file was produced from images produced  
by the ,wright ,american ,fiction       
,project47        ,,bertha ,,and ,,her  
,,baptism4  ,by the ,author of  ,,agnes 
,,and ,,the ,,little ,,key2 or1         
,,bereaved ,,parents ,,instructed ,,and 
,,comforted4  ,,boston3 ,s4,k4 ,,whipple
 ,,and ,,company1 #afa ,,washington     
,,street4 #aheg4     ,entered according 
to ,act of ,congress1 in the year #aheg1
 by ,s4,k4 ,,whipple  ,,co41 ,in the    
,clerk's ,office of the ,district ,court
 of the ,district of ,massachusetts4    
,,stereotyped ,,by ,,hobart  ,,robbins1 
,new ,england ,type and ,stereotype     
,foundry1 ,,boston4     ,,preface4      
,this book1 and that which is also named
 in the title-page1 were written at the 
same time1 and as one book2 but they    
were afterward separated1 as more       
properly constituting two volumes1 the  
part which was the original of the      
present volume now being greatly        
enlarged4 ,thus the two books grew in   
the author's mind together1 from one and

 the same root1--the death of a little  
child4     ,,contents4                  
,page ,,chapter ,i4  ,,probabilities    
,,of ,,an ,,ordinance ,,for ,,children1 
#i   ,,chapter ,,ii4  ,,the             
,,grandfather',s ,,letter4--,,the       
,,nature1 ,,grounds ,,and ,,influence1  
,,of ,,infant ,,baptism1                
#af   ,,chapter ,,iii4  ,,public ,,and  
,,private ,,baptisms4--,,the ,,subjects 
,,and ,,mode ,,of ,,baptism1            
#gf   ,,chapter ,,iv4  ,,is ,,there     
,,only ,,one ,,mode ,,of ,,baptism8     
#aba   ,,chapter ,v4  ,,scenes ,,of     
,,baptism4--,,reasonableness1 ,,beauty  
,,and ,,power1 ,,of ,,infant            
,,baptism4--,,use ,,of ,,special        
,,vows4--,,husbands ,,at                
,,baptisms4--,,neglect ,,of ,,baptism1  
#acj  ,,chapter ,,vi4  ,,testimony ,,of 
,,the ,,christian                       
,,fathers4--,,apostolic ,,practice ,,of 
,,infant ,,baptism4--,,ministerial      
,,usages ,,in ,,baptisms1               
#adc   ,,chapter ,,vii4  ,,terms ,,of   

,,communion4--,,non-,,intrusion4--,,deno
minational ,,courtesy ,,and ,,kindness1 
#ahd   ,,chapter ,,viii4  ,,the         
,,road-,,side ,,baptism1                
#aih   ,,chapter ,,ix4  ,,the ,,children
 ,,of ,,the ,,church4--,,are ,,they     
,,members ,,of ,,the ,,church8          
#baf   ,,chapter ,x4  ,,maternal        
,,associations4--,,constitution ,,and   
,,rules ,,for ,,them4--,a ,,christian   
,,mother',s ,,questions ,,to ,,herself1 
#bee   ,,chapter ,,xi4  ,,baptism ,,of  
,,the ,,sick ,,wife ,,and ,,her         
,,children1                      #bgb   
,,bertha ,,and ,,her ,,baptism4         
,chapter ,first4  ,,probabilities ,,of  
,,an ,,ordinance ,,for ,,children4      
',tis aye a solemn thing to me    ,to   
look upon a babe that sleeps1           
,wearing in its spirit-deeps      ,the  
unrevealed mystery      ,of its ,adam's 
taint and woe4--,,miss ,,barrett4       
,heaven lies about us in our            
infancy4--,,wordsworth4   ,it is        
generally believed that1 of those who   

have gone to heaven from this world1 by 
far the larger part have been infants   
and young children4 ,born here1 they    
were by one man's disobedience made     
sinners2 born of the ,spirit1 at their  
early translation to heaven1 they hold  
an important place in the plan of       
salvation by ,christ4 ,very beautiful1  
as well as sublime1 is the thought of so
 large a contribution1 to the heavenly  
world1 of human beings in the dawn of   
their existence1 enhancing1 as we may   
suppose1 the happiness of heaven by such
 large admixture of exotic1 youthful    
nature1 and illustrating1 by their      
redemption from a helpless state of sin 
and misery1 the unsearchable riches of  
wisdom and grace4  ,has ,god done       
anything1 in this world1 to mark his    
regard for that class of the human race 
constituting1 thus far1 the greater part
 of the redeemed8 ,we naturally look for
 something reminding the world of his   
interest in these subsidiaries of his   
kingdom4 ,has he confined his notice to 

those that are full-grown1 and who have1
 thus far1 the larger part of them1     
withheld from him the fruit of his      
vineyard8 ,god has a church on earth1   
with ordinances1 symbols1 covenant      
signs3 among them is there not some     
sign1 symbol1 or ordinance1 recognizing 
those who1 more than any other of the   
race1 have1 till now1 been swelling the 
numbers of that church in heaven8  ,like
 those elements of astronomical         
calculation which require and lead men  
to expect undiscovered planets in a     
certain quarter of the firmament1       
analogy1 and the known intercourse of   
,god with mankind1 and our moral sense1 
incline us to look for some symbolic    
recognition of this earthly constituency
 of heaven by him who ordained and is   
redeeming to himself a church from among
 men4 ,words of interest and love toward
 them on the part of ,god1 we all know1 
are not wanting in the ,bible4 ,acts of 
loving-kindness1 also1 proving the      
sincerity of those words1 and reaching  

even to a thousand generations of them  
that love ,god1 are everywhere seen in  
sacred history4  ,but is there no great1
 conspicuous symbol of these things1--no
 type1 no rite8 ,symbols appear to be   
inseparable attendants of ,god's        
manifested favor to men4 ,he cannot     
enter into covenant with an individual1 
much less a people1 but there is at     
least a stone set up1 or a              
threshing-floor is bought for him1 an   
altar is built1 or they pour out a horn 
of oil4 ,he invites ,ahaz to ask of him 
a sign of his promise3 ,ask it1 he says1
 either in the depths1 or in the height 
above2 and1 when that man refuses1 ,god 
gives him a sign4 ,emblems1 seals and   
types1 in the early dispensation1 burst 
forth like images in the waters of      
everything along the banks1 and even of 
things far off4 ,everything has its     
memorial1 its rite2 are the children1 is
 the parental relation1 forgotten8      
,here let us consider that ,god began   
with the first parents and the first    

children of the human race to set forth 
that great law of his administration1   
the connection of children with parents 
for good or evil4 ,every descendant of  
,adam is an example under that law4     
,thus it was for nineteen               
generations1--from ,adam to ,abraham4   
,when1 therefore1 ,god restablished his 
church at the call of ,abraham1 it was  
no new thing to connect parents and     
their children in covenant promises and 
blessings4 ,it had its origin in the    
very nature of man4 ,abraham1 and the   
covenant made with him for all believers
 and their children1 are1 indeed1 a     
striking illustration of a principle    
recognized and applied by the ,most     
,high2 but the principle itself is older
 than ,abraham1--it is coval with the   
moral constitution of man4 ,in making a 
covenant with ,noah1 ,god included his  
children2 so with ,david1 making mention
 of his house1 for a great while to     
come4  ,as soon1 therefore1 as religion 
was established in the earth1 by        

securing its perpetuity through the     
conservative influences of one selected 
line of descent1 the child was taken1 as
 being the object of the covenant1 and  
the means of its perpetuation1 and      
received its seal4 ,god designed to     
perpetuate religion in the earth1       
thenceforward1 chiefly by means of the  
parental relation2 for the parent       
represents ,god to the child more than  
any other fellow-creature1 or thing1 can
 do1--more than any instituted          
influence1 whether of prophet1 priest1  
church1 or ritual4 ,setting up his      
church for all future time1 with        
,abraham for its founder1 ,god included 
children with parents who covenanted    
with him1 as the objects of special     
regard and promise1 and he appointed a  
rite to mark and seal that covenant4    
,thus it was from ,abraham to ,christ1  
during three times fourteen generations4
  ,but the day of types and symbols was 
succeeded by another era1 in which the  
church of ,god comes forth with the     

glory of ,god risen upon her1 and all   
the nebulous matter of types and        
ceremonies is gathered together into two
 permanent sacraments2 for human nature 
was not beyond the need and help of     
outward signs4 ,now1 in the earlier of  
the two ages of the church1 the child   
was recognized by a rite of the church2 
the child1 with that rite inscribed on  
him1 was the sign-bearer of the church's
 perpetuity4 ,yet1 in the age following1
 the child was as dear to the parent as 
ever2 the ,christian parent was as much 
concerned to have religion flow through 
his seed1 as were his predecessors2 the 
salvation of the child was regarded with
 the same solicitude1 and the principle 
of perpetuating religion by the family  
constitution was still the same4  ,but  
did ,god withdraw from the children of  
his servants1 from the most hopeful of  
all the sources of his church's increase
 on earth and in heaven1 all token of   
his regard in any sacramental act8 ,is  
parental affection1 under the reign of  

,immanuel1 debarred the enjoyment of one
 of its most valuable privileges1 the   
sealing of the child to be the ,lord's  
by the use of a divinely-appointed      
symbol8 ,had no ordinances and symbols  
been allowed after the institution of   
,christianity1 this question would not  
arise2 the inference would have been    
that human nature1 under the ,gospel1   
will no more need the aid of rites in   
religion4 ,but there are ,christian     
rites1 expressly and solemnly           
instituted4 ,is not that most important 
relation of a believer's child to ,god  
perpetuated2 and is it not still to be  
sealed by the use of one of the         
,christian ordinances8  ,in considering 
this question1 and the many interesting 
topics connected with it1 the writer    
will be allowed to take his own way1    
following an historical order in the    
occurrences which may be supposed to    
have made the subject interesting and   
clear to the minds of two parents4      
,chapter ,second4  ,,the                

,,grandfather',s ,,letter4  ,,the       
,,nature1 ,,grounds1 ,,and ,,influence1 
,,of ,,infant ,,baptism4     ,if        
temporal estates may be conveyed        
,by cov'nants1 on condition1    ,to men1
 and to their heirs2 be not affraid1    
,my soule1 to rest upon    ,the covenant
 of grace by mercy made4                
,,george ,,herbert1--,the ,font4        
--,no finite mind can fully comprehend  
the mysteries into which his            
baptism is the                          
initiation4--,,coleridge1--,aids1 c4    
,christian faith is the perfection of   
human reason4--,,ibid4   ,,my ,,dear    
,,daughter ,,bertha3--,i am glad that   
you think of taking your little namesake
 to the house of ,god for baptism4 ,you 
wish to know my views about it in full4 
,my new colleague having relieved me of 
many cares and labors1 ,i shall hope to 
write more frequently2 but not often so 
long a letter as ,i fear this will be2  
for ,i wish to tell you of some         
conversations which ,i have had on the  

subject in question4 ,this will show you
 the common difficulties1 in which1     
perhaps1 you share1 and my way of       
removing them2 and also set before you  
the privileges and blessings connected  
with the baptism of your child4  ,a man 
and his wife--sensible1 plain           
people--came to our house one evening   
last ,july1 when the vines with the     
tender grape gave a goodly smell1       
through that trellis which you and      
,percival have such pleasant reason to  
remember4 ,we were all sitting there in 
the moonlight1 when this ,mr4 ,benson   
and his wife came up the door-way1 and  
were welcomed into our little group4    
,after a few words of mutual inquiry and
 answer1 he said3  ,wife and ,i1 sir1   
thought that we would make bold to come 
and trouble you a little to tell us     
about baptizing our boy4 ,he is getting 
to be four months old1 and we are not   
willing to put it off much longer4      
,still1 we would like to know the       
grounds of it a little better4 ,people1 

you know1 do not think much about it    
till it comes to be a case in hand4     
,but ,i do not know1 said he1 looking   
round on your mother and the children1  
but that we do wrong to take this time  
for it4 ,it will be rather a dry subject
 for these young friends to hear4       
,pastor4 ,not at all4 ,they owe too much
 to what was done for them when they    
were little children1 to dislike it4    
,besides1 there is nothing dry about it1
 as ,i view the subject4 ,it is one of  
the most beautiful things in religion4  
,mrs4 ,benson4 ,it is next to the       
,lord's ,supper1 ,i always thought1 if  
people take the right view of it4       
,pastor4 ,it makes you love ,god the    
,father in some such way as the ,lord's 
,supper makes you love the ,saviour4 ,i 
think1 sometimes1 that the baptism of   
children is our heavenly ,father's      
,sacrament4  ,mr4 ,b4 ,i like that2 but 
there is so much to study and learn     
about the ,abrahamic covenant1 that ,i  
feel a little discouraged4 ,i have had  

books lent me on the ,abrahamic         
covenant1 and ,i began to read them2 but
 they looked hard2 so ,i told my wife   
that perhaps you would make the thing   
more clear1 and bring it home to our    
feelings1 and that we would come and get
 your ideas about it4  ,pastor4 ,how    
glad ,i am that you came6 ,but tell me  
what you take the ,abrahamic covenant to
 mean4  ,mr4 ,b4 ,i suppose it means    
that ,god told ,abraham to circumcise   
his children1 and infant baptism comes  
in the place of it1 and we must do it if
 we are ,abraham's spiritual children4  
,but ,i wish to see the use of it4 ,i am
 willing to do it1 but ,i should like to
 feel it more2 and ,i want to know how  
baptism comes in the place of           
circumcision1 and a great many other    
things4  ,pastor4 ,i think that you may 
possibly have what may be called some   
,jewish notions about the ,abrahamic    
covenant1 though ,i trust you are right 
in the main4 ,that phrase sounds foreign
 and mysterious1 and ,i never use it    

except in talking with people who ,i    
know have the thing itself already in   
their hearts4  ,i called ,helen to me1  
and told her to say the hymn which she  
had repeated to me the last ,sabbath    
evening4  ,she cleared her voice1 leaned
 against me1 and twisted her fingers in 
my hair behind1 and1 with her eyes fixed
 there1 she said this hymn3             
,begin1 my tongue1 some heavenly theme1 
,and speak some boundless thing2        
,the mightier works or mightier name    
,of our eternal ,king4        ,tell of  
his wondrous faithfulness1         ,and 
sound his power abroad2       ,sing the 
sweet promise of his grace1         ,and
 the performing ,god4        ,proclaim  
salvation from the ,lord         ,for   
wretched1 dying men2       ,his hand has
 writ the sacred word         ,with an  
immortal pen4        ,engraved as in    
eternal brass         ,the mighty       
promise shines2       ,nor can the      
powers of darkness rase         ,those  
everlasting lines4        ,he who can   

dash whole worlds to death1         ,and
 make them when he please1       ,he    
speaks1 and that ,almighty breath       
,fulfils his promises4        ,his very 
word of grace is strong         ,as that
 which built the skies3       ,the voice
 that rolls the stars along             
,speaks all the promises4        ,he    
said1 ',let the wide heavens be spread2'
         ,and heaven was stretched      
abroad4       ',abra'am1 ,i'll be thy   
,god1' he said2         ,and he was     
,abra'am's ,god4        ,o1 might ,i    
hear thy heavenly tongue         ,but   
whisper1 ',thou art mine6'       ,those 
gentle words should raise my song       
,to notes almost divine4        ,how    
would my leaping heart rejoice1         
,and think my heaven secure6       ,i   
trust the all-creating voice1           
,and faith desires no more4  ,pastor4   
,what a happy man ,abraham must have    
been when the ,almighty made this       
engagement and promise3 ,i will be a    
,god to thee6 ,that was the ,abrahamic  

covenant1 in part4  ,does covenant mean 
that8 said ,mrs4 ,b4  ,what8 ,i         
inquired4  ,why1 sir1 what you have just
 said1--engagement1 promise8  ,nothing  
more1 said ,i4 ,but what a happy man1 ,i
 say1 ,abraham must have been6 ',a ,god 
to thee6' ,to have the ,almighty say to 
one1 ',i will be a ,god to thee6' ,you  
know that this is everything4  ,that is 
a fact1 said ,mr4 ,b41 wiping his eyes2 
for1 when ,i went to my store1 the      
morning after ,i became a ,christian1 ,i
 went along the street1 saying to       
myself1 ',now ,i have a ,god4 ,god is   
,god to me4 ,thou art my ,god4'  ,yes1  
said his wife2 ,deacon ,b41 the         
post-master1 heard you1 as you went by  
his side-window1 and he made an excuse  
to bring me up a paper1 that forenoon1  
and asked whether you had not met with a
 change in your feelings on the subject 
of religion4  ,did he8 said ,mr4 ,b4    
,well1 ,i did not mean to be heard1 and 
yet ,i was willing that everybody should
 know how happy ,i was in having one    

whom ,i could call my ,god4 ,how ,i had 
lived so long without ,god for my ,god1 
amazed me4  ,pastor4 ,you make me think 
of a man who1 one night1 on reaching his
 house1 after having attended a lecture 
in a school-room1 was filled with such  
surprising views and feelings1 with     
respect to the greatness and goodness of
 ,god1 that he saddled his horse1 rode  
three miles1 waked up the minister1 and1
 as he came to the door1 took hold of   
each arm1 and said1 ,o1 my dear sir1    
what a ,god we've got6 ,he would not go 
in1 but soon hastened back4 ,it was the 
substance of all that he wished to say2 
he desired to pour out his soul to some 
one who would understand him4 ,he was   
like a thirsty land when at last the    
great rain is descending4  ,mr4 ,b4 ,i  
suppose many people would have thought  
him crazy4  ,i suspect the minister did1
 at first1 said ,mrs4 ,b4  ,and yet ,i  
suppose1 said ,i1 he was never more     
rational4 ,just think what it is for a  
poor sinner all at once to feel that the

 eternal ,god is his2 that ,he will be a
 ,god to him6 ,we hear of some people   
dying at the receipt of good news2 and  
,i have seen some so happy at this      
experience1 of having a ,god to love and
 to love them1 that1 if the thing itself
 did not1 as it always does1 bring peace
 and inward strength with it1 nature    
could not have sustained it4  ,joy      
unspeakable1 said ,mr4 ,b4 ,and full of 
glory1 said his wife1 waiting a moment  
for him to finish the quotation4  ,now1 
my dear friends1 said ,i1 that man on   
horseback1 at his minister's door at    
midnight1 had1 at that moment1 the first
 part of what is meant by the           
',abrahamic covenant4' ,how little way  
do these words go toward expressing the 
thing itself1 and a man's feelings under
 it6 ,there was a time when ,god made   
,abraham far more happy even than he did
 you on your way to the post-office that
 morning4  ,helen came along1 just then1
 with a fruit-basket of apples1 and ,i  
said to her1 as she was going round with

 them1 ,say again that verse in your    
hymn1 which has these words in it1      
',thou art mine4'  ,so1 while ,mr4 ,b4  
was paring his apple1 ,helen stood      
before him1 and said3     ,o1 might ,i  
hear thy heavenly tongue      ,but      
whisper1 ',thou art mine6'    ,those    
gentle words should raise my song       
,to notes almost divine4  ,mr4 ,b4 put  
his apple and knife down1 and took his  
red bandanna handkerchief from under his
 plate1 and1 wiping his eyes1 said3     
,hymns always make me feel a good deal1 
especially ,watts's4 ,i've read that    
hymn in meeting before the exercises    
began4  ,pastor4 ,you know1 by happy    
experience1 what it is when that        
heavenly tongue whispers1 ,thou art     
mine4  ,mr4 ,b4 ,i do1 sir1 if ,i know  
anything4  ,pastor4 ,now1 my dear       
friends1 there is something awaiting    
you1 which you seem not to have         
experienced1 but which is as good as    
that4  ,we would like to hear about it1 
they both replied4  ,how should you     

like1 ,mrs4 ,b41 said ,i1 to have your  
little boy become a sailor8  ,o dear6   
said she1 ,i should have no peace from  
this time1 if ,i thought he was to be a 
sailor4  ,but that1 said ,i1 may be     
,god's chosen occupation for him1--the  
way in which he will employ him to bring
 him to himself1 and then use him to be 
a preacher to seamen1 for example1 and  
so to scatter the truth in many parts of
 the earth4 ,we are not our own1 ,mrs4  
,b41 and this dear boy was not given    
you1 as we say1 to keep4 ',for thou hast
 created all things1 and for thy        
pleasure they are and were created4'  ,i
 want him brought up at college1 said   
,mrs4 ,b41 looking at your mother1 who1 
she probably thought1 would understand  
her motherly anticipations about her boy
 so far ahead4  ,well1 said ,i1 let us  
send him to college4 ,i suspect that you
 would feel a good deal the morning he  
left you1 would you not8  ,o1 said she1 
,i should so want him to be good first6 
,if he should not be a good man1 ,i     

would not have him get learning to do   
harm with it1 and make himself more     
miserable hereafter4  ,the little gate1 
with its chain and ball1 swung to at    
this moment1 and a woman and girl came  
up the walk4 ,it was ,mrs4 ,ford1 who   
used to be your dress-maker1 and her    
daughter ,janette1 now about thirteen4  
,it was a farewell call from ,janette1  
who was going to the neighborhood of    
,philadelphia1 into a coach-lace        
manufactory4  ,so ,janette is going to  
leave us1 to-morrow1 ,mrs4 ,ford8 said  
your mother4  ,yes1 madam1 and ,i feel  
sorely about it2 so young1 and such a   
way off1 and all strangers except the   
foreman1 who spoke to me about her      
coming6 ,o1 sir1 said she1 changing her 
undertone1 and turning to me1 what      
should we do without that promise1 ',i  
will be a ,god to thee and to thy seed  
after thee'8  ,i looked at ,mr4 and     
,mrs4 ,b41 and we all smiled1 while ,i  
said3  ,now we have got the second part 
of the ',abrahamic covenant4' ,so now we

 have the whole of it4 ,mrs4 ,ford1 when
 you came in1 we were talking about     
baptizing children1 and about the       
',abrahamic covenant4' ,what do you     
understand by that covenant8  ,i        
understand by it1 sir1 said she1 slowly 
gathering her words into proper order2  
why1 ,i think ,i understand by it1 that 
,god promises to be a ,god to a         
believer's child1 as he was in such a   
wonderful way to ,abraham's people4     
,pastor4 ,well1 that is the substance of
 one part of it1 at least4 ,did you     
know1 ,mrs4 ,ford1 that when you came in
 we were just entering ,mrs4 ,benson's  
son at college8  ,mrs4 ,ford4 ,not this 
,mrs4 ,benson1 of course4 ,whom do you  
mean1 sir8  ,pastor4 ,this ,mrs4        
,benson2--her little son4  ,mrs4 ,ford4 
,o1 ,i understand6 ,well1 you will send 
him to ,p41 ,i suppose1 it is so near4  
,we had not fixed on the college1 said  
,mrs4 ,benson1 with a laugh4  ,janette1 
said ,i1 how do you like the thought of 
going off so far from us all8  ,janette 

pulled the ends of her plain cotton     
gloves1 and her heart was full1 so that 
she could not speak for a moment4 ,i was
 sorry that ,i had asked the question1  
and therefore added3  ,you will not go  
where ,god cannot take care of you and  
bless you the same as at home1 will you1
 dear8  ,she lifted her white apron to  
her eyes1 while ,mrs4 ,ford said for    
her3  ,i tell ,janette that ,i gave her 
up to ,god in baptism2 and when her     
father lay sick1 he said1 ',that child  
was given to ,god in his house2 ,i leave
 her destitute1 and with nothing but her
 hands1 but ,i leave her to a           
covenant-keeping ,god4'  ,now1 said ,i1 
here is a dear daughter going to a      
strange place to learn a trade4 ,she    
knows not a soul in the place but the   
foreman who has hired her4 ,a boy is    
going to college1 another to sea1       
another to a distant city4 ,here is a   
daughter1 who receives particular       
attentions from certain young friends1  
and the probability is that she will be 

asked in marriage2 and here is a son1   
who with his parents are in doubt with  
regard to his future occupation and     
course of life4 ,god only knows the     
feelings of parents at such times4 ,what
 prayers are made in secret1--what vows6
 ,one wrong step may embitter life4 ,a  
right step may lead to prosperity and   
great happiness4 ,i sometimes wish that 
we could gather our children together1  
in some of these emergencies and        
critical periods of their lives1 and    
offer up prayers and vows1 as parents   
and friends1 in their behalf4 ,there    
would not be many meetings more         
interesting than these1 ,mr4 ,benson4   
,how the parents of such children would 
love everybody that came at such times  
to pray for their children2 and what    
prayers would go up to ,god6  ,can we   
not have some such meetings8 said ,mr4  
,benson4 ,every parent would like it1 ,i
 am sure4  ,pastor4 ,well1 we do have   
some such meetings occasionally1 ,i     
remember4  ,our minister loves to use   

parables1 said ,mrs4 ,benson1 looking at
 your mother1 so as to make us          
understand the meaning better1 and      
remember it4  ,i must ask you to        
explain1 said ,mr4 ,benson4  ,pastor4   
,as often as we bring a child to the    
house of ,god for baptism1 ,mr4 ,benson1
 we have such a meeting1 if ,christians 
will but understand it so4 ,we come with
 the parents1 and say1 ,lord ,god1 here 
is this dear child1 with a momentous    
history pending upon thy favor and      
blessing4 ,in all future time1 in the   
critical moments and eventful steps of  
its life1 or in its early death1 or in  
its orphanage1 be thou a ,god to this   
child4 ,if ,god should to-night1 ,mrs4  
,ford1 say to you1 ,i will be ,janette's
 ,god1 would you not send her away with 
a light heart8  ,he should have her for 
life1 dear child6 said she2 and ,i do   
feel that he is a ,god to her4  ,he is1 
said ,i1 if you have really made a      
covenant with him about your daughter4  
,i have1 sir1 said ,mrs4 ,ford4         

,pastor4 ,did the covenant have any     
seal8 ,some good people1 you know1 think
 it enough to covenant with ,god about  
their children1 without using any       
special act to mark and seal it4 ,now it
 is only in consecrating children to    
,god that they omit the seal from the   
covenant4 ,we practise adult baptism1   
joining the church1 confirmation1 and we
 partake of the ,lord's ,supper1 feeling
 the propriety and the use of acts and  
testimonies in the form of an ordinance4
 ,what seal had your covenanting with   
,god about your child8  ,mrs4 ,ford4 ,i 
see it now clearer than ever4 ,as we    
stood with this child in our arms1 we   
both said1 afterwards1 we made a public 
profession of religion anew2 and1 when  
the minister said those sacred names    
over her1 ,i felt more than before that 
,i was having transactions with ,god    
about the child4 ,but people used to say
 to me1 ,why not wait and let ,janette  
be baptized when she is old enough to   
understand it8 ,how little they knew    

about it6 ,just as though1 ,i told them1
 if ,i had money to put into the        
savings-bank for ,janette1 ,i would wait
 and let her put it in herself 7it is so
 pleasant to put it in when you know all
 about it671 instead of laying it up for
 her in the funds1 and let it count up  
while she is growing4  ,pastor4 ,those  
friends who advised you so1 think1      
perhaps1 too much of the ceremony       
itself1 and not so much of what it      
signifies4 ,now the pleasure of being   
baptized is nothing compared with having
 ,god enter into a covenant in your     
behalf when you knew nothing about it4  
,mrs4 ,ford4 ,they said to me1 also1    
,what right have you to do it1 instead  
of letting her have the choice and      
privilege of doing it herself hereafter8
 ,i told them that1 if we acted on that 
principle1 in the treatment of our      
children1 there would be a long list of 
useful things1 which we do for them1 to 
be postponed4  ,pastor4 ,we can benefit 
another without his consent4 ,the       

question is1 whether it is a benefit to 
a child for ,god and its natural        
guardians to make a covenant together in
 its behalf4  ,mr4 ,benson4 ,it surely  
is so1 if ,god truly is a party to such 
a covenant4 ,but where is the proof that
 he is8 ,that is my trouble4 ,they tell 
me that this covenanting with ,god for a
 child1 and sealing it with an          
ordinance1 ceased with ,abraham1 who was
 a ,jew2 that it was a ,jewish custom1  
which died out4  ,pastor4 ,abraham a    
mere ,jew6 ,god's covenant with a       
believer and his children a ,jewish     
covenant6 ,never was there a greater    
mistake4 ,paul tells us expressly it was
 not so4 ,get me a ,bible1 ,helen1 and  
bring me a lamp4 ,i read these words3   
,and the promise that he should be heir 
of the world was not to ,abraham and his
 seed through the law1 but through the  
righteousness of faith4 ,his relation to
 the world was independent of           
dispensations2 it grew out of that faith
 which he had in common with all        

believers to the end of time4 ,and he   
received the sign of circumcision1 a    
seal of the righteousness of the faith  
which he had yet being uncircumcised1   
that he might be the father of all them 
that believe1 though they be not        
circumcised4 ,christ also says3 ,moses1 
therefore1 gave unto you circumcision2  
7not because it is of ,moses1 but of the
 fathers47 ,abraham was not a ,jew when 
,god covenanted with him1 any more than 
you1 madam1 were ,mrs4 ,ford1 when1 at  
the age of sixteen1 as you have told me1
 you entered into covenant with ,god4   
,that covenant had chief respect to your
 immortal soul1 and yet it reached in   
its influences to all the conditions of 
that soul while here in the flesh4 ,so  
,god covenanted with ,abraham as a      
believer1 not as a mere national        
ancestor2 yet temporal and spiritual    
blessings came in rich measures upon his
 immediate descendants4 ,but we read1   
,so then as many as be of faith are     
blessed with faithful1 that is1         

believing1 ,abraham4 ,and if ye be      
,christ's1 then are ye ,abraham's seed1 
and heirs according to the promise4 ,can
 anything be plainer than this8  ,mrs4  
,ford4 ,my father was a minister1 you   
know1 sir1 and he used to preach a great
 deal on this subject4  ,pastor4 ,let us
 hear your understanding of these       
passages1 ,mrs4 ,ford4  ,i am afraid1   
said she1 ,i cannot tell you just what  
he used to say4 ,but my idea of it is   
this3 ,though ,abraham was the founder  
of the ,hebrew people1 he was no more a 
,jew than a ,gentile in his covenant    
with ,god1 for it was as believer the   
great believer1 that ,god made a        
covenant with him4 ,so that he was not  
circumcised as a ,jew1 but1 as the      
,bible says1 to have a seal of the      
righteousness which he had by faith4    
,god made a covenant with him as a      
believer1 to be his ,god and the ,god of
 his children1 as the children of a     
believer1 not a ,jew2 so that all       
believers are blessed with believing    

,abraham1 by having the same covenant   
extended to them4 ,then1 ,i take it1    
,god gave him a sign and seal as a      
pledge1 and to remind him of it1 and to 
keep his children in remembrance4 ,she  
paused1 and ,i said3  ,please to go on4 
,you remember1 ,bertha1 how you used to 
make this ,mrs4 ,ford discuss doctrinal 
matters when she was sewing for you4    
,mrs4 ,ford4 ,i remember that father    
said that ,god took the rainbow as a    
sign and seal of his promise1 to ,noah  
and all future generations1 that there  
should never be another universal       
deluge4 ,so he appointed a children's   
ordinance to mark his covenant with     
believers to the end of time4 ,only     
there was this difference2 the way of   
signing and sealing the covenant not    
being coupled with the laws of nature1  
but conforming to the kind of symbols   
successively in use1 it was changed1 at 
the time that the ,sabbath was changed1 
and the whole of the old dispensation2  
but father used to say1 ,is the         

commonwealth and citizenship broken up  
because the legislature adopts a new    
state seal8 ,does that destroy all the  
old public documents8  ,pastor4 ,good6  
,so the ,united ,states' mint is from   
time to time changing its dies2 lately  
it has abolished copper1 and substituted
 equivalent coins of different          
composition4 ,but money does not perish4
 ,a cent is a cent still1 red or white4 
,so1 whether the seal be blood or water1
 the great ordinance which it seals     
remains the same4  ,and now ,i will tell
 you1 said ,i1 how it seems to me ,god's
 covenanting with parents for their     
children came to pass4 ,he wished to    
give ,abraham a token and seal of his   
love to him4 ,so he took his child1 the 
thing which he loved best1 and would see
 oftenest1 and thought of most1 and made
 the child1 as it were1 the tablet on   
which to write his covenant with the    
father4 ,that was one reason4 ',because 
he loved the fathers1 therefore he chose
 their seed4' ,but this is the least of 

the reasons in the case4  ,here is one  
of vastly greater importance4 ,god      
wished to perpetuate religion in the    
earth4 ,he knew that the family         
constitution would be the principal     
means of doing this1 parents teaching   
and commanding their children1 and so   
transmitting religion4 ,because he knew 
that ,abraham would do this1 he gave it 
as a reason for his love and confidence 
in him1 in not concealing from him his  
purpose to destroy ,sodom4 ',shall ,i   
hide from ,abraham that thing which ,i  
do8 ,for ,i know him that he will       
command his children and his household  
after him1 and they shall keep the ways 
of the ,lord4' ,so1 in order to remind  
,abraham of what was expected by the    
,most ,high in making his children the  
presumptive heirs of grace1 and to      
remind the children of it when they came
 to years of understanding1 ,god gave   
him and them this mark and seal4  ,well1
 then1 said ,mr4 ,benson1 it seems to me
 ,abraham was better off than we1 if he 

had ,god in covenant with him for his   
children1 and we have not4 ,i sometimes 
wish that ,i could have ,god covenant   
with me about my boy1 as ,abraham had   
about ,isaac4  ,i should like1 said     
,mrs4 ,b41 to hear him say1 ',i will be 
a ,god to him1' and then tell us to do  
something of his own appointment that   
should be like our signing and sealing a
 covenant together1 as the ,lord's      
,supper enables us to do with ,christ4  
,if we have no such blessed privilege1  
said ,i1 then1 as ,abraham desired to   
see our day1 ,i should1 in this respect1
 rejoice to see ,abraham's day4 ,i      
cannot forego the privilege of having   
,god in covenant with me for my children
 as he was with ,abraham for his2 and ,i
 crave some divine seal affixed to it4  
,you said1 ,mrs4 ,benson1 that you would
 like to have ,god promise to be the    
,god of your child1 and then command you
 to do something which would be like    
,god and you signing and sealing it     
together4 ,but do you think1 ,mrs4 ,b41 

that this is necessary8 ,why is it not  
enough for ,god to make a promise1 and  
you make one1 and let it be without any 
sign or seal8  ,people don't do things  
in that way1 said ,mr4 ,benson1 with a  
decided motion1 two or three times1 with
 his head4 ,they call a wedding a       
ceremony1 it is true1 and some say1 ',so
 long as people are engaged to be man   
and wife1 the ceremony makes little     
difference4' ,but it does make all the  
difference in the world1--this mere     
ceremony1 as they call it4 ,they never  
like to dispense with it themselves1 at 
least2 because1 you see1 it makes all   
the difference between unlawful1 sinful 
union1 and marriage4 ,it makes married  
life2 which could not exist1 without the
 ceremony1 among decent people4 ,it     
gives a title and ground to a thing     
which could not be without it4 ,so1 ,i  
begin to see and feel1 it is with regard
 to what some call the ceremony of      
baptism4 ,but excuse me1 wife1 ,i took  
the answer out of your mouth4  ,well1   

said ,mrs4 ,benson to me1 ,i must wait  
upon you1 sir1 to answer the question   
further4  ,mr4 ,benson has the right    
view of the subject1 ,i replied4 ,we    
make too little of signs and seals1 from
 a morbid fear and jealousy of those    
which are invented by man and added to  
religion4 ,but ,god's own seals are safe
 and good4 ,we cannot make too much of  
them4  ,god never did anything with men1
 from the beginning1 without signs and  
seals4 ,the tree of life was one1 and so
 was the tree of the knowledge of good  
and evil4 ,adam and ,eve knew better1 at
 first1 than to say1 ',so long as we    
love and obey ,god1 of what use are     
these symbols8' ,by not regarding       
symbols afterward1 they brought death   
into our world and all our woe4 ,even   
before that1 ,god had appointed a symbol
 of his authority1 and a seal of a      
covenant between him and man forever1 in
 the appointment of the ,sabbath4 ,the  
mark on ,cain's forehead1 the rainbow1  
the lamp passing between the severed    

parts of ,abraham's sacrifice1 ,jacob's 
ladder1 the burning bush1 the passover1 
and things too numerous to mention1 show
 how ,god loves signs and seals4  ,there
 are many good people1 at the present   
day1 who say to me1 ,i am willing to    
consecrate my child to ,god in prayer1  
and bring him up for ,god2 but ,i do not
 see the necessity of an ordinance4 ,why
 bring the child to baptism8 ,i can do  
all which is required and signified1    
without the sign4  ,what do you say to  
them8 said ,mrs4 ,ford4  ,pastor4 ,i    
tell them they are on dangerous ground4 
,will they be wiser than ,god8 ,he knows
 our natures1 and what to prescribe to  
us in our intercourse with him4 ,i would
 as soon meddle with a law of nature1 as
 with ,god's ordinances4 ,i might as    
well neglect a law of nature1 and think 
to be safe and well1 as to neglect one  
of ,god's ordinances1 and expect his    
blessing4  ,people1 moreover1 may as    
well object to family prayer1 and say   
that they try to live in a spirit of    

prayer all day4 ,why do they have       
special seasons for retirement1 if they 
walk with ,god8 ,why do they hardly feel
 that they have prayed if company1 or a 
bedfellow1 on a journey1 keeps them from
 using oral prayer8 ,it is a bitter     
grief1 also1 when no funeral solemnities
 lead the way to the grave with a       
beloved object2 yet1 where in the word  
of ,god are they commanded8 ,as ,mr4    
,benson said1 ,who is willing to        
dispense with the wedding ceremony1     
except in cases where sadness and       
trouble seek concealment8  ,people      
cannot give full evidence that they are 
,christians unless they make a public   
profession of religion4 ,they cannot    
properly remember ,jesus without        
partaking of his body and blood4 ,depend
 upon it1 my dear friends1 ,god sets    
great value on ordinances1 and our      
observance of them4 ,god has given us   
two sacraments1 and he who dispenses    
with them because he undervalues them1  
or undertakes to say that they are not  

necessary to him1 or to any in this age 
of the world1 is in peril4 ,the only    
danger from forms and ordinances is when
 they are of human origin4 ,we must take
 care and not let our revulsion from    
,romanism carry us to the extreme of    
neglecting or setting aside the         
ordinances of ,god's appointment4 ,there
 are three that bear record on earth1   
the ,spirit1 and the water1 and the     
blood2 and these three agree in one4 ,a 
man may1 with equal propriety1 dispense 
with the blood1 and its symbol the wine1
 or with the ,spirit1 as with the water1
 if ,god has appointed it with the other
 two as a witness between him and us4   
,you notice that the ,spirit is named   
with the two inanimate things1 the blood
 and the water4 ,take care1 ,i say to my
 friends1 lest1 in setting aside the    
water1 you shut out that divine ,spirit1
 who1 knowing how to deal with our      
nature1 chooses the blood and the water 
to be used by us in connection with our 
most spiritual religious exercises of   

the mind and heart4 ,we have no more    
right to interfere with ,god's          
ordinances than with the number of the  
persons in the ,trinity4  ,all this     
affects me so1 said ,mr4 ,benson1 that  
,i shall not fail to offer my child to  
be baptized1 if ,i am allowed to do so4 
,now1 there is my difficulty4 ,why do   
you think1 and how do you show1 that    
baptism must now be used as ,god's sign 
and seal of his covenant with believers 
for their children8 ,when circumcision  
was dropped1 some insist that the       
covenant was dropped with it1 and1      
therefore1 that there is no warrant in  
,scripture for baptizing children4      
,why1 said ,mrs4 ,ford1 if the coming in
 of ,moses' dispensation did not abolish
 the arrangement with ,abraham1 why     
should its going out8 ,i am inclined to 
think that ,abraham and his seed are1 to
 ,moses and his dispensation1 something 
like that vine to the trellis1 running  
over it to the top of the piazza1       
bending itself in1 you see1 to          

accommodate itself1 but having a root   
and a top1 the one below1 the other     
above1 the short frame1 which only      
guides it up to the roof4 ,in the       
eleventh of ,romans does not ,paul say  
that ,jews and ,gentiles have one and   
the same 'root'8 ,i always supposed that
 root to be ,abraham and his covenant4  
,i did not quote ,latin to my friends1  
but ,i thought of the old law-maxim1    
,manente ratione1 manet ipsa lex--which1
 if your scholarship is not at hand to  
translate it1 ,percival will tell you1  
means1 ,the reason for a law remaining1 
the law itself also remains4 ,it is used
 in such cases as the following3 ,when  
one would insist that a law was intended
 to be repealed by the operation of     
another law1 not directly or expressly  
aimed to repeal it1 it is a good reply4 
,if the original reason for enacting the
 old law can be shown still to exist1 it
 is strong presumptive evidence that    
there was no intention to repeal that   
law4 ,i explained this1 in as simple    

