iv.

ADVERTISEMENT.

peruse it. It is a subject for prayer, not for controversy.

It may be proper to state, that if any profits arise from the sale of this publication, it is intended to apply them in aid of religious Societies.

LIVERPOOL, 15th August, 1828.

LETTER.

My dear Christian friends,

IN addressing to you a few observations on the nature and design of Baptism, I am well assured that you will listen to me with patience. As Christians, and as parents, the hallowed importance of the subject cannot fail to interest you; and as all my remarks upon it, however imperfect in themselves, will be referred "to the law and to the testimony," I need not doubt that you will receive them with candour and attention. Let me at the outset, however, bespeak your prayers, that we may each be preserved from handling the word of God deceitfully, and that we may be led to know of the doctrine whether it be of God.

You are ready, I doubt not, to agree with me in the opinion, that the nature of Chris

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tian Baptism is, in general, imperfectly understood. It is regarded by many as the mere sign or representation of spiritual blessings. By others it is esteemed as nothing more than a solemn form of admission into the visible church; or, at most, as a solemn act of dedication to the Lord. It seems to be forgotten that Baptism is the ratification of a covenant-a covenant in which God condescends to be a party, and all the immunities of which are confirmed and sealed by that holy rite to those who receive it in faith.

It is not a little remarkable that the great body of Christians in connection with the national Churches of England and Scotland at the present day, should have so far lost sight of the real nature and high importance of this ordinance, notwithstanding the luminous and animating views of it which are presented in the formularies and standards of those Churches respectively. Yet so it is. And the ordinance is thus depreciated amongst us, as well as misunderstood. Unless it be in mere form, it no longer occupies in the service, or in the privileges of God's people, the distinguished place to which it is entitled.

As preliminary to the consideration of the

subject, it may be worthy of remark, that in the catalogue of blessings which God was graciously pleased to promise from time to time to the Patriarchs of Israel, that of a numerous progeny was frequently and emphatically specified. "I will multiply thee exceedingly." Gen. xvii. 2. "In blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed." Gen. xxii. 17. True it is, indeed, that this blessing typified and foretold the riches and glory of the church, when seed should be given to her, "numerous as the drops of dew, in the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning." But the promise of children must be regarded as a blessing in itself, else were it not a befitting type of the church's predicted joy. Hebrews were taught to regard it as such, and accordingly they sang, "Lo children are an heritage of the Lord, and the fruit of the womb is his reward-Happy is the man whose quiver is full of them." Psalm cxxvii. 3, 5. Now, to a Christian mind, it is scarcely conceivable that children would have been represented as a peculiar blessing from the Lord, unless provision had been made for them in that covenant which was prized by their believing parents as "all their salvation

The

and all their desire:" unless God had promised in that covenant to be a God to their seed as well as to themselves. To confirm them in the delightful assurance that their privileges were thus extensive, the Hebrew Church was instructed by the Holy Ghost again to sing "The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children-to such as keep his covenant, and remember his commandments to do them. Ps. ciii. 17, 18.

I think we are warranted in regarding the covenant which God made with Abraham as one blessed developement among many of the principles of his eternal good-will to men, in Christ Jesus their covenant head. In the constitution of that covenant, there are four things which it is of importance to consider: First, That spiritual blessings were contained in it.

Second, That those blessings appertained not only to believers, but also to their seed.

Third, That the rite of circumcision was appointed as a seal of the possession of those blessings; and

Fourth, That this ordinance was administered to infants.

In the first place. To shew that spiritual