The New York herald., 1879-02-09

When the fatal moment arrived to take the cover from
the camera the artist said. with cheerful voice,
Now think OF something PLEASANT think Of the girl
you are engaged to-" This was too much for the
poor youth He had just time to say. my girl, IN
deed! She went of with another fellow last evening".
and the picture taken. Though not an entire
success as likeness the photograph gave one the
impression of great decision OF character. There
was light in the eyes and look of determination
about the mouth which. il his rival could catch
glimpse of It, would make him feel that he had tried
dangerous experiment..
ARE ALL INFANTS SAvED2
This was substantially the question discussed last
Monday by the Baptist Ministers Conference The
essayist and SO many of his brethren spoke took
the popular Wow that all infants saved But
what grounds they thus saved? Their sinless
character. it said. Then. OF course it becomes
possible to be saved without faith in Christ for in
fants cannot exercise such faith And If this be pos
sible for infants why should it not be equally
possible for auls-at least adults the heather.
for instance, who heard Of Christi This was
the rock whercon the brethren broke because
they were between IL and another-namely.
faith in the future life every soul
born into the world be saved by nm
exercise of faith in the Saviourand infants cannot
that faith in this fewill they have the OPP
portunity do in the life beyond the gravef And
II infants allowed this opportunity may it not be
granted to adults also2 until. brother de-
clared shall be condemned until he she has
had a chance to accept reject Christ. Christian
physician sends to the HERALD communication on
this important question. which he thinks involves
parental accountability. The Scriptures declare that
the sins of the father will be visited the children
to the third and fourth generations, and every
student physical law knows this to be the fact And
ton, II physically and morally the infant inherits
the procvites Of the parent in this lite, why may
it not carry those proclvties into the next life?
And does not the condition OF the child at birth rest
specifically with the parent? And is not this consis-
tent with the entire freedom of the human mind?
II Gods government was confined to this ife and
the questions involved in the atonement ana the
final Judgment were to be decided here well might
We doubt the justice of God. If any soul is beyond
the reach of Divine influence for good he is lost
being: and whatever soul is brought into harmony
with the Divine WILL either in this life or the next is
saved.
Our correspondent asks who can say that the sal
| vation damnaton of infants and heather is de-
cded in this fe except 80 far a the character Of the
being tends to evil or to good? Win there not be
| growth after death in one the other directon2
But 1t the moral immoral procvites of the being
at death decide the for him in the other life
why may the infant born of parents steeped in
sin still continue throughout all eternity to be
| warning to all beings to come? This, to be
| sure, is agonizing question for parents to
slider, but is not the question of the atonement and
| the salvation OF souls broader question than
| never heard of Christ. is still under moral
| influence, and his tendency may be to a
perfect life; and when he shall stand with all the
myriads of beings who have been born or created be-
fore the great judgment seat of Christ may he not
know for the first time that it was christ who saved
| him? And may not that infant who died in the hor
rible sins of his parents be justly put among those
| irredeemable ones whose whole make up is without
the pale of moral influence? Our correspondent says
| he has seen in this world whose characters wero
SO horribly warped that it will be miracle OF mira
cles il they shall come under Divine influences
| fhar N fe or he fe to He ipk
| they may be used In the government of Goti soIne-
| what as we use criminals against the government
| and peace of society.
1t is comforting thought that when the infants
| Of parents who have lived moral and Christian
| lives, and whose ancestors for generations lived
after the same pattern. when they die that they
| saved by OF the good character Of those
parents and the good influences that meet them on
| the threshold of eternity. II, this Christian
physician thinks, and others think also the sal.
vation OF little ones Is dependent upon the
conduct of the parents before their chdrens birth.
It is high time for parents to be considering the
question in that light and habituating themselves
to think and act in such manner to develop the
best traits in their children.