language as ,i could1 to my excellent   
friends1 and told them1 ,if ,god's      
covenant1 which circumcision sealed1    
were ,mosaic1 and therefore national1   
,jewish1 we should presume that it      
ceased with the ,jewish nation2 or1 if  
it continued1 that it was restricted to 
their posterity4 ,but why should ,god   
bestow his inestimable blessing on the  
father of the faithful1 and take it away
 from the faithful themselves8 ,we love 
our children1 as ,abraham did his4 ,it  
is as important to us that ,god should  
be the ,god of our seed1 as it was to   
,abraham4 ,my heart yearns after that   
covenanting ,god in behalf of my        
children4  ,i will give up thinking of  
,abraham as a ,jew1 said ,mrs4 ,benson4 
,what was he1 then8 said ,i1 or what    
will he be to you1 from this time8  ,he 
was the head of believers1 said she1    
just as ,adam was the head of men4 ,as  
,mrs4 ,ford said1 he was the great      
believer2 and ,i am persuaded that all  
who are of faith have his privileges1   

and more too2 but certainly all that he 
had4  ,but1 my dear1 said your mother1  
you have forgotten the question4        
,supposing that the covenant still      
remains1 why do you take baptism for the
 seal of it8 ,the old way of sealing it 
is given up4 ,what authority do you show
 for using baptism in its place8  ,i    
take the initiating ordinance of        
religion for the time being1 said ,i1   
whatever it may be4 ,is not baptism the 
initiating ordinance1 as circumcision   
was8 ,when they built our long bridge1  
and the ferry-boats ceased running1 did 
the town put up a great sign over the   
gate1 saying1 ',it is enacted that this 
river shall continue to be crossed'8    
,did they add1 ',this bridge is hereby  
appointed as the way of getting over the
 river'8 ,or1 did not people take it for
 granted1 when the bridge was opened and
 the ferry-boats were withdrawn1 that   
the bridge was designed to be the way by
 which they were to pass over the river8
  ,now1 suppose so impossible a thing as

 this1 that hereafter baptism should1 by
 divine revelation1 be changed for      
anointing with oil1 and nothing were    
said about children4 ,i would anoint the
 child with oil1 instead of baptizing it
 with water4 ,we are to use the         
initiatory rite of the church for the   
time being4  ,but1 said ,mrs4 ,benson1  
is there any resemblance between        
circumcision and baptism8  ,there need  
be none1 said ,i4 ,resemblance does not 
give it efficacy1 but ,god's appointment
 of it4 ,if marking the flesh in some   
way should be appointed to succeed      
baptism1 we need not look for a likeness
 between it and baptism before we       
complied with the divine requirement4   
,i do wish1 said ,mrs4 ,benson1 that the
 authority to baptize children were more
 expressly stated in the ,bible1 to     
satisfy all who were not brought up as  
we have been4  ,pastor4 ,the            
overwhelming majority of those who now  
receive the ,bible as the word of ,god  
find it there4  ,mrs4 ,benson4 ,but why 

did not ,paul receive a revelation about
 it1 as he did about the ,lord's        
,supper8  ,pastor4 ,did that make the   
thing any more authoritative with us    
than the original appointment8 ,we will 
not prescribe to ,god how to teach us4  
,we will not make up our minds how he   
ought to have made a revelation1 but we 
will take that revelation and try to    
understand it4  ,i agree to that1 said  
they all4  ,pastor4 ,it appears to me   
that ,god prefers1 on certain subjects1 
that the world shall reason by          
inferences4 ,it is a wise way of        
educating children and youth1 to leave  
some things to be learned in this way1  
and not by setting everything before    
them1 like too many examples in the     
arithmetic wrought out4  ,we have       
changed the ,sabbath from the seventh to
 the first day in the week4 ,it gives me
 a sublime idea of our ,sabbath1 that by
 some great1 silent alteration1 it has  
come to pass that all the world keep the
 day of ,christ's resurrection1 instead 

of the day which commemorated the work  
of creation4 ,i feel toward it as ,i do 
with regard to the noiseless changes of 
the seasons1 and the conformity of our  
habits and practices to them4 ,i left   
,new ,york late in winter for the       
,azores1 and1 before ,i expected it1 the
 warm southern airs came one morning    
into my cabin window4 ,so the ,christian
 ,sabbath1 with its beautiful           
associations1 flowed in upon the world  
without a formal proclamation4 ,i feel  
thankful to ,god for so regarding our   
intelligent natures1 as to leave some   
things1 relating to ordinances1 modes1  
and forms1 to be inferred1 bringing     
great changes over the moral and        
spiritual world1 and leaving us to      
adjust ourselves and the administration 
of the appointed ordinances to them4 ,we
 can add nothing1 we take nothing away  
from an express1 divine command2 but1 as
 the first disciples were left to infer 
that a ,sabbath was as necessary after  
,christ brought in the new creation as  

before1 and adjusted it to the          
celebration of the ,saviour's rising    
from the dead1 so we infer that ,god's  
covenant with believing parents for     
their children is as desirable now as   
ever2 that all the original reasons for 
it now exist2 and1 therefore1 we take   
the initiating ordinance of religion    
now1 as the church in former ages did1  
and apply it to the children4 ,all      
church-members did it before ,christ2   
all church-members may do it now4 ,god  
saw fit to make every adult member1 at  
least1 of the ,jewish family1 a         
church-member2 if he has changed and    
restricted the terms of                 
church-membership now1 that is a        
sufficient reason for not making the    
sealing of children as universal now as 
it was before4 ,that is to say1 in both 
cases1 it is a church-member's          
privilege4  ,without detailing the      
conversation at this point1 let me say1 
,i take it for granted that ,abraham1 as
 my great spiritual ancestor1 my        

representative before ,god1 my          
commissioner to receive for me and      
transmit my privileges and blessings1   
continues in that relation unless       
expressly set aside4 ,christ did not set
 him aside4 ,how wonderfully he is      
brought forward under the new           
dispensation1 when it is said to us1    
,and if ye be ,christ's1 then are ye    
,abraham's seed1 and heirs according to 
the promise4 ,but1 pray1 why should     
,abraham be intruded in connection with 
,christ1 if he with his covenant is like
 a lapsed legacy1 or a superseded act of
 ,congress8 ,why comes he here1 in      
connection with the ,saviour1 and tells 
me that if ,i am ,christ's1 then am ,i  
his1 ,abraham's1 seed8 ,hear this3      
,christ hath redeemed us from the curse 
of the law1 being made a curse for us1  
that the blessing of ,abraham might come
 on the ,gentiles through ,jesus        
,christ4 ,wonderful elevation of        
,abraham and his blessing1 as the great 
type of all that ,christ was to procure 

for us6 ,if ,abraham and his covenant   
ceased with the ,jewish people1 how does
 the blessing of ,abraham fully come    
upon us1 the ,gentiles8 ,but give me his
 covenant for my children2 then ,i see  
that ,christ is executor of the         
testament made with ,abraham for his    
children2 and ,i am one of the heirs2 as
 indeed ,i am1 even if ,i have no       
children1 but if ,i have1 all of        
,abraham's privileges and his           
covenanting ,god are mine and theirs4   
,so that1 ,i said to my friends1 ,i go  
to the ,bible not to say1 ,must ,i      
baptize my children8 but1 ,am ,i        
forbidden to baptize them8  ,all my     
predecessors in the church of ,god1     
before ,christ1 had the privilege of    
bringing their children into the bonds  
of the covenant with themselves4 ,if    
they felt as we do about it 7and strict 
usage1 and the rich experience which    
they had had of its benefits1 must have 
made it inestimably precious to them71  
it is incredible that a sudden and total

 discontinuance of it1 at the beginning 
of ,christianity1 should not have       
occasioned great clamor4 ,the           
formalists1 at least1 would have        
remonstrated at the seeming violation1  
by this new order of things1 of natural 
affection4 ,for1 as ,doddridge well     
observes1 ,what would have been done    
with the infants1 or male children1 of  
,christians8--that is1 of converted     
,jews1 as well as others4 ,they could   
not circumcise them2 but their teachers1
 being spiritually-minded men1 knew that
 circumcision was a seal of faith1 not  
merely of nationality1 and must not the 
converts have required some sign and    
symbol still for their children8 ,now   
they had long been used to the baptism  
of proselytes and their children2 so    
that baptizing their own children1 as a 
substitute for circumcising them1 could 
not have been a violent change with     
those whom ,peter's vision of the sheet 
had taught that the ,gentiles should be 
fellow-heirs4 ,and when he1 in one of   

his first sermons1 said to the whole    
house of ,israel1 ,ye are the children  
of the covenant1 and ,the promise is    
unto you and to your children1 we can   
account for their utter silence as to   
any revocation by ,christianity of the  
right and privilege of applying the     
initiatory ordinance of religion1 for   
the time being1 to a believer's child4  
,but1 said ,mr4 ,benson1 the ,saviour   
said1 ',he that believeth1 and is       
baptized1 shall be saved4' ,the apostles
 said1 ',repent and be baptized1 every  
one of you4' ,show us1 now1 why this    
does not prove that repentance and faith
 were not thus made essential to        
baptism4 ,according to these passages1  
none could be baptized who had not      
repented and believed4 ,this would      
exclude infants4 ',believe1 and be      
baptized2' how do you dispose of that1  
sir8  ,very easily1 said ,i4  ,mrs4     
,benson exclaimed1 ,o1 sir1 if you can1 
all my difficulty is at an end6  ,well1 
then1 said ,i1 in the first place1 there

 is no such requirement in the ,bible4  
,you see the expression very often1 but 
it is not found in ,scripture4 ,but tell
 me exactly what your difficulty is4    
,why1 said she1 my husband has just     
stated it4 ,people tell us the ,bible   
says1 ',he that believeth1 and is       
baptized1 shall be saved4' ,so they     
insist that no one should be baptized   
who is not old enough to believe4  ,i   
told her that ,i could remove her       
difficulty in very few words4  ,suppose1
 said ,i1 that ,abraham is preaching to 
full-grown men in ,canaan1 and is trying
 to proselyte them from their idolatry  
to the worship of ,god4 ,he would say to
 them1 ',believe and be circumcised1'   
would he not8 for ,god ordained that    
certain proselytes should be            
circumcised4  ,yes1 sir1 said two or    
three voices at once4  ,well1 then1 said
 ,i1 must it follow that children could 
not be circumcised because ,abraham said
 to men1 ',believe and be circumcised'8 
,how will that reasoning answer8 ,is it 

true8 ,no4 ,little ,isaac refuted it1   
for he was circumcised even when his    
father was saying to his pagan          
neighbors1 ',believe and be             
circumcised4'  ,true enough1 all who    
believed1 in ,christ's day and the      
apostles'1 needed to be baptized1       
because they were not children1 but were
 grown up1 when ,christian baptism      
began4 ,had an apostle1 however1 lived  
to see the jailer's family1 and that of 
,lydia1 and of ,stephanas1 grown up1 and
 any in those families had remained     
unconverted1 and then he had said to    
them1 ',believe and be baptized1' there 
would be some force in saying that      
believing and baptism must always go    
together4  ,one other thing always      
troubled me1 said ,mr4 ,benson1 and that
 is1 that there was no seal of the      
covenant for any but male children4     
,now1 if the initiatory rite of         
,christianity be used for the same      
purpose as that given to ,abraham1 why  
not confine it1 as formerly1 to males8  

,how interesting it is1 said ,i1 and it 
is full of instruction1 to see ,god     
paying regard to the world's knowledge  
and progress1 in all his measures1 and  
doing nothing prematurely4 ,there is a  
very striking illustration of this in   
the account of the fall4  ,god knew the 
history of the tempter during his agency
 in ,paradise2 for angels had sinned and
 fallen from heaven4 ,but the existence 
and agency of fallen spirits had not    
been disclosed in the ,bible1--the time 
for the disclosure had not come1--and   
therefore it is said1 with beautiful    
simplicity1 ',now the serpent was more  
subtle than any beast of the field which
 the ,lord ,god had made2' and the      
narrative has respect only to the       
external appearance of the tempter1 the 
serpent1 because it would have been     
premature as yet to bring in the story  
of fallen angels1 or make allusion to   
them4  ,so1 for reasons belonging to the
 early ages of the world1 woman was     
included in man1 who acted for her4#a   

,but1 however the arrangement began1    
,god regarded that organic law of       
society1 and1 in giving ,abraham a seal 
of a covenant for his children1 he      
restricted it to the sons1 they in all  
things standing and acting as the       
representatives of the house1 according 
to the existing custom4 ,god did not go 
far beyond the world's advancement1 in  
his ordinances1 but1 with condescension 
and in wisdom1 suited the one to the    
other4 ,but1 as things were then        
generally represented by types1 so the  
male child was a type and representative
 of the more full and complete form1    
which was reserved till the fulness of  
time1 and till the world should know the
 fulness of ,him that filleth all in    
all4 ,for 'in ,christ ,jesus there is   
neither ,jew nor ,greek1 male nor       
female4'  ,footnote #a3 ,a curious      
reason for this1 in the minds of some1  
appears to be that1 when man was        
created1 woman was included in him4     
,for1 they say1 in the first chapter of 

,genesis1 and in the account of the     
sixth day1 before woman was made1 the   
plural word them is used3 male and      
female created he them4 ,they say that  
the blessing was pronounced on the man  
and woman in ,adam4 ,for they think it  
improbable that ,moses would anticipate 
his history so much as to bring in      
woman1 and1 withal1 her blessing1 too1  
at the sixth day1 when the narrative    
teaches that she was made some time     
afterwards4 ,hence1 they say1 it was    
that woman was for ages treated as      
included in man4 ,there is something    
pleasing in this fancy1 but it seems    
like one of ,origen's allegories1 he    
being the father of allegorical         
interpretation4 ,it had its origin in an
 ancient ,rabbinical sentiment4  ,so ,i 
discoursed with my visitors till between
 ten and eleven o'clock1 and when they  
rose to go1 we all stood up together and
 joined in prayer4 ,we commended        
,janette to her covenant-keeping ,god1  
whose name had been inscribed upon her4 

,we remembered the little boy who had   
been the occasion of all this pleasant  
conversation1 and prayed that his       
consecration might be accepted1 and the 
sign and seal of it be owned and blessed
 to him and his parents4 ,as ,i walked  
down to the gate with my friends1 ,i    
said to them1 that1 when ,god was       
covenanting with ,abraham1 he bade him  
look up into the heavens1 and count the 
stars1 and told him that his seed1 like 
them1 should be innumerable4 ,so ,i told
 them frequently to look up to those old
 heavens1 and remember that the         
covenant-keeping ,god is there1 the same
 who1 in blessing ,abraham1 included his
 seed2 and that1 because ,abraham was so
 good a man1 ,god calls his posterity   
the seed of ,abraham my friend4 ,and so 
we said good-night4  ,in reading over   
what ,i have written1 there are a few   
things more which ,i feel disposed to   
add1 because ,i know that ,percival will
 make good use of them in talking with  
others in your congregation4  ,i feel1  

more than ,i can express1 that the state
 of mind in parents which will make them
 prize and use the ordinance of baptism 
for their children is the great want of 
our day4 ,bringing children to church1  
and baptizing them1 unless the parents  
are themselves in covenant with ,god1 is
 as wrong as it was for those           
earthly-minded ,corinthians1 whom ,paul 
rebukes1 to eat the ,lord's ,supper4    
,they made a feast1 or a meal1 of the   
supper2 and some use baptism just to    
give a child a name1--to christen it1 as
 they say1--in mere compliance with a   
custom4 ,but the abuse of a thing is no 
valid argument against it4 ,the last    
supper is the subject of far more       
perversion2 it gives occasion to a vast 
amount of superstition and folly4 ,the  
procession of the host1 the elevation of
 the host1 the laying of the wafer on   
the tongue1 the solemn injunctions      
against spitting for a certain time     
after receiving it1 are no valid        
arguments against the ,lord's ,supper1  

and no ,christian is led by them to     
disregard the words of the ,lord ,jesus1
 ,this do in remembrance of me4 ,much of
 the practical benefit of the ,supper   
comes through the feelings which it     
awakens1 the conduct which it promotes4 
,so with infant baptism4 ,the child must
 be truly consecrated to ,god1          
beforehand1 and afterwards2 and the     
ordinance must be used as a sign and    
seal on our part1 as it is on the part  
of ,god1--an act and testimony1 a       
memorial1 a vow4 ,hannah lent her child 
to the ,lord from the beginning1 and    
then brought him to the temple1 with her
 offerings4 ,we must take the child from
 baptism as though ,god had placed it a 
second time in our hands1 to be trained 
up for him4  ,but1 still1 the ordinance 
is ,god's1 and not man's4 ,he has a work
 to do in us by means of it1 while it   
also helps our feelings1 fixes them1    
makes them vivid1 and imposes solemn    
obligations upon us by its signified    
vow4 ,so it is with the ,lord's ,supper4

 ,in each case it is ,god's memorial1   
and not ours2 and its benefit does not  
consist so much in showing forth the    
state of our hearts at the time of      
administration1 as in sealing to us the 
promises of ,god4  ,true1 our feelings  
are awakened and strengthened1          
ordinarily1 by the ordinances2 but that 
neither explains nor limits the meaning 
of them4 ,we are wrong if we suppose    
that the ,lord's ,supper has done no    
good unless our feelings are vivid at   
the time of partaking4 ,if we were      
sincere1 our act had the effect to      
engage and seal blessings from ,god of  
which we were not aware1 and may never  
be able to trace them back to that      
transaction4 ,so with regard to baptism4
  ,some call this sacerdotalism1 and are
 afraid to allow that the sacraments    
have any influence or use1 except as a  
testimony from us to ,god4 ,romanism has
 driven us to the opposite extreme in   
our ideas of sacraments4 ,we do not     
vibrate back again too far toward       

,romanism1 if now we conclude that ,god 
employs his sacraments1 properly        
received by us1 as seals from him of    
love and promises4 ,many ,christians    
derive less comfort and help from the   
,lord's ,supper than they may1 because  
they regard it as profitable only so far
 as they can offer it to ,god with vivid
 feelings on their part2 and1 when their
 frames are not as they desire1 they    
conclude that the ordinance is          
unprofitable4 ,but let us also consider 
who appointed this ordinance4 ,it is the
 appointment of ,christ1 not ours2 and  
at his table we are his guests1 not he  
ours4 ,the ,saviour is well represented 
as saying to us1     ,thou canst not    
entertain a king6      ,unworthy thou of
 such a guest2    ,but ,i my own        
provision bring1      ,to make thy soul 
a heavenly feast4  ,there is a divine   
side to sacraments1 as there is a divine
 side in conversion4 ,while we are      
active in regeneration1 there is a work 
of ,god wrought in us1 distinct from our

 faith and repentance1 yet inseparable  
from it4 ,so1 while sacraments are vows 
on our part to ,god1 they are1          
primarily1 gifts1 pledges1 seals1 on his
 part to us4 ,therefore1 when one says1 
,i can bring up my children1 ,i can be a
 ,christian1 without the use of         
sacraments1 it is a proper reply1 ,but  
can ,god do his part toward your        
children1 and toward you1 without them8 
,for1 not only is prayer the offering up
 of our desires to ,god for things      
agreeable to his will1 but there is the 
additional truth1 which is well         
expressed in those lines of a hymn3     
,prayer is appointed to convey    ,the  
blessings ,god designs to give4  ,so    
with sacraments2 they convey gifts from 
,god1 not primarily gifts from us to    
,god4  ,he1 then1 who declines to have  
his children baptized1 on the ground    
that it is useless1 may1 in so doing1   
interrupt the communication of a        
divinely-appointed medium between ,god  
and his child4 ,for he need not be told 

that the faith of parents brought       
blessings from the ,saviour1 when on    
earth1 to their children1 nor be        
reminded that the benefits of           
circumcision were bestowed on the ground
 of the parental relation to ,god4  ,one
 further illustration occurs to me of   
the power which resides in the          
sacraments themselves1 in distinction   
from their being a testimony from us to 
,god4 ,let me call to your remembrance  
notices which you sometimes see1 of     
young people going1 in a frolic1 before 
a clergyman or justice of the peace1 to 
be married1 when they intended nothing  
but sport1 and found1 afterward1 that   
they had brought themselves into        
difficulty1 and were legally held to be 
married4  ,you see by this that         
covenants do not1 by any means1 derive  
all their efficacy from the feelings of 
a contracting party4 ,covenants and     
their seals are the most sacred of all  
human transactions1 and cannot be       
lightly regarded1 or trifled with4 ,god 

reveals himself often under the name of 
the ,god that keepeth covenant4 ,so that
 we may not set aside the sacraments1   
nor undervalue them4 ,this leads me to  
say1 furthermore1 that children1 who    
doubt whether their parents sincerely   
and truly offered them to ,god in       
baptism1 the parents being in an        
unregenerate state1 as it afterward     
appeared1 when they came with their     
children to the ordinance1 may be       
greatly comforted and encouraged by     
taking this view of the divine sacrament
 of baptism as having a force and       
application in their behalf1 by the     
goodness of ,god1 irrespective of their 
parents' character4 ,god will not let   
his sacraments depend1 for their        
efficacy1 on the character either of the
 administrator or of the parents4 ,for1 
if the character of an administrator    
affected the baptism1 it might so happen
 that one could never really be         
baptized1 since every successive hand   
which applied it might prove1 in turn1  

to be that of an unworthy person4 ,if a 
child is baptized on the profession of  
parents who afterward show that they    
were not sincere1 the child shall not   
suffer thereby1 if he recognizes the    
transaction1 and makes it his own act4  
,in the case of a converted husband or  
wife1 while one companion remained a    
heathen1 the children were1             
nevertheless1 counted holy1 because the 
,gospel leaned to the side of mercy1 and
 gave the children the benefit of the   
believing parent's faith1 instead of    
attainting them through the heathen     
parent4 ,so1 when a child is baptized in
 error1 he shall not suffer1 nor even   
lose anything1 if he will accept the    
covenant with its seal4 ,no one can     
justly reply to all this1 that1         
therefore1 every one even though not of 
the church1 may offer his child for     
baptism4 ,no2 for these are exceptional 
cases1 in which it is true that a       
covenant1 even if it be not fulfilled1  
has force1 and things may enure under it

 which one who does not make the        
required profession cannot receive4 ,the
 covenant1 if but the outward conditions
 be complied with1 places all1 who are  
in any way related to it1 under various 
contingencies1 which sometimes1 to some 
of the parties1 may be productive of    
good4 ,we see illustrations of this in  
the great tenderness and love which we  
feel toward a child whose parent has    
brought a stain upon himself and his    
family4 ,we find an echo1 in our hearts1
 of those kind words of the ,most ,high1
 ,the son shall not bear the iniquity of
 the father2 and1 if that son behaves   
himself worthily1 every good man is     
doubly careful to protect and help him4 
,in this way the broken1 or unfulfilled1
 covenant operates1 with ,god and with  
man1 to the good of some related to it4 
,but shall we1 therefore1 break our     
covenant8 ,shall the unworthy be        
promiscuously admitted to its           
privileges8 ,shall we continue in sin   
that grace may abound8  ,in speaking of 

the influence of sacraments1 ,i am aware
 that we approach enchanted ground4 ,the
 human heart loves a religion of forms  
and ceremonies1 which professes to renew
 and save without self-denial1 breathing
 around us the quietism of ordinances1  
and lulling us to drowsy forgetfulness  
of duty in the luxurious enjoyment of an
 irresponsible religion4 ,while1        
therefore1 we cannot too carefully guard
 against the abuse of ordinances1 we    
must not forget that ,god1 who made man1
 body and soul1 chooses to convey some  
of his gracious operations to us by the 
help of the two simple sacraments1 and  
that they are intended to act upon us1  
in the hands of his ,spirit1 in the     
first instance2 not merely serving as   
offerings to ,god4  ,it is not that     
there are fewer children baptized now   
than formerly 7if such indeed be the    
case71 that awakens sorrow and          
apprehension2 but that parents are      
deficient in the feelings which make us 
prize and use baptism4 ,this is the evil

 sign1 and it is greatly to be deplored4
 ,one must have intelligent views of the
 ,scriptures as a whole1--of both       
,testaments1--most fully to understand  
and value infant baptism2 for its roots 
were planted in the ,old ,testament4 ,i 
always feel deep respect for a          
church-member who comprehends this      
subject in its wide relations1 and is   
not swayed by the popular demand for an 
express sign at every step1 but can     
reason inferentially as well as when    
proofs are demonstrative and palpable2  
and who has in his mind the whole system
 of redemption1 with its various        
economies1 interdependent1 and none made
 perfect without the rest4 ,when all our
 church-members come to understand and  
feel the power of this subject in this  
manner1 what times of enlightened       
religious prosperity1 and a high state  
of religious culture1 it will indicate4 
,i pray and wait for the time when all  
our ,pdobaptist churches1 of every name1
 will conspire to promote spiritual     

views of children's baptism1 holding it 
forth as the expression of spiritual    
feelings1 and discountenancing formalism
 in connection with it4 ,though ,i was  
never an ,episcopalian in my            
preferences1 and though the appointment 
of godfathers and godmothers may1 like  
every good thing1 relapse into mere     
form1 ,i honor it for its excellent and 
pious design of surrounding the parents 
and the children with admonition and    
help4 ,for there are sponsors1 ,i am    
happy to know1 who are not mere         
formalists1 but who make it a rule to   
have an interview with their godchildren
 on or near their birthdays1 or the     
anniversaries of their baptisms1 and1 in
 an affectionate1 faithful manner1 they 
endeavor to fulfil the vows which they  
took upon themselves at the baptism4    
,blessings on such faithful ,christian  
friends6 ,happy the children who have   
them for helpers of their faith and     
piety4 ,let us all1 as church-members1  
be sponsors1 at least by prayers and a  

kind interest for it1 to every child of 
a ,christian brother or sister1 when we 
witness its baptism4 ,suppose a         
church-member1 after witnessing the     
baptism of an infant1 its parents1      
perhaps1 entire strangers1 goes to his  
place of private prayer1 and1 moved with
 disinterested love toward those parents
 and the child1 supplicates the blessing
 of ,god upon them4 ,could ,christian   
love be more pure than this1 or prayer  
more pleasing to ,god8 ,in the          
revelations of eternity such prayers    
will not only be rewarded openly by ,him
 who saw those doors shut with that     
secret love and piety1 but blessings    
upon parents and child without measure  
may be traced to such petitions as their
 procuring cause4 ,how good it is to    
perform such acts1 knowing that they can
 never come abroad in this world6       
,should every ,christian who witnesses  
the baptism of a child1 afterward pray  
for that immortal soul in secret1 with  
special petitions1 what an increased    

privilege and blessing it would be      
esteemed to offer a child in baptism1   
and in ,god's house1 before a witnessing
 church1 rather than at home6 ,i hope1  
my dear daughter1 that you and          
,percival1 as private ,christians1 will 
do good to your own souls1 and to the   
souls of baptized children1 and to their
 parents1 by making it one of your      
private rules to pray in secret1 on the 
,sabbath1 for every child whose baptism 
you witness4  ,the effort to promote and
 enforce infant baptism1 by             
ecclesiastical enactments merely1 is    
absurd4 ,we must fertilize the soil1 not
 spread glass sashes over the plants4   
,give ,christians right views and       
feelings about their covenant privileges
 and duties2 disabuse them of their     
mistakes about the severance of the ,old
 ,testament from the ,new2 teach them to
 look at ,abraham1 not as a decayed     
peer1 or an old ,jew1 but as the founder
 of the church of all ages1 to whom     
,almighty ,god virtually said1 ',on this

 rock ,i will build my                  
church1'--,abraham being the first      
foundation stone1 waiting for apostles  
to be added with him1 and1 as our great 
representative1 bearing in his hand the 
covenant made with him for us1 as well1 
as for the other great branch of the    
family of ,god2 show them that baptism  
is now the initiating ordinance1 and    
that the old covenant was never         
repealed1 though the seal be changed2   
let them see what it is to have ,god in 
covenant with them to be the ,god of    
their seed2 and1 withal1 let us correct1
 or modify1 the intense anti-papal      
jealousy of the ,christian rites1 which 
makes us all1 unconsciously1 verge to   
the opposite extreme1 thus missing the  
divinely-appointed intention and use    
which there is in our two simple        
ordinances2 and then1 with the revival  
of such spiritual views and feelings1   
and1 as a consequence1 with greater     
reference in the prayers of ,christians1
 public and private1 to the subject1 the

 practice of children's baptism will    
increase1 as surely as accessions to the
 ,lord's table increase when people come
 to have ,christ in them the hope of    
glory4  ,we1 ministers1 can do very much
 to promote a love for the ordinance in 
many ways4 ,we ought to make it         
convenient and pleasant by all the      
expedients within our power4 ,i like the
 practice which you speak of1 in your   
church1 of the mother remaining with the
 child in the anteroom till the         
introductory services and the loud      
organ-playing are over4 ,does your      
pastor pour water into the child's face 
and eyes1 and then begin the words of   
baptism8 ,i presume not2 but ,i have    
seen it done4 ,we should not touch the  
child's head till near the close of the 
baptismal formula2 and then so that the 
child will not see the arm move toward  
it4  ,much can be done by these simple  
expedients to promote a quiet and       
pleasant attendance upon the delightful 
rite4 ,i like the practice1 in your     

church1 of chanting low some appropriate
 words of ,scripture before and after   
the baptism4  ,i am constrained to say1 
though with diffidence1 that ,i fear    
some of my good brethren give erroneous 
impressions by what they say of the     
church-membership of children4 ,they    
push it to extremes4 ,they discuss the  
question1 ,what shall be done with      
baptized children1 who1 on arriving at  
years of understanding1 refuse to enter 
into covenant with ,god8 ,church        
censures are asserted by some to be     
proper in such cases1 even to           
excommunication1 or interference in some
 judicial way by the church4 ,so long as
 ,i believe in regeneration by the ,holy
 ,spirit1 ,i cannot feel that baptized  
children1 as such1 are1 in any sense    
whatever1 in which the term is generally
 received among men1 members of the     
church of ,christ2 while1 in another and
 most important sense1 they do belong to
 the church1 hold a relation to it1 and 
are a part of it4 ,strictly speaking1   

and in the highest spiritual sense1 they
 are not even the lambs of ,christ's    
flock2 for lambs have the nature of     
sheep2 but the children of believers    
are1 by nature1 children of wrath1 even 
as others4 ,and yet1 in another sense1  
they hold a most important relation to  
the flock of ,christ1 as no other       
children do4 ,in its most important     
sense1 they are not to the church even  
what they are to the state2 they have no
 place whatever in the invisible        
church1--the church which is            
saved1--till they are born again4 ,if   
children are regenerated by the act of  
baptism1 of course it is otherwise2 but1
 not believing this1 ,i am clear that   
the baptized child of a believer differs
 from any other unregenerate child1 who 
is not baptized1 only in this3 that ,god
 looks upon it with peculiar interest   
and love1 and that it is surrounded with
 special and peculiar privileges1       
opportunities1 promises1 and hopes1 with
 regard to its being brought to         

repentance and saving faith in ,christ2 
and by baptism it is initiated into     
special relationship to the people of   
,god4 ,the church also has special      
duties with regard to it4 ,some of my   
brethren give great occasion to those   
who resist children's baptism1 to argue 
against it as ,romish in its nature and 
effect1 by not discriminating clearly in
 using the words members and membership 
in connection with children4 ,read      
almost any modern book against infant   
baptism1 and you will find that its main
 force is directed against the practice 
as a church and state institution1 and  
as making persons members of the church 
by means of sacraments4 ,let us who are 
really free from such imputation1 assert
 the truly spiritual nature and object  
of this ordinance4 ,i wish to see it    
divested of all that does not belong to 
it1 made eminently spiritual1 expressed 
in terms which cannot easily be         
misunderstood1 and appealing to the     
natural affections1 the understandings1 

the consciences1 of spiritual men and   
women1 as1 in its sober and legitimate  
use1 ,god's great appointment1 from the 
call of ,abraham to the millennium1 for 
the increase and perpetuity of his      
church4#b  ,footnote #b3 ,this subject  
is discussed by itself1 and more at     
large1 in another part of this book4    
,you are aware that the great question1 
which has made most of the trouble in   
the ,christian church from the          
beginning1 relates to the meaning and   
use of sacraments and ordinances1 or    
what we call ,symbolism4 ,the tendency  
of the human mind1 even in ,paul's day1 
as indicated by him1 with other things  
belonging to it1 under the name of the  
mystery of iniquity1 which doth even now
 work1 was1 to increase the number of   
sacraments and ordinances1 and make them
 bear an essential part in the work of  
regeneration4 ,the right to multiply or 
extend them1 and the claim that they    
possess a saving efficacy1 characterizes
 one great division of the professed    

,christian church1 while those who are  
called ,protestants and the ,reformed1  
regard them chiefly as signs2 though of 
these1 some seem to have much of that   
appetency after undue reliance on forms 
which ,paul seeks to correct in the     
,epistle to the ,galatians1 while others
 go to an opposite extreme1 and         
undervalue the two divinely-appointed   
sacraments1 which they think have no    
efficiency as used by the ,spirit of    
,god1 but only as signs used by us to   
represent something4  ,between these    
divisions of the ,christian church lies 
the battle-ground of great              
ecclesiastical controversies from the   
beginning1 as the ,netherlands were1 for
 a long time1 the battle-field of       
,europe4 ,archbishop ,leighton seems to 
strike the balance between formalism and
 sacramental grace in ordinances1 as    
well as any writer1 in commenting on    
these words of ,peter1 ,the like figure 
whereunto1 even baptism1 doth also now  
save us4 ,he says3  ,thus1 then1 we have

 a true account of the power of this1   
and so of other1 sacraments1 and a      
discovery of the error of two extremes4 
7#a47 ,of those who ascribe too much to 
them1 as if they wrought by a natural1  
inherent virtue1 and carried grace in   
them inseparably4 7#b47 ,of those who   
ascribe too little to them1 making them 
only signs and badges of our profession4
 ,signs they are1 but more than signs   
merely representing2 they are means     
exhibiting1 and seals confirming1 grace 
to the faithful4 ,but the working of    
faith and the conveying ,christ into the
 soul1 to be received by faith1 is not a
 thing put into them to do of           
themselves1 but still in the supreme    
hand that appointed them2 and he indeed 
both causes the souls of his own to     
receive these his seals with faith1 and 
makes them effectual to confirm that    
faith which receives them so4 ,they are 
then1 in a word1 neither empty signs to 
them who believe1 nor effectual causes  
of grace to them that believe not4  ,let

 me make the distinction very clear to  
your mind1 for it is of great practical 
importance4 ,the mystery of iniquity in 
,paul's time1 and since his day1 did    
not1 and does not1 consist in making too
 much of ,god's ordinances in their     
purity and proper use4 ,that cannot be  
done1 any more than you can             
intelligently love the ,bible too much1 
or the ,sabbath4 ,but1 to pervert them1 
or to make additions to them1 or to rely
 upon them wholly1 is ,romanism4 ,but   
can men make too much of having a seal  
on a deed8 ,is the deed good for        
anything without the seal8 ,can they    
make too much of having three witnesses 
to their wills8 ,those three witnesses1 
instead of two1 make an otherwise       
worthless writing1 a man's last will and
 testament4 ,thus1 a true sign1         
ordinance1 or seal1 among men1 has      
inherent efficacy of some sort4 ,shall  
we deny it to the ordinances and seals  
of ,heaven8 ,he who lays claim to the   
covenant1 but rejects the seal1 deceives

 himself4 ,they must go together4  ,but 
will you not think me older even than ,i
 claim to be1 because ,i am so          
garrulous8 ,i have many things to say1  
but will not say them with pen and ink1 
hoping to see you shortly4 ,farewell1 my
 dear daughter1 to you and your beloved 
husband1 with abundant kisses for your  
little namesake1 who1 ,i pray1 may be   
spared to you1 if ,god has any work for 
her to do on earth4 ,dedicate her       
sincerely and entirely1 beforehand1 to  
,god1 and then in his house1 with       
baptism1 before the assembled brethren  
in ,christ2 and let your subsequent     
treatment of her be a repetition of the 
whole4 ,baptizing a child1 with right   
views and feelings1 leads to much prayer
 for it4 ,renew the consecration of your
 child daily1 in little1 sudden acts of 
prayer1 as well as in more deliberate   
offices of devotion4 ,thus surround it  
with an atmosphere of faith and         
consecration1 not forgetting the public 
transaction in which you covenanted with

 ,god1 before many witnesses1 for the   
child1 and ,he1 my dear daughter1 with  
you1 in its behalf4 ,for1 a covenant    
implies two parties2 and ,god is one1   
and you are the other2 and ,jesus is the
 mediator1 who said of children1 ,of    
such is the kingdom of ,god4 ,he that   
came down from heaven1 had seen1 in     
heaven1 how largely that world is       
peopled with them4 ,of such is the      
kingdom of heaven4 ,peace be with you4  
,all send love4     ,your affectionate  
,father4     ,chapter ,third4           
,,bertha',s ,,baptism4--,,chanting ,,at 
,,baptisms4--,,public ,,and ,,private   
,,baptisms4--,,week-,,day               
,,baptisms4--,a ,,daughter',s           
,,love4--,,baptism ,,of ,a ,,deaf-,,mute
 ,,infant4--,,fidelity ,,of ,a          
,,baptized ,,child4--,,subjects ,,of    
,,baptism4--,,the                       
,,mode4--,,improbability ,,of           
,,immersion1 ,,in ,,the ,,new           
,,testament4--,,on ,,being ,,buried ,,in
 ,,baptism4--,,new ,,version ,,of ,,the 

,,scriptures4--,,our ,,division ,,into  
,,sects4--,a ,,mother',s ,,plea ,,for   
,,infant ,,baptism4     ,where is it    
mothers learn their love8      ,in every
 church a fountain springs1    ,o'er    
which th' eternal ,dove      ,hovers on 
softest wings4     ,o1 happy arms1 where
 cradled lies1      ,and ready for the  
,lord's embrace1    ,that precious      
sacrifice1      ,the darling of his     
grace6             ,,keble4   ,we took  
,bertha to church when she was two      
months old4 ,the minister1 being fond of
 music1 had1 for some time1 requested   
the choir to chant select passages of   
,scripture at baptisms4  ,so1 as we came
 up the aisle with the child1 the choir 
breathed out those words1 ,and ,i will  
establish my covenant between thee and  
me1 and thy seed after thee1 in their   
generations1 for an everlasting         
covenant2 to be a ,god unto thee1 and to
 thy seed after thee4 ,suffer the little
 children to come unto me1 and forbid   
them not2 for of such is the kingdom of 

