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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