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which his text put him in possession. What! are "the lovers of pleasure" to be allowed free pasturage in the fields of dissipation, in unmolested security, because they are greater violators of the moral law than others? It must have been an oversight, rather than a deliberate opinion.

new Edition. Recommended by several Baptist Ministers.

2. Dissertations on Christian Baptism. In which it is shown, that Antipadobaptism is in opposition to the Holy Scriptures, and the general Prac tice of the Church of Christ in all ages. By the late Rev. Micaiah Towgood. A new Edition. Recommended by several Ministers. To which are added, Notes and Illustrations.

Again, referring to the divine operations, as encouraged or re- 3. pelled by the reception or rejection of the individual's mind, and state of feeling, it is said, "the Holy Spirit is infinitely delicate;" an expression which, we must confess, struck us as infinitely remote from propriety.

Essay on Scripture Baptism. In which it is shown, that Infant Baptism is destitute of Proof, either from the Holy Scriptures, or from ancient Ecclesiastical Writers. By the late Rev. John Gill, D. D. To which is prefixed, An Address to the impartial Enquirer after Truth, &c. THE friends of what is called infant baptism, of late, have manifested an ardent desire to en

We are totally unable to subscribe to the sentiments expressed in p. 16 and 17, in which a comparison is drawn between the de-gage in controversy on that subgree of evil in theatres and in the fashionable libraries of watering places, to the advantage of the former. In the first place, we are of opinion that the comparison itself tends to neutralize the feeling of disgust which ought to be excited against all public iniquities; for a depraved mind will avail itself of needless distinctions and niceties of calculation, by saying, "I do not frequent the libraries if I do the theatre ;I am not so bad as others." In the next place, we think that the author is not correct in his moral arithmetic: and we advise him to add the items up again and strike, as we think he must do, a different balance. It could not have been expected that the author of been expected that the author of an "Essay on the Stage," would in any way have appeared to justify what he had in that work so properly condemned.

1. Reply to the Rev. Micaiah Towgood, upon Apostolic Tradition, in reference to Christian Baptism. By the late Rev. John Gill, D. D. With an Appendix by Joseph Ivimey. A

ject. It is not uncommon for warriors to recover of the wounds received in former combats, and to glance at defeats, long since received, only to feed the rising ardour for renewed exertions; and, therefore, we do not very much wonder, that a man could be found to republish the tract, to which that now before us is a reply. After its first appearance, completely repelled the attack, Dr. Gill entered the field, and so completely, that Mr. Towgood did not repeat his labours. As our opponents have republished, it is but fair that exertion should be met with exertion; and we have great pleasure in recommending Dr. Gill's Reply to Mr, Towgood's Dissertations on Christian Baptism, which may be had We think that every one, who is of Mr. Button, Paternoster-row, desirous of buying the truth, and who may peruse the Dissertations, should also read the Answer to them. If he only desires to continue quietly in his present opinion, he may act otherwise, As to our judgment of them, we have

| the design, and the due manner of receiving baptism, must, of necessity, depend upon what Jesus Christ, who instituted it, hath declared about it. -4thly. It cannot be doubted, that he himself

duty of Christians to be guided by what any persons, by their own authority, or from their own imaginations, may teach concerning this duty.-6thly. The passages in the New Testament, which relate to this duty, and they alone, are the original accounts of the nature and end of this institution, and the only authentic declarations, upon which we, of later ages, can safely depend, being written by the imme

no hesitation in declaring, that it is low indeed. They are on points which affect theology in general, awfully erroneous; and the title of the book, which asserts, that antipædobaptism is shown to be in opposition to the Holy Scrip-sufficiently declared, to his first tures, and the general practice and immediate followers, the of the church of Christ in all ages, whole of what he designed should is so remarkably far from the be understood by it, or implied truth, that we must be allowed in it.-5thly. It is of small importo wonder, that men of repecta- tance, therefore, to Christians, to bility could recommend it to the know what the many writers on public. We are not now to learn, this subject, since the time of the that a spirit of bitterness against evangelists and apostles, have afa doctrine, or a party, will, some-firmed; much less can it be the times, induce an individual to oppose, in that instance, truth and righteousness; and, if he be active as well as violent, he may obtain, from very respectable men, who possess none of his gall, a kind of sanction to some of his deeds, or, at least, to the object which they were intended to attain. It is, however, our sincere desire, that the important subject of Christian baptism should always be investigated in the right way; not to favour our senti-diate followers of our Lord; those ments, but to obtain the truth concerning it; and we, therefore, most cordially recommend the following rules, according to which every work on baptism should proceed; they are taken from Foot's Letters, addressed to Bishop Hoadley:-1st. The receiving of baptism is not a duty of itself; or a duty apparent to us from the nature of things; but a duty, made such to Christians by the positive institution of Jesus Christ.-2dly. All positive duties, or duties made such by institution alone, depend entirely upon the will and declaration of the person who institutes or ordains them, with respect to the real design and end of them, and, consequently, to the due manner of performing them. 3dly. It is plain, therefore, that the nature,

who were witnesses themselves of the institution, or were instructed by those who were so, and join with them in delivering down one and the same account of this reli| gious duty.

