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midway between Boulogne am! Calais. —
We saw the steamboats which run between
Dover and Calais, enter the little boy on
which the latter stands, but the'eity* itself
could not be seen. At two o'clock-on the
20th of August we parsed the Downs and
entered upon a gloomier scene in the North
Sea. As nil the eastern coast from the
straits of Dover to Hamburg is very low,
and as that part of the sea near it is full of
shoals, we did not expect, or wish to sec
land again till we entered the Elbg. indeed
the North Sen in general is so shallow,
and affords so little sea room, as to render
it one of the most dangerous for navigation.
If a current, a storm, or an error in rock
onirig, occasion any considerable deviation
from the course the vessel is liable to be
dashed upon the quicksands. Many a ship
that has outrode the storms ol the Indian
and Paeiliic oceans, has been reduced to a
wreck here. Wo entered this sea under a
strong wind, which in the evening rose to a
gale, and made us skate over the water
rather than sail, and brought us by morn-
tlu* of TeXet.
North Holland.
At ten o’clock the coast of North Hol
land near Alkmar was in fiill view, and
its sand hills, lifting up their heads like the
huts of nil Indian village. Soon we saw
the village of Petlcn and then Holder, at the
head of the great North Holland canal,
extending from this place to the vicinity
of Amsterdam. I lelder, in the northern
extremity of Holland, has the Tcxel on the
north and Zuyder Zee on the east. Its
newly formed and strongly fortified hat
bur was at this time crowded with ships.
Between this town and the island of Texel
is the modern Syrtis called the Unalm.
Wind and Tempest.
Whatever was the fatality that attended
us, whether it was a ; trong inland current,
a disordered compass, or bad navigation,
certain it was that, notwithstanding all ef
forts to tho ewulrery, these fißnning quick
sands we re close on our ii lit, and we
passed in imminent danger directly under
the three islands that lie in the month of
Zuyder Z'c, the Voxel, the Ylicltmd and
the Schelliiig. Here night set in, and all
the horrors ofnn lHyssea'n voyage seemed
to be before us. While we were attempt
ing to get clear of these islands and quick
sands by steering directly for the open sea,
the winds which had all the while been
high, continued to rise, and by !) o’clock
the tempest was furious. Every sail was
now furled and the roaringofthe wind was
terrific as it swept over masts and rig"iiig.
1 stood upon the deck holding up the door
way of the cabin to prevent being tossed
overboard, and gazed with strange feelings
upon a scene where the elcinentscontended
with a fierceness of which l had no concep
tion before. O how joyful fothecyos was the
morning light! iho storm indeed continued,
but it was now separated from the horrors
of darkness. Still I believe we must una
voidably have been wrecked, if we bad not
just at this time fallen in with a pilot boat.
The attempt to pass Helogoland in a storm,
without a pilot, and with a very vogue
knowledge of our latitude and longitude,
would almost certainly have proved fatal;
and yet the attempt must have been made,
or the storm would have drifted us upon
the shore by night. Os the most danger
ous of the seas, wc had now to navigate
the most dangerous part. The waves ran
so high, and dashed so furiously, that the
pilot could not come on board, and wc
were obliged to follow the track of the pilot
boat. Our ship was hurled in every dircc
tlun. EVmrct'itii w.wxi.l fxltuL v .
(ho how would ru v<u* conic up a rain ;
then it would rise and a mountain wave
would bo lowering above the stern. When
a surge rose between our ship and the pilot
boat, the pilot, as he nftcnvnrds told us,
could not see the top of our mast, though
it was one hundred feet high. We sailed
directly east in this manner about, five
hours, when Helogoland hove in sight.—
This high rocky Bland, about 30 miles
north-west of the mouth of the Elbe, is now
in the possession of the English ; its for
tress commands the entrance of the Ryder,
the Elbe and the Woeer. Asa beacon, it
is of incalculable importance. To the na
vigation of this part of the sea. Wc passed
a little to the south of it, for to the north a
vessel is soon in the midst of rocks. No
sooner were we out of sight of ibis, than
we beheld twenty miles to the east of it, I ho
Danish light-ship, which is anchored there
as a beacon, w ith a red flag by day and a
light by night. It is not long since the
ship and all the men on board went to the
bottom in a storm. They allowed them
selves to be driven till the anchor jdivu.- U.®
bow so (hr uiulor w,,, '' r ’ that they could
not st"* ,nP cable to cut it. A little farther
to the east wc passed another, smaller light
ship, where a second pilot is ordinarily ta
ken. This, however, the storm did not
allow us to do. Hero the lines of buoys
commenced, which continued for many
miles ; here, also, the sea began to look
very brown from the muddy waters of the
Elbe. Meanwhile the tempest was driving
us on at the rate of eleven knots an hoar :
and soon we beheld on the left, the long
line of breakers raging upon tho Yogal
Sand. • This is an extensive sand bank,
rising almost to the surface of the water,
running from tho sea into the mouth of the
river, nud dividing it into two brunches,
called the North and the South Elbe.—
Next we saw on the right the beacon on
Schaarhorn Sand, and near it another line
ofbreakers, with a fresh wreck floating in
the midst of them. Passing these, wc next
Came to Neu-werk also on the right, con
si ititig of liglit-houscs and beacons, erected
upon a small islet nd of sand.
