1. That baptism cannot, with the least propriety, be administered to any but to those who have arrived at the years of understanding. To none but such can any exhibition of the important doctrines implied in the doctrine of a Trinity, and represented by the waters of baptism, be made; and on none but such can there be any impression produced of the importance of these doctrines. 2. If baptism was designed to exhibit to, and to impress on the mind, the all-important and essential doctrines of the Gospel, it must be very sinful to do any thing by which this design of God shall be nullified. There are two ways in which this may be done. 1st., By omitting the ordinance altogether; and, 2nd., By substituting in its place another thing which has nothing in it calculated to bring out God's design. The former is done by the Quakers, and by those who acknowledge that believers' immersion is right, but who refuse to submit to it; and the latter is done by all those communities of christians who substitute infant sprinkling for believers' immersion. The generality of persons upon whom the former of these ceremonies is performed, are not such as can have any thing exhibited to them or impressed upon them. The design, therefore, of God in the institution of baptism seems, by sprinkling, and by the unfit age of the subject, to be altogether frustrated. And even where the subject has arrived at an understanding and an impressible age, yet sprinkling being the ceremony administered, nothing is exhibited to him of the doctrines of the death and resurrection of Christ, of the utter defilement of the sinner, of the necessity for his being washed, and of the actual cleansing of the believer by the Holy Ghost. And what by sprinkling is exhibited in the place of these, who can tell? And, 3. It must be decidedly wrong for Baptists to countenance, in any way, the substitution of any thing in the place of that ordinance which was designed to accomplish such great things. Baptists undoubtedly do this when they connect themselves with Churches where this substitution is made, and where the thing set up virtually does away with what was intended to stamp with peculiar importance, and to exhibit with the greatest impressiveness, the grand doctrines of salvation. It is not implied by this, that these communities have abandoned these doctrines, or count them of less importance or value than we do ourselves; neither is it intended to be implied that we should not acknowledge such communities as christian. All that is meant is just this, that in a Baptist joining such Churches he is virtually abandoning his own principles, and is actually countenancing that which he cannot otherwise regard than as an unintentional caricature of a most important ordinance. It is our belief, that Baptists themselves have, in general, overlooked the design of baptism; and that, instead of having made too much of this ordinance, as they have often been charged with doing, they have hitherto made too little of it. They have, to the neglect of the design, dwelt almost exclusively on the subjects and the mode of baptism. Had the former been more insisted on, less, we are persuaded, would have been needed to have been said on the latter. It is when the design is considered, namely, the exhibiting to, and the impressing on the mind, the important doctrines involved in the doctrine of the Trinity, that not only the importance of the ordinance comes out, but also the necessity for its being administered to understanding and impressible beings, and in the impressive way of immer sion. And it is our belief, too, that the more the design of baptism is considered, the more will the importance of the ordinance be discerned, and the greater will appear the necessity for all Baptists making a more decided stand than they have yet done against the thing which has been so extensively substituted for the immersion of believers. Indeed, the day appears to be drawing on when the grand subject of contest in the christian Church will be, infant sprinkling or believers' immersion. It is nothing but the former that in the establishment connects the Church and the state; and it is nothing but the same thing which among other communities partially connects the Church and the world. Abolish infant sprinkling, and render it necessary that a man, before he enters the Church, should understand and profess the grand and essential doctrines of the Gospel, and a blow will be struck at establishments, and partial worldly Church communities, which will shiver them to atoms. This, as the design of baptism comes to be understood, will be more and more clearly discerned and hence we may expect, that the more distinctly the tendency of believers' immersion is perceived, the more fierce will be the opposition to its existence and prevalence. The believers in infant sprinkling will, ere long, find out that this ceremony is the chief pillar which supports their fabric; and round this they will muster. Indeed, they appear to have been for some time past gathering round it more frequently and densely than they have ever been accustomed to do. They seem to have a sort of instinctive impression that here their chief strength lies, and that here their mightiest efforts must be put forth. Hence their determination to conceal the doctrine of believers' immersion by endeavouring to keep the word which expresses it untranslated. Like the Roman Catholics who wished to keep religion veiled in Latin, the Pædo-baptists of the present day wished to keep the ordinance in question veiled in Greek. But it will not do. The truth will be out. God will prevail. But mighty will first be the contest. To the Baptists we say, then, To your colours! Let none, by a union with Pædo-baptist Churches, countenance in any way a ceremony so subversive of the design of believer's baptism, and so instrumental in the upholding of the union of Church and state, and of the partial