REVIEW. Examination of Padobaptism, for the satisfaction of Padobaptists, with the Appendix. By R. H. Carne, A. B. Minister of High Street Chapel, Exeter, 12mo. pp. 61. Palmer. An Enquiry concerning Baptism; in which the Word of Man is Faithfully Tried by the Word of God. By Sylvanus, 12mo. pp. 130. Palmer. NUMEROUS and varied have been the arguments brought forward by the different writers who have entered the field of controversy, on the subject of baptism; and on each side of the question, whether advocating the sprinkling of infants, or the immersion of adults, the authors have generally appeared well satisfied themselves that their arguments were quite conclusive, but it is evident, the effects anticipated on either side have not been produced; a difference of opinion still exists, and while each, acting agreeable to the light with which he is favoured, follows as he believes the direction of his divine Master, it is a consoling reflection, that though for reasons inscrutable to finite mortals, a difference does exist, and most probably will exist, throughout the militant state of the church, the time will soon arrive, when the baptist and the pædobaptist will harmoniously unite in the church triumphant, to shout in one celestial song, saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.” 66 Mr. Carne has addressed his " Examination of Pædobaptism" to the church of Christ over which he presides, and in his introductory remarks evinces so much of the affection and liberality of the christian pastor, that we feel compelled to present them to our readers. "I address this tract to you, as a church, because the deed, enrolled in Chancery, and which secures to you the free and full use of the aforesaid chapel, describes you as being "a society of Protestant Dissenters, called Calvinistic Pædobaptist Independents." At the first celebration of the Lord's Supper, in the evening of the Lord's day, September 26, 1824, I did, it is true, contend for open communion; or the equal right of all those who have been baptized into the one body of Christ, by the one and self-same Spirit of grace and truth, to a participation in this ordinance of the Lord's house, whether baptized with water by man, as children, or as adults, or not baptized externally at all. The texts for the two discourses of the day were, for that in the morning, 1 Cor. xii. 11-13; and for that in the evening, 1 Cor. xi. 23-26. And I continue of the same opinion still; because nothing external can fit a person for this feast. The senses and the appetites requisite to "keep the feast" are all internal and spiritual, and belong to "the inner man," the hidden man of the heart," who, exercising his senses of sight and taste, discern the Lord's body, and tastes as well as sees that the Lord is good and gracious, and feeling the appetites of hunger and thirst, eats the flesh of Christ, and drinks his blood. The liberty to come, is the Lord's invitation; that which ensures your welcome is the weddinggarment; and all the worthiness of the guests, "both bad and good," centers in this, on which the invitation is founded, “All things are ready, come to the marriage ;" or in plainer terms, "Christ our passover is sacrificed for us, and therefore let us keep the feast," Matt. xxii. 1-14. 1 Cor. VOL. VII.-No. 83. 2 S v. 6-8. But although still continuing of the same opinion on this particular, and still resolved to act upon it, leaving the Lord's table as open as the Lord's heart, and its provisions as free as his own proclamation declares them, Is.lv. 1-3; yet I remain unchanged in sentiment as a pædobaptist. And because I am more than ever of this persuasion; and because I preside as a minister of Christ over a church professedly pædobaptist, although admitting all to the feast whom the Lord invites, and makes willing to come; and because, at this time, there has arisen no small stir about this matter; on these several accounts, I thought an examination of pædobaptism quite seasonable, both for yourselves and for me." Our author then proceeds to examine the subject under two general heads-" Who are the proper subjects for water baptism?" and" What is the mode of its administration ?" In the appendix, our author proposes to go through the new testament, and notice whatever passages occur therein relative to the ordinance of baptism, and thus pursue a further investigation of its nature - its proper subjects, and the mode or manner of its administration: the arguments adduced are generally from the scriptures, and therefore claim attention. Precluded as we are, by our own arrangements, from giving any opinion on the subject, we can only direct our readers to the work itself, trusting that the Eternal Spirit, whose especial office it is to instruct and to lead into all truth, will condescend to verify his gracious promise, that both baptist and pædobaptist may indeed grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, whom to know is life eternal. Sylvanus has divided his Enquiry into twelve chapters, in which he proposes to consider, the nature of John's baptism-the subjects of baptism-the mode of baptism-and the baptism of Christ. He then recapitulates his previous enquiries, and concludes, that should the statement of the facts, and the force of the arguments presented to his readers, be admitted, the following inferences will necessarily result, which we have subjoined in his own words. "That the baptism of John was not