Joyful Landing.
Afler we had for a long time sailed in
I he narrow channel bet ween the sand banks
we again saw “term finnu” on the south
bank of the Elbe, and we were soon with
in these shoals, which break tiie impetuosi
ty of the sen, and were safely anchored-at
C'nxhaycn. How delightful the change!
none who have felt it can tell the
glndnes of such a moment. The throb
bines of Intense anxiety gently die away ;
ami the mingled feelings of security and
tranquility, of mental and bodily repose, oi
a freshness and sweetness which cannot
be described ; and the heart if it be a Chris
tian, is ready to burst with gratitude and
praise. P>.
ri ■inimiTr* 1 1-,,.-.-. ~■ -n
Til K Cli 151WTIAN IAIMSS.
Tuesday, September 23, 1831.
ERRATA.
We are requested to correct the following
typographical errors, in our paper of 201 It Au
gust last: —In the notice of the Anti-Narcotic
Society, for Narralir,, read Narcotic, in every
instance. In the piece signed Gians, for nical,
read nicot.
From Correspond-els Is.
We have received a lettei from a good bro
ther North of us, in which ho details the parti
culars of a conversation which took place in his
presence, between an illiterate and educated
minister.’ lie says ho was much pleased in
the commencement, but very much disappoint
ed in the end. The unlettered brother, in re
gard to the call to the ministry, soon “soared
away too fur, ami would have led us to that par
ticular efritsion oftbolloly Spirit in the Apostol
ic day, and not his common mode ofoperations
since that time. But 1 was led to wonder with
astonishment, when I found that tho educated
brother almost denied the doctrine of the Trini
ty, and cut off tho Holy Spirit from any part
in the work of man's salvation. 1 thought at
j first l was mistaken, and should have still
] thought so, but for an exposition of a passage
j which he gave. In speaking of the influences
of the Spirit, he said, “ The Spirit was in the
word, and no where else ; arid it was in vain
to look for his teachings only as we found
them there: that it was tho duty of men to
take tho word li'ernlly as they found it; and
that it, unaided by the operations of tho Spir
it, otherwise than it. was in tho word, was suf
ficient for their salvatiori.”
These, and such like sentiments expressed
by a.school-man, it seems, have disgusted our
brother, as the poison of learning in the min
istry. It is not learning, since it is not com
mon for learned ministers to adopt such senti
ments ; moreover, learning has no tendency
to lead men to adopt any particular system or
set. of principles,but only to enable them to in
vestigate more tnorougmy, an-T express more
olottrly Uiiwo views they may embrace—but
it isf/te man. It is not in tho power of erudi
lion, if the man is not under the leadings of
tho Spirit of truth, to cure him of a curious
fanciful spirit—of the whimsies of an empty,
prodigal mind.
It is to bo regretted, deeply regretted
that any one professing to bo learned, should
avow such sentiments, as those stated in our
correspondent’s letter; not only, because of
their uusoundness, but on account of die dele
terious effect it will have on the causa of min
i terinl education. If the Holy Spirit —the
Holy Ghost is inseporably connected with
tho Word, then in so fir as the dispensation is
under tho ministry of men, it is within their
power to limit him according to their will, and
ntt Viis oi-inc oyomt.ions arc restricted to the
sphere of human instrumentality, llow pre
posterous !
