cntiiei •object of CSuistian baptism, and CSnirtiBn oUigatkNI to duty, oxe most deplprable. Our children in >lmerica j^re. cut.o^from thoGongregationoftlvB Lord, ii;i thousands and vtulliQUs, ^nd, what its woree, they are cut o^f |)y their parefits. ^ruth compels us further to declare, tjl^t ejren many who hnng their children to the qacrament of baptisqii are fro iffporant of its nature, and so ipdifferoni respecting the oBti^tions which it ijivOlvc», apt actually to rendier it of no effect ; for this great sin, devastating the Ohurch of God, by shuUing out pf her pale so thany of Uielambs^>f the flock, must be a great national sin that cannot eiw^pe the judgment of the Most High. There are so many people, assuming the Christian^; name, who, so far from instructing their children in the Christian faith, declare it as their belief that the/ should beleftiree to make their own choice of religion ; andj accordingly, they are left to their own choice. This, he- liel^ npWever, it m^st be very evident, h^ nothing to do with the word of pod, for it is not that word which ^t helieyes. The dogma which is believed a|tid acted Upon 19 nqt to be^found m the Bible, but in th«^ode of infidel- ; ity, which pu^ triuh and error, religion and irreligioh, the (jtospel and " The ^ge of R^asoh,'f on the saihufobt- |ng* tHot unfrequently nave we witnessed the laUii^n- tat^eiact pf parents professiugthe religipn of Christ, and prptending to some snjew of family wpirship, at y hiph the chil^rpf) and other, ipmates are ndt reqhired even to kneel, unless they are conscious of haying experienced^ what ^py ji^eem achangeof hea?t' £|pw far this praiptice 'Is ifpm ttifat pf ^pshiUa heed npt h^^aid :— "But as for me 0^ PAy hpuse, .we witi serve the lx>rd.'*— Josh. x^iv. 15. , It is not enbv^h that we give School education to our 1 children. We must do more: Aeading, Wilting, and' arithmetic are necessary, but they onty constitute ' an In- ferior part of what we are bound, by our promises and TOWS m baptism, to ghre our children- We must, ac- cordiog to our lability, teach them to knoW God—them- selves- as sinners— Jesus Christ as their Saviour — ^the Holy Ghost* as their Sanctifier. We must teach them that sin is a bitter thing, and the source and cause of all evil and misery, and mat it. cannot be pardoned but throusfa the merits and death of our Lord Jesus Christ ; diat to ho * ^«| 'wxdioiMi, we nrast repent, believe the Goepel, and walk in newness of life. We must teach them^ that aa th^ cannot of their own strength turn unto God, and call upon him in an acceptable manner, without his special Sace drawing and assistinff him, so they must pray to od for thehelp. illumination, and sanctifying influences of tike Holy Spirit ; " For if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."— Rom. viii. 9. We must leach them to put their whole trust in Christ, and, at the same time, to " work out their own saLTatiBB THB (.AW. , WaTBB BaVTHM, AND THB BBNBW^NO OF THB HOKT OHOST, TOOB- THBB WITH A DUB OBaBBTANOB Of RBLIOIOVS OBOINANGBI, ABB BB 8r. IIabk zf !• 15, 1^ Bxn^NBOr Thbbb thinos abb BBtlimBD IN A BBGVLAB ChBMTUN BArriBH— AN AOTHOBISBD MiNIBTBB, THB . ElBMBNT or WaTBB, AMU THB FOBM op* WOBSS WHICH JMV« ChBIST HIMSBLr TBBMBIBBD. RoM. Tit4, BXPLAINBD. T^B BAmiK Or St. John not thb Bat* TUM WHICH jBtUS CHBIBT ATTBBWABDI INSTITIITBD« BVT THB Baptism or thb Law iono in xtse. AM KN4iraBT INTO THB MBANINO or THB WOBO " BAPrnM," A$ UfBD IN THB B9on or thb Old and Nbw Tbjj^ambnts. Thb Bat* Timor THB Etbiovian Eunuch— THB Jaiiob-~Cobnbuqb. St.. Mabk Tii. 2— 6, BZPLA1NBD. Thb Baptimc or TH^ Holt Qhost. BArmif MUST bb^ministbbbd in thb Namb or tm Faji^bbi^ and . or thb Son, AND or TkB Holt Ghost. Skbino (hat the l^htof the Gospel has come an(l shone iip« oa us, gentiles, what cause have we not for gratitude to Hiio who bus called us from darkness to hiflnparvellons Ught! Before our Lord Jesus Christ, in the likeness of man, was upon earth, the blessings of true religion were confined to the Jews :— " To them pertaineth ^e adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, aud^4he promises."— fiom. ix. 4. Noqip but the Jews, and such other people as would sub- mit to be naturali2ed, and be as one with them, could be re- ceived as members of the congregation of t^jioid. One Iaw and one maimer of wonmip were for (Eehooid-bon^ ti ^^^.MMimmmm and the sCranger. Jerusalem, t^e capitid of the nation, . was the seat as well of telignon as of loyalty. Thithet the^people, from all parts of the kingdom, had to assemble three times eyery year. Bii^ mtuAi the fulness of time wa^ come, the covenant was to be divested of all its 'yit6t3[j appimdtigef, mid to be presented in a more simple 'irthd proctictibte form td the other nations of the eiirth :-^ *' I, the Lord, haive called thee in righteotisnoss, and will hold thine hnnd, and Will keep thee for a covenant of die ' people, for a light of the Gentiles."— Isa. xHi. 6 : "I will ' altio give thee ror a light to the Gdntiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth. Thus saith iM Lord God, Bcliold, I will lift np my hand to the gen- ' tiles, and set up my standard to the people, and they shall '^n^ thy sons in their arms, and thy dftughtera shall bf carried on their slioulders : attd kings shall be thy •nutsing fathers, and their qtreens thy nursing mothers." Isa. tlix. 6, 22, 2Si : « And the gentiles shall come to thy l^ht, and kings to the brightness of thy rising."-^ ba. Ix. 3. , Jcsiis Christ announced himsislf as " tibe light o!f the wolrld " : St. John viti. 12 ; and also fbremoldt thm as the serpent was lifted up in the wildeme^ so he sholild be lifted up oti the croao, and draw all men to him..— St John iii. 14 ; xii. 32. Thus, hb not only ntinonneed-^. hiiinself as the long^promised U^Miah, but also did his w^rk :— «Lobk unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends • of ^e earth : for I am OM, and th."-i»k.xiii. 1. The c»mmisftion trhith Jesns CtitM gavehis Apostles, to teach all UoUons, gave effect t6 id4 Uiese sublmie pron^ses and predictions, under ^addwtf ahd figareS) me ^fidune promisiM were Mi forth andd^ da^ed, ttom the dayti of Adam i^ Abrtdiam, Gal. in. 3| ' tol8raelinthe\vifde]taess,Heb.iv.3, and to t^esatne people by a sueeeattion of proph^. fittt'now they were to be extensively^ ptoditil«ited- ; the Chnteli wes conttimhded t6 enlarge the idaee «ally examined, it will be found to convey the same megin- ing :— " Be that beUeveth and is bapttscMcl.'' 'The word "MisiNifA" is in die present tense,-^8ignifying aa act which is alway^present and always active ; v^reaath» word <* baptised " is in ^le pa^t tense, representing a thing pastand already done. The original woi^, being in |he per^fense,it should have bepn rendlered '^hathbeeabe^* tifed,'' H«ace^ every one that nbviF believes the Gospel, denoting aii act always prestfpt, or a faith never dead, but alive and active, and haa been baptised* diall be saved. 'Biilenlfmatioa of the tei^ is sAnerally reeeiired by all, 0xonit by those who retyapl infiuit baptinn on theoD» I«n4 01 oar ri|^t to bapUMon the other. U often hap.* *:^>- .:':■■'■ ■ ■■■• ' Ti\ ■.,. ■t. ^ :t K ,!. i 4A pens that a pemm who has iHMle a piofeMion oTrelkimh , and been baptised, sew lU to l^te his ChHroh or SoeW and ^ over to another^prolMng new views and a new Wrtienence, bat, uotwithstanding, such a pe^jsnoc often rebaptued by his new friends. His former bantisMI ta^ought to be sufflcientpthottgh he declares, tho^ at the time of receiTiiiff it he was either an infant, and eonld Know nothing of what was done to him, or an unbelietw. and had no faith in Christ.' In order to constitute a regular baptism three things are necessary-Hi regular officer or minister, authorised to admmister it, the element of water, and the name of th* Holy T, mity. ^ » k , auJS^^ ?"?.*»« ««««>« authorised minister, ghould a m^ administer baptism to himself it would not be a regular baptism ; and, from the absence of exatnpl* or ttecept to authorise it, it could not be rtJcogniMd V valid : nor if aman Aould persuade his neighbour lo bap. tise him, would the case be any better : for a man to baptise another, must have his authority to do so from the Kinff and head of tiie Church. Hence, should, a number of persons collect together, and then ordajn one of them- selves to be their minister in holy things, and thai he who was thus ordained should prM^ to ord^n other& atid so continue tiiis successioh thjt^gh many hands, it S clear th^t the ordmatioii, thus begUn and carried onTconld be no bettor at the last thkn itwas at the firat, totally ua. authorized throtfeh all its tftoges. ^ ' "^^ Baptism is the authorised mode of receiving membeit mtothc bodv of Cbiist's flock, and therefore must b6 ad. imnistered^by a reffttlarly ordain^ Minister of JmA Christ. When our Lord came into the worfd, he found that his vineyard, tiie Church, liad become a degeiieraf» •vine— that his father's house, which should have been * house of prayer to all people, had become a deii tf thieves. He, therefore, took his vineyard fiom the«w> ci^nt husbhndmen, and gave it to others. He rejected iMi trAe of Levi from the priesthood, and appointed, a BMr Older. Ab hb was sent by his Heaveofy Father, so lib sent hw Apostles to teach, extend, and govern his chntvli orkmgddm. TothemhegavetlMiiiinmdouiptfwmor t. 48 % IheBbly OhoM, and promifled w be witb tham n«1».«. t«d» fitfther than the livea 06 the men to wbomit ^ .fike other ,men, but their succe^wrs liveTXrwIL a2 iwnjj^Bfttepromise would be uniiitellWbliT^ whkhhad .ttfiwiinkin Je«,8 Ch,3j^ haane^rtS SS&?Sli^"*'7' thepromiae haa^verwlS? g3 MM JMua Ohnat ; Jesna Chriat aeiit hia ApoaUea • thav SS«J Sir "^.J^" '"y*"» *»*» of their hJKTr^eSS ■jeoeed rtiem, m the peraona of the firat BKahoSihat SiLTSl'i!"*' ^^ "^ "^V^*"^ «»<*• With thia SeS2 •ion, the commiasion and the promiae have ever dnee -wmained. Thia ia the order of ^ion'a KiV A mSJ SSS;***"* W»»?'f into it withS;ta 4S&crflSd onimatipn under the hands of thoae who^ ouSoriSd to ordain labourers into the vineyard, any more thana JP"yf «>««i^tnoutaPBgu!ar<;omniiflaion. K rf 5J^'' 'te?' *** *'*^ * regular baptism, it must ha - nVS^ " Minister bf Jesuf Christ, notfcV or^to ' s clwibed over the hedge, but by one whJ haJhean l^SLZ^ "*"*^ "^ *!?» ^^* ^y men wh7have^ubS . wjori^ gven unto them in the congregation to «1m «Qdaen^ Ministers into the Loni's WarS^'Por^ J«flft«en centuries Mler the death of our Sa^SrX ^SinTh"^"*",.'^"" ***'** sacred th«,ugS^'£; lK?-??u1*'' *" ■" nations, and even now! notwIA. •p«dmg ^ lobse notions which abotand, veryli£?Sorl oJ^wwttUituig every man his own priert, hZ own SS "qiitator, hia own church, if not hia own cod. the m£ #mty ofthe Christian world hold the ApSSlifiiSS ^^tSSPf^' as indispensable to the Sence 6?^ gwi^whi^ Jesus Christ and hia Apostles eatablSiS JWWjqtesf for ite author we ought to believe thitH SSK^lfii® Sun rf ftighteofine* ahali ariseT ttd ■h^ontheXJiunsh, the good oldj^ of theitoS u Yiew of men thrown «way as th« idols of th« headienr. Whenever the "good old weiys" are deserted, and suf- Icried to become a derision, we pray and hope that the light may yet break fotth and dissipate the deUisions which divide the body of Christ When any one pro- . motes schism in, or separation from, the body of Christ, he is guilty of a most heinouf sin, a sin which ranks with the very worst : yet, in modern times, the sin of . schism is not seen to be an evil, or an awful transgres* sion aganst the law of Christ ; it is never thought to b« stained with guilt. The thouffhtsof professing Christians, and zealous reformer^ have been turned away from tha subject, but we pray and hope that the time is approaching when it will be studied, and that, when its enormity is seen, it will be repented of in sackcloth and in ashes. In order to Christian baptism, water must be used. l*he original word for baptism is said to have but only one determinate meaning, which invariably signifies, in ail cases, and under al^circumstances, a total immernon of the body in water. It is not pretended that I feel my- self competent to answer all the arguments that have been urged to prove that this immersion is the only mode of baptism recognized in Scripiiire. With the written con- troversy which has abounded on this subject, I have but* a very limited acquaintance ; and on that account, I only deal with what is heard, viva voce, more Aan with booloi. The following text is taken as a conclusive evidence in &vour of total immersion t " Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death ; that like as Chxiat was nosed up from the dcMl by the glory of the father, even so we also should walk in newness of life-'^'-oRom. vi. 4. I can see no.proof of immersion in this, nor even the least allusion to the baptism of the holy Jefius, whether by sprinkling or dipping. When Jesus was upon earthj he swd to his disciples, "Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shidl drink of, and to be baptised with the baptism that I am baptised with 1"— St. Hath. xx. 23. The same is asain repeated by another Evangelist : "But I have ft baptism to be baptised with ; and how I am straitened till it be accomplished ?"— St. Luke xii. 60. The bafitism, ia than two passages, lefers to the sufiimiigs of bis ap> "■%, ''./■-, ■ 4« ■ - ' prMchinj death. In tbe former, iti««polcon of a^ past; fa the latter, aa yet to come, but very neVr at hondL Oui nrnnJJL^r^ '''""*"I!8" ^» «^ie^. and hence "a prophetw Inngiiago, "hewaaamnn of sorrows and nc- irom Rom. vi. i, the first circumstance that appenw to Sil^TSr^f^hr' '°""'^""« thedeatWe"?; mentioned, is tliat of his resurrect on. • " bv the irlnrv nt the fether" «He died unto sin and, ZufShe S'h''^'*''f*/*"*° ^'^•" "Heisumvexaltidottho ?St no'"!