this, the children of God are made||tized"—that children cannot believe, manifest. He that doeth righteous- and consequently should not be bapness, is righteous-and hereby we tized. This is one of those specious. can assure our hearts that we love God, if we keep his commandments, and do those things which are pleasing in his sight. Baptism. On this subject, we have something to say to our readers; and in what we have to say, we shall endeavor to speak plainly, so that we can be generally and fully understood. arguments to which people are often obliged to resort, for the want of better reasons to support their doctrines. There is no authority in the Holy Scriptures for saying, that we must believe before we are baptized. The Bible contains no such declaration. It is right that adult persons should be required to believe before they are baptized; and we should consider it wrong in any minister of the gospel to admit an adult person to the holy ordinance of baptism, without declaring his convictions of the truths of the gospel, professing repentance toward God, and a determination to serve him. But these terms and conditions cannot be required of children, because they are incapable of performing We conceive, that the children of all baptised parents, are proper subjects of baptism; because, in the first place, parents that have been baptised, are entitled to the baptism of their children, as one of the privileges of the covenant into which they have entered through baptism; and, in the second place, because Jesus Christ has made an atonement for the original sins of them. And this incapacity in chilchildren, that have never committed dren of performing what is required actual transgressions, and purchas- in adult persons, is no reason, why ed for them, the right of being we should exclude them from the admitted into his kingdom. For blessings and privileges of Christ's these reasons, we consider it our du- Covenant. Children were included ty to baptise all children which are in the covenant which God made presented to us for that purpose, by with Abraham and his posterity.— parents or sponsors who have been Under that covenant, children, as baptised, and are willing to assume well as adult persons, were circumthe obligations required in our Litur-cised, and that too, in obedience to a gy: and if we were to refuse to bap- positive divine command. Now, if tise any children, thus presented, we it was proper for children to be cirshould consider ourselves as directly cumcised under the old dispensation, violating the command of our Divine it is also proper that they should be Master: "Suffer the little children baptised under the new; for we to come unto me, and forbid them have no order under the New Testanot, for of such is the kingdom of ment, depriving children of the reheaven." ligious privileges which were granted them under the Old Testament. And as long as we can find no such order But we are often told, that in the Bible we are required first to "believe," and afterwards to be "bap-in scripture, we conceive, that they are entitled to the right of baptism;||ren of the Arabs or the Hottentots. and we have no scriptural authority When we have our children baptizfor withholding from them, this right.ed, we enter into the plan, and use This popular objection, therefore, that the means of salvation, which the children should not be baptized, because they cannot believe, is entirely groundless. We might as well say, that they cannot be saved, before they have believed and are baptized, for Christ says, "He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved." gospel proposes-we perform an act of obedience to God; and in this act, we dedicate ourselves and children to his honor and glory, and in this, we think, there is great use. We consider baptism essential to salvation; and notwithstanding all that can be urged against it, we say in our church, "that baptism is necessary, and that grace is thereby offered; and that children are to be baptized, who are, by such baptism, dedicated to God, and made pleasing to him."-Augsburgh Con. IX. Art. Some people, who are opposed to the baptism of children, say, that they can see no use in it. They view it as an idle ceremony, and they sometimes ask us, whether the sprinkling of a little water on the face of a child will save it? We answer, no; but at the same time We cannot agree with those who we say, that it is every parent's duty reject infant baptism; because we to dedicate his children to God, in view it as an ordinance of God, the way of his appointment. We which we are solemnly bound to obdo not say, that baptism is a saving serve. We consider it a holy sacraordinance-but we do say, that it is ment, which Jesus Christ has instian ordinance which God has appoint-tuted for our own benefit, and the ed for our use—that it is our duty to salvation of our children; and we use it as a means of grace, and not cannot conceive how parents, who to set ourselves up as judges, whe-feel an interest in the spiritual welther it is a necessary and useful ordinance, or not—it is enough for us to know, that God deems it necessary for us, and has commanded us to observe it. But suppose the ceremony of sprinkling the face with I water, cannot save the soul; can this exonerate any one from the duty of obeying what God has expressly from a valuable