When our l ord promisciMiis disciples the
Comforter—the Holy (thost to be with and in
them, and to guide them into all truth, he evi
dently promised them something distinct from
the all truth, into which he was to guide them.
When Paul preached to the women by the
river-side, the I.ord (the Holy Spirit) opened
the heart of Lydia, that site attended to tho
things which were spoken of him. Here the
Spirit was not in the word, but prepared the
way fur its entrance into the heart. I’oier
says, tbo Gospel ,was preached with the Holy
Ghost sent down from heaven. Which coni 1
not be true, if lie was inherent in the word.—
Doubtless, when Paul says, lie planted, Apel
les watered, he means their ministry; then
God’s giving the increase is something quite
! different from the word they preached, and
| which they might preach in vain without that j
j increase. It. is the true, consolation, as it is
the only hope of every gospel minister, that I
ctiri.-t Jesus our Lonf, who has alt power in ‘
heaven and earth, has promised his ministers
to be with them always, (by his Spirit) to the
end of the world. In themselves, they have
no sufficiency, but in Him they have all pow
er, and by him can do all things!
Another Brother sends us several new sub
scribers, and says, “The three first of these,
professed a desire to receive your paper, hut
j made some excuse, which 1 construed to have
! some other reason than the one given. They
! ore all poor BaptistfrCachers, and unacquain
ted with the true, history and objects of those
benevolent institutions of the day. Finding
so good a friend in the Editor of the Index,
this lias induced me to order the Index to thqjn
at my own charge.” This is a good example.
If all our able brethren, who know of poor, but
worthy young preachers who want information,
would go and do likewise, all our poor young
ministers might be supplied with the Index.—
We think it altogether important that minis
ters at least, should bo informed of the religious
history of our eventful age. That the duties
of Christians are varied by the events of Provi
dence, in the advancement of the Kingdom of
TK3 CHRISTIAN INDEX.
Christ, cannot be denied. Then how shall
Christians know their duty in this cdoc, unless
their pastors are acquainted general
history of Divine operations in ihoevih ! And
how shall they know this aide* tkby read 1
We commend this to the consideration of our
brethren generally.
We have heard of several gracionsrcvivals,
the partieularsof which have nutbeedlscnt us.
We should be glad if our brethren, who have
been made glad by the great ,things\which
God has done for them, would enable vs,to
publish them for the gladness ot others.
INFANT BAPTISitE
LETTERS TO THE REV. S. J. ELS.
NO. 1.
Hear Brother. —l have read witls care your
book upon Pmdobaptism, and with no other feel
ings than those of kindness, I shall take the
liberty of making a few strictness upon the
performance. This will be doim
to point out what I conceive to be yotfr'errors,
and to come at the truth upon the subjects!, is
sue between us. Nor will you Blame me for
this, since yoji yourself have taught, that it is
not only fair, but important, that every doctri
nal sentiment should be carefully! examined,
in order that its connections may tie seen, and
its obligations acknowledged. A! page 35,
Lecture 1, you enquire, “ what doctrine or du
ty 1 would ask, in these days, is nut associated
with dispute? If, therefore, >ve must not in
vestigate for fear of debate and contradiction,
then must we remove altogether, our efforts
after the discovery of truth. Besides, contro
versy itself, when fairly conducted, but
the truth. It is like the efforts of gold-diggers
after tho pure metal. All that those whoop
pose us can require is, but courtesy and Candor;
and surely no mind incapable of either, is fit to
enter upon this, or any investi
gation.” So I say—and upon these princi
ples, and these alone, will I enter the field of
controversy with any man, upon any subject
connected with our duties or destinies.
Perhaps it is not needful tint I should say
more to you, by way of apology; and I am
quite certain, that there your breth
ren, with whom f have lived and acted upon
terms of the utmost good feeling, who will not.
think it amiss, if I should make an humble ef
fort. to correct, what in my view is a danger
ous error..
The remarks that I shall now Subnet to you,
and to the Christian public, will be confined to
your first lecture ; and for aught I know, at the
present, a similar article may appear at inter
vals upon each succeeding number in the
whultr svmtt'W. “*!”
