ted to an outward holy ordinance; though only some of them may become holy in heart and life. It is to be remembered, that the abuse of this Divine ordinance of infant baptism, which prevails to such an awful extent in the Episcopal and Romish Churches, is no argument against the right and Scriptural use of it. These few hastily written notes, may, it is humbly hoped, preserve the young Christians who read this copy of this pamphlet, from being greatly perplexed in mind about baptism. LETTER I. MY DEAR FRIEND, As Having now looked over the manuscript notes appended to the short treatise you put into my hands, I shall, in compliance with your request, communicate some remarks which the perusal of them has suggested. you did not authorize me to mention the name of their author, it will serve every purpose, and, at the same time, save repeated circumlocution, if I designate him simply as Mr. On questions of this nature, it is principles we are concerned with; not persons. It is greatly to be deprecated, when religious discussion is made matter of personal wrangling, more than a means of eliciting truth. In his first note, Mr. objects to a few sentences in the preface, as speaking, in his view, 'in a loose way about Standards and the Scriptures.' The sentences objected to are as follow: "They now stand connected with the reformed churches, and the many "thousand disciples, who, in that country, have 'laid aside all human "theories as a bond of union.' They are now built together upon the "simple testimony of the apostles, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone,'" &c. 66 The justness of Mr. -'s objections to the sentiments here expressed, I am at a loss to perceive. The intention of the writer obviously is, to point attention to the principle of paying an implicit deference to divine, in contradistinction to human authority, in all matters of faith and practice and every candid reader will, I think, admit, even though he |