sion into the visible patriarchal church, as Baptism is into the Christian church, was directed to be performed on every infant at the age of eight days, and required no repetition with respect to the same individual; the rite of sacrificature, like the Christian Eucharist, was to be continually repeated (weekly, if not daily as it was afterwards in the Jewish church) for the purpose of preserving a conviction of the forfeiture of life and happiness incurred by transgression, and of keeping alive that faith in the atoning virtue of redeeming blood to which the act related.

As the two consecutive rites of circumcision and baptism were evidently intended to answer the same purposes, viz. to distinguish the servants of the true God from the rest of the world,-to furnish a pledge, on His part, for the fulfilment of His promises in the several dispensations to which they belonged, which promises all centered in salvation by one and the same Divine Mediator, -and to record a pledge, on behalf of the recipient, of faith and obedience, it appears to me that when the sacrifice of the cross rendered a change necessary in the outward and visible sign, the age of the parties to be admitted into the church, and to be entitled to its privileges, by the substituted ordinance of Baptism, remained unaltered. As no change was Divinely prescribed, I can discern no authority for making any, unless

in respect of the exact day which was appointed for circumcision in consequence of the ceremonial uncleanness which, under the typical dispensation, was considered to be attached to a new-born infant, and, perhaps also in consequence of the danger which might attend so painful an operation at an earlier period. What reason can exist why the token of God's covenant, as circumcision is called, Gen. xvii. 11, should be conferred on the descendants of Abraham in their infancy, and be denied to the infant children of Christians? Are our privileges less than theirs; or, is there any responsibility connected with baptism which was not connected with circumcision? If the child of an Israelite might be legitimately bound by stipulations, to which, at the time, he could not be a conscious party, why may not the child of Christian parents be also bound by stipulations corresponding in meaning with those which circumcision implied? What difference is there, in the two cases, between the qualifications for admission, the duties to be performed, or the privileges conferred?

And now, my dear friend, in concluding this lengthened series of letters which at your request I have written, I cannot look back on what I have committed to paper without serious reflection, and lively apprehension, especially as I have promised to comply with an ulterior

request which you have made, that I would commit my correspondence to the press. My apprehensions arise from the conviction of a want of qualification for the task which you have assigned me,-a conviction which has not been lessened, but, on the contrary, increased, by the execution of that task. I fear lest any thing should have dropped from my pen, which may be found inconsistent with "the analogy of faith;" or derogatory from the character of Him, whose glory it has been my object to promote. In travelling over so wide an extent of country, and a country of which the roads are little trodden, at least in our own times, I may have stumbled, but I hope not so as to have fallen into any thing materially at variance with Divine Truth. In many parts of my letters I have written with fear and trembling; and have considered, and re-considered what I have committed to paper. Should I have erred in the comparison of spiritual things with spiritual, by which I have endeavoured to conduct my inquiries, I shall readily retract any thing or every thing which I have addressed to you.

And now, my dear friend, adieu: Let us indulge the gratifying assurance that what we know not now, we shall know hereafter; and that the fountain of life opened at the Fall, and the method of grace adopted under the different

dispensations in which the church has been placed, will afford to those who shall join in the delightful "song of Moses and the Lamb," an inexhaustible theme for meditation and thanksgiving through the ages of eternity.

I am

Truly your's

* See Vitringa in Apocalyps. Ch. xv. 3

THE END.

Richard Short, Printer, 35, Bridge-Street, Bristol.