in succession by water, or blood, or ashes, still, he would not be baptized in the classic sense of the word. In a shower-bath, he might be, for a time, encompassed with water, but even then he would not be under water, in Dr. Gale's sense, and if he was, this would be no improvement on the Baptist mode of baptizing. To sum up all in few words, if the Professor's theory is true, the common mode of sprinkling is no baptism at all, and there is no mode of baptizing so good as that of the Baptists. The learned Professor seems to be aware that he is liable to an assault from this quarter. Indeed, he tells us that Baptists urge strongly that even if the mode of immersion cannot always be made out in Banto, yet it confessedly indicates a far more copious application of water than consists with sprinkling. In view of this, he says, if Baptists are prepared to make a transition from mode to the quantity of the baptizing element, we are not without hope that the quaestio vexata between us and them, will reach a speedy and felicitous adjustment. That it would, on Prof. Wilson's ground, reach a speedy adjustment does not seem to us at all improbable, for there is but one reasonable result on that ground, viz., that all shall adopt the Baptist mode of encompassing or enveloping with water. For the question does not refer merely to the quantity of water, but to the thing commanded, which is, by the Professor's own statement, to encompass the baptized object with the baptizing element. But though such an adjustment might be "speedy," we should by no means regard it as "felicitous" and we very much doubt whether the Professor himself would so regard it. Thus far we have said nothing of the "questionable analogies, and theological ingenuity," which Prof. W. opposes to "philological acumen." We have been content to test our argument and his acumen, on his own chosen ground. But we are far from admitting that the great analogy on which a main part of our argument rests, is at all questionable. The Professor has, indeed, carefully avoided all use of it, but in so doing he has fatally obscured that fundamentally important subject, the baptism of the Holy Ghost. But there is not time, at present, to consider this momentous theme, and with it, the true relations of theology to this great argument. But as it is our purpose soon to make some remarks on the work of Dr. Halley, to which Prof. Wilson so often refers as his guide, we shall reserve a full consideration of these parts of the subject till that time. We will conclude by remarking, that although we regret that the Professor should give the influence of his name against us to those who rely more on names than on arguments, still it is a consolation that he has never assailed our opinions with any arguments at all, but that on the few points wherein he differs from us, he has assailed and overthrown his own opinions with arguments of the most unanswerable kind. He is, in fact, entirely on our side, though not apparently aware of it; and as it is hard to maintain opposing positions, or to advocate both sides of the question, we trust that he will soon free his views from those few errors by which a treatise, otherwise very able, is rendered so contradictory and self-destructive. ARTICLE HII. OUR AGE-ITS PROGRESS, PROSPECTS, AND DEMANDS. THE Age in which we live is emphatically one of PROGRESS. Throughout the civilized world there has been a marked advance; not equally in all directions; not equally in any direction; but still in all a real, decided, palpable advance. Let us consider some of those subjects in which this Progress is most marked; or rather, in which the interests of humanity are most deeply involved-beginning with those things that most concern the material interests of mankind. 1. Observe the progress which is seen in the development of the resources of Nature. What an advance is making in agriculture; in the modes of increasing the fertility of soils; in the application of the principles of chemistry to the accomplishment of this end; as well as in the great improvements that have been effected in all the implements of husbandry. What changes are occurring in this respect; changes which are diminishing the labor, increasing the leisure, and consequently improving the opportunities of the farmer! What progress in augmenting the means of sustaining human existence, and the capacity of our earth to support an immense population. Who can tell how great that capacity will prove, when all the resources of the earth shall have been fully developed by the aid of science combined with art? What man can venture to assert that he sees the limits which the almighty Creator has fixed, saying: "Thus far shalt thou go, and no farther?" If those political economists who are so much troubled at the thought that this globe is in danger of being overstocked with inhabitants, and who see, or think they see, nothing but wide-spread famine and wretchedness in reserve for them, could but obtain a prophetic glance at the immense progress which the world is evidently destined to make in this respect, perhaps their gloomy forebodings would give place to cheerful hope and sustaining confidence; or at any rate, they would find the fulfilment of their apprehensions postponed to a period beyond the reach of human foresight. 2. Nor is this advance less worthy of observation, in respect to its development of the means by which human existence is rendered comfortable. How wonderful has been the increase of man ufactures, and the consequent augmentation of the well-being and happiness of mankind, within the last half century! There are few, if any, countries in the civilized world, where there has not been some progress in this respect; a progress which has not only increased the wealth of those countries, but also improved the health, contributed to the longevity, and materially multiplied the enjoyments of all classes of the people. It is a fact which no one can deny, that the poorer, as well as the middle classes, in many countries, are far better clad and housed, and in every sense live more comfortably, at a less expense, than they did in former times. 