^^ i'"* glorious mnkgty on high." « K S;X ?Jwl"^'^ ^"™'"r "^^' '»^ Even as he livJ h fTt^' "" ^''^ '"^Jf ' *^ ^^^^ «» «»>*>uld we, as the' S^ii^ ''u'' "f"°" with him, by that faith which wrprc^ fessed in baptispi, «« walk in newness of life." ThTcSI^ K"«o mn!S?*'j- ^r^^'? ^**T«" *'^^ ?'°"fi«l «t«te of h!5S^? K °^ *^u *? ^°' .*•"' *«<* our ob%ation to liVe a holy life here. Christ reigns with God il. Heaven .wrf tfierefore we shouW walk worthy of oiu vocation, w^ ^?!Si i *""L^*!^l^ ^'*«'^^ "P*^"" "»«ch abused SSf^V^k?- ?®'?: *^® inculcation of a holy life, {q imita. > tion of Christ, who " now liveth unto GoZ" Our Antipedo-Baptist brethren, with but few exeen. tons, among whom id the late Rev Robert HaUaTnS^ SSS^nf i' .bfpt«m administered by S? John' wS £^ *ange, surely ^hen we consider thS Jesus (hrisV had toh.'S*'"^^ ^ P^i!!*' ™"«''y ^»»«» St. John t^ tobB[rtiae. He exercised no part of his public mediatofui £Scf"Siil„"***' he w '^IHisedb?"^ jSit' Tte baptism of John was administer*^ whhout any set form " i of words, that we can find on record-withmit K S , £rj;S?^?'^*'^^**^»»»««o»y Ghost l^ose^oS t^r^SJf!? &f ''^r «>'»*'>i«n» afterwarfs lS 2« iTSJt ?*il2**'*?' "^^^^J* «»"»** °<^' h«ve been SJ S'i^7fA***^'**T'"?*»"hisname. WeknowV ^LS^* p**'?"*^^ *^P*^ '«»» afterwards, hrSet^ Apostle St. Paul, the Very same whd wrote "^r&hhJb oue Lord, one baptisAi,'^ as «w imchan^i.TSd «r ■"■V: A., the Church of Chrbt— Eph. iv. 6. We lOKf be certain, I that if he had recognixed the baptiim of St. John, as the T baptiadi of Christ, he would not have robaptised any of I his disciples, *m we learn he did.— Acts xix. 1—6. The baptism of St. John, so far from being^ an institution of the new di^nsation, was only a continuation of one of the Mosaic rites of the law. It is remarkable that in the New Testament no directions are anywhere inven relotive to the manner of administering baptism. The reason, I apprrliend, v^ that the mode was already known, and stood in no need of particular elucl3ation. Our Antipedb- Baotist brethren, however, take up the New Testament, . and peruse it, as if it had no moro to do with the Old Tes- tament, and the usages of the people who till then had the ordinances of jQod, than it has with the Alcoran of the Arabian impostor ; and, finding the word baptism there I as the name of an ordinance of the Qosnel, they take it as an isolated, detached, arbitrary term, which has only one meaning, exclusively that of immersion. They take baptism as if it had no resemblance to any thing tliat was ever seen or known until St. Johif1)egan to baptise in the Biver Jordan. And being, as they fancy, an entirely new . thing, they talk as if the word was new too, and applied to describe an act which they say was performed, namely, a total immersion of the body in water. But neither the thing that was done by St. John, nor the nome which ^ dfa(aract6rised it, was new when the writers of the New T^Bstament adoj^ed tfie terms ; and having used it with- out giving an explanation of the mode, we may safely presume that the mode was so well understood by all at V. that time, as to require no explanation. To ascertain iltf meaning, then, the proper way to find it cannot surely be to rake up heathen writer^ but the sacred books and usages of the Jews. «* The Old Testament is not con- Urary to the New," but in every thing the foundation of it As an example of the mode of carrying on the inquiry, I would propMe the following method: . "He that ^nssheth himself (/SamCo/uyo^) after the touching of a dead body, if he touch it aopain, what ayaileth his vosAmw, - Awf|w 1 Sirach 34: 26. Herd the above two Gnek word* tice used ia th^ jsame sense, 7h9 washiugt / 47 the »MheB of the heifer^d ay them i^ wl*? «'f '' "P in a clean place, aiid uTa I L lrZ# ? ^"i^o»» »he camp Israel for a water of i^ration " in^rJ^J ***! "^'i!*''*"* °f ling. " Whosoever toKiTuil .uT/^"^' of .prink- Uiat it dead, and purSnot ttJ«f!fr *flT **/ ""y *»•» nacio of th^ tx»i5; and iha sA n*Sf *'* *" ^»w- Israel: becausSTe water of i^^^^^ ^ cutoff fr^o, upon iiim, he shall CunK inT"?*'^""'^'^ ^11 take hys«,p, «nd dip it i"the watet^'^ff '*"°2 ' •bnnkle it upon the tent. ««SJ Ia^ ^^'' *»* that of heathen whW^kI *"'*''**» «s good at least as twos are minulelv d^ritJ^' ««r^'u_* ** }^^ ®P«*- nmkmtor T*. vI.Si ^olipMo-Bspmii bas m ■«. 2»Jh.qam»y of wT ,h?d2im5Mm'''£ra vtf. to^Jfwtor. All were more or loui lioble to the unoLon- SSS^n .K*''/*"'""'^ ^" »*» '"y frequent w,d w veS? iSl^^h*?^ «?e "^«T .hall bflbr ?o» and foTfc qoAlnted will, the muiiiJr of applying the w^JT"^ £»»«-. ^Wchhav.Sffi"itlrimire^^^ *«b«ad with this view of^oSw nation? */T ""^ ** ^SS^ ^ conde,ceodod to wmove hiascruSS lolltti^ '^^Z ffl!^^'' ««^cufflci«rf jowB, when «rtyt« was baptised : thev knew- hmTti. • ^*^ *^«i^ wattudinly to eo^toTStmniS '^'^P^ The Utd of the corwiat^Mml iiLi Sf'^/J"^" *^ tMmuign of the oorenwit » aSd tKLfol ?^Ju' **»« n»«iwiirer £«;,th. peopK'e.^tf^Sj'^i '/J^oved hi™ to £. pen^no^Thichhe^ZJi^;^^^^^^^ .ThiT P««««i :-" And no^ Sr L,??'*^"?? '" »»»« following **»»w«i : every trMO,w« * u' !'"** ""'« '»»« root o7 good fruit i^Sn S^wn ~ si-T?:'^: ^rr"" "<>» *»«*» |w>pIe«.kedhiii,,«yTnff^h'2^1i"^ ^"^t^ ;«.we«,th and mthlZ Z^'' ^^"11^^^^^^ '^"^ ' «• iet him impart to him th.» i.-S """* t'*^® co«t«, «im, let him do ii Wi2 ' tC "T ' T^ *»« *•» haS to be baptised, and a^d unt2^h?m (T "''" 't« P^^Hcant •« manded of him, s%.C*An^ whl^ »f«'d»«" Jil^ewlae de- , . •«id unto thSi. L^ioIencThfn?''"'*^*''*?' And he' any falsely, and be^ntenT^l" "° "^"» "«'«her aocuae iji 9-^14. This wm?k!P "'^ J^°"'' ^«g««"-St. Luke ii^f.the obli^onT ofts^^i^^^^^^^ the internal ud external diZ^T* ^ " ** °™Wem of by him. he admS^ Em? ■"iP""*^ '«l"«"d ' l^cepf his nation at Slfc' „^5";?'X*^ *« P^c receiving proselytes to their^j„? r * . manner of A learni^ Jew. who fl<«,ri«Si u ^'°". ^"»™ '^e heathen. . that cannot S mippSSl to h«^ k *^" ^^^'^^ «»nt"n^. from Christianity Ke follow^L^"°^ his doctriS into covenant, remain under th^ "*i'®. ^''"'<* en^r or divine pr«4nC and take ui^n h^l**"^ Schechlna, l««r. he is bound to ha^c.>?^^L? '^l ^''^'' ^^ »»»« P«»ce-offering, becaOse itls in ih.r """"' ^"P*"™' ■"<* * Jhe etranger £, ;^ ye you " t« 'll; "iT^- "«' «» «»»«» ly drcu^,ion,TSt£m anT« .1 entered mto covenant ' '■m * ' ^"*'* **** peacoof. 60 feringns to be (mutteddaringonr present state of desolation, but to be obsenred when our temple shall be rebuilt. By thne things our forefathers entered into covenuit with Jeho- Tah, at Mount Sinai— circumcision, baptism, and an ob* lation. Baptism, was used a little befoi^ the litw-— sanc- tify the people today and tomorro^f^ll|lid le^ them wash l|)eir clothes : for wherever we rek4 'bf the washinff of ^idothes, there an^obligation to baptism is intended.", -This is the account which the Jewsi give of the baptism^ which was in use from* the giving of the law, until the time -of our Saviour, and \mich is still kept up among thedi. It was this baptism, we have no doubt, that St. John administered at the River Jordan to thepeople m^o flocked to him from all parts of the land. What he, ad- ministered presented nothing that was new to the Jews in manner or form ; for the Scribes and the Pharisees who weresentby the great Council of the nation, to ascertain who he was, expressed neither surprise nor alarm oi^ be- holding his baptism, as they would naturally haye done at an innovation or infringement of their law^ bcNiaUse he was doing no more than what was daily practised, though on a smaller scale. They found no fault with his bap- tism ; they felt no alarm, as if he did any thing that tend- ed ^ disparage or change their religion. They merely enquired into his authority to officiate, when tney%>und that he did acknowledge himself not to be the Messiah not the Prophet. Had he acknowledged himself as any ^ of those mentioned by them, or as one having equal authority, they would, evidenUy, not have questioned his right to administer baptism, as at, tiiat day practised by ancient gillowance. * ^ It is called the baptism of 'repentance. Bepentance was the condition which St. John required of 4hoee ^rbo came to him for instruction, as tiie fittest way to prqpiae theni for the reception of the doctrino tind discipline of Messiah's kingdom. It corresponds \irith the manner in wbich Moses prepared the children of Israel, for the re- ceiving of^tbe law. Jesus Christ himself received John's baptism, niias confessing his sins, but as a public conse- cration for his work, and, at the conclusion,<3od AlngJghty, his Father, and the Holy Ghos^ gavje both audible and i ff**' / ■\ 81 ■■ ocular tortimony that he was theSon of Ood, andenUaed to the obedienoe^^d homnffe of all the human race :— « And lo I a Tbice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved son, m whom I am well pleased."— St. Mart •.uy'l'*"f^'..°?''*®*''*®"^"pthe baptism of John with that which Jesus Christ afterwards instituted for the r^iasion of sins, in the name of the Father, and ol the Soff, and of the Holy Ghost, as the sacrament of wgen- #« iw.T^f n»nner of applying this water in baptism is not ^^^}[y^ruuned from the grammatical meaning of lStr?"'S? ^ '^P"?".* '^ ^^*^°"t taking the practce eiuomed m the law, and tiie common usages of the neoDlT into consideration. The law, on^is sXc^^e^SS when wat6r was applied to any person by another, it was •Jways applied by sprinkling, Jr pouring, nevS by dS! pmg, or unmersion. There is a manif^t distinction bS^ ^een the act of the administrator, and that which is done Si^S'*"^ He that sprinkles, or is the adminii* trator, neither dips nor plunges the clhdidate. while the ^didate has to wash his clShes and to baUie hSf Th Zu;» ,S ^^ "°4 theretovB, appear tiiat so much of the ancient rite of purification as had to be performed bv oJ % ten^ S® *PP*y*°8: of ^ater by sprinkling, nevOT to aJ^SS ^^iS^""^' T ^ PP^"«- ^«*^> '° the^ptisS of St John, which our Saviour and great multitude reSiv- Aat whch he did himself as admimstrator. He was J 2S?^ granted that his bapusm was in conformitv to what was allowed to be sanctioned by the law and t£ " castoms o(the country John was always he7d ?n SS ^^fUTT' ^i^^^^ accused of doing ^y tf,in^ ^^f S?* ^''^' ^*° *»« ""ff^"^ deathV it ^^ h^s strict adherence to the very letter of the law. audnoJ t'.lIJ'f P"^S^^u »»f4enient. If, the^' h^Sc^ MaJew^itucertam that, in the baptisi which he Si ^^^-^ applied the waSr by KiSt E2 .«. TIm obfenratioDs hen made have been more than ▼erified bjr a pam^let lately pVt Jnto my handa by an esteemed Christian, Ba^^ fnend. The pamphlet haa lost its title pase, and vuh it the tiame of the author, but is otherwise whole, and contains fbrty-four pafles. It is written under professimis the mostationg ana solemn of iaitbhil, conscientioua adhbreuce, ip ibe fisar of God, to the true meaning of Holy Scripture. The style is not harsh in tone or depression, but rather temperate and mild. This, however, is all tiie merit it canjustly claim ; for I am sure it has no pretMisions to either candour or cha-' rity. A little acquaintance irith human nature, and with the waya of the world, will ahew that the perverting of an aothor^ meaning, sophistical reasoning, and diaingenu- COS conduct, may be couched under plausible terms. Ac- cordingly, this sealous partisan has, with great labour, if lie did it all himself, culled from no fewer th)ui seventy- seven Pedo-Baptist writeia aa many as, if not more than, one hundred and twenty-sevoi quotations, to prove, first, what none ever denied, namely, that Jewish and Gentile ' conyertstoUieChristianfeith werealwaysinstructedbefiire they were admitted by the Apostles to baptism ; and, se- condly, that the wject waa to insinuate that we administered the ordinance without taking that precaution. The secmkl is untrue, not merely witii respect to tliow ^» *« ^Y the lea^t of it, a m^ f;^^J^\^^''^^^}^»d€ncQ. What I said in the fraud make me, in reality,-^ affirm that immersion is thS only meamng of the word bKptism ? ^^^^ " *"'*. >9 «««7 l«ngiM«B» •ufpej^Ue of adaptuDg itsdf to^ Um ^ 1«JW. V ^oa the sutjiect;' has been dragiipadbefb^ the critical tritanal irf^^the Ana-Fedp-BaptistSi and cei^led to give , e¥ideni6e contrary both tohis own langnlige and belief |%e eiTJ^tuce is made out mr him and put in his mouthy widi no loDi^ trouble than mcikeiy to insert a few small wordst audi as « otfljf," and dien the evince that I^do-Bsptists allow, them to be rig^'t, wliile^they jbractise the contrary ^lemeelTei^ is all complete and all convincing. Every thing else Hi connection with the suppoeed concesgaon u toppretsed, before the evidence thus obtauMd is laid bft- fixe the leaders of one si^ of the questicmT I expect the * tiime ditin|$!mnous use inU be maSte of my conceiHw^ Atf the duuiingenuonsness <^ the argnment thus turned i^gainst us it not neir. The Jesuits made use of it long mr. When we allow, in the exercise of that ohiii^ which the CKiepolfequiies, that salvation may be obtained > within thepale of the Roman Caiurch, the Jesuit mttft . owr charity, by saying^, « Then it is safer, even on yewr gjftt shewing, to be laonr Church than in ypuroinu -W«di>notalk^ that salvation: can be had out of the / Ghiuch. The Caijorcfa of Borne is the ena true Camrch. vhicli Jeans GhniteierestM>)i8hednpon«arA WUhto her iQtale, salvation may Ije h^ as yonallaw {with^, 1 '. . (nt ' < \ «5^<», th^SSit SfflSr^i is* without aiS «Nrth»t«v^^ ^5^*;„P!f Pa«^ will " / ^ t .... is tidter ilaeid in the Naw Testament to expiieii it 7 What can be the reasonthat tHejfispired writers so scrupii]|oi;|»- ly abstsin from usin^ sometimes one for |he.ofher? Ac- coiding to ti^e viflfTS of the AntiPedo-Jlaptists, as freqaenN ly stated to me, it would make no diflbrence which of the two ^wrrw, or jaiirnfw, was used, as in their theory thej^ ore synonymous. '. -~~^ It was my intention to give a list of the passages in • which the verb %nm4:w is used, but on trul'l Tound ■ them to be too numerous ibr the. purpose of forming a catalogue of-them. One thirig, however, is very clear, ihat, if QavriCM meant only to tmrnerM, the sacred writ- en would not have so careniUy abstained fromiipplying, at IflSfltspmetimeSfthe word which, means todipt to tmmerM, tothe Sacrament of Baptism. But a word of a greater I Iptitude of meaning is uniformly preferred. St John II was a Jew when he came preaching in the wilderness of Judea. His life was formoi on the practice of sodliness which was inculcated by the Law and the Prophets, ibr the purpose of forming the life of a holy man. He uras ' tdll a Jew when he baptized at the River Jordan. In thft Law which he followed as his guide, there was neither aoonuhand, nor precept, nor example, to authorize immer- niHi by the administrator. For, in the lAosaic ritual, : which he followed, the administrator, as proved in ano- ther place, applied the water by sprinkling, and left the person sprinkled to .wash his clothes, and oathe himself, tiX his own convenience. The expression that Jesus « went up straightway out of the water,"— St. Math. iil. 16-« explanationetoikcLS .M*J^ enabled to adapt Jij, woVdgladlyf Sd wSL'Sb^'"!!?'" »»^^^ he bagSSd hKhia^l^^^ **»^ ?