friend, containing required in his word? Besides, there very cheering information as to the is great use in having our children progress of the Truth, in North Cabaptized. By means of this holy rolina. Our synod in that state, has ordinance, they are introduced into been very active in adopting such the covenant of the Lord. By bapmeasures as are calculated to protism, they are brought nigh to God; years past. And, in defiance of opmote the cause of Christ, for some without it, they remain in a heathen-position from the children of darkish state, just as much as the child-llness, we learn, that different districts fare of their children, can suffer them to grow up like heathens, without the benefit of christian baptism. Selected. PROGRESS OF THE TRUTH IN N We have lately received a letter Was Luther an Absolute Predestinarian, &c. 93 are gradually supplied with the prea-|| series of numbers which we publishched gospel. ed in the first and second volumes of the Intelligencer, upon this subject. Whoever reads them attentively, must be convinced at once, that Luther was not an absolute predestinarian. It was our intention to publish this masterly investigation as it appeared in the Intelligencer, and which was furnished us, by the late Rev. Dr. Endress, in a separate volume; but for want of a sufficient number of subscribers to defray the necessa One of our young men, who was prepared for the service of Jesus Christ, at Gettysburg, has lately been located at Lexington, Davidson county, and we are informed, at a late communion season, many persons were deeply impressed. Our correspondent says, that many respectable persons are turning their attention to the all-important subject of religion, although they were heretofore careless and unconcerned, whilst||ry expenses, we were compelled to our young brother is received every where, with marked attention, and affectionate regard. He has been very successful, in establishing a Bible class, which is well attended by young and old. That great auxiliary, in our war with satan, sin and error, the Sunday school, has also been introduced, although it was deemed impracticable. Our young brother, explained the nature of the institution, and proved so satisfactorily, that the greatest advantages result from it, that several gentlemen of wealth and influence, who never took an active part in any religious operations, have enlisted under the banners of Jesus Christ, and now not only earnestly upon some occasions, recommend the Sunday school system, but actually visit families in order to induce them to send their children to the Sunday school. abandon the project. We have however, a few copies of the Intelligencer, containing it, on hand, and should be pleased to loan them, or dispose of them at the subscription price, to any person, desirous of being convinced, that Luther did not teach and inculcate the doctrine of election and reprobation, but that he was much opposed to it. He was not, however, an Arminian, " for the Arminians are a party who seceded from the Calvinists, and adopted sentiments on the subject, in some degree resembling those of the Lutherans, but going beyond them, as men will for the most part do, when flying off from an extreme in opinion."-Ib. SUNDAY CONVERSATION. Mr. Editor-Whether the propen Very important business, relative sity arises from malice, or solely from love of amusement, I am unato the church of Christ, and espe- ble to say; but certain it is, that I cially in reference to our own desti- have always taken pleasure in wittute brethren, was transacted at a late meeting of the synod. As soon as the minutes shall reach us, we will furnish our readers with a synopsis.-[Evan. Luth. Intelligencer. nessing those little failings which are not unfrequently found among the day, at the close of the morning sergood and kind hearted. Last Sunvice, as I chanced to follow in the train of a small family party, on their way from church, it was my fortune WAS LUTHER AN ABSOLUTE PRE- to overhear their comments upon the DESTINARIAN? various subjects, suggested by what We have lately been desired to they had seen and heard. The group shew, that Luther was not an abso-consisted of an elderly gentleman, of Jute predestinarian. We thought the grave and formal carriage, accompaquestion had been put to rest, by allnied by his wife, a motherly perso nage of about sixty, who was sup-singing requires some looking to ported on her left by a girl and boy That fellow in the front of the galof about sixteen, and a lady who ap-lery, opens his mouth like a crocopeared to have reached the meridian dile. of her charms. The imagination of the reader must assign the shares of the conversation to the respective proprietors. A good sermon; a very good sermon, wife. It ought to be good, my dear, for it has worn well. I have heard it two or three times before. I wish, papa, we might have something interesting-I am tired to death of sin and morality. Pray, sister, did you see that woman in the pew next to ours, with the great black riband on her bonnet, like a thunder cloud? She means to have mourning on her bonnet, if no where else. See her? I guess I did; or rather I saw her sleeves, like a fat man in a hammock-puffing out with twenty yards of gros de Naples. She is old enough to wear her grandmother's damask. Poor woman! She thinks Bishop's sleeves