We now most solemnly declare, that, if the immersion of believers in Christ, were not, alone, Christian baptism, according to the canons just laid down, we would immediately reject it; and, if Mr. Towgood's sentiments would abide a fair examination according to them, we should immediately adopt them. But we have not the least doubt, that what is called infant baptism, is, according to the New Testament, without a shadow of evidence in its favour, Neither authentic histories nor divine revelation will favour the sentiments of the Dissertations. The

statements are unfair and inaccurate; the reasonings are bold, but remarkably inconclusive. The author first determines that his opinions are right, and then tortures, perhaps without knowing it, the sacred oracles to fit them. More loose, inaccurate, cloudy, and delusive interpretations of scripture, we have scarcely ever | seen. We should tremble for the ark of God, if, on all points, the sacred testimonies were so used. Nothing would be more easy than to give specimens, for they abound in these Dissertations ;" but let the public judge, when they have read Mr. Towgood on one side, and Dr. Gill on the other.-We will give one example of the reasoning of this erroneous book; it is taken from the 12th and 13th pages:

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Jesus Christ; and these salutary effects of the second Adam's virtue, are as extensive as the penal ones of the first Adam's sin; that is, as it respects infants. 3dly. That infants, in consequence of this, should be baptized, as baptism is the emblem of giving and receiving this life-giving spirit.We should be sorry to misrepresent any one; but, if we understand him, this is what our author has asserted. And here let it be remembered, that we have no doubt of the salvation of all infants, absolutely no doubt whatever. But we will examine this author, merely as it respects the argument for what is called infant baptism. We would ask three questions:-Does this salvation, this justification unto life, apply to all infants as they are born into the world, as much as condemnation and suffering do?—or, Does this great benefit apply only to all infants who die in infancy? or to the infants of believers only, who so die?-One of these must be admitted, to the exclusion of the rest.

"Now, the same discourse of the apostle, which represents them (infants) as condemned and suffering through Adam, represents them also as justified and saved by Jesus Christ; for, as by the offence of one, (Adam,) judgment came upon all men to condemnation: even so, by the righteousness of one, (Christ,) the free 1.-Does justification unto life gift came upon all men to justifica-apply to all infants, as they are tion of life; for as, by the disobe-born into the world, as much so dience of one, many were made sinas condemnation and suffering ners; so, by the obedience of one, shall many be made righteous.'-As do? If so, then all the race of much as to say, the salutary effects man must be saved,-for Adam's of the second Adam's virtue, are as sin has actually brought suffering extensive as the penal ones of the and death upon all;-and, if all first Adam's sin; or, as the malignity infants who are born are actually of that first offence reached even to blessed with the effects of justifiinfants, subjecting them to death; so, the benefits of Christ's obedience cation, they must all be savedreaches also to infants: justifying, not a child of Adam can be lost,absolving, and restoring them to unless it be maintained that they are all actually justified and blessed with the consequences of it, but afterward lose these benefits and perish; which is in direct opposition to scripture, which connects together justification and future glory, Rom. viii. 30.

life."

Thus far Mr. Towgood; and he infers, from these premises, the right of infants to baptism.We beg leave to remind the reader, that it is here asserted, 1st. That infants are condemned, and suffer through Adam. 2dly. That they are justified and saved by

2.-Does this justification apply only to all infants who die in

infancy? If so, then the infants | men of the cloudy inaccurate

of unbelievers are just in as good a situation as those of believers.But, if so, what becomes of the argument for infant sprinkling, which is taken from the faith of parents?--If infants should be baptized because they are saved, and if all infants are saved, then all should be baptized, without any distinction. It is asserted in the Dissertations, in a note on the 15th page, 1. That God has been pleased to lay himself under a more particular promise of a resurrection to future happiness with respect to the infants of believers, while those of unbelievers are left more to his uncovenanted mercy. 2. That baptized children may be supposed to be in more happy circumstances in a future state than As to the unbaptized ones.

first of these, we do not know what it means if it does not insinuate that, after all, we are not so certain of the future happiness of the dear infants of unbelievers, as we are of the felicity of the children of believers. The second point, which admits their future, but inferior happiness, we detest, as too much like the popish doctrine of merit, and, even supererogation, and destitute of the least scriptural proof. Thus, this second question cannot be the meaning of the work before us.