^ boUi into the wati>r i>«#ik di.?*^*^; , *.hey went down % bapti«ed «>" «»»«?' M they were, in CSJS?£*i^***"*», an^t£„*Xr.S^^^„ ?•»>«»« ^^^^ ew, to chanira their drin«SSf2T^ "° **"^» *i*e' « was geir journey^if^^^i^fl^J^btJ^P^ on . -hople.aiorit,SKS^^ MMi ii iliffl| ii « I made it impossible, had they »v«" j» "„ hmise we will S^imtoW, "but «i for i«« ^"d my J^J^^'^^h*^ been one in the street, ro»»"« °^j^„ hts prisoners out? from his door, ^«'"^i he Imve tok«^^^^^ View th6 cdse as ^^"^y' /Ymmersior^S^^^ ,«eWesto us in ^^Pr^'Si^/wnKTrivrr. and power jAatoc ejqpi^ion IS used-- tj^i^^^ ^ received K; I Eunucbi iptiaed at inction of eiffhbount tbeiroon* irtherfrom bold were pon enrtbi elude cfail- rould have of Joehuft, Be, we will n and his We do not B that city, would not, ildjhecer^ with him. ve been the ' led the con- ' there had >rt distance soners but? esent them- lich cannot and power m Miypre^ ase, baptism the applica- persoiis that il3, this em* brbid water, ave received estion imply edtoj be con- be necessary t to immerse, eption. But thecimtom «# which had ever been Allowed, the auestioii i<<«nti •■*« **.K Vp®*^ *hA"> fifom *he simple accounts wii^ti^ Se^n^fflSir'^''*'^ T««onlelinsSprwrSl??2 persons imtililid were not imnMrMwi .»<« •_ TVl "*• ever afterwards that to ^h n^t to dJ^^hS^lS^ •into deep water, and could adrr^k Irf« J lif^ ■"" *"■ whatsoe?er-wi;owouKts3/h^- ****^^ only present a few texts in wWeh Ae H^^^ '"*!^ U«ve the reader to be hii o^''^d« w^"S S^ Swkwold^r *"*"** when they eat hr^i^'f^S^ ureeic word is rampnu. « But to eat with •»» 1 %aO.- "And wheii they sawaotoHf hi« j- 7*" ^' bread with defiled, that iato3 ST "" ?^'P*<" ««< h«His,they&dV^ir*FoTtSte Ml. And when they come from the mul^^t^thS ^ \ V V- Wm, -•'' ' A'- thinn th«n be, which they htre reeeived to hold, ai the wfmJ U ttg of cupe (iMrtwyMn bi^tim) ekid poce, braaea TCMwIa, and of tablea. But to eat bread with unwatkm (mmwnt) haiida."--SL Mark, vii. 9-$. In theee wnm we have ttie verb Bmtm^m, to bc4>tiae (and (he aubetantiTe Bmnttfut, derived from lU uaed as lun equivalent to the verb vMnv, which eigninea simply to wash-^for in-* stance, some part of the body, the hands, feet, face and ^•e. The usual way of washing liMids, for {Mople in good circumstances, was to have a servant pour it on Ihe bands. « And one of the King of Israel's servants an- fwaied and said, here is Elisha, the son of Shaphat, which noured water on the hands of Elijah." — 8 Kings, iii. 11. Kow this washing of the hands is called by St. Luke, the ,hB|ptiaing of ja man, or a man's being bwtiied. "The RMrisee marvelled that he had not vMuhed (ifimmtit) ht&fn dinner."— St. Luke, xi. 38. From this it is certain Ihat the inq;>ired writers uiied the word to bimtize, for any mdinuy washing— for a wadiing that did not admit ok iuaeraion. Common sense, on a revieV of these passa-l gsa^ must shew, unless we close our eyes against the light, ^ Ibat it is neither necessary nor convenient, that in ordu to wadi pots, brazen vessels, and tables, they should be im» inersed. But if the -Greek word alwaysmeant immersion, «nd that only, as we are told it invariably does, it would have argued ^at oversiffht or ignorance in anv writer, much more in writers that wore inspired of the Holy Ohost, to apply a word meaning immersion, exclusively to the washing of things which did not require imnMT' ■ion, and ^Imi, if they did, would be laying an unneoei- aary, intimnble burthen on all housekeepers in the world. Other appropriate words were at hand. There was no aeed of doing such violence t^ thecomnKm modeof spedc- ijBg, as to a|^ly« word exclusively meaning immsrdon to4he washu^ of things that are never immersed. Wetmst It hasnow been shewn by aiair investiga- tiooof the meaning of the word that it does not exolu- aively nfiean to immerse, but only the application of water, nodmed by the nature of the ob^ to which it is qn4ied, hy poorihgi sprinkling, or afforfoo, as praetiaed thTon|dh a loi^ iiicocawon of ages \>$kan the coming of " — *" -^ L ■#• • * Nen quoted fromTe bcEbrof MnlPTT'lS?*'*^ ocottmiice, m well knowk ^LH^ ^'^ ^ oomraon •pedia diiSotory to -hei how A^ 5^^ •• to need Bo aSKfore, nodiiction.^ SveiJ^n^N ^S^ •*»*»• OMT^fiment, and to thrnaa^^^V^h*"' ^ ^^J^ '^ « T*^**P'*"***°n f^yo Kiven will Im fnwtt^ ^ finned, if we consider that wate/i* T M 'atlw eo*. StMath\iH^^ 11 . mLS-iTk-L^'****' ■"** withHw," or abed apoo mmu^in^^^fy^T^^^ "" !»""* of lh« Bol* Spirit oifS^hLSrSP" *" "" '»•«««« ■ ■■• ■ '■' ■■■'■'■ ' ■'■'•■ ■,. W. ■' -■.,:iyf''i r- * "v— t SlS^ft' .?*> *»o«F^*r ■bouid t»v« bMa I9B0M o pro** ««i - II?iill? ■. Fo'f««ch»nfluonice« the Apowle. looked SL^ISl. i °*"y »»• -ddad. that luch a ble«ed iafliv IS?IS"% ?• *^* '^"P*»«' ^*»« looked aa far through ty vbta of Akture timet aa any other of the moat favound ^ ftf **51*~7 ' r* ? *«"'** *»*»^y "«• The promiie "tepcmdwitlv the Holy O^oat and with fire." Tho — "92!?'i*^*°7®'*««"*y Church ahowa that thia WM nimUad on the day of Pentecoat :— « There came a StSr-ffT T*^^^> •? of « raahing, mighty wind, and it i SJIJSi^.^T' '^?*" ^^'y ^*" ■•"*"«• A»d there i aMeatred vnto them cloven tonguea like as of fire, and it n?^J^3 of them ; and they were all filled with tho H^y Ghoit *— Acta ii. 2; 3. In all hia infliiencea, whe- I55L. •* «?«*'P"«»on la made to water or to fire, the Holy Spiril 18 always represented aa coming down, never aa a d^hpf water, or aa • lake of fire, into which we are Ui De immersed. We have no right, then, to bind peopleViv ^T^T^^"* '?^*" inventions in matters of iSiSon. under the imposing name of a divine ordinance. At ii oneprefers .more water than the word of God requQ or en^rcifig hia opinions on others ; and if onotlier, in moxo •cow^ance witji scripture, be satisfied with less, let him "*^ ^Tt?* **' cmm9ndment8 of God, and. that practice whichTl, W6 liave, certainly, no ftioro right to require agiSl A hmf hmn r iba origiiMl t woulijmd, —St, 68 irhich btiimt* TinuDeriMd ; repfCMat tiia Tain or d«w. of Chriat !»• nt that th«f lopraimtai otdw looked I far through mt fiivound rhe promiae y should be fire." The va that thia [lere came a nrindyand it And there r fire, and 'it led with the BDces, whe- re, the Holy never as a !t we aretof^ ind peo)}|e'a\ of relLpon. ». Alt if requires or ay, without ler, in more n, let him ig the coin- n folio wiitt » whichl. e AiMstlei, iro a grMI aaantity o< water in the saoraaaiil ofbai ^><»*^ I SjJ***M^^^W"*n»^<»»oMs«oodi«rn Srirss ^ ^^^ '^^'^ *ort of this b b!^s. I^n^»'^''^^ *• ifucharist to any ^TjrS: JT^if*^' opinion we are unbaptised • vet we fi«Si top^opotfion, a. mucK water ln^nSitJm.Mehh5 fott or wehave of bread and wine In the fiSffii^ SJ? mmh!!Sl^?Z nttTx"^ "»cram.nt.,\JSS wj wSer iSXS ^1"i'*^*'^°' • rwt cistern AiQ jn«.r Jn the other^T ^^^J^^ num of bi^|.m that make a Ml Jit immwsloo, you are bound to BoIrOhosL IliS^iZrkrj ?*^*'» ?® '^ ««»d the S%aS at dl pJ;^^"*''*'**^ *? this naito it i, otheS?:?\^LiltLrb^ J- not Christian, but, Mw?^Ki«LiS^S3fkL'?^ ^fnni^, John, indeed, taught bis disciples that tbo . '■.: ■ •■■■ . -^ ' Mmiith^mM jit hand. This was the office which fee VM honoured with, but he did not baptiae either in his nam* or in the name of the Hblv Ohoet. He was not one of the ministers of the new diqwnsation, but the herald pro- claiming that the kingdom of God- was at hand* He came sometime before, and closed bis ministry al^er, Jemis Entered upon his. He ushered in. the Son lis heir, and when that was done his part was accomplished, and theh sealed hiiministrv; by his death. Haying been only i^ w "[^^ ^ ** ^^^ aispensation, to prepare the way of , the I^rd,and not properly one of our Lord's disdptes, tbDQgfa indeed greater than any of the Prophets, but, at ^ IMsjune time, less than the Apoetles who pieached Christ ^cifled, he did not administer the baptism of the Gospel, intiai was not then instituted, but merely the baiptism of ^ ^So mui^ for the three things that are indispensable ih me administration of baptism — a r^lar nonistsr of Jems Ghrist, the element of water, and Uie name of the HolyTriiiity. ■M'l \. ti)^ *c . . ^jii<- kjifa « TWIinrA«0Sm»o^6,Aciwmcii !«.«,-. "^ «u*« «... t«3Siii; r 'nT''^- "**^ ••^• dent that «»the oatwMd^SkE?^*? ' *»«»»■* it ia evi- that Wieveth and wba«il^!E«iiS*y****»»nt "He promise here made is to SakliZ?*-^*^''*- The fcowwhothe^te^e^^^J^"^**^^^^^^^ *«.' we m^ ApoeUer^hti believes^ «whh" 1.*^**'^ »>y <»-» «HMnea8.''-.Rom. X. 10 n.- u ^^ «nto riffht- S«. Marie. It sCnl^ howeSj '£L!SLH a^orfinTS clause of St Hark? d^ZJ^L^"*^"^**' *«the latter lieviMr is set forth, ^tef 2^1?^°? ***»*«« ''hich 1*. *»» latter ^378a^M]?^»~?^**'^«»»M^pel^^ .^wa.«Sl%iSJrLS^ I 4 T«. •f so appro^ etrenthe ir IS mdiim ■> In a . to do, haMOff- ler ir regent easy Jenei of re- mhi t of the lem^frti'' snlgeet, dian fik- y thei|i lemu^ bap- tism has always been styled a Aew 6tr/A, or a rtgenera* tim. Our CSiurch has the honour of still retaining^' agnnst much obloquy and opposition, the languaM of our Saviour, his Apostles,, and «tf the noble army of Mar-- tftBt in itd genuine, unadulterated meanings as well in Immt- btiirgy as in her.baptismal offices. Bur, whep bepl^in came to be misunderstood, by applying th^ language which enjoins^ it, to other and different things, at cloud; of difffaiess'soon spread itselfon the word ofGcwl, wfaicii oan- liot easily be removed. v \ ' It will, perhaps, beasked, how, if fidtbjmdb^ptis:li^ B> WJiMWUMity, )qan^' tfag -heaOigii ' bev salrqd t ■ ^ m . ty \J . fiMMioti M UUs, thank Gbd,w»ue noteaHfldttpoii tod»- • tsnniiM. They are in the hands of the righteous Judge of all the earth. In every nation* etery one Ihatwodceth ; fl^hteousness 'as accepted ot him. Of them it jmf be ^ said, << And that servant which knew his Lord's will, and prepared not himself ndther did acoordidfr to his will, dball be beaten With many stripes. But he that knew not, and^d commit thinan worthy of stripes, shaU be beaxen 'vmh few stripes. For, unto whomsoever much ia > given, of him shall much be required."— S^ Luke, zii^ 47, 48. Concerning the heathen, it is evident, from this lule of God's government, that there is less required, be- cause they have ^ly the light (tf nature, while we have V.L. : the light of revelation, wut the\rule referred to, does ^ not, however, inq[>ly that they shall escape. They are M|ponsible for the measure of lis^t which God has given tlmn to possess. We, on the'^other hand, must and shall be judged by. the rules of that blessed book which too many now-slight. Therefore, whatever be the obedienoe and preparation that may be required of the heathen, it is certain that we who have the Bible, and the privileffea iS^' of God's chureh, for. our benefit, must have^" die m- ward spiritiial grace, and the outward visible sign^-p-feith and holiness. We must believe in Jesus Christ « with the heart unto righteousness," and bring forth, in bur lives, fruits meet for repentance. We must, " tirith the nouth, make con&srio^ unto salvatimi.^— ^om. z/10. In order to have this fidth we must have a deep sense of CMir sins, and a hearty, sincere r^entance. We must feel that we are far gone from original rishteousness, and are under the condemnation*^ the holv law xtf God. B^ng « wretched, ilnd poor, and miserable, and blind, and na< ked," we must be sensible that we are so. Without be- ' i«g sensible of our disorders, we never seek for a cure ; ji ^ for, unless we are convicted^of sin, and yield to Luke, lU^ , fromtbie luiied, be- a we beTe d to, does They era I has given t and shall which too >obedi«Doe heathen, it privile^ B^" the in- i^^-^ftith irist "with rtb, in bur <( tlrith the cm. X. 10. )p sense of e must feel iS8,andare id. IMng id, and na< Vitheut be- for acttfe ; to our con- mercy and rally prjond lay see the of m. Christ^ atonement, and lead him to thd satiation whldl is in Christ Jesus, Still, vr^ must not expect that tte work will be performed without our co-operation in Hm ?fce of means. Por^ while we remain careless and in ji^ ferent, there can be no h,ppe of salvation, because we have no ground for the b0lief-that the Hbl^ Spirit will rene«-: #•-- ■■ ':■)■■ .. 4;..--,;-- .■; . 1 . i , CHAP. vin. Tub iamb Subject coWtiihibb. The Church, as she calfi^orth from under the h««Jjjj{ auch wise miiter-buUdert ns the Holy Apostle., baptwed JheteX lambs of the flock. To th& day,/ ample pnm- «^,V is mide that every baptised child .