unaccompanied with the belief of any grace being communicated by it, I have not thought it necessary to enter at large into a discussion which is seldom raised. What I have said will, I trust, satisfy the candid inquirer that it is a rite, by which Christ has mercifully provided strength for our weakness, that we may be able to resist in the evil day, and to stand in all things perfect."*

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* Eph. vi. 13.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

BAPTISM OF JOHN.

Society of Friends.—Views of Sects concerning John's bap-

tism.—Ancient Jewish usages.—Mosaic rites.—Heavenly

character of John's baptism.-Ends of baptism of Christ.-

Those baptized by John were again baptized.—Testimo-

nies of Fathers.

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Views of the Friends.-Inward testimony.-Literal mean-

ing.-Baptism with the Holy Ghost.-Barclay's objec-

tion.—Nicodemus.-Calvin's interpretation.-Interpreta-

tion of the ancients.

CHAPTER III.

APOSTOLIC PRACTICE.

The Apostles baptized.-Acknowledgment of Lewis, and

Gurney. Practice of Jewish ceremonies.-St. Paul's lan-

guage to the Corinthians.-Baptism of the Apostles.

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One baptism.-Putting on of Christ.-Text of St. Peter.-

Baptism of Converts.-Relic of Judaism.-Material ob-

servance.-Visible instruments of grace.-Ancient prac-

tice.-Sects.

CHAPTER V.

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ORIGINAL SIN.

Pelagius. Sentiments of Baptists, and other sects.-Catho-

lic doctrine.-Evidence of our fallen condition.-Barnes.

-Many and all.-Death of Christ for all.-Silence in

sacred narrative.-Job.-David.-Ancient Fathers.

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CHAPTER VI.

NECESSITY OF BAPTISM.

Anglicans.-McIlvaine and Onderdonk.-Presbyterian Con-

fession.-Proof.-Baptist interpretations.-Pangs of new

birth.-Twofold regeneration.-Judge Rush.-Ancient

Fathers.-Apostolic commission.-Lot of unbaptized per-

sons-Of children. -Misquotation by McIlvaine.-Opinion

of St. Augustin.

CHAPTER VII.

EFFECTS O F BAPTIS M.

Views of the Sects.-Changes in Book of Common Prayer.—

General view.-Catholic faith.-Scriptural proofs.-Ob-

jections. Testimonies of Fathers. Regeneration.-

Feigned dispositions.-Character impressed.

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93

CHAPTER VIII.

ORIGIN OF BAPTISTS.

Muncer.-Storck.-Leyden. -Mode of baptism. - English

Baptists.-Pretensions of Baptists.

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CHAPTER IX.

BAPTISM OF INFANTS.

Opinions of Sects.-Scriptural proofs of Infant baptism.-

Practice of the Apostles.-Testimonies of the Fathers.-

Decrees of Popes and Councils.-Anglican appeal to

Church tradition.-Testimony of Taylor.-Peculiar views

of Tertullian and St. Gregory of Nazianzum.-Instances

of Adult baptism.-Objection from ancient practice of

giving the Eucharist to children answered.-Recapitula-

tion of Proofs.-Infants baptized by all the Eastern

Sects.

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CHAPTER X.

MODES OF BAPTISM.

Immersion common to Baptists, Campbellites and Mor-

mons.-Principles of Baptists, Presbyterians, Anglicans

and Methodists.-Slight sprinkling.-Catholic principles

and usages.—Burial in baptism.—Scriptural allusions.—

Baptism a laver.-End of baptism.—Ancient modes of

baptizing. Testimonies of Fathers.-Tertullian, St. Cy-

prian, Pope Cornelius.-Canons of Councils.-Facts.-

Baptism of the sick.-Proof drawn from necessity of

baptism.-Baptists suffer the sick to die without bap-

tism.-First Baptists rebaptized by persons themselves

baptized in infancy by infusion.-Custom of the Greeks.—

Causes of change of discipline.-Indecency of immersion. 148

CHAPTER XI.

MEANING OF THE TERM,

BAPTIZE.

Classical meaning, primary and secondary.-Examples.-

Hebrew Hellenistic usage.—Examples from the Septua-

gint. Figurative meaning.-New Testament examples.—

Mode of John's baptism.-Use of the Fathers.

Baptism of 3,000.-Jailer.-Cornelius.-Disciples at Ephe-

sus.-Eunuch.-Presumptions.-Divine voucher.

CHAPTER XIII.

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DISPOSITIONS FOR BAPTIS M.

Infants need none.-Adults must believe all revelation.-

Scrutiny.-Apostolic Symbol.-Law of God.-Renuncia-

tion of Satan.-Impression of character.-Preservation of

grace.

CHAPTER XIV.

CEREMONIES OF BAPTIS M.

Cure of the deaf and dumb man.-Questions.-Breathing.-

Sign of the Cross.-Imposition of hands.-Salt.-Exor-

cisms. Stole.-Symbol.-Lord's Prayer.-Ephpheta.-

Saliva.—Anointing.—Nudity.—White robe.—Light.

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