the old proselyting baptism of the jewish church; but a peculiar ordinance, attached to the mission of that prophet; and exclusively confined to his ministry. That its nature and objects were analogous to those of the legal ceremonies. It did not indeed form an original part of the ancient ritual, but was appended to it, and partook of its symbolical character. That it was not a spiritual, but an introductory, a prophetic, and a typical haptism; preparatory to, and illustrative of, those splendid events, by which it was to be succeeded. That although appertaining to the law, yet, like most of the levitical rites, it bore a direct relation to the gospel; and exhibited a most beautiful and significant emblem, of the shedding of a Saviour's blood, the outpourings of the Holy Spirit, and the spotless purity of the person, life, character, and kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. That it was freely and instantly accorded to all applicants, without the least reserve or discrimination-without the smallest inquiry into character or conduct; and during the brief period of the Baptist's course administered, to vast multitudes; thousands of whom there is every reason to conclude were unconverted persons. That in all probability the ceremony was performed, not by plunging the whole body into water, but in some more simple and convenient form, such as sprink'ling or pouring. That our Lord himself did not baptize at all; but that some of the apostles and disciples, adopted John's baptism to a considerable extent; and after the day of Pentecost continued it, as well as circumcision, anointing the sick with oil, and other national customs; converting it how ever from a jewish into a christian ordinance, by administering it in the name of Jesus Christ. That the new testament contains no instance of its application, in the names of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. That the apostle Paul solemnly declared that he had no authority whatever to baptize-that his commission was to preach the gospel; and he even returned thanks to God that he had baptized only in three instances. That Peter, and the other apostles and teachers gradually, disused the practice, as they were favoured with clearer light into the true nature of the gospel dispensation. That these inspired and eminent men understood our Lord's command, contained in the last chapter of St. Matthew's gospel, as referring, not to a baptism of water, but to a baptism of the Spirit; the only one now existing in the church of Christ. That water-baptism, ought properly to have ceased with the ministry of John; but admitting the lawfulness and expediency of its temporary continuance by the apostles, it should certainly have been discontinued at the death of Christ, when all the other rites and ceremonies, types and shadows, of the old dispensation terminated, and gave place to the spiritual antitypes, which they were appointed to prefigure. That there is not a single example of the baptism of a child, nor the smallest warrant for such a practice recorded in the holy scriptures, and that the practice of infant baptism rests solely upon its unauthorized introduction into the church a very considerable period after the apostolic age." Our author then concludes with some miscellaneous remarks, and a few friendly hints to the baptists. If the writer should have convinced his readers of the correctness of his views, he will certainly have surpassed all his predecessors. But we shall leave our readers to judge for themselves, only praying, that if it be consistent with the divine will, whatever may be their views on the subject of water baptism, they may be baptized with the baptism of the Spirit, and then they will lose all minor differences in an holy determination to love all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and truth. "The "The Spirit of God:" a Sermon, occasioned by a Tract on A Reply to "A Sermon, by R. H. Carne, A.B. Minister of the We cussing any of those great doctrines of our holy faith, confuses his readers by ambiguous and mystified statements, which only open the way for the introduction of error. Mr. Carne takes his text from John iv. 24, “God is a Spirit.” After observing that this discourse was occasioned by reading Mr. Mason's tract on the Holy Spirit, and stating some objections to certain parts therein, he calls the attention of his hearers to the first use of the term Spirit, and to the first introduction of the Spirit of God, as an agent, in the first chapter of the bible. Secondly, he shews how properly the same term is applied to sundry of the creatures, such as angels, supernal and infernal; the souls of men, both in and out of the body; the vital or animating principle in brutes, whatever that may be; and to the elastic, very energetic, ever active, and everywhere present, although unseen, atmospheric air. And then con cludes with a few remarks on the text and its context. Under the first head of the discourse, Mr. C. has very ably and satisfactorily proved the divinity and distinct personality of the Holy Spirit, as evinced in his acts and operations, in the works of creation, and in a very elaborate manner, shews him to be indeed GOD to all intents and purposes. Under the second head, he shews the applicability of the term Spirit to angels, souls of men, &c. and takes occasion here to object to those statements which he considers Mr. Mason erroneously to have made in