,god4 ,and he took them up in his arms1 
put his hands upon them1 and blessed    
them4 ,and1 as we turned away from the  
font1 they added1 ,so shall he sprinkle 
many nations4 ,the ,lord shall increase 
you more and more1 you and your         
children4 ,but the mercy of the ,lord is
 from everlasting to everlasting upon   
them that fear him1 and his             
righteousness unto children's children2 
to such as keep his covenant1 and to    
those that remember his commandments1 to
 do them4  ,how ,i loved that choir1 and
 the congregation6 for1 many a face did 
,i see bathed in tears1 and others      
beaming with smiles and love1 as1 with  
respectful1 half-turned looks1 they     
seemed to give us their blessing4  ,do  
you not think1 more than ever1 ,i said1 
to the beloved grandmother of my child1 
after church1 as we watched the little  
sleeper in her cradle1 that people lose 
very much in having their children      
baptized at home8  ,it makes a different
 thing of it1 she replied4 ,i felt that 

all the congregation loved ,bertha and  
you4 ,how many prayers you obtained for 
her and for yourselves1 which you would 
have missed by a private baptism6       
,besides1 ,i remarked1 ',god loveth the 
gates of ,zion more than all the        
dwellings of ,jacob4' ,i think that for 
that reason1 and on the same principle1 
namely1 that he is more honored1 he     
regards our public dedication of        
children with more favor than a private 
baptism1 except1 of course1 where       
sickness makes the public service       
impossible4 ,but it is some trouble to  
mothers1 and no doubt many shrink from  
it4  ,the trouble is more in            
anticipation than reality1 she replied4 
,that pastor's room1 where they stay    
till the introductory services are over1
 makes it more convenient and agreeable4
 ,but all the trouble1 even if it were  
far greater1 is nothing compared with   
the satisfaction of having taken your   
offering and come into ,his courts4 ,you
 have paid your vows unto the ,lord1 in 

the presence of all his people4 ,you    
will remember those prayers1 those words
 of ,scripture which were chanted1 and  
your feelings as you took the child into
 your arms to be presented to ,god1 and 
as you heard those adorable names       
pronounced upon her and then received   
her back into your arms1 as it were1    
from the hands of ,god4  ,what do you   
think1 said ,i1 of the practice of      
having children baptized in the church  
on a week-day8 ,it enables the parents  
to attend meeting on the ,sabbath with  
more composure than when they bring     
their children on the ,sabbath4  ,but   
,o1 said she1 what is that1 compared    
with the privilege of bringing the child
 before the whole church of ,god1 in his
 house1 on the ,lord's day1 and so      
identifying its baptism with the most   
solemn acts of public worship8 ,i do not
 like those week-day baptisms4 ,where   
they have the communion lecture in the  
afternoon of a week-day1 there may be   
reasons of convenience for bringing the 

children for baptism then1 rather than  
on the ,sabbath2 but there is a great   
loss of enjoyment1 and also of          
impressiveness1 in the ordinance1 in    
doing so1 ,i think4 ,i was at a place1  
several years ago1 when fourteen        
children were baptized on a ,wednesday  
afternoon1 in the church4 ,i went to see
 it1 but it was not solemn at all4 ,i   
could not help thinking what an         
impressive and useful sight that would  
have been on the ,sabbath1 before all   
the people1 and how much more good1     
probably1 it would have done the        
parents1 even if they had given up half 
the ,sabbath in going and returning with
 the children4  ,if people1 said ,i1    
thought more of the spiritual meaning   
and privileges of baptism1 and viewed it
 as they do in times of sickness and    
death1 they would think less of         
inconveniences and discomforts1 and see 
that the ordinance is something more    
than giving a child a name4         99  
99       99       99       99  ,some    

time after this1 ,i called upon a cousin
 of ours1 a young married lady of our   
congregation1 who1 within a year1 had   
come to us from another place1 she      
having been married to an educated1     
intelligent member of another           
congregation1 and who1 from his great   
love for her1 had come with her to our  
place of worship from another           
denomination1 this having been made a   
condition of their marriage4 ,for she   
felt that she could not be debarred the 
privilege of sitting at the ,lord's     
table with her mother1 three sisters1   
and brother1 as she would be if she     
united herself with her friend's church4
 ,the idea of going to any table of     
,christ on earth where they could not   
come1 thus seeming to disfranchise her  
whole family whom ,christ had gathered  
into his fold1 and some of them into    
heaven1 did violence to her feelings4   
,at one time1 it seemed likely that the 
engagement of marriage would be         
terminated1 on this ground alone4 ,some 

one of the gentleman's persuasion1 who  
thought that she ought to follow ,christ
 in ordinances1 and take up her cross in
 this instance1 whispered to her that   
she was1 perhaps1 in danger of denying  
,christ1 from love to her kindred1 and  
he said to her1 ,he that loveth father  
or mother more than me1 is not worthy of
 me4 ,this had the opposite effect from 
that which was intended1 for it showed  
her1 in the strongest light1 the error  
of supposing that love to ,christ could 
ever require her to separate from       
herself1 at the table of ,christ1 such  
friends of ,jesus as the members of her 
dear ,christian home1--a home which had 
been like that of ,bethany to many of   
the ,saviour's friends4 ,she felt more  
sure of being actuated by right motives 
in giving up her marriage1 and not      
withdrawing fellowship from her mother  
and the family1 than she would be in    
sacrificing that fellowship to gratify a
 new affection4 ,her next younger sister
 was baptized after the father's death4 

,she was a deaf-mute4 ,the mother was a 
very beautiful woman4 ,she had borne    
severe trials for her religion with a   
spirit of patience and ,christian       
propriety which won the love and esteem 
of the community4 ,she went to the altar
 of ,god1 a widow1 with the little deaf 
and dumb child1 and presented it for    
baptism4 ,it was as though the impending
 calamity of its father's death had shut
 up some of the senses of the child1 and
 ,god had placed it in the mother's hand
 as a silent memorial to her1 for life1 
of his chastising love4 ,she left her   
fatherless flock in the family pew1 and 
went with her nursling1 not merely to   
give it to ,god1 but to receive for it  
the seal of his covenant1 bowing        
submissively to his inscrutable         
appointment1 and imploring the ,god of  
,abraham to be still her ,god1 and the  
,god of this her seed4 ,that scene had  
not failed to make deep impressions upon
 the other children2 and now it was     
proposed to one of them that she should1

 by connecting herself in marriage1     
disavow her mother's right to cling1 in 
those hours of anguish1 to that asylum  
of the fatherless1 infant baptism1--that
 very present help in trouble1 the      
covenant of ,god with believers and     
their offspring4 ,the little child1     
moreover1 had become a ,christian1 and  
had sat with her sister1 side by side1  
at the communion-table1 for several     
years4 ,forbid it1 she prayed with      
herself1 that ,i should go where ,i     
cannot be allowed to follow ,christ till
 ,i have separated this dear one from my
 side4  ,she once wrote a letter on the 
subject to the gentleman1 which he      
showed1 after their marriage1 to some of
 his friends4 ,there will be no         
impropriety in its appearing here4 ,it  
ran thus3       ,,my ,,dear ,,mr4 ,e43  
,though ,i am not willing to deny that  
,roger      ,williams was1 as you say1  
raised up to illustrate some important  
principles1 and to help on the general  
cause of truth1 ,i must say      that he

 strikes me as a very unreasonable man  
in much of his      behavior4 ,our      
puritan fathers did not come to this    
wilderness with      ,french1 atheistic1
 idolatrous love for a goddess of       
liberty4 ,they      came here1 it is    
true1 for liberty of conscience and     
freedom to      worship ,god4 ,with a   
great sum they purchased this freedom4  
,but      infidels could as well claim  
to be absolved by the laws from all     
recognition of ,god1 under the plea of  
liberty1 as ,mr4 ,williams and      his 
friends could make his demands for      
toleration4 ,to insist that      our    
fathers1 in their circumstances1 should 
have opened their doors      wide to    
every doctrine1 and to the denial of    
everything professed      by them1 is   
unreasonable4 ,they came here with an   
intense love for      certain truths and
 practices1 which persecution had only  
served to      make exceedingly precious
 to them4 ,to have proclaimed at once   
universal toleration of every wind of   

doctrine1 would have proved      them   
libertines in religion4 ,because they   
did not so1 reproach is      cast upon  
them by some1 who seem to me to be      
free-thinkers on the      subject of    
religious liberty4 ,if other men wished 
to found a      community with doctrines
 and practices adverse to those of the  
,new      ,england fathers1 the land was
 wide1 and it would have been the part  
of good manners in ,mr4 ,williams to    
have gone into the wilderness at        
once1 to subdue it and to fight the     
savages1 all for love and zeal      for 
his own tenets1 instead of poaching upon
 the hard-earned soil      of those who 
had laid down their all for what they   
deemed to be the      truth4 ,it seems  
to me unphilosophical in some of our    
historians to      reflect1 as they do1 
upon our forefathers for not being so   
totally      indifferent to what they   
deemed error1 as to allow it free       
course4      ,their strict1 and1 if you 
please1 rigid ways1 were the necessary  

defences of their principles1 which were
 just taking root here4      ,they did  
right in passing stringent laws to      
protect them2 and      religious liberty
 was no more violated in doing so than  
is the      liberty of our town's people
 here1 who1 by the law of the ,state    
protecting game1 cannot take fish1 or   
kill birds1 during certain      seasons4
       ,besides1 ,i never saw any proof 
that ,mr4 ,williams was himself the     
great apostle of toleration4 ,i remember
 reading to father1 during      his     
sickness1 some remarks of the late ,john
 ,quincy ,adams1 in which      he       
vindicates the ,new ,england fathers for
 banishing ,roger ,williams      as a   
'nuisance4'#c ,mr4 ,adams surely cannot 
be accused of bigotry1      nor of being
 an enemy to the cause of freedom2 and  
his remarks      seemed to me more just 
than the eulogies1 by historians and    
orators1 of ,mr4 ,williams4 ,father once
 showed me an old book of ,mr4          
,williams's1 which we have now1 called  

',george ,fox digg'd out of his         
,burrowes1' in which ,mr4 ,w4 inveighs  
against the ,quakers for their      want
 of 'civil respect1' and for using      
'thee' and 'thou1' in      addressing   
magistrates and others4 ,he says1 on the
 two hundredth      page1 ',i have      
therefore publickly declared myself1    
that a due and      moderate restraint  
and punishing of these incivilities     
7though      pretending conscience7 is  
as far from persecution1 properly so    
called1 as that it is a duty and command
 of ,god unto all mankinde1      first  
in families1 and thence unto all        
mankinde societies4'--,it is      also a
 matter of history that the colony      
settled by ,mr4 ,williams      refused  
their franchise to ,roman ,catholics1   
though even then the      ,roman        
,catholics of ,maryland were tolerating 
people of his own      faith1 and       
,quakers also4 ,mr4 ,williams always    
seemed to me like one      of our pious1
 zealous 'come-outers4' ,he even forsook

 his own      denomination in three     
months after he had been baptized1 and  
for      forty years denied the validity
 of their sacraments1 and the           
scripturalness of their churches and    
ministry4 ,such a man would      even at
 this day be excommunicated by every    
society1 unless it      were some       
association for the encouragement of    
radical notions of      liberty4 ,i no  
more see in him the impersonation of    
religious      freedom1 than in some    
other good people who go or stay where  
they      are not wanted4 ,i am not     
disposed to deny that you and your      
friends1 with their principles1 of which
 you1 erroneously1 ,i think1      claim 
,mr4 ,williams as the great exponent1   
'have a mission1' as you      say1 to   
perform2 but ,i do not feel called upon 
to join in it4 ,some      of your       
writers seem to me--shall ,i say it8--a 
little too sure of      having just the 
right pattern and patent-right in       
ordinances1 and      somewhat too       

complacent in not being liked by other  
denominations1      and perhaps a little
 disposed to look for persecution4 ,now 
,i was      pleased with a remark of    
,matthew ,henry's1 on ,mark #aj3bh1 that
 ',it      is not the suffering1 but the
 cause1 that makes the martyr4' ,but we 
were brought up under different         
associations1 and cannot see just       
alike in all things4 ,i cannot1 however1
 contradict1 by any step      which my  
feelings would incline me to take1 the  
,christian      citizenship of those who
 are dear to ,christ1 and are so        
precious to      me4 ,as much as ,i love
 you1 ,i think you should feel perfectly
 free      to leave me in my happy home1
 if you cannot allow me to retain my    
fidelity to my own conscientious        
convictions of truth1 and to the        
sacred rights of those whom nature and  
grace have conspired to make            
inseparable from my own ,christian hopes
 and joys4  ,footnote #c3 ,can we blame 
the founders of the ,massachusetts      

,colony for banishing him from their    
jurisdiction8 ,in the annals of         
religious persecution is there to be    
found a martyr more gently dealt with by
 those against whom he began the war of 
intolerance2 whose authority he         
persisted1 even after professions of    
penitence and submission1 in defying1   
till deserted even by the wife of his   
bosom2 and whose utmost severity of     
punishment upon him was only an order   
for his removal as a nuisance from among
 them8--,discourse before ,mass4 ,hist4 
,soc41 #ahdc1 pp4 #be-cj4--;,,ed4  ,the 
gentleman agreed to allow her the       
largest liberty1 and they were married4 
,he knew that she had a mind and heart  
that were more precious than rubies1 and
 that the heart of a husband could      
safely trust in her4 ,the sequel will   
show1 however1 how good it is to be     
matched as well as mated1 and1 in the   
conjugal relation1 to be perfectly      
joined together in the same judgment4   
,the object of my call1 that evening1   

was to rejoice with her1 and to be the  
bearer of some congratulations at the   
recovery of their infant1 whose death   
had been expected for some time4 ,the   
child was now perfectly restored4  ,as  
,i stood in the entry1 not having rung  
the door-bell1 and was hanging up my hat
 and coat1 some one in the parlor said3 
,what good can it do the child or us to 
sprinkle a little water on its head8    
,good-evening1 ,mr4 ,m41 said the       
husband1 as ,i went in4 ,i was          
interrupted in my expression of a fear  
that ,i had intruded upon their         
conversation1 by their assurances to the
 contrary4 ,i am glad you came in1 said 
,mr4 ,kelly1 for perhaps you can help   
us4 ,you heard1 ,i suppose1 what ,i was 
saying as you came in4 ,if ,i am not    
mistaken1 ,mr4 ,m41 you yourself are not
 very strenuous about infant baptism1   
for ,i have heard of your making        
inquiries on the subject4  ,not only    
have all my doubts been removed1 said   
,i1 but the baptism of my child has been

 the source of the richest instruction  
and comfort4  ,i am glad to hear you say
 so1 said ,mrs4 ,k4  ,but1 said ,mr4    
,k41 you do not1 of course1 derive your 
warrant for it from the word of ,god4   
,that is our only guide1 you know4      
,there is no more authority in the      
,bible for baptizing children than there
 is for praying to saints4 ,you are     
probably aware that the practice        
originated in the third century of the  
,christian era4  ,mr4 ,m4 ,it originated
 with a man by the name of ,abraham1 ,i 
believe1 sir1 two or three thousand     
years before ,christ4  ,mr4 ,k4 ,o1     
then1 you go to ,judaism for it6  ,mr4  
,m4 ,judaism comes to me with it1 and   
hands it over to me4 ,there was         
something good in ,judaism1 we all      
think4 ,judaism was not a ,mormonism1 as
 certain ways of speaking of it not     
unfrequently would make us think it to  
have been2 it was not an exploded folly1
 but the form which the church of ,god  
bore for two thousand years4 ,but it    

began before ,judaism2 it is older than 
,moses4 ,judaism received it from       
,abraham4 ,it is like a great river     
rising in a desert place1 and seeming to
 lose itself in a lake1 but flowing out 
again into another lake1 and thence to  
the sea4 ,so ,judaism was only a great  
lake1 which took and seemingly held this
 river of baptism for a time1 but its   
current went on and flowed into another 
lake1 the ,christian dispensation4 ,but 
you cannot say that a river which makes 
a chain of lakes1 rises1 for that       
reason1 in the first lake4 ,no1 its head
 spring1 in this case1 was antecedent to
 the lake4  ,mr4 ,k4 ,did ,abraham or   
the ,jews baptize children1 ,mr4 ,m48   
,i answered1 ,every male child of       
,abraham's descendants1 who should not  
receive the sign of consecration to     
,god1 was to be cut off from among the  
people4 ,proselytes of the covenant and 
their children were baptized1 very      
early4  ,mr4 ,k4 ,but where is the      
command to apply baptism to children8   

,mr4 ,m4 ,where1 my dear sir1 is the    
command to discontinue that which was   
enjoined upon the founder of the race of
 believers for all time8 ,i believe in  
the perpetuity of ,abraham's relation to
 us as the father of the faithful1 as ,i
 believe in ,adam's relation to us as   
the representative of the race1 and in  
the ,saviour's relation to us as our    
representative4 ,god seems to love these
 federal headships1 as we call them4    
,abraham did not receive circumcision   
being a ,jew1 but1 as the apostle says1 
as a seal of the righteousness which is 
by faith1 which he had while he was yet 
uncircumcised4 ,we have ,scripture for  
that1 ,mr4 ,kelly4 ,and the law1 which  
was four hundred and thirty years after1
 did not disannul that covenant that was
 confirmed before of ,god in ,christ4   
,how can you call circumcision a ,jewish
 ordinance1 when the ,bible so          
explicitly denies it to be of ,jewish   
origin8  ,mr4 ,k4 ,o1 ,i do not         
understand this ,abrahamic covenant4 ,i 

take the ,new ,testament for my guide4  
,mr4 ,m4 ,you think well of the book of 
,psalms1 ,i presume1 as a help to prayer
 and pious feelings8  ,mr4 ,k4 ,yes2 but
 in all matters of faith and practice1  
the ,new ,testament1 like the doings of 
the latest session of the legislature1  
is the rule for ,new ,testament         
believers4 ,you might as well have tried
 to govern the ancient ,jews with the   
,new ,testament1 as enforce the laws of 
the ,old ,testament on us4  ,mr4 ,m4 ,is
 the privilege of having ,god stand in a
 special relation to my child an ,old   
,testament ordinance1 in the same sense 
with ceremonial observances8  ,mr4 ,k4  
,not exactly that1 but it is a          
superstition to baptize children1 now   
that circumcision is done away1 and     
believers' baptism is enjoined4  ,mr4   
,m4 ,believers' baptism is enjoined1 but
 children's baptism is not therefore    
prohibited4  ,mr4 ,k4 ,but where is it  
enacted8  ,mr4 ,m4 ,if the original form
 of dedicating children is essential1   

why is not the original form of the     
,sabbath essential1 the very day which  
was first appointed8 ,how dare we change
 a day which ,god himself ordained from 
the beginning1 until he makes the change
 as peremptory as the institution       
itself8 ,have we any right to infer1 in 
such an important matter8 ,where is the 
express1 divine command1--not precedent1
 example1 usage1 but where is the       
enactment1--making the first day of the 
week the ,christian ,sabbath8  ,mr4 ,k4 
,so long as we may keep the thing1      
observing one day in seven1 it makes no 
difference which day we keep1 if we can 
all agree on one and the same day4 ,we  
do not all agree to retain circumcision 
in any way4  ,mr4 ,m4 ,so long as we may
 retain the thing signified by          
circumcision1 it makes but little       
difference what form is used to express 
it4  ,mr4 ,k4 ,the apostles1 who changed
 the ,sabbath from the seventh to the   
first day1 knew the mind of ,christ4    
,mr4 ,m4 ,and so the men1 who first     

practised infant baptism1 knew the minds
 of the inspired apostles1 and they knew
 the mind of ,christ4 ,but to go a step 
further back1 the only ground for       
inferring that the ,sabbath is rightly  
changed from the seventh to the first   
day of the week1 is the incidental      
mention of ,christ's meeting his        
assembled disciples a few times after   
his resurrection on the first day4 ,on  
that slight ground we are all content to
 rest our present observance of the     
,sabbath4 ,now1 ,i say that the mention 
of the baptism of households eight      
times1 in one form and another1 is as   
good a warrant for infant baptism1 as   
those two or three ,sabbath-evening     
meetings were for the institution of the
 ,lord's-day ,sabbath4  ,mr4 ,k4 ,i     
cannot agree with you1 ,mr4 ,m41 in     
putting circumcision on the same level  
with the ,sabbath4  ,mr4 ,m4 ,i myself  
see a resemblance in the changes made in
 the two cases4 ,i have no wish to      
proselyte you to my views4 ,i have only 

answered your polite inquiries4  ,mr4   
,k4 ,o1 ,i know that2 we shall be good  
friends still2 but ,i see no grounds for
 baptizing children on the faith of     
their parents4  ,mr4 ,m4 ,we look at the
 thing from different points of view4 ,i
 see it as clearly as ,i see that the   
church of ,god is essentially the same  
in all ages1 with its variety of forms4 
,this matter of children's baptism is   
with me a spiritual thing1 and is       
independent of dispensations4 ,you know 
that a river may have1 in one district  
of the earth through which it flows1 one
 name1 and in another district another  
name1 while it is the same river4 ,now1 
the divine recognition of believers'    
children1 as standing in a special      
covenanted relation with ,god1 is the   
headspring of infant dedication by the  
use of a rite4 ,the object of this      
recognition is1 that ,he may have a     
godly seed4 ,god does not perpetuate    
religion directly by natural descent1 it
 is true1 but he seeks to promote it by 

descent from a pious parentage1 and he  
therefore endows that parentage with    
special privileges and promises4 ,the   
inclusion of children with their        
believing parents has been the great    
means of perpetuating religion in the   
earth4 ,it is a stream which washed the 
shores of ,judaism under the name of    
circumcision2 now it washes the shores  
of the ,gentiles under the name of      
baptism4 ,for the ,saviour or the       
apostles to have reppointed infant      
dedication1 with the use of the         
cotemporary initiating ordinance1 would1
 to my mind1 be as superfluous as for   
the allied powers to have agreed that   
the ,danube should still run through    
,austria4  ,mr4 ,k4 ,your principle of  
interpretation1 ,mr4 ,m41 has brought in
 all the darkness which has covered the 
earth in the ,romish apostacy4 ,there   
will be no end to human inventions in   
religion1 if this principle prevails4   
,mr4 ,m4 ,but1 my dear sir1 there       
certainly has been an end at the very   

beginning2 for what inventions in       
,protestant worship have non-prelatical 
,pdobaptists made8 ,surely that practice
 has not been prolific of superstitions4
 ,i often hear this alleged1 ,mr4 ,k41  
and we are called ,romish and ,popish   
because we baptize infants4 ,but will it
 not be best for ,christian sects to    
allow each other entire liberty of      
conscience1 and not accuse each other of
 tendencies to ,romanism1 when all are  
zealously ,protestant8 ,here is a piece1
 which ,i cut from a newspaper lately1  
which describes the baptism by immersion
 of some females and others1 one        
,sabbath in ,january1 the thermometer   
below zero1 a place being cut through   
the ice for the purpose1 and a boy      
watching with a pole to keep the        
floating ice from the opening4 ,shall ,i
 call this ,romish1 superstitious1      
fanatical8 ,shall ,i say1 ,how can we1  
consistently with such practices among  
,protestants1 say anything about the    
doctrine of penances8 ,no4 ,i prefer to 

think that those who do these things are
 as good ,protestants as myself1 and ,i 
will not impeach their rigid adherence  
to their belief1 by imputing ,romish    
tendencies to their modes of worship and
 their ordinances2 for no people are    
further from ,romanism in their         
principles than they 7unless it be some 
of us ,pdobaptists1 ,mrs4 ,kelly74  ,mr4
 ,k4 ,well1 there is no quarrelling with
 you2 but let me say that when another  
sect sees you employing an ordinance    
which has no warrant in the             
,bible1--sprinkling water upon people1  
on proper subjects and improper subjects
 for baptism1 when we know that the word
 baptize means to immerse1 and that     
believers only are properly             
baptized1--how can we be silent8 ,would 
you be silent if ,episcopalians should  
set up ,latin prayers1 or the           
confessional2 or the ,methodists turn   
their love-feasts into the old          
,passover8  ,mr4 ,m4 ,we must tolerate  
the mistakes and errors of those who1 in

 the main1 are confessedly good1 and are
 conscientious in what we deem their    
errors4 ,when the noble array of great  
and good men in the ,episcopal ,low     
,church1 and among the ,methodists1 fall
 into such mistakes as you have         
specified1 there will be opportunity for
 other ,christians to express           
themselves4 ,but you are rather         
rhetorical in your reasoning1 to compare
 the practice of infant baptism by      
,owen1 and ,watts1 and ,doddridge1 and  
,leighton1 and ,baxter1 and all like    
them1 with ,latin prayers and a return  
to the ,passover4  ,mr4 ,k4 ,there is   
not a case of sprinkling in the ,new    
,testament4 ,you are too well-informed  
to deny this4  ,mr4 ,m4 ,mr4 ,k41 there 
is not one instance of baptism1 in the  
,new ,testament1 where there does not   
appear to me to be an improbability of  
its having been administered by         
immersion4  ,by this time ,mrs4 ,k41 who
 had been called away to attend to her  
child1 returned1 and hearing my last    

remark1 said1 with a significant look at
 her husband3  ,we shall require you to 
prove that1 ,mr4 ,m4  ,most willingly1  
said ,i4 ,do you think1 cousin ,eunice1 
that the multitudes who came to ,john   
and the apostles to be baptized1 brought
 changes of raiment with them8  ,no1    
said she2 and there were no conveniences
 for making a change of dress in those  
places1 ,i presume4  ,mr4 ,m4 ,were they
 immersed in the clothes which they had 
on8  ,mrs4 ,k4 ,that does not seem      
probable4 ,some of them1 at least1 had  
valuable garments1 we may suppose1 and  
few1 if any1 would wish to have their   
apparel wet through1 or to keep it on   
them1 if wet4  ,mr4 ,m4 ,they were not  
immersed without clothing1 of course1   
promiscuously1 and1 therefore1 ,i       
believe that they were all baptized by  
sprinkling or pouring1 their loose upper
 garments allowing them to step into the
 water1 or very near it2 and ,john1     
standing there 7and the apostles1 also1 
when they administered baptism71 and    

laying on the water with his hand1 or1  
which is not impossible1 with the       
long-accustomed bunches of hyssop4 ,the 
,episcopal mode of administering the    
,lord's ,supper1 enables me to conceive 
how baptism by sprinkling could be      
administered rapidly4 ,as six or more   
people are kneeling1 the ,episcopal     
minister gives each his portion of the  
bread1 and repeats the formula1 not to  
each one1 but once only while his hand  
is passing over the six4 ,so1 ,i        
imagine1 ,john repeated whatever form he
 had 7and the apostles theirs7 to       
companies1 while1 in rapid succession1  
he applied the water to them4 ,it is    
impossible to account for the           
performance of such incredible labor as 
,john must have undergone1 unless we    
adopt some such supposition as this1 or 
confess that ,john's baptism was1       
throughout1 a miracle4 ,but the people  
said1 ,john did no miracle4 ,if the     
apostles sprinkled three thousand in    
this way1 by companies1 in one day1 as  

they could easily have done1 we can see 
how the same day there could be added   
unto them about three thousand souls1   
even if added meant being baptized4     
,that the apostles had assistance in    
administering baptism at this early     
period1 is not probable4 ,they had not  
yet proposed to have helpers in taking  
care of the poor1 much less to share    
with them the first administration of   
,christian baptism4 ,if any church were 
to require me to believe1 before        
admitting me to the ,lord's table1 that 
the apostles immersed three thousand    
people at the day of ,pentecost1 after  
nine o'clock in the morning1 in the     
midst of necessary labors1 and at that  
driest season of the year1 or in tanks1 
,i could no more believe it than ,i     
could confess that the earth is flat4   
,mrs4 ,k4 ,but ,john was baptizing in   
,enon1 near to ,salim1 because there was
 much water there4  ,mr4 ,m4 ,much      
water1 in those countries1 was on a     
smaller scale than in ,north ,america4  

,they would have needed all the         
lake-shore or river banks that could be 
found1 to witness the baptisms1 and to  
pass in and out of1 or to and from1 the 
water1 conveniently1 while ,john stood  
to receive them in or near the water4 ,a
 fountain or small body of water would  
not have accommodated those multitudes2 
not because the water would not suffice1
 for a small running stream would be    
enough1 and would have afforded much    
water2 but think what inconvenience     
there would have been in baptizing a    
crowd around a small stream4 ,baptism by
 immersion1 among us1 though a few      
gallons of water only are needed1 is    
more conveniently done where there is   
much water2 because the spectators can  
spread themselves along the banks1 and  
then there is no confusion4 ,the most   
convenient and rapid way of baptizing   
multitudes by sprinkling would be1 for  
the administrator to stand in the water1
 and let the people pass by him4        
,besides1 those multitudes who came to  

,john's baptism needed much water for   
themselves and their beasts4  ,mrs4 ,k4 
,but the ,saviour went down into the    
water1 and came up out of the water4    
,mr4 ,m4 ,so did ,john1 in the same     
sense2 and so did both ,philip and the  
,eunuch2 but ,john and ,philip did not1 
therefore1 go under the water4 ,but ,mr4
 ,kelly will tell you that down in to1  
and up out of1 might as well have been  
translated to and from1 in the case of  
the ,eunuch4 ,if you insist that going  
down into the water involves immersion1 
it follows that ,philip went under the  
water with the ,eunuch1 and there       
baptized him4  ,mr4 ,k4 ,we shall set   
those matters right in that new version 
of the ,bible which you were complaining
 of the last time ,i saw you4 ,down     
into1 and up out of1 are required by the
 word baptize1 which means immerse4     
,mr4 ,m4 ,no1 my dear sir1 not always1  
even in the ,new ,testament4 ,the word  
had come1 even in the ,saviour's time1  
to signify purification1 or             

consecration1 irrespective of the mode4 
,the ,pharisees1 in coming from the     
market-places1 except they wash1 eat    
not4 ,the word is baptize4 ,but they did
 not bathe at such times2 they baptized 
themselves by washing their bodies4 ,we 
read of the baptism of beds1 which was  
merely washing them4 ,the ,israelites   
were baptized unto ,moses4 ,there the   
word means1 simply1 inaugurated1 or set 
apart1 with no reference to the mode2   
for1 they were not immersed1 but        
bedewed1 if wet at all2 they were not   
buried in that cloud1 for the other     
cloud that led them was in sight2 they  
were not buried in the sea1 which was a 
wall to them on either hand4  ,there is 
a good illustration1 it seems to me1 of 
the change in words from their literal  
meaning1 in the passage where ,christ is
 called the first-born of every         
creature4 ,he was not born first1 before
 all men1 but he has the preminence over
 all creatures1 as the first-born had   
among the children4 ,here is an         

illustration1 from the ,new ,testament1 
of the way in which baptism may cease to
 denote any mode1 and refer only to an  
act of consecration4  ,as to that new   
version of the ,bible1 ,coleridge says1 
that the state ought to be1 to all      
religious denominations1 like a good    
portrait1 which looks benignantly on all
 in the room4 ,so the ,bible now seems  
to look kindly upon all ,christian      
sects2 and1 for one1 ,i love to have it 
so4 ,but1 some of you1 good brethren1   
who are in favor of this new version to 
suit your particular views1 are trying  
to alter the eyes of the portrait so    
that they shall look only on you1 and to
 your part of the room4 ,we think that  
you ought to be satisfied with the      
present kind look which you get from    
them4 ,there is one comfort--you will   
make a new picture to please yourselves1
 and we shall keep the old portrait4    
,please do not be too severe on my      
husband for that mistake of his1 said   
,mrs4 ,k42 ,i think that he is getting  

better of it1 in a measure4  ,mr4 ,k4 ,i
 will make you a present of the book    
when it arrives1 and1 perhaps1 you will 
agree with me4 ,but ,i am surprised to  
hear you say that you do not believe the
 ,saviour to have been immersed by      
,john4  ,mr4 ,m4 ,it was not ,christian 
baptism1 at any rate1 if he were2 for   
the names of the ,trinity are essential 
to ,christian baptism1 and those names  
had not been thus applied4  ,besides1   
,john could not have plunged and lifted 
those thousands without superhuman      
strength and endurance1 which we know he
 did not possess4 ,the same reasoning   
applies1 in the baptism of the three    
thousand at the day of ,pentecost1 both 
as respects what ,i have said of        
raiment1 and the time and strength of   
the apostles4  ,the baptism of the      
,eunuch was1 to my mind1 most probably  
by sprinkling1 making no change of      
raiment necessary4 ,see1 here is        
water1--a spring1 or stream1 by the     
road-side1 quite as likely 7and1        

travellers now say1 more probably7 as a 
pond4 ,yes1 sir1 ,philip went down into 
the water just as much as the ,eunuch   
did1 if we follow the ,greek literally4 
,i think that down refers to the        
chariot1 the act of leaving it to go to 
the water4 ,but the ,english version1 as
 it now stands1 makes strongly for your 
view of the case in the mind of the     
common reader4  ,saul of ,tarsus was    
baptized after having been struck blind1
 and while he was in a state of extreme 
exhaustion from excitement1 without     
food2 for1 during three days1 he did    
neither eat nor drink4 ,he was baptized 
before he ate2 for1 we read1 ,and he    
arose and was baptized2 and1 when he had
 received meat1 he was strengthened4 ,it
 does not seem to me probable that they 
would have put him into a river1 or     
tank1 before giving him food4 ,but it   
seems to me natural and suitable for    
,ananias to draw nigh1 and impress the  
trembling man with the mild and gentle  
sign of ,christianity1 the rite giving a

 soothing and cheering efficacy to the  
words of adoption1 and in no way        
disturbing him in body or mind4 ,i have 
always regarded the baptism of ,saul as 
a strong presumptive proof with regard  
to baptism by affusion4  ,so with the   
midnight scene of baptism in the prison 
at ,philippi4 ,the preparation of one or
 more large vessels1 to immerse the     
household1 is not congruous with the    
circumstances narrated1 as ,i read them4
 ,but the quiet and convenient act of   
baptism by sprinkling1 falls in         
harmoniously with the other parts of the
 transaction4 ,for my part1 ,i have     
always wondered how any one can fail to 
see that there are so many              
improbabilities of immersion in every   
case of baptism1 in the ,new ,testament1
 as to counteract any weight which the  
word baptize carries with it1 more      
especially since the word and its       
derivatives are employed1 in the ,new   
,testament1 in cases where the mode of  
using the water is evidently not        

intended4  ,mr4 ,k4 ,buried with him in 
baptism4 ,mr4 ,m41 you will confess that
 this is an impregnable proof-text4 ,you
 have never been buried with him in     
baptism4  ,mr4 ,m4 ,but ,i am risen with
 him1 ,mr4 ,k4 ,with all humility and   
tears1 ,i must say to you1 ,if any man  
trusteth to himself that he is          
,christ's1 let him also think this with 
himself1 that as he is ,christ's even so
 also we are ,christ's4 ,your           
application of the passage1 just quoted 
by you1 disproves your interpretation of
 it4 ,if we must be buried in water1    
when we are baptized1 then no one is    
risen with ,christ who has not been     
immersed4 ,you thus disfranchise four   
fifths1 to say the least1 of ,god's     
elect4 ,no1 my dear sir1 being buried   
with ,christ in baptism does not mean   
immersion4 ,people in the frozen ocean1 
the sick and dying1 who are sprinkled   
with water in the name of the           
,christian's ,god1 are buried with      
,christ in baptism into death2 that is1 

profess to be dead and buried to sin1 as
 ,christ was dead and buried for it4    
,besides1 follow out the passage1 and   
there is no allusion to the form of     
baptism1 as ,i can perceive1 but to     
something else4 ,buried with him by     
baptism into death2 that like as ,christ
 was raised1--from the water8--yes1 if  
water baptism be now in the writer's    
mind2 but no1--like as ,christ was      
raised from the dead1 by the glory of   
the ,father1 even so we also should walk
 in newness of life4 ,the word buried1  
therefore1 in this passage1 refers to   
the completeness of the ,saviour's death
 for sin 7as we say intensively of a    
deceased person1 he is dead and buried71
 and of the completeness of our         
renunciation of it4 ,we are dead and    
buried to sin1 as ,christ was for it2   
and we rise to newness of life1 when we 
profess to be ,christians1 as ,christ   
rose from the dead1 not from the water4 
,mr4 ,k4 ,how is it with infants8 ,are  
they dead and buried to sin when they   

are baptized8 ,if being buried1 in this 
passage1 means being dead and buried to 
sin1 then infants are regenerated by    
baptism4  ,mr4 ,k4 gave his wife a      
pleased look1 as though he had placed me
 in a dilemma4  ,mrs4 ,kelly1 said ,i1  
how do you suppose that nursing children
 ate the first passover8  ,i suppose    
that they ate it through the faith of   
their parents1 said ,mrs4 ,k41 looking  
narrowly into the stitches of her       
crochet-work1 to control a smile4  ,that
 passover1 however1 said ,i1 was the    
means of saving those children1 who1    
many of them1 were the first-born in    
their respective families4 ,yet they    
were saved by the passover through the  
faith of their parents4 ,do not         
understand me as urging the comparison  
to an extreme2 ,i only say that there we
 have an example of parents acting for  
the child in a matter of faith4 ,the    
infant child was incapable of believing1
 and even where the first-born was grown
 up1 the parent acted for him in the    

ordinance1 by sprinkling the door with  
blood4 ,i do not prove infant baptism by
 this1 but ,i use it to show that       
parents may use an ordinance for their  
infants4 ,mr4 ,k4 asks if baptized      
infants are buried with ,christ in      
baptism into death1--that is1 die unto  
sin and rise to newness of life4 ,the   
parents profess by the baptism that they
 will use means to effect this in their 
children1 through the grace of the ,holy
 ,spirit4 ,i should like to ask ,mr4    
,kelly if he believes that every person 
who is immersed1 is buried into death1  
spiritually1 with ,christ1 or is        
actually dead to sin forever2 or1       
whether it is only a profession of one's
 hope and intention4 ,for we have all   
known some1 who had been buried in      
water1 that did not prove to have died  
unto sin4  ,mr4 ,k4 ,of course it is a  
symbol2 and all we insist on is1 that   
,paul must have had immersion in mind1  
as the form of baptism1 when he spoke of
 being buried by baptism4  ,mr4 ,m4     