In tf* uoiumoricerncnt ofyour (IrSYLecture,
this language is found: “ My first remark here
is, that this ordinance is regarded by an unbe
lieving world, generally, but as the mere badge
of denominational distinction.” You then go
on to deplore the great inattention to religion,
manifest on tbo part of those who are in the
“scculiar professions of life,” who regard the
whole subject, in its general aspect, as com
paratively unimportant, hi relation to the
sentiment last expressed, 1 have the happiness
to concur with you fully; but try brother, does
not tho fact which you h'ave hero noticed, so
far as the rite is concerned, for the support of
which, you have labored so elaborately, furnish
a strong presumption against its scriptural
character! If Infant Baptism were clearly
taught in the Bible, would these “men of the
world,” many of whom are highly intelligent
and possess much of the ami abb and lovely in
human character, look upon it with so much
indifference! Do they treat, the doctrine of
the trinity so! Do they regard the Christian
Sabbath in this point of light! I)o they feel
and act thus with respect to the vicarious A
toncment of Christ! These inquiries tuny be
answered in the affirmative so far as confirmed
infidels are concerned, but it will he found, by
no means a general tiling. These men form
a sort of unprejudiced umpire, before which
the scriptural or unscriptural character of our
respective theories upon the subjoe’ in debate,
may be determined; at least, this'll true so far
as the plain word of God is concerned; for
they arc not presumed to have gone into all
the reasonings and subtiities emph ved by di
vines in this controversy. Now \ i deplore
the lact that so many are indifferent about In
fant Baptism; why my dear sir, l expect to
show you before I am done, that there is no
.such thing to bo found mall the Bibb, the in
difference therefore, of those who arc untu
tored m the dogmas of creeds and councils, is
not. to be regarded as a matter of astonishment.
In the close of tiie same remark, von say,
that, the institution which it is your design to
vindicate, “is based upon Iho. religious con
nection between the parent and the child, and
bet ween-them both and God.” But bow can
such “ religious connection” exist at the sain
time with a sinful connection which has
brought death info the world and all onr wo!
Two propositions, the one tho opposite of the
other cannot be true at the same time. So you
see, that your fundamental principle is wrong,
or the Bible is false. However, as lam desir
(jr
ous your meaning should bare a fair represen
tation, I shall understand you (litis n-thel there
is a religious connection between the parent
and child; that Infant Baptism symbolically
represents that connection, and stands as a
sign of obligation to the performance of all
those duties which the relation involves. If
this be a correct view, and it seems to be fair
ly dcducible from your reasoning, Infant Bap
tism cannot be the Baptism of the New Testa
ment; for Christian Baptism, as is plain from
scripture, marks the relation that exists be
tween the believer and his God. It stands as
the symbol of his-£rn> faith in the doctrine of
Christ, particularly of the resurrection, and of
the moral renovation which has passed upon
his heart by the Spirit of Grace. But a® this
part of the argument will probably come up
again, I pass it over to your second remark.
Here your language is, “ A second remark
I offer is, that Paxlobaptisrn is at present viru
lently opposed by a large and respectable sect of
proteslant Christians.” You mean of course
the Baptists. It is true we have uniformly
opposed this rite in the abstract, as unmeaning
and unscriptural; but towards our brethren
who stand up as its advocates, we entertain no
virulency of feeling. Our popular treatises
upon the subject, form an effective shield a
gainst an imputation of this sort.
You think it not consistent, “either with
piety or charity, to regard as a dangerous her
esy, or a relic of superstition, an institution,
which by fir the majority of professing, evan
jefelreai chrjstign* view, not only as plainly re
pealed In the word of God, but as one of the
fundamental principles of a Christian society.”
Let not my brother be startled when I say, I
am perfectly astonished to find a presbyterian
minister, contending that a majority should
rule in a casp of this kind. This sir, little as
you may think of it, is tho very ground taken
by the Catholics in their debate with tho Pro
testants. Ixiok says the priest, to his Protes
tant. opponent, at your puny numbers, com
pared with the millions of Europe, in the Iloly
Catholic church! Can that cause boa good
one, that falls so far in the minority? Fur
ther! Let us attend to this principle in come ;
of its practical exemplifications. There are i
in the State of Georgia, something like seven-!
ty thousand Methodists and Baptists; when
there cannot be more than between six and
seven thousand Presbyterians. Yet no body
lets questioned the “piety” or “charity” of tny
friend and his associates in labor, on account
of their efforts to build up presbyter ianism a
gainst such a “ majority.” Majority! my bro
ther, majority! The Bible is our standard of
truth and duty.—By this our several theories
must stand or fall.