his previous tract. On the third head, our author closes his discourse with such a judicious description of real spiritual worship, that we unwillingly forbear presenting it to our readers, but our limits will not allow us to insert the whole, and it would break the connection to take a portion only. Our readers will find it on page 32 to the end. Mr. Mason, in his tract, informs us, that he sees no reasons to alter the statements he has made, but wishes only to remove certain false impressions which may arise in the minds of his readers, from the unfair manner in which Mr. Carne has treated his first tract. Not having seen this first tract, we are not disposed to make many observations; the present reply leads us to hope that the writer now believes in those glorious truths which on his fourth page he has enumerated; there is, however, too much dependance on the opinions of others, and an abstruseness, not to say cautiousness, in giving his own views of truth, and we think Mr. Carne quite justified in his remarks, especially as Mr. M. formerly denounced some of those doctrines which he now professes to believe; and we do trust, that for the satisfaction of the humble followers of Jesus, should Mr. Mason again take up his pen, he will forbear quoting so much from lexicons and dictionaries (all of which are useful in the study) and deduce his arguments from the holy scriptures. Mr. Carne's word to Messrs. Mackintosh and Mason, contains some further remarks on Mr. Mason's reply, with some heated observations on a tract written by Mr. Mackintosh. As we do not approve of satirical or angry disputes, we shall leave this tract for those of our readers to peruse who like sarcasm. Had we been near the writer, we should have suggested the advice of the apostle, overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." "Be not Mercy's Memorial, a Tribute of Affection: being some Account of the Life and Death of Mrs. Jane Bowes, aged twenty-eight years, in Letters to a Friend. By W. B. Bowes, Minister of Enon Chapel, Woolwich, 12mo. pp. 48. Palmer. In THIS memorial of the Lord's gracious dealings with one whom he saw fit to call home in the morning of life, contains an interesting account of the chequered scenes, which more or less attend every believer in Jesus, while travelling to his Father's house above. the short period of Mrs. Bowe's christian pilgrimage, we find her the subject of many very trying providences, but out of them all the Lord delivered her, and at the last manifested himself as her God and Saviour, blessing her with a strong assurance, that when "the earthly house of this tabernacle was dissolved," she had, reserved for her, "a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." The author's reasons for publishing this tribute of affection to a beloved wife, are so well expressed by himself, that we subjoin them. "One reason why I take up my pen to record the great goodness and distinguishing grace of the Lord our God, as manifested in and to my dear departed wife, is, since her removal from this scene of confusion and sorrow, I have received from several friends, the most affectionate entreaties for an outline of her history and close; which had I complied with, my time must have been almost entirely occupied in epistolary correspondence, beside the painfulness of continually adverting to those scenes, and penning those sayings which could not fail to open afresh the wounds in my heart, which the distressing separation of death has inflicted; at length, I made up my mind to exhibit the love and faithfulness of the great God and our Saviour, by sending forth, through the means of the press, a short account of her transitory stay in this vale of tears, in letters addressed to a friend ; and this decision was encouraged by the hope that the subsequent pages might fall into the hands of some, who, though hastening to eternity, were rushing blindly on, heedless of the present, and utterly regardless of the future; but who, by the blessing of the Eternal Spirit, might be brought seriously to consider, and eventually to "fly for refuge to lay hold on the hope that is set before us;" or that some of the trembling and fearful in the household of faith, whose minds might be agitated and distressed with the fear of death, hearing of the faithfulness of God, and the power of faith, which is of the operation of God, and being led by him, who effectually worketh in all them that believe, to see sin destroyed, death abolished, and life and immortality brought to light by the gospel; they might resign their fears, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God, "that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ might be glorified in them, and they in him, according to the grace of our God, and the Lord Jesus Christ." "In prosecuting the subject proposed, my aim has been to extol the riches, and fulness, and freeness of that grace, which pardons the guilty, justifies the ungodly, and saves the worthless, rather than to lavish praise upon the borrowed excellencies of human character; for, by the grace of God she was what she was, nor was the grace bestowed in vain, but was found to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ. She is gone where no letters of commendation are required from us, for though unknown to a great degree on earth, she was well known and greatly beloved in heaven, and is now before the throne of God, serving him day and night |