ordinances, has been grossly abused likewise. Moreover, if we know at all what human nature is, we must know that all these things, with every thing else which can be devised, will also be abused, through our human corruption and depravity, until the Lord shall come in power to establish a better order of things.

I think that a careful perusal of 1 Cor. i. and ii. and of the Epistles to Timothy, and Titus, will fully establish the views I have here given, of the real causes of those evils which abound in the Visible Church. And surely, if the question of Baptism had been of such importance as your statement would make it, we should have had some warnings on the subject in the Epistles, as distinct as those which we find against various other errors, by which the Church has been from age to age disturbed and corrupted.

I have, you will perceive, said very little about the immediate question of Infant Baptism for in truth the most important point is, to direct your attention to the real causes of the evils which abound in the visible Church. When these are acknowledged, you will be

prepared to look calmly and fairly at the question of Baptism. And then you will readily perceive, that the argument deduced from Circumcision under the Old Testament is unanswerable: not merely because the Sacrament of Baptism under the gospel dispensation, exactly corresponds to that of Circumcision, (which is not properly a seal of the Mosaic or Legal Covenant, but of the Covenant with Abraham, which was manifestly the Covenant of Grace, and of a truly spiritual nature: See Rom. iv. 9-12 ;) under the former Dispensation,-insomuch that in every instance in which the Prophets and Apostles reason with reference to Circumcision, if you insert the word Baptism instead, you will have the spiritual and evangelical meaning of the passage, in its application to ourselves, most clearly brought out: (See Rom. ii. 17-29;) but because, if you deny Baptism to the children of believers under the New Testament, you deprive those children of a privilege, which was vouchsafed to them under the Old ; and thus make our privileges under the Gospel, in one important particular, less than they were under the Law.

are,

It is very true "that Circumcision and the Law," i. e. the Ceremonial Law, were put away when Christ came: but it is only with certain limitations that we can say, that "outward ceremonials" were all to be put away :-for surely both Baptism and the Lord's Supper, outward ceremonials," as to the outward visible sign;-public worship, and the preaching of the Word, as a regular ordinance of the Christian Church, are outward ceremonials too. And surely if the Church, under whatsoever dispensation, is really and truly one,-one mystical body of Christ, then we may fairly reason from the Sacraments under one dispensation, to the Sacraments under another. Does not the Apostle warrant us so to do? 1 Cor. x. 1-17.

I must close this now, for lack of time to proceed. I think I need not say much to prove to you, that I am not prone to yield to arguments of "expediency:" but that, taking the whole Bible for my perfect rule, I am ready to compare every point, of doctrine and practice, with that perfect standard.

July 8, 1834.

I must not attempt at present to write you a very long letter, and yet, my dear Christian friend, and sister in the Lord, I cannot but write you a few lines by the earliest opportunity, to express my cordial thankfulness to God, that He seems to be so graciously delivering you from the difficulties and perplexities which have so long harassed your mind. And if what He has enabled me to write has been made in any measure conducive to so happy a result, I ought to be doubly and tenfold thankful to the God of all grace.

It is very sweet to be made instrumental in

1 This brief extract is inserted, partly as a connecting link between the letters which precede, and those which follow it, and partly to account for the long interval between the dates of the foregoing and the next. It contains too a brief statement of a general principle, which afterwards is made use of in replying to various objections.

It is very true "that Circumcision and the Lav." Le. the Ceremonial Law, were put away wien Christ cane: but it is only with certain imiacons that we can say, that “outward reremoani's” were all to be put away :-for suray Na Baptism and the Lord's Supper, ars. “ avid ceremonials," as to the outvarā visu sir-public worship, and the rawing of the Word, as a regular ordinance of me Christian Church, are outward ceremanus . And surely if the Church, under Vlasterer Espensation, is really and truly Me - mystical body of Christ, then we may Surly reason from the Sacraments under me Espensation, to the Sacraments under ancher. Does not the Apostle warrant us so 32: 1 Cor. x. 1—17.

I must diese this now, for lack of time to KATEL I think I need not say much to zeze v vza, that I am not prone to yield to BroMens zË “expediency:" but that, taking de vive Baie for my perfect rule, I am vary a compare every point, of doctrine and pawn, via dhat perfect standard.