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diately preceding: "It hath been declared unto me,” “ that there are contentions among you," "that every one of you saith, I am of Paul, and I of Apollos, and I of Cephas, and I of Christ." Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were we baptised in the name of Paul?—from which it is very obvious, that the apostle was reproving them for the divisions in the church, and tells them they were ignorant of the meaning of that baptism which they had received; that they were all baptised in the name of Christ, Paul and Apollos being only "the ministers by whom they believed," as he says, continuing the subject in the next chapter. That Paul was sent rather to "preach than baptise," (as he says himself,) is very probable; because, in his extensive travels and labours to teach the gospel, it was impossible for him to have baptised all his converts; but that he did not disapprove of baptism is evident in his baptising some persons himself, and in his sanctioning by his presence and instructions the administration of this ordinance by others.—Acts xix. 1—6; where we think water baptism was evidently intended, and chap. xv. verses 15 and 33, &c.

Mr. Mason further contends, that water baptism could not be meant in the command of Christ, because he says,

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They that believe and are baptised, shall (positively) be saved, not excepting Simon Magus, for he believed and was baptised; and it is well known, that thousands who have been so baptised, produce not the fruits of the gospel in their lives, but live in all the luxuries of sensuality." But, we answer, although they have been so baptised, they have not so believed, and herein is Mr. M.'s misunderstand

ing of this text. Believed is a word used in Scripture in two senses. In the words of our Saviour alluded to, it means that saving faith which regenerates the heart and disposes us to accept of him as our Redeemer; in other places it means, simply, an assent of the mind to any truth that may be offered to its consideration, as in the case of Simon Magus, of whom it is said, that he believed and was baptised, but his "heart was not right in the sight of God;" and of other converts it is said, in the same place, where this is related, "they had not received the Holy Ghost," only they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus. In the nineteenth chapter of Acts, Paul asks the disciples of Ephesus, If they had received the Holy Ghost since they believed, and they answered that they had not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

Mr. M. talks as if he believed that his opponents thought the mere washing with water were of itself sufficient to salvation, and indignantly asks, "Are there any among the sons of Adam so replete with credulity as to believe that water, however and by whomsoever administered, is possessed of such soul-redeeming efficacy?" We answer, No-we do not believe any such thing—we use the ceremony of baptism to show our obedience to an express command of Christ, than which nothing can be more plainand to express our desire to partake of the benefits of his death for ourselves and our children.

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BIBLICAL CRITICISM.

In the Port Folio for March, 1816, a writer inquires "By what means was Mark enabled to convey to us in his gospel, c. 14, v. 39, the exact words of our Saviour's prayer in the garden, when the three disciples had fallen asleep, and himself had previously gone to a distance from them?"

A little attention to this and the parallel passages in Matthew and Luke, will show that there is no difficulty in the explanation.

Matthew says: Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter, and the two sons of Zebedee.-And he went a little farther, and prayed, &c.-And he cometh and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What! could ye not watch with me one hour?-The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away again the second time, and prayed, &c. And he came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.

Mark says: And he went forward a little, &c. And he cometh and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou! couldst thou not watch one hour? The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. And when he returned again, he found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy, &c.

Luke says: And he was withdrawn from them about a

stone's cast, and kneeled down and prayed. And when he rose up from prayer, he found them sleeping for sorrow.

The evangelist John does not particularly mention the circumstance. From the account of the other three it appears, that the Saviour was removed at the time that he uttered the words in question, “about a stone's cast" "forward a little"-a "little farther." The distance then might not at all preclude their hearing-especially as it is said, “He was in an agony," and prayed “ earnestly."

sorrow-and be

But the objection alleged is—the disciples were asleep. Now it is not said that they slept the whole hour of the Saviour's absence. It was night, the usual time of repose -they "watched with him" as long as they were able, as their compassionate master testifies. "The spirit was willing," but their eyes were heavy with fore he returned they had fallen asleep. The words in question were probably pronounced before they were thus overcome; and if but indistinctly heard at that time, they were more clearly recalled to their memories, when they had received that Spirit of Truth, whom, on the same night, he had told them he would send to them, "to bring all things to their remembrance whatsoever he had said to them."

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THE GARDEN OF WEDLOCK.

I SPENT an evening lately in a company where a marriage, which is expected to take place very soon, became the subject of conversation. It was discussed with so much interest that it remained on my mind, after I went to bed, until I fell asleep, when it occasioned the following dream, which is at your service, if you think it be worth telling to the world.

I thought I stood on an eminence, which commanded a view of an immensely large plain, surrounded by a wall of uncommon height and durability, and laid out in walks in the manner of a garden, though but little cultivated, excepting one broad avenue, which glowed with the brightest verdure, and whose margin delighted the senses with every luxury of fruits and flowers.

The entrance to the garden was by a gate, corresponding in size to the wall, but highly ornamented with festoons of the most beautiful blossoms of all the seasons, of spring, of summer, and of autumn. The entablature was enriched with golden emblems of peace, prosperity, and honour; and in the midst was written, in large gilt capitals, THE GARDEN OF WEDLOCK.

As I gazed in admiration of the fascinating appearance of the gate, I saw a prodigious crowd of persons, of both sexes, and of all ages, impatiently pressing towards it— they came along, dancing and singing, and putting on the

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