New Testament, is there a direction to baptize in the name of the Father or the Holy Ghost, nor any allusion to baptism in his name, unless John the Baptist's ceremony can be considered so.

Jesus Christ, indeed, told his Disciples (Acts i. 5), "John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost," and we find the promise literally fulfilled. We also find frequent reference to baptism, but never to baptism in the name of the Father. In Rom. vi. 3, St. Paul asks, "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?" that is, into the belief of his doctrines, as their truth was attested by his death. In 1 Cor. i. 13, the same writer asks, “Is Christ divided? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?" obviously drawing the inference, that they were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and in his name only. In the same Epistle, x. 1, 2, St. Paul says, "Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea." This latter text has given a handle which has been unsparingly used, in opposition to the doctrine of Trinity; but as it does not immediately apply here, we shall advert to it under another and more appropriate head.

Now, we admit our strict disbelief that ever Jesus Christ gave any such directions as to the mode of baptism contained in the words which we have inclosed in brackets [in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost], and our firm conviction, that it is one of those "pious frauds" which were resorted to in the early ages of the church, for the purpose of bolstering up the Heathen doctrine of a plurality of persons in the Godhead.

In addition to these reasons for expunging the expression from, and for rejecting it as "Scripture given by inspiration of God," we think, and believe, that if Jesus Christ had given such an express direction to the Apostles, they would have obeyed it; of which we not only do not find evidence that they did, but we do find distinct evidence that they did not. On these grounds, we do confidently reject the words in question as portions of Holy Writ. Thus, we submit, that the omission of these words, gives to the passage, what we consider the surest test of authenticity, namely, consistency with all other Scripture;

and also takes away the charge from the Apostles, of not obeying the express directions of their Lord and Master. It should then stand thus, "Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them, teaching them to observe all things," &c. which is a direction that was implicitly obeyed by his Apostles, to whom it was given.

We are aware, that if an expression be once admitted to be of divine inspiration, it is no argument to show that it has not been repeated in other places of Scripture. We do not rest our reading of the text in question, upon the mere circumstance of there being no other place in Scripture where the names of the three persons in the Trinity are expressly given connectedly together; but we do rest our belief of our correctness, on the absurdity which must follow its being retained,—that it never was acted upon by the Apostles, who must have been aware of it, if it had really been spoken by Jesus Christ.

BALLYMENA, Feb. 1827.

THE CHRISTIAN PIONEER.

GLASGOW, March 1, 1827.

N. B.

WE have, this month, the painful duty of announcing to our readers, the death of the Rev. JOHN EVANS, LL. D. This event took place on the 25th January, in the 60th year of his age. We recur with a feeling of melancholy satisfaction, to the communication with which he favoured our Magazine, No. 5, page 161; and we have pleasure in recollecting, that our efforts to uphold the great doctrines of the Reformation, met with his approbation. We had indulged the expectation, agreeably to his own expressed intentions, that we should occasionally have received further communications from him; but it has pleased that Providence, whose measures are all founded in wisdom, to disappoint our hopes, and to call our friend to himself. Dr. Evans's was a useful, active, and, we believe, happy life. He had been assiduously engaged in the instruction of youth nearly thirty years, and published several works highly calculated for the improvement and rational pleasure of the rising generation. But this, his "favourite pursuit," he never" suffered to interfere with the duties of the minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ." For five and

thirty years, he filled the office of Pastor to the General Baptist Congregation, Worship-Street, London, and was ever ready to assist his brethren in the ministry, in other occasional services, to diffuse Christian truth and charity. Even after he was deprived, by a lingering disease, of the use of the lower parts of his body, still he desisted not from his ministerial labours. His sons carried him into the house of prayer, and those who heard the fervency of his exhortations against intolerance, and in favour of Gospel benevolence, would never have imagined that he was not in complete possession of all the powers of his frame. Though the body gradually wasted, the intellectual fire still burned brightly; and to the closing hour of his mortal pilgrimage, Dr. Evans exhibited a cheering example of the efficacy of a pure and benevolent faith, in overcoming the ills to which flesh is heir, and of enabling its possessor to view with calm serenity and devout resignation, the dispensations of the God of love. Dr. Evans and his family had a severe loss, a few years since, in the death of a beloved son, destined to the ministry, and who had given promise of excellence and usefulness. "The loss of relatives and friends," as Dr. Evans observes, "comes over us like a dense cloud, flinging a deep and lengthened shadow over terrestrial enjoyments. It is a moral earthquake, agitating the soul to its centre, but through a Divine blessing, rendering it susceptible of the best impressions. Under these heart-rending dispensations, we quit our hold of the things of time and sense, and meditate on the everduring bliss of eternity. We welcome the tidings of immortality." Dr. Evans was well prepared for death, for it had long been the subject of his frequent meditations and pulpit teachings. In his dedication of his "Tracts, Sermons, &c." he remarks to the friend to whom it is addressed, dated July 8, 1825, "We have been long and felicitously connected. Our day is drawing to a close. Soon we shall be laid not far apart, in the silent tomb. But death is only a temporary separation. We part, to meet again in a region whence 'painful farewells' are excluded. The delicious fruits of Revealed Religion, ripe and matured, thick clustering on the tree of life, we hope to gather in a better world, uncontaminated by the ravages of the last foe."