,when ,paul says1 ,i am crucified with  
,christ1 do you suppose that the idea of
 a cross was in his mind8 ,did he       
intimate that sanctification is effected
 by a piece of wood1 with a transverse  
beam1 used as a gibbet8 ,or did he      
simply mean1 ,i am dead to the world1   
and the world is dead to me1 yea1 and   
put to death 7not merely dying in a     
natural way71 through the power of the  
,saviour's sufferings and death on my   
behalf8 ,the burial of ,christ1         
following his death for sin1 and so     
completing the idea of dying1 is enough 
to have suggested the figure1 ,i think1 
of our being not only dead with ,christ1
 but buried with him1 by a ,christian   
profession2 that is1 we utterly cease   
from the world and sin1 professedly1 as 
,christ not only died1 but went into the
 tomb4 ,but what does risen refer to in 
that passage1--the water or death8--from
 whence also ye are risen with him      
through the faith of the operation of   
,god4  ,mr4 ,m4 ,why1 how do you        

understand it8  ,mr4 ,k4 ,i prefer1 if  
you please1 that you should answer4     
,many understand it thus3 ,you are      
buried in water1 to denote death to sin2
 you are lifted up out of the water 7as 
,christ was lifted up by the ,baptist71 
to live a new life4 ,if this be so1 what
 is the operation of ,god1 which is     
spoken of there8 ,does it need any such 
operation for an immersed person to rise
 out of the water8 ,no1 my dear sir1 our
 interpretation makes plain and thorough
 work of the whole passage4 ,our idea of
 that controverted passage 7your great  
proof-text7 is this3 ,you1 ,christian   
professors1 were1 all of you1 baptized1 
on profession of your faith2--when you  
made a ,christian profession1 you       
signified by it your dying unto sin1 as 
,christ died for it1 so that1 ,i may    
say1 you were dead and buried to sin4   
,but1 as ,christ came to life again1 so 
you rose with him1 not to sin1 but to   
live a new life4 ,hear ,dr4 ,watts on   
the passage3     ,do we not know that   

solemn word1      ,that we are buried   
with the ,lord1    ,baptized into his   
death1 and then      ,put off the body  
of our sin8     ,our souls receive      
diviner breath1      ,raised from       
corruption1 guilt and death2    ,so from
 the grave did ,christ arise1      ,and 
lives to ,god above the skies4  ,i do   
not believe that the mode of baptism is 
alluded to at all in this text4  ,mr4   
,k4 ,i cannot agree with you1 sir4 ,the 
contrary is perfectly clear to my own   
mind4  ,mr4 ,m41 said ,mrs4 ,kelly1 do  
you think that you and ,mr4 ,k4 would   
ever think alike on this subject8       
,never1 said ,i4 ,people almost always  
end where they began1 when they discuss 
this topic2 only they do not always     
leave off in such good-nature as ,mr4   
,k4 and ,i intend to do4 ,i never knew a
 person to change his views to either   
side1 unless he began as an inquirer1   
and not as an advocate4  ,what is the   
reason1 said ,mrs4 ,k41 that good people
 are left to differ so about unessential

 things in religion1 when they all hold 
to the same way of being saved8  ,i     
suppose1 said ,i1 that1 as poor human   
nature is1 for the present1 more is     
effected1 on the whole1 by letting us   
divide into sects1 and giving us each   
some external or speculative            
discrepancies to excite our zeal4 ,it is
 a sad reflection upon us1 if this be   
so1 and our sectarian behavior          
illustrates that hardness of our hearts1
 in view of which1 perhaps1 ,god suffers
 us to divide as we do4 ,but1 still1 you
 see how wisely ,god has ordained that  
good people shall not differ about      
essential things--that might be fatal to
 the success of his truth2 but they are 
left to divide about forms1 and         
ordinances1 and some doctrinal matters  
which do not involve the question of the
 way to be saved4 ,in that they all     
agree4  ,mrs4 ,k4 ,how pleasant it would
 be if they would all think alike6  ,mr4
 ,m4 ,perhaps it might not be best at   
present4 ,they should tolerate each     

other's views1 meet and act together    
where they may2 but ,i do like to see a 
man heartily attached to his own        
denomination1 without bigotry4 ,i have  
not much partiality for those schemes of
 union which require and expect each    
sect to give up its peculiarities1 and  
which seek to amalgamate us4 ,it is     
unnatural4 ,let each be thoroughly      
persuaded of his own faith2--different  
temperaments and habits of thought are  
suited by different modes and           
forms2--but let us treat each other as  
,christians1 and with urbanity and      
kindness4 ,that is the most sublime     
spectacle of union4 ,it comes nearer to 
fulfilling the prayer of ,christ1 that  
they all may be one1 when we differ     
strongly1 and yet keep the unity of the 
spirit4 ,i am doubtful whether1 even in 
heaven1 there will not be such innocent 
diversity of views about things         
successively beyond our knowledge or    
comprehension1 as to stimulate inquiry  
and discussion2 but that we shall ever  

be capable1 as we are here1 of          
alienation1 in consequence of these     
varying opinions1 is impossible4  ,mr4  
,k4 ,do you not think1 ,mr4 ,m41 that we
 shall all think alike about baptism in 
the millennium8  ,mr4 ,m4 ,i suppose    
that you expect that we shall all give  
up infant baptism4 ,but my expectation  
is that1 as we approach that day1 the   
last prophecy of the ,old ,testament    
will be as truly fulfilled as it was at 
the coming of ,christ1 and that the     
hearts of the fathers will be turned to 
the children1 and the hearts of the     
children to the fathers4 ,parental piety
 and discipline will be greatly         
promoted1 and an attendant of it will   
be1 ,i suppose1 a greater use of the    
ordinance of infant baptism1 demanded by
 the pious feelings of parents1 as pious
 feeling in the regenerate craves the   
ordinance which commemorates the love   
and sufferings of the ,redeemer4 ,the   
feelings of pious parents will require  
the ordinance of infant baptism1 as an  

expression of their earnest desire to   
have fellowship with ,god as the ,god of
 the believer and his offspring1 the    
covenant-keeping ,god4 ,it is to the    
increase and prevalence of this feeling 
that ,i look now for an increasing      
observance of infant baptism2 for1      
without such feeling1 the ordinance is  
an empty name4 ,where that feeling      
exists1 it soon modifies the speculative
 views of a parent4 ,as our conscious   
need of an atoning ,saviour soon dispels
 the former difficulties about the      
doctrine of the ,trinity1 so a longing  
desire to have special covenanting with 
,god for a dear child1 makes the subject
 of ,god's everlasting covenant with    
,abraham1 as the great believer1 and the
 father of believers1 plain4  ,now1     
before ,i forget it1 please let me tell 
you of an objection to infant baptism1  
which ,i lately met with1 drawn from the
 effect of the prevalent practice of it 
in a community4  ,the objection is1 it  
prevents us1 in a measure1 from         

fulfilling ,christ's command1 ,go1 teach
 all nations1 baptizing them4 ,for1     
going into the ,roman ,catholic or      
,greek churches1 or an ,armenian        
country1 and making converts1 the       
missionaries cannot baptize them1 for1  
alas6 they were baptized in infancy1 and
 to re-baptize is against the law of the
 countries4  ,now1 this seems to me no  
great calamity2 for if the converts     
themselves recognize their baptism1 and 
adopt it as profession of their faith1  
it is like a man's acknowledging the    
hand and seal on an instrument1 made    
irregularly at first1 but now1 under    
competent circumstances1 declared to be 
equivalent to his own act and deed at   
the date of this declaration4 ,he would 
not need to re-write the document1 nor  
to use wax or wafers again1 except in   
witness of his acknowledging the        
original act4 ,though it be but a man's 
covenant1 yet1 if it be confirmed1 no   
man disannulleth or addeth thereto4     
,but1 however it may be in such         

countries and communions as ,i have     
named1 certainly it cannot be a calamity
 if the practice of infant baptism      
becomes such a spiritual and practical  
thing1 that young persons are generally 
converted1 so that adult baptisms       
disappear4 ,i love to notice1 when      
several persons join our church1 how few
 of them receive baptism1 showing that  
their baptism in childhood has been     
followed by conversion4 ,the fewness of 
adult baptisms1 with us1 compared with  
cases of infant baptism1 is a good sign4
 ,they will be fewer and fewer1 in      
proportion as our parents make and keep 
covenant with ,god for their children4  
,mr4 ,kelly was at this moment called   
out1 but requested me to remain and     
finish the conversation with ,mrs4 ,k4  
,she resumed it1 saying3  ,had ,i better
 read any more on the subject8 ,my      
feelings lead me strongly to take our   
little one to church4 ,i feel that ,i   
should be strengthened by the solemn act
 of doing what the covenant of your     

church says1 'avouching the ,lord       
,jehovah to be your ,god and the ,god of
 your children forever4' ,i do wish to  
feel that ,i have done something like   
bearing testimony before ,god1 in a     
special way1 that ,i give my child to   
him1 and engage ,god to be his ,god4    
,mr4 ,m4 ,i should candidly examine     
whatever ,mr4 ,k4 wishes you to read or 
hear on the subject1 and not be afraid  
of the truth1 let it lead where it may4 
,but what first made you think of       
baptizing your little boy8  ,mrs4 ,k4 ,i
 always loved the ordinance4 ,but1 when 
,i thought that ,henry was going to die1
 ,i was watching him all night1 and1 as 
,i was praying1 it occurred to me that  
,i wished ,i could see the church       
praying for him2 and that led me to     
think of the church praying for a child 
when it is brought into the house of    
,god4 ,i felt that night that1 if ,i    
could speak to the pastor1 ,i would ask 
him to request the prayers of the church
 for him as for one who1 if he got well1

 should be brought into the house of    
,god1 and be publicly consecrated1 and  
,i with him1 again1 as his mother1 to   
the ,lord4 ,i had given him and myself  
to ,god2 but ,i felt the need of some   
more special act1 on which ,i could fall
 back in my thoughts1 and of which ,god 
would graciously say to me1 ,i am the   
,god of ,bethel1 where thou anointedst  
the pillar1 and where thou vowedst a vow
 unto me4  ,mr4 ,m4 ,how kind it was in 
,god to remind ,jacob of that pile of   
stones1 and to call himself the ,god of 
,bethel6 ,o1 how he loves marked        
exercises of consecration and love6     
,mrs4 ,k4 ,my husband always said1 ,let 
him offer himself for baptism when he   
grows up1 and understands the meaning of
 it4 ,i told him that when ,i was       
admitted to the church ,i was not       
baptized1 but ,i had this pleasant      
feeling1 that ,i had a baptism in       
infancy by my dear good mother to think 
of now1 and to seal by my own           
acknowledgment4 ,if ,henry had died     

without being baptized1 or should now be
 hindered from it1 ,i should never cease
 to grieve4  ,mr4 ,m4 ,you think1       
however1 that he would be saved1        
nevertheless4  ,mrs4 ,k4 ,o1 saved6 that
 is not all4 ,i do not think merely of  
his getting into heaven4 ,though we are 
saved wholly by grace1 is there not     
something implied in washing our robes1 
and making them white1 in the blood of  
the ,lamb8 ,i do not believe in         
justification by works nor by           
sacraments1 yet ,i do believe in their  
wonderful effect1 through grace alone1  
upon our character and future condition4
 ,i do believe1 ,mr4 ,m41 that there is 
a difference between children whose     
parents1 impelled by love to ,god1 make 
public offering of their children to    
him1 with solemn vows1 and daily perform
 their vows1 treating their children as 
baptized in the name of the ,trinity1   
and children whose parents either       
carelessly baptize them1 or feel no such
 spiritual desires for them as to seek  

the use of any public ordinance1 nor any
 special private consecration4 ,i       
believe that ,god regards them          
differently4 ,he has placed his mark on 
the baptized4 ,i must go with my son to 
,god's house1 as ,hannah did1 and with  
her feelings4 ,how strange6 ,she prayed 
for that son1 and then1 as soon as he   
was weaned1 she gave him away to ,god2  
for it is beautifully said1 you know1   
,and the child was young4 ,well1 ,i     
think ,i understand that4 ,i could leave
 ,henry in the temple1 if the service of
 ,god's house required him2 for1 when he
 was sick1 ,i gave him up to ,god1 and  
as long as he liveth he shall be the    
,lord's4 ,how did cousin ,bertha feel   
about the baptism after your little boy 
died8  ,mr4 ,m4 ,it was often the chief 
topic of her conversation4 ,her father  
wrote a full statement of his views1    
which helped her greatly4 ,we have read 
it over since we lost our child4 ,i will
 send it to you1 if you wish4 ,you can  
read it1 with ,mr4 ,k4's books1 and ,i  

wish you to show it to him if he cares  
to see it4  ,all this was done4 ,kind   
feelings prevailed2 there was not much  
discussion1 and1 one ,sabbath morning1  
little ,henry ,kelly was brought to     
church4 ,but the mother was without the 
father4 ,he was called to a distant     
place on business2 but he allowed his   
wife to act her pleasure in the case    
during his long absence4 ,more of this  
in its place4     ,chapter ,fourth4     
,,is ,,there ,,only ,,one ,,mode ,,of   
,,baptism8     ,were love1 in these the 
world's last doting years1    ,as       
frequent as the want of it appears1     
,the churches warmed1 they would no     
longer hold    ,such frozen figures1    
stiff as they are cold2    ,relenting   
forms would lose their power1 or cease1 
,and e'en the dipped and sprinkled live 
in peace2    ,each heart would quit its 
prison in the breast1    ,and flow in   
free communion with the rest4           
,,cowper4   ,opening my entry door1 on  
my return1 several faces looked out to  

welcome me1 all in the house having     
waited till a late hour1 with surmises  
as to the cause of my long absence1 and 
then all dispersed1 except the          
venerable1 and not yet aged1 grandmother
 of little ,bertha4 ,with her it was    
always pleasant to talk4  ,mr4 ,m4 ,have
 you had no company this evening8 ,i was
 in hopes that the ,moores would come   
in1 as they promised to do4  ,mother4   
,they have been gone nearly an hour4    
,mr4 ,moore wished to read husband's    
letter1 so ,bertha lent it to him4  ,mr4
 ,m4 ,father will be glad to know how   
much good his letter is doing4 ,cousin  
,eunice would be glad to see it1 and ,i 
wish to read it again1 for ,i find that 
,i am likely to need more instruction1  
if ,i am to discuss the subject as ,i   
did this evening with ,mr4 ,kelly4      
,mother4 ,was he at home8 ,i hope you   
did not get into a controversy about    
baptism2 for1 of all things1 nothing    
dries up religious feelings like that4  
,mr4 ,m4 ,the subject has taken too     

practical a hold upon my feelings to    
have that effect4 ,i find myself more   
and more led to believe that ,god gave  
his church an appointed form of baptism1
 and that that form was sprinkling2 for 
,i search the ,new ,testament in vain   
for a single case where immersion seems 
to have been practised4 ,i believe that1
 under the operation of early           
tendencies1 of which ,paul writes to the
 ,thessalonians1 the church began to    
prefer immersion as more sensuous1      
making a stronger appeal to the         
passions4 ,but ,i believe1 with the ,new
 ,testament for my guide1 that immersion
 was not practised by the apostles      
themselves4 ,the word baptize had1 even 
in the ,saviour's time1 to go no further
 back1 come to mean a thing done        
irrespective of the mode4 ,how would it 
sound1 ,i have an immersion to be       
immersed with1 and how am ,i straitened8
 c4 ,are ye able to be immersed with the
 immersion that ,i am immersed with8 ,i 
believe that sprinkling was the original

 mode of ,christian baptism4 ,and it    
seems to me unlikely that ,god would    
appoint an ordinance1 and not appoint1  
by precept or example1 the mode of it4  
,i believe that the mode of baptism was 
appointed1 as well as the rite itself1  
and ,i see no instance of baptism in the
 ,new ,testament by immersion4 ,pouring1
 whether more or less copiously1 has    
this probability in its favor1 in       
addition to the impression which the    
narratives make1 viz41 ,the ,lord's     
,supper typifies the death of ,christ4  
,burying in baptism1 then1 would be     
superfluous2 it is more likely that the 
form of this other sacrament would      
represent something else1 and that is1  
the ,holy ,spirit's cleansing influence1
 because ,christ speaks of being born of
 water and of the ,spirit1 thus         
associating water with the ,spirit4 ,we 
moreover read of the water and the      
blood1 water thus being distinguished   
from blood4 ,now1 the ,holy ,spirit is  
always named in connection with being   

poured out4 ,we are baptized with1 not  
in1 the ,holy ,ghost4 ,it would do      
violence to our feelings to hear one    
speak of our being immersed in the ,holy
 ,spirit4 ,so that ,i fully believe in  
sprinkling as the original ,new         
,testament mode of baptism4 ,and1 still1
 ,i am inclined to agree with your      
friend1 the professor1 who spent        
,new-year's evening with us1 and has    
just published a book on baptism4       
,mother4 ,what ground does he take8     
,mr4 ,m4 ,he writes somewhat in this    
way3 ,as to the mode1 ,i believe it to  
be unessential2 for it seems to me      
contrary to the genius of ,christianity 
to make a particular form of doing a    
thing essential to the thing4 ,what else
 is there in ,christianity1 if we are to
 except baptism1 in which modes are     
regarded or made essential8 ,it is not  
so1 he says1 with the ,lord's ,supper1  
surely2 the upper room1 night1 sitting  
or reclining1 unleavened bread1 a       
particular kind of wine1 and all such   

things1 are not regarded by any as      
necessary to the ordinance4 ,it is very 
interesting1 he says1 to notice1 that1  
whereas the old dispensation prescribed 
the mode of every religious act1        
minutely1 and a departure from it       
vitiated the act itself1 ,christianity  
threw off everything like prescriptive  
modes altogether4 ,considering the      
attachment of the human mind to forms   
and ceremonies1 he knows of nothing in  
which ,christianity shows its divine    
origin and supernatural power more1 than
 in its sublime triumph1 so immediately1
 in the minds of great numbers1 over    
forms and ceremonies4 ,we can hardly    
conceive1 he says1 what a revolution a  
,jew must have experienced in giving up 
,aaron1 and altars1 and times1 and      
seasons1 and all the minute regard for  
his religious ceremonies1 at once4 ,even
 if it were the original practice to    
baptize only by immersion1 he cannot    
think that ,christianity could have     
enjoined it as the only proper mode of  

applying water1 in signifying religious 
consecration4 ,bread and wine1 eaten and
 drunk decently and in order1 in any way
 whatever1 constitutes the ,lord's      
,supper2 water1 applied to the person1  
by a proper administrator1 in the name  
of the ,trinity1 constitutes ,christian 
baptism2 but1 had the ,new ,testament   
required us to recline1 and lean on one 
arm1 and take the ,lord's ,supper with  
the other arm1 insisting that this      
posture is essential to that sacrament1 
or had it specified the quantity of     
bread and wine1 he thinks it would have 
been parallel to the uninspired         
requirement of a particular mode in     
applying the water in baptism4          
,baptize1 he further remarks1 it is     
said1 means immerse4 ,suppose that it   
does4 ,supper means a meal2 therefore1  
one does not eat the ,lord's ,supper1   
unless he eats a full meal2 for1 if     
baptize refers to the quantity of water1
 supper refers to the quantity of food  
and drink in the other sacrament4 ,he   

then seems to exult1 and says1 ,i am    
glad that ,i am not in conscientious    
subjection to any mode of doing anything
 in religion1 as being essential to the 
thing itself4  ,mother4 ,what answer can
 be made to this8  ,mr4 ,m4 ,it is a    
very common ground1 and a convenient    
one1 to answer the argument from        
baptizo1 and the early practice of      
immersion in the ,christian church after
 the apostles4 ,no doubt the early      
,christians satisfied themselves with   
this reasoning1 in departing from the   
apostolic practice of sprinkling4 ,but  
,i prefer to adhere strictly to the ,new
 ,testament model4 ,there is no         
immersion there4 ,now1 is it allowable  
to depart from the original mode8 ,this 
could not be done in the first          
initiating ordinance of the             
church1--circumcision4 ,a departure from
 the prescribed rule would have vitiated
 the ordinance4 ,but1 does not          
,christianity differ essentially from   
the former dispensation in this very    

particular1 that it does not make the   
mode of doing a thing1 essential8 ,yet1 
it may be said1 ,human ordinances are   
all strictly binding in the very forms  
prescribed4 ,for example3 ,hold up your 
right hand1 says the clerk1 or judge1 to
 a witness2 you solemnly swear--4 ,let  
the witness1 instead of holding up his  
right hand1 if he has one1 and can move 
it1 capriciously say1 ,i prefer to hold 
up the left1 or to hold up both4 ,i wish
 to show that modes and forms are       
unimportant4 ,he would be in danger of  
contempt of court4 ,if so small a       
departure from the mode of swearing     
would not be allowed1 much less would he
 be permitted to kneel1 or to lie on his
 face1 unless he were some devotee4 ,no2
 there is a prescribed form1 and he must
 yield to it4 ,it is also said1 that1 if
 there were cases in the ,new ,testament
 in which it were doubtful1 at least1   
whether immersion were not practised1 we
 might argue in favor of mixed modes4   
,but immersion is baptism1 in my view1  

because a person who is immersed is sure
 to get affused2 and1 affusion with     
water is all of the baptism which seems 
to me essential4 ,leaving those who     
first departed from the apostolic mode  
of baptism by sprinkling1 to answer for 
themselves1 no one1 of course1 will deny
 that those who conscientiously think   
that they ought to be baptized by       
immersion1 are acceptable with ,god1 as 
well as others who are of a contrary    
persuasion4 ,paul speaks of divers      
baptisms4 ,there began to be such in his
 day4 ,he speaks also of the doctrine of
 baptisms 7plural71 showing the same    
thing4  ,but ,i came near forgetting one
 thing1 which ,i wished to say1 which   
is1 that1 in reading the ,bible last    
evening1 ,i found a new encouragement in
 taking infants to the house of ,god4   
,mother4 ,i should like to hear anything
 new on that point4 ,i thought that     
everything had been exhausted which     
referred to that subject4  ,mr4 ,m4 ,i  
mean that it was new to me4 ,luke says  

that the parents of ,jesus brought him  
to ,jerusalem to present him to the     
,lord1 and that1 arriving there1 they   
brought him into the temple to do for   
him after the custom of the law4 ,now1  
,i always carelessly thought that this  
meant circumcision4  ,mother4 ,of course
 it does2 ,i always thought so4  ,mr4   
,m4 ,no2 for he had already been        
circumcised1 when he was eight days old4
 ,and when eight days were accomplished 
for the circumcising of the child1 they 
called his name ,jesus4 ,then the next  
verse speaks of a subsequent act3 ,when 
the days of her purification were       
accomplished they brought him to        
,jerusalem4 ,mary could not have come to
 ,jerusalem on the eighth day2 but1 on  
the second occasion1 she was present2   
for ,simeon addressed her4 ,so that we  
have the example of the infant ,saviour1
 in bringing our infants into the       
temple2 and1 if we are scrupulous as to 
following the ,saviour in ordinances1 we
 may as well begin by following him into

 the temple1 with our infants4  ,mother4
 ,it is beautiful to think of ,jesus1   
even in his infancy1 as an example1 and 
that he was forerunner to the infants of
 his people1 while yet in his mother's  
arms4     ,chapter ,fifth4  ,,scenes    
,,of ,,baptism--,,henry ,,kelly4--,,the 
,,young ,,parents ,,and ,,their         
,,babe4--,,the ,,lost ,,mariner',s      
,,family4--,,the ,,feeble-,,minded      
,,youth4--,,the ,,reasonableness1       
,,power1 ,,and ,,beauty1 ,,of           
,,children',s ,,baptisms4--,,husbands   
,,should ,,come ,,with ,,their ,,wives  
,,and ,,children4--,,moses ,,in ,,the   
,,inn4         ,since1 ,lord1 to thee   
,a narrow way and little gate    ,is all
 the passage2 on my infancy    ,thou    
didst lay hold1 and antedate        ,my 
faith in me4     ,,george ,,herbert4    
,the parent pair their secret homage    
pay1    ,and proffer up to ,heaven the  
warm request1    ,that ,he1 who stills  
the raven's clamorous nest1    ,and     
decks the lily fair in flowery pride1   

,would1 in the way his wisdom sees the  
best1    ,for them and for their little 
ones provide1    ,but chiefly in their  
hearts1 with grace divine1 preside4     
,,burns4     ,in all men sinful is it to
 be slow    ,to hope3 in parents1 sinful
 above all4     ,,wordsworth4   ,in a   
few ,sabbaths from this time we had a   
most interesting scene at our church4   
,little ,henry ,ferguson ,kelly was     
brought1 and offered up in baptism by   
his mother4 ,we all felt deep respect   
for her as a woman of decided character1
 and a devoted ,christian4 ,we saw that 
she wept much during the service4 ,the  
father was not there4 ,she held the     
little boy upright on her arm1 and he   
turned his face over her shoulder1      
looking all about the church1 above and 
below4 ,he then undertook to apply his  
little palm to his mother's cheek1 with 
several decided strokes1 to rouse her   
usual attention1 which he seemed to     
miss4 ,she took his hand in hers1 and   
held it1 and he then rested his cheek1  

and his chin1 alternately1 upon her     
shoulder4  ,a sweet little girl1 two    
months old1 was also brought by a young 
couple to be baptized4 ,few things are  
more interesting than the sight of a    
young couple1 with their first-born     
child1 standing before ,god4 ,a world of
 thought and feeling passes through     
their minds in those hallowed moments4  
,not much more than a year had gone     
since they stood before ,god to take the
 vows of marriage from those same lips1 
perhaps1 which now lead their devotions1
 and bless them out of the house of the 
,lord4 ,the little child is an offering 
which gathers about itself more of rich 
joy and gratitude1 recollection1 present
 bliss1 and anticipation1 than any gift 
of ,god2 it is itself an ordinance1 a   
little rite1 a sign and seal of         
covenants and love to which earth has no
 parallel4 ,the light of nature almost  
teaches us the propriety of infant      
dedication1 in the use of the prevailing
 religious rite4 ,the only wise ,god    

manifested his goodness and wisdom1 in  
establishing his covenant with the      
children of those who love him1 as      
really as in creating a companion for   
,adam4  ,there were other sights1 on    
this baptismal occasion1 besides ,henry 
,ferguson and his mother1 and the young 
couple with their child4  ,a woman1 in  
the habiliments of the deepest mourning1
 went up the aisle1 leading with her    
finger a little boy between two and     
three years old1 followed by a noble son
 of fifteen1 and his sister of twelve4  
,our pastor's rule1 as to the limit of  
age within which children may be        
admitted to baptism1 is this3 ,so long  
as a parent1 or guardian1 or next       
friend1 has the immediate tutelage of a 
child1 so as to direct its instruction  
and government1 and thus continues to   
exercise parental authority1 he may     
properly offer the child for baptism2   
and therefore1 as children differ as to 
degrees of maturity within the same     
ages1 no express boundary of time can be

 prescribed to limit those baptisms     
which are by the faith of another4  ,the
 father of these three children had been
 lost at sea on a whaling voyage4 ,the  
seaman's chest had come home1 and so the
 last star of hope as to his return had 
set4 ,the mother had become a           
,christian2 she felt the need of a      
covenant-keeping ,god for her children4 
,there she stood1 a sorrow-stricken     
woman1 and her household with her1 to   
receive for them the sign of the        
covenant from the ,god of ,abraham4     
,there was another sight in that group3 
,a man and woman1 honest1 good people1  
in humble circumstances1 had had        
bequeathed to them1 by a widowed sister 
of his1 who was not a professor of      
religion1 a feeble-minded youth of about
 ten years2 and this uncle and aunt had 
adopted him as their child4 ,they also  
came1 the husband leading the boy along1
 with his arm over the boy's shoulder to
 encourage his hesitating steps1 and the
 wife behind them4 ,he was a member of a

 ,sabbath-school class2 by no means an  
idiot1 yet deficient in some respects4  
,he was entrusted with affairs about a  
farm which did not require much         
responsibility4  ,little ,henry         
,ferguson began to coo and crow1 as they
 came successively and stood1 in a      
half-circle1 round the table with the   
silver basin upon it4 ,the feeble-minded
 youth was mostly occupied with the     
actions of ,henry1 who1 on seeing his   
face covered with uncontrollable        
expressions of interest in him1 began to
 reach after him1 and respond to his    
pleased looks2 nor did he cease his     
efforts to go to him1 till he felt the  
minister's hand upon his forehead from  
behind1 when he turned his large1       
beautiful eyes into the face of the     
minister1 with silent wonder at being   
apparently spoken to with so unusual a  
manner and tone4 ,a hush went through   
the congregation4  ,the young couple    
next presented their little ,alice1 and 
gave place to the widow's household4    

,was there a dry eye in the house8      
,signs of weeping came from all sides4  
,mortimer was led by his arm in his     
mother's hand1 and was baptized4 ,sarah 
loosened her straw bonnet1 and let it   
fall back from her head1 to receive the 
simple rite2 when the widow lifted the  
little boy1 who had never known a       
father's love1 and the pastor1 after    
waiting a moment to control his emotions
 sealed him in the name of our redeeming
 ,god4  ,after an involuntary pause for 
a few moments1 owing to the deep emotion
 in the congregation1 poor ,josey was   
led forward4 ,minister and congregation 
seemed to make but slight impression    
upon him2 ,henry ,ferguson was the charm
 throughout2 he even turned his head1   
while the minister's hand was on it1 to 
smile at the child4 ,the promise was not
 only to those believing parents1 all of
 them1 and to their own children1 but to
 him that was afar off2 his new parents 
having availed themselves of the large  
covenant of grace1 to invoke its        

promised blessings upon him1 on the     
ground of their faith4 ,may these       
parents1 said the pastor in his prayer1 
remember1 in all times of solicitude and
 trouble with this dear dependent child1
 that the ,holy ,spirit1 the ,comforter1
 in whose name he is baptized1 can have 
access to his mind1 'making wise the    
simple2' and may that blessed ,spirit   
make him his care4  ,part of the time1  
while the hymn following the baptism was
 read and sung1 ,i found myself pursuing
 some thoughts which the interesting    
scene just witnessed had suggested4     
,why1 ,i asked myself1 could not these  
parents have been satisfied with        
dedicating these children at home1      
without this public and special act of  
consecration8  ,i was at no loss for an 
answer4 ,the same reason applies as when
 one seeks admission to the church of   
,christ1 by a public profession of      
religion1 either by appearing before a  
congregation and assenting to a         
covenant1 or to be confirmed1 or to be  

immersed in water4 ,offering a child in 
baptism is making a public profession of
 religion with regard to it4 ,some say  
to us1 ,what need is there of joining a 
church8 ,why may ,i not be a ,christian 
by myself8 ,we know what we say1 in     
reply to such questions4 ,we are aware  
how much the public act helps the       
private feelings and conduct1 besides   
being required by our feelings when they
 are deep and strong4 ,i thought of this
 illustration3 ,in the wakeful moments  
of the night1 upon a lonely bed1 one    
feels a special nearness to ,god4 ,he   
can think of ,god1 as he lies upon his  
pillow1 both with prayer and meditation2
 but suppose that he rises from his bed 
and kneels at the bedside1 and1 with    
oral prayer1 prevents the night-watches1
 and cries8 ,his voice at that midnight 
hour affects his mind2 the darkness and 
stillness impress him with a sense of   
the presence of ,god1 and though his    
ejaculations on his pillow were         
acceptable1 has he not probably done    

that which1 through ,christ1 is         
peculiarly acceptable to ,god1 and is   
profitable to himself as his child8 ,he 
who was always in communion with the    
,father1 the man ,christ ,jesus1        
nevertheless1 sometimes withdrew into a 
mountain1 and continued all night in    
prayer1 and1 rising up a great while    
before day1 he went into a solitary     
place1 and there prayed4 ,these special 
acts of worship1 no true ,christian     
needs to be told1 are good and          
acceptable to ,god1 and profitable for  
men4 ,we do not refrain from them1      
pleading that they are nowhere commanded
 in the ,new ,testament1 or1 that1 so   
long as we pray at stated times1 or     
strive to live in a praying frame1 these
 special devotions are superfluous4 ,so1
 while it is our duty and privilege to  
dedicate our children to ,god in        
private1 it is acceptable to him1 and   
profitable to us1 if we take them1 and  
bring an offering1 and come into his    
courts4  ,the baptism of the            

feeble-minded youth furnished me with an
 illustration of the suitableness of    
parents and guardians doing for         
children1 in religion1 that which they  
are constantly doing for them in common 
things1 that is1 conferring privileges  
and blessings upon them without their   
consent4 ,there seemed to be such an    
illustration of the riches of free      
grace1 in the baptism of this poor      
child1 such a comment on that passage1  
,i am found of them that sought me not1 
it corresponded so much with the        
kindness and love of ,god our ,saviour  
towards man1 that we all felt instructed
 and softened by it1 and1 at the same   
time1 we all had feelings toward that   
helpless boy1 such as we1 perhaps1 never
 could have had but for his baptism4    
,never will a member of that witnessing 
congregation see him1 without a feeling 
of tenderness and something bordering on
 respect2 he will not be merely ,silly  
,joe to them2 that element of truth in  
the heathen superstition1 which leads   

heathens and pagans to regard an idiot  
as something sacred1 will have its      
verification with regard to him2 the    
children of that assembly will be       
restrained from rudeness and cruelty1 in
 their sports with him1 by that         
transaction1 while the prayers offered  
for him at the time1 and the many       
ejaculations which the sight of him will
 occasion in the hearts of good people1 
will make his baptism one of his richest
 blessings4 ,o1 what a loss it is to    
have a child baptized at home1 or       
anywhere and at any time except among   
the public services of the ,sabbath in  
the sanctuary of ,god6 ,necessity1      
indeed1 controls our choice1 many times1
 in this thing2 and we are accepted of  
,god irrespective of time and place1 in 
yielding to his providence4  ,since my  
mind has been deeply interested in this 
subject1 leading me to converse with    
parents and with ministers1 and to make 
observation with regard to it1 ,i have  
seen and heard many things relating to  

the providences of ,god1 in connection  
with the baptism of children1 which1    
while we ought to be slow in confidently
 interpreting providences1 make us do as
 ,mary is said to have done1 in regard  
to things relating to her child1--she   
kept these things and pondered them in  
her heart4 ,we cannot say1 for example1 
that the death of that little girl1     
whose father refused to let his wife    
enjoy the privilege of going1 alone1    
with the child1 to the house of ,god for
 baptism1 or to invite the pastor to his
 house for the purpose1 was a judicial  
consequence of his conduct2 but we know 
that his own thoughts trouble him1 and  
that he has a sorrow bound upon his     
heart1 which he will carry with him to  
his grave4  ,neither is it certain that 
the little one1 who was raised to life  
from a sickness which baffled the       
physicians1 was spared to her pious     
mother for her ,christian behavior1 in  
taking it1 a few months before1 to the  
house of ,god1 and offering it in       

baptism1 with no help from her husband1 
but with many sad thoughts that the     
father of the child--he on whose arm she
 and the child needed to rest--refused  
her gentle and affectionate pleadings   
with him1 to support and cherish her at 
an hour so precious to her heart4 ,nor  
will we say that the kind and obliging  
husband1 not a professor of religion1   
who served his wife so manfully1 and    
with such a cheerful spirit1 on such an 
occasion1 would not have acquired1 in   
other ways1 the respect and love of the 
people1 or that he could trace to it1   
absolutely1 great prosperity in         
business1 through the assistance of     
prominent members in that church4 ,sure 
we are that no such motive influenced   
him2 but it is equally true that we     
cannot link ourselves to ,god's service1
 nor to his friends1 in any way1 without
 receiving his blessing4 ,come thou with
 us1 and we will do thee good4 ,blessed 
is he that blesseth thee4 ,in the eyes  
of estimable people1 and of all whose   

good opinion and best wishes are most   
desirable1 the man who overcomes any    
little pride1 or sensitiveness1 or fear 
of man1 and goes with his pious wife and
 child to the house of ,god1 and offers 
the child1 for her1 to be baptized1 is  
more of a man than before1 gains        
reputation for some desirable qualities1
 excites respect for self-reliance1 the 
quiet performance of a duty from which  
certain feelings might lead him to      
shrink1 and in the increased love and   
esteem of others1 to say no more1 he has
 his reward4  ,god was angry with ,moses
 for delaying1 if not neglecting1 to    
circumcise his child4 ,his wife was a   
,midianite2 her associations with the   
ordinance were not like those of ,moses1
 and perhaps he had yielded too much to 
her known feelings4 ,at least1 the child
 had not been circumcised1 and we are   
told1 ,the ,lord met him in the inn1 and
 sought to slay him4 ,some accident     
there1 or a sudden and alarming illness1
 made him feel that ,god had a          

controversy with him4 ,zipporah was not 
slow to interpret the providence4 ,if   
,moses had said with himself1 ,so long  
as ,i consecrate my child to ,god by    
prayer1 the seal of the covenant cannot 
be essential1 ,god taught him his       
mistake4 ,as soon as the rite had been  
performed1 we read1 ,so he let him go4  
,it may be noticed1 here1 that the      
unworthy manner in which ,zipporah      
performed the rite1 did not make it     
invalid4 ,they who fear that their      
baptism was not solemnized1 in all      
respects1 as it should have been1 may   
draw instruction and comfort from this  
narrative4  ,there have been instances1 
within my knowledge1 in which one or    
both of the parents of a child have     
yielded to some untoward influences1 and
 have withheld the child from being     
baptized4 ,while ,i cannot1 and would   
not1 interpret certain events connected 
with this omission1 on the part of some 
from whom better things might have been 
expected1 nothing has ever impressed me 

more than the dealings of ,god with such
 parents4 ,i have been made to think by 
such coincidences1 more than once or    
twice1 of ,moses in the inn4 ,it will   
not be amiss to say1 that those who are 
neglecting to bring their children for  
baptism1 within a suitable time1 unless 
providentially hindered1 will do well to
 examine their feelings and motives1    
with that quickened conscience1 which   
the solemn providences of ,god toward   
them may be intended to excite4 ,he is a
 jealous ,god2 and he keepeth covenant  
to a thousand generations4     ,chapter 
,sixth4  ,,testimony ,,of ,,the         
,,christian ,,fathers  ,,household      
,,baptisms4--,p,,dobaptist              
,,concessions4--,,thomas ,,shepard',s   
,,views4 ,,baptism ,,of ,,his ,,child4  
,,the ,,father',s ,,record4--,,great    
,,influence ,,of ,,the ,,family         
,,relation ,,in ,,heathenism ,,and      
,,paganism4--,,the ,,young ,,people ,,of
 ,,america4--,,dissuasive ,,from        
,,altercation4--,,questions ,,to ,a     

,,minister ,,on ,,his ,,practice ,,in   
,,baptisms4--,,liberality4--,,paul ,,an 
,,example4     ,lord1 thou hast been our
 dwelling-place in all                  
generations4--,ps4 #ij4     ,the ,lamb  
hath but one bride1 the one church of   
all times4--,,anon4     ,that your faith
 should not stand in the wisdom of men1 
but in the power    of ,god4--,,the     
,,apostle ,,paul4     ,schoolmen must   
war with schoolmen1 text with text4     
,the first's the ,chaldee paraphrase2   
the next    ,the ,septuagint2 opinion   
thwarts opinion2    ,the ,papist holds  
the first1 the last the ,arminian2      
,and then the ,councils must be called  
to advise1    ,what this of ,lateran    
says1 and that of ,nice2    ,the        
slightly-studied fathers must be prayed1
    ,although in small acquaintance1    
into aid2    ,when1 daring venture1 oft1
 too far into 't1    ,they1 ,pharaoh    
like1 are drowned1 both horse and foot4 
,,francis ,,quarles4   ,being determined
 to possess myself of suitable          

information on the subject of baptism as
 practised by the early ,christian      
fathers1 ,i called the next evening to  
see my pastor1 when the following       
conversation took place3  ,mr4 ,m4 ,i   
wish1 sir1 to know the plain and simple 
truth about the evidence from           
ecclesiastical history with regard to   
infant baptism4 ,the internal evidence1 
confirming the scriptural argument1     
fully satisfies me1 yet1 as a matter of 
interesting information1 ,i should like 
to know how it was regarded in the age  
next to that of the apostles4 ,you know 
we often read1 and hear it said1 that   
infant baptism is an error which crept  
into the ,christian church about the    
third century4 ,now1 did it creep in2 or
 did the apostles practise it8  ,dr4 ,d4
 ,if infant baptism crept into the      
church1 and if it be an unauthorized    
innovation1 one thing seems very        
strange1 that1 in this ,protestant age1 
when we are all so jealous of ,romish   
and all human inventions in matters of  

religion1 the ablest and soundest men of
 all ,christian denominations but one1  
are firmly persuaded of its scriptural  
authority1 and are increasingly attached
 to it4 ,in the great reformations which
 have arisen from time to time1 this    
practice would have been swept away1 had
 it been an error4 ,it is more than we  
can believe that ,protestant            
denominations should all1 with one      
exception1 adhere to an unscriptural    
practice1 at the present day especially4
  ,mr4 ,m4 ,well1 sir1 leaving the      
scripturalness of the ordinance out of  
question1 what support does the practice
 get from church history8 ,how far back 
to the times of the apostles can we     
trace it8 ,did any practise it who could
 have received it from the apostles1 or 
have known those who did8  ,dr4 ,d4 ,you
 must come with me into my study1 and we
 will examine the authorities4  ,i will 
not burden your attention and memory    
with many citations4 ,two or three      
indisputable witnesses are better than a

 host4 ,i rely chiefly on the testimony 
of ,,origen for proof that the practice 
of infant baptism was derived from the  
apostles1 though ,i will show you that  
his testimony is confirmed by other     
witnesses4  ,,origen was born in        
,alexandria1 ,egypt1 ,a4,d4 #ahe1 that  
is1 about eighty-five years after the   
death of the apostle ,john4 ,to make his
 nearness to the apostles clear to your 
mind1 consider1 that ,roger ,williams1  
for example1 established himself at     
,providence in #afcf1 say two hundred   
and twenty years ago2 yet how perfectly 
informed we are of his opinions and     
history4 ,but ,origen1 born eighty-five 
years only after the death of ,john1    
knew1 of course1 the established        
practices of the apostles1 which had    
come down through so short a space of   
time4 ,his grandfather1 if not his      
father1 must have lived in the apostles'
 day4 ,it was not1 therefore1 necessary 
for him to go out of his own family1 to 
learn what was the practice of the      

apostles4 ,he knew whether he had       
himself been baptized1 if we may judge  
from his writings1 and he must have     
known the views of his father and       
grandfather on the subject4 ,he had the 
reputation of great learning1 had       
travelled extensively1 had lived in     
,greece1 ,rome1 ,cappadocia1 and        
,arabia1 though he spent the principal  
part of his life in ,syria and          
,palestine4  ,i would place implicit    
reliance on the testimony of such a man1
 under such circumstances1 to any       
question of history with which he       
professed to be familiar1 even if ,i    
differed from him in matters of opinion4
 ,but such a man would not state1 for   
veritable history1 that which the world 
knew to be false4  ,now1 what is        
,origen's testimony as to the fact1     
simply1 of the apostolic usage with     
regard to infant baptism8  ,in his      
commentary on the ,epistle to the       
,romans1 ,book v41 he says3  ,for this  
cause it was that the church received an

 order from the apostles to give baptism
 even to infants4  ,in his homily on    
,lev4 #ab1 he says3  ,according to the  
usage of the church1 baptism is given   
even to infants1 when1 if there were    
nothing in infants that needed          
forgiveness and mercy1 the grace of     
baptism would seem to be superfluous4   
,in his homily on ,luke #ad1 he says3   
,infants are baptized for the           
forgiveness of sins4  ,it was the       
practice1 then1 in ,origen's day1 to    
baptize infants4 ,he tells the people of
 his day1 to whom he preaches and       
writes1 why it was that the church had  
received a command from the apostles to 
baptize them1 not proving to them the   
fact of history1 but1 taking that as    
well known1 explaining the theological  
reason for it1 as he understood it4  ,it
 is now #aheg4 ,eighty-five years ago1  
the length of time after the apostles to
 the birth of this man1 brings us back  
to #aggb4 ,there is good ,dr4 ,sales1   
who was born in #aggj4 ,suppose that he 

should say that steamboats came from    
,england at the time that the ,hudson   
river was discovered1 and that they had 
plied there ever since8  ,no man in his 
right mind 7not to say a scholar like   
,origen71 however singular his opinions1
 would assert1 for veritable history1   
that which was as palpably false as such
 a fiction respecting steamboat         
navigation upon the ,hudson would be4   
,yet ,origen asserts that the practice  
of infant baptism was received directly 
from the apostles4 ,everybody could     
contradict him if he were in error4     
,mr4 ,m4 ,but we know that he was in    
error in saying that forgiveness of sins
 was a consequence of baptism4  ,dr4 ,d4
 ,very well4 ,the erroneous opinions1 or
 practices1 of men1 with regard to the  
shape of the earth1 did not prove that  
there was no earth in their day4 ,on the
 contrary1 their theories and           
speculations are proof1 if any were     
needed1 that the earth then existed1    
surely4 ,a man who boldly advocates a   

theory1 fears to assert for fact that   
which all the world knows to be false4  
,mr4 ,m4 ,if infant baptism were then   
practised1 and had been received from   
the apostles1 why should ,origen assert 
it in his books1 and in preaching1 since
 everybody must have known it           
sufficiently4 ,does not this prove that 
it was not generally believed8  ,dr4 ,d4
 ,why1 my dear sir1 am ,i not every     
,sabbath telling how that ,christ died  
for our sins according to the           
,scriptures8 ,people do not need to be  
informed of it as a truth of history1   
but they need to be reminded of it1 and 
to be exhorted in view of it4 ,so of    
every doctrine1 and everything connected
 with religion4 ,we tell the plainest1  
the most familiar1 truths to our        
church-members1 continually2 and the    
common repetition of those truths is1   
rather1 a proof of their general        
acceptation than otherwise4  ,mr4 ,m4   
,in a court of justice1 such testimony  
as that of ,origen would certainly be   