union of the Church and the world. Baptists in Pædo-baptist Churches must, ere long, come out, or they must renounce their principles. The revival of the doc trine of baptismal regeneration by the Puseyites, and the conduct of the Bible Society towards the Baptists, as well as some other things which might be mentioned, are bringing on a crisis which will, ere long, compel every conscientious and God-fearing Baptist to take his own side: and the sooner this is done the better. The baptismal battle must be fought, and the point of contest will be, believers' immersion or infant sprinkling. THE PATRIARCHAL FAMILY, OR THE UNBROKEN FAMILY IN THE CHURCH. In a recent journey, the writer was introduced to a family in one of the General Baptist Churches with the history of which he was much interested. This family, for number, might he considered patriarchal; and for its connection with the church of Christ, to be "set for the rise of many in Israel." I found that the family consisted of eight sons and three daughters, who are all members of the Church. Seven of the brothers are married, and their wives are all members; and one of the sisters is married, and her husband is likewise a member. There are nineteen brethren and sisters members of the Church of Christ. The venerable mother is now a widow, but like the beloved John, she may say, "I have no greater joy than to see my children walking in the truth." I understood this large family are members of the same Church; what must be the "fellowship of kindred minds," when thus gathered round the cross at the table of the Lord and the frequent exercises of devotion? A few reflections have occurred to the writer, which, with the Lord's blessing, may be useful. How desirable it is to see an unbroken family in the Church of Christ. The phrase, "unbroken family," I first met with in an interesting article in the Evangelical Magazine, some few years since, and was much affected with the sentiments of it. Parents can best appreciate the force of the words, unbroken families. Joseph's brethren might say "the youngest is with our father in the land of Canaan, and one is not," but Jacob alone could enter into its mysterious and painful import. But is this sufficiently cherished by pious parents in reference to the spiritual birth of their children, and their union with the family of God? Happy the parents, who at the Lord's table, as at their own table, see their children one ofter another, till all are there, taking their seat around the board. If parents were more anxious for the conversion of their children, and felt grieved for their absence from the table of the Lord, would not this be likely to tell upon the hearts of their children. Let us cultivate the sentiment of the Apostle, "My little children of whom I travail in birth again till Christ be found in you." What must be the happiness of an unbroken family in heaven P-It is one of the endearing titles of Jehovah, "The God of the families of the whole earth shall He be called." Haste happy day when every family upon earth shall have the God of Israel for their God, and the prophecy of the Redeemer be fulfilled"There shall be one Lord, and his name one." Zech. xiv. 9. The unions of earth are delightful. As we learnt in our infancy, "Lord, how delightful 'tis to see, A whole assembly worship thee; They hear of heaven and learn the way." But what must it be to see his face, and never, never sin? "To stand and bow amongst them there, And see His face, and sing His love." Parents, do you not wish to see your children there? Do you not feel as if the happiness of heaven could scarcely be complete without your children, and your children's children being with you? Then cultivate the spirit of Abraham, “Oh! that Ishmael might live before thee." Is there recognition in heaven? Will parents and children meet there, and emulate each other in gratitude, love and praise? Ah! where are the unbroken families in the Church, giving promise of joining "the general assembly and Church of the First-born, whose names are written in heaven ?" How valuable the privileges of union with the Church of Christ. Is the reader interested with the brief history of the family referred to in this article? Is your family walking in" the steps of the faith of our father Abraham ?" Parents should cultivate an anxious concern for the conversion of their children and their children's children. Are we not "verily guilty," in not bringing our children to the pool of mercy, and directing and encouraging them to "step in ?" Children should be taken "apart" (Zech. xii. 12-14,) for serious conversation, prayer, and the most pious and affectionate effort to bring them to Christ, and conduct them to" the house beautiful," as Bunyan represents the Church of Christ. But are not many young people averse, or at least, indifferent to union with the professing people of God? Why say, "I pray thee have me excused ?" "Have me excused-why will you say From pardon, holiness and heaven ?" God hath "set apart him that is godly for himself." Of old it was said—" Lo! the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations." The character of the present times should stimulate to union and co-operation with the Church of Christ. Christ is "the head over all things for the Church, which is His body." All events are under his divine direction. "The earth helped the woman." Is not "the way of the kings of the east" preparing? Are not five cities in the land of Shinim about to learn the language of Canaan? Look at the teeming millions of China! Why should not our "half tribe of Manasseh," go up and possess the lot of our inheritance in that interesting country? But our Churches need replenishing with men, and women, and children, as with a flock." Let them come "with their silver and their gold," an offering unto the Lord. "I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “who will go for us, and whom shall we send ?" Then said I," Here am I, send me." The Lord revive his work in our families, and Churches, and tribes. "God shall enlarge Japhet, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem, and Canaan shall be his servant." May all our Churches behold numerons unbroken families in their fellowship. "Great God, now condescend To bless our rising race, Soon may their willing spirits bend To thy victorious grace. May they receive thy word, Confess the Saviour's name, Then follow their despised Lord Through the baptismal stream. Surround thy sacred board; There to adore thy sovereign grace, And sing their dying Lord." 66 VIATOR. ADDRESS TO CANDIDATES ON THEIR ADMISSION TO CHURCH FELLOWSHIP. BY THE REV. S. WRIGHT, LINCOLN. My Dear Friends,- In accordance with a usual custom, permit me to state some of the duties that will devolve upon you, as members of the Church with which you are now about to unite. You have been baptized on a profession of faith in Jesus Christ, and have declared that you prefer uniting yourselves to us. A christian Church is a family of which Christ is the head. In a well-regulated family every member performs his part-that part for which his age and capabilities qualify him. Should any one neglect to perform the part allotted to him, the burden will lie heavier on the rest; or the concerns of the family will be thrown into confusion. Endeavour, then, as members of the Church of Christ, to ascertain what portion of labour belongs to you; and discharge it in the fear of God, and to the promotion of his glory. Allow me, my dear friends, to recommend to your serious and practical regard the following line of conduct: 1. Make it a matter of conscience to fill up your place in God's house, unless prevented by sickness or unavoidable circumstances. You will do this, if you consult your own improvement, if you wish to encourage your brethren, if you are desirous to animate your minister, and if you are anxious to promote the interest of the Redeemer. Let not unfavourable weather, a slight indisposition, or the visits of relatives and friends, keep you at home when the house of God is open. 2. When the Church meets to commemorate the Saviour's death, in obedience to his instructions, do not fail to be present. You will probably be sometimes so dejected on account of your unworthiness as to be tempted to absent yourselves. At other times your mind will be soured in consequence of some slight, or supposed insult, and thus you may be led not to feel very cordially towards some of the members, and on this account you may be disposed to neglect the Lord's-supper; but let none of these things, I beseech you, induce you to disobey Christ. 3. As "a meek and quiet spirit" is, in the estimation of the Divine Being, "an ornament of great price," and is always amiable in the sight of men, aim, by God's grace, to attain and exemplify it. You must expect to meet with many things to try your temper, not only in your intercourse with the world, but also in the Church. 4. Pursue the path of duty, regardless of all consequences. Duty will, on some occasions, oblige you to give offence, and bring you into difficulty; but, in the end, you will have reason to be thankful that you were enabled to act a faithful part. Remember, that over Joseph hung a dark cloud for a long time, but it was at length dispersed. The three pious Hebrews, who were cast into a furnace, were safely delivered. Daniel was cast among hungry lions, but God shut their mouths. For our guidance and encouragement these things have been recorded; for God is the same. 5. While you seek the welfare of the cause of Christ in general, and cherish fraternal affection towards all that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, let me entreat you to direct your chief energies to that Church of which you are about to constitute a part. You would condemn a person who was constantly seeking the good of other families to the neglect of his own. Much as we may wish, and much as we ought to wish, to see other Churches prosper, we cannot consistently render them the assistance which our own requires. Many are the ways in which you may, under God's blessing, strengthen the Church. You may do so by a conduct corresponding with your religious profession; by a regular attendance on the means of grace; by bringing such as neglect religion to hear the Gospel; by encouraging persons who appear to be the subjects of serious impressions; and by frequent, fervent, and believing supplication at the throne of grace. And now, my dear friends, my earnest prayer is, that your connection with us may be rendered a mutual blessing. CORRESPONDENCE. THE BAPTIST UNION. portant matters affecting their interests, and To the Editor of the General Baptist Repository. facilitates the achievement of desirable obDEAR SIR,-As the Churches in the jects, otherwise unattainable. It is a part New Connexion are, by the act of the Gen- of the constitution of the Union, that any eral Baptist Association, connected with Church connected with it is entitled to the Baptist Union, we beg permission, appoint two delegates, besides the pastor through your pages, to draw their attention (who is one, ex officio,) to attend the Anto this fact, with which some of them, per- nual Session. The Annual Session for the haps, are scarcely acquainted. The Union present year will be held in London, on the now comprehends the greater part-more 19th of April, at Devonshire Square chapel; than 800 Churches-of the entire Baptist and the Committee would be much gratified denomination in Great Britain and Ireland, to find delegates in attendance from all and constitutes, in our judgment, a valu. the Churches. We are, dear sir, able band of fraternal association, and an important medium of public exertion. Without interfering with the independence of the Churches, it furnishes to them a means of action, as a body, on various im Yours faithfully, W. H. MURch, Secs. |