N. B. Having ascertained, from unquestionable authority, that the following Answer to the "Candid Reasons of the Rev. Peter Edwards, was written by Mr. Booth, it has been thought proper that it should form a part of these Volumes. EDITOR. THE PRINCIPLES OF ANTIPÆDOBAPTISM, AND THE PRACTICE OF FEMALE COMMUNION, COMPLETELY CONSISTENT. IN ANSWER TO THE ARGUMENTS AND OBJECTIONS OF MR. PETER EDWARDS IN HIS CANDID REASONS: WITH ANIMADVERSIONS ON HIS TEMPER AND CONDUCT IN THAT PUBLICATION. THE PREFACE AND NOTES, BY JAMES DORE. 66 To prove the sincerity of his conversion, he treated his adversaries with scurrilous nicknames, banter, and abuse: a species of reasoning which seldom succeeds in recommending a bad cause, and never confers credit on one that is good."-ENCYCLOPED. BRITAN. VOL. XVI. p. 137. PREFACE.* As this answer to Mr. Edwards may, possibly, fall into the hands of some who have never entered into the controversy, and who are unacquainted with the reasons which induce us to differ, in the article of baptism, from many persons of the finest genius, of the highest literary acquirements, and of the most exalted piety; I shall, in compliance with the request of my friend, avail myself of the opportunity which now offers, to state, in few words, the grounds of our practice. I. Baptism is not a moral, but a POSITIVE duty. Moral duties arise from the nature of things; they are discoverable, in some respects, by the light of reason; and they are universally and immutably binding. Such, for instance, is the great duty of love to God. This was the duty of Adam before he fell; it is incumbent upon us in our state of depravity; and it will be for ever obligatory on all intelligent beings. This duty, which arises from the fitness there is in things, approves itself to every enlightened mind; and the obligation to the discharge of it can never be superseded. But the duty of baptism does not necessarily arise from the nature of things-reason, in its most perfect state, could not discover its propriety;-it is not incumbent upon all men; and there was a time when it was not binding upon any, because it was not then instituted. It is from the sovereign will of the great Head of the church, that baptism derives all its authority; and this sovereign will is expressed in positive commands. Were it not, we could * A few introductory pages, which did not necessarily bear on the argument, are in the present edition omitted. |