-hall be initnicfc* TX knowledge of the Christian faith. SponK>r., m addition to the obligation which religionand "?»""»•*• iection lav upon the parents, are required, as they were, rS»?priLKe Church, stipulating that in 4uetunV' he shall & taught what a solemn vow, promise wj Pi^ sion he hatif here made by" them. Sponsoi. «d^to may neglect their duty, butonly at the penl of iHolatong the mort solemn engagements that can be ma*^ « i« not however, to be denied- that the violaUon is fb6 corn- er bS what then? Are we ^^^rT^^y^^Hi thine that is good, because some are w>«nd|o negiec* SSf dutv-1 ffso, we may throwlway the Bible and thepmdimgofthe Gospef, which haveWabui«d as SncW any other of the gifts of God. But.should^the bantized child, as many do, after commg to the years^ot understanding, forget the vows and promises «««*>."»»«• name, by his roon»o»» »' ^ *>"»"8*»^ ''P. "i »«no^^ ~ as to^i^race fi spiritual relationshi|>, it does not, theie- foi^ follow that God had failed in his promise, or that bantism is an unprofitable Ordinance, but only t^ he. OT his pais forsook the Lord, fiwrfeited his prwilegaii, wid became a reprobate. ^ jlf* a^..^ Jesus Cairist commissioned and commanded ni8A|»«- tlesto disciple all nations, bantiang Aem >« ^f^STtSl the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy aho«,fhilpi- mediatelv added, to shew that the conM««*on, md «lth it the bbUgatioh on our part, were perpetual,^ J "? » with you alway, even to the end of the world." As long Mthepioiittseirtaiidstbu^so long will th«^obUgatioii to ■;bi^»ti«m:«OIltill^l«.;^^^^-*-:-■-:::•^■^:;^:" -•■ -^-.:"— --;-'^^~;;. , *'•' the hands of IM, baptised maple provi- winitntcuMl Iponion, in natural af- s they were, iuetitl>e,**he ) and pTofes* and parents of violating ina^^ ItS is TOO com- away every id|o nqi;lect leiBible and sn abused as t should the the years of made, in his Ipaorance, so » no^ there* oise, or that nly t^ he. ivilegee,laid dedisApM- tfaeMDiBof on, aid inth , "liflam d." As long obUgatioii to -lA ^. Soiiptarea hequenajr mention btDiiani anA Am giib tJtheIWy8pln^andtUr«aiS?niSS^ in«Mh^ennsascoiiveytli»ideanL We may be enrolled aniong the students of an emin- ent pnAssor, but itdoea not,tb^tefore,follaw that we shall be good achjuars. So, the Apoatle could not mean that all the Roman and Corinthian converts wmo certainly pious and heavenly minded Christimis, when he said tluit they wera«ll bwtteed iQto thiadeath of Qirist, as many oflhein ffnK^tothecontraiy. Kevertheless, inasnm^ al / were boj^tized into hu death, and thereby put in die y of salvMion, ftnd shopld tb^ eoiftinae to improve m J*- *$t~ :#• W dMt&ndloaiii, )i|ig by nature « are berebjr hinktluu th6 ) than the Ian- been baptised 87. Bot this lal offloe: for, manT who thenNHnani f Mibmnnt. ^' nnul the word (htlybaptiwd t ia the head, nowlcd^and Dd chant7^,to the nwinliln iona. E8 to GoT fer thin the em- Lbraham, and ndreceiTf it f vnoertaintjr nore thanan 1 the GbtUeh. tha^t^ child ft of hoUneai Hbljr Spirit If we affiim le pen acroaa Mtlea of our isofanendn- thatwe Aall mean that all rtainly pioua lid that tfaof Mtnyoflhem inauuudi ai ypnt in^ to iuipiofo ■% Tii their privileffee, would finally be fared, we arrive at the concluiion. mat to be bom again — tojM regenerated — to be baptizea into one body by one tpii9|ana to have been all made to drink into one spirit, did not mean real peraonal holiteas ; only the beginning of a new state, new life, and new nlations. Oeinff the commencement of a new state, throdgh the ▼irtue of n sacrament of Qod's instituting, which the Holy Qhoat presides over and Ueasea, the - ehauRe made thereby from the Idnffdom of Satan to the >m of God's dear Son, is, by tne Spirit of God, styl- lew birth. If Jeaus Christ be present wherever two or.lMe are meiin his name, how can we suppose that ihe nnrSpirit if to abseiit himself from one of the sacra^ "aent sOBit e Ghureh in which p» i« eaid to dwell as in his / templ|P9l^ ■■■^- •• ■ ;^' .''*■' ■,• • ■/.;;:-. .. , .. .■ ■ ranimig df 4he Holy Ghost, or ^at moral change whioMBeflbcts on the minds of believers, is a different thin^^Pd advances by degrees as we now in grace. The raiw Teltament shews that some ofthe bap- zed converts were not renewed in the spirit of thdr minds, nor purified in their lives, while it declares posi- tively, that as mkny as were baptized into the death of Ghrist, had put on Christ.—Rom. vi. 3. ; 1 Gor. xii. 13 ; Gal. iii. 27. There are no exceptions made. The lan- guage used includes all the baptised, good and bad. JSlimon Blagus, and the incestuous Corinthian, were thus baptized, but the event proved that they were not renewed in the spirit of their minds. Christiana are exlK>rted in the New Teetlliittit, to mortify the fiesh, to crucify « the old man which is.p^rrupt according to the deceitfitl lusts," to abstain from airabpearance of evil, and to live sobwiy, righteously and godly, but, having been once baptind, they are never exhorted to be bom again.— Ejrfies. iv. 28 ; 1 Thess. .V. 22 ; Tit ii. 12. Wherever die new birth, or regeneration is mentioned, in connexion with bdievers, it 18 spoken of as past This is the language of the New Testament, of the primitive Fathers, end of the i4turgy of our Church. We are taught to fffay fat an%incieaie of all the graces and ^liritual influences which God has m9> ini^ tj^fbestow, and which bfltoog to the Ohriatian cniit<- /i <^. ,*w "fi ! actor, but when wi we tanghl to wty far aimw Unli. <« J!r«I?f ''fv Q*««^ Uwathar with alt Iha arSriaa of iIm our iiM-s eod. Tharais Jiothing hare but what aav Siii «od, mutt uecaaaarily imply, God ia holy, jnaf and ^ Jjuif.tof.lhe other. God i. ow 'oreatoTiS Preww «"■« oi aennriff Ood, we miial nnounoe the davil 'I*Iim* M no con»ro«Tae between thaT^cJSi^Wvi ^S "-ters. Th.b«reid«iof«^agGodIS^^ JJwo can be no Allowihip beiWMii Qbd and ki^ Henw, It inuai be very m^iifeat that he ilho S2cSto .'^I?'^\*l?*' •**.*• **^^«"<»'»htehieproS«^^ of thia worid. f*or no view that uan be IhEi ofTSi iS? S^ff '£SW**'>** '^^f fiance? tiow manv of the baptised, aAariiomiDfr (d the veen oT ff, ■•/' n jotomnly baptised, oarty the nuirki of the i^\ uimmi ST"* ^ia^ •• if thay not only did not baloni to tS • Church by 6«pti«n. but had their Jeligion yet to chw^ Bf itoh or ie l«»hing now in TOfu? Su thV JamlenSrof making baptiim a dead letter. NoconaiderationlJdrli^ Iffrf hSiSS"*.?? ^"^ -^^^ obligatir3^?nfaJ"J^ JOboflioluiaaa. it i. forgotten that the preacherTbai T ^ hold on the <»>nacieneae of the baptiaed. InSwd thj rS***?«^ •» Jong been abJSd^, Sfo*^ w now denied. The very oontrarv has rath» ESI tought Though bapti«d7 if^dS „r ^^ J^ cjlw profe«uoo,the imphwion is cinveyedtiw^ thdr religion yet toohooe^i, and that th^can do^ iS tor than to attach them^l've. to the piSy^whoi inS" ' «ita heit_an advocate. Thinge have^ i, wX 22^^ . SS'.~*T****"Sfi!?*^^*8** "^l kttoide^of wCf J**3P»haj(? / -«a- ■"-«'■ f '*:;.■'■;■ ry r^'-vm •^IIP^* '■■■ • ;' , ' ■ ■ ■ . ' ■■ 7» ♦ •*. CttAR IX. ■ ■ ■ ■■ ■ jv t . .:■ ■ ComiDikATioiit Am* Aaomuum nt rAVotm or* Iirfymr Biurfitiit / Ihutwir nou rn Maniiu w wnrca oub SA'Tiotm mok 9mt* OMIT VP m Hit AlMI*, Alii) BUiMD t HSH<— nOM THS BKWUII9 waicH ■> f MinmMSB^or tvea i»Tme KtiroBoa or UcAvn^ AiisarLtnronuT ir nkmeiTAtomt'^v tbs Htanxa Daaui% ' ',■ nataokV, ornDLowiB. ■■"•.'.,*' «^ When our Srvmov tras apon eulh, be ndcl, "Skifier the iittle ehUcbento eonke unto me, and forbid theiii hot^ for ofrach if the kingdom of heaven.'<^-€Mk Jfark^ x» IL On tixie, onr Choreh, in fior fattptiiinBl^ eik:e, gtounde the foll-»(( Ye hear 'in tfaw Gespeljthoitmrdeofolur Saviour Ghritt, that he cem^ mMMedtfacidiildrentD be fafongbt uhlohim; hew hO' bkuguM^ltoa^that would have hepi tfMmiromihim ; how ha txbmeih all nMOr to eei'rei how* by hie oittwanl gestuio and> deedb he deUand his 9ood will fowudstiaim ; foarheembiacedtlmniiirhl^^ arms — he laid hia hands uponthflim^ and bloMctfth*^" Surel]^ surely, this part of our Sttvidur^ conduct, and the endeuin^ declarations which he made on that memora- ble occasion, are neither appreciated nor believed : for how very few obey them f But few, indeed, bring their children to Christ, in baptism,, that he may Mess them. The^ argue that as children cannot beheve, they have nothmg^ do with religious ordinancte. mi^qsiti^n to- this sentiment, as plainly as language can be nuicl6 to embody the meaning of a speaker, our Saviour dedans "'^^ommuids that children should be brot^t untol^im. By have, therefore, something to do with rdfigious or- lances, and are suseeptible of a blessing ftem G^^. mt people do not believe the tolenm declaratfon dfJ^ScNli' of God. If they did, they would hasten to obtK ^ fail, lieved, therefore have I spoken."— FSalm citv&Uti 1%e unbelief of men, on the subject of Infant ImIBiIu» / aregvQtir alllttMB^ •» little I nilBhr.l moNti ft- TBS Bli«tUK9 torUMAymm/* issa Daauib d theai hot) groiuMtoihtf >iiaon<»ftiMi iMtt'in tfai* Rt he oMa^ d; hev he I' him ; how r. Yepm" \m deUaiwI iheminrhir let, and the itmemora- lieved : for tMriag their MeaB them, they have «maae to ir declares mitol^im. 'low 01 grm, and «|pread Hi baneftil inflnenoe, fitcW and beat . at hand. It is not coofined to Anti-Ptodo>Ba8(iita,Wh» in- ject iQfimt Baptism 4lom jpriiMsftiie^ bat ia imoA deeply foolad«nongjMny peona whohold^ in Hieoty, liirt jony « "* Aeir oonduot, by am^fct of thei# diity/ ■ ^he fomisr far that ehilcbnw ean have nothing to do ^^ ieli: , gktt untif they come to y^ts of mpdiHMlaiidiQg? d^ shrink fttmi theu doty/ dth«l^^Wf9cifeIesBiMa% or fma me fitarnof encQtmtering the dppitton of tfaoie im tilmk dilfeieirtly. Jeras QbnM, ha#dyet» did hot hold ihe Inv. ^ guage^f Anti«Pede-Baptist8i finf he n^ mnchdinleiisad with the foitidding interfinmce of hii dSsdpIei, aikdoMn- matiMthe linle^childiettlij be bwoj^ jSqllihgw eaip to hear) andhearialoiuidBrafuid, and am theMftie, cutaanded to «Micii&h6^ tbehr heai^aiMl t%^ ' mmagt and ti»|eme, ^idiildvm aidoi^miiHid^ tiH^ btmight. ^ Nd%ia8k^/irhatiltfaeiejhitMa«e4orintfie cbnbet^ <^ Anti-Pedo;iiMsi^ ai^^ '^W^nv^hfpmJMrir Do l^tm* V^ 0«r«h 8|ui0^ytti ]««peet to their ohildMn, mffinm an act that beaMthmtft retemblano« to thai'wfakh^r Savjour did ??r5**V!i?.'* <*«**ii 1 Ilmeow of noiie* They fi». i»adi«ip| ^Tbey froimiiponjmdrebttiMflhoae^atbri^ iheir 9hiiflr0m to the baptiara of je«its .Christ; In&nt^ the* «ig|ie, afe incapaUe of j^raee^ becaose ihey oannot beliSTjft. Hear the wiiidsol€hrist,0 rye iaithleflsjrairai^ ^andheli^ve^Veiiry, I say unto you, whoMever ^ not 1«eeiiv>6 th«» Idtlidbhi of God as a little child, qaail not enter tlMnv And he took tteft up itrhu ams, and piU bis hilhd* upon them aid blessed them.** ™j^^ fliiiM iieewsarily reeeives the "kingdom of God^aa a hdrf^ liliMjp^^ amriflann on thejmimdofMb, g^ vroils, et any thing whatsoaver. Semrighteonsness leiv i» nonto. We, that are gvoimi iqp^ be we evM> i»«iS9 or eo holy, mnsteomv a* '^ all tttBBi^ if w» eome at alt, noctrusihigiti onr ownyifhv- eadanM^any momthatt the newbotnidKild : 1^^^^ as^kitle ivxeMmmead onnalifies to l^fafnm0m tefr »i^Mf^^'^i!!Ll!^>^**^<^<^ WetimiiBdiBd^miiii inow iW&i*P»itai*, ten the migiual depnvvlty «f w • %1t(haf^ad## att our aeinal tnttggiMkMti ^ '. ■■■>■ % ' "jt ■I .-4^.i -a,,: >■■■■>* ■■'•'■ ■---y^ tj^ght, worf, MiddflecU' Itenee it will appear, asa iwt adtM endued with 8«nething meritorious, wSthJv by leason oi their tender,age, Sannot hare, andi^h^Xe' make sidvation, m some shape, to flowftom worS^nf g^J?n"7 *^*5«K!«P«1 of Christ But3cTw^^ WOiived wfiinta and also We«ed them. ThevcoSd have set up no claim whajerer. As they re^^ ?hi fwJ^A^^ ^T "P*» Ji» W, put his hands nnon gen^-id blessed them." TheWtiwof the^tf-pff" ^^^rta^po^ the word aqd tfieact of Jesus Chrirt- wi^Om and sseal for the purity of the Church ourSES! ^^^ oP««io«.?ift iifante are incSteof «^w I cauaethey cannot beUeve. The chiidren^VT^rfhS^t tp Jes^*wCTea8>cappble of believing as owchSS are, wd pt,^r,gi«arHigh Priest " Sed S^« Sav ofmfant^ptismanalagouiitothis! O! yeoflittleSA blush at your unbelief; your worldlv erovfiC ' ^ spiritual, carnal rei««niA/frrCl**3'J?2T^^^^ "n- ^jtu^alre^^ eart^bom yiews, are your own dear children Yo«S»' 5Z?Jf^?"^r *l»'»^f«terestsSI?gryou dteS ' t^^i^jrcL^rf*"^ ?^^^ SinemcUlciaion of such instructions as you conceit t^K od. But, then, whew is the least l^vTSSL th^ dor New Testament, of cominir to God hnt if o-l thrc^j^ the means .of a' divi^^iW^d Sdin^Sl'' All divme ordinances, be it obeeiVed, a* a^SwStbv .God's appointed, minister T^e Aiiti-P«nSSte SJ nothing to their children that rSuiwthdr ^SKS? - JJ^whwh, though they are most enSgtoSS rfht good will to thelamli* of his 800^ imTra^-S u 5* gleoynfiint b5ti«i, fij oa«reSn«.**^]rj;^'^ V 81 >ear, asajiut f on the pre-, hippose onr- which they, id^ therefore, i^orksjuotof Jesus Christ They could received the IC is;forey«r hands npoo " ) Anti-Pedo- w Christ.-- n their g?»^it >ur brethren >f grace, be- '^ere brought iir children lem." May impugners nutle&ith, Blfing, un- our carnal. You say ou deprive ou do not. diligent in ceive to be either the rat in and vdinaace?- listeredby baptists do. iietrations. to preisent , susChrist censofhia 5d by the a v^o ne> took thraft received by binSSff K^t S*'''*' ^?'° the^wS^ld, n^ ministerial acStlv^^^^ Jrtie that their name,andace^5J JhLij^S"5r.r«rf^^^^ »« Ws an they be said^o te his nml?J^J*"^^ ndmitte? how said— ««n« ♦!«* J ?'s ambassadors ? How can it b*. b"«M>S^9diKKn^i They preach. what he^ J«ttniedhto ffi^tf,« Sf^P"^**; /rom him they havib «»y that Jesus ChVS^Tn^ii^ '"'**"• Who.,,can titiesoleito Jcte 1 ^«?ii^,!I nia8t«r and tencfSer in -Mienin acts i^ UP they be ww«^ fn^^ft^Uowing hit fi-^% .