With respect to our “ modesty and piety,’’
keeping us back from holding our peculiar
views, to the exclusion of Christian brethren
from the table of tho Bird, I would say, that it
is highly desirable wo should possess more of
these heavenly graces than wc do; but if we
possessed them to that degree iff which they
exist in the character of an angel in light, we
dare not yield up a single Scriptural truth—
we dare not violate a single institution of
Christ's Kingdom, to commune even with our
Christ*nn brethren. hojgprrryfosiraMrr
Upon this subject we would be distinctly
understood. No one can feel deeper regret
than wo do, that we cannot, in many cases,
commune at the Lord’s table with those whom
we look upon us sincere Christians. As an
individual, let me say to yon, that my heart
has oft-times bled, upon contemplating this
“middle wall of partition,” Which the prejudi
ces of some of us have reared. Ah! it has in
more instances than one, sc pi rated between
me and my own brothers according to the
flesh; but my duty to God—to my Savior, is
paramount to every earthly consideration.—
The Baptists are perfectly conscientious in
their views upon the ordinance of Baptism.—
And in their conduct with respect to” commu
nion, von will perceive they act upon precise
ly the same principles which govern your side
upon this subject. Would you encourage an
individual to your communion table, in relation
to whoso baptism you entertained con.reien
tious scruples? I presume not. Then upon
the very same ground, wc do not commune
with onr l’mdobaptist brethren, however pious;
because with our biblcs open before us, we can
not admit the validity of their baptism.
As foryour calling us Anabaptists, I should
not notice if, but to remind you that it would
perhaps have been as well, if you lmd adhered
to the purpose avowed in your preface, “ not to
wound, but to heal.” But as I do not recollect
that you have employed this term any where
else, I shall -let it pass. We look upon all
such as this as perfectly invidious.
Very ingeniously do yon claim the ascenden
cy for I’eedobaptists in point of liberality ; In
asmuch as they have in your judgment, a bet
ter warrant to exclude Baptists from their:
i communion, than Baptists have to exclude ;
them. Now, we should always feel humbled j
when wc are surpassed ir. any good work, or j
excelled in any Christian grace, by our breth
ren; but your mode of settling the question,
is not. wholly satisfactory. 1 have been accus
tomed to think, that Christian liberality is to
bo estimated, more from our ordinary inter
course with, our brethren, than from our con
duct in reference to any particular ceremony.
If this be a correct test, the poor Baptists may
not be as far behind as you seem to suppose. -
\ ou speak of the secession of a largo deno
mination of Christians from the “faith of the
Fathers.” Perhaps Ido not fully comprehend :
what you mean by the .“ Fathers” in this con- j
nectioa. It you mean to be understood that
the Baptists have departed from the doctrines j
of Christ and his Apostles, your assertion re
mains to lie proven. But if you intend to say j
that we have not adhered to certain traditions,
now ascribed to ancient theological writers,
both by Catiiolics and some sects of Protes
tants, the remark is most emphatically true.
I may remark further with respect to these
Fathers before I am done; for like St. Peter’s
Keys, they have made a prodigious noise in the
world. Fathers or sons however, “to the law
and to the testimony; if they speak not accor
ding to this word, ifr is because there is no
light in them.”
I agree, with you fully, that “it is always
right to combat and remove if possible, the
abuses of a Christian institution, but to destroy
the institution itself, when it stands upon the
revealed will of God to man, can never sub
serve the cause cfpifety and truth.” And it is
under the influence ofthese sentiments I write.
To brake oft - , if possible, my brethren from tra
ditions, and to persuade them to rely upon the
Bible as all-sufficient “,to furnish them tho
roughly to all good works,” constitute the
highest object of my heart.
It would seem that I might here close my
letter, as the remaining part of your Lecture
is rather an expostulation with your own im
mediate brethren, in relation to the ceremony
in question; but truth is what I am after, and
to “ elicit” truth I proceed.