conclusive1 in the case of a            
patent-right1 or maritime discovery4    
,but you said that there were other     
testimonies of equal weight4  ,dr4 ,d4  
,,tertullian was born at ,carthage1 not 
far from ,a4,d4 #aej1 that is1 about    
fifty years after the apostles4 ,he     
wrote1 therefore1 within a hundred years
 of the apostle ,john4 ,but he was a man
 of peculiar views1 extravagant in his  
opinions1 an enthusiast in everything4  
,he proves that the practice of infant  
baptism was established1 by arguing     
against the expediency of baptizing     
children1 and unmarried persons1 lest   
they should sin after baptism4 ,his     
argument1 with respect to both these    
classes of persons1 is the same4 ,his   
language is1 ,if any understand the     
weight of baptismal obligations1 they   
will be more fearful about taking them  
than of delay4 ,he argued that baptism  
should be deferred till people were in a
 condition to resist temptation4 ,these 
are his words3  ,therefore1 according to

 every person's condition1 and          
disposition1 and age1 also1 the delay of
 baptism is more profitable1 especially 
as to little children4 ,for why is it   
necessary that the sponsors should incur
 danger8 ,for they may either fail of   
their promises by death1 or may be      
disappointed by a child's proving to be 
of a wicked disposition4 ,our ,lord     
says1 indeed1 ',forbid them not to come 
to me4' ,let them come1 then1 when they 
are grown up2 let them come when they   
understand2 let them come when they are 
taught whither they come2 let them      
become ,christians when they are able to
 know ,christ4 ,why should their        
innocent age make haste to the          
forgiveness of sins8 ,men act more      
cautiously in temporal concerns4        
,worldly substance is not committed to  
those to whom divine things are         
entrusted4 ,let them know how to ask for
 salvation1 that you may seem to give to
 him that asketh4  ,it is for a reason  
no less important that unmarried        

persons1 both those who were never      
married1 and those who have been        
deprived of their partners1 should1 on  
account of their exposure to temptation1
 be kept waiting1 c4  ,as these extracts
 prove that the institution of marriage 
existed in ,tertullian's day1 so they   
prove the existence then of infant      
baptism4 ,nothing can be more           
conclusive4 ,how pertinent and useful to
 his object would it have been1 could he
 have assailed the practice of infant   
baptism as a human invention6 ,he would 
not have failed to use that line of     
attack1 had it been possible4 ,now1 as  
certain articles in the newspapers1 in a
 distant part of the country1           
remonstrating against the               
street-railroads1 for example1 prove    
that street-railroads exist there1 so   
does ,tertullian's argument against     
infant baptism prove that it was        
practised within one hundred years after
 the apostles4  ,mr4 ,m4 ,is not this   
stronger1 if anything1 than ,origen's   

testimony1 being so much nearer the     
apostolic age8  ,dr4 ,d4 ,for that      
reason it may have more weight2 but     
,origen's testimony1 being direct and   
positive1 is most easily quoted4 ,he was
 near enough to the apostolic age for   
all the purposes of credible testimony4 
,there is another historical testimony1 
if you wish to hear of more1 which has  
great weight4  ,,the ,,council ,,of     
,,carthage1 one hundred and fifty years 
after the apostles1 and composed of     
sixty-six pastors1 has given us full    
testimony on the subject4 ,a country    
presbyter1 by the name of ,fidus1 had   
sent two cases for their adjudication4  
,one was1 ,whether an infant might be   
baptized before it was eight days old8  
,here is the answer3  ,,cyprian1 and the
 rest of the presbyters who were present
 in the council1 sixty-six in number1 to
 ,fidus our brother1 ,greeting3  ----   
,as to the case of ,infants3 whereas you
 judge that they must not be baptized   
within two or three days after they were

 born1 and that the rule of circumcision
 is to be observed1--we are all in the  
,council of a very different opinion4   
,this1 therefore1 was our opinion in the
 ,council1 that we ought not to hinder  
any person from baptism1 and the grace  
of ,god4 ,and this rule1 as it holds for
 all1 is1 we think1 more especially to  
be observed in reference to infants1    
even to those who are newly born4  ,this
 was written1 within a hundred and fifty
 years from the time of the apostles1 by
 sixty-six ministers of ,christ1 some of
 whom1 we may suppose1 must have had    
grace enough to show a martyr-spirit in 
resisting so gross an invention as the  
baptizing of infants would have been1 if
 apostolic example had restricted       
baptism to those who were capable of    
faith4 ,did ,paul reprove an abuse of   
the ,lord's ,supper1 among the          
,corinthians1 and would he not have     
given an injunction against so ,jewish a
 superstition as the baptizing of       
children in place of the antiquated     

circumcision would have been1 if it were
 not commanded1 had the churches in his 
day seemed inclined to practise it8     
,mr4 ,m4 ,all these things amount to a  
demonstration1 in my view4  ,dr4 ,d4    
,you would like to hear something from  
,,augustine1 whose ,confessions you have
 read with so much interest4  ,in his   
writings1 on ,genesis1 ,augustine says1 
about two hundred and eighty-eight years
 after the apostles1 ,the custom of our 
mother1 the church1 in baptizing        
infants1 must not be disregarded nor    
accounted useless1 and it must by all   
means be believed to be 7apostolica     
traditio7 a thing handed down to us by  
the apostles4 ,it is most justly        
believed to be no other than a thing    
delivered by apostolic authority2 that  
it came not by a general council1 or by 
any authority later or less than that of
 the apostles4 ,he also speaks of       
baptizing infants by the authority of   
the whole church1 which1 he says1 was   
undoubtedly delivered to it by our ,lord

 and his apostles4  ,augustine was a man
 of distinguished piety and learning1   
whose testimony is every way worthy of  
implicit confidence4 ,but1 connected    
with his history1 we have another       
substantial evidence with regard to the 
subject4 ,he conducted a famous         
controversy against the ,pelagians1 who 
denied original sin4 ,they were         
confronted with the argument from infant
 baptism4 ,why1 it was said1 are infants
 baptized1 if they need no change of    
nature8 ,it would have been a triumphant
 answer could they have shown that it   
was an unscriptural practice1 not       
countenanced by ,christ or the apostles4
 ,but ,pelagius said1 ,men slander me as
 though ,i denied baptism to infants1   
whereas ,i never heard of any one1      
,catholic or heretic1 who denied baptism
 to infants4 ,pelagius and his friend   
,celestius1 who was with him in the     
controversy1 were born1 the one in      
,britain1 the other in ,ireland4 ,they  
lived for some years in ,rome1 where    

they knew people from all parts of the  
world4 ,they had also lived in          
,carthage1 ,africa4 ,one finally settled
 in ,jerusalem1 and the other travelled 
among all the churches in the principal 
places of ,europe and ,asia4 ,but they  
had never heard of the man1 not even a  
heretic1 who had denied infant baptism4 
,here is another interesting proof4     
,irenus1 ,philastrius1 ,augustine1      
,epiphanius1 ,theodoret1 wrote          
catalogues of all the sects of          
,christians which they had ever heard   
of2 but1 while they make mention of some
 who denied baptism altogether1 and with
 it1 according to ,augustine1 a great   
part of scripture1 they mention no      
denial of infant baptism by any sect    
whatever4  ,mr4 ,m4 ,i suppose1 then1   
that the only way of disposing of this  
argument is by rejecting all testimony  
except that of the ,new ,testament4     
,some say they can prove anything from  
the fathers2 so they insist that the    
,bible alone must be our guide4  ,dr4   

,d4 ,they are right in making that the  
only and sufficient rule of faith and   
practice4 ,but how do these good people 
and the rest of us know that the books  
of the ,old ,testament1 as we have them1
 were the very books to which ,christ   
and the apostles referred as the word of
 ,god8 ,if infidels refuse to receive   
the ,bible1 saying1 ',there is no proof 
that these are the identical books known
 to ,christ1 and quoted by him and the  
apostles1' ,what shall we say8 ,the     
,bible itself gives us no specific      
direction how to prove its genuineness4 
,it is interesting to observe that we go
 to uninspired men to prove that we     
really have the ,bible as ,christ and   
the apostles sanctioned it4 ,we go to   
,josephus1 neither inspired nor even a  
,christian2 to the ,talmud1 to ,jerome1 
,origen1 ,aquila1 and other uninspired  
men1 to find a list of the books which  
we are to receive as given by the       
inspiration of ,god4 ,and1 as to the    
,new ,testament1 we go to ,eusebius and 

other uninspired writers1 and find that 
the ,christians of their days regarded  
these books as of divine authority4 ,it 
is on such evidence as this that we rely
 for the authority of those sacred      
writings1 which tell us what are the    
doctrines1 precepts1 and rites1 of      
religion4 ,now1 we see from this that   
uninspired testimony to divine things   
has its use4 ,it is neither wise1 nor   
any proof of intelligence1 to refuse a  
proper place to such testimony4 ,we do  
not ask ,josephus nor ,eusebius how to  
interpret these books for us1 nor does  
their erroneous opinion with regard to  
matters of faith disparage their        
testimony as to the existence and       
authenticity of the sacred canon4       
,neither can we properly say1 ,the early
 ,christian fathers had wrong notions1  
some of them1 about infant baptism2     
therefore they cannot be allowed to     
testify whether infant baptism was      
practised4 ,however heretical they may  
have been1 they could not alter the     

well-known facts of history1 in the face
 of enemies and friends4  ,mr4 ,m4 ,are 
you not accustomed to rely much1 in your
 scriptural argument for infant baptism1
 on the baptisms of households by the   
apostles8  ,dr4 ,d4 ,i am2 and that     
reminds me of an interesting passage1   
which ,i will read to you from this     
book3#d  ,footnote #d3 ,taylor on       
,baptism4  ,have we eight instances of  
the administration of the ,lord's       
,supper8 ,not half the number4 ,have we 
eight cases of the change of the        
,christian ,sabbath from the ,jewish8   
,not1 perhaps1 one fourth of the number4
 ,yet those services are vindicated by  
the practice of the apostles1 as        
recorded in the ,new ,testament4 ,how1  
then1 can we deny their practice on the 
subject of infant baptism1 when it is   
established by a series of more numerous
 instances than can possibly be found in
 support of any doctrine1 principle1 or 
practice1 derived from the practice of  
the apostles8  ,but you will ask him    

7said ,dr4 ,d471 how he proves that     
there were infants or young children in 
the households baptized by the apostles4
  ,this is his answer3  ,is there any   
other case besides that of baptism1     
where we would take families at hazard1 
and deny the existence of young children
 in them8  ,take eight families in a    
street1 or eight pews containing        
families in a place of worship2 they    
will afford more than one young child4  
,mr4 ,m4 ,how does he make out eight    
cases of household baptism by the       
apostles8  ,dr4 ,d4 ,let us examine his 
list3  #a4 ,cornelius4  #b4 ,lydia4  #c4
 ,the jailer at ,philippi4 ,thus the    
church at ,philippi1 just organized by  
the apostles1 and consisting of but few 
members1 offers two instances of        
household baptism4  #d4 ,crispus4       
,compare ,acts #ah3 #h1 and #a ,cor4    
#a3ad--af1 by which it appears that this
 ,crispus was baptized by ,paul         
separately from his family1 which was   
not baptized by ,paul4 ,yet ,crispus    

'believed on the ,lord with all his     
house4' ,if his house believed1 it was  
baptized4 ,it was1 then1 a baptized     
household4 ,but if we believe that the  
family of ,crispus was baptized because 
we find it registered as believing1 then
 we must admit the same of all other    
families which we find marked as        
,christians1 though they be not         
expressly marked as baptized4 ,he is not
 proving1 here1 you notice1 that there  
were children in any of these           
households2 he thinks he proves that    
elsewhere1 by the doctrine of chances4  
,he is now showing the grounds for      
supposing that certain households were  
baptized4 ,he applies his argument      
respecting ,crispus to  #e4             
,aristobulus's household4  #f4          
,onesiphorus's household4  #g4          
,narcissus's household4  #h4            
,stephanas's household4 ,this household 
was baptized by ,paul separately from   
its head1 who was not baptized by ,paul2
 this case being just the reverse of    

that of ,crispus4  ,eight ,christian    
families1 and therefore baptized4 ,now  
comes the question of probability as to 
there being children in those households
 not capable of faith4  ,begin anywhere1
 in any congregation1 on the ,sabbath1  
and count eight pews1 the proprietors   
and occupants of which are the heads of 
families2 and the chance of there being 
no minor children in them is almost too 
small to be appreciated4 ,should we     
read1 in a secular paper1 that a foreign
 missionary had baptized eight          
households in a pagan village1 the      
general belief would be that it was a   
missionary of some ,pdobaptist          
denomination1 and that children were    
baptized in those families4  ,i must    
read to you 7said ,dr4 ,d47 something on
 the other side of this argument4 ,i    
found the following1 not long since1 in 
a deservedly popular and useful         
,dictionary and ,repository1 written and
 signed by a gentleman of excellent     
character and standing4 ,he says3       

,infant baptism was probably introduced 
about the commencement of the third     
century1 in connection with other       
corruptions1 which even then began to   
prepare the way for ,popery4 ,a         
superstitious idea1 respecting the      
necessity of baptism to salvation1 led  
to the baptism of sick persons1 and1    
finally1 to the baptism of infants4     
,sponsors1 holy water1 anointing with   
oil1 the sign of the cross1 and a       
multitude of similar ceremonies1 equally
 unauthorized by the ,scriptures1 were  
soon introduced4 ,the church lost her   
simplicity and purity1 her ministers    
became ambitious1 and the darkness      
gradually deepened to the long and      
dismal night of papal despotism4        
,probably introduced about the          
commencement of the third century1 in   
connection with other corruptions4      
,recall what ,i read to you from        
,origen1 born ,a4,d4 #ahe2 from         
,tertullian1 who flourished within one  
hundred years after the apostles2 from  

,cyprian and the ,council of ,carthage2 
from ,augustine and his antagonist1     
,pelagius1 who expressly said that he   
had never heard of any one1 not even the
 most impious heretic1 denying baptism  
to infants4  ,in contrast with such a   
passage as the one just read to you1 ,i 
am reminded of the host of writers1 on  
our side of the question1 who1 almost   
all of them1 make such candid and full  
concessions1 that they furnish their    
brethren of the opposite side with many 
of their arguments against us4 ,i       
remember reading a book of ,pdobaptist  
,concessions1 containing a formidable   
array of points yielded by our writers1 
so that a common reader might ask1 ,what
 have you left as the ground of your    
belief and practice8 ,but the thought   
which arose in my mind was1             
,notwithstanding all these concessions1 
they who make them are among the firmest
 believers in baptism by sprinkling1 and
 in infant baptism4 ,that cause must be 
affluent in proofs1 and deeply rooted in

 the scriptural convictions of men1     
which can afford to make such           
concessions to its antagonists4 ,these  
refuse facts1 which we afford to others 
for so large a part of their foundation1
 show how broad and sufficient ours must
 be4  ,the quotation which ,i read to   
you1 speaks of ,popish tendencies as    
having already begun4 ,this is true2 and
 more may be added4 ,in the second      
epistle to the ,thessalonians1 ,paul    
tells us that the mystery of iniquity   
was already at work4 ,on the subject of 
religious days and festivals1 the first 
,christians very soon began to be       
superstitious1 incorporating heathen    
festival days into ,christian           
observances1 under the plea of redeeming
 and sanctifying them1 with some such   
feelings and reasoning as that with     
which people1 now1 would transfer       
secular music to sanctuaries1 saying    
that the enemy ought not to have all the
 best music4 ,it is true that this      
sensuous1 and1 afterward called1        

,romish1 tendency1 corrupted everything4
 ,the pure stream of apostolic doctrine 
and practice was like the ,moselle1     
which you saw from the fortress of      
,ehrenbreitstein1 pursuing its unmingled
 course distinctly for some distance in 
the turbid ,rhine1 till at last it      
yields to the general current4 ,infant  
baptism1 as we learn from ecclesiastical
 authorities with one consent1 proceeded
 from the apostles2 yet soon it began to
 be practised with many superstitious   
absurdities2 and1 moreover1 immersion1  
making such powerful appeals to the     
senses1 suited the taste of the age far 
better than sprinkling1 so that not only
 did it become the common mode1 but the 
subjects were completely undressed1     
without any distinction1 to denote the  
putting off the old man and the putting 
on of the new1 and the putting away of  
the filth of the flesh4#e ,public       
sentiment finally abolished this        
practice4 ,after a considerable time    
affusion1 or sprinkling1 returned1 and  

became the prevailing mode1 without any 
special enactment1 or any formal        
renunciation of the late mode4 ,the     
,eastern church1 however1 retained      
immersion1 while the ,greek and         
,armenian branches use both immersion   
and sprinkling for the adult and child4 
,but the sick and dying were always     
baptized by sprinkling1 which is        
sufficient to prove that sprinkling was 
regarded as equally valid with          
immersion4 ,it is natural to say that it
 was superstitious to baptize the sick  
and dying1 by sprinkling1 if we hold    
that only immersion is valid baptism4   
,the sick and dying cannot be immersed2 
now1 is it superstition for a sick      
person1 giving credible evidence of     
piety1 to be admitted into the          
,christian church1 and receive the      
,lord's ,supper8 ,in order to do this   
properly1 the subject must be baptized2 
hence1 we derive one powerful argument  
that sprinkling is valid baptism4 ,our  
,lord would never have made the modes of

 his sacraments so austerely rigid1 that
 the thousands of sick and feeble       
persons1 ministers in poor health1      
climate1 seasons of the year1 times of  
persecution and imprisonment1 and all   
the stress of circumstances to which    
,christians may be subjected1 should be 
utterly disregarded1 and one            
inconvenient1 and sometimes dangerous1  
form1 of applying water1 be insisted on1
 inflexibly1 as essential to the        
introductory ,christian rite4 ,if the   
early ,christians baptized the sick by  
sprinkling1 they of course supposed that
 it was valid baptism4 ,if it was valid 
at all1 and in any case1 of course it   
was ,christian baptism1 even if other   
modes were most commonly used4          
,footnote #e3 ,see ,coleman's ,ancient  
,christianity1 chap1 xix41 sec4 #ab4 ,he
 refers to ,ambrose1 ,ser4 #bj4         
,chrysostom1 ,hom4 #f4 ,epistle to      
,col41 c41 c4  ,mr4 ,m4 ,i suppose1     
then1 that you would not object to      
administer baptism in any other mode of 

applying water than sprinkling1 or      
pouring4  ,dr4 ,d4 ,one mode was1 ,i    
believe1 practised at first2 and the    
,new ,testament teaches me that this was
 affusion4 ,the application of water in 
any way1 by an authorized administrator1
 to a proper subject1 in the name of the
 ,trinity1 may be valid baptism2 but ,i 
prefer the ,new ,testament mode1 as ,i  
understand it1 and am happy to allow    
others the same liberty of judgment     
which ,i enjoy4 ,it would be an extreme 
case which would lead me to administer  
the ordinance in any other way than by  
affusion4  ,but1 said ,mr4 ,d41 you     
began by inquiring respecting the       
practice of infant baptism in the early 
ages4 ,i presume that your mind is      
settled with regard to the connection of
 the practice with ,god's everlasting   
covenant with believers and their       
offspring4 ,i lately read a statement of
 this point1 which pleased me much1 in  
the writings of the famous ,rev4 ,thomas
 ,shepard1 the early pastor of the      

church in ,cambridge1 ,massachusetts4   
,he says3  ,there is the same inward    
cause moving ,god to take in the        
children of believing parents into the  
church and covenant1 now1 to be of the  
number of his people1 as there was for  
taking the ,jews and their children4    
,for the only reason why the ,lord took 
in the children of the ,jews with       
themselves evidently was his love to the
 parents4 ',because he loved thy        
fathers1 therefore he chose their seed4'
 ,so that ,i do from hence believe1 that
 either ,god's love is1 in these days of
 his ,gospel1 less unto his people and  
servants than in the days of the ,old   
,testament1--or1 if it be as great1 that
 then the same love respects the seed of
 his people now as then it did4 ,and1   
therefore1 if then because he loved them
 he chose their seed to be of his       
church1 so in these days because he     
loveth us he chooseth our seed to be of 
his church also4  ,though the title of  
the treatise from which ,i read is      

called the ,church-,membership of       
,children1 to which expression ,i have  
very great objections1 and feel that it 
has done harm1 yet this good man held   
the doctrine of infant church-membership
 in a sense which is free from all      
reproach of making people members of the
 church otherwise than by regeneration4 
,his belief on this point comes out     
under the following illustration3       
,these children may not be the sons of  
,god and his people really and savingly1
 but ,god will honor them outwardly with
 his name and privileges1 just as one   
that adopts a youngster tells the father
 that if the child carry himself well   
toward him1 when he is grown up to years
 he shall possess the inheritance       
itself2 but yet in the meanwhile he     
shall have this favor1 to be called his 
son1 and be of the family and household1
 and so be reckoned among the number of 
his sons4  ,one of the chief reasons    
which brought this excellent man to ,new
 ,england1 was that he could not in ,old

 ,england enjoy the ordinance of infant 
baptism in its purity4 ,let me read the 
following1 addressed by him to his      
little son1 who afterward became pastor 
of the church in ,lynn1 ,massachusetts1 
and was a burning and shining light4    
,his words will show you that he had no 
superstitious notion about the          
church-membership of children1 though he
 represented the common belief at that  
day1 and that he did not count baptism  
in infancy a saving ordinance2 yet you  
will see how he uses it to plead with   
his son to be reconciled to ,god4 ,he   
writes3  ,and thus1 after about eleven  
weekes sayle from ,old ,england1 we came
 to ,new ,england shore1 where the      
mother fell sick of consumption1 and you
 my child was put to nurse to one       
goodwife ,hopkins1 who was very tender  
of thee2 and after we had been here     
diverse weekes1 on the seventh of       
,february1 or thereabout1 ,god gave thee
 the ordinance of baptism1 whereby ,god 
is become thy ,god1 and is beforehand   

with thee1 that whenever you shall      
return to ,god he will undoubtedly      
receive thee2 and this is a most high   
and happy privilege2 and therefore      
blesse ,god for it4 ,and now1 after this
 had been done1 thy deare mother dyed in
 the ,lord1 departing out of this world 
into another1 who did lose her life by  
being careful to preserve thine2 for in 
the ship thou wert so feeble and        
froward1 both in the day and night1 that
 hereby shee lost her strength1 and at  
last her life4 ,shee hath made also many
 a prayer and shed many a tear in secret
 for thee2 and this hath bin oft her    
request1 that if the ,lord did not      
intend to glorify himselfe by thee1 that
 he would cut thee off by death rather  
than to live to dishonor him by sin2 and
 therefore know it that if you shalt    
turn rebell agaynst ,god1 and forsake   
,god and care not for the knowledge of  
him1 nor to beleeve in his ,son1 the    
,lord will make all these mercys woes1  
and all thy mother's prayers1 teares1   

and death1 to be a swift witness agaynst
 thee at the great day4  ,the practice  
of infant baptism1 and a belief in what 
is called the church-membership of      
children1 surely had no injurious effect
 upon a parent who could speak thus to  
his child4 ,yet ,shepard took as high   
ground as any with regard to this       
subject4 ,he derived appeals from       
baptism to his child1 which were both   
encouraging and admonitory in the       
highest degree4  ,o1 said ,dr4 ,d41 what
 a people the descendants of ,abraham   
might have been forever1 had they kept  
that covenant of which circumcision was 
the seal4 ,had they remembered only     
this1 and had they adhered to it1 ,i    
will be a ,god to thee and to thy seed  
after thee1 and had they been a         
covenant-keeping people1 their peace1 as
 ,god says to them1 would have been as a
 river2 an endless1 inexhaustible tide  
of prosperity and blessedness4  ,and    
now1 if ,christian parents will but lay 
hold on that covenant as they may1 that 

,abrahamic covenant1 still in force for 
them who are ,christ's1 and so          
,abraham's1 seed1 and heirs according to
 the promise1 we should soon see1 in    
family religion1 in the early conversion
 of children1 and in their large        
,christian culture1 those promises of   
,god fulfilled which have respect to the
 great increase1 chiefly by this means1 
of his church in the latter days4 ,this 
is one thing which makes me love and    
prize infant baptism so much2 its being 
an expression and exponent of parental  
love1 faithfulness1 and zeal1 in those  
with whom it is preceded and followed by
 the entire consecration of their       
children to ,god1 their feelings and    
conduct toward them agreeing with the   
covenant made for them with ,god4  ,but1
 in saying this1 let me guard you       
against the erroneous notion that infant
 baptism is primarily a parent's        
covenant1 an expression of his feelings 
toward ,god4 ,no1 it is ,god's covenant1
 an expression of his feelings toward   

the children of believers4 ,that is the 
chief thing which gives it value4 ,for1 
it is not because parents love their    
children1 that ,god commands that they  
be offered in baptism2 but because ,god 
loves them1 and has promised to be a    
,god to them1 as he is to their parents4
 ,people1 however1 sometimes treat the  
ordinance as though it were their act   
toward ,god1 and not primarily his act  
toward them4 ,they1 therefore1 are      
liable to use it with far less effect   
than if they were receiving in it1 and  
by it1 ,god's own transaction with them 
and the little child4  ,mr4 ,m4 ,in     
thinking of ,pagan and ,mohammedan      
nations1 lately1 at the ,concert of     
,prayer for ,foreign ,missions1 ,i was  
struck with this thought1 how error has 
been transmitted from father to child1  
and what an awful power for evil lies in
 transmitted family influence1 when it  
is corrupted4 ,this led me to think     
whether ,god did not have this in mind  
when1 in establishing his church in     

,abraham1 he connected children with    
parents in his covenant1 and gave a sign
 and seal to be affixed to their        
children as a constant admonition to    
parental faithfulness4 ,all his former  
dealings with the world seem to have    
failed1 because of its great            
wickedness1--fire1 plagues1 good        
examples1 great riches1 and power       
conferred upon the good2 and then he    
added1 as a special means1 the family   
constitution1 and by it he secured a    
seed to serve him to an extent          
sufficient to keep the world from       
extinction1 and to be the repository and
 source of divine knowledge4 ,i began to
 think that1 if we would keep religion  
from dying out1 we must fall in with    
,god's great plan2 for ,satan makes use 
of it1 and holds generation after       
generation in bondage by means of the   
family constitution4 ,so ,i set myself  
at work to find out ways by which we    
might promote family religion2 and ,i   
could find no better plan than the old  

one1 of promoting scriptural and        
spiritual views of the dedication of    
children4 ,then ,i thought how much     
discredit has been cast upon that       
ordinance1 which is intended to be the  
great sign and declaration of parental  
piety and faithfulness2 and that family 
religion had1 proportionably1 declined1 
with the indifference of ,christians to 
this powerful means of promoting the    
eminent zeal and efforts of parents in  
behalf of their children's spiritual    
good4 ,youths of fifteen to twenty-one  
years of age are1 in a large proportion1
 the causes of prevailing               
wickedness1--,sabbath-breaking1         
profaneness1 and other things4 ,they    
need just what the ordinance of baptism1
 properly observed and fully carried out
 by covenanting parents1 would do for   
them4 ,but1 in being present at the     
formation of new churches1 ,i have      
mourned to see that1 instead of         
declaring infant baptism to be the duty 
of believers1 as was formerly done in   

our older churches1 a compromise with   
modern lax views is made1 by merely     
permitting infant baptism1 saying1 in   
the confession of faith1 that1 ,baptism 
is the privilege only of believers and  
their children4  ,but the idea of       
getting up a zeal in favor of infant    
baptism1 or a public sentiment in the   
churches which should enforce it as a   
duty1 seemed to me unprofitable2 but it 
occurred to me1 whether something could 
not be done to interest ,christian      
parents in the subject1 by showing them 
the infinite privilege of having ,god   
for their ,god1 and the ,god of their   
seed1 and then the naturalness and      
propriety of using an ordinance to      
express and to assist it4 ,people need  
instruction on the subject2 instruction 
which will commend itself to their      
,christian feelings4 ,we cannot         
legislate them into a spiritual         
observance of the ,lord's ,supper1 much 
less of baptism4  ,dr4 ,d4 ,no2 and ,i  
trust that our denominations who        

practise infant baptism1 will never urge
 it otherwise than in connection with   
parental piety1 and as a helper of      
parental obligations4  ,mr4 ,m4 ,but    
ought we not to stir ourselves up with  
regard to parental duties8 and1 if so1  
must we not necessarily insist on the   
dedication of children to ,god1 and upon
 baptism as the acceptable way of       
signifying it1 and the powerful means of
 helping us to perform our duties8  ,dr4
 ,d4 ,surely we ought2 and in doing it  
we have the satisfaction to know that we
 are laboring for something more than to
 establish a mode of applying an        
ordinance4 ,in urging the baptism of    
children1 if we do it not for the sake  
of the ordinance1 but for the things    
which it signifies and promotes1 we     
advance the cause of piety in the       
parents4  ,mr4 ,m4 ,would that some one 
would blow a trumpet in the churches on 
this subject4 ,i do feel that if parents
 would appreciate the influence of such 
a state of heart as would lead them to  

offer their children to ,god in baptism1
 as an expression of their previous and 
subsequent views and feelings toward    
their children1 we should see a new     
state of things in the rising           
generation4 ,how striking it is that the
 ,old ,testament closes with such a     
passage as that last verse of ,malachi4 
,it is the promontory of the ,old       
,testament1 looking across the coming   
ages1 yearning toward the new           
dispensation1 and1 as it were1 making   
signals1 concerning the forerunner of   
that new era1 with those words3 ,and he 
shall turn the heart of the fathers to  
the children1 and the heart of the      
children to their fathers1 lest ,i come 
and smite the earth with a curse4 ,may  
we not conclude that this is ,god's most
 acceptable way of effecting the revival
 of religion from one period to another8
  ,dr4 ,d4 ,i have no doubt of it4  ,mr4
 ,m4 ,i spoke to our good ,deacon       
,goodenow about it1 lately2 but he said 
he had a great horror of a controversy  

about baptism1 and he was afraid that1  
to say much upon this subject1 would    
involve us in one4 ,i told him that ,i  
would not be for reflecting upon other  
denominations2 that my motto1 with      
regard to them and us1 is1 ,live1 and   
let live4 ,i would only appeal to our   
own people1 and encourage them to take  
up the subject afresh1 in a spiritual   
manner2 that is1 to dwell upon the      
privilege and duty of being in covenant 
relations1 with our children1 to ,god1  
baptism being the ordinance of          
ratification1 and its memorial4  ,dr4   
,d4 ,your reference to controversy about
 baptism makes me think of one which ,i 
listened to in a rail-road station1 last
 winter1 while waiting in a snow-storm1 
several hours1 for the cars4 ,two       
students of divinity1 as ,i took them to
 be1 were discussing their respective   
tenets with regard to baptism4 ,i was   
reading a book1 but could not help      
hearing what they said4 ,one was        
decrying infant baptism as a rag of     

,popery1 the last relic of ,rome in     
,protestantism1 a device of ,satan to   
fill up the church with unconverted     
members1 and much more to that effect4  
,his friend1 in reply1 undertook to give
 his impressions of immersion4 ,he spoke
 of ,india-rubber bathing-dresses2--a   
tank in which he saw two or three men   
and as many women1 one of them a young  
lady1 immersed1 to his apparent         
disgust2--of ,elder some one breaking   
the ice at some cape on ,new ,year's    
,sabbath1 and immersing several         
carriages full of females1 who went back
 dripping wet1 to the carriages1 and    
rode an eighth of a mile to the         
vestry2--of several females immersed1 in
 a southern ,state1 going into a creek  
with white garments1 and with white     
fillets about their heads1 and coming   
out yellow2 and he asked his fellow     
whether infant baptism could be any     
worse than such things4  ,mr4 ,m4 ,what 
did his friend say8  ,dr4 ,d4 ,o1 it was
 the common talk on both sides1 painful 

and revolting4 ,i could not help saying 
to them1 as the cars were coming up1 and
 we were parting1 ,but1 if ye bite and  
devour one another1 take heed that ye be
 not consumed one of another4  ,mr4 ,m4 
,they probably left each other as little
 convinced of the opposite opinions1    
respectively1 as when they began4  ,dr4 
,d4 ,more confirmed and set against each
 other's views1 ,i have no question4    
,there has been far too much of this4   
,ridicule and sarcasm are ,satan's      
favorite weapons4 ,good people ought not
 to use them against each other1        
whatever be the temptation4 ,perhaps1 as
 human nature chooses variety1 and we   
are differently affected by different   
presentations of truth1 men must be     
divided into sects2 but intolerance1    
bigotry1 exclusiveness1 in us or in     
others1 cannot stand before the spirit  
of the age4 ,we may work better1 divided
 into denominations1 forbearing with one
 another1 and loving one another in     
,christ1 and for his sake4  ,mr4 ,m4    

,are you often called upon by persons   
who are troubled on the subject of      
baptism8  ,dr4 ,d4 ,i do not spend much 
time in discussing the mode4 ,when a    
young person is troubled on the subject1
 ,i am always careful1 first of all1 to 
find out whether there is any secret    
bias1 for any reason1 toward another    
denomination2 in which case1 ,i pause at
 once2 for you might argue forever in   
vain4 ,there is iron on board the ship1 
which controls the needle in the        
compass4 ,i always make it easy and     
pleasant for such to follow their       
evident inclination and wishes4  ,mr4   
,m4 ,are they generally ready to go8    
,dr4 ,d4 ,no1 they say they do not like 
strict communion2 but ,i cannot help    
them4 ,i will not be a sectarian1 even  
for infant baptism4  ,mr4 ,m4 ,are you  
in favor of admitting people to our     
church who do not believe in infant     
baptism8  ,dr4 ,d4 ,young people1 who   
say that their minds are not made up on 
the subject1 or those who have not had  

their attention directed to it1 cannot  
be required to signify their cordial    
assent to it2 but it is enough if they  
are not opposed4 ,in the case of parents
 who steadfastly decline to practise    
infant baptism1 after waiting a proper  
time to instruct them1 ,i advise them to
 join another denomination more in      
accordance with their views4 ,we do     
better to be apart1 and it is no        
reflection upon either side to say this4
 ,a ,pdobaptist church ought to maintain
 its principles by requiring assent to  
its standard of faith2 yet1 where there 
is no church of a different             
denomination1 within convenient         
distance1 ,i surely would not exclude a 
child of ,god from the ,lord's ,supper  
for differences of opinion and practice 
about baptism4 ,i would admit1 by       
special vote1 to occasional1 or even to 
stated communion1 in such a case4  ,mr4 
,m4 ,do you ever re-baptize8  ,dr4 ,d4  
,where a person was baptized with water1
 in the name of the ,trinity1 by an     

authorized person1 of any denomination1 
,i would not re-baptize4 ,the alleged   
heterodox or immoral character of the   
administrator1 at the time of baptism1  
does not invalidate it2 otherwise1 one  
might be baptized many times1 and1 the  
administrators proving unworthy1 the    
subject could never get baptized4       
,christ would never let his ordinances  
depend thus upon uncertainties4 ,let a  
person but recognize his baptism1 if    
performed in infancy1 by entering       
publicly into covenant with ,god1 and   
that will be sufficient4 ,i endeavor to 
show people how wrong it is to lay undue
 stress on the ordinance1 forgetting    
whether they have that which is         
signified by it1 and which alone gives  
it value4  ,mr4 ,m4 ,true1 sir1 but it  
has its importance1 and stress is to be 
laid upon the due observance of it4     
,dr4 ,d4 ,i mean that where ,i find the 
conditions of valid baptism complied    
with1 ,i try to turn away the thoughts  
from any superstitious or ceremonial    

dependence upon the sacramental act4    
,you remember the answer in the         
catechism to the question1 ,how do the  
sacraments become effectual means of    
salvation8  ,mr4 ,m4 ,how ,i used to say
 that1 at my mother's knee1 with my     
hands folded behind me1 to keep them    
still3 ,the sacraments become effectual 
means of salvation1 not from any virtue 
in them1 or in him that doth administer 
them1 but only by the blessing of       
,christ1 and the working of his spirit  
in them that by faith receive them4     
,dr4 ,d4 ,i was thinking1 the other day1
 and not for the first time1 by any     
means1 what a noble man was ,paul4 ,he  
was unwilling that people should call   
themselves after him1 as their leader1  
and therefore he was glad to leave the  
act of baptizing to his associates4     
,some1 however1 infer from this that he 
disparages baptism4 ,christ sent me not 
to baptize1 but to preach the gospel4   
,baptism1 in its place1 has its         
importance1 and so has preaching2 but   

whether he should be the baptizer1 or   
delegate the administration to ,silas1  
or ,mark1 was not of so much consequence
 as that he should preach4 ,how he put  
things in their right places1 according 
to their proportions1 exalting the      
great1 vital things1 sinking others to  
their subordinate1 though useful1       
spheres1 and becoming all things to all 
men to save them4 ,with his contempt of 
formalism1 ,i hardly know of a greater  
trial of patience than he must have had 
in consenting to circumcise ,timothy4   
,he there shut the window-shutters1 and 
lighted an exhausted lamp1 for a time1  
though he knew the sun was up1 to       
gratify some who had not opened their   
eyes to the morning4 ,how far from a    
contentious1 ambitious spirit1 was he1  
even with his intense convictions4      
,there are many good people1 in all     
communions1 who are longing for the time
 when all the old walls of separation   
between true ,christians will have as   
many gates in them1 at least1 as heaven 

has1--on the east three gates1 on the   
north three gates1 on the south three   
gates1 and on the west three gates4 ,but
 ,i rejoice even in our liberty1 if we  
choose to exercise it1 of separation1   
without molestation1 though we lose much
 good to ourselves1 and much influence1 
and1 in times of general religious      
interest1 it leads to early discussions 
about modes and forms4 ,how many times  
have ,i seen a growing attention to     
religion in a community checked by      
debates and discussions as to           
ordinances4  ,mr4 ,m4 ,if more pains    
were taken to instruct our own people as
 to the oneness of the ancient and the  
,christian church1 and to show them how 
the consecration of children is a part  
of religion1 as restablished by the     
,most ,high1 it seems to me great good  
would follow4  ,dr4 ,d4 ,if you will    
draw out your thoughts on the subject1  
and let me see them1 we may prepare     
something which may be useful4 ,you view
 the subject on the popular1 practical  

side4 ,let us see what the results are  
to which you have come4  ,having agreed 
to make the effort at my leisure1 ,i may
 report hereafter as to my success4 ,and
 now ,i will ask my reader's attention  
to an interesting letter1 which1 on my  
return home1 ,i found awaiting me4      
,chapter ,seventh4  ,,terms ,,of        
,,communion4     ,him first to love1    
great right and reason is1      ,who    
first to us our life and being gave2    
,and after1 when we fared had amisse1   
,us wretches from the second death did  
save2      ,and last1 the food of life1 
which now we have1    ,even ,he         
himselfe1 in his dear sacrament1    ,to 
feede our hungry soules1 unto us lent4  
,then next to love our brethren1 that   
were made      ,of that selfe mould1 and
 that self maker's hand1    ,that we2#f 
and to the same againe shall fade       
,where they shall have like heritage of 
land1#g      ,however here on higher    
steps we stand2    ,which also were with
 selfe-same price redeemed    ,that     

we2--however of us light esteemed4      
,,spenser4--,an ,hymne of ,heavenly     
,love4     ----,,prairie1----1 #ahe-4   
,,my ,,dear ,,brother3 ,here we are1 at 
our journey's end4 ,we have had a most  
romantic journey1 arriving in health1   
though wayworn1 much of our ride having 
been in wagons4 ,my wife says1 ,give my 
love to brother1 and tell him of the    
scene at the hill ,mizar4 ,your letter1 
which we found awaiting us1 made her    
think that you would be deeply          
interested in the story4 ,this1 by and  
by4  ,footnote #f3 ,as we4  ,footnote   
#g3 ,the grave4  ,as we were leaving    
,c41 one morning1 in the great          
mail-wagon1 a man and his wife1 with an 
infant in her arms1 took seats with us1 
bound far beyond our own home4 ,the     
parents had been delayed by the birth of
 the child during the journey from ,new 
,york4 ,they proved to be truly         
excellent people1 and they made our     
journey with them very agreeable4  ,the 
father1 ,mr4 ,blair1 had been greatly   

tried during his stay at the hotel where
 his wife was sick4 ,there was only one 
church in the village4 ,the             
administration of the ,lord's ,supper   
occurring while he was there1 he went to
 avail himself of a stranger's privilege
 at the table of ,christ4 ,he found1    
however1 that the ordinance was not to  
be administered till the afternoon1 and1
 moreover1 the hymn-book1 and some      
things in the sermon1 disclosed to him  
that the church was one which closed its
 doors against communicants who had not 
been baptized by immersion1 on          
profession of their faith4  ,he was     
strongly inclined to partake of the     
ordinance1 without saying anything      
respecting his baptism4 ,but1 on the    
whole1 he concluded that it would be    
respectful to intimate his situation to 
one of the church1 peradventure they had
 a rule favorable to such a case as his1
 or1 at least1 had agreed to shut their 
eyes1 and ask no questions1 in such     
circumstances4  ,he1 therefore1         

introduced himself to a venerable man1  
who1 he inferred1 was a deacon4 ,he     
frankly told him who he was1 and that he
 wished to partake of the ,lord's       
,supper4  ,the good man said to him1 ,i 
am sorry that you said anything about   
it2 but1 so long as you have1 ,i don't  
see how ,i can consistently encourage   
your partaking of the ordinance4        
,stranger4 ,on what ground1 sir8        
,deacon4 ,why1 we do not hold you to    
have been baptized4  ,stranger4 ,i was  
baptized in infancy1 by believing       
parents1 and have been a professing     
,christian fifteen years4  ,deacon4     
,that is not believers' baptism1 as we  
view it4 ,the ,lord's ,supper1 in our   
communion1 is for baptized persons only4
 ,we hold to no baptism but by          
immersion4  ,stranger4 ,i certainly     
would not intrude1 and ,i will not ask  
you to act inconsistently with your     
principles4 ,but ,i am a wayfaring man4 
,i have not had the opportunity to      
partake of the ,lord's ,supper for      

several months4 ,the life and health of 
my wife have been remarkably preserved  
in this village4 ,here is the birthplace
 of my first-born1 a place never to be  
forgotten by us4 ,i wish to make a      
,bethel of it4 ,i wish to come to my    
,saviour's table with my thanksgivings1 
and pay him my vows1 which my lips have 
uttered1 and my mouth hath spoken1 when 
,i was in trouble4 ,i rejoiced when ,i  
heard that this was your sacramental    
,sabbath4  ,deacon4 ,your church would  
not admit an unbaptized person to the   
,lord's table1 however much he might    
plead for admission4  ,stranger4 ,o1 my 
dear sir1 how unfair that reasoning is4 
,this is placing me on a level with one 
who rejects baptism4 ,i profess to have 
been baptized to the best of my         
knowledge1 and to have fulfilled the    
requirements of ,christ4 ,should a man  
come to our church1 and say1 ,i have    
reason to believe that ,i have been     
baptized1 though ,i cannot bring        
evidence to satisfy you1 except so far  

as you have confidence in me1 his case  
would be parallel with mine4 ,such a man
 we would not exclude4  ,deacon4        
,perhaps we shall not agree1 if we      
continue to discuss the point4 ,i am    
sorry that our rules operate to your    
inconvenience4 ,we wish to see everybody
 on ,new ,testament ground1 and we think
 that the surest way to bring them there
 is to stand there ourselves4 ,by       
departing from the literal command to   
immerse1 and by baptizing infants1 the  
church of ,christ became corrupted with 
traditions and human inventions4 ,we are
 at the antipodes to all this2 we refuse
 everything which is not in black and   
white on the surface of the ,bible1 and 
so we are the more consistent           
,protestants4  ,considering the day and 
the occasion1 said my friend to us1 ,i  
forbore to argue1 or to press the good  
man by asking him if the 'seventh-day   
,sabbath' people had not the advantage  
of him as to greater consistency in     
their ,protestantism2 or1 whether the   

church-membership of females was        
anywhere in black and white on the      
surface of the ,bible4 ,as to his going 
to the antipodes1 to get clear of       
,romish principles and practices1 ,i was
 strongly tempted to say that1 to avoid 
being one of the acids1 it surely was   
not necessary1 nor best1 to become an   
alkali4 ,but having often reflected how 
,god uses one and another sect1 and its 
set of principles and practices1 to     
correct evils1 by their sharp           
antagonism1 and to restore a balance to 
ecclesiastical disorders by allowing    
some to go1 for a while1 to an opposite 
extreme1 ,i did not find it in my heart 
to inveigh1 nor to upbraid4 ,it also    
seemed good to be in a land of liberty1 
where even ,christians could1 from a    
sense of duty to ,christ1 if they chose1
 fence out their acknowledged brethren  
and sisters from their table4 ,there are
 great inconveniences1 and1 now and     
then1 hardships1 resulting from it2 but 
our friends1 of course1 suppose that    

greater good1 on the whole1 than evil1  
is the consequence1 apart from          
considerations of duty4 ,but ,i know of 
a congregation1 in a small place1 who   
have had public worship for several     
years1 but have not had the ,lord's     
,supper administered1 because they      
cannot agree as to terms of communion4  
,well1 said ,i1 tell us what you did in 
the afternoon4  ,in the afternoon1 he   
continued1 ,i went to meeting1 and1 when
 the ordinance was to be administered1  
,i took a seat in a pew alone4 ,i       
watched to see which aisle the good     
deacon would serve1 and concluded to sit
 there1 so as not to seem clandestinely 
seeking from another deacon1 who would  
not know me1 my inhibited bread2 for ,i 
wished to be honorable in the           
transaction1 and1 besides1 ,i desired   
that my friend should see me1 and1 if he
 had changed his mind1 give me the      
symbols4 ,so ,i sat where he would pass1
 in a pew by myself1 but he did not look
 at me4  ,how did it make you feel8 said

