Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-09-12
Vol. X.,..Ne. 81.

"0S Certainly intended to Gig
My that the rite should not be performed
upon any of his posterity. unless they DOS
seSsed the same qualification. This is ex-
ac''y the argument Of our antagonists agains,
The tarr'sm OF children but we see a; ORE.
no" little 1t avalIs. The children Of Chris
'ian parents may as well be baptized q, tie
children Of Jewish parents were circ,roo;.
SEQ, WIthou: faith, and without understand.
ing IN regard TO the ceremony imposed u2on
then.
L. Jesus Christ has instituted ordinances
IN his church, | am bound, as a minister Of
The gospel, 10 observe them even though I
may not be able 10 tell ho1o they can bened,
either myself, or the persons to whom thew
are administered. But would ask. were
| the children Of the Jews benefited spiritual.
~ by circumcision ? Ii you say they were
and will tell nae hor, then l will tell YOU
h017 the children Of Christian parents "con
be" prohted by baptism. Or, if you say,
that Unconscious babes" under the law
could not BE benefited by circumcision, then
your argument that children ought not 10 be
baptized, because they cannot be prof;ed bv
baptism, falls 10 the ground: if it proves D.
ny Thing, ii proves by far too much, that
children ought not to have been circumci-
sed. (4)
Although children are insensible Of tho
transaction, and can, therefore, at the time,
derive 70 moral benefit from it, yet reaec-
ton upon it, at Subsequent period, u,ay be
productive of the hapriest effects. TO a
mind seriously disposed, it must be an az
tectlng consideration, that almost as soon
as we entered upon life, we were received
into the church Of the living God, placed
under The dl>pensaticn Of grace, AID conse~
Grated 10 our Creator and Redeeiner. The
situation is evidently calculated 10 awaken
sentiments Of gratitude, and TO call forth our
most lervent wishes, and diIigent endea7-
Ors, that the nercilul intention Of Heaven
with respect 10 Us, may be ACCOMPLISHED
II young person attend 20 the circumslan
c's In which he is laced, he will feel that
he Is not at liberty to choose his own man.
ner OF !!le-to dispose Of himself according
to his own lrA~ure; bat is under engage
ments Which ii viii be his interest 10 fulfil.
and which he cannot violate without great
guilt and i"cxpreS, ibIe danger"
believe, that if the Lord has indeed call.
ed me TO the work Of The ministry, he re-
qMres that l should baptize the infant off:
'ptIng OF pIous parents; and that, therefore,
IN doing this, ! am only performing a duty.
W hIle | admi', that if the Lord has not re-
CURED 1t at my hand, there is a proprirty ia
your inquiry. Is it not verse than wo,k
OF superer0gallOn :" | would take the liber.
~ TO ask, in my turn, if he las REQUIRED ,bj;
at the hand OF his ministers, how much les,
criminal tAan work Of supereroIa;io3 j;
the omission Of it, on the part of those
whose peculiar sentiments YOU advocate
There are "sins OF omission.n as well 9.
. works OF supererogation - and douItrvt
That you will agree with me in maintaining
'"a' white we should guard agains, the Der
Torrance Of the latter. we should bp =, ]-o.t
equally careful that we do not become
c1'r5cabe with the former. (6)
W ny DO Bayti>ts speak a, il the contro-
'efSy between them and peIob}pt>ts were
0'c'ued! You ia e one view Of the subject,
All" take another. Does it not concern me
as much as 1t doe, GA, to hold correct oDjn-
IONS IN reference TO it? Have you anv good
reaso" 10 think that am less homes, or Ie.s
o'ISen', IN my inquiries after ruth, than
0U'9e" w hat greater propriety then is
'"eFe IN your calling upon me 10 renouncc
my oPl"lJAS, and 10 give up nv ptac,ices
lA'n there would be 10 py conduct, were I
10 require this Of you? Are you al all more
authorized 10 ask me, "why | do not re-
a0unce the whole ceremony" Of banti,m
as applied to unconscious babes,n than
I'm TO ask you, why you DO not renounce the
whole ceremony Of immersing adult, who
rave been baptized in their ;n(ancy-or ;r
ou prefer tie term, sprinkIed in the name
u me rather, and Of the Son, and OF lie
7o'y Ghost? If this baptism, is no, ,hc
"OSe9ucnt immersion Of such o.r.ors
worse 'haoa work of supererosa:ion ?" ~
as your Questions rose out Of a commu-
''"''oa i" the Chronicle, l shall send
ory OF this letter to the Editor of that pa.
er, that he may, if he thinks proper, give i!
place in his columns.
Ian, Sir, yours very respectfully,
JAMES DucKHAM>
Chelsea, Aug. q, 1888.