The Sketch of the Denominations of the Christian World, was Dr. Evans's most celebrated work. The

fifteenth edition, we believe, is lately announced. It is a publication, we think, richly meriting perusal, and one which has been productive of extensive good, in softening down the asperities of contending parties. Its "Sequel," too, cannot be read, we think, without loosening the hold which bigotry has over the minds of too many religious professors. Dr. Evans's great aim, indeed, was to show mankind that "the end of the commandment, is charity out of a pure heart," and in that object, he was, we trust, eminently successful. Dr. Evans published, also, a letter to Dr. Hawker on General Redemption. This publication was happily, by the blessing of God, "the means of rescuing an individual from self-destruction, whose mind had been harassed by the doctrines of Election and Reprobation." This is an important fact, strikingly illustrative of the superior moral and benevolent effects of Christian Unitarianism, compared with reputed Orthodoxy. It "is matter of fact relating to error itself, not to the persons who maintain it, therefore its mention is no breach of candour or charity. Spare the heretic, but not the heresy. Had an attention been paid to this dictate of genuine Christianity, the dungeons of the Inquisition would never have been excavated, nor the fires of martyrdom blazed in Smithfield," nor certain clauses of the Athanasian Creed had existence, nor intolerance disfigured the deeds of professed Christian and Protestant churches.

Whilst thus bearing our testimony to the Christian excellence of one of our Instructors, we cannot forbear also recording our grateful recollections of another of our revered Teachers, GEORGE JARDINE, Esq. Professor of Logic in the University of Glasgow. Full of years and honours, this venerable man departed this life on the 23d January, aged 85. It is a Scripture declaration, "Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man;" and we know no one, to whom those who have enjoyed the benefit of his instructions, have more gladly paid these marks of deference and respect. For ourselves, we remember with pleasure, the improvement we derived from the teachings of "that old man eloquent," and we are confident, that no one who marked his faithful discharge of the duties of his important station, the kindness which distinguished his behaviour to his students, the deep interest he evinced in their improvement, and the benevolent joy which beamed on his countenance, at the

efforts of opening intellect, can dwell upon his memory, without feelings of gratitude and veneration. We cannot form a better wish for his successor, than that the mantle of Elijah may fall upon Elisha.

In addition to these respected individuals, we have also to notice the decease, on the 10th January, of Dr. JOHN JONES. His laborious and valuable life has also come to a close, but his labours still survive. His interesting and original works on Theology, his Greek Lexicon, and his defence of Christianity in reply to that curious work— "Not Paul, but Jesus"-will cause him long to be remembered, and be productive of good to his fellow-creatures, whilst he is gone to his reward.

We cannot close our remarks on these distinguished individuals, more appropriately, we think, than with the following lines by that ornament of her sex and of Christian Unitarianism, Mrs. Barbauld:

When life as opening buds, is sweet,
And golden hopes the fancy greet,
And Youth prepares his joys to meet,-
Alas! how hard it is to die!

When just is seized some valued prize,
And duties press, and tender ties
Forbid the soul from earth to rise,-
How awful then it is to die!

When, one by one, those ties are torn,

And friend from friend is snatched forlorn,
And man is left alone to mourn,-

Ah then, how easy 'tis to die!

When faith is firm, and conscience clear,
And words of peace the spirit cheer,

And visioned glories half

appear,

'Tis joy, 'tis triumph then to die.

When trembling limbs refuse their weight,
And films, slow gathering, dim the sight,
And clouds obscure the mental light,-
'Tis nature's precious boon to die.

We have sincere pleasure in saying, the attendance on the Sabbath-day Unitarian worship at Carluke, has been so steadily increasing, that the Congregation there, have opened a subscription to erect a Chapel. A considerable sum has already been raised, and we trust that in our next Number, we shall be able to announce the time when the foundation-stone will be laid. We shall be happy to receive Donations, towards the accomplishment of this desirable and important object.