« 4.i 0Xuap\B 7 Are tre not all required to loarn of htm T^lt n would seem that now to follow Christ is aa error. As the oett of an acci^ited ambassador, performed aceordinjjf to his instructions, are ratified and confirmed by his Sovereign, so the baptisnuil acts performed by the minis- ters of Christ according to their commission received from God, and not from men, are ratified in heaven by the King and Head of the Church. In this faith, and iu in^ itation of their heavenly ma8ter,,they take the chiidrpi up in their arms— put their hands upon them« and bljBSs thein in the name of the Fnthcr and of the son and o^the Holy Ghost, and then receive them into the congregation of Christ's fiock. I4cnow well that this doctrine is rejected by theAnti^PedQ- Baptists, and by all the careless in the land. 3ut what^ha^ they in its place t They must o^n that it is a part of the an^ cient gospel of Christ, found both in the original Greeki and in all versioixs of the same, both ancient and modem. I should also think they would acknowled^^ that it la set forth in very nlain terms--o« He took them upm his orms — put his hanus umm them, and blessed them." Who does not see that, without infant baptism, all this must stand in the flospet as a dead letter — as a law out of date, or repealed? But the repeal is no where to be found on record. Aa long, therefore, as it stands unrepealed, no reason can be aasign- od lor the rejection and disuse of infant buriisia, but only such,, as the genius of infidelity will furimi, -Were opposition to infieint baptisni found only among l^urks, infidels, and converted heretics, wc should not ha^«re no much cause to complain. But it is found amongst Mm who are otherwise, m many respects, iaitbfuL piout > and devoted to the ser^op of God. On the sabj&t ot axbatt baptism, they MW0 the disciples, although they w«re se- verely rebuked bf *mf kjord. The impugners of inlant baptismfoliow the 4M«3iplc8 in the time of meir'nnenlu;fet- ened zeal, and not t^MT they had receivedjthe Holy Ohotit, and taught, as he directed them, « tM prondise isuDto joa and to jour chiidr<^.'' They call themselves diaciples, or Chnstiaps, but m Aw they are not learnera— tlwy aie not followers-— Aayjpibor not with Ohrist— tlhte^ actual- ly flatter #roM« fw^m oj^|MMsers-«-lliey ftfiM to be. •-.^ ?f. -TH- -Jii- '*'WFTi 1 f him ? ^t error. As xl according ned by his y the minis- ion received mven by the I, lUld ill ilDr the chiidr^ ], and bljBSs n and o^the ongregation eAnti^Pedo- itwhat^have artofthean* 1 Greek, and modem. I it i« set forth s arms — pat rho does not ftand in the )r repealed? »rd. ikalong, ui beaangn- i«ptismj but liib Wtere long Turks, not hare m nongst 0ftm .piouf) and vet of ioftnt liey wiwe stfir rs of infiuit r'anenluiiit- Holy Gfaoat, ) is unto you fis discipleft, r$— tlwy aie tlhte^ ai;tu«l- A^to be. ^:> 83 " , . \ matters, something more dun teachers, and would remo* del the gospel. Tmy ask what good will it do to little children to fie baptised. O rebellion, worse tfian witchcraft, is it not (ttKNi^ that onr Prophet, Priest^ and King, said <« Suffer me bttle children to come unto me, and rorbid them q^ot, for of such is the kingdom of heaven" 7 Is it not enough to saiidy your scruples, and remove your prejudices, that ha fbmc tnem in his 'arms— that he put his hands upon, them ^d bl«ned them ? / lliey see not, they say, how Jesuii! Ohrisi would have blessed little children, seeinjg that/the3r have no fiuth, and, ther^re, they measure his ponder to bless by their ability to see. They think that' cl]|ildren must first grow Up, be able to express their opi- tatiati and rignify their assent, before even the King of Kings and Lord of Lords can make them recipients of his messing ; and, thence, by their carnal reasoning, they tender the blessing of phnst pnmounced on little chif- dreo, although, beyond all comparison, the most endear- ing part ^f his ministry, a dead letter in the Bookof Life ; in dunsct opposition to his own most precious wad amiable example ) in contravention ctf his express command, as if his (Hire of the lambs of the dock were of no higher na:- vture Ihan his providential care of our flocks and herds. For my part, I view the' conduct of our adorable Saviour towards our children as occupying the most tniahle, sweet, and endearing .portion <» hui imnislry. flis religion, which he came to promulgate and establiah in the world, is, like himself, all love, goodness, kindness, and meecy, and, therefore, it cannot be thai it passes over our children, as if they were Ake yoni^g^ of tlra beasts of the field, without leaving a tokoi of tub claim upcm them. See the tender nxfther, after having fiilfilled her time, for the moat part in pain, anxie^, and siekneBS, ap- proachii^-lfae hour of severest trialj. e^opecting^to brfaiff a c^ld into the world,, and perhaps ar the, expense of her life. Is she to be deprived of the promiseof Christ itr lier (Md ; for whmn perhaps abe is to die ; and for whom ahefe«ind,,at all events^ "trouble and heftrinon"; and for wlunn die « called on the nune of tfiv^tioril''^ m^TUM^ << O Lord, I beaoeeh thee, deliver my eouP?- u ishe, m ■/'A .'.A. ?f. th- ^■^- ■'-„>'■;.-■. ,- '^';,; '■ 'm ^tJI^^^ !*« •oMoUtkMi or b.. i : J % 1^^ pica. C 1^'' .■ * ( "^T*' 1 :^^^*''' . ■ •1 , .- - , ■ . - it P9UtkMlorb«. Vnrirt, aayiiur, I a'^tlBQcir eye ^ woman was ''Iffl PtOtWlQO. ^rttipein ohild. _ and iioUnaii, log theo^ that ithfiU pioniiea loUier and the *»«•&», cal, inevering in ^tiD^ bolinaii^ be^mented, *BU« in fakb tb»noniiw, t^wtfaespuit UMiarr^gnni expranmjr >iQt Me- the ^ifl Murvantib OMcit(aioiu eoew-bom - ' wnth; a» of th^ fold u»d-fticor- > iniliMnce :|iou|{ii se- of Qloty, "%hi8 ledeelared Iwninhui ^iwiuch ItiVBsan d th«i&'? ■i%tha ■■■■■■•■■/■ ■■-■■■•; -811 "' ■■■,; ■■^-■.■:.-- . A- 9^''^!^^7^ y^ng *n<3[ ofi iXuw^ tfie means of ij^red by an apthonsed miniMer ;—«« And no man t^% tN honour unto hlm«el^ but he that is caSd^Odd w was Aa«m.»--Heb. v. 4. Therefore, when Uie mSSeS hJ^Zi^"^' ^^^ '^^ **^***''"» ''P^ their arTS; crated by prayer, m the name of the Father. andrftE Son. and of the Hoty GhosL and then ixSi^^em inS tho oopgregation of olirisfs Hock, thoseTcte oiSStoTS SST'S? -l"«''^«« *« approUon of^eJTrf ± gwter, in whose name and stead they speak^dact »S whose presence hi to be with fhei5 bTfhe minS^jSj fq^Uons especially, to the end if the world Km Oh^«*«M rf ""i^^^? m««»bers inS the vSbS Ohn^ofOhr^t:-««Except^any one be bomofZteJ -Jd of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kinriom of OojJ." Infants are excluded from baptism and^ % Jojr are bantised, the Anti-Pedo-Bap&tH?tS? if ^^positU to the ordinance of cfrisT ; and^Xt 2 2r tWi "^"^^^ "«» nominally P&bSS^ m» jom the avowed opposer, and ask. «mow5 sliew us any good ?" ^ ' ""*^ '*^'h , '^ win . Ifohildren are capabi of a blessiij^ wheta in #».- am« and under the Wds of Jesus Jhrl^fraiS w! / |»e that ^did bless them,) are they niSh^ ! vm^ vpe parents? What ! uonr Sariour to beiMttudr od into the likeneat of a w«ak mortal paying tompliments 7 ' The Anti-Pedo-Baptiat theory inyoiTet tnii degradation. If Jenu Chriit, when he was on earth, took up little children, put his hands upon them and blessed them, is it not snrpruing that his example should be slighted— diould be set at nauriit by those to whom it should be held as most precioua^-by fathers and mothers, with re*^ spect to their own chndren, the objecto of their dearest, warmsst afiections ? %id if He was much displeased at the oflBicious zeal of hiii disciples who forbade the ap- proach of the little ones, can we suppose that he is less diipleased with those who forbid them now ? How and in what manner Jesus blessed little children, and what blessing he actually did confer, 1 do not pre- sume to explain. When their opponents shall explain how they are capable of being leceived into heaven, and what sort of enjoyment they have in that blessed place, considering that they have neither faith nqr much reoson. I will try and explain how they are capable of aspfrituol blessing in their infancy upon the earth. If I do not un- derstand how they are blessed, and to what degree they are blessed, on earth, while they ore yet tender bobes, it is, surely, not worse thon to be ignorant of the manlier of their blessedness in heoven. That " of such is the kingdom of heaven " we are assured by Jesus Christ. Is our ignorance of the manner of their blessedness, or of their capacity to be biased, a proof that none of them can reach into the kinadom of heaven '/ Ye that ask what is the use of baptising infants, since they cannot be- lieve, and cannot understand the meaning of baptism, ask what is tho use of our Lord's declaration—" for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Small children, for lack of &ith and a little understanding, would value hflaven as they value their play-things— be please^ with them for a little while, and then throw them away. If yoa can explain how thef are capable of glory in hea- vens and that some of them are in heaven you cannot deny, then you may be qualified td answer your own question, and discover the use of baptising them, and of giving to those who are declared by Jesus Christ to h^e a place in beavw, a place also in hi9 Church upph fhe .V ompliments T ' degradatkm. K>k: up little ed them, is it e slighted — It should be en, with re*^ heir dearest, displeased at tade the ap- lat he is less ttle children, do not pre- ihall explain heaven, and >lessed place, nuch reason, of a spiritual ' I do not un- degree they 9riMibes,itis, le manner of such is the IS Christ, is ^ ednras, or of one of them Ye that ask By cannot be- ' of baptism, iration— « for children, for would value pleasec^ with m away. If glory in hea- you cannot ret your own Uiero, and of luwt to hftve iichuppnthe earth. One would think that such as have a place iu heavefi when they die,-might surejy be allowed to occnjpy a place in the Church below. '< For of such is the king- dom of heaven "4 not so, says the Anti-Pedo-BaptisL of the Church below. But da you betievd the worw Of Christ? Can you infer less from ttiem than that, at least, some children are in heaven ? You must admit this, or give a flat denial to the Lord of Glory. Mow, can infants believe 7 Con they have what you call grace, faith, repentance, and zeiJ for Ood 7 Our Saviour said, in another place, " he th|t believeth and is baptised shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned." By what riffht d«hwe presume to apply what Jesus Christ said of adults, of adults only, to infants } If ^b applied this rule to infants, he n^ver would have said ." of sut^is the kingdom of heayen." "You err, not knowing Scriptures nor the power of Ood." when you apply < 'rule, while Jesus did not, to infancy, but to matL_, Qtte. You must admit that infants are capable ofheav^fi; while yet they have no faith when they die. If Jeffu Christ, then, can bles^ infants in heaven, how is it that he cannot, or will not, bless them here ? , U your faith 0^ such extraordinary capacity, os to believe that he can bless little children in heaven, bnt cannot, or will not 4o any such thing on earth 7 Wl^n he commissioned ms Apostles to ^teach and to baptite, he said, m All power if given nnto me in heaven and" on earth."-T-St. Matft. xxviii. 18. He can, therefore, exercise and manifest his power in both-^in heaven above, and on the earth be- neath. With those who reject in&nt baptism, theje ar^^, many who comfort themselves with the belief, that sucl^*^ of their children as die in in&ncy go to heaven. I have " ■ no wish to deprive them of the consolation thus obtaineid, but merely observe, that the faith from whidi it is derived is a wonderful gift. Children admitted to heaven if thev die, but shut out of Christ's kingdom when if they live ! To live is a crime which must b with an exclusion from thd footstool of Oodtai die is a passport to glory I / It /boots ndtfaing „ consistency, otherwise the qujbstion mig^t be <» How oould wd believe that a child, at death, was Hr p | | l _ I |L II ■M.L ' . l i-. i l. i U. li l P' i / V ^' ( r, ,'i ■ ■ibl« into heaTen, but, if he li?JM), intdmiaaAl* into tli* Olrareh— how he wm cap«bl« of hcaTen, bm incapable 01 grace here 7 What is glory in heaTen but grace be- gmiheraperftctedY Grace ia riory begun, and carried on towards perfection in the Church below. When It beghn to take eiAct who can tell 1 God has never made us hie connaenors. Who can presciibe bounds to the MoIt One of Israel, who is « wonderful in council, and emltentm working "1 That we cannot uiideiatand how jj||fiither of our spirits may blys a little child, is no 1st it. It only proves ma ignorance. We lerstand thcj principle of natural life any*more n the spiritual life. The life of an infant is our senses, and, therefore, we beliere it. The it submitted to out laith ; tfterefbre, without not be pereeired. The strength or weakness oTomr pereeption does not. however, alter the fact. Jesus Chrittl did bless little children^ and says of such is the kingdom of heaven; and if we cannot see how he blea* sed, or what UessingB were actually conveyed and re- ceived— if we cannot see how it comes that " of such is the kingdom of heaven,* we ought, neverdieless, to remem- ber, that He who said it has S all power in heaven and on earth.* given him, whi# should lead is to f ray— x Laid, we' briirre, help ttiou our unbelief " t affes, advei :^-V''.;,«?- !;■' rible into tli* )m incapable ut srac* b«. ana carried r, When it inevernwde 9uhda to the council, and t uiidentand le child, ia no >ranee. We lUe mj*n)on an infant ia ere it. The fore, withoat or w«akneaa e fact. Jesna r such ia the low he bletf* rered and re- ofanchisthe M, to rettwm- leaTenandon ^ray--*«L«ri, 8(. Ilr i \ QHAP. X. , > Ho ScHink or R.tioioif, wiiaTR» J.wi.h, R.ath.», M*ilol^'*,^ DAK, o. Ch.utmi». e*.. ..cludkd Ch.i.d««k r>o« T„« ,.