Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-08-18


ages are paid, except at the discretion OF thu
publisher.
The following letter, written to afriend,
will explain itself Shouldn't be perused
with the same candor, and kindness O.
feeling, with which it was manIfestly
written, it may be productive of good-a'
least it can do no harm. Should any one
feel called upon to reply to any part or all
oft the door is open. On account Of the
great length Of the article those portions
which we have deemed least useful are
omitted.
For the Telegraph.
Dear Sister IN Christ:
Iregret that so long a period must
have elapsed since the receipt Of your
friendly letter, before | could command
tune to reply. You say, my sister, that
nv change of sentiments has caused you
to look up the evidence on which you have
rested your faith; and that you are more
convinced than ever that infant baptism is
right. | have examined Romans | It'll, to
which you refer me, and can find nothing
that has any reference to baptism. The
Apostle describes the rejection of the Jews
because Of unbehef, and the calling Of the
Gentiles. OF the Jews he says, for unbe-
lief they were broken of; OF the Gen
tiles, they stand by faith. Can this have
any reference to infants? Are they capa-
hle OF exercising either unbeIief or faith
The chapter contains not a word about
infants or baptism. Psalm vi: II, l8,
Butthe mercy Of the Lord is from ever
lasting TO everlasting, upon them that tear
him. Now here, my sister, is glorious
promise to them that fear God. Are IN
flnts capable Of understanding and prac.
ticino this fear. Are infants capable OF
keepinc covenants, or obeying the COM
mands Of Code If there can be com
mand found in the Bible for infant baptism
the contested point must at once be given
up But I cannot find any. The com
mand Of God is that we should train up
our children in his fear, and teach them
diligently when we 60 out, when we come
10, when we rise up and when we 81!
down, by the way, at all times, and IN al
places. We should impress their tender
minds with knowledge Of God. This
as firmly believe as any one can. be-
lieve his ri ghteousness does descend unto
children's children, and that the Religion:
education and prayers OF pious parent!
will not be lost. We realized the fulfil
ment of this promise in our late revival
Your next quotation is from Gen. lth
Here circumcision was first instituted. -
God calls this an everlasting covenant, ant
in consequence.oftheir obedience he woul'
give them the land Of Canaan for an ever
lasting possession, AMI God chose thu
seal or sign to desi gnate the nation OF tn
Jews from all the heather nations aroun
them. This is Jewish rite. If we ar
bound 10 obey one Of them, by the sam
authority we are required 10 obey all.
is said our Savior abolished these ordlnan
ces mailing them to his Cross: Chrl:
sanctioned the. first gospel baptism by III
own example, and the Holy Ghost say
in 7Enbesians "there is one spirit, eve
asye are called in one hope Of your call
inc. one Lord, one faith one baptism. y
Can infants who are born unholy driu
=
in. that spirit--enjoy that hope-unoe'
stand that callingI
40 rr. ELL . -
You next inquire why ! am so quickI
turned out Of the way. May not probes
ed Christians renounce errors when the
are convinced they have embraced ther
.wi.houtirc irring The dispieasureo churC
aud friends7 ! have not changed IN oil
sentiment Of religion except on the subIe
tofbapism. Here Loonfess my views al
feelings have undergone thorons
change. wish 20 give you a brief a
count Of what led me to an investigate
ofthis subject. More than two yea
since, nv brother from the west present
me q book, which he said contained
lsentiments, written by his pastor Curi'
ity alone induced msto peruse II, as h
never read Baptist author. He ma
this broad assertion, there Is not CO
mand or. example IN the Bible for inf'
baptism. Twas surprised. and flew to 7
Bible; but / could not find what l 7
thought was there. Some months ait
Mr. Judson's sermon on baptism fell u
nv lands Here my attention was az
arrested by finding the same dRclarati
NV Bible Was again my resort -but
vain. Ithcn pursued a course whiel