are all the fashion. Hush, child, she is a worthy good woman; she was a Jones, and her mother was a Carter. When I lived in Boston five and forty years ago, come next November, she lived in a house next to ours, with a great green door, and a lion's head upon the knocker, so that she's no chicken now. Her father was a little weasel faced old man, with a white wig, and a cane taller than he was, who used to keep a shop down by the market, and kept it till the day of his death; and his wife looked as if death had forgot her; she did go off, however, one day, in a fit of parallels. Paralysis, woman, paralysis. So you say, my dear-but the doctor told me what it was, when I stood by at the time. "Mrs. (said he; he was a pleasant man,) the old lady has got her walking papers." Well, well, let her rest. Our Yes, papa, and screams like a northwester through a hen-coop. Don't interrupt me, child-I say something must be done to put a stop to these new tunes, or we may as well dance jigs as pray. Why, papa, the first tune was a beautiful one-it was Auld Lang Syne. Old long what? Old Bangor was worth a dozen of it. Pray, sister, did you see cousin Polly come sailing up the broad isle, in the middle of the long prayer ? Yes, indeed, I saw her, and so did every one else, or she would have been much disappointed. But I did not notice her much, for I was laughing at the old woman by the pulpit, whose false curls got adrift, and hung about her face like hop-vines. My dear, did you see how sad Sally locked? I will lay a dol lar she has lost a beau. Poh! Mother, what business has such an old woman as she is, with a beau ? Some business, child, I should think; for she has had one, off and on, for the last twenty years, to my certain knowledge. How you talk, mother! If a young lady looks sad, it follows of course, that she has lost a beau. She was mourning for her sins. She and you might join forces, sister, and cry in company. You are, as near as I can judge, about of an age. Papa, I don't want to go to meeting this afternoon-it is too hot and tiresome. Hot and tiresome, or not, go you shall-I'll not leave you at home, to be turning up Jack, and disturbing the neighborhood, while I am engaged in devotion. Heigh day! there goes the toe of my shoe! Hang these infernal side-walks, with their points Lutheran Church at Easton, (Pa.)—Notices. jutting out like bagnets! Those rascally surveyors shall alter 'm, or I'll know why not; tut, tut! My dear, my dear, don't be put out by so trifling an accident, and on Sunday too! Trifling! If I had stubbed my head off, you would have thought it more trifling yet. Trifling your toes feel very cleverly, I suppose. Trifling! Tom! you rascal! you jade! have done giggling, this in stant! Ha, reverend sir, good morning to you. A fine day. This warm weather is very fine for the grass. You gave us an excellent sermon this morning, sir. You wiped up the heretics admirably, sir, admirably. I am glad, sir, that it suited you ;| and hope that it may be the means of doing good, especially that part of it which related to anger. No doubt it will, sir; I observed my neighbor, you know, who kept his head down, while you were on that point. Good morning, sir. Wife, you did not forget, I trust, to put on the onions for dinner. At this moment, the party entered their own doors, and I went my way musing on the effects of devotional exercises. [Portsmouth Journal. 95 coin of the United States; the names of the officers of the general, state, and borough governments, &c. The building will be of brick, byfeet, and will be an ornament to the place.-[Easton (Pa.) Cent. June 4. MISSIONARY SOCIETY. A quarterly meeting of the Board of Directors of the Domestic Missionary and Education Society of the Lutheran Church in the State of N. York, will be held in St. Paul's Church, Schoharie, on Tuesday the 3d instant, at 2 o'clock P. M. Iu the evening, divine service may be expected in the church. WESTERN CONFERENCE. The next meeting of the Western Conference, will be held in the Evangelical Lutheran Church at Brunswick, Rensselaer county, on Wednesday, the 8th of September next, at 10 o'clock A. M.. - HARTWICK SEMINARY. The annual meeting of the Board of Trustees, will be held at the Seminary, on Tuesday, the 31st inst. The annual examination of the theological students, will be held on The corner stone of the new Lu- Monday the 30th inst. In the evetheran church about being built inning, an Eulogy, on the Rev. H. this borough, was laid on Monday MELLER, deceased, will be delivered last, with the usual solemnities, in by the Rev. J. SENDERLING. Sevethe presence of a large concourse of ral dissertations, on theological and people. The reverend clergy of the borough, the Rev. Mr. Yeager, of religious subjects, will also be read Allentown, and the Rev. Mr. Miller by students of the Seminary. of Bucks county, participated in the ceremonies. In the stone were deposited, Documents in the English, German and Latin languages, giving a history of the origin and progress of the evening, the annual exhibition of the church down to the present time; the Philo-Phronean Society. copies of the Bible, Lutheran Hymn Book, and Catechism, in English and German; specimens of the current The annual examination of the academical students, will be held on Tuesday the 31st instant; and in EVAN. LUTH. SYNOD, N. Y. |