„/ T.t»0«. or t,,.,. P^.«„ CKTIL tH. ANT,.Pw^Lr»,.T. TH.lK„,TirT.oN or SroN.oM roLrH, Chiio in BArrum. til.» i- or A^Jr ?'"""" '" #- ".T,..oNr which Ood oav. Er..T 80I..IIK TgAWACTioir, whwhe. Ctil o« R.Lioior.. «. «.17.J""""'- ^'^ ™" CiacoMcioK or John th. B^r- TI.T nuoNI W». W«.,MT, ...IDM THE rxTHE. AHD THE HO- THEE or THE CHIID. T„*T Ar«A.TO HAVE HAD .OHETHIIC* H0» ""OTHAKMEE.I.VTOWITNEMTHETEAWACT.OK. PeIHITITE ChUECH EEOH the .EO.KN.no. TEETUI.UAI, I. m. rEOfEELT EEOUOHT roKWAED IN OPro..T.OE TO THE ONIVEEtA* FEACTIC. or THE ChDECH IN HI. l^X. He DO.., IN rACT, CON- riEH WHAT TH. ANTI^^o-BArXUT, WO.LD TAli HAV. „« T«. It has been the manner of God's dealinirs with men in n\l A^^r*"*"* ^*^^^^ G4>ade with Ada?rNoah n 5 Hr!r^?!J^ T *®" '«?fancy. On this ground the chii, 3r diiSenStifn^ • aJ**^ ^'**i»^*''^* ^'^'" covenant, under ■ . H3., " . a" ■ V •'ll ■ '-' JV W: '■j, .-■*' ^^ -/'■ • y:'- '# «r' i:. I »« % a ?533'"~*?^'»FiT' a IMAGE EVALUA1 TEST TARGET (^ 1.0 Ef«*i «»Hi I I ly III 1.1 irl Eh Ih li 6" jScaences Carporatm 33 » MAGE EVALUATION FEST TARGET (MT-3) .^^^ 1.0 ^^m mm 122 I.I miU 11.6 « 6" Jeg^a^ [nenoes rparalkxi 33 \NIST MAM STRUT VVttSTIRiN.Y. 14SM (716)172-4503 '^ ( .' ^ » 1 k , V «>?^/ Jff At 4> .«!! ji«cts ud redpiento of God% Uaaniiff. But if now, ainev the coming of Jfemii Christ, the caMii nmtti, then tlM new dinwtimtibn of the Gospel, in the gtowing langnage and splendid imagery of profilMCfijaTways and erery where reptesented. as the last and the best, and the com- ^tftaiUlfilinent of all the preceding dispraaations^ iatra^ cteitctiTe in the most essential pointsi inasmuch as it ctitir' fliff uom the fold of Christ the tender lambs of the flock. Until the Anti^^sdo-iiaptists arose in modem timM, no schespa of iti^fpoa or legisli^n, human or^vine^ Jewish or Chiistiao, barbarian or clTilixsd, Mabomedon oir H0a- , tbenlslh vn§ •?er witwssed that sxcludsd children from the rank and priviI(U[es of their parents^ The Munitive ApMtoUc Church of Jesus Qhnst, in ifia day of her es^ poMM)^ never suspected thalher ^hitdien horn inJawftil wedlock mmei to be cast, out as baatondS:; but; on the con- tncyi nUed mi thepvomiaaas vril to theufjchiidnii as to tiie parents, sod on thi mnet deolantioa of oui! Lord, «Safier the little cMldran to come unto me, and ftftbid UiMnnoi^forofsuch.iathekingdomikfheaiDai.'' l^isivon- tittuedtobetheuniTersal beliefof aU thefidtfafiilin Chnst Jesas, until soma time afier, or at^ the refinrmatian finom Popery, men.arose who. broaighi in aootfier. order, never heard of before during the lonff periMi of l^een centimes of the Christian era, calculated to' rendttr the command- siaDtsof God, to the full extent of tlMsr aoquired'influeiMe} of no effi»t,tliTough their inventions. <*< lie have ye be- reaved of my childrai,' has been the just complaint of the Church ihr centuries past Faith is the parent of ke» children, and faith having failed, her femily has beeh pn^rtionably contracted. It is fiom fiiith in the pro* mise that the Chnreh also espeots theblesdng.' *Bm- ceive him, O Ix>rd ! as thon hast promised by th]rv«n - beloved Son,' that this infant may enjoy the evwast* ing benedictien of dky heavenly wariiiug, and may come to the eternal kingdom which thou hast ptonised- 1^- Chnst our Lord. SheaitertaiBsnodoabthersrifeBtd the petfomuice of Ae promise townrds the hmtiaed' in* \ font, provided the proper meanv be obsnve& rPheee iiieans she insists on laiq^iely, in hsrcadinte to the Sfon- wm^^^SutUU Bad the cowmimmj « go^ y% thezefew^ ■,^.' c . Md toMh all iMtioo% tafCWflf them in tho nnoM of th* niUMr^ and of ill* Sm, and oTUm Holy OiKMt," beaa (b* livwed OMliv tl|» law, ibm tenna undar wlmfa it ia oo» Vtfad woald, mott Ukalf , have baan the same aa thajL am, with onlf tlM exeaptioB of one woid, « baptiaing^'* whieh iPDuld hat« btan " dreamoinng.". Adult coiiTarta hadi than to ba Unght dia principlea of religu»,a« welltenowv bolbfl they weia adnattad to Uie priioleges of die muu«> toarf. But, dieii, ftoai the necenity of taiichhif ' adnlte, . baimthey were adaBinibla,'we do not find ^at*it waa ef«raigtted,asitianowbythe Anti-Pedo-fiaptiitt^ dial the ciroamciaion of infimts should be delerred until thaf ware capable of being, and were, tanght The bookK^~ pamphlets, .and religious panodicala diat are published against infimt baptism, insist upon it, that teaching, ih ail . cassa, without exception, must precede baptism. It & ' moat atianga how people Witt argue! They take oamnch paina to support this position as if it were denied and as- sailed by all the nations of the earth, and that it had n» • snpporteis but'UiamsalTaa. Now die ftct is die very re- ■ vene. . It never was oontroverteamt all. Every body kn«ws that^uk adult person must be instmcted andcon*^ verHd, before he haa any right to be bajHiaedi Thiaiwaa aa n e c eawwy under the Moaaie Law oa it ia under the j dkmensttion of the Gospel. Th* worshipper of sliango %] goofr ooQld not bS) and was not admitted until he had«ast « KWK^ his gods, and cleansed himsdf f|pm idolatry^ To eftset this change in his views, and in his conduct, must sorely have required instruction. Butthen infants wem> a&niHed to ciroumeisidn< Thernle was not appUedrto them: ferthey were not more ounble of being taught wlisn diey were eight days old than our children are. Hia New Testament, treating of the conversions ofJewsi andaentileBlotheC9iristianfiudi,shewsdi«ttha8ameplaa W waauniverBatlylbllovradbytheApaBdea^Theoonvertswarei '' instmated and mad» « confession 6f Jtona Chnst wiUiUie mondiiinto salvation."— Kom. X. 1& Their convaraibn^ waa the reanlt of being taught of Qod. But hadithisiany OMistodowilh'childreainastate of infancy under dia: OoapaldiaiiiMiadtdndaFthaLawr Gbildrto were left) ^ium'^ cai«^ and sidQset to ihe privileges onpdvatiaa^ - mmmmmm» \ 4% . .' m of their parent! as they had in times past. For, the ebil^ dren of parante already admitted, were'cbmiaaiided to be circomcised, and threatened with ezcisioii froili the fiodv* ifn^ected. Even Moees, so proyidentially saved from deatrucUon m his infancy— so v^onderfnlly provided for in the court of his people's ^rand en^my, and so siirnally favourad and honoured of God, in the sight of Pharaoh, Wd all hishos^at the IUkI Sea-Hiven He.wns indaoMT of lonng his life for neglecting to drcui^cisehis son, thouvh bis neglect had arisen from the scruples, perhaps, opM>. sitioD of hw wife: b this a le»6n that coVveys neither wwrnmgTOr admoniUon to us ? For the samecauae, it is- to be ftared that God has a controversy with thousands of the parents of our degenerate age. >^ ' t. y^^ * <*»W was circumcised, friends were pieaem who took a part in the ceremoiiy, as well as the Mrents. till^^E??' to have been the case, fromjte first'institu- tiob m the family of Abraham, who wfMfcmanded to^ circumcise every male child'bom in hiflBeor boinrht with his money. In Gen. xvii. 10, the^SBroandia te giVMi to Abraham ih the singular number, but in the next^rse, it is changed into the phirai. H4 was oom> manded to^circumcise not only his own childran, but, Itjmwise, laithat, in hisesta^ishment, were bouiht with ri." ?T^^' \ ^®' *•** religidijs education of both, he, as thefather and master of the family, was bold respoudble I? !!!!?*? ***" h» stood in thecdpacity of, what we call, godfather, to the children that bad *ee« bought with his money and reti|ined in his fatnily ; hnd hen<£ it ap. pBuyhat sponSOTSAre not peciiliar even to the primiliv« Apostolic Church, but may be traced to a period much 2i1ST& fl^r to » ^«n*«We a source as Abraham, the feftier of the faithful. The duties of the office ai« didtmctly recognized by Jehovah himself— «« For I know himj tb^he wUl command his ishildien and his house- hold after bim, aud they shall keep the way of the LokL to dpjusuoe and judgment ; that the Lord may bring u? on Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.»-43en. xvm. l». Here God condescends to give a commenda- tion to AbTrfiam, which I believe stands wiAoat a paral- letj: at least! do not remember another instance like ^ V-i / ( \ dreuMMshooi*. '^TobnihmautfB 9r. For their I*. Olitible. Qodi^ Ood dadum4is knairledgv of wb«t "■jnwyi "«? h« would iMeh " hit chi bold aftor Mai." oHoaMfaold* bnti own^ cfailtfrwi: AbrRham eitem «^^ that ««re bought with his i 5g»o«Mtt^ttcliott he eertainljr wm rMpdnttble. God i» wjntay him in that character, and, in ^mmendation of hS5S2!L~I!?.^J^*»'' *»*™» *•« »>; will eomnuuS oftttaroffloe. But, a we reject infant baptiam, w» ntain • ™*S«*n«l«8«'» to thia. If we ane not londe'r eo«^ «Wment>,re8pectin|f our.cWIdren, as the Anti.I'Mo. 15?5rw^nr'''*r?r**"**^*«P"*'«"»- Say n« that me taw^f nature binds us to instruct our chiMn>n hf^pio. POrtJon to our means and knowledjce. I allow the Jm^ gento without hesitation ; but if ^an opposer rfiSS 22!^ i^«i'"P*'?^'^ .**!?" *• «»«n«n«nds, and die. lSed^I?iS^*l*".k-^'?'^'^ "*«»•»• Youwjeciro- 2Ji«^»»g»on. One is the revealed will of God.,-the Sr4S!2!'*l*^'.*f •"^** opinionaand prejudices as a man tnS ZSP^" *® IS* "P» ■"** *»<««" with the title of nm- taraTroli^on. The Ibriner is the sure word of prophecy^ SSiSS**" " • durtant indistinct glimmering, whiihSmS S.^^??*' ^'S** wcogDixse children as partiea there. SSTilS^- Now,wiAo«trecpgni5SdifeSrS3! 25L^wII?2rJLi^^ "?** y«w>di««tioi,* The WMp^leorpfall reliffious mstmetion tothevomift ia^ ■jwjWmthdtdii^toGod. Now, fiw^w wHiioS pwwMi who ^ve aljf tda ndrwUages of s^ool oSSSmi I ; ' H •X 10 tlMir ehifclrMMliat Hwir meaiu will allow. Tbey take •II th* puM auoxciira dieycan to qualify thein lor the dtitieeof life, mm! {o iiiftil into their minds all ihe nuaims end rnle* of prudeh<:a they know, to' make them wioe iar this world— but therii they stop. Ih the houses of such parents, not oneofth^ children is taught to pvoy^^none of them will kneel either at family or public worship ; ibr they are corefully Uught to believe, that uuiil they feel themselTai converted, any otiempt to pray, or to join ih prtiyer would be an obomuiuiion inlhe sight of Qod.Mo^ moil can form on estimate df the evil which has sprung, in this country, from the en^r of not considering, and bringing up the young as within the embrace of Ood'b covenotiC. The ypung are lefkv to choow their religibiii and being thus optional with thpm, they naturally im- pravw upon this port of their firesids education, 0114 never, to the^dov of their death, choose on^. They j^low na- tura, and that d^ily, as understood by most, never h^ada to Godnor to heaven, but drives her votoHes into tlie. dennrt wilds of^ unrestrained inclinaiions, eoch beoiiiig in his i hand his own glimmering taper, lit, OS he supposes, at the fritatf of nature, which is air the light he oska. ^H It has always been the custom, in everjr^ge and nur tion, required by both humah and divine autti^ity,^ that special witnesses be present ot all solemn tro^ctioii^ mere spMtators I do not mean, but special witness^ ^^ bare some duties to perform. At the circumcision oif^Jobii the Bapti^, while^v^ry religious act was wholly lei^kh, in eonionnity to the Mosaic ritual, special witnesses w^ present, m And it came to pass, that, on the eighth, dak thtyeameto^Bprenmcisethe child; and they called hun^ ZachanaB,aftor^, o» 0^ ^prffw^ li^^ 4ii •hfllMV^^ hii arffuiiMfiL • Ji -«!.i?!rT' Tertullianhun» f extended ■ecuw of aalMHAn" "?,°«»y»ng of it. An entire fiuth is mUnta, the rest they threw to tS^Sd^ L% J?^^™?* ■OMj and those in a state of widotSoodT S coimnendation be good in one tti h mnS goodin theother. ^K hoS^wL?« voc in the litt of canS^lSy'lhTJL". "L . caided. CJonaitt^^Si^i:**^?'^*!^^^ fa Uie other. lV»rtanian/hoiwivS wL^ffSJSf '^*" iedpiv- fit if his re- be equally ^e a sad ha* , aostbe dis. »ot only the children TtheSSf to mothers and, aomeUuMM. Sommi^ 'TH^Z^a ^^2 VIUWUMU17 requirea of believen to renoonea That, a^ '■■'- :' ' ■ . : - ' ■ : . ■ ■ • /■ ■■■ ' >' - ' '.:. ■ ■ i luo ffTMU beneflti without wbhing tluttour childNo should DMonM (Murtakara with us iu our proaparity 7 Should any of you aueoaad to a graat inharitanc«t whara ia tha parent su unnatural and ao inhuman as would laava his child to struggia under tha nrivations of poverty and want, or, if young, without an education suitabia to his nawjy acquired ranki Out wheir wt withhold our children from the baptism of Christ, we do q^tually what would bedaemod inhuman iu a worldly sense. As a portion of .tha Apoatolic Catholic Church or J«sus Christ, the Church to which we, thoufj^ unworthy, belong, baptjaea har chil- dren in their inlaney,andin so doing, requires togetliar with the parents,God*fatner« and God-mothers to take upon tham tha obliirations qf the covenant for, and in place of the child. The Sponsors do not releaaa tha parants firom their obligations, for they are already both naturally and reli- gioiMly bound to tha perinnnanca of thair duty. T^ SpoUaoiB senra as addiuonal security to tha Church that the duty shall be done. Tha doties of the Sponsors are not merdy neminal or ceremonial, but real and subatential, They are re- quited to promoti^ as ftr as it.majr be aecaasary, in con- ^ction with dieparelortii, thewelmre of the child, 6y giv- ing him such gpodinstruetiony advice, and admoninon as •may be found necessary to Airther bis salvation. Whera the patents themselvee Are fahhful, pious, ilid do their duty aa they ought, the Sponaors hanra leas to do, and in suck eases they do their part when^they see and satisfy themselves that it is done. But, as I said that they are an addiuonal security to the Church for the faithfiil perform- ance of the obligiuions of the ba^ismal covenant, they have lees to de when the paJranls are fiatiiful, they mnat, however, be veminded, that they are not altogether ve- il lieved — ibtj muM continue to take an interest in their re, and be satisfied that the child is brought up cordinff to the pnmuaea aiid vows made in hia 6eh«lt Toe baptiamal anngemanta have already beat set iMTth in the lanffuage of fiMriptnre. In the office of bap- tiamr they avtcuflnd together voder one view, and imply a TSMmeiatieo, belief and promias. **Wh«k did ypar QodpfttbeMMidGDchiiollleretiien iwyoa? Tbef did *^'fl| • V oovAiMkikt, tb«y . 