You complain, “ that Psedobaptism has not
always been judiciously ■ explained by those
who attempted its vindication.” What it
Would take to cohsfitWte a “judicious vindica
tion” of this subject, I am at a loss to deter
mine; but of this I am quite certain, I never
have known sentiments so jarring and contra
dictory upon any subject, with respect to which
wise and good men seemed to agree. A pious
Irish minister says, “ I baptize this child be
cause it is holy; and the confession of faith
claims this holiness fur the children of believ
ers.” My brother C. would baptize it because
it is a Mnner, and requires a certain training
for heaven; hut at the same time claims for
it a peculiar “religious connection” —an heir
ship to all the blessings of the new cove
i nant —making it, at the same moment, both a
j saint and a sinner. Dr. Dwight defines baptism
j to be, “ a solemn, visible exhibition, of these
two great scriptural doctrines: The expia
tion OF SIN, AND THE CLEANSINO OF THE SOUL
BY THE BLOOD OF CIIIUST; AND ITS RENOVA
TION by the spirit of God.” And what is
passing strange, with this tlefinit ion before himi
he contends for Infant Baptism. Now in view
of all these clashing sentiments and glaring
inconsistencies, is it at all surprising that can
did persons should doubt the propriety of this
rile, or that they should be indifferent towards
it!
This ordinance, our opponents themselves
being judges, is a seal of certain mattersof
fart —matters of tact too, that must exist, so
fir ns the persons baptized are concerned, at
the very !itne of their baptism. If then this
outward symbol, is designed by the great bead
of the church, to indicate “ a death to sin ”
“a renovation of heart by the Spirit of
God,” who does not see that when applied to
children, it is wholly misplaced: fir the state
ot heart'imhnueiito bhfopreSehtdd by it, plain
ly cannot exist; at least, there cannot bo that
outward evidence of its existence, which is re
quisite to authorize action in the case. The
peculiar cast of moral character, of which this
Christian institute is the outward, visible rep
resentative, may exist in after life, or it may
not; but Christian baptism alvvaj's supposes its
real existence. Infant baptism, therefore, isa
seal of—nothing—a shadow without a sub
stance.
You lament that a compliance with this or
dinance, according to j’our views of it “is not
regarded in many cases as essential, or even
important to membership;” and that ic “is vi
tally suffering, and amongst those too, who
ought to bo its friends.” You believe then in
Infant church membership. Now if children
arc members in the church, they arc entitled
to all tho privileges of the church; but you do
not admit them to the communion, according
to the views of many of the old Piedobaptists,
and therefore you too may bo charged with ha
ving departed from “the faith of tho Fathers”
in this particular. Surely the same covenant
relations that would entitle them to baptism,
would entitle them to tho Lords supper, un
less there is some limitation in the grant: but
alas! no grant is mentioned in the law of bap
tism in either case.
But let us examine the character of church
members, as laid down in the New Testament,
and see whether the idea of infai.t member
ship receives any support. The Apostle Pe
ter, addressing his Christian brethren, lias this
very strong and figurative language: “ye also
as lively Honrs are built up a spiritual house,
an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacri
fices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”
Now understanding this language as liiviim
reference to the Temple and its worship; Dr.
Feott would teach us, “ that Christ is tho spir
itual Temple in which God dwells with men:
and believers as one with him, form a part of
tiie sacred building, and lie blesses them; and
sinners come to God in Christ and glorifv him.”
Christ is the “chief corner stone,” believers,
and believers alone, are the “lively stones,”
the spiritual materials of which the.glorious
building, the Church, is to be formed.
Against this conclusion, you have in anoth
er place, employed the figurative language used
by our Lord in reference to his church. You
have made a distinction between sheep and
lambs. By the sheep you understand believ
ing parents—by the lambs little children.—
This reasoning, though ingenious, labors under
this peculiar infelicity: The analogy fails in a
very important point. A lamb, though small,
is, as to all its parts and qualities a sheep —a
perfect sheep. And its pasturage, good or
bad, can make it nothing else but a sheep. —
Not so with the “ lambs” in your use of that
term; for notwithstanding all the ceremonies
and training, alas! in many cases they come
out goats. Your reasoning would require,
that tho child of a believing parent, should,
when grown up, become a believer nccessari
ly ; and facts you know are against you in this
view of the subject
Upon your fifth remark I make no comment
Nor should I upon your sixth, but for your sup
posing the fact, of the children of Pmdobaptist
parents becoming baptists, to be a cause for,
sincere regret to those parents. Parents,
whether baptist or piedobaptist, will feel upon
this subject, according to their respective pre
judices. If piedobaptists feel regret in a case
of this kind, I do assure you the matter is com
pletely reserved on the part of baptists, when
ever a case occurs. But as this does not effect
the general question, I shall pass it over.