 ,i4  ,in some respects1 said he1 ,i    
never enjoyed my thoughts more at the   
administration of the ,supper4 ,i had no
 feeling of resentment or ill-will4 ,the
 exclusion of four fifths of the        
,christian family from the ,lord's table
 by one portion of it1 for such a       
reason1 seemed to leave me in such good 
company1 that ,i said to myself1 ',they 
that be with us are more than they that 
be with them4' ,i rejoiced in ,robert   
,hall1 ,john ,bunyan1 and others like   
them4 ,i thought of that interesting    
piece in ,bunyan's works1 ',water       
,baptism no ,bar to ,communion4' ,i     
questioned whether this church and its  
sister churches would not hear a mild   
reproof from the lips of ,christ1--',i  
was a stranger1 and ye took me not in4' 
,certainly they could not say with ,job1
 ',if ,i have eaten my morsel alone4'   
,using the table of ,christ for a wall  
or bars against acknowledged            
,christians1--that table1 that ,supper1 
which1 of all places and scenes1 is most

 suggestive of communion and            
fellowship1--seemed to me so great a    
mistake1 that ,i could not in charity   
regard it as a sin1 because1 as such1 it
 would be so criminal4 ,i always        
believed1 before1 that the mode of      
baptism was not essential to ,christian 
fellowship2 but that afternoon ,i saw   
it1 ,i felt it2 ,i worked out the sum   
myself1 and saw the demonstration1 ,i   
felt very happy in belonging to the     
great host of ,god's people who can     
commune together1 however much they     
differ4  ,while ,i was sitting there    
alone1 put aside1 one might say1 by my  
brothers and sisters1 whom ,i had1 as it
 were1 run in so cordially to meet1 one 
thought came over me1 as they were      
feasting with ,christ1 which made me    
weep4 ,i thought of the possibility of  
being set aside in the great day4 ,i    
said1 to myself3     ',i love to meet   
thy people now1     ,before thy face    
with them to bow1       ,though vilest  
of them all2     ,but1 can ,i bear the  

dreadful thought1     ,what if my name  
should be left out       ,when thou for 
them dost call8'  ,this did me good4    
,yet1 while ,i was sitting there1 ,i    
seemed to see the ,saviour approach me1 
with a smile4 ,his look seemed very     
significant1 as though he would say1 ',i
 understand it4' ,those words came to my
 mind3 ',jesus heard that they had cast 
him out2 and1 when he had found him1 he 
said unto him1 ,dost thou believe on the
 ,son of ,god8 ,he answered and said1   
,who is he1 ,lord1 that ,i might believe
 on him8 ,and ,jesus said unto him1     
,thou hast both seen him1 and it is he  
that talketh with thee4 ,and he said1   
,lord1 ,i believe4 ,and he worshipped   
him4' ,i surely said and did this4      
,never before1 said he1 had ,i such     
views of the condescension and          
gentleness of ,christ toward us1 erring 
creatures4 ,here was a church erring1 it
 seemed to me1 in a point which must    
peculiarly wound the heart of the       
,redeemer1 whose last discourse with his

 disciples had this for its burden1 that
 ye love one another4 ,and yet there    
were1 in that church1 many with whom    
,christ was communing with a love that  
seemed to them unqualified4 ,so he      
treats us all4 ,i never had a greater   
flow of charity toward all my           
fellow-,christians than on that         
occasion4 ,i resolved that ,i never     
would be a sectarian in anything1 while 
,i also felt more strongly than ever    
attached to my own views1 and confident 
of their truthfulness1 and in love with 
their beauty4  ,when he had finished his
 narration1 his wife asked me what ,i   
thought with regard to her husband's    
proceedings4 ,i asked her to state      
particularly what she had in mind4 ,she 
then expressed a doubt whether it were  
proper for us to intrude upon           
fellow-,christians1 when we know that   
their principles forbid their communing 
with us4 ,she said that she remonstrated
 with her husband1 as soon as he told   
her that the ordinance was not free to  

all evangelical ,christians1 and that   
she tried to dissuade him from appearing
 to obtrude himself4 ,she did not view  
it as uncharitableness1 but only as a   
denominational rule4  ,i asked her what 
her husband said in self-defence2--for  
we loved to hear her conversation4  ,she
 said that he turned it off by saying1  
,men do not despise a thief1 if he steal
 to satisfy his soul when he is hungry4 
,she said that soon they experienced the
 utmost kindness from the members of    
that church1 who1 learning the occasion 
of their sojourn in the village1 poured 
upon them their hospitality4 ,several   
wished to remove her to their dwellings4
 ,they had a ,busy ,bee1 and made up    
everything in an infant's wardrobe for  
her4 ,she opened her travelling-bag1 and
 took out a white enamelled paper       
semi-circular box1 containing a         
pin-cushion1 made of straw-colored      
satin1 in the shape of a young moon1    
with these words tastefully printed in  
pins3 ,welcome1 little stranger6 ,she   

held it up to us in one hand1 while with
 the other she wiped her eyes4 ,never1  
she said1 had kindness affected her so  
much2--she believed that it hindered her
 in gaining strength1 her feelings were 
so continually wrought upon by ingenious
 devices of loving-kindness4 ,it became 
known that the husband had proposed to  
commune1 and what the issue had been4   
,this only served to make them all the  
more generous4 ,they felt it deeply1 and
 bore it as a necessity which they      
evidently regretted2 but1 with much     
self-respect1 they refrained to make any
 apology1 or explanation2 and1 for this1
 said the wife1 ,i respected them4      
,there was one elderly maiden-lady1     
however1 who once was so far excited    
when the subject was alluded to1 while  
several of them were sewing in the      
wife's room1 that1 after moving about in
 her chair1 evidently struggling with   
her emotions1 she ventured at last to   
say1 ,o1 if ,i could get hold of that   
old fence1 how ,i should love to shake  

it6 ,they all smiled2 and one sensible  
and well-educated woman immediately gave
 a pleasant turn to the conversation4   
,i fully agreed with the wife in her    
very dignified and proper view of the   
whole subject4 ,is there not something  
extremely charming in the highly        
lady-like sentiments and expressions of 
a ,christian woman1 as                  
contradistinguished from those of a     
gentleman8 ,he1 with all his urbanity1  
is apt to show the smallest possible    
vein of testiness1 or1 at least1 the    
clouded look of high-bred sense of      
honor4 ,it seems to me there is no power
 which woman exerts over us1 in         
softening and humanizing our feelings1  
more beautiful and effectual1 than in   
her delicate forbearance and charity in 
taking the kind view of an irritating   
subject1 without compromise of          
principle1 but just the view which      
reflection1 and gentler moods1 and the  
softening hand of time1 invariably      
present4 ,she arrives at it at once1 by 

intuition2 our slow and phlegmatic sense
 goes through a process of mistake and  
rectification1 to reach it4  ,it        
occurred to me to test this good lady's 
feelings a little further1 by reading to
 her an item from a newspaper1 which ,i 
had met with in the cars a few days     
before1 and which ,i had transferred to 
my pocket4 ,it had disturbed my         
equanimity a little4 ,it was an extract 
from the annual circular letter of a    
conference of ministers to their        
churches1 in one of the ,new ,england   
,states1 in #ahee1 in which mention was 
made of the monstrous and soul-damning  
heresy of infant baptism4  ,i asked the 
lady how we ought to feel at such a     
demonstration4 ,she said1 ,i presume ,i 
know how you gentlemen would be likely  
to feel and act under the impulse of the
 moment2 but the true way to regard and 
treat it1 as it seems to me1 is1 with   
pertinacious forgetfulness4 ,she would  
not let it disturb her feelings2 and she
 quoted ,george ,herbert3     ,why      

should ,i feel another man's mistakes   
,more than his sicknesses1 or poverty8  
,in love ,i should2 but1 c4  ,susan said
 that she was reminded of visits made to
 her mother's house1 by some who would  
persuade her mother that she belonged to
 an unbaptized church2 thus seeking to  
put in fear the children who were about 
to make a profession of religion4 ,her  
mother replied to these visitors1 that  
there was far more apprehension in her  
own mind whether they themselves were   
properly baptized1 if but one mode is   
valid4--,as to ,mr4 ,blair's effort to  
commune at that table1 she said that she
 would never seek nor receive as a boon 
from men1 that which her ,saviour had   
purchased for her1 and for them1 with   
his own blood4  ,our conversation was   
here interrupted by the exclamation of  
my wife1 ,do look at that beautiful     
sight1 that cascade1 on the hill4       
,chapter ,eighth4  ,,the ,,road-,,side  
,,baptism4     ,how beautiful the water 
is6      ,to me 'tis wondrous fair2     

,no spot can ever lonely be1      ,if   
water sparkle there4    ,it hath a      
thousand tongues of mirth1      ,of     
grandeur1 or delight1    ,and every     
heart is gladder made      ,when water  
greets the sight4     ,,mrs4 ,e4,o4     
,,smith4     ,sweet one6 make haste1 and
 know ,him too2      ,thine own adopting
 ,father love2    ,that1 like thine     
earliest dew1      ,thy dying sweets may
 prove4     ,,keble4   ,we were about to
 turn a corner in a defile of the       
mountains1 and a large perpendicular    
buttress of the ridge stood out1 so as  
nearly to close up the road4 ,it        
presented a surface of about twenty feet
 directly in front1 as we drove up1 and1
 from the top1 which was nearly a       
hundred and twenty feet from the ground1
 a cascade fell into the air for about  
forty feet1 and1 without touching       
anything1 became dishevelled1 and       
disappeared in mist4  ,it was one of the
 most beautiful objects which ,i ever   
saw4 ,it was pure white1 relieved       

against the wet and very black rock4 ,it
 waved to and fro in the air like a     
streamer2 it had a slow pulse1 lifting  
it and letting it drop1 like the        
appearance of a waterfall seen from the 
window of a car in motion1 only this was
 irregular and quite slow2 it was soft  
and fleecy2 it made no audible noise2 it
 looked dangerous to see it fall from so
 great a height2 but it was caught in   
the air1 to your relief1 as one who     
falls in his dream lights upon his soft 
bed4 ,the lines of ,gray1 in his ,bard1 
were suggested by the sight of this     
mountain1 though not by any close       
resemblance3     ,loose his beard2 his  
hoary hair    ,streamed like a meteor to
 the troubled air4  ,the ladies had     
other images suggested by it4 ,one said1
 ,it is a beautiful hand1 waving        
,godspeed to us on our journey4 ,that   
brought tears into the eyes of some of  
us1 reminding us so of meetings and     
partings at home1 and chording well with
 our pilgrim condition4 ,we concluded to

 make response2 and we tarried there4   
,the rock seemed to be full of water1   
oozing out from the seams1 dripping over
 rich mosses1 with jets1 here and there1
 leaping into the light with a bound of 
a few inches1 and quietly expiring among
 the thick weather-stains and lichens1  
as if satisfied with their brief        
existence4 ,the little things made me   
think of the sweet souls of infants     
passing into time1 and then immediately 
out of it4 ,as we listened1 we heard    
what ,addison describes in his version  
of the twenty-third ,psalm3     ,and    
streams shall murmur all around4  ,the  
ladies took off their bonnets1 and we   
our hats1 and we stood under the        
cascade1 looking up1 and feeling1 or    
fancying that we felt1 the cool spray on
 our heads and faces4 ,we drank of the  
rock1 and we thought of that ,rock which
 followed ,israel4 ,it seemed good to   
have such an image of ,jesus as such a  
rock1 with the strength of the hills in 
it1 and with its inexhaustible springs1 

its beautiful entablature1 its cool     
shadow1 following a company through a   
desert4 ,what thoughts and feelings did 
it give us respecting our adorable      
,immanuel1 ,god with us4 ,dear ,susan1  
looking up1 said1 ,lead me to the ,rock 
that is higher than ,i4  ,after invoking
 the blessing of ,god1 and refreshing   
ourselves from our little store1 our    
friends wandered away by themselves1 and
 left us to enjoy the opportunity for   
prayer1 which we supposed they also     
sought in withdrawing from us4  ,as they
 returned1 the father had the little boy
 on his two hands1 and1 approaching me1 
he looked up to the cascade1 and said1  
',see1 here is water2 what doth hinder  
me to be baptized8'  ,i was at no loss  
to understand the quotation and the     
request4  ,would you like to have the   
little one baptized here8 said ,i4  ,we 
should1 they both exclaimed4 ,we are    
going into a destitute place at the     
,west1 and there is no church1 you tell 
us1 within several miles of where we    

expect to live4 ,it is very uncertain   
about our being able to procure baptism 
for the child there2 and where could we 
enjoy the ordinance more1 or make it    
more impressive upon our hearts1 than   
here1 so long as we have no house of    
,god1 which we remember1 however1 from  
'the hill ,mizar'8  ,i told them that   
the experience of ,philip and the       
eunuch1 in the desert1 was1 just as     
likely as not1 the same as ours4 ,see1  
here is water4 ,the probability of its  
being a road-side spring1 in a rock1 or 
out of the earth1 was greater than of   
its being a pool in the desert1 large   
enough to immerse a man in it1 leaving  
out of view the inconveniences of being 
bathed along the way4 ,we have both gone
 down out of the chariot1 said ,i--7you 
would have smiled to see our great1     
strong1 muddied wain7--and we have done 
what the literal ,greek says they did1  
went down to the water2 and when we     
start1 we shall come up from the water4 
,but let us read 'the place of the      

,scripture' which the eunuch was reading
 when ,philip joined him4  ,susan took  
from her bag the blue velvet-covered    
,bible1 which you gave her1 unclasped   
it1 and turned to the fifty-second      
chapter of ,isaiah1 at my request1 and  
began to read4 ,o1 how soft and sweet   
was the sound of a female voice1        
repeating words of inspiration in that  
beautiful1 solitary spot6 ,the          
,scriptures had not been divided into   
chapters and verses for the eunuch1 as  
for us1 but we noticed that the last    
verse of the chapter preceding the place
 of the ,scripture which he read1 not   
divided from it in his copy of ,isaiah1 
was1 ,so shall he sprinkle many nations2
 which1 we thought1 proved that the     
eunuch had had the idea of baptism      
suggested to him by those words2 and    
quite as conclusively proving it1 as    
buried with him in baptism proves       
immersion4  ,however1 being agreed on   
all these points1 we made no long       
discourse about them1 but dwelt upon the

 ,son of ,god as the ,redeemer of       
,abraham's seed1 and in whom all the    
promises of ,god1 including those made  
to ,abraham1 are yea1 and in him amen4  
,i said to my friends1 ,the ,father1    
,son1 and ,holy ,ghost1 are about to    
write their several and joint names on  
this child's forehead4  ,as a lamb has  
the owner's mark upon his side1 this    
child is to be claimed by them1 to be   
brought up for the service and glory of 
its redeeming ,god4  ,you are to give   
him away1 to be disposed of by the ,most
 ,high4 ,you are to be1 for ,him1 what  
the mother of ,moses was for ,pharaoh's 
daughter--nurses to your own child4     
,this dear child lay helpless and       
exposed1 with all of us1 to destruction2
 the ,redeemer passed that way2 he heard
 its cries3 he had compassion upon it2  
he saved it from the condemning sentence
 of divine justice2 and now he calls    
you1 and says1 ',take this child1 and   
bring it up for me1 and ,i will give    
thee thy wages4' ,he does not commit the

 child to church1 nor pastor1 nor       
,sabbath-school1 but to its own father  
and mother1 who may and will avail      
themselves of all the appointed and the 
useful helps for its nurture and        
admonition in the ,lord2 but he looks to
 you1 as having the chief and principal 
responsibility1 to bring up this child  
for ,god4  ,you covenant to lay your    
plans for this child1 so that he may1 by
 the surest means1 live for ,god4 ,to   
this end you will pray with him and for 
him2 teach him what was done for him in 
baptism1 and before1 and afterwards2 how
 ,god was beforehand with him1 and was  
found of him who sought him not4 ,he is 
to be trained up as a ,christian child1 
with a view to his early conversion1 and
 your great concern is not to be1 how he
 may promote his private happiness1 or  
yours1 but how he may best serve ,god4  
,to this end1 you will1 from the first1 
watch over all his moral faculties1 and 
instil into him the principles of truth 
and uprightness2 not letting him run    

loose among the vanities of the world1  
and feed upon its miserable1 corrupted  
sentiments1 and choose worldly and      
godless persons for his intimate        
associates1 his manners and his habits  
being like a garden which runs to weeds1
 and his whole nature left to the perils
 of sin1 trusting to some sudden act of 
conversion to bring him right2 but you  
will rather be diligent to 'fill the    
water-pots with water1' and wait for    
,christ to turn it into wine4 ,you      
intend1 and you promise1 that you will  
educate this child from the beginning   
with all that strictness of ,christian  
principle which you would expect of him 
were he1 in his infancy1 to be a        
professing ,christian1 his duty being   
the same1 and1 consequently1 yours      
toward him1 whether he is regenerate or 
not1--one and the same law of ,god being
 our rule1 irrespective of conditions4  
,in all times of sickness and peril1 you
 are to feel that this child is the     
,lord's1 to be disposed of by him1      

without consulting you4 ,if called to   
die and leave him1 you will remember    
that you received him from ,god1 that he
 belonged to ,god at first1 and when he 
was placed in your care2 and that ,god1 
who thus has the most perfect claim to  
him1 will perfect that which concerns   
him1 even if his parents are in the     
grave4  ,and while you thus covenant    
with ,god1 the ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy 
,ghost1 covenant with you1 and with the 
child through you1 to be the ,god of    
your seed1 affording you special help in
 training the child1 bestowing special  
blessings upon it tending to its        
spiritual good1 having a particular     
regard for it as something lent to him1 
and belonging to you2 while1 in another 
sense1 it is lent to you1 and belongs to
 him2 and he and you are to regard the  
child agreeably to this beautiful       
transmutation of ownership and loan4    
,the baptism itself cannot save the     
child1 any more than the ,lord's ,supper
 can save you2 but it is among the first

 of means to promote the salvation of   
the child1 not merely through its effect
 on you1 or its remembered grace and    
goodness when the child can be made to  
appreciate it2 but above all1 and       
through all1 and in all1 it seals that  
covenant of a covenant-keeping ,god1    
assisting your efforts and those of the 
child1--that promise1 ,i say1 ',i will  
be his ,god1 and he shall be my son4'   
,we named the little boy1 ,,philip1 as a
 memorial of the road-side baptism4 ,we 
stood under the shadow of that great    
rock1 and worshipped ,abraham's ,god4   
,doubtless thou art our father1 though  
,abraham be ignorant of us1 and ,israel 
acknowledge us not4 ,the voice of prayer
 was joined by chimes and symphonies    
from trickling rills1 and the freshening
 breeze in a silver-leaved maple1       
leaning at an angle of thirty-five      
degrees1 just above us in the rock1 all 
as quiet as the dear infant's breathing2
 while1 now and then1 the sudden        
flapping and rushing of birds' wings    

made the monotone around us more        
soothing4  ,from a little jet of water1 
that formed an arc of about an inch1 as 
it burst into life and then disappeared 
in a great moss-bed1 ,i caught my palm  
full1 and laid it upon the unconscious  
head4  ,the little hands were suddenly  
lifted and dropped1 as though a slight  
shock had been experienced1 then a smile
 played round the mouth1 and the sleep  
seemed deeper4  ,and will ,god in very  
deed dwell on earth8 ,will the adorable 
,trinity be present at such a scene as  
this8 ,present6 ,all power is given unto
 me in heaven and in earth4 ,go ye1     
therefore1 and teach all nations1       
baptizing them in the name of the       
,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the    
,holy ,ghost4 ,he will not appoint this 
ordinance1 and fail to be present2 the  
,god of redemption is a party to that   
transaction by which an immortal soul1  
with an existence commensurate with his 
own1 is consecrated to him by its       
natural guardians1 acting in the place  

of ,god1 and for the child1 and joining 
them in covenant4  ,shall we ever forget
 this8 said the husband to his wife1 as 
we were riding along that beautiful     
afternoon4  ,never1 said she2 but she   
added1 sensible woman as she was1 the   
beauty and sentiment of the place seemed
 to me nothing1 compared with the       
privilege of covenanting with ,god1 and 
having him covenant with us for the     
child4 ,after all1 said she1 ,i would   
have been glad to have had the baptism  
in our little church at home1 and to    
have secured good ,mrs4 ,maberry's      
prayers1 and those of our church1 for   
the child1 at its baptism4 ,i must write
 to her1 and get her to tell the        
,maternal ,association about it1 and ask
 them not to forget little ,philip4     
,what would you have named it1 said my  
wife1 had it been a girl8  ,o1 said she1
 smiling1 ,i was thinking on the hill1  
that1 if it had been a girl1 ,i should  
have called it ,candace1 for the        
,ethiopian queen4  ,and ,canda1 for     

shortness and sweetness1 ,i suppose1    
said her husband1 his eyes twinkling and
 sparkling with love1 as he looked at   
her1 and from her upon us4  ,he's a     
sweet little thing1 you know he is1 said
 the mother1 burying her face in the    
child's bosom1 and giving it something  
between a good long smell and a good    
long kiss1 or both2 a thing which       
mothers alone know exactly how to do4   
,suppose1 said ,i1 that1 instead of     
little ,philip1 it had been you1 sir1   
and ,mrs4 ,blair1 who had needed to be  
baptized4  ,here you are1 on a journey4 
,you do not know that you will be able  
to avail yourselves of religious        
ordinances1 in your new home1 for a long
 time to come2 and1 besides1 regarding  
baptism not merely as a profession of   
religion1 but as an act of ,almighty    
,god1 sealing you with his appointed    
sign of the covenant1 you have strong   
desires to receive it1 here in this 'way
 unto ,gaza1 which is desert1' from my  
hands4  ',see1 here is water1' in rich  

abundance4 ,but1 alas6 there is no pond1
 nor pool1 no lake1 nor river6  ,even if
 there were1 said my wife to ,mrs4      
,blair1 ,i should shudder to have you   
venture into untried waters1 in this    
lonely place4 ,fear1 at least1 would    
prevent any peace of mind1 or satisfying
 enjoyment4  ',what doth hinder me to be
 baptized8' you would properly say to   
me1 ,i continued4 ',o1' my reply could  
be1 'the water is not in an available   
shape4 ,had we time to scoop out a tank 
in the earth1 or make a stone baptistery
 in the rock1 then you might be 'buried 
with him by baptism into death4' ,but it
 is impossible4 ,this living fountain of
 waters in the mountain1 full and       
overflowing though it be1 does not allow
 of ,christian baptism4 ,besides1 as to 
suitable apparel1 and all the necessary 
arrangements for comfort1 not to say    
propriety1--you see that baptism1 here  
is out of the question4'  ,do you think1
 said ,mrs4 ,blair1 that the ,head of   
the church has appointed any such       

invariable mode of administering        
baptism1--one that cannot be applied in 
numerous cases8  ,i said to her1 ,i     
cannot believe it4 ,the genius of       
,christianity seems opposed to it4 ,let 
all who will1 use immersion2 we love    
them still1 and rejoice in their        
liberty1 but ,i cannot agree that it was
 the ,new ,testament method4 ,even had  
it been1 ,i should expect that the rule 
would be flexible enough to meet cases  
of necessity4  ,i was thinking1 said    
,mr4 ,blair1 that1 at least1 four fifths
 of all the people of ,god have gone to 
heaven unbaptized1 if immersion is the  
only valid mode of baptism4 ,this is    
rather a serious thing1 if the solemn   
words1 ',he that believeth1 and is      
baptized1 shall be saved1' look only to 
baptism by immersion4 ,it seems to me1  
he added1 that the providence of ,god   
would have brought in some great        
reformation from so calamitous an error 
in the church1 if it were an error4     
,some ,luther1 or ,calvin1 or ,knox1 or 

some ,john ,baptist1 would have been    
raised up1 as in other emergencies1 to  
bring the church back to her duty4  ,how
 clearly1 said ,i1 does that seem to    
prove that all the people of ,god have1 
as ,paul says1 ',one ,lord1 one faith1  
one baptism1' however variant their     
modes of worship and administration may 
be4  ,how many baptized children1 from  
,christian families1 said my wife1 are  
gathered together in heaven6 ,i cannot  
think of them as the unfortunate        
subjects of a superstitious or corrupt  
observance1 at the hands of the         
ministers of ,jesus1 in all ages of the 
world4 ,there must seem to them1 as they
 increase in knowledge1 a beautiful     
fitness in their having had those       
adorable names inscribed upon them1 with
 ,god's own initiatory seal of his      
covenant4 ,what loving-kindness it must 
appear to them1 that ,god gave them the 
ordinance of baptism1 and became their  
,god6 ,how it will stand out before     
their minds as a principal illustration 

of being saved by grace6  ,and then1    
again1 said ,mr4 ,blair1 think of the   
millions of children in heaven who were 
not baptized1--saved1 the most of them1 
from heathen and pagan lands4 ,how 'the 
gift by grace1 which is by one man1     
,jesus ,christ1 hath abounded unto      
many4' ,baptism is not an austere law4  
,there is nothing austere or rigid1 in  
any sense1 connected with it2 but it    
makes me think of the water itself1     
scattered in so many beautiful and      
pliable forms all over the earth1 in    
fountains1 water-falls1 dew1 rain-drops2
 and1 when it cannot 'stand before ,his 
cold1' it comes down softly upon us1 in 
crystal asteroids and all the           
geometrical forms of snow4 ,i love to   
think that ,god has associated that     
beautiful element1 the water1 with      
religion4 ,and now it does not seem     
accordant with the works and ways of    
,him1 of whom we say1 ',how great is his
 goodness1 how great is his beauty1' to 
make one obdurate mode of bringing the  

water in connection with us essential to
 an ordinance1 whose element seems      
everywhere to shun preciseness4  ,water 
is certainly a beautiful emblem of open 
communion1 said one of the ladies4 ,it  
must be conscious1 one would think1 of  
violence done to its ubiquitous nature1 
to be made the occasion of separating   
beloved friends1 at the ,table whose    
symbolized ,blood has made them one in  
,christ4  ,but we had to part4 ,i told  
them that my wife and ,i would certainly
 be sponsors for little ,philip1 in the 
best sense2 we would make a record of   
its history1 thus far1 among our family 
memorials2 tell our children about him1 
and charge them in after life to inquire
 for him1 and lose no opportunity of    
doing him good4 ,though1 as to that1 ,i 
could not help saying1 no one knows in  
this world who will be benefactor or    
beneficiary4  ,our children will always 
be interested in each other1 said his   
wife1 for their parents' sake4  ,can we 
not sing a hymn8 said the husband4  ,we 

found that our voices made a quartet4   
,susan was ready with her beautiful     
contralto1 ,mrs4 ,blair sung the        
soprano1 ,mr4 ,blair the tenor1 and ,i  
the base4  ,,the ,,baptismal ,,hymn4    
,lord1 what our ears have heard1        
,our eyes delighted trace--       ,thy  
love1 in long succession shown1         
,to ,zion's chosen race4        ,our    
children thou dost claim1         ,and  
mark them out for thine2       ,ten     
thousand blessings to thy name          
,for goodness so divine4        ,thee1  
let the fathers own1         ,and thee1 
the sons adore1       ,joined to the    
,lord in solemn vows1         ,to be    
forgot no more4        ,thy covenant may
 they keep1         ,and bless the happy
 bands       ,which closer still engage 
their hearts1         ,to honor thy     
commands4        ,how great thy mercies1
 ,lord6         ,how plenteous is thy   
grace6       ,which1 in the promise of  
thy love1         ,includes our rising  
race4        ,our offspring1 still thy  

care1         ,shall own their fathers' 
,god2       ,to latest times thy        
blessings share1         ,and sound thy 
praise abroad4  ,we saw them and their  
baggage on board the wagon that was to  
take them over to the river2 we waved   
our farewell1 and sent our kisses2 and1 
just as they were turning a corner which
 hid them from our view1 the father     
stood up in the wagon1 and held little  
,philip as high as he could 7the mother1
 of course1 reaching up her arms to hold
 them both fast71 as though to catch the
 last benediction4 ,the long1 flowing   
white dress of the child gave the       
picture a waving1 vanishing effect1     
reminding us of our first sight of the  
cascade1 which1 with the whole          
transaction to which it gave occasion1  
has taken a permanent place in our      
sleeping and waking dreams4     ,chapter
 ,ninth4  ,,the ,,children ,,of ,,the   
,,church4     ,go1 now1 ye that are men1
 and serve the ,lord4--,,pharaoh4       
,we will go with our young1 and with our

 old1 with our sons1 and with our       
daughters4--,,moses4     ,hosanna to the
 ,son of ,david4--,,the ,,children ,,in 
,,the ,,temple4     ,the children of thy
 servants shall continue1 and their seed
 shall be    established before         
thee4--,,psalm #ajb3bh4   ,the reader   
will now be introduced1 in imagination1 
to a seat in the window of a country    
parsonage1 with honeysuckle-vines       
trained over an arched lattice-work that
 spans the window4 ,there are several   
large maples in the yard1 which is a    
grass-plot1 where six gentlemen are     
enjoying pleasant conversation1 and are 
seated at their ease1 some in chairs1   
and the rest on a sofa1 which1 at the   
suggestion of a kind lady1 they had     
lifted from its place in the parlor to  
the yard4  ,they are all of them pastors
 of churches1 met1 for social           
intercourse and friendly counsel1 at the
 house of one of their number1 with     
their wives1 who are also together by   
themselves1 in a pleasant room on the   

north side of the house1 and into whose 
sayings and doings these husbands will1 
no doubt1 be disposed to make1 in due   
time1 suitable inquiry4  ,those         
wonderful little elves1 the             
humming-birds1 are frequent visitors to 
those honeysuckles1 under which ,i have 
placed my reader to be a listener4 ,how 
many vibrations those little wings make 
in a minute1 how so long a bill can have
 subtractive force sufficient to get    
anything from the flower1 how1 when     
obtained1 that product is conveyed to   
the throat1 and where these creatures   
build their nests1 and whither they     
migrate1 are questions which will1      
perhaps1 divert attention from          
everything else for a time1 especially  
if the reader has escaped for a season  
from a large city1 and is one of those  
who there dwell in courts4 ,perhaps1    
therefore1 he will choose to refresh    
himself1 in silent contemplation1 in    
this arbor2 and ,i will make true report
 of all that transpires in the yard4    

,one of these pastors1 ,mr4 ,a41 has    
been reading to his brethren1 for their 
judgment as to the soundness of his     
views1 a sermon1 not yet preached1 on   
the relation of baptized children to the
 church4 ,we will call him1 and two of  
the ministers who agreed with his views1
 by their initials1 respectively1 which 
consisted of the first three letters of 
the alphabet2 while the three who       
dissented from them had1 as initials to 
their names1 letters remote from these4 
,neither ,messrs4 ,a41 ,b41 and ,c41 nor
 ,messrs4 ,r41 ,s41 and ,t41 had had any
 previous concert or comparison of views
 on this interesting subject2 but they  
found themselves thus arrayed on        
different sides of the question4        
,omitting the sermon that gave occasion 
to the discussion which follows1 a few  
lines only will put us in possession of 
the whole subject4 ,i give the opening  
paragraph3  ,it is held by all who      
practise infant baptism1 that the       
children of believers have a peculiar   

relation to the church4 ,that relation  
is very generally expressed by the word 
membership4 ,we have treatises1 by the  
most orthodox divines1 on the           
church-membership of the children of    
believers2 which children they freely   
call members of the ,christian church2  
and1 in catechisms and confessions of   
faith1 the church of ,christ is declared
 to consist of such as are in covenant  
relations with ,god1 and their          
offspring4  ,the sermon being finished1 
,mr4 ,r4 was first called upon by the   
chairman1 ,mr4 ,c41 for his remarks4    
,the question1 as stated by the         
chairman1 was1 ,are the children of     
believers1 in any sense1 members of the 
church8 ,if so1 what is it8 and1 if not1
 what relation to the church do they    
sustain8  ,mr4 ,r4 ,i presume that      
brother ,a4 does not wish us to take up 
time with criticisms upon his style4 ,he
 seeks to know our views with regard to 
the subject of the sermon4 ,i am        
compelled to say1 at once1 that ,i      

differ from the views expressed by the  
reader1 if he means by the terms1       
members and membership1 which he        
employs1 all which they would convey to 
the majority of hearers4 ,but ,i noticed
 that when he1 and those excellent men  
whom he quotes1 come to define what they
 mean by members1 and membership1 in    
this connection1 they make explanations1
 and qualifications1 and also           
protestations1 showing that no one can  
be1 in their view1 a member of the      
spiritual1 or1 what is called the       
invisible1 church of ,christ1 without   
repentance and faith4 ,rightly          
understood1 therefore1 they are free    
from any just imputation of making      
unscriptural terms of membership in the 
kingdom of ,christ4 ,and1 perhaps1 when 
those of us who dissent from some of    
their propositions1 fully understand the
 limitations which the writers          
themselves affix to their use of terms1 
no great discrepancy will be found to   
exist4  ,it admits of a question1       

therefore1 in my view1 whether the terms
 members and membership1 as applied to  
children1 really mean that which these  
writers themselves intend to convey by  
them2 for certainly they do not mean all
 which their readers at first suppose4  
,the terms in question require a great  
deal of explanation1 which a term1 if   
possible1 ought never to need4 ,and1    
after all has been said1 a wrong        
impression is conveyed to the minds of  
many1 while opponents gain undue        
advantage in arguing against that which1
 for substance1 all the friends of      
infant baptism cordially maintain4  ,if 
,br4 ,a4 is asked1 ,in what sense are   
children members of the church1 he      
resorts1 for illustration1 to           
citizenship1 and to the sisterhood in   
the church itself1 to show how children 
and females may be members of the       
community1 and1 in the case of females1 
may belong to the church1 while yet     
their privileges and functions are      
limited4 ,so1 he says1 the children of  

believers are a component part of ,god's
 church1 not entitled to the use of all 
its privileges till they are renewed by 
the ,spirit of ,god1 yet so related by  
the sovereign appointment of ,god to    
those who are members1 as to be1 in a   
subordinate sense1 a part of the church4
  ,could the friends of infant baptism  
agree on some term1 which would express 
their common belief with regard to the  
relation of believers' children to the  
church1 better than member1 ,i think it 
must have a happy effect in promoting   
harmony of views and feelings1 and take 
away from others the grounds of several 
present objections4  ,it was here agreed
 that1 instead of the question going    
round to each in turn1 the conversation 
should be free1 subject to the rule of  
the chairman4  ,mr4 ,a41 the reader1    
then said that he should be glad to     
learn from his ,br4 ,r4 precisely what  
his views were of the relation of       
baptized children to the church4 ,let us
 see1 he said1 how far we are agreed as 

to the actual nature of this relation4  
,well1 then1 said ,mr4 ,r41 ,i will     
begin with this3  ,they are the children
 of ,god's friends4 ,we all know how    
,god reminds ,israel of their relation  
to ,abraham1 his friend1 tells them they
 are beloved for the fathers' sakes1 and
 he remembers his covenant with those   
friends of his1 their fathers1 when     
provoked by the children's sins4 ,toward
 the child of one who loves ,god 7not   
merely a church-member1 but a friend of 
,god71 ,i suppose there are affections  
on the part of ,god1 of which our own   
feelings toward the child of a dear     
,christian friend are a representation4 
,this love to the child of his friend1  
,i always thought1 is the great element 
in that arrangement of the ,most ,high  
which we call the ,abrahamic covenant2  
for he who made us1 knew how much a love
 for our children1 on the part of       
others1 draws us together1 and what     
bonds are constituted and strengthened  
between men through their children2 and 

that one great means of promoting love  
to ,him would be1 his manifesting       
special love and care for the offspring 
of those who love him4 ,god has a       
people1 friends2 and the children of    
such are the children of his            
dearly-beloved friends4 ,in this we are 
all agreed4  ,certainly1 said ,mr4 ,a41 
but you will go further than this1 ,i   
presume4  ,mr4 ,r4 ,yes1 ,mr4 ,chairman4
 ,one thing more is true of them3  ,they
 are the principal source of the        
church's increase4 ,the selection of    
,abraham1 with a view to make of his    
lineage1 the banks1 within whose        
defensive influences grace should find  
helps in making its way in this ungodly 
world1 had reference1 ,i believe1 to    
that power of hereditary family         
influence1 which has not ceased1 and    
will not cease1 to the end of time4 ,it 
is beautiful and affecting to see that  
recognition of our free agency1 and that
 unwillingness ever to interfere with   
it1 which leads the ,most ,high to fall 

