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birth of Christ, and has been held in dispute and doubt by a large number of learned and pious men ever since they were introduced. It is known, too, that every Greek lexicon in the world defines baptizo immerse, or something equivalent. When this is shown and commented upon by a man of Mr. Campbell's ability with the expressions of the Common Version, such as went down into the water,' came up out of the water," "baptized in Jordan," "baptizing in Enon, near to Salim, because there was much water there," " baptized in the river Jordan," "buried in baptism," and "planted together"-it must tell on the minds of candid men. Success must attend the effort, but the utmost that can be done in opposition is to retard-no remarkable success is expected.

2. The Doctor's second reason for the "remarkable success of this movement" is, that "the apparent zeal of Mr. Campbell for the union of all Christians, misled many well-meaning people.' The Doctor is wide of the mark here it was not Mr. Campbell's apparent, nor his real zeal for the union of Christians, that was so much the secret of the success of this movement, as the sacred doctrine of union enforced by the authority of the Almighty not that misled many well-meaning