AND THE 1 MODE OF ADMINISTERING IT. BY R. TWOPENY, B.D. VICAR OF NORTH STOKE, AND FORMERLY FELLOW OF ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE. "Jesu answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man LONDON: FRANCIS & JOHN RIVINGTON, し ST. PAUL'S CHURCH YARD, AND WATERLOO PLACE. INFANT BAPTISM, &c. THERE are in the present days, as there were in the time of the Apostles, and as there have been ever since, numbers taking upon themselves to teach, who have no sound understanding of what they say, nor whereof they affirm and wherever such are found, they will never fail of meeting with many negligent of our Lord's warning, "To take heed how they hear," many always ready to listen to, and be misled by them. Novel and erroneous opinions upon religious subjects, in consequence, perpetually spring up from time to time, obtaining a certain degree of acceptance; and during their prevalence, it is surprising to see how reason and common sense are set aside in their support; arguments against them not weighed, nor even listened to; and the Scriptures themselves, in all those passages which controvert the current delusion, distorted from their evident sense and inten tion. Texts, plainly in opposition, are, according to an expression much in use on such occasions, "got over," either by perverting their meaning, or altogether discarding their authority. Other texts, which have no real bearing on the subject, are often pressed into their service, by a process, which is called "drawing from them" some sense or doctrine which they were evidently never intended to convey. And thus is the Scripture used, not as the rule by which we are to try our opinions, but as the advocate by which we are to maintain them; not as the origin and teacher of truth, but as the supporter of the notions and speculations which men themselves have adopted. Would we have an example of this; an instance how readily many will receive, and how pertinaciously maintain an opinion, founded neither on reason, evidence, nor Scripture? I do not know one more in point, or one more singular and remarkable in all its circumstances and bearings, than the error which forbids the baptism of infants; and, considering in how many points the doctrine of free grace is impeached by it, it may perhaps rather be called a heresy than an error. There is a numerous sect which denies the lawfulness of this practice; and not only so, but insists upon its notions being received as a most important and undoubted doctrine of the Christian faith. The whole subject, when closely looked into, presents us with a curious and striking instance, how little reason will avail, when prejudice has once taken possession of the mind; how partiality to our own speculations will thrust the judgment from its seat and office, and hoodwink the eyes from seeing the light that would dispel the mists and clouds of error. For the arguments in support of infant baptism, when they are fairly weighed, are absolutely overpowering even on the most superficial view, all circumstances appear to be in its favour. There never has been any authority produced from Scripture to show that it is not in exact accordance with the whole scheme of redemption in Christ Jesus. It can be proved to agree exactly with all the Jewish notions on religious subjects, and to harmonize in all points with the teaching of the Old Testament. It can be shown that it prevailed universally in all the earlier ages of the Christian Church. All those great and holy men, whom God honoured at the time of the Reformation, by choosing them as his instruments for drawing out and recovering the Gospel truth from the mass of corruption and superstition under which it had lain hid and buried for ages; all, after patient and diligent investigation, were satisfied that "the baptism of young children is in anywise to be retained in the Church, as most agreeable with the institution of Christ." All those holy and learned men who have succeeded them, whose praise with theirs is in all the Churches, both at home and abroad, after a full discussion of the subject, and after every argument that can be brought against it has had its attentive hearing, and strict examination, are unanimous in approving the decision to which their |