dual, would be a new thing under the Sun. Your large deliberative bodies are the last to fall in with any reform, or any new, benevolent plan. Look at the history of reformations-of the Missionary, Bible, and Tract societies. Look at the history of Sabbath schools, and the improvements made in the management of education. The fact is, I trust much more to the inevitable effects of INFANT, AND SABBATH SCHOOLS, to evince and force upon the Church the adoption and practice of my principles, than to any arguments I can advance, or any interference of ecclesiastical bodies. These schools are making a grand experiment, which will revolutionise the Church, and bring her to know and practice the Statute book of her infinitely wise Legislator. Shall we as ecclesiasticks always be content to march in the rear, and leave it to individuals, and benevolent, voluntary Associations, to originate, and mature every good thing which is to bless the Church and the world? Are these Associations running ahead of the Bible? I believe not. But they are teaching us to understand the Bible. Let us study it, and take it for our guide, and we will be able to enlighten, and accelerate the mighty movements of those Associations; and help to usher in that glorious state of things when the Children of the Covenant shall no longer be excluded from the Church of God, or treated as little aliens, and infidels. Yours &c. LETTER 2. Common ground stated—The relation in which Baptiz ed Children stand to the Church—MembershipScriptural view of it. DEAR SIR: IN discussing subjects, on which there may be difference of opinion, it is of importance to ascertain, in the first place, how far the parties may agree. It appears that if I should have opponents on the subject under consideration, I may look for them not only among my Baptist but also my Pædobaptist brethren. The latter and I, it is presumed will agree on the following general principles. 1. That the Church of God was organized in the family of Abraham-that he and his infant seed were members, in their successive generations— that the charter, or Constitution of the Church remains unaltered respecting those who were members, and the privileges they were to enjoy. 2. That the distinguishing ordinances of the New Testament are no more holy than the distinguishing ordinances of the Old Testament, and that Baptism is as holy as the Lord's Supper... 3. I hope my Pædobaptist brethren will concede to me the following principle of interpreting the word of God; viz. That when God has once Legislated on a subject necessarily requiring his legislation, and he never alters, or repeals the act, it stands forever. For example, I give the case under consideration. The subject of membership in the Church of God, and the rights, privileges and duties of members, are subjects which necessarily require God's explicit and particular Legislation.They are subjects that cannot be left to human wisdom, or prudence. On these subjects, or on some of them God may have legislated only once, and that in the Old Testament, and there can no altering, or repealing act be found in the New Testament-if so, then the ancient law is still in force, and as obligatory as if enacted over again by Christ, or his Apostles. It is a case in which God's positive act cannot be dispensed with, and he has shown that it is essentially necessary by ingrafting it, into the original constitution and law of the Church. I consider it of some importance to have this principle of interpretation conceded and kept in mind. I have found it a common thing to evade direct and decisive authorities from the word of God by such replies as these. "Ah! that is from the Old Testament-it belonged to the ceremonial law-and you are to recollect we are not Jews but Christians." If such replies are always good-always in point, and always worthy the intelligent and ingenuous advocates of God's TRUTH, let us say so. at once and unite with the open rejectors of the Old Testament; if we are not prepared for this, let us not throw one of God's moral, or judicial statutes into the ceremonial and typical law, merely to foil an opponent, or shield ourselves from the sword of the spirit. If membership in the Church, and the law which points out who are members and who not, what are the privileges of members, and when, and how they are to enjoy them, be subjects of ceremonial, or typical import, let the fact be demonstrated. I am persuaded that none of my Pædopabtist brethren will seriously undertake the demonstration,* and therefore I shall consider the principle of interpretation plead for, conceded, and directly applicable to the question respecting the Membership, Rights, and Privileges of baptized Children. Other principles might be mentioned as constituting common ground between me and my Pædobaptist brethren, and which have a direct bearing upon the subject under consideration. But as some few might object to them, they will be brought in as we proceed in the discussion. The RELATION in which baptized children stand to the Church is the first thing to be considered. This relation has been expressed by membership and such children are declared, "Members of the Church," in the language which has been quoted from the Book of Discipline. This language, however plain, and easily understood, when used with *To my astonishment I have found that I was mis taken, and that some of my brethren, attempted the de monstration. respect to a family, or civil community, appears to convey no difinite idea, as used among us, with regard to baptized children." They are members, but we are told they are not "full membersthey are members in part—and members not by their own act, or consent." The precise relation, then, in which they stand to the Church, is yet matter of inquiry. The Scriptures must determine this point. Your attention will be directed to them a few minutes. The Apostle treats the subject explicitly in the following quotations. "For as the body is one and hath many members, and all the mem. bers of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one spirit.* For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office; so we being many are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.f "And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all." "For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones."|| These declarations of the Apostle teach us incontestably the following things. 1. That the Church of Jesus Christ is a com *1 Cor. xii. 12, 13. †Rom. xii. 4, 5. Chap. v. 30. |