Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-03-31
COMMUNICATIONS.
For the Telegraph.
Monkton, March gath, 1886.

vi IuS AClCS
THE BAPTISM OR THE LITTLE In
QUIRER." This is the title of neat lit
tie volume, written by w. Jewell, of
Philadelphia, and published by the Mas
sachusetts S. S. Union. 1t was designed
for, and is admirably adapted to the capa-
cities Of juvenile readers, and is we'll cal
culated to lead the young inquirer to
correct understanding of the ordinance of
Christian baptism. Another thing which
adds in no small degree fothe value ofthe
book, is the clear illustration which it con-
tains Of the nature and necessity efregen-
Grafton, without which no one is qualified
either for place in heaven, or for prop
er use Of the ordinances Of the gospel
The following passages will give the read
er some idea Of the work. Charles SIN
gleton was the Little Inquirer, who thus
addressed his pious mother:
Tell me, mother, if Mr. Edgar's three
sons, who were taken, last Sabbath after.
noon, to the church, and sprinkIed with
water out Of large stone bason, have
been baptized! and if they have. whether
they have got new hearts ?-because ia
Their told us the Bible speaks of only one
! kind of baptism; and that was covering
the whole body with water; and remem-
Der he said we must 60 and confess our
sins to God, and repent, and have new
heart, before we could be baptized am
sure do not know how it is; for there is
Henry Edgar, who is a little baby, and
cannot talk, yet he was baptized; how
did he confess his sins! Indeed | should
not think he had done any sins to be sorry
for; and as for Richard, l asked him, when
he told me he had been to the church to
get baptized, if he had repented, and he
laughed me in my face, and said, What
do you mean by repented? You, my
dear mother, have always said, it was a
very solemn thing to be baptized, but Rich
ard Edgar is not solemn; he laughs, and
talks and plays, just as he ever did: do
you think he has got a new hcart?"-pp.
So.
The parents of Charles had not before
thought it duty to direct his attention to
the ordinances Of the gospel, but had
thought it sufficient to impress lis mind
with the great truths more Immediately
connected with the salvation of his soul,
and the influence Of which he must feel,
to be prepared for a proper reception OF
the ordinances. But the inquiries Of this
little son were now to serious, and too ear
ncstly expressed, to be neglected. Mrs
Singleton, therefore, after having sought
direction and assistance in earnest PRAYER
resolved to undertake the responsible task
Of explaining to him the nature and de-
sign of baptism, and the qualifications
which entitle to the ordinance. This was
done in a manner calculated to make q
solemn and abiding impression on the
mind. Before entering upon this duty
: Mrs S. thus addressed her beloved child
My dear son, you know very well thai
your parents have always taken pleasure
= in your instruction, and their anxious
; wishes have been that you might love
God above every thing else; and we have
prayed that the Lord would bless you, and
make you one Of his dear children We
| have often told you that You are not to live
in this world forever; AMI that we canno
be happy here nor happy in the mex
world, unless we have Jesus for oul
friend. Now God has told us this in his
, precious word, the Bible; and moreover he
has told us we are all sinners, and thai
unless we love the Lord we never can
come where he is. In his word he di.
reefs US how, and bids US go 10 the Saw.
| Jour of sinners. All these things have
we told you, and many more, because we
love you, and do not wish to be separated
from you; for we may soon die; and then
if we have loved the Lord Jesus, we shall
, meet in heaven, never more to be parted
But if you should die without the love Of
Christ, you cannot 60 to heaven; and as
we trust in the Saviour, and hope to have
! place at the right hand Of God, we should
: make us very unhappy while we stay in
this world, to think Of such separation
S from dear child. AS have before told
} you, your parents are never happier than
when engaged in imparting to you reli.
gious instruction: they always love to an.
swer your questions and l am sorry tina,
? my child should suffer the thought to en-
ter his mind, that hisfather, OF his mother
who profess to love him. would. ever keen
him from the performance of any thing
that would add to his happiness or that
he should suspect they had not been as