The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-03-11
FOH rur CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
Manners of the Pew,
No. XII.

No. All.
The other Sacrament is baptism. This
Sacrament is commonly supposed to con-
Germ no one but the minister and the par
ties to be baptized. 1t is very common
for the congregation 10 sit and look on
with sort of idle curiosity during the
entire performance. Especially is this
the case with infant baptism. 1t is very
common to make the mistake of suppos-
ing that the baby is merely Oa srhibition.
Many parents even make the same mis-
take, if We may judge by the extraOrdi-
nary labor and expense lavished upon the
wardrobe of the infant, for long weeks
before it is presented in the congrega-
ton. Some parents have their children
baptized at home, actually assigning as
reason, that they cannot make the neees-
sary preparation of embroidery and fine
needle-work for public presentation
When viii pride give up its place in the
very ordinances of Gods house? To
my mind, dress of perfect simplicity,
and of spotless white is the most beeOm-
ing dress for an infant presented before
God. The Scriptures represent the
saints of God as clothed in white robes
of spotless purity, and it is said of little
children, ''of such is the kingdom of
heaven. Such dress is also well suit
ed to the Specification of the ordinance
itself. But l throw words away in advo-
eating so simple dress, for among many,
each mother is ambitious to rival some
other on such occasions. The near re-
lations are often more engaged in motto
ing how well the child behaves, than in
praying for Gods blessing upOnit. Suf-
fee it to say that the whole of the exer-
cises connected with baptism constitutes
a part of the worship of'God, and if pro-
perly attended to, is edifying to all who
witness it. As we administer baptism,
the minister gives instruction concerning
the nature of the ordinance, gives a
charge and leads in prayer. These
things are profitable for all the congre-
CATION. And the very act of baptism has
a world of meaning to those who desire
the washing of regeneration and the re
newal of the Holy Ghost" The same
serious and prayerful attention is as ne
cessary in this as in other parts of the
service. There is no place for idle curl
Osity, there is no place for pride and vain
display. The end of the ordinance is
not to glOrify the parent or the subject,
but to glOrify God.
The baptism of infants is not as well
understood in the Church as it should be.
Some regard it as the mere naming of the
child. Others recognize in it the par
ent's vow to train up the child for God.
How much more instructive it is to see
in it the ratification of the covenant, and
the afixing of the seal. 1t doth "signi-
fly and seal our migrating into Christ,
and partaking of the benefits of the COW
enant of grace, and our engagement to
be the Lords"
A sister denomination has given such
undue prominence to baptism, that we
are in danger of giving it too little. 1t
is often crowded into corner, and often
hurried over with indecent haste, and
sometimes it is performed in the midst OF
the noise and the confusion of an assem-
bling congregation, merely for the purpose
of eOonOmizing time. Such habits teach
hepeOple to set light estimate upon the
ordinance. As much prominence is CIV
en- to this Sacrament, by the Scriptures,
as to the other; we should likewise give
it due prominence. A little fidelity on
the part of the minister would make the
Sacraments the most impressive part Of
public worship.
A COUNTRY PASTOR.