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Saviour, who said "Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

I have now a few questions to propose for your serious consideration, and then I have done with you for the present. I propose them to every parent, who wishes to have his children baptized.

1. Do you consider yourself a member of God's church; bound to obey the laws of Christ's kingdom, and to submit to the government and discipline of his house?

2. Do you consider yourself as possessed of the qualifications, necessary to devote yourself to God in baptism, if you were unbaptized? If so, why do you not come to his table, which we expect every adult, whom we baptize, to do? If not, how can you offer up your child? Can you do more for your child, than you can do for yourself?

3. Does not a person, who has a child baptized, bind himself, under the solemnity of an oath, "to walk in all the ordinances and commandments of the Lord blameless; and is he not then bound to partake of the supper?

4. Finally Is not the notion, that it requires fewer and lower qualifications to have a child baptized, than it does to go to the supper, derived from a corrupt practice of the church, and not from the word of God?

These questions I place before you. I hope you will seriously and prayerfully meditate upon them

And may the Spirit of God furnish you with correct answers to them!

FELLOW PROFESSORS,

I have a word to say to you.

Whatever impression these well-designed papers may make upon the thoughtless and profane-I calculate on your countenance, support, and prayers, in bringing about a reformation in relation to the ordinance of baptism. Such a reformation is greatly needed; and all the friends of the Lord Jesus Christ must assist in it. In this thing, you are to know no man after the flesh. If it be a brother, or a sister, or a child, that is put under censure, and so deprived of the privilege of presenting his or her offspring, your first enquiry is to be Is this right? If so; your next enquiry is to be this: For whom am Ia communicant in God's house, a sworn friend to the Lord Jesus Christ-for whom am I to feel the greatest regard; for Christ and his ordinances, or for earthly relatives and friends? The church must suffer, or offenders must suffer. And I hope, you will not hesitate to show that you love Christ more than parent or child-more than sister or brother; and that you prefer Jerusalem above your chief joy.

BRETHREN OF CONSISTORY,

You are associated with me in the government of God's house; and it has not been the least gratifi cation I have enjoyed, during my settlement here,

to find you ever willing to exercise a prudent, yet firm discipline: And I would now be guilty of great unkindness and injustice, did I even suspect you of unwillingness to co-operate with me in guarding against the profanation of the holy sacrament of baptism.

Let me, however, remark to you, that increased prudence, zeal, and firmness will be required in producing a reformation, which I know you have greatly desired. You must, with your minister, bear the heat and burden of the day. You must stay up his hands, as did Aaron and Hur the hands of Moses, that Amalek prevail not against Israel.

The views I have endeavoured to support, and according to which I should feel gratified to have our practice regulated, may be stated in very few words.

1. Every baptized person is a member of the church, bound to perform the duties of a member, and subject to the watch and government of the

church.

2. Every person, making application for the baptism of his child, is to be considered as expressing his desire to take hold of the covenant made with Abraham, which requires holiness of heart and practice; and ought therefore, upon the first application, to give evidence, that he is prepared to make a public profession of religion.

3. Every person, so making a profession of religion, and neglecting to commune, ought to be dealt

with in the same manner, as would be considered necessary, if a professor should be regular in his attendance at the Lord's table, but neglect to offer up his child or children in baptism.

And now to the God, that is in covenant with his church and people,-Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; the God, into whose name we have been baptized, -the God of the Bible, and the God of salvation,— three distinct and equally glorious persons, in one undivided and all-glorious Essence,-be ascribed, equal, undivided, and eternal praises. Amen.

15*

LETTER XIV.

Sacrament of the Supper, instituted by ChristCommand to observe it, binding on all in gospel countries, who have come to years of understandingespecially on baptized persons.

BELOVED PEOPLE,

HAVING finished our remarks on baptism, the first sacrament of the covenant of grace, under its evangelical administration; we now proceed to submit to your consideration a few reflections on the sacrament of the supper.

We have before remarked, that every positive institution must originate in a Divine command. To Christ, as King in Zion, appertains the right to appoint sacraments; and the business of the church. is, to administer and execute his appointments, according to his own directions. "In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."*

Our first enquiry, therefore, in relation to this ordinance, must respect its origin, and the obligations which it imposes upon us to glorify God, in its devout celebration. To these particulars, we now solicit your attention.

Of the origin of this institution, the writers of the New Testament give the following account..

* Mat. xv. 9.

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