through the perversion of baptism, why not Christians without faith and repentance? He that gave one command gave all, and says, "He that, believeth not shall be condemned"-"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in "one point, he is guilty of all." I appeal to Christi. anos if it is not a law of the kingdom of heaven that all men should believe that "Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God," repent of their sins, and "be immersed for the remission of them;" and whether there is a shadow of evidence that the Apostles ever recognized any man or woman (that did not obey his law) as Christians. No man is required to immerse himself; consequently I cannot conceive of any condition a penitent believer in these United States can be placed in, while he is alive and can speak, to render him physically unable to be immersed, if the teachers and members would do their duty.* If he were to die in the act of immersion, it would only be a glorious exit from time to heaven. The Saviour bas promised, "He that loses his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it." I knew one who cordially gave up his son, at his earnest request to obey Jesus Christ, when it was believed he would die in the action. He now lives to glorify God for it. For what is our life? It is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." But there is "a crown of life," which the Lord, the righteous Judge shall give unto all them that love his appearing. And who are s those that love his appearing? "He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me; and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I WILL MANIFEST MYSELF TO HIM," Yes, we must forsake all, or we cannot be his disciples. Our friend's idea of "the heart's being bowed to the will of God" is a good one. Let infant sprinkling or pouring, or adult sprinkling and pouring be proved to be the "will of God," and we will admit there are "Christians among the sects." Any man that contends without this-there are such-has to 'forsake houses, and brethren, and sisters, and father, and mother, and wife, and children, and lands, for the sake of Jesus. They must be "converted, and become as little children. Mark it, reader, this text our friend quoted, was spoken by the Saviour to his disciples, after Peter had said to him, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the tiving God." This proves the need of the conversion of all sects. Then, "Whosoever receives one such little child in my name, receives me What follows? THE SAVIOUR IS AS CERTAINLY REJECTED BY THOSE WHO REFUSE TO RECEIVE every man and woman who believes with their whole heart, (and no moral impedi. ment afterwards,) upon the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, repents of their sins, and are immersed into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as they receive him, • When the Saviour was on the earth the friends of the palsied, or para lytic, or diseased, hesitated not to carry them on couches to Jesus, through every difficulty. All were made whole. when they receive one such little child that believes in him. 'A word to the wise is enough. In my next I will endeavor to show that the sects themselves prove their systems cannot be Christian, upon their own admission-"Christians among the sects.". Yours as ever, My dear Friend, WEST MIDDLETON, November, 1838. YOUR letter came duly to hand I reciprocate all the kind wishes contained in it. We are all in our usual health, except my dear wife, whose health is rapidly declining: thus presenting before me the desolate prospect of being soon left alone. But we are all passing away to the land of silence and repose: soon shall we exchange the tumult and bustle of life for the solemn stillness of the tomb: soon shall we exchange all our earthly possessions for the coffin, the winding-sheet, and the grave. Well, I shall soon follow my beloved wife-not into the regions of darkness and oblivion-but to "realms of an eternal day." This is hope-my joyful anticipation! Instead of this, what has the world to give? Compared with this, what are the joys and hopes of unbelief? "Go ask the Infidel what boon he brings us; Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal!" Tell me not, my dear friend, of the abuses of this religion; tell me not of the party strifes of professing Christians; neither tell me of the sword and flames of Catholic persecution: "What is the bigot's torch, the tyrant's chain? I smile on Death, if heavenward hope remain!" Consider also, that if this hope at last prove to be like "the baseless fabric of a vision," yet we are as well off as you; we have perilled nothing; for then, indeed, we had nothing lost; and, as Cicero said to the Sceptics of his day, "There will then be no danger of your laughing over our folly and disappointment." But, on the other hand, if we are right, we gain an "eternity of bliss"-and infinite duration can alone unfold your loss!! The Christian, indeed-the man guided by the lamp of eternity, is cheered and gladdened as he passes through this world of sorrow and disappointment "And dying triumphs in the Cross, The antidote of Death!" To him there is no impenetrable gloom hanging over the grave; the rays of the "Star of Bethlehem" have cheered this prison-house, and shown him "a vista to the skies." But the lamp of the Sceptic goes out at the very place where most of all he needs its aid. When his spirit takes its flight, it is "a leap in the dark" but the Christian enters the grave with a firm and undaunted step; for his Leader has gone there before him, and returned again; and this abode is still warm with life and light from his presence, short as was his stay! So that. although it be not strictly according to nature and reason that the cold grave should become a mother, more than it was that Sarah, who was ninety years old, should have a son; yet we are, in fact, taught to look upon the grave as our mother!! She will bring forth those begotten by the Eternal Spirit, after the slumbers of a night, invigorated with "immortal youth," and clothed with "glory, honor, and immortality.” How triumphantly, then, may we challenge the unbelieving philosopher in the language of the poet "The evening star of reason thine, The Bright, the Morning Star be mine! Where ends the wanderer's earthly way; But o'er the grave this Star shall rise, And point the pilgrim to the skies!" But this, you will say, is not argument. I shall, therefore, proceed to your difficulties. And, first, you say, "I believe, for many reasons, that the Bible is the work of designing men." I can only express regret that you have, in this instance, (like too many religionists,) taken your creed upon trust. This is the stereotyped slander of Paine and Voltaire; and there never was a dogma of the Catholic church received with more implicit faith, than this has been by the Sceptics. A superficial reading of the scriptures, with this question before you, would have convinced you that it was impossible; and a slight acquaintance with the history of priestcraft would have shown