3.-Does this justification unto life, apply only to the infants of believers who die in infancy?If so, two things follow: the first chills our blood.-It is, that all the dying infants of unbelievers perish. The second is, that it does not apply to those children of believers who grow up to adult age; and so, according to this, they should not be baptized till they have received justification unto life. This is only a speci

reasoning of this pamphlet; and it is no mean argument against the cause it advocates, that even such a learned and acute man as Towgood could find no better evidence in its favour. To the work of Dr. Gill before us, an appendix iş added, which contains valuable information, and completely refutes the confident assertions of that which is subjoined to the Dissertation:-" He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him."-It is our devout wish that the obedience of Christians to the ordinances of the gospel, should be holy and accurate; and, therefore, we most cordially unite with our respectable brethren, in recommending this scriptural and learned pamphlet.

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The Essay on Scripture Baptism," we perceive, is printed from Dr. Gill's Body of Divinity. This statement of our principles, having stood the test of half a century, requires no encomium from us. We were much pleased to find it printed in a separate form, and sold at sixpence; as but few persons, comparatively, can procure the work, of which it constitutes a part. The address, prefixed, contains some pointed observations upon the inconsistency of the reasoning in Mr. Towgood's work, with the principles of the ministers who have recommended it, considered both as Calvinists and Protestant dissenters.

We think the following paragraph deserves attention, as it proves how completely at variance pædobaptists, of different communions, and even of the same communion, are with each other, on the subject of scripture testimony in reference to infant baptism :

"It is a little singular that, at the | very time that congregational Pædobaptists are declaring that the practice of immersing professed believers has no support from the scriptures: yea, that it is in direct opposition to them; that a Roman Catholic Pædobaptist, the Rev. John Lingard, in his Strictures on Dr. Marsh's comparative view of the churches of England and Rome, contends, that there is no other foundation for infant baptism than tradition, on which the church of Rome founds the practice; that the church of England, in rejecting the authority of tradition, has no proper ground for baptizing infants. Mr. Lingard says, that the church of England teaches the validity of infant baptism because she speaks of such as receive baptismrightly!' Mr. Lingard, therefore, asks,But where did she learn this doctrine? Certainly not from the scriptures: for it is not recorded in the scriptures: it could only be from tradition!'

"Dr. Marsh, it seems, had observed, But our twenty-seventh article is so far from resting the practice of infant baptism on the authority of tradition, that it places the practice on a totally different footing. The baptism of young children, says the article, is in anywise to be retained in the church, as most agreeable to the institution of Christ.' To this, Mr. Lingard replies, "This ought not to excite our surprise. It would, indeed, have been an extraordinary oversight in the founders of the modern church of England, if, after they had rejected tradition in

lutely necessary. Does it mean that Christ really instituted baptism? Then they must have learned it from tradition. Does it mean that, after considering the subject attentively, they think it most probable that infants were baptized? Then they acknowledge that a very important part of the doctrine of Christ is left unrecorded in the scripture.'

"The Baptists are really under great obligations to Mr. Lingard for defending them thus powerfully, though, doubtless, unintentionally! The celebrated lexicographer, Johnson, whom no one will suspect of an indifference to forms and ceremonies in religion, expressing himself concerning Roman Catholics, says, They may think that what is merely ritual deviations from the primitive mode, may be admitted upon the ground of convenience; and I think they are as well warranted to make this alteration, as we are to substitute sprinkling in the room of ancient baptism.""

This Essay, with the address prefixed, is said to be published as an "antidote" to the "Dissertations of Mr. Towgood." Certainly, the unscriptural positions, erroneous statements, and unjust representations contained in that work, required such a powerful counteraction. We know of no tract more calculated for general circulation.

their sixth article, they had appealed LITERARY INTELLIGENCE. to its authority in the twenty-seventh. But men do not always act up to their professions. It may, at times, be convenient to say one thing and do another. They had agreed to retain infant baptism: it was, therefore, necessary to rest it on some ground. On scripture they could not: for it is not taught in scripture. The best expedient which remained, was to rest it on its agreement with the institution of Christ. But what is meant by this agreement? I regret that Dr. Marsh thought it foreign from his subject to explain it: to me, an explanation seems abso

Preparing for Publication.

The best and most effectual Method of

preaching Christ. A Discourse preached before the half-yearly association of the Hampshire Independent Churches, September 20, 1815, at Newport, Isle of Wight, by Thomas Durant Poole.

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A Plea for Primitive Communion, occasioned by the Rev. Robert Hall's recent publication, entitled, Terms of Communion.

The Brothers; or, Consequences; or, A Story of what happens every Day: addressed to that most useful part of the community, the labouring poor.

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