101 ^ Vtomke and yow thraa thinm in tar naiiM • Pir^ tk.* t oCtiM awh ; Mooodly, that I- thouM Wtl!^ .7i .iJ^' tid«i 6f the ChrtatlJ Wth ; iiSriiJu; Sat I 21h Uian one which requires all kinds of eril to U reiSun^H t^^'l^^^d to eateem UiHoll v^rhSj 2Sf hLI? n"^ ""'**' *"<* * boundieaa heaven to recei^ " andXtrove/hi no«»i?/'"'^'^' '^^''^ > *^«*' commander h^ n?Sf!^®^ ^S?*" '^■"*»* *« ^twy hia Lord into the Mods of hia avowed murderers for monev— that trilS fJ ■iwoeat-^hatgoes to and fro through, the earth as a IS .T >,s4. • - *1 / > jm r'l iotfSmgVtm, or ai ui angel of UgiH^ M^iiiV wb^ok hr nnydevowr, haano enstoooe eae^only in tbo bnatk of anama, tfuy riioiild be oowaiatant, if oeoaiatane/ haTe a maattiwg, apd naoanoa the Bible altoaaiher. It ia oot thekaatofhiawilaathatUieBiblaiatalcMito prove that tham ii not ftdevil, noi a bril in irtiieh the wiciudi ihall^ be mmiihed, when it ia one of the jm^taatdea^gDa of the Btt>Vtp pioT#thai then ia a devil, inio ia one powerfiU ami vigihttt aneoosr, -and idao & bdl into which m the widkad ahaJlbe cooaumed at laat, and tiiat for ever, withovt n>- (teomtion. . IHtat then ia a dtovil, and alao a hell for die devil and for hiaaervanta, are aa truly a portion of God?k word to reveal aa that thme ia a God who made and «dvinia the world.' The "fool,^ then, who aaya UMre ia no devil to renounce, nor hell for jiie widrad to dread and eac»pe firon, ahonid alao aay there ia no God to believe in, to love, aerv^ or obey. One ia aa much leveided aa tiie other. The bleaaed book re^ vnala the diaraeter, the'attribatea, and tlie works of both ; and the fSock'ot^ Creation and Providence which may be rend by all man,' diapUya the actiona of both in the phyii* tal and moral worlo. The « fool." then, that believea there ia no devil,* w|ll aoon. find— (uMre are betweea bdm Mid the di8Covei7 but a few abort yearn. at moatWwill aoon find,-to hia everiaatinr on^iaifm andararow, that the devil can no longer keep him blind and imbelieving, bot onlv Until 4eathi He can carry hia deluaiona no ferwer, ana I may add, that he will not aeekto prolonrth«mMiy fitftber. 'Hia purpoaea then ahall have beeniiidly. aeoeat. pUahed. u'heJewiah mien, no doubt, entertained Jndaa with very aoft, fair apeechei^ until they had obtained their enda i but, when the unf J«d holy Ohrtatian unta ^ 1& •»? ^STiSSlSMC *V»r, wlut the ■poamn jpromiae. and what tha chUdaZS taNrfydiftmtthiiiw. /ThalpSe^^ vur baptumal office, we prasuine b« a aood. tSiimuMm oonaiateiit p»cticable.ay^SuS4««iSS^^ A ISiinSfJS^ ***~ *^°*^' and leave the nwUt with cH ■•H but It 18 God alQM that oaTgiJe thehwiSaaflS "W2!li** ** in »«»rf«noe withSeripiura, or iriSZ dMAitoa of cttnmon aanse, thatapon«oww^^M«S wffi ingpramis from oooaentiiiff, in anrcaae, toleeom^Stt- W bectaae thejr wemT2l to belWSat the^d^. ^SH'iffCS^^ And, except mth?S?i: S^ ff^SL^ '^^^ chddien to baptiie^ I confim that n.»en e«e% aolemn dntia^ of ^ait impoitanoerheth garohaB^aod aeal on thapartStbMe wi»mainiS» ttw^ffi&ejr am n^gleded at thefimida, kk^^htmam I hir olfattflii and whal proviaiMi m bfSSa^ ■ '" 104: -.. ttpihf ntoatu of sponaott 1 If th«y aM di/Bcult, ai all muat allow tinm to tie in the ease oi ignorant, profiuoM paieatat there is the greater demand on Christian seal and Ghristian chwitv, that the hread of life mav be im- parted to the poor ^ildren who have Sat little chMioo of veo^iring it at home. ItneyershoaldbeundertJiiicenasa mere matter of ceremony.or form, but from a fUU know- ledge of its TBst importance, and from a fimi renttlution, tha^ witliGod'k assistance, thejrshall act fiiithfiilljr, and dis- cha^ their conseienoe before God. The meaning of Uie pftmuse and vow is clearly set forth in the baptismal office^ ' I] and is alwajrs declared at the baptism of every child, in the charge which is given to the sponsors. — « For as mach as thu child hrai promisee^ by you, who are its sureties, to r«aonnce the devil and all bis works, to be- lievein Ood and to serve him ; ye must remember, that it is your part and duty, to see that this ipftnt be taught (so soon as he shall be able to learn) what a solemn vow, pro- mise^ andiprofossion he hatli here made by you. And that he may know these things the beMer, ve snail call upon him to hear sermons ; and chiefly ye mall provide that he mayleara the onee^r-the ten commandments, and the Lord's prayer ; andlQl other things which a Christian ou^t to know Mid believe, to his sonPs health." Who can justly conclude, from these godly directions, that they mean no more than a mere form or ceremo- ny, or that they contain* any thing unscriptund or * unreasonable? Who can pomt out any thing in them that lAould not be believed, received and practmBd 1 It is not genuine faith in QoA*n words, nor ardent zeal for the polity of God's ordinancesi that at all objects, but the iaek Of both. Thedu|yset forth in the above charge may thus be divided :-^rst, as soon as the child is able to uifdwstand, he should be taught the princiiries of reli- ■ gioi^ accdrding to his capacity. Children undei^ptand mings, properly explained, sooner than many people are apt to suppose ; and, beinff very inquisitive, their own ini|ttfries,* very frequently, lead the way to, and suggest, the ihstftietioiis^ of which they stand in need. Secondly. —They should be led to hear the Word of God, espedally on the Lokd's day : a day which they should be tuigfat to .?-'• Acult, ai all rant, profiuM Christian seal )iiiavbe im- ttle chMioe of dertjukenaaa a fill! know- [Q nffblution, ftilljrianddis- leaninffofUie ptismaloffioB^ erf child, in B. — "For as who are its rorks, to be- iber, that it is e taaght (so nnTow.pro- »u. And that kU call npon Dvide thatlM nts, and the a Christian Ith." Who rections, that or ceremo- criptund or ling in them ictised 1 It t zeal for the butthelodt cha^may d is able to ilries of reli- undei:^tand jr people are t, their own md suggest. Secondly. d,e8pedaiiy betuigfatto keep holy— to consider as Qod'a own dav in nartieultf WhSta"l^ wojrldlr labour orZirSs SOtod; JLf^SJ***^*^^ worlof cheating, so shoSld iS mrtfiwnlabour uid bushiess and reor£tion, and dev^ l?f^l!? ^ ■"**» eatercises of reUgion and pietv as aM nSSiSSi? P?*^ them for the S.joySrnf of « eS SSS^^iSi" '*~^*"- '^•y "hould Ln be led to ibe hiT^^ 1? V*** '*«^ *ir fine things, if any th^ te'toJ^i-'**"^ *^*"' "»^ *« hoTother p«^ «2\!S *** ^*? w prayer-to hear God's holy worHSh bv1udw!Iv^^ »nd judgment should be exereised, X-'j? A^T"^"*^??P"'**»theni, in'sucbaway as to ^^l^^u'^^ progress they may hdve^m«^ 2S2!n« ^ ^ **?^® '^*» attentive or cnreless in tbS •Jtradanw. Occasion then should be embraced, as^! cumsJmeBs may seem to render liecessary and pSper/to Wo^^^ 2f !L^**' '*»"«^»5» the commandments of God, nf S2S»T?.2°1u^®" instructed in the pAncipIes of tho SSr^?* K*^' t^^^y "hould be brought to the Bish^ ^L^lT^"^^^ may openly and publicly tatetfi Sm^nSLT"*^ "*»^i" *«' »«^ « their ba^ S «SlS?^t^ •"? *»"*/ themi?theif own pe?I S^h^J? *Sf »»y»««n«f his hands. Tfee Irsi part of MjB^charge, to a oertam extent, is generally cosudied vHA m thw countnr; for school education is SSS S!??l!?"?**""J? *»?,*>" *»*«"• enough* «md too of- 2Si.Sil?**LT ^^cjrtioni nothing at all. Childiro £wifi ^- ?"«^ *** nndeistand the principles of rel^ tt well as to lead-the meaning of tilings as wtUMto pmoun«. words and a^^T^^tioBs bf «»f ftLmS JSSLJif J3rt?*"«^ •Sdtheiud^nentslwaldbe 2*Sr*2!iL!L*!»*^ ^nd,&foie, in addition to •rtioollswlBngaiid pnvate inatrSSton, « jja shall oaU ^■>' '..mm [ ttpQft them to hett aermons." Bring tbem with you U» max thUWord oi God^ and to join in the prayertof the eonfreffation. There is great need of Btirriiig up the peo • p)« of Wis coontry to the performahce of this iiuwt impor- tant duty : for it le every vhero laiqpntabiy m^lectedi It is a moat beautiful nght to see parents and children go- , ihgto the house of Ctod together in company, and sittiu|t' together, as a devout family|hearinff the wetd of sa|vati^,or mMldy on their kneee, in the attitude of prayer to the^n»i0 irf'grace. Sometimes this si|rhtis to be seen ; but, for tlu most part,wfaere nothing leads to It at home, each o^e goes his own way on tiM day ofi^tjand but few, in comparison to the amountof the population, find tiieir way to th^houseof God. Youth, unaer the most favpurnble circumstances, r«* quire the benefit of instruction, advice and admonition j because, it is confirmed by experience tiiat foll^ and wickedness are bound up in the heart of every child of our einful race. Parents and sponsonk therefore, should diligently, seealously, and <^nscientiou|}ly itistruct, advise, and admonish all such children as they have brought in- to covenant with God, and make tliem the subjects of their daily prayers. Baptism is a covenant between God and the baptized person. At the making of covenants, tiie* persons concerned must be present, either in their own persons or by their representatives, to make mutual e^- Sgements to fach other. In our morlat state, no man s seen God et any time, but, in condescension to our weakness, he /has appointed the Ministers of his Gospel -to assure us, in his name and stead, of the grace promised on his part in the cchrenant. The child, being inciq[i»> on of bis tender age, of answering for himself :e()by hispuentsand sponsors who promise I in his name. Special witnesses, who thus were at the cinsumcising of every child under dispensation. The early history of the Ohris- irch shews that 0ie same practice was retained up under the Gospel. None can deny this tiiat any thing d'lhe hifrtory of the primitive Apostdie I of Jeous Christ. It is kept up^ and practised, in itberan Ghoich, th« eldest nsief J»f the BafenM. Oidvuii, tbe father of PirasbylBrianiam, oonftMtd w- c. iwithyou ta rayertof tto igup thepeo* I jokMt impor- ne^lected; It ohildren jfo- r, and titttui^' >f8aWBt^|i3i,or rtotfaetbnma i^fortluiuosl ; igoeshisowa mriaoQ to the houwofGod. matflince^ le* adoioiiition : lat foll)f oiia rery child of refore, should itruct, advise, e t>ronght ia- e subjects of between God of covenant, r in their own ) mutual es- tate, no man insion to our f his Gospel race promiaed wing inciq[i»> g for himael^ who promise es, who thus f child under of the Chris- was retained leny this thai live AposKrfie 1 practised, in the B^tmo* on, oonlMitd lOf •s«, he «Sld not get ^Chnnrof^^j;?^''^ what he believed to^be the^DrSIiwi^^*.^f?J»<^ «n S^^ereSSrbvt^^^^^ St ihsn, he iZ?t SL^SSSd it^ ^ continued. Staiss obtained it lh>m\£n^ffi."**^* ^'"^ much from a ~nvicSS iSTwSI^Kn:^ *»«* «» fi«m a belief that it was a mJre Wo? ZZ^~*^J" ^ojewhafe too frequentl^J^nlf SLiS^T iS «JS! wssed^frieods as merely a ferm mw,A *u »'F>" pro- that it was of no^ ^As *^.!^^' ***""*** concluded more to say in"to"^alf'^54"Sry ST'SJn'*"^*' "^ n«_a|[ood leasoner that concludes. hflMM-T.!?*- ^l" been a&nsed it should. therefM^I ^«J2. * **5fi^ ^ Ju.^.^malsothiowTwirmie'^,^^^ <»f J« substitute that was adopted into?te^«l* '^*™^ fid, human nature will notk^.» *uP*"*?- *^°<» ««- ■oie one toSir^^'gS^JiW long without «tao^ iuk 106 ' pro? tbo Int of tiMir |p)odnflH.\ The proiMF lemedy in Mm CMIB it notmaotMMi, but « vetorhiog to our duty. Ao. •loie the oroar or iottitation of ■ponion to iia ongiiial mtdty— lulfll iti lHatiM pioiuly Mid faithfiiUy, and thoa iH bMUtf and adTontaget will he maniiiat, Aa a mere jfonn it ia nothing ; hot aa neana of givinff inatniction, adnoe, admooitiwi, ahd warning, to yoato, and «iai- oiang a Idadi goaidian care over them, it ia of nmiiiak: aUe unportance. The dutiea that really belmg to mm are noionly aeriptaral. but reaiooable. They with) and apring from the beat &elinga of our ni are, more or ImBf praotiaed by all w«l*dupo8ed aothattfaoae who will not have aponaora in rel not aenidb to h«v« them on the prineidaa of hi deii«B. jEvery parent aending hia chikl aiHray £ whether it be to achool, or aerrioe^ or biuuMaa of any kind, aiudonsiy endeavoura, ao fiur aa he can, to procure the good offioea of aome friend whom hocan engage to tahe an intereat in. Watch otot, couiMeL«nd toehooorage, tho dear otrject of lUa teioder care. Njihiral afiection aug- geata thia meaaoio: prudence and/wiadom cannot but ombmoe the auggeation aa necenaiy, commendaUe, and aafe. The dvii» nirent ia Tery^ften aeen to bequeath, on hia dying ba^the child o^^liia tender 1ot« and anzi- oua oarea to a frian^ with arlnnueat, roktered peculiarly aolamn by the circumatimcea under which it ianude, that be diouM UdDB care offaim, foA bring him up aa hiB4)wn. In theab caaea, and injMny 1)7 HMO ia tobe : tautdf in Ifat our duty. M*> »n to its oiiginal fiiUy, and Umb Ting initnietioo, xmtb, and wk- tu of auiiMJE- belmif to fi. Th«]r four i«8s of any i, tp proonie an engage to undtoaiiooaTage, ral afiectioa aug- dom cannot but mmendaUe, and en to bequeatb, f loToandanzi- ddred peculiarly hit is made, that m up as his own. I affM;tionfor,and t'destroy, in,ourl leiidifpnNiqitnsI iBLtosupi^yourl II Uiey are neoaa-l i still needing' the , when we find ' long hoaa, and urdoat". In all ha aoggastion of and tMdar love inoMbfrolijeoted 7 waUngnlaled Ouithe same'ba bad at a mMMM «# -^i- • *^T*«^/ ^"*"'*" ■PP~' to me thai AaL ^SSr^ Lof it as a «nw*aw^Srnaiaralaffi^^ ]5lSP" ■toe, but oUeot to haa^ZL!S%? *!!