you, that the scriptures never answered their purpose. No, sir; the poor, the afflicted, the oppressed, are the special care of the Bible, and of the God of the Bible: whereas the proud, the oppressors, the rich, the covetous, are, from Genesis to Revelation, "cursed with a curse." The law of Moses made no provision for the priesthood beyond a bare maintenance; and it was only by "taking away the key of knowledge" from the people, that the priests and expounders of the law gained such wealth and influence in the time of the Saviour of the world. But, to come to later times, when and where did the priests exert the most unlimited influence? Was it not in the "dark ages," in the 10th century, the midnight of Papal darkness? The favorite maxim of this century was, "Ignorance is the mother of devotion;" and mark it well, it was ignorance of the Bible that was so highly valued. Priests never feared any other light! What was the leading heresy of the Waldenses, for which they were driven from their peaceful homes? It was reading the Bible for themselves, and obeying it. Many, even of their children, could repeat the whole New Testament. Now, according to your supposition, these were the very people that ought to have been most easily brought under clerical domination. But, no; they suffered the loss of all things at their hands, even life itself, in thousands. They were driven from fertile vallies to snow-capt mountains, to fastnesses and glens; but never would they bow the neck to priestly des potism. But am I gravely refuting so absurd a charge as this? Where did priests ever seek to gain power, and wealth, and influence by disseminating the light of the Bible? No where-never. They have always had, and still have, most influence where the Bible is kept most from the people. Go to Italy, Spain, Portugal, and inquire if priestly domination is supported there by means of the Bible! Tell me what broke the charm of clerical influence, by which the people had been spell-bound for ages? It was the terrific appeals made to the people by Luther and his coadjutors-"Read your Bibles" "Examine and think for yourselves"! It was the opening of the "Little Book." It was the diffusion of translations of the scriptures. What people at this day have the most freedom of thought-the most independence of mind-where the least servile homage is paid to priests? It is in New England, where the Bible has been more read and revered, by young and old, than in any other place on this wide earth. We are this day indebted to this book for every feature of republican liberty that we enjoy. Every item of republicanism was discussed during the session of the "Long Parliament" convened under Charles I. and dissolved by Oliver Cromwell. Never did kingcraft and priestcraft get such an exposure, even from infidels themselves, as from the Puritan members of this Parliament; and the result was, the establishment of republicanism in all its forms. 1 I shall take up your strong objection in my next. In the meantime I shall feel every assurance that, whatever difficulties you may discover in the Bible, you will never again say it is priestcraft. With sentiments of esteem, I am your friend, M. S. CLAPP. [The following Essay was written sometime in May last, and was originally intended for The Christian Witness, being a reply to an article in that paper.} Dear Brother, CHRISTIAN UNION. I SEE in your paper of April an article on this subject, containing many useful and excellent hints on this all-important subject; but, at the same time, setting forth certain difficulties which appear to the author insuperable. Most gladly would I lend my hand, my head, my heart, if by any means I could assist in the promotion of so desirable an object, or give the slightest impulse towards a consummation so devoutly to be wished. The author before me says, "I believe there is a great principle in Protestantism, which, if carried out fully, will accomplish this object. It is this, that nothing is to be received as of any authority in matters of religion, but what is plainly taught in the Bible; yet a difficulty here arises-Who shall say what part of the holy scriptures are essential to salvation! Where is it said in the Bible, that such and such truths must be believed, in order that men may get to heaven; while another class may be rejected?' I reply, it is no where said in the scriptures, that one part of them may be rejected; yet we are plainly and emphatically told what parts are "essential to salvation." Our Lord himself says, John xvii. 3. "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent;" but it is no where said, Whosoever does not believe every word in the Old and New Testament hath not eternal life. Thousands of the first Christians believed to the salvation of their souls," who probably never saw a single chapter of the Old Testament, and but a very small part of the New. Paul affirms that "all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable," and again, "Whatsoever was written aforetime was written for our learning." Now many a thing may be useful and "profitable" which is not necessary. In temporal things our logicians divide knowledge into necessary, useful, ornamental, and luxurious. Necessary knowledge is thus defined by David Blair: "It is that which simply provides man with food, and with the means of sustaining life." He also says, "Luxurious knowledge includes abstract inquiries: as physics, metaphysics, many branches of experimental philosophy, heraldry, antiquity, and the dead languages. If we would look for the perfection of the physical man, we must look to the savage state, where only necessary knowledge is possessed-where there is nothing liable to abuse.. What an exemption is there enjoyed from the complicated evils and desires that afflict civilized and enlightened society? Witness the uninterrupted health of the savage-his elasticity and vigor; his eye not dim, even at a hundred years of age! So, also, if we would look for the perfection of the spiritual man, we must go back to the time when only necessary knowledge was enjoyed-before luxurious knowledge had taught us to despise the "primitive simplicity" of those who "rejoiced with joy unspeakable and full of glory." If it be objected, that to require nothing but a simple profession of faith in Christ in order to church membership, would be to open wide the door to heresy; I answer, that the Apostle John wrote his "testimony," or gospel, after he had lived to see heresy like a flood breaking in upon the church: the Gnostic heresy in particular had desolated some of the fairest portions of the church in Asia Minor; yet then he declares, John xx. 30, 31., “And many other signs, truly, did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: but these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that, believing, you might have life through his name." If nothing more was necessary then, who shall say more is necessary now? Besides, the attempt that is made in our systems to present a summary of scriptural truth, is subversive of the plainest teach |