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the more readily believe that the rumors you have heard in regard to the people referred to, may not be correct."

This at once opened up a new theme for discussion, and the balance of the evening was employed in its consideration; and as the parties were fairly matched, and both ready to engage in discussion, the remaining portion of the family gathered together in the room, and listened with marked attention to all that was said. Frank was very deeply interested, as he had heard nothing on the subject till to-day; and as he had felt the necessity for a religious life, and had some thoughts of joining the Episcopal Church, in which he had been brought up, he the more gladly shared in the interest of the occasion. We must direct the hearer to the following Chapter for its discussion.

CHAPTER IV.

Ar night the family assembled together; and a few of the neighbors, hearing that the Evangelist had arrived at Radcliffe's, came to the house to enjoy the pleasure of his company, and share in the conversation of the evening.

Frank and Mary sat side by side on the sofa. Aunt Sarah occupied a seat near the door. The Methodist preacher was honored with the old armchair, and the Evangelist sat near him. Thomas Radcliffe welcomed the new guests, and handed each of them seats.

When all were disposed of, and the compliments of the evening passed, the conversations were resumed. All felt a deep interest in the topics discussed, but none more so than Frank Elliott, as he had hitherto never heard any thing on the subject;

and feeling quite alive to all matters pertaining to Christianity, he gladly availed himself of the opportunity of hearing whatever might be said on the occasion; and as the two persons already spoken of were full of the subject, and ready to engage in the discussions of the evening, all were delighted with the prospect of spending an hour or two in hearing them:

The Circuit-rider opened the conversation, and felt strong in the belief that he could carry conviction to the minds of all present, in favor of the views he entertained on the questions discussed. He was somewhat self-confident and dogmatic, and cagerly pressed upon the Evangelist the points at issue.

"I do not think," said he, "that immersion is necessary to fulfill the commands of Christ in regard to baptism, and I am sure that infant baptism was practiced in the times of the Apostles. In the case of the Jailer and his family, were they not all baptized, he and his wife and children? It may be presumed that at least one infant was among them,

and if so, he or she must have been baptized with the other members of the family."

"I am glad," said the Evangelist, "that you have selected this case, as it is the strongest one found in the New Testament, and you have said all that can be said in the four or five assumptions now made. It is worthy of remark, that all that can be urged in regard to this doubtful practice of infant baptism, may be embraced in two or three postulates, and it is certain that no Divine ordinance, either in the Law or the Gospel, was ever established on such premises. The simplest and most unimportant of all the requirements of Heaven-if indeed any of them can be so called-admits of something more explicit than this. Whoever heard of a law, human. or Divine, depending upon implication or inference, which can only be ascertained but by assumed premises and still more doubtful reasonings? It is wonderful to see how long this practice has continued, and how generally it has been observed, considering the sandy foundation on which it rests. Had believer's immersion stood upon such a basis,

the learning and skill displayed in its opposition would long since have consigned it to the 'tombs of the Capulets!' It would have been drowned in the deluge of ink that has been poured over this subject!"

"It is a matter of doubt with me," said the Circuit-rider, "if immersion is at all needed. I do not think that it was ever practiced by the Apostles."

"I don't ask you," said the Evangelist, "for your thoughts on the subject, but for your belief; not for your opinions, but your knowledge. We have almost the unanimous consent of the learned, that it was universally practiced in the times of the Apostles, and for thirteen hundred years subsequently to their day. So taught Dr. Whitby and others, and so practiced the founder of the Methodist Church on several occasions. If you wish to know what can be said in its defense, we refer you to the standard works on the subject."

"I merely spoke of this subject incidentally, and do not wish seriously to discuss it; and as we already have the case of the Philippian Jailer

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