3. The Progress of our Age is seen in the augmented facilities for intercourse,-national, international, ecumenical, we might almost say. If we begin by noticing the common roads, how great an improvement has taken place in almost every portion of the civilized world. If we look back one-hundred years, the roads of England (and the same is true of the Continent as it was even fifty years ago), were in a most wretched condition. In this respect the advance has been as great in France, in Germany, in Italy, in Russia, in Denmark, and in Spain. In fact there is scarcely a country, within the pale of civilization, where there has not been a great amelioration in this matter. The influence it has exerted upon the facilities and convenience of travel is obvious. But half a century has elapsed since the invention of the steamboat; and already how extensive is the use that has been made of it! Not to speak of our own country, on every river, lake, and bay of which it is to be found, we meet with it in almost every other region. On the waters of the Amazon, the Orinoco, and La Plata-along the coast of Peru, New Granada, and Chili-from Panama to California and Oregon; "its lines have gone out through all the earth." Whilst in Europe there is not a navigable river, or sea, or lake, on which there are not steamboats running. In Great Britain and the continental countries, the number is great, and constantly increasing. There are thirty on Lake Malar, in Sweden; there are seventy or eighty on the Danube; they are to be seen urging their way along the distant Wolga; they plough the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, and the Indian Ocean, and thread their course amid the archipelagos that bound the southeastern coast of Asia. Such too has been the history of the rail-road, which, like a vast net-work, has already covered our own country, and is daily extending itself over the plains of Europe and South America. Who indeed can accurately calculate and nicely weigh all the influences, political, social, economical, intellectual, and religious, which these increased means and facilities of intercourse, in commerce and in travel, are destined to exert upon mankind? When fully developed, and made to pervade the nations, as they will ere long, they will constitute bonds of amity stronger than iron, and more durable than brass, to hold the nations together. Is not this the manifest tendency of things-the glorious destiny of the human race? 4. As a result, perhaps, of this increasing intercourse among the nations, or at least as one of the exponents of the progress which marks our age, we mention the growing spirit of freedom of commerce, which is eminently in accordance with the spirit of our Christianity. We have no political aims in these remarks. What is technically called "Free Trade," may not be reducible to practice, in its most unrestricted sense. But we are persuaded that the best interests of the great family of nations, which, after all, constitute but one race, will be advanced in proportion as their several economies are made to coincide with the Divine economy, as displayed in the original and providential arrangement of the affairs of this world; in its variety of climate, soil, and productions; and in the consequent diversity of habits in the human race, adapted to this variety. It is susceptible of demonstration that the more extensively a reciprocally beneficial intercourse can be established among the nations, the more effectually and delightfully will the best interests of humanity entire be promoted. It is in this way that is to be extended and maintained throughout all the world, a universal brotherhood, established through the heavenly influences of a Christianity which teaches us that God has "made of one blood all nations of men, to dwell on all the face of the earth;" that every member of the human race is our brother; and that every individual of that race to whom we can do any good thing is our neighbor. 5. Among the manifestations of progress which mark our Age, should be placed the increased interest which is felt in behalf of the unfortunate and miserable. Of this we have a striking proof in the humane establishments founded on the best bases, and under the best influences, which have sprung up in so many countries, and in none more extensively than in our own. We refer to the "Asylums," and other institutions for the deaf and dumb, for the blind, for the orphans, for exposed youth, for the deranged; and others that might be placed in the same category. We refer also to the increased attention given to "Prison Discipline," or the right treatment of men undergoing confinement for their crimes. In some countries great progress has been made in relation to all these subjects; whilst in others there is only a beginning. Upon the whole, there has been much advance throughout the civilized world, in this respect, within the last fifty years. This is certainly a most auspicious omen, and a delightful pledge of future advance ment. 6. The progress of our era is seen in the increased attention devoted to the subject of popular education in so many countries. How full of hope are the efforts made with so much success to promote the instruction of the "masses," as they are called (not always in a Christian spirit); in Prussia and all the rest of Germany, including at least the Germanic and Italian portions of the Austrian Empire, in Holland, Belgium, France, Denmark, Sweden, Russia, and Greece, as well as in some other portions of the civilized world. This blessed cause is awakening interest, to a greater or less extent, in all Christendom, yea, beyond it; for a most laudable disposition is manifested even in Turkey to introduce an effective system of popular education. Among ourselves, the subject has received much attention, and much is being done. In our own happy land, as well as in Great Britain, and some other countries, Sunday-schools have done much to diffuse the blessings of a moral education among millions of youth. That the influence of all these agencies is beginning to be felt in the increased taste for books, in the desire for instruction by means of public lectures and discussions, is most certain. Its effects in arousing the human mind to inquiry are leading to momentous results, and are too manifest to be lost sight of any longer. That what is called "higher education," is also advancing in many portions of the civilized world, is no less certain; and it is ominous of great good for coming times. In this, reference is made to the increasing number and superior character of High schools and Academies for the youth of both sexes, and of Colleges and Universities adapted to the demands of the times. This is emphatically the case in our own country. It is also true of some others, among which we may mention the kingdom of modern Greece. That unhappy country, which is, even now, barely emerging from the desolation of the long and bloody Revolution by which she became emancipated from Asiatic despotism and barbarism, has done wonders in the way of educating her indigent but intelligent youth. She has her Normal School, her four Gymnasia, her University, with its twenty-five professors, and two hundred and fifty students; and her four hundred common schools. And we know of nothing more noble than the deep interest manifested by some rich Greeks living in Smyrna, Constantinople, Salonica, Vienna, and Corfu, in the subject of education in the land of their fathers, though, in some cases, it is not the land of their nativity. A certain Greek merchant gave one-hundred thousand dollars to found the University of Athens; another forty or fifty thousand to erect an admirable Observatory; another one hundred thousand to establish a Theological Seminary in Athens; several have given largely to found the Gymnasia, and support the common schools to which we have referred. Does not this speak well for the "degenerate" children, as they are often termed, of the land of ality-of origin and language. 10. But if this age be marked by struggles in the political world, by efforts to regain the civil rights which God has granted to Humanity, it is not less illustrious for another struggle-not yet |