he will be their God. By this rite he assures us, that as, in the wisdom of his providence, he treats infants as sinners, through the transgression of Adam; so, in the riches of his grace, he has opened a fountain for their cleansing; will treat them as righteous through the obedience of Christ; and will give them his spirit to quicken, regenerate and raise them to life. Of this spirit the baptismal water is the appointed emblem or sign; and by commanding it to be poured on them he virtually saysSuffer the little children to come unto me, "and forbid them not: for these also I account as "subjects of my moral kingdom, and as a part of "that church, or chosen society, over whom I "will exercise a peculiar providence and care.

"And the child, which the pious parent has "thus publickly devoted to me by baptism, I de"liver back to him again; with a solemn charge "that he ever, henceforth, consider it as my property--train it up as for my service; teach it early the principles of christian knowledge and "virtue-pray daily with, and for it; set before "it a good example; and watch over it as one who must shortly give an account, to the great shep"herd when he shall appear. So only, mayest "thou hope that it will be thy comfort and de"light in this world; and thy joy, and everlasting crown of rejoicing, in the other."

These are some of the pious sentiments, which the baptism of infants naturally suggests. Considered in this light, it appears to be of great moral benefit: a most rational and proper service, or act of religion. It manifestly tends to enlarge and to confirm a christian's faith and hope in God, with regard to his helpless child--to a clearer and more extensive view of the great scheme of redemption—to render parents more faithful, more diligent, and serious in the education of their

children, if their lives are continued: and if they are taken from them, it affords the noblest support and consolation in their death.

I here beg leave to add-that there is a vast difference in the genius and temper of children, even in their most early years, every one sees. What influence the divine Spirit has in forming the human mind, even in its infant state, and moulding it into a preparation for future usefulness and virtue-we cannot certainly say. Probably very great; for JOHN, it is said, LUKE i, 15. was filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother's womb. The prophet ISAIAH, was called and formed from the womb, to be a peculiar messenger of heaven to instruct and reclaim the people. ISA. xlix. 1, 2, 5. And of JEREMY it is said, before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee: and before thou camest forth out of the womb, I sanctified thee, and ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. JER. i, 5.

It is then, a rational act of worship, for parents, from the very dawn and first beginnings of life, to devote their children to God, and to the peculiar influences of his spirit. And it is a very merciful and wise appointment, surely, if God has instituted a rite, or sacrament of religion, in which believing parents are commanded thus to dedicate their infants to him; and in which he gives them a solemn token that he will pour his spirit and blessing on them. This is done in baptism. The water poured on them, being an apt and proper emblem of his readiness to hear the prayers of the pious parent and to give his spirit to the child-to preside over, and assist, its intellectual and moral powers-to form it to a love of virtue-and to fit and pre-dispose it for usefulness in future life.*

Mr. Tombs, the learned Antipædobaptist, acknowledges that the grace of God may put infants into Christ, and unite

THE subject of the ensuing Treatise is, in itself,

of so little moment, that it may seem needful to apologize for offering it to public view. But not one knows any thing of the history of religion, that hath not seen, with astonishment, the power of that name to make little things become great; to give trifles a solemn air; and to exalt circumstances and modes into objects, not of men's grave attention only, but of their warmest passions and zeal.

Even under the christian dispensation, that rational, sublime and spiritual scheme of worship, the minds of its professors have with great violence been agitated, and fierce controversies have arose upon the most frivolous points.-Whether the sacramental supper is to be eaten with leavened, or with unleavened bread?-Whether Eas ter is to be kept precisely on the fourteenth day after the first vernal moon; or, not till the Sunday following ?-Whether the Holy Ghost proceeded from the Father AND the Son: or, from the Father BY the Son ?-Whether the christian laity were to cross themselves with two fingers only; or, whether, like the clergy, they might not use three ?*-Furious and dire controversies to the terrible convulsion of kingdoms and states, and to the infinite reproach of the christian doctrine and name, have been kindled up in the church, upon such trifling debates.

The church, through the vast empire of Russia, was greatly rent and inflamed, even to tortures and death itself, in the reign of Czar Theodore, by this insignificant dispute. Vid. Present State of RussiaVol. I. page 238. Voltaire says, a violent sedition was raised by it in Astracan. Life of Charles XII. page 21.

Of much the same moment is the point here discussed; viz. whether baptism is to be administered by dipping the body under water; or, by sprinkling or pouring on.

There are some worthy and good persons-(extremely strange to consider!) who lay so great stress upon this trivial circumstance in religion, as to allow none to be baptised christians but those who have been dipt-to break off christian fellowship, and renounce communion as saints, with men of the most shining piety, if they have not been thus baptized-and even to think themselves obliged to be unwearied in raising doubts and anxieties in the breasts of such, concerning the validity and truth of their baptism.

Many pious, but weak minds have been greatly disturbed, not to say distressed, with scruples on this head. When they hear it confidently affirmed ~That baptism evermore, and constantly, implies dipping-That no person ever was, or can be, baptized, who has not been dipt-And consequently, that themselves are as really unbaptized, as pagans or Turks,-It fills them with concern. They doubt whether they are not wanting in obedience to an express command and institution of Christ.

Effectually to remove every scruple of this kind; to shew, that there is no occasion of putting this yoke upon the neck of the disciples, and to vindicate CHRISTIANITY from the unworthy imputation of laying so great a stress upon so merely circumstantial and external a thing, is the design of the ensuing treatise. How far it shall be effectual to answer this purpose, is humbly left to the favour of heaven; and to the calm and impartial judgment of those into whose hands it may happen

to fall.