I come now to what I conceive to be the ve
ry substance of all your reasoning; “the im
portance of domestic training and discipline.”
And let not my brother suppose for a moment,
that 1 am opposing this domestic training and
discipline. No! God forbid. I would unite
mv voice with his, and with all the earnestness
I am capable, would I say, let the work ot
education go forward ;■ from the college, to tlift,
family, let every department advance as near t
pefection as possible. It is against the cere-’
monies which he proposes to connect with this
business that I protest. And surely.it cannot
be desirable, in order to carry forward the
work of family education, to pervert an ordin
ance of God’s house. As well might some ma
teria] wheel or spring in a steam engine be
misplaced, in order to increase its motion, or
add to its general utility. Order is a promi
nent feature in all the works of God. If the
flowers of spring are blighted, we gertfo fruit
in its season. If one star were thrown from
its orbit, who can tell hut that the whole stel
lary frame-work of God’s vast universe, would
go into.unhingernerij and ruin ? It ikso in re
ligion. The several dogtrinos are scattered in
beautiful variety through the bible, yelthereisa
complete system; and the various parts, like
the stones in e-n arch, mutually sustain “each
other. Misplace one doctrine and you mar
the beauty and simplicity of the whole. Con
vert an ordinance, designed by its author, to
represent some of the most important facts,
connected with the gospel of God’s grace, into
a mere ceremony, and you dq, a great disser
vice to the “ lambs” of Christ.
I must kero, my brother, disclose to you a
fact, which perhaps your predilections upon
this subject, have hitherto concealed from jour
knowledge. There arc, in th Christian world
no doubt, hundreds and hundreds, whose hopes
of heaven when they die, are founded upon the
ceremony you call Infant Baptism. But a few
days ago, I read in one of our periodicals, of an
old man wliodied at the great age of 110 years,
and who, it seems, relied until the last upon
his pf :v:ri ■fiitf:iMi.!a infrnw. ffTl‘, P
ground of bis acceptance with God. Cases in
some respects resembling this have come un
der my own observation. O how often have I
soon it the case, that the human heart seemed
incased in firm oak and triple brass, when, in
the language of Brown of Hadington, gospel
truths were almost set ewed into their conscien
ces; from no other reason, as I firmly believe,
than the influence of ceremonies and theircon
comitants.
Yonr plan of making people members of the
church by families, to my mind, has many seri
ous objections. If it were any where taught
in the bible, that families are connected with
the church, as they are connected with the
State, this objection would be removed; but I
cannot see that such sentiment is any where
to be found, either in a direct precept, or by
the most remote implication. On the contra
ry, it the judgment day is to decide who shall
have been properly church members, and who
not, it will be found that “one shall be taken,
and tho other left”—that “all souls are God’s;
as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the
son—the soul that sinneth, (in its individual
capacity,) it shall die.” After a long, and as
I think, careful examination of the questions
at issue in this controversy, my honest convic
tion is, that psedobaptism is the genius cf a na
tional religion. The reasons upon which this
opinion is founded will appear in tho progress
bf this review.
To any sentiment expressed in your last re
mark, I do not know that I object. Well do
you say that “ man is a moral being whose prin
cip'es and character,are in a very great drjrejl
the result of habit.” It is (A. ing to this
probably, that you and I belong to different
nominations of Christians. And it would bira
well for us to remembet this when we are
searching for truth in God's Bible. It is the
victory over our own prejudices that we are
to seek. “Bitter is ho that rnleth his own
spirit than !, i'nt tnketh a city
One or two marks will close this letter.—
1. You seem to have changed the character of
this debate. Formerly, that denomination of
Christians to which it is my honor to belong,
were charged with laying too much stress up
on the ordinance of Baptism; and when they
attempted to explain its nature and vindicate
it against abuses, they were told that it was a
mere ceremony—quite a nonessential. But
aside from all our disputations about it, as to its
visible form, you seem to think and fee} dif
ferently. So far from its being a matter of
perfect indifference, you think that your plan
concerning it, lies at the very foundation-of a
correct religious education. I am glad that
BAPTISM is growing into respect amongst
those who used to call it a nonessential. Pro
bably a sentiment of this sort will lead them to
read the bible that they may know for them
selves, what is written in relation to this ordi
nance.
2. You seem alarmed about it. Why, my.
dear sir, the matter is in the hand of God. If