in with the principles of our nature    
established by himself1 in placing his  
chief reliance on the natural love of   
parents for their offspring to          
contribute1 by far1 the larger part of  
those who shall be converted4 ,in this  
arrangement and expectation do we not   
find the deep roots of infant baptism8  
which thus appears to be neither ,jewish
 nor ,gentile1 but grows out of our     
nature itself1 which also requires1     
which demands1 some rite1 a symbolic    
sign and seal4 ,god made the children of
 ,adam partakers with him of his curse2 
so that the parental and filial relation
 was1 from the beginning made a stream  
to bear along the consequences of the   
first transgression4 ,no new thing1     
therefore1 was instituted when ,god1 in 
calling ,abraham1 appointed the parental
 and filial relation to bear1 on its    
deep and mighty stream1 the most        
powerful means of godliness in all      
coming generations4 ,how little do we   
think of this1 ,mr4 ,chairman1 and      

brethren2 how apt we are to neglect this
 great arrangement of divine providence 
and grace1--the perpetuation of the     
church1 chiefly by means of the parental
 and filial relation4 ,but1 if such be  
the divine appointment1 and the children
 of believers are therefore the most    
hopeful sources of the church's         
increase1 of course they may be said to 
belong to the church1 in a peculiar     
sense1 but without being members4  ,mr4 
,a4 ,i think you are coming on very well
 toward my ground4 ,i certainly agree   
with you thus far4  ,mr4 ,r4 ,if ,i am  
not taking up too much time1 ,mr4       
,chairman1 ,i should like to proceed a  
little further1 in order to do full     
justice to my views4 ,if ,i am found to 
agree with ,br4 ,a41 it will be just as 
pleasant as though he agreed with me4   
,chairman4 ,please to proceed4 ,two     
things which are equal to the same      
thing1 are equal to each other4  ,mr4   
,r4 ,i will1 then1 say1 once more3  ,the
 children of believers are the subjects 

of preeminent privileges and blessings4 
,special promises are made to them from 
love to their parents2 great advantages 
are theirs1 directly and indirectly1    
from their relation to those who are the
 true worshippers of ,god2 forbearance1 
long suffering1 the remembrance of      
consecrations and vows1 prevail with    
,god1 oftentimes1 in their behalf when  
they have broken their father's         
commandment and forsaken the law of     
their mother4 ,no words of tenderness1  
in any relation of life1--said ,mr4 ,r41
 turning to the ,psalms1--surpass those1
 in which are described the feelings of 
,god toward the rebellious sons of      
,abraham3 ,but he1 being full of        
compassion1 forgave their iniquity1 and 
destroyed them not2 yea1 many a time    
turned he his anger away1 and did not   
stir up all his wrath4 ,for he          
remembered his holy promise1 and        
,abraham his servant4 ,god still        
remembers ,abraham1 his servant1 in the 
person of every father and mother who   

loves him1 and is steadfast in his      
covenant2 and the generation of the     
upright shall be blessed4 ,mistakes in  
family government1 growing out of wrong 
principles1 too great reliance upon     
future conversion1 and the neglect of   
that moral training which is essential  
to the best development of religious    
character1 and1 indeed1 without which   
religious character is often a          
melancholy distortion1 or sadly         
defective1 may be followed by their     
natural consequences2 and we cannot     
complain1--for ,god works no miracle1   
nor turns aside any great law1 in favor 
of our misconduct2 yet it remains true  
that all who love and serve him1 and    
command their children and households to
 fear the ,lord1 enforcing it in all the
 proper ways of government1 discipline1 
example1 and the right observance of    
religious ordinances1 public and        
private1 may expect peculiar blessings  
upon their offspring4  ,one of the      
youngest of the company1 the father of  

one young child1 here inquired1 if the  
speaker would have us infer that the    
conversion of such children is to be    
looked for as a matter of course4  ,mr4 
,r4 ,ordinarily1 they will grow up in   
the nurture and admonition of the ,lord1
 to be followers of ,christ2 the        
proportion of persons baptized on       
admission to the church1 will become    
small2 a healthful tone of religious    
feeling will pervade our churches2 less 
and less reliance will be placed on     
startling measures1 on splendid talents1
 on novelties1 to promote the cause of  
religion2 but ,christian families will  
extend like the cultivated fields of    
different proprietors1 whose green and  
flowering hedges1 instead of stone      
walls1 mingle all into one landscape4   
,and the work of righteousness shall be 
peace1 and the effect of righteousness1 
quietness and assurance forever4 ,and my
 people shall dwell in a peaceable      
habitation1 and in sure dwellings1 and  
in quiet resting-places4 ,and all thy   

children shall be taught of the ,lord1  
and great shall be the peace of thy     
children4 ,such1 ,i believe1 is sure to 
be the manner of the church's           
prosperity1 and therefore the children  
who are to be the subjects of these     
inestimable blessings must be said1 in  
some sense1 to belong to the church1    
they being the objects of special regard
 with the church and with ,god4 ,br4 ,a4
 agrees with me in all this1 ,i presume4
  ,mr4 ,a4 ,entirely2 or1 rather1 you   
agree with me4  ,now1 ,br4 ,a41 said an 
earnest man of the company1--who1       
however1 immediately checked himself1   
and bowed to ,mr4 ,r41 and said1 ,i dare
 say1 ,mr4 ,chairman1 that ,br4 ,r4 was 
going to put the very question which ,i 
intended to ask4  ,mr4 ,r4 ,proceed1    
,br4 ,s4 ,i owe an apology for speaking 
so much4  ,mr4 ,s4 ,will ,br4 ,a41 ,mr4 
,chairman1 please to tell us why he     
feels obliged to call these children    
members of the church8  ,for1 we all    
know1 that1 notwithstanding all these   

glorious things1 which are spoken of    
them1 to which ,br4 ,a4 has also        
referred1 not one baptized child of a   
true believer can be1 really1 a member  
of the church1 in regular standing1 till
 he1 like the unbaptized heathen        
convert1 has repented of his sins and   
believed on the ,lord ,jesus4 ,all the  
promises and privileges appertaining to 
his relationship as a child of a        
believer1 promote1 and make more        
certain1 his repentance and faith2 and  
therefore1 if asked1 ,what profit1 then1
 hath circumcision1 and its substitute1 
infant baptism8 we can reply1 ,much     
every way2 but it never stood1 and never
 can stand1 in the place of             
justification by free grace through the 
personal exercise of faith in the       
,redeemer4  ,mr4 ,c4 ,but ,i wish to    
ask1 in the name of ,br4 ,a41 and for my
 own sake1 what objection there is to   
retaining the name1 member1 in this     
connection8  ,mr ,s4 ,my answer is1 it  
is the occasion of great stumbling to   

those who reject infant baptism1 and are
 confirmed in rejecting it1 by          
misapprehending the views and feelings  
of many who use the term in an          
objectionable sense4  ,the discussion   
now became animated4 ,mr4 ,s4 said that 
he had a further objection4 ,it leads   
many1 who use it erroneously1 into      
perplexing and fruitless positions4     
,assuming that the children are members 
of the church1 they discuss the         
question1 as the sermon has stated1 ,of 
what church are they members8 ,some     
reply1 ,of the church to which their    
parents belong4 ,others say nay1 but of 
the church universal4 ,then they feel it
 incumbent upon them to provide some    
means of discipline for these so-called 
members4 ,in case they grow up1 and     
neglect to come with their parents to   
the ,lord's ,supper1 must they not be   
disciplined8 ,some insist that          
discipline1 in some of its forms1 must  
be administered1 and1 in certain cases1 
excommunication must take place4  ,mr4  

,t4 ,i know it1 and ,i wonder at it4 ,i 
should like to ask1 who has deputed to  
any church the power to say when the    
divine forbearance with a child of the  
covenant has come to an end8 ,does it   
terminate at the age of twenty-one in   
the case of male children1 and at       
eighteen in the case of females8 ,david1
 when a full-grown man1 plead the       
covenant of ,god with his mother3 ,o    
,lord1 truly ,i am thy servant2 ,i am   
thy servant1 and the son of thine       
handmaid4 ,or1 does it cease on the     
child's leaving the parental roof for   
another place of residence8 ,or1 on     
entering upon the married state8 ,or1   
upon the commission of some great act of
 outward transgression1 shall we        
pronounce the covenant to be dissolved8 
,do we not see that we are meddling with
 a divine prerogative1 if we assume to  
act in such cases8 ,expostulations1     
warnings1 entreaties1 from parents1     
pastor1 brethren of the church1 may     
always be in place2 but further than    

these we cannot proceed4  ,perhaps1 too1
 said ,mr4 ,r41 if discipline were to   
fall anywhere1 it might more justly     
descend on the parents of such a child4 
,mr4 ,t4 ,the seeming mockery of a      
church punishing a youth for the neglect
 of that which he himself never promised
 to do1 would most likely have the      
effect to drive him to a returnless     
distance from the church1 extinguishing 
the last ray of hope as to his          
conversion4 ,a fit parallel to such     
proposed church-discipline of children1 
is found in the practice1 which was not 
uncommon1 twenty-five years ago1 in a   
region of our country where great       
religious excitements prevailed for some
 time1 when it was publicly recommended1
 in preaching and from the press1 that  
parents who had labored in vain for the 
conversion of children1 should1 in      
certain cases1 punish them1 to make them
 submit to ,god4  ,mr4 ,d4 ,is it       
possible8  ,mr4 ,t4 ,yes1 sir2 and the  
records of those times furnish instances

 in which this was done4 ,of such means 
of grace1 ,i am happy to say1 we have no
 such custom1 neither the churches of   
,god4  ,mr4 ,s4 ,nor shall we probably  
ever see young people disciplined by the
 churches1 for not repenting and        
believing the ,gospel4 ,it is insisted  
on as theoretically proper1 but they    
have never ventured to carry it out in  
practice4  ,mr4 ,c41 the chairman1 said1
 ,brethren1 there is strong authority in
 favor of the sermon4 ,since you have   
been talking1 ,i have been looking over 
,dr4 ,hopkins's works1 to find this     
passage1 which1 if you please1 ,i will  
read4 ,dr4 ,hopkins says3  ,though under
 the milder dispensation of the ,gospel1
 no one is to be put to death for       
rejecting ,christ and the ,gospel1 even 
though he were before this a member of  
the visible church1 yet he is to be cut 
off1 and cast out of the visible kingdom
 of ,christ4 ,and every child in the    
church1 who grows up in disobedience to 
,christ1 and1 in this most important    

concern1 will not obey his parents1 is  
thus to be rejected and cut off1 after  
all proper means are used by his        
parents1 and the church1 to reclaim him1
 and bring him to his duty4 ,such an    
event will be viewed by ,christian      
parents as worse than death1 and is     
suited to be a constant1 strong motive  
to concern1 prayer1 and fidelity1       
respecting their children1 and their    
education2 and it tends to have an      
equally desirable effect upon children1 
and must greatly impress the hearts of  
those who are in any degree considerate 
and serious4  ,again3 ,when the children
 arrive at an age in which they are     
capable of acting for themselves in     
matters of religion1 and making a       
profession of their adherence to the    
,christian faith1 and practice1 and     
coming to the ,lord's ,supper1 if they  
neglect and refuse to do this1 and act  
contrary to the commands of ,christ in  
any other respect1 all proper means are 
to be used1 and methods taken1 to bring 

them to repentance1 and to do their duty
 as ,christians1 and1 if they cannot be 
reclaimed1 but continue impenitent and  
unreformed1 they are to be rejected and 
cast out of the church1 as other adult  
members are who persist in disobedience 
to ,christ4#h  ,footnote #h3 ,hopkins's 
,works 7#aheb71 vol4 ii41 pp4 #aeh1     
#agf4  ,such words1 from such a source1 
said ,mr4 ,c41 are entitled to great    
consideration4  ,but1 said ,mr4 ,s41    
here is a passage from his own          
theological instructor1 ,president      
,edwards3  ,it is asked1' he says1 'why 
these children1 that were born in the   
covenant1 are not cast out when1 in     
adult age1 they make no profession4' ,he
 replies1 ',they are not cast out1      
because it is a matter held in suspense 
whether they do cordially consent to the
 covenant or not2 or whether their      
making no profession does not arise from
 some other cause2 and none are to be   
excommunicated without some positive    
evidence against them4'  ,my dear sir1  

said ,mr4 ,a41 ,mr4 ,edwards is there   
speaking of those who merely refuse to  
own the covenant1 without being guilty  
of scandalous sin4  ,mr4 ,s4 ,it is     
evident1 nevertheless1 that ,hopkins    
goes further than he1 and requires that 
those who1 at years of full             
responsibility1 refuse to own the       
covenant1 shall be cut off4 ,modern     
writers on this subject1 while insisting
 on the church-membership of children1  
draw back from this position1 and are   
more in harmony with what1 it seems to  
me1 may be said to be the general sense 
of the churches on this subject4 ,i feel
 glad1 when reading such passages as    
those from ,hopkins1 that we have       
liberty of opinion1 and are not         
compelled to swear by the words of any  
master4 ,i bow to such a divine as ,dr4 
,hopkins1 but he fails to satisfy me    
that he is right in these views of      
church-discipline for children4  ,mr4   
,r41 who was the oldest man of the      
company1 now returned to the discussion1

 and said3 ,it is clear that one cannot 
be dispossessed of that which he never  
possessed1 except as in the case of a   
minor1 who may have his claim to a      
future possession wrested from him4 ,of 
what is a child of the covenant1        
allowing him to be1 while a child1 a    
member of the church1--of what is he in 
possession8 ,not of full communion1 not 
of access to the ,lord's table1 not of  
the right to a voice in the call and    
settlement of a pastor1 nor in any other
 church act4 ,from what1 then1 is he    
turned out by being cut off8 ,he has    
never arrived at anything from which he 
can be separated1 except the covenant of
 ,god with him through his parents1 and 
its attendant privileges of watch and   
care4 ,if1 then1 we excommunicate an    
unconverted child1 we can only declare  
the covenant of ,god with him1          
henceforth1 to be null and void1--an    
assumption from which1 probably1        
,christian parents and ministers would  
shrink4 ,the same long-suffering ,god1  

who bears and forbears with ourselves1  
we shall be disposed to feel1 is the    
,god of this recreant child1 and no good
 man would dare to pronounce the child  
to be separated from the mercies of 'the
 ,god of patience and hope4' ,one who1  
being in a church1 breaks a covenant to 
which he assented1 may be a just subject
 for discipline1 even to                
excommunication2 but1 all the promises  
of ,god to the child being wholly free1 
conditioned1 at first1 upon his parents'
 relation to ,god1 all the disability   
which the child seems capable of        
receiving1 is1 that the promises made to
 him he must fail1 by his own fault1 to 
receive4 ,who will declare even his     
prospect of their fulfilment to be      
terminated at any given time8 ,much     
more1 who will undertake to divest him  
of things which he never had8 ,the      
church-membership1 from which you       
profess to expel him1 does not yet exist
 in his case2 he has not reached it4    
,all the church-membership of which1 if 

any1 he has been possessed1 is1 his     
hopeful relation to ,god and his people 
through a parent4 ,to excommunicate a   
child from this would be a strange      
procedure4  ,mr4 ,a4 ,that is the       
strongest thing which ,i have heard on  
that side4 ,i must confess 7said he1    
rising and leaning against one of the   
maples7 that ,i am a little staggered4  
,but ,mr4 ,b4 came to reinforce his     
faltering brother4  ,here1 said he1 is  
the ,cambridge ,platform4 ,you will all 
be willing to hear from that source4    
,let us hear1 said two or three voices4 
,mr4 ,b4 read as follows3  ,the like    
trial 7examination7 is to be required   
from such members of the church as were 
born in the same1 or received their     
membership1 and were baptized in their  
infancy or minority1 by virtue of the   
covenant of their parents1 when1 being  
grown up unto years of discretion1 they 
shall desire to be made partakers of the
 ,lord's ,supper2 unto which1 because   
holy things must not be given to the    

unworthy1 therefore it is requisite that
 these1 as well as others1 should come  
to their trial and examination1 and     
manifest their faith and repentance by  
an open profession thereof before they  
are received to the ,lord's ,supper1 and
 otherwise not to be admitted thereunto4
 ,yet those church-members that were so 
born1 or received in their childhood1   
before they are capable of being made   
partakers of full communion1 have many  
privileges which others1 not            
church-members1 have not2 they are in   
covenant with ,god1 have the seal       
thereof upon them1 namely1 baptism2 and 
so1 if not regenerated1 yet are in a    
more hopeful way of attaining           
regenerating grace1 and all the         
spiritual blessings both of the covenant
 and seal2 they are also under          
church-watch1 and consequently subject  
to the reprehensions1 admonitions1 and  
censures thereof1 for their healing and 
amendment1 as need shall require4#i     
,footnote #i3 ,cambridge ,platform1     

chap4 iii4 #g4  ,mr4 ,r4 ,now1 please1  
,br4 ,b41 what does all that prove8     
,mr4 ,b4 ,why1 it proves that1 in the   
judgment of the ,cambridge ,platform1   
the children of church-members are      
members of the churches4  ,mr4 ,r4 ,it  
shows that the ,cambridge ,platform     
calls them members2 but it gives us no  
proof that they are properly called     
members4 ,a great deal in that extract1 
,i undertake to say1 will command the   
cordial assent of all who practise      
infant baptism1 if we except the use of 
the term members4 ,it shows that1 as to 
coming into the company of true         
believers1 and being one of them1 the   
only way is through repentance and      
faith1--a way common to the unbaptized4 
,the only advantage1 but one which is   
exceedingly great and precious on the   
part of the believer's children1 being1 
that they have many privileges1 and are 
in a more hopeful way of attaining      
regenerating grace4 ,but the term       
membership does not express their       

relation to the church before they are  
converted4  ,mr4 ,b4 7,after a pause47  
,i do not know but you are right4  ,mr4 
,c41 the remaining advocate of the      
sermon1 said1 ,let me refresh your      
memories with the famous case quoted in 
,morton's ,new ,england ,memorial4 ,he  
says3  ',the two ministers there        
7,salem1 #afbi71 being seriously        
studious of reformation1 they considered
 the state of their children1 together  
with their parents1 concerning which    
letters did pass between ,mr4 ,higginson
 7of ,salem7 and ,mr4 ,brewster1 the    
reverend elder of the church of         
,plymouth2 and they did agree in their  
judgments1 namely1 concerning the       
church-membership of the children with  
their parents1 and that baptism was a   
seal of their membership2 only1 when    
they were adult1 they being not         
scandalous1 they were to be examined by 
the church officers1 and upon their     
approbation of their fitness1 and upon  
the children's public and personally    

owning of the covenant1 they were to be 
received unto the ,lord's ,supper4      
,accordingly1 ,mr4 ,higginson's eldest  
son1 being about fifteen years of age1  
was owned to have been received a member
 together with his parents1 and being   
privately examined by the pastor1 ,mr4  
,skelton 7the other minister of ,salem71
 about his knowledge in the principles  
of religion1 he did present him before  
the church when the ,lord's ,supper was 
to be administered1 and1 the child then 
publicly and personally owning the      
covenant of the ,god of his father1 he  
was admitted unto the ,lord's ,supper1  
it being there professedly owned1       
according to #a ,cor4 #g3ad1 that the   
children of the church are holy unto the
 ,lord1 as well as their parents4'  ,mr4
 ,r4 stood up1 and1 with an animated    
look and manner1 but with a very        
pleasant voice1 said3  ,what1 now1 my   
good brother1 did these good ministers  
do1 with this youth1 more or less than  
we all do for the children of our       

pastoral charge8  ,of what practical use
 was his so-called infant               
'church-membership1' in addition to his 
being1 as we all hold1 a child of the   
covenant8  ,they made no reply for a    
little while1 till at last ,mr4 ,a4     
said3  ,well1 ,br4 ,r41 what names would
 you substitute for members and         
membership8  ,mr4 ,r4 ,,the ,,children  
,,of ,,the ,,church2 for you have it in 
the last sentence of the extract which  
you read from ,morton2--the true1 the   
most appropriate1 and1 in every respect1
 the best name for those who are so     
ambiguously called members4  ,mr4 ,b4   
,there is great beauty and sweetness in 
that name1 ,i confess1--the children of 
the church1 the church's children4  ,mr4
 ,r4 ,a father never1 except for        
concealment1 says1 a member of my       
family1 when a child is meant4 ,the term
 members1 besides being equivocal1 and  
requiring explanation1 is not so good as
 children of the church1 an expression  
which includes and covers all that any  

would claim for infant church-members4  
,mr4 ,c4 ,i confess1 ,i like ,br4 ,r4's 
views and proposition4 ,if1 by calling  
the offspring of believers1 the children
 of the church1 we1 by implication1     
abridged any of their privileges1 or if1
 by calling them church-members1 we     
believed that they acquired rights and  
privileges not otherwise appertaining to
 them1 we ought to prefer the words     
member and membership2 but it is not so4
 ,no one of the writers cited1--and the 
proofs we all know could be extended by 
quoting from other authors1--claims the 
right of a child to full communion1     
except upon evidence1 in his trial and  
examination1 that he is regenerate4     
,indeed1 the only use to which the terms
 member and membership seem to be       
applied1 is1 in furnishing some ground  
for urging the discipline and           
excommunication of the child4 ,this1    
though urged by some1 is urged in vain4 
,mr4 ,r4 ,other terms1 in connection    
with members and membership1 have been  

proposed1 such as members in minority1  
members in suspension1 future members2  
but all in vain4 ,the children of       
believers are certainly the children of 
the church1 and such ,i devoutly hope   
and pray they may come to be called4    
,mr4 ,a4 ,seeing that the use of the    
term member keeps before our minds a    
theoretical1 hard necessity1 from which 
every one shrinks1 ,i think ,i will     
alter my sermon so far as to dismiss the
 term1 and1 with it1 all sense of       
inconsistency in neglected obligations  
as to disciplining these young members4 
,well1 ,br4 ,a41 said ,mr4 ,b41 ,i will 
join you in submission4  ,so will ,i1   
said ,mr4 ,c4 ,how good it is to be     
convinced1 and to give up one's own     
will2 is it not8  ,it ought to be1 said 
,mr4 ,a41 to those whose great business 
it is to preach submission4 ,but ,i     
think we did not differ at first1 except
 as to the use of terms4  ,mr4 ,t4 ,i   
wish to make a confession4 ,though ,i   
have always been of ,br4 ,r4's opinion1 

,i have felt it to be invidious1 and1   
for several reasons1 disagreeable1 to   
call a meeting of the children of the   
church1--making a distinction between   
them and the other children of my       
pastoral charge4 ,am ,i correct in such 
views and feelings8  ,come1 ,mr4        
,chairman1 said ,mr4 ,a41 we have not   
paid you sufficient deference1 ,i fear2 
for we have hardly kept order1 in       
addressing one another1 and not through 
you4 ,now1 please to speak for us1 and  
tell us what you think of ,br4 ,t4's    
difficulty4  ,mr4 ,c4 ,i have sinned    
with you1 as to keeping order1 if there 
has been any transgression2 but ,i have 
been so much interested and instructed1 
that ,i forgot my preminence over you4  
,but to ,br4 ,t41 ,i would say1 ,there  
is a church2 and it means something1 and
 something of infinite importance4 ,all 
our labors have this for their end1 to  
make men qualified for worthy           
church-membership1 on earth1 and in     
heaven1--the conditions of admission    

here and there1 as we hold1 being       
essentially the same4 ,this church1     
which we thus build up1 has children1   
call them what we may1 the objects of   
,god's peculiar love4 ,on that topic ,i 
need not dwell4 ,we ought to pay some   
marks of special regard to these        
children1 for ,god has done so4 ,as to  
its being invidious1 it is not more     
invidious than to address our           
congregations as partly ,christians1 and
 partly unconverted2 or to invite the   
unconverted to meetings especially      
designed for them4 ,meetings of the     
children of my church1 called by me1 and
 addressed by me1 never fail to make    
very deep impressions upon the young1   
upon their parents1 upon other children1
 and upon the parents of those children4
 ,another form of effecting the same    
desirable ends1 is1 to call meetings of 
parents in the church1 and their        
children1 and to address the parents and
 the children in sight and hearing of   
each other4 ,in doing so1 if there are  

any parents in the church who are       
withholding their children from baptism1
 we have the best of opportunities to   
conciliate their feelings to the        
ordinance of baptism4 ,we all know how  
little is effected in our minds by      
abstract reasoning upon any subject1    
where the feelings are deeply concerned2
 close argument1 invincible logic1      
absolute demonstrations1 and all        
measures seemingly intended to corce the
 will1 excite resistance1 and confirm us
 in our prejudices4 ,but open to a      
parent1 who has doubts on the subject1  
its inestimable benefits to all         
concerned1 and he will be more disposed 
to see the grounds for it1 and the      
abundant proofs of its divine authority1
 which the atmosphere of pure reason had
 not sufficient power of refraction to  
make him apprehend4  ,mr4 ,s4 ,i thank  
the chairman heartily for those remarks4
 ,may ,i add a leaf from my observation8
 ,i have noticed that in such meetings  
of parents1 in the church1 and their    

children1 good influences sometimes     
reach those who are pursuing the        
mistaken course of withholding their    
children from baptism1 under the plea   
that they can consecrate their children 
to ,god as well without baptism1 as with
 it4 ,they need to learn the spiritual  
power which ,god has vested in the      
sacraments of his own appointment1 and  
to be disabused of the notion that the  
baptism of a child is1 from beginning to
 end1 merely a human act1 of which ,god 
is only a spectator2--they need to feel 
that baptism is something conferred upon
 a child by ,god2 and not merely a sign1
 but a seal4  ,yes1 said ,mr4 ,r41 it is
 an ordinance of ,god1 and the neglect  
of it is not merely a failure to obtain 
blessings1 but a disregard of a divine  
ordinance2 not merely the withholding a 
sign of allegiance1 but the loss of a   
seal1--the government seal1 not ours1   
which ,god would affix to the           
intercourse between himself and our     
souls4 ,if we1 pastors1 feel this       

deeply1 and so perceive the design of   
,god in bestowing baptism upon the      
children of his people1 we shall convey 
to the hearts and minds of doubting     
,christian parents1 persuasive          
influences1 which will succeed where    
arguments and appeals1 based on mere    
proofs and obligations1 have failed4    
,mr4 ,a4 ,it is gratifying1 now1 to     
think that these things1 and others like
 them1 may be done without calling the  
children members of the church4 ,except 
discipline1 it is obvious that          
everything in the way of watchfulness   
may be done for them as children of the 
church1 which it would be proper1 or    
even possible to do1 if they were       
counted as members4  ,mr4 ,r4 ,i am     
aware of the analogy which many1 who    
plead for the term members1 seek to     
carry out between the ,old and the ,new 
,testament church1 making children      
members of the ,christian church1       
because the church in ancient days      
included the children4 ,but it seems to 

me that there is the same difference1   
now and formerly1 between the relation  
of children to the church1 that there is
 between the relation of the whole      
religious community1 now and formerly1  
to the church of ,god4 ,formerly1 all   
the members of the religious community  
were1 by their association under the    
same belief and worship1 members of the 
church4 ,to make the case with us       
parallel1 our whole ,christian community
 ought to be members of the church4 ,no 
examination or discrimination should be 
used2 to belong to the ,christian       
community should constitute             
church-membership4  ,but this1 we know1 
is not the case4 ,god chooses now to    
make up his visible church not as       
formerly1 but of those who give credible
 evidence of regeneration4 ,they who    
worship with us1 but do not profess to  
be ,christians1 are hopeful subjects of 
effort and prayer1 whom we expect to    
receive hereafter to the visible church1
 on profession of their faith4  ,as the 

,christian church is constituted        
differently from the ,jewish church1 in 
this respect1 discrimination and        
separation taking place between the     
members of a ,christian congregation1   
have we not analogical reason to infer  
that it may also be thus with regard to 
children8--who once1 indeed1 were       
members of the church of ,god1 but1     
under the dispensation of the ,spirit1  
they fall1 with other unconverted       
members of the congregation1 out of     
membership in the church4  ,mr4 ,c4 ,and
 yet1 ,br4 ,r41 the fall is not far1 nor
 hurtful4 ,they are entitled to all the 
privileges1 and they enjoy1 or should   
enjoy1 all the care and effort1 which   
they would have under a different name4 
,only they do not come to the ,lord's   
,supper1 as a matter of course1 as they 
did to the ,passover4  ,mr4 ,s4 ,suppose
 that the legislature should incorporate
 a fish-market1 and cede to the         
proprietors fifteen square miles of the 
sea1 within which they should have the  

privilege of taking fish4 ,all the fish1
 within those fifteen miles of salt     
water1 might be said to belong to the   
market2 yet every one of them must be   
taken by hook and line ere his belonging
 to the market is of any practicable    
value4 ,so the children of the church   
may be said to belong to the church1 and
 are to constitute her chief resource4  
,rivers1 and other distant or           
neighboring waters1 would also send fish
 to that market1 even if they were far  
off2 but it is from the bay at her doors
 that the market would derive her       
principal supplies4 ,i do not see that  
children are members of the church1 any 
further than those fishes belong to that
 market4 ,go there when you will1 you   
see the stalls filled from those        
adjacent waters2 supplies are           
continually coming in2 they are1 in a   
sense1 secured to the market by a       
covenant2 yet every fish is caught and  
handled1 before he has anything like    
membership in that market1 as really as 

though he swam and were caught in       
,baffin's ,bay2--only he is now far more
 likely to be caught1 and1 in a sense1  
he already belongs to the market by the 
seal of the state4  ,mr4 ,a41 the reader
 of the sermon1 not having much         
ideality1 but much plain good sense1 yet
 taking everything literally at first1  
and from his own honesty supposing that 
all figures of speech are to be cashed1 
as it were1 for what they purport on    
their face1 immediately challenged his  
brother to carry out the illustration4  
,he asked him whether the constant      
passage1 in and out1 of fishes from and 
beyond the ceded fifteen miles1 allowed 
of any resemblance1 in the migratory    
creatures1 to the children of the       
church1 who are born and remain in the  
limits of the church1 and are           
designated1 individually1 by virtue of  
their parentage4  ,mr4 ,s4 replied1 that
 he did not mean to make a comparison to
 satisfy all the points of the case1 and
 he hoped that the brethren would take  

it with due allowance4  ,mr4 ,t4 said   
that he had thought of this             
illustration3 ,all the young male       
children of the ,levites might be said  
to be members of the priesthood4 ,they  
certainly 'belonged' to the priesthood4 
,but no one of them could officiate till
 he had complied with certain           
conditions1 nor if he was the subject of
 certain disabilities4 ,he believed that
 the children of ,god's people have1 by 
the grace of ,god1 as really a          
presumptive relation1 by future         
membership1 to the church of ,christ1 as
 an infant ,levite boy had to sacred    
offices2 prayer1 with the child1 as well
 as for it1 and faithful training1 with 
a spiritual use of ,god's appointed     
ordinances1 constitute1 he was          
persuaded1 as good reason to hope that  
the child of a true believer will become
 a ,christian1 and that1 too1 early in  
life1 as that the young son of ,levi    
would minister in the levitical office4 
,o1 said ,mr4 ,b41 how many cases there 

are which seem to disprove that4 ,you   
will be obliged to reflect severely on  
some good people as parents1 if you take
 so strong ground4  ,mr4 ,t4 ,i do not  
despair of a child whose parents1 or    
parent1 has really covenanted with ,god 
for him1 even though the child be long a
 wanderer from the fold4  ,but it is the
 same now with ,abraham's spiritual seed
 as it was with his natural             
posterity1--neglect on the part of      
parents may work a forfeiture of the    
covenant promises2 failure in family    
government1 above all things1 may       
frustrate every good influence which    
would otherwise have had a powerful     
effect in the conversion of the child4  
,the sons of ,eli were not well         
governed2 ,esau was evidently of an     
undisciplined spirit4 ,with regard to   
the children of several good men1 in the
 ,bible1 it may be inferred1 that the   
public engagements of the fathers       
hindered them from bestowing needful    
attention upon their sons4 ,the only    

thing derogatory to the prophet ,samuel1
 of which we are informed1 is1 that his 
sons were vile4 ,with regard to certain 
cases of mournful wickedness1 on the    
part of the children of eminently good  
men1 it will be found that some of these
 men1 occupying1 perhaps1 important     
stations of a public nature1 such as the
 ,christian ministry1 were so engrossed 
in their public duties as not to give   
sufficient time and attention to their  
own families2 which is a great shame and
 folly in any father of a family4 ,in   
vain do we plead the covenant promises1 
if we neglect covenant duties4 ,grace is
 not hereditary in any sense that       
compromises our free agency2 its        
subjects are born not of blood2 there   
are many of the children of the kingdom 
who will be cast out into outer         
darkness1 but among them1 we may venture
 to say1 will not be found those whose  
parents diligently sought their moral   
and religious culture in the exercise of
 a strict1 judicious1 affectionate1     

prayerful1 watch and care1 praying with 
them in secret1 which1 it seems to me1  
is1 perhaps1 the most powerful of all   
the means which a parent can use to     
influence the moral and religious       
character of a child4  ,is it not a     
mournful inconsistency1 said ,mr4 ,r41  
for us to be laboring and spending our  
strength and lives for the conversion   
and salvation of others1 and not be     
equally zealous for the souls of the    
children whom ,god has given us8  ,mr4  
,c4 ,our habits of seclusion and study  
may operate to make us reserved1 moody1 
and so repulsive1 to our own children4  
,we ought to be interested in their     
every-day affairs1 and watch for        
opportunities to form their opinions1 on
 moral as well as religious subjects1   
and be as kind and assiduous to them1   
certainly1 as we endeavor to be to other
 children4         99       99       99 
99       99  ,what more could these good
 men have said1 with regard to the      
subject1 had they concluded to adopt the

 terms member and membership1 to express
 the relation of children to the church8
 ,they were not conscious of omitting or
 diminishing one privilege or blessing  
to which the children of the church are 
entitled2 everything which the most     
strenuous advocates of infant           
church-membership1 so called1 mention as
 accruing to them1 they claimed in their
 behalf4 ,did infant church-membership  
admit to the ,lord's ,supper1 as it did 
to the passover1 the children would now1
 with propriety1 be said to be members  
of the church4 ,but1 inasmuch as1 under 
the ,christian dispensation1 they cannot
 come to the sacrament which            
distinguishes between the regenerate and
 the unregenerate1 without a change of  
heart1 they1 and all those who are      
associated with the church in general   
acts of worship1 and in ,christian      
privileges1 but are not converted       
persons1 are1 alike1 under the          
,christian system1 removed from outward 
membership--only1 that the children of  

the church have privileges and promises 
which go far to increase the probability
 of their future church-membership1 and 
directly to prepare them for that sacred
 relation4  ,,the ,,children ,,of ,,the 
,,church1 then1 is the sufficient name  
by which it seems desirable that the    
children of believers should be         
designated4 ,and1 instead of using the  
term church-membership1 applied to them1
 we shall include everything which is   
properly theirs1 we shall lose nothing1 
we shall prevent great misunderstanding1
 and liability to perversion1 by        
substituting the ,relation of ,baptized 
,children to the ,church1 whenever we   
wish to express the peculiar and most   
precious connection which they hold1 in 
the arrangements of divine grace1 with  
the covenant people of ,god4            
,chapter ,tenth4  ,,maternal            
,,associations4     ,the mother1 in her 
office1 holds the key    ,of the soul2  
and she it is who stamps the coin    ,of
 character1 and makes the being1 who    

would be a savage    ,but for her gentle
 cares1 a ,christian man4    --,then1   
crown her ,queen o' the world4     ,,old
 ,,play4   ,the pastors now adjourned   
their session under the maples1 and     
repaired to the room where their wives  
were sitting4 ,the ladies had finished  
their deliberations1 and had been       
strolling in the woods4 ,but they1 too1 
had been engaged1 like their husbands1  
in conversation about their children1   
and the children of the church4         
,maternal ,associations had been the    
chief topic4 ,they had discussed their  
advantages1 and had considered          
objections to them4 ,the result was1    
that they had unanimously agreed to     
promote such associations in their      
respective churches4 ,their influence on
 young mothers1 in helping them to train
 their children1 affording them the     
results of experience gained by others2 
the privilege of stating difficult and  
trying cases for advice1 of praying     
together for their children1 of having  

those mothers1 during the intervals of  
their monthly meetings1 pray for the    
children of their sisters1 and          
sometimes1 specially1 for a child in    
peculiar need of prayer1 commended these
 associations to their judgment and     
affections4 ,one lady referred to the   
possible disclosure of family secrets1  
at such meetings1 which it was          
unpleasant to hear1 and to the          
undesirableness of revealing the faults 
of a child4 ,they agreed that these     
things should never be done1 and that it
 was easy to avoid them by employing a  
friend1 if necessary1 to state the case1
 hypothetically1 so as to conceal its   
connection with any member of the       
circle4 ,the ladies had gone so far as  
to adopt a little manual1 for their     
respective circles1 which they submitted
 to their husbands for criticism4 ,one  
of the gentlemen read it1 as follows3   
,,maternal ,,associations4  ,maternal   
,associations are designed for mutual   
instruction and consultation1 in        

connection with united prayer4 ,subjects
 for reading and discussion relate      
chiefly to the physical1 mental1 moral1 
and religious training of children4     
,some individual is usually prepared at 
each meeting to give method and tone to 
the conversation1 which might otherwise 
become desultory4 ,the faults of        
children who are known to the members   
are not made the subject of remark2 but 
cases of difficulty are so presented as 
to avoid individual exposure4           
,associations conducted on these        
principles are found to be greatly      
beneficial4  ,,constitution             
,,of----,,church ,,maternal             
,,association4  ,impressed with a sense 
of our entire dependence upon the ,holy 
,spirit to aid us in training up our    
children in the way they should go1 and 
hoping to obtain the blessing of such as
 fear the ,lord and speak often to one  
another1 we1 the subscribers1 do        
unitedly pledge ourselves to meet at    
stated seasons for prayer and mutual    

counsel in reference to our maternal    
duties and responsibilities4 ,with a    
view to this object1 we adopt the       
following constitution3  ,,article ,i4  
,this circle shall be called the        
',maternal ,association of----,church2' 
any member of which1 sustaining the     
maternal relation1 may become a member  
by subscribing this constitution4 ,other
 individuals1 sustaining the same       
relation1 may be admitted to membership 
by a vote of two thirds of the members  
present4  ,,art4 ,,ii4 ,the monthly     
meetings of this ,association shall be  
held on the----of the month4  ,,art4    
,,iii4 ,the quarterly meetings in       
,january1 ,april1 ,july1 and ,october1  
shall be held on the last ,wednesday of 
the month1 when the members shall be    
allowed to bring to the place of meeting
 such of their children as may be under 
the age of twelve years1 and they shall 
be considered members of the            
,association4 ,the exercises at these   
meetings shall be such as shall seem    

best calculated to instruct the minds   
and interest the feelings of the        
children who may be present4  ,,art4    
,,iv4 ,at each quarterly meeting there  
shall be a small contribution by the    
children for benevolent purposes4       
,,art4 ,v4 ,the time appropriated for   
each meeting shall not exceed one hour  
and a half1 and shall be exclusively    
devoted to the object of the            
,association4 ,every monthly meeting    
shall be opened by prayer and reading a 
portion of ,scripture1 which may be     
followed by reading such other matter as
 relates to the interests of the        
,association1 or by conversation tending
 to promote maternal faithfulness and   
piety4 ,these exercises may be          
interspersed with singing the songs of  
,zion1 and with humble and importunate  
prayer1 that ,god would glorify himself 
in the early conversion of the children 
of the ,association1 that they may      
become eminently useful in the church of
 ,christ4 ,it is desirable that the last

 meeting in the year be spent in reading
 the ,scriptures and in prayer4  ,,art4 
,,vi4 ,every member of the ,association 
shall be considered as sacredly bound to
 pray for her children daily1 and with  
them as often as circumstances will     
permit2 and to give them from time to   
time the best religious instruction of  
which she is capable4  ,,art4 ,,vii4 ,it
 shall be the duty of every member to   
qualify herself1 by daily reading1      
prayer1 and self-discipline1 to         
discharge faithfully the arduous duties 
of a ,christian mother2 and she shall be
 requested to give with freedom such    
hints upon the various subjects brought 
before the ,association as her own      
observation and experience may suggest4 
,,art4 ,,viii4 ,when any mother is      
removed by death1 it shall be the       
special duty of the ,association to     
regard with peculiar interest the       
spiritual welfare of her children1 and  
to evince this interest by a continued  
remembrance of them in their prayers1 by

 inviting them to attend quarterly      
meetings1 and by such tokens of sympathy
 and kindness as their circumstances may
 render proper4  ,,art4 ,,ix4 ,every    
child1 upon leaving the ,association1 at
 the prescribed age1 shall receive a    
book from the mothers1 as a token of    
their affection1 to be accompanied by a 
letter1 expressive of the deep interest 
felt in their temporal and spiritual    
welfare4  ,,art4 ,x4 ,the officers of   
the ,association shall be a ',first     
,directress1' a ',second ,directress1' a
 ',secretary1' and a ',corresponding    
,secretary1' who shall be appointed     
annually in ,september4  ,,art4 ,,xi4   
,the duty of the ,first ,directress     
shall be to preside at all meetings1    
call upon the members for devotional    
exercises1 and regulate the reading4 ,in
 the absence of the ,first ,directress1 
these duties shall devolve upon the     
,second ,directress4  ,,art4 ,,xii4 ,it 
shall be the duty of the ,secretary to  
register the names of the members1 and  

of their children1 and to supply each of
 the mothers with a list of the same1   
together with a copy of the             
constitution4 ,she shall also keep a    
record of the proceedings of each       
meeting1 and1 as far as may be          
convenient1 of the topic discussed1 and 
of the remarks elicited by it4 ,this    
record shall be read at the commencement
 of the next subsequent meeting4 ,she   
shall likewise receive the contributions
 of the children1 keep an account of the
 same1 and pay it according to the vote 
of the ,association4  ,,art4 ,,xiii4 ,it
 shall be the duty of the ,corresponding
 ,secretary to write the letters        
addressed to the children upon leaving  
the ,association1 to conduct the general
 correspondence1 receive the            
contributions from the mothers1 and     
purchase the books to be given to the   
children4  ,,art4 ,,xiv4 ,any article of
 this constitution may be amended by a  
majority of the members present at any  
annual meeting4  ,it is recommended to  

the members of the ,association to      
observe the anniversary of the birth of 
each child in special prayer1 with      
particular reference to that child4 ,may
 ,he who giveth liberally1 and          
upbraideth not1 ever preside in our     
meetings1 and grant unto each of us a   
teachable1 affectionate1 and humble     
temper1 that no root of bitterness may  
spring up to prevent our improvement1 or
 interrupt our devotions4 ,the promise  
is to us and to our children2 we have   
publicly given them up to ,god2 his holy
 name has been pronounced over them2 let
 us see to it that we do not cause this 
sacred name to be treated with contempt4
 ,may ,christ put his own spirit within 
us1 that our children may never have    
occasion to say1     ',what do ye more  
than others8'         99       99       
99       99       99  ,no criticism was 
made upon this production1 but the      
pastors commended it1 and rejoiced in   
the good which an increased attention to
 the subject would be sure to           

accomplish4 ,they promised to preach on 
the subject1 and1 in their pastoral     
visits1 to encourage mothers in the     
churches to join the ,associations4     
,one of the ladies said that she had a  
paper1 which she had thought best to    
read1 if the company pleased1 when they 
were all together1 and she had therefore
 reserved it until the gentlemen came   
in4  ,it was a paper in the handwriting 
of a ,christian friend1 which was found 
in her copy of the ,articles and        
,covenant of her church1 after her      
decease4 ,this lady had been in the     
habit1 as it seemed1 of reading over    
those articles and the covenant1 on the 
,sabbath when the ,lord's ,supper was to
 be administered2 and the religious     
education of her children1 being        
identified with her most sacred thoughts
 and moments1 she read these questions  
at the same time4  ,the lady who read   
them said that it was proposed by some  
to append them to the little manual     
already presented for ,maternal         