* ^"'wWf Tfca Mka af anM^M.. i-lu ^^^ .'""• ••with TonimJ' •iSiSdi«»Cr21 !f>*«««*«r wring imoSS . " f . I] I .'I ■', 1 <|10 • tl,. GHAP.Xn. OoNCLinia will to little ohildrait. not only to oommuia inif bafov6 Umjt conUi oonM^ J of thcor own aooord, but to bs' {Mre^lii or their ■ponaon^-if he mani-' fcend to muoh intevMC in them as to take them up in hie mtam, put hia hands npcm them and bless thenA-4f be: ^^«oa that very intererttng occasion " forirfsuoh is the IMOfdom. of heaven "--T4f he did, and said, so mueh in,f»-' TOur of the tender iambs of the flock, it cannot surely bei a strained inference, or a forced conclusion, that he still ooDtini^es to regard them as a precious treaanre commit* ted by him to the care of their natural guardians. This inference, naturally aruing from the case, you must see (^wns to our view a wide field of peculiar intereet and faqponsible duty. Our children are precious in his sight. « Of such is the kin^om of heav^on." Thia declaration is true in every poaaible sense that can be attached to tbA words. It is not merely that thoee children who die in their infency aresniciously received into heaven, but that •11 such as passtuuroug^ a state of infancy to a state of maturity in ImmIj and mind, and become his servants, pro- aUMe hu glory in the ehurclL by doing good in their daj and goneratiMBi and return to him at the end of their cfi/wam, rich in iaith, foil of hope, and ripe for glory, hcn- Qtur, and inmwrtality, have all been in a state of iofoney before they were men. For, out of infency have arissa •U tfie men and wtmiBn thi^ now fill the world— all thai qtfW serve God on earth, and follow the eocample of Jesna Ch ris t all thflifflorified saints now in bliSB--«U the snat vniidi no man can ntimber, that shdl bo latttierijl^handoftherifffateonsjndmikthatj^^ pf final aoooni^ and to whom he riiall sMf '^ Ooma of n^fether, inherit the kingdom ^pand for yM jijpwn befinw dw foondalion of the wono. Wm^ / ■ ^ ^ " Ill • (hra, will not admit that th» >*.*- ^r • ^ , » And if it i. aorSurduiSto^ 15n **" ^f"* ^'^^ » P«««it of all human c2" «^?^ n»^ I>w- kingdom? Are chiOr^ «jo<5«tion, aa aubgects oT hia hb boeom. the seat of affection ««^i'^ hia arms, next to declawKUhat "ofauch iT^hJ i,?"i'*'^*'''"<*»'^'^'»omha . forbidden to coBieTn'^^gj.^XT^ »« ^ come? He i. not ^rJ^^ ^J ^S"^^ il^fJ^^ "^ come unto him, theymS 2^,^,k -.. P' *•»«"» *or roligioua ordinance ^Ki.^"****^"*** *»»e meana of* M^didaS fo? he«~n ^*?: ^'*«'«* »>7 J""* ChAt the thre^oW S^hS^XVcM **LT T^u^** *<> Who keep themoutarS forbid tifJ^*?L^"f f "' **** not the part orfltheJinTrir^ •"'P^^ hUle cJS^reirhe Snv:tX^^ T"' -»» pleasant »nd 3Uthi5«ii^h?2iri,i^ and heay^wi!h'1SS^„^S'*tj»^^ •ons then, Jeau. OuS wmSihJf ^IK *"'* "P«»^ conaaanding themj» STU *• ^«wjP*'*»» *>*» church buiLr^ehVSSfot^^ *^%^ ^' — * S r \' .. Ill , . ;. .. tbi»mam. Am tout Chriil Ml no ptim of imnhood an* InaliactMl and iwblcHed, so Um eburah, Mlowiog hi* ■MM when ba led, blcaMs, and {Myi for, ail tke ralatkiM ofUfe. Chriat waa praaant at a marriaga in Cana of 0«- maa. Tha church aolwnnhwa the covenant of narriaga, jaioa the oonple together ap man and wile, with prayer to \todfor a bMng on tha union, and on children, the fimit -tbegae^ that they may be ior the increaae of hie kipgdom. ' Jd their ooming into the world Jeaua daima tliem, and Ibe parenta preaent (hem at the baptiamal font, aa hie. PronBioi ii then made that thev may be " CSiriatianly and Tirtuonaly brought up." She purmiea thi|^iH|on8 eourae through life, never leaving Uiem, unleia they leave Imt, uiitil findly the commit them to the grave, in *• the hope of the reaurrection to eternal life through Jeena Ohmtour Lord." That « sodlineia which ia pn^table unto all tbinga, having promlae of the life that now ia, and ok that which ia to come," runs through the wliole of the church aervice from beginning to end, and in no part mora pure and oonipicnoua tfian in the baptisi&al ofBce. u Oonbl yeno(,thnefoie.'' aays that admirable fonndhilary, y pannta, qsonaoia, and congregation, in whoaa preemce the child ia biought for baptism, alwaya in publio and never in private, Miould this holy sacrament be aolero- niaed. except in cases of necessity ; and if people had a seal for God according to iinowledge, they never would conaent to have it concealed in the privacy of a chamber. << Doubt ye not, th^refdre," since you see that Jesus Christ leeeived and blessed little children, "buteamestly believe that he will fovourably receive this present infant." If y bring him in iait^h, as the pious mnn^ brought her child Samuel, the diUd of many prayers, tb^the Lord in thetemple, he willntt reject your offering. Be rather «Hured,that.aahe4idofoId,sowillfaedo:now. Theex^ iMMrtation inlhe Kftptismal office, to which I am calling j ymur attention, n'^trictly, in •pirit and meaning and Ian- \giu»e,'in tuiiaon with the spirit and language of the Goa- pelTl*^ is really astonishing that a book so truly in the aniiit and hmguagei of the pure Gospel aa th6 Liturgy of Oto Church coideaaedly is, should not be held inm«ter Mtapwlioii thMi it is^ professing Chiistiaiis. T&b bap- 1 uihoo4aii* lk»wiaglU* MralatkNM f MMrriag*, ihpniywlo en^tlMfhiit itkipgdom. ttem, and bnt, at hit. CSirittuuily thi^i>V>at I they lette tve, in *• the OQgh Jomt it pn^table now it, and nr'liole of the d in no part titittal office, e fbmJhilary, loaemeaaice 1 pubiio and int be aolero» people had a noTer would >f a chamber. : Jetua Chriat lestly believe t infant." If brought her I the Lord in . Be rather »w. The ex- I am calling ninff and Ian- ;eof theGoe- o traly in the bb Litoigy of ie)d ingnater It. T&bap- tit rtoderttt aflfectiona, our children, for Whom w« JuZhTS "wo," minittertV^ente .S?i„^^ pro«.nt, « being tkir^",S^«dSS"he^^ mi prayer , and if you love a rel irion that hoiiM • r^^At God M iii*Ri!^. ***^ ail^. and of theScTandifX ^S^Ti. rfS"*"/ ""*•'• forehewi the'J^SSS d2SJ .Z'^ "^^*'' ■^?^*'*»» •"<« »he family oHh? itJ STS^th r"rrf»'« fi»'f of Christ crucified " Bow wy one that wiahes to IomI n holy life, dr that wisherS 2" find fault with tlii,en|[age,|ient, or he satiiiedSSft fli?^ ' ^'•""'^ "^- '''•« Expressions are so rich uS SriSLJrS^^?"*^''"**^'"'""*- When the b«K wm w performed, the parPHt« and sponsors are dtsmiSS J^ a ademn chartr^^on the subject of the child^^ Jon. The chaiRo is bHef but full of mennmg: and^ gme«|ytounde«ta,,d and to remember ^aSSiJS h^M» on education may enlarge on this, but cannSrS Pnnreit. The brief hints which it contdns emteMe ^ ■.,-'C- -iV-:^ tint WB can know of God, and all the dutiea which, af naranta and aponaaii, in owe to the young, On the alU inteNatiag mihieet of a roligioua education, the faithful perfonooance Of whieh is the voatt important, in its conM< qnencea, that we can cpnOeive. « Of roch is the kingdom of heaTen." The mon picws man or woman on earth was onoe a child. His piety, wisdom, learning, or any other uin useful in the world, had, under ^ It the fire side of his parents, the first school, and, in its effects, the most lasting school of all mankind. "Just ai ' ' ' ' clin'd." Atthefiresidl which, in after life, ten ance in society. For t the germ is planted in exoellency thiA made God, some beginninn^ tho twig is bent the tree's in- every man has received the seed i to make him useful, or n nuis- most port, though not always, \the heart of the child at the hre aide, and takM root in th^ morning of life, that tends up^ ward to heaven, or dowp^ard to hell. You have seen, t|ien, O fathers and mothers, what on important situation yoQ fill. How important it is that you should feel the leqpoiuibility of yous situation ! Tu your own prayersj In which you should never faint — to your instructions iMid admonitions, which you should never withhold, you •le to call upon the tender objects of your solemn charge ** 10 hear sermons." > In the hearing of " sermons " they - joiii with the congregation of Christ's flock, into which they were received as members of Christ, in Christian, oommunlon, and receive* further instruction in riehteous- neat, from^God's Banisters, which, tiirough the blessing of Ciod, will niake them wise unto salvation. Not to pursue this interesting subject any farther, uid swell my tract into an incdnvenient size, I will now conclude by addressing myself more particularly to the young who have been bai)tised. My young jjiends^ you kiave men received into the congregation of Christ's flock by the true baptism of Jesus Christ Your parents and yoar qponsors promised and vowed certain things in your names which areof the grSuest importance for you now se-i xioDsly to conmder, weigh, and understand. Some oi you have sinoe ratified and confirmed them in your own per- •ons befbro your Bishop, agreeably toApostolic pi;aetice, apid took them upon youiselvte. 1 ^ope you did tbia which, af I the all* M faithful its conM< ) kingdom earth was my othar lad, under rents, the school of tree's ia- 1 the seed or ft nuis- )t always, at the hre tends up^ are seen, situation I feel the 1 prayersj structions lold, you m charge Ds" they- ito which Christian ighteous- I W y farther, will now ly to the inds^ you ist's flock rents and [s in your u now se-i neirf'yoa ownper- I pi;actice, adulthii »««« lof serious thought and atedfiatn^ nf nk%wZ^ MwellMtoJlS. i- Py^** "* unbaptised chiMicn «e that despiseth you desoiaethnm" 'Vh^^^i^l* -l !». -II ■ .'" "* your me. fijufler no one to beffiiilA w«ir S; nr"5„*;s xjrsrr^ ^^ *»St^ -^o& toatrinJ.?^?/ '.*?• y°" ■'^ y** fi«» for them first to stripyou of your religious profiseSoD, and then mtmld 118 jrOQ into uaj fanu of Uoetrine thejr please. Let it be joor diiljitachraod pnyer to grow in grace and in the know- UdgB of God, cemembering that if Jeiua Christ loved lit> tie children at their first coming to him in baptisnii his love cannot be supposed to have been confined to that hoor. ** I love them that love me," sajs your heavenly Father, "and those that seek roe early shall find me." This promise is to such as yon, young in years ; see that you will come under the other cpialification, that you « love" him. I am persuaded thfit no sight is more de> lighUul to the angels of heaven, than that ol youth endeav- ouriiur, through the assistance of the Divine Spirit, to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and seeking to live sober- ly, righteously, and godly in- this present world, and thot no prajer is more acceptable before God, thoja the hi|m- bie, fiiithfiil prayer of the youthful heart. This appears tobefi^r above the aid of conjecture, froio^the history of ^heshefrfierd King in his youth — from that of Solomon, when he began to ftign, and from that of Josiah. Seek the Lord, tmn, in the rooming ol life, before your hearts become hardened by the deceits and vanities Of the world* Remember your Greater in the days df your youth, before the business and cares of the world engross andi, harden e hearts. Believe not that you have time eiibugh be- you, or that you con fear and love God too soon. Be* lieve not that religion is toral^e you mournful, nnd your life unpleasant. vVisdom's ways are pleasantness, and all her patlui are peace. If you cultivate, and walk in her paiAi, jrou must remember that it is both your duty and your privilege to approach the Table of the Lord, and eat of that bread and drink of that cup, which do shew fi>rth the Lord's death until he come again. When you are told that it is yet too soon, tell them that it is neither top soon for any one to obey the'dying command of our dying Lord; nor too soon to die : and when you come, aee tfutf you have on the wedding garment, and that you be careful how you soil it, in ybitr intercourse with the world, afterwards. ^lliere are others, not a few, of the youth of the land who attend {Meaching, and take port in the prayers of the calibration, ba( arc not baptiaed. If,-ffly friends, the* •eal infiu] are j ▼our« heari firm I bycoi Thoei there! f their < and yt thou tl shall g forem Father Christ of you fertop cannot ous. I hellshf harden The fat you wit choooe] Fi edfthat ••▼eyoi washmg • good < Uad. ] yoa,the ■uiVBarj thMyou tossed to wind oft tfaopowei aottobe m ^T'^^ssi:ZyT?iX'^ linyoar yott grown up~,you ▼oured, by haviDirthe Word aI ei^'^' ""^ "'gniy ft. ^ Jm th^unbeheJintS »•% Md ion- yovthe 8in u your own : it Ii«i^„!?*° *>«««»» «» Thoa»that nefflected or hini/««wi IT ■'jo«>»' own door Je rebuke of ehrisTwd to h1^.h^'''^**''^«'n*»S their conduct yS Sve^iTJ^/Ji^^^to answer S •nd you are old enough to c^L!? *^^" *»' youwelv^ thou that 8leepert«nS^JT'*'®'7»«''fty& «Awa2 f^l give uSfShJ" ff7o?b?«T JS?^<» ^ fo« men, he wufbe ashSJa" Jl^tei o'ChiirX of you it ;;ii hu^^'^„T^r°^ 5^^^ ^'> ^•»S cannot be repaired. .To dAU»*.i^L^°™*» » « low that ?"»• Ifyou*dSwthoutS;*^*^i^'»°»^ heUahalfbeyourTS Tir;^/*'"J^^ hijiden not your hearfaL %» Jl^T*^' ^ jre hear his VoS The fatal «1^ mJrJter JC^^'k^ "^^ «« too iS you wiUi tiie deaA^ ^t^;*g^ ^^^ and nunSS «Aooae^Ule rather than dSf'*^^"*' '^^ yow^ HU,lrnX'i;S?^J.trn?r** """^^ "^ ««Pt«> 2yo you, 'i^thout^UnSShJSt a^S^v*^ "^ ^ ^»J^g away Of the filA c? 3.?flS l^t.i.'*" "^^ •g^ coijjcience that wilj a^^^jj" L*** ""'?' of ">w. If, then, you have ti»ir«»Vi.^^ "* "• day of tha you, the Church^hM a rioSrS ^IS^ "^C**"* um ™»» right to emL J^SL w ^P^^^'-your MiniS •hat youlSk wSKof ^„^?'l «f «ki demands? to?««l to and f^T^^iM\^e,^!id^ & windofdoctrine^'buttostaS^I*^*' ^ ^^ overl the power of his inightaalSfc!?!^^ w the LoM andin aotiobchid. ^^^-'^*?'««ch cannot and^agS WNIS. ■:J0^ *■'* ,^ " «.*, '-4- ^: M ■^ P-geS, Urn 10, IT,' 20, 1^1 -^m ■am », for 30, line 34, 4th 41, line J?: I M . 62, 56, 73, 82, >«. -^\' ■ n. ■^ ERRAtA. Page 8, Unc 8, i « V\ A grfr. Ji^