let a drop or two fall on the child's face.

Our divines at the restoration understanding a little better the sense of scripture and antiquity, again restored the order for immersion. However, for ' prevention of any danger to the child, the minister is advised to be first certified that he will 'endure it. So that the difference between the 'old rubric and what is now in use, is only this. As

it stood before, the minister was to dip, unless 'there was an averment or allegation of weakness;

as it stands now, he is not to dip, if there be ' an averment or certifying of strength not sufficient to endure it.'-Wheatly on Baptism.

Baptism by immersion was left off in most of the western churches much earlier than in England, but it still continues to be the universal custom among the Christians of the east, and there is no doubt but that it was uniformly so performed in the early church of Christ, in the west as well as in the east. The very word baptize, properly means, to wash a person in water, by dipping or immersion. It is evident that it was by this mode that John the Baptist baptized all who came to him, and that their bodies were washed with water. There can be no question but that John himself, and those who were baptized

of him, went into the water," and they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins." And it is said of Jesus when he was baptized, "that he went up straightway out of the water." We read that " John also was baptizing in Ænon, near to Salim, because there was much water there, and they came, and were baptized" of him. We cannot but infer that in these cases their bodies were actually washed with pure water, and we find that the same mode of admitting new converts into the covenant of grace was continued. The word baptism has, no doubt, sometimes figuratively another meaning; but as to the admission into the church, it implies that the body was washed with water. It was in this manner that the Eunuch was baptized, "And he commanded the chariot to stand still, and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the Eunuch, and he baptized him.” It has been contended in opposition to all authority in the early church on this point, that no particular direction being given in Scripture concerning the manner in which water is to be applied in baptism, we may allow immersion, effusion, or aspersion to be equally valid. Such observations have been made more to confirm a

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custom that has unwarily crept into the church, than to maintain the truth itself. But this is not the way to preserve the church in its primitive and pure state. To keep it pure, we must appeal to "the law and the testimony," "Thus saith the Lord, stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths," " and walk therein." There can be no doubt but the word baptize implies more than effusion or sprinkling, and that it means to wash or to bathe, and we have seen that Christian baptism in the first ages of the church was uniformly ministered by washing the body with pure water. Nor is such baptism to be considered as a mere point of indifference. There is great reason to infer that the ordinance of baptism in latter times has been greatly degraded as a sacrament in many churches, especially in the church of England (in opposition to the rubric of that church) from the very circumstance of sprinkling being so commonly received, and from this circumstance also it has lost much of its solemnity as a sacrament of Christ. It must be obvious to all those who seriously consider the subject, that the washing of the body with water is in itself a more solemn act than that of mere sprinkling, and therefore more calculated to im

press the mind as an ordinance of sacred dedication to God, and entering into covenant with him, as it must be obvious to all that it more aptly represents the cleansing of the soul by "the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost." It is but too evident, that the mode of baptism by sprinkling has in fact degenerated to a "mere form of godliness without the power thereof." The church of England, as we have seen, whilst in a case of pressing necessity and imminent danger of death it admits of sprinkling or effusion, in all ordinary cases when the person to be baptized is in a state of health and strength, requires immersion, or the washing of the body in pure water. The rubric declares in respect to infant baptism, that the minister naming the child after his godfathers and godmothers (if they shall certify that the child may well endure it,) shall dip it in water wisely and discreetly, but if they shall certify that the child is weak, it shall suffice to pour water upon it, saying, 'I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.' In all ordinary cases, therefore, although in point of fact we know the practice is widely different, it presumes that the child is baptized by im.

mersion, and in the office of private baptism, if there be any doubt whether the child has been before baptized, it speaks only of dipping the child in the font, and in the form of baptism for adults the rubric enjoins that the minister shall dip the person in water, or pour water upon him. In point of fact, it is generally allowed by all who have attended to the question, that immersion, or the washing of the body in pure water, was in all ordinary cases the received mode of Christian baptism in the primitive church. Those who differed in some other points as to this sacrament agreed in this, and the holy sacrament was in the Church of Christ so administered to persons of every age, and of each sex, in the primitive church. There were more instances, as one of the fathers says, of persons who did not baptize at all, than of those who baptized without immersion. The custom which commonly prevailed in the early church, was first to wash them with water to incorporate them into the Church of Christ; and then they were instantly covered with white garments, as an emblem of purity, being clothed with the robe of righteousness, and the garment of salvation; and from these white garments which were put