,associations4         99       99      
99       99       99  ,,questions ,,to  
,,be ,,thought ,,upon4  #a4 ,have ,i so 
prayed for my children as that my prayer
 produced an effect upon myself8  #b4   
,have ,i realized that to train my      
children for usefulness and heaven is   
probably the chief duty ,god requires of
 me8  #c4 ,have ,i realized that1 if ,i 
cannot eradicate an evil habit1 probably
 no one else can or will8  #d4 ,have ,i 
granted to-day1 from indulgence1 what ,i
 denied yesterday from principle8  #e4  
,have ,i yielded to importunity in      
altering a decision deliberately made8  
#f4 ,have ,i punished the beginning of  
an evil habit8  #g4 ,have ,i suffered   
the indulgence of an evil habit through 
sloth or discouragement8  #h4 ,have     
calmness and seriousness marked my      
looks1 tones1 and voice1 when inflicting
 punishment8  #i4 ,was my convenience1  
or the guilt of the child1 the measure  
of its punishment8  #aj4 ,has punishment
 been sufficiently private1 and have ,i 

tried to affect the mind more than the  
body8  #aa4 ,do my children see in me a 
self-command which is the effect of     
principle8  #ab4 ,have ,i1 in my plans1 
my heart1 and conduct1 sought first for 
my children the kingdom of ,god8  #ac4  
,have ,i commended ,god to my children1 
and my children to ,god8  #ad4 ,have ,i 
aimed to govern my children on the same 
principle and in the same spirit which  
,god adopts in the government of his    
creatures8  #ae4 ,have ,i1 in pursuance 
of the above resolution1 acted in the   
spirit of that prayer in ,god's word1   
',them that honor me1 ,i will honor1 and
 they that despise me shall be lightly  
esteemed'8  #af4 ,have ,i aimed to      
secure the love and obedience of my     
children8  #ag4 ,have ,i remembered that
 it is full time to make a child obey   
when it knows enough to disobey8  #ah4  
,do ,i realize that the fulfilment of   
covenant promises is dependent on my    
fidelity8 ,gen4 #ah3 #ai4  #ai4 ,have   
these resolutions been undertaken in the

 strength of ,christ1 remembering ',i   
can do all things through ,christ which 
strengthened me'8  #bj4 ,have ,i labored
 to convince my child that its true     
character is formed by its thoughts and 
affections8  #ba4 ,do ,i daily realize  
that each of my children is a shapeless 
piece of marble1 capable1 through my    
instrumentality1 of being moulded into  
an ornament for the palace of the ,king 
of kings8  #bb4 ,do ,i1 by my           
conversation and actions1 teach my      
children that character1 and not wealth 
or connexions1 constitutes              
respectability8  #bc4 ,do ,i realize    
what circumstances are educating my     
children2--my conversation1 my pursuits1
 my likings1 and dislikings8  #bd4 ,do  
,i realize that the most important book 
a child can and does read1 is its       
parents' daily deportment and example8  
#be4 ,do my children feel they can do   
what they like1 or that they must do    
what they are commanded8  #bf4 ,have ,i 
felt that a timid child is in great     

danger of being insincere8  #bg4 ,do ,i1
 as an antidote to timidity1 cultivate  
the fear of ,god and self-respect8  #bh4
 ,do ,i realize that ,i must meet each  
child at the judgment-seat1 and hear    
from it what my influence over it has   
been as a mother8  #bi4 ,do ,i realize  
that it is in my power to exert such an 
influence that ,christ shall see in each
 the travail of his soul1 and shall be  
satisfied8  #cj4 ,do ,i realize that my 
children will obey ,god much as they do 
me8  #ca4 ,do ,i impress on my children 
that little faults in ,christian        
families may be as dangerous to the     
soul1 and as evil in their tendencies1  
as larger faults where there is no      
,christian education8  #cb4 ,do ,i      
realize the danger of retarding or      
hindering the work of the ,holy ,spirit1
 by evil habits1 worldly pursuits1 or   
companions8  #cc4 ,do ,i make each child
 feel that it has a work to do1 and that
 it is its duty and happiness to do that
 work well8         99       99       99

       99       99  ,the paper having   
been read1 one of the pastors stated    
that he knew the lady who had been      
referred to2 that she died leaving a    
large family of children1 all of whom1  
he had learned1 were now members of the 
church of ,christ except the youngest1  
of tender age4 ,he hoped that the       
,questions would be printed in the      
,manual for the ,maternal ,associations4
  ,i was struck with the remark in some 
old writer1 said ,mr4 ,r41 that ',god   
had clothed the prayers of parents with 
special authority4' ,it made me think   
that1 as the ,saviour promised the      
apostles1 for their necessary assurance 
and comfort1 that they should always be 
heard in their requests1 while engaged  
in establishing the new religion1 so    
parents are encouraged to think1 since  
family religion1 the transmission of    
piety by parental influence1 is so      
important1 in the view of ,god1 that    
they will have special regard paid to   
all their petitions for aid1 as ,god's  

vicegerents in their families4  ,but the
 repast was now ready4 ,it was a goodly 
sight1 when that company of ministerial 
friends and their wives were sitting    
round that table4 ,behold1 how good and 
how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell
 together in unity4 ,there is a         
mysterious charm in eating together4 ,it
 is well known that associations        
designed for social acquaintance and    
conversation1 have1 very generally1     
fallen to pieces soon after the         
relinquishment of the repast4 ,our great
 ordinance1 for the communion of saints1
 is appointed to be at a table1 where it
 originated4 ,the flow of kind feeling1 
which had prevailed during the afternoon
 among these friends1 seemed now to be  
in full tide1 and many were the         
entertaining and gratifying things which
 were there said and done4 ,all possible
 ways in which the products of an acre  
or two of well-cultivated land could be 
prepared to tempt the appetite1 were    
there4 ,br4 ,s4 was informed that those 

fried fishes swam in ,acushnit brook no 
longer ago than when he was rehearsing  
his parable of the fishes4 ,the         
strawberries had been kept on the vines 
a day or two1 for the occasion1 and were
 in perfection4 ,eggs figured on the    
table in every shape into which those   
most convertible things could turn      
themselves2 and1 being praised1 the lady
 of the house said that she must tell   
them of ,ralph1 a boy of fourteen1 whom 
her husband had taken to look after his 
horse and garden1 giving him his tuition
 in ,latin and other branches1 for his  
services4 ,ralph was a great amateur in 
fowls and eggs4 ,no sooner did a hen    
cackle1 but he resorted to the nest1    
and1 with his lead-pencil1 wrote the day
 of the month upon the egg4 ,the lady   
rung her table-bell1 and called him to  
her1 telling him to bring his           
egg-basket4 ,he brought in an openwork1 
red osier basket1 with a dozen and a    
half of eggs in it1 laid on cotton      
batting1 each egg as duly inscribed as  

the specimens of a mineralogist4 ,ralph 
was highly praised4  ,i suppose you     
think1 my son1 said ,mr4 ,r41 that an   
egg1 like reputation1 should be above   
suspicion4  ,it is best to be safe1 sir1
 said he4  ,ralph1 said ,mr4 ,s41 do you
 know who baptized you8  ,you baptized  
me yourself1 sir4  ,do you remember1    
,ralph1 how you reached out your hands1 
at that time1 and took my hand1 and put 
my finger into your mouth1 and tried to 
bite it with your little1 new1 sharp    
teeth8  ,ralph blushed1 and smiled4     
,you do not remember it1 ,ralph4 ,well1 
,i do2 and now1 ,ralph1 you must come   
and preach your first sermon in my      
pulpit4  ,it will be a long time first1 
sir1 said ,ralph4  ,your dear mother    
told me1 when she was sick1 that she    
thought she left you in the temple1 like
 ,samuel1 when she offered you up in    
baptism4  ,be a good boy1 ,ralph1 said  
another of the pastors2 we will all be  
your friends4 ,he retreated slowly1     
feeling not so much alone in the world4 

,the company did not separate till two  
of their number had led in prayer1      
seeking1 especially1 the blessing of    
,god upon their own children1 and that  
they1 as parents and ministers1 might be
 warned by the awful fate of the sons of
 ,aaron and of ,eli1 and not feel that  
the ministerial office gave them a      
prescriptive right to the blessings of  
grace for their children1 but rather    
made them liable to prominent exposure  
and calamity1 if they suffered public   
duties to interfere with that first1    
great ordinance of ,god1 family         
religion4  ,the horses were now coming  
to the door4 ,farewells and good wishes 
were intermingled1 the joyous laugh at  
some pleasantry or sally of wit made the
 house and yard alive for some time1 the
 pastors had arranged their exchanges   
for several months to come1 visits and  
excursions were planned and agreed upon1
 till one by one the vehicles departed1 
leaving the parsonage silent1 while its 
occupants sat down to rest a while1 and 

talk over the events of the day1 in     
their pleasant window under the         
honeysuckle4     ,chapter ,eleventh4    
,,baptism ,,of ,,the ,,sick ,,wife ,,and
 ,,her ,,children4     ,in having all   
things1 and not ,thee1 what have ,i8    
,not having ,thee1 what have my labors  
got8    ,let me enjoy but ,thee1 what   
further crave ,i8    ,and having ,thee  
alone1 what have ,i not8    ,i wish nor 
sea1 nor land2 nor would ,i be          
,possessed of heaven1 heaven unpossessed
 of ,thee4     ,,quarles4--,emblems4    
,he whom ,god chooseth1 out of doubt    
doth well4    ,what they that choose    
their ,god do1 who can tell8     ,,lord 
,,brooke 7,london1 #afcc74--,mustapha4  
,a lady with whom we spent a summer at a
 watering-place1 and who was then an    
invalid1 and with whom we had formed an 
intimate acquaintance1 was now very     
sick1 with cancerous affections1 which  
threatened to end her life at no distant
 period4  ,she had become established in
 the ,christian faith1 during her       

illness1 and1 being a woman of great    
intelligence and cultivation1 it was    
instructive to be in her company4 ,many 
a lesson had ,i learned from her1 in the
 freshness and ardor of her new         
discoveries as a ,christian1 the old    
themes of religious experience being    
translated by her renewed heart1 and    
discriminating mind1 into forms that    
made them almost new1 because they were 
so vivid4 ,she was fast ripening for    
heaven2 she had looked in1 and her face 
shone as she turned to speak with us4   
,a lady1 a friend of hers from a        
distance1 was visiting us1 and1 knowing 
that she was sick1 requested me to call 
with her upon the invalid4 ,hearing that
 ,i was in the parlor1 she sent for me  
to come up and sit with her and my      
friend1 after they had seen each other a
 little while4 ,she was in her          
easy-chair1 able to converse1 and was   
calm and happy4  ,the door opened       
suddenly1 as we were talking1 and in    
rushed a little boy of about six years1 

his cap in his hand1 a pretty green     
cloth sack buttoned close about him1 his
 boots pulled over his pants to his     
knees1 and his face glowing with health 
and from the cold air4  ,o1 mother6 said
 he1 before he quite saw us1--and then  
he checked himself2 but1 being          
encouraged to proceed1 after making his 
salutations1 he said1 in a more subdued 
tone1 holding up a great red apple1 ,see
 what the man1 where we buy our things1 
sent you1 mother4 ,he called me to him1 
and said1 ',give that to your mother1   
and tell her it will be first-rate      
roasted4'  ,as the mother smelt of it1  
and praised it1 with her thanks1 the boy
 hung round her chair1 and wished to say
 something4  ,well1 what is it1 my son8 
,he spoke loud enough for us to hear1   
with his eyes glancing occasionally at  
us1 to be sure that we were not too     
intently looking at him1 and1 with his  
arm resting in his mother's lap1 he     
said3  ,do1 please1 let me go with my   
sled on the pond4 ,it is real thick1    

mother4 ,gustavus says that last evening
 it was as thick as his big dictionary1 
and you know how cold it was last night1
 mother4 ,please let me go2 ,i won't get
 in2 besides1 if ,i do1 it isn't        
deep--not more than up to there2 see    
here1 mother6 putting his little        
mittened hand1 with the palm down1 as   
high as his waist4  ,his mother looked  
troubled1 and knew not what to say to   
him1 but remarked to us1 ,o1 if ,i were 
well1 and about the house1 ,i could     
divert him from his wish2 but1 said she 
to him1 if you will ask ,gustavus to    
take care of you1 and bring you home    
when he comes1 you may go4  ,off he     
went1 making fewer steps than there were
 stairs1 and we heard his merry voice   
without announcing his liberty4  ,here  
,i am1 said she to us1 with those three 
children1 who come home from school     
twice a day1 and there is no mother     
below to receive them4 ,with the best of
 help1 things sometimes go wrong1 and   
the young woman who sews for me cannot1 

of course1 do for them what a mother    
could4 ,nothing has tried my patience1  
in suffering1 more than to hear the door
 open1 and my children come in from     
school1 and to feel that ,i am separated
 from them1 within hearing1 while ,i    
cannot reach them4  ,she controlled her 
feelings1 and helped herself to conceal 
them by turning to rock a cradle which  
stood behind her1 though we perceived no
 need of her doing so2 yet we must all  
distrust our own ears in comparison with
 a mother's4 ,the child was a boy seven 
months old4  ,do you know1 said she to  
me1 that ,i am thinking of joining your 
church8 ,i have had a very trying visit 
from my own pastor1 and he says that ,i 
am too sick to be baptized by immersion1
 and that it is1 therefore1 too late for
 me to receive ,christian baptism4 ,it  
is not necessary1 he says1 in order to  
being accepted of ,god4 ,i was born and 
brought up in that ,communion1 and never
 thought much of the subject of baptism 
till ,i hoped that ,i began to love     

,god1 here in my sick-room4 ,if baptism 
is so important as our ministers tell us
 it is1 in their preaching and by their 
practice1--for you know how important   
they deem it1 in times of religious     
attention1 to have people baptized in   
our way1--,i cannot see why it is not   
important to me4 ,if it is man's        
ordinance1 and merely for an effect on  
others1 very well2 but if ,god has      
anything to do in it1 ,i feel that ,i   
need it as much as though ,i were in    
health4 ,so my husband asked your       
minister to come and see me1 and he did2
 and he is to baptize me and my children
 on ,saturday afternoon1 and administer 
the ,lord's ,supper to me after church  
the next day4  ,i asked her what ground 
of objection her pastor had in her case4
  ,mrs4 ,p4 ,my minister tells me it is 
superstition to be baptized on a        
sick-bed1 and that they are careful not 
to encourage such ,romish practices4    
,but1 ,o1 ,i said to him1 ,mr4 ,dow1 ,i 
am afraid it is because your form of    

baptism will not allow you to baptize   
the sick and dying1 so you make a virtue
 of necessity4 ,he colored a little1 but
 said1 pleasantly1 though solemnly1 ,we 
see how important it is1 ,mrs4 ,peirce1 
to attend to the subject of religion in 
health1 when we can confess ,christ     
before men1 and follow the ,saviour1 and
 be buried in baptism with him4  ,that  
made me weep1 though perhaps it was     
because ,i was weak2 but ,i said1 ,god  
is more merciful than that1 ,mr4 ,dow4  
,i know that ,i have neglected religion 
too long1 but ,god has brought me to    
him1 by affliction1 and now ,i do not   
believe that the seals of his grace are 
of such a nature that they cannot be    
applied to people in my condition4 ,i   
feel the need of those seals1 not as my 
profession to ,god1 but as his          
professions of love to me4 ,i believe   
you are wrong1 ,mr4 ,dow4 ,you seem to  
make baptism our act toward ,god1       
chiefly2 now ,i take a different view of
 it4 ,my sick and weak condition makes  

me feel that in being baptized1 and in  
receiving the ,lord's ,supper1 ,i submit
 myself to ,god's hand of love1 and take
 from him infinitely more than ,i give  
him4--,o1 that is rather a ,romish view 
of ordinances1 said he1 smiling4--,no1  
said ,i1 ,mr4 ,dow1 ,i am not passive in
 the ordinances1 any more than in       
regeneration2 my whole soul is active in
 receiving their influences4 ,but there 
is something done for us in the         
ordinances1 as there is something done  
for us in regeneration1 while we        
actively repent and believe4 ,are you   
not so afraid of ,romanism1 and of      
'sacramental grace1' that you go to an  
opposite extreme8 for it seems to me a  
morbid state of feeling4 ,i wish for no 
extreme unction1 but ,i do believe that1
 in being baptized1 and in receiving the
 ,lord's ,supper1 something more is done
 for us than helping us to take up and  
offer to ,god something on the little   
needle-points of our poor feelings4 ,i  
should feel1 in being baptized1 that    

,god has adopted me1 and not merely ,i  
him2 and1 in the ,lord's ,supper1 that  
it is more for ,christ to give me his   
body and blood1 than for me to give him 
my poor affections4 ,he asked me if ,i  
had not been reading the ,oxford        
,tracts4 ,i told him that ,i read the   
,oxford ,tracts1 and other ,puseyite    
publications1 in their day1 and that ,i 
saw through their errors1 and had no    
sympathy with their views4  ,but ,i told
 him ,i was satisfied that the human    
mind1 in that development1 was craving  
something more supernatural in religious
 ordinances1 to make the impression that
 the hand of ,god is in them1 and not   
that we are the principal party4 ,so1   
instead of taking enlightened1 spiritual
 views of ordinances1 the ,tractarians  
sought to improve the quality1 by       
multiplying the quantity1 of forms2 and 
others are following them into the      
,roman ,catholic church in the same way4
  ,there always seemed to me1 she said1 
to be a grain of truth in every great   

error4 ,is it not so8 ,even among the   
,brahmins of the ,east1 and among       
savages1 each superstition1 and every   
lie1 retains the fossils of some dead   
truth4 ,when a new error breaks out     
among us1 ,i feel that the human mind is
 tossing itself1 and reaching after     
something beyond its experience4 ,it    
seems to me1 she continued1 that1 at    
such times1 it is good for ministers and
 ,christians to rexamine their mode of  
stating the truths of the ,bible1 to see
 how far they can properly go to meet   
the new development1 and1 by preaching  
the truth better1 intercept it4 ,the    
cold1 barren view1 which many take of   
ordinances1 makes some people hanker    
after forms and ceremonies2 whereas1 if 
we would present baptism and the ,lord's
 ,supper as divine acts toward us1 we   
might meet the instinctive wants of     
many1 and hold them to the side of      
truth4  ,but ,i told ,mr4 ,dow that ,i  
was no formalist1 nor did ,i believe in 
compromising the truth to win errorists4

 ,clear1 faithful1 strict doctrinal     
views commend themselves to men's       
consciences4  ,i came near saying to the
 good lady1 that1 if she were able to   
talk in such a strain1 and to say so    
much to her minister1 he1 surely1 could 
not have deemed her so enfeebled in mind
 as to be incapacitated for admission to
 the ,christian church4  ,i told him1   
also1 she added1 ,i was satisfied that  
his unvarying mode of baptism was not   
ordained by ,him who sent the ,gospel to
 every creature4--,why1 said ,i1 ,mr4   
,dow1 what do you make of the apostles' 
baptizing the jailer1 'at the same hour 
of the night1' and 'before it was day8' 
,it could not have been for any public  
effect4 ,what need to have it done just 
then8 ,was it superstitious and ,romish8
 ,no2 it was to comfort the soul of the 
poor1 trembling convert1 with a sense of
 ,god's love to him4 ,how it must have  
soothed and cheered him to receive      
,god's hand of love in that ordinance1  
before he himself fully knew what the   

making of a ,christian profession       
implied6 ,i want that same hand of love 
here1 in my prison of a                 
sick-chamber1--,and1 ,i never thought of
 it much before1 but1 ,i said then1 it  
seemed so clear to me that they would   
not have gone to all the trouble1 that  
night1 and in the prison-house1 and     
after the terrors of the earthquake1 to 
put a whole family into bathing-vessels4
 ,to take people from sleep1 ordinarily1
 and immerse them in water1 would be a  
singular act2 much more when they are   
weak and faint1 as the jailer's family  
must have been1 from fear and           
excitement4 ,in my own case1 ,i could   
not be immersed1 even at home2 it would 
probably cost me my life4 ,sprinkling   
came to me as so sweetly harmonious1 in 
that scene of the jailer's baptism1 that
 ,i believed it to be the apostolic mode
 of baptizing1 and ,i told ,mr4 ,d4 that
 ,i should imitate the jailer2 and that 
,i should send for a minister who could 
imitate ,paul and ,silas4  ,but1 said   

,i1 what brought you to believe in the  
propriety of baptizing your children8   
,mrs4 ,p4 ,your minister enlightened me 
on that subject4 ,i told him my heart   
yearned to have it done2 for ,i took the
 same view of it which ,i have mentioned
 with regard to my own baptism--that it 
is something which ,god does1 to and for
 the children1 primarily1 and it is not 
merely a human act4 ,he said that it was
 like laying a penal bond on children1  
to baptize them1 and oblige them to do  
or be anything without their consent4   
,o1 how many such penal bonds ,i have   
laid on my children1 already6--the more 
the better1 ,i told him4 ,a penal bond  
to love and serve ,god6--,i mean to add 
my dying charge to it1 and make it as   
binding as ,i can4 ,how imperfect such a
 view of baptism is6 ,it is ,god coming 
to us with his seal1 not we coming with 
our own invention to him4 ,i wished to  
have ,god enter into a covenant with me1
 who hope ,i love him1 to be a ,god to  
my children forever4 ,i felt that ,i    

could die in peace1 if ,i might feel    
some assurance of this2 and1 it seemed  
to me that1 to have a sign and seal of  
it from ,god himself would make me      
perfectly happy4  ,she handed me a book1
 which her pastor had lent her1 and she 
asked me to read a passage1 to which she
 pointed4 ,it was an argument against   
baptism in sickness4 ,speaking of the   
penitent thief1 the writer says3  ,the  
,saviour did not1 as a ,papist would    
have done1 command some of the women1   
that stood by bewailing1 to fetch a     
little water2 nor the beloved disciple  
to asperse the quivering penitent4      
,remembering the view which the mother  
of little ,philip took of such things1  
,i merely said1 that the writer seemed  
to me to asperse a large part of the    
,protestant world1 under the name1      
,papist4 ,christian baptism1 ,i         
remarked1 had not been instituted when  
the ,saviour and the thief were on the  
cross4  ,i received an invitation from  
the husband1 a day or two after1 to be  

present at the baptism of his wife and  
children4 ,the husband was not          
professedly1 nor in his own view1 a     
regenerate man1 but one of the best of  
husbands and fathers1 destitute1        
however1 of the one thing needful4  ,the
 wife had on a loose cashmere           
dressing-gown1 but was sitting in bed   
for greater support and comfort4  ,the  
pastor read to her the articles and     
covenant of the church4 ,she assented to
 them2 whereupon1 at his request1 ,i    
laid the church-book of signatures      
before her1 gave her a pen full of ink1 
and she wrote her name among the        
professed followers of the ,lamb4  ,the 
pastor then declared her to be admitted1
 by vote of the church1 into full       
communion and fellowship1 after she     
should have received the ordinance of   
baptism4  ,he rose1 and read1 ,and      
,jesus came unto them1 and spake1       
saying1 ,all power is given unto me in  
heaven and in earth4 ,go ye1 therefore1 
and teach all nations1 baptizing them in

 the name of the ,father1 and of the    
,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost2 teaching 
them to observe all things whatsoever ,i
 have commanded you2 and lo1 ,i am with 
you alway1 even unto the end of the     
world4 ,amen4  ,he continued3 ,my dear  
,mrs4 ,peirce1 ,god is your ,god4 ,he   
will have his name written upon you1 by 
its being called over you1 with the use 
of his own appointed sign and seal of   
baptism4 ,the name in which he has      
chosen thus to appear to you1 is not    
,god ,almighty1 nor his name ,jehovah2  
but those names which redemption has    
brought to view1 and which impress upon 
us the acts of redeeming grace and love4
 ,do not feel1 chiefly1 that you give   
yourself up to ,god in this transaction1
 though this1 of course1 you do1 and it 
is essential that you do so2 but feel   
that the ,father1 ,son1 and ,spirit1    
come to you1 and own you in the covenant
 of redemption1 in consequence of your  
accepting ,christ1 by faith1 which      
itself1 also1 is the gift of ,god4      

,professing repentance of your sins1 and
 faith in the ,lord ,jesus1 you are now 
to receive1 from the ,sacred ,three1 a  
sign and seal1 confirming to you all the
 promises of grace1 adopting you as a   
member of the whole family in heaven and
 earth1 and engaging ,god to be your    
,god4  ,and now1 as you are1 yourself1 a
 child of ,god1 your children ,god      
adopts to be1 in a peculiar sense1 his4 
,this is the method of his love from the
 beginning4 ,had ,adam remained upright1
 doubtless his children would have been 
confirmed in their uprightness2 but1    
inasmuch as he fell1 and1 by his        
disobedience1 they were made sinners1   
,god restablished his covenant with     
,abraham as the father of all believers1
 under a new church-organization1 to the
 end of time1 promising to be the ,god  
of a believer's child4  ,he then read   
this hymn2 and certain expressions in it
 never struck me with such force and    
sweetness as in that baptismal scene3   
,how large the promise1 how divine1     

,to ,abraham and his seed2        ,i'll 
be a ,god to thee and thine1            
,supplying all their need4        ,the  
words of his extensive love             
,from age to age endure2        ,the    
angel of the covenant proves1           
,and seals1 the blessing sure4          
,jesus the ancient faith confirms       
,to our great fathers given2        ,he 
takes young children to his arms1       
,and calls them heirs of heaven4        
,our ,god1 how faithful are his ways6   
,his love endures the same2        ,nor 
from the promise of his grace           
,blots out the children's name4  ,and   
now1 said he1 as you belong to the      
church of ,christ1 so your children1 in 
a certain sense1 and that a very        
important and precious sense1 belong to 
the church4 ,your little1 unconscious   
babe belongs1 in that sense1 to the     
church4 ,you will not1 you cannot1      
misunderstand me4 ,these are the        
children of a child of ,god4 ,all your  
brethren and sisters in ,christ count   

them in their great family circle4 ,they
 covenant with you to pray for them1 to 
watch for their good1 and to rejoice in 
it1 to provide means for their spiritual
 prosperity1 and to seek their          
salvation4 ,but1 above all1 ,god will   
ever have special regard to them as the 
children of his dear child4  ,receive   
now1 said he1 the divine ordinance of   
baptism1 whereby ,god signifies to you1 
and seals1 all that is implied in being 
your ,god4  ,he drew near the bed1 with 
a silver bowl1 from which he sprinkled  
water upon the head and forehead of the 
dear believer1 whose countenance        
expressed the peace of receiving1 rather
 than the effort of giving1 while her   
lips moved now and then during the quiet
 scene4  ,they brought ,edward1 the     
first-born1 and he stood1 with his hand 
in his mother's hand1 and was baptized4 
,there were almost tears enough shed by 
us for his baptism1 had tears been      
needed4 ,lucy came next1 and then the   
rosy-cheeked ,roger1 who had been       

persuaded to leave his new sled1 a      
little while1 that ,saturday afternoon4 
,but now the little boy was coming in   
from his cradle4 ,his mother raised     
herself in the bed1 and received him in 
her arms4 ,he had been weaned1 but1 on  
coming to his mother1 he began to make  
some solicitations1 which1 beautiful and
 affecting though they were1 some of us 
endeavored not to see1 but turned to    
smell of some violets1 and to open a    
book of engravings4 ,the mother smiled1 
and held him off1 but immediately put   
two fingers1 one on each eye1 and       
wept2--the marriage-ring on one of those
 fingers1--ah1 me6 how had the finger   
shrunk away from it4 ,the nurse took the
 child and diverted its attention4 ,the 
husband sat far on the bed1 put one arm 
under the pillow that supported his     
wife1 and held her hand in his4         
,recollections and anticipations1 we    
knew1 were thronging1 unbidden1 into    
that mother's soul4 ,she had been       
reminded of fountains of love sealed up1

 and yet there were opening within her  
living fountains of water4 ,she grew    
calm1 beckoned for a little book on the 
table1 opened it1 and pointed her       
husband to a stanza1 which she had      
marked1 and he read it for her3--       
,when ,i can trust my all with ,god1    
,in trial's painful hour1     ,bow all  
resigned beneath his rod1       ,and    
bless his sparing power2     ,a joy     
springs up amid distress1     ,a        
fountain in the wilderness4  ,that was  
her profession of religion1 and her     
signal to the pastor to proceed4 ,the   
father took the little boy in his arms1 
held him over the bed1 before his wife2 
the pastor reached from the other side1 
and baptized ,walter1 in the name of the
 covenant-keeping ,god4 ,the father held
 the child for the mother's kiss1 and   
then took him away1 fearing a repetition
 of the previous scene4 ,but the wife   
drew her husband back to her1 and left a
 kiss on his own cheek1 amidst his      
tears4  ,and now1 said the pastor1 after

 prayer1 ,god has been in this place1   
and has himself applied to you and your 
children the seal of his everlasting    
covenant4 ,do not make your faith in it 
to depend on the degree of equanimity or
 vividness in your feelings2 but        
remember what ,elizabeth said to ,mary3 
',and blessed is she that believeth1 for
 there shall be a performance of those  
things which were told her from the     
,lord4'  ,o1 said ,mrs4 ,p41 is it      
possible that ,i live to see this day8  
,i almost forget my sickness1 my        
separation from my husband and children1
 in the thought that ,god is my covenant
 ,god1 and the ,god of my children4 ,my 
baptism is to me a visible writing and  
seal from ,god2 and my children's       
baptism is the same4 ,i always used to  
think of baptism merely as a profession 
on our part4 ,o1 how much more there is 
in it1 besides that6 ,it is ,god's      
covenant and testimony toward me4       
,blessed names6 said she1               
soliloquizing1--,father1 ,son1 and ,holy

 ,ghost6 sweet society of the ,godhead6 
,they come together2 they are like the  
three that came to ,abraham's tent4     
,each has his precious gift and         
influence for my soul4 ,why was ,i      
allowed to see this day1 and enjoy this8
  ,the pastor said1 ,this is just one of
 those things which make us say1 ',his  
goodness is unsearchable4' ,there seems 
to be no way of accounting for this     
rich1 free1 sovereign love4  ,can ,i    
fear1 said she1 to leave my children in 
such hands8 ,no4 ,god of ,abraham6 'thou
 hast been our dwelling-place in all    
generations4' ,faithful ,god6 'a ,god to
 thee and thy seed after thee2' what    
power the seal of the covenant has to   
make you believe it2 yes1 and seemingly 
to hear it read to you4 ,do speak to all
 our dear mothers1 and tell them in     
health to make far more1 than many do1  
of baptism for their children4  ,and    
have you no blessing for me8 said the   
husband1 as the pastor rose to go4      
,dear sir1 said the pastor1 they seem to

 have left you alone4  ,he had been     
sitting1 somewhat out of sight1 at the  
foot of the bedstead2 but1 it was       
evident1 from several signs1 that his   
feelings were deeply moved4  ,the pastor
 took his arm1 and1 bidding the wife an 
affectionate but hasty adieu1 he went   
with him to the sitting-room below4  ,i 
need no arguments1 said the husband1 to 
satisfy me1 further1 that you are right4
 ,you have a system of religion which1  
,i see1 is good for everything1 and for 
everybody1 and for all times1 and       
places1 and circumstances4 ,sir1 ,i have
 been sceptical2 but ,i must confess    
that a religion which can come into a   
family1 like mine1 and do what it has   
done1 through you1 sir1 to mine1 and to 
me1 must be from ,god4 ,sir1 ,i shall   
always respect our pastor for his       
consistency with his principles1 and for
 many other reasons2 but ,i prefer      
principles like yours1 which can go to  
the sick and dying1 and to little       
children whose mother----  ,here he     

began to weep4 ,the pastor said1 ,to    
take a mother from a young family of    
children1 like yours1 ,mr4 ,peirce1 is  
just the thing which we should prevent1 
could we have the ordering of affairs4  
,i feel1 said ,mr4 ,p41 that ,god's hand
 is upon me4 ,passages from the ,bible1 
which ,i learned at sea1 from love to my
 mother1 come to me now4 ,she put a     
,bible in a box1 and covered it up with 
a dozen pairs of woollen hose1 knit with
 her own hands4 ,i have been saying to  
myself1 in the chamber1 ',behold1 he    
cometh with clouds4' ,it is growing dark
 over my dwelling2 ,god is descending   
upon us in a cloud4 ',behold1 he taketh 
away1 who can hinder him8 ,who will say 
unto him1 what doest thou4' ,o1 you     
never lost a wife1 my dear sir1 nor     
looked on a motherless family1 as ,i    
begin to do4 ,god help me1 for ,i shall 
lose my reason4  ,no1 my dear sir1 said 
the pastor2 think what has just taken   
place up stairs4 ,you now seem to say1  
as ,manoah did1 ',we shall surely die2' 

but his wife said1 ',if the ,lord were  
pleased to kill us1--he would not have  
showed us all these things4' ,god has   
bestowed on your children1 through their
 believing mother1 his covenant1 to be  
their ,god4--,you are a ,notary ,public1
 ,i believe1 sir4  ,i am1 said ,mr4     
,peirce4  ,then1 said the pastor1 you   
know the importance of seals4  ,o1 yes1 
said ,mr4 ,p4 ,a gentleman1 last week1  
came near losing the sale of a large    
property1 situate in one of the ,middle 
,states1 because he had had some papers 
executed1 here1 before a court not      
having a seal4 ,i told him1 beforehand1 
that he was wrong2 but he wished to know
 of what possible use a seal could be1  
when the judge and the clerk used       
printed forms1 and the blanks were      
filled under their own hands4 ,the      
papers came back1 and he had to do his  
business over again1 and before a court 
having a seal4  ,but he was perfectly   
honest1 at first1 ,i presume1 said the  
pastor1 only the form was defective4    

,mr4 ,p4 ,yes1 sir2 but the form1 in    
such a case1 is the warranty4 ,you know 
that the power to have and use a seal is
 one of the things specially conveyed by
 a legislature4  ,god has seals1 said   
the pastor4 ,one is baptism4 ,it used to
 be circumcision4 ,but1 as the old royal
 seal is broken at the coronation of a  
new king1 ,god appointed a new seal1    
baptism1 to mark the new dispensation2  
as he also changed the ,sabbath of      
creation in honor of his ,son's reign1  
and removed the memorial of his deeds of
 greatest renown1 the ,passover1 for one
 that signifies still greater deeds1 the
 ,lord's ,supper4 ,thus ,god has his    
seals4 ,he attaches great importance to 
them4 ,he binds himself by them4 ,your  
wife1 being a child of ,god1 it is his  
arrangement1 from the beginning1 to     
enter into covenant with her in behalf  
of her children4 ,he stands1 now1 in a  
special relation to them1 and has placed
 the beautiful seal of ,heaven upon his 
promise to that dear sick mother1 ',i   

will be a ,god to thee and to thy seed  
after thee4'  ,is it necessary that the 
father should be left out8 said ,mr4    
,p41 covering his face with his         
handkerchief4 ,they are mine1 and ,god  
holds me responsible for them4 ,i am to 
be left alone with them in the world4   
,is there not mercy for me1 too8 ,o1 ,i 
had such a gleam of hope in the chamber6
 ,as ,i saw the water descending from   
your hand upon those dear heads1 ,i     
thought1 ,how much like a divine act    
such baptism is1--something from ,god4  
,i always thought of baptism as a cross1
 to which ,i must submit2 now ,i see    
that it is a token of love1 bestowed    
upon me4 ,so ,i thought of those words3 
',i am found of them that sought me     
not4' ,god seems to have come to me in  
that baptism4 ,i was expecting that1 if 
,i ever became a ,christian1 ,i must1 in
 token of my submission1 be buried in   
the waters of baptism4 ,i would be      
willing to be1 still1 if necessary2 but 
that gentle baptism1 coming to me and   

mine1 seems like ,god being beforehand  
with me1 doing something with me and for
 me4 ,it made me think of ,christ       
inviting himself into the house of      
,zaccheus1 to save his soul4 ,i always  
felt that ,i must obtain religion wholly
 of myself2 now ,i feel that ,god has   
begun the work in me4 ,i am sustained   
and borne on4 ,that baptism was the most
 powerful appeal that ever reached my   
heart4 ,it seems to me1 in its          
connection with the gospel1 like a      
beautiful symphony of instrumental music
 in an anthem1 which strives to         
interpret the words4 ,it proved an      
overture to me1 indeed1 in the best     
sense4 ,but1 my dear sir1 how near we   
came to losing all this which my wife   
has enjoyed4  ,the door opened1 and     
little ,lucy came in with two plates and
 two silver knives1 and that great red  
apple which her mother had received a   
few days before4 ,mother sends her love 
to you1 sir1 and begs that you and      
father will eat this4  ,they looked at  

the apple for a few moments1 when the   
husband said1 ,i do not feel like eating
 it4 ,do oblige me by taking it home    
with you4  ,the pastor took it home with
 him1 placed it on his mantel-piece in  
his study1 where1 for several days1 it  
gave such an odor as to attract the     
notice of every one that came in4 ,the  
hand that sent it to him1 in less than a
 week had finished its work on earth4   
,the apple then became a hallowed thing4
 ,there it remained till it wilted1 grew
 soft1 and finally turned nearly black4 
,a little1 unceremonious visitant to his
 father's study would often climb into  
the chair near the shelf1 and express   
his wonder1 and repeat his questions1 at
 the seeming mystery1--first1 of not    
eating the apple1 and suffering it to be
 wasted2 and then1 of letting it remain 
when it ought to be thrown away4 ,it was
 not long1 however1 before the apple was
 buried in a pot of earth4 ,in due time 
green shoots appeared4 ,and when the    
pastor saw them1 he said with himself1  

,the children of thy servants shall     
continue1 and their seed shall be       
established before thee4  ,how it grew  
in the pastor's study1 a little         
sacramental emblem of hallowed scenes1  
and of infinitely precious truths1--how 
a place was selected1 and afterwards    
prepared1 for it1 near a garden-wall    
which separates the wife's little garden
 from her grave1--and how the husband   
came alone1 one ,sabbath1 and joined the
 church1 receiving the seal of baptism  
from the same hand that sprinkled the   
water upon the heads of his wife and    
children1--,i cannot tell you now1 nor1 
after so long detention1 would you be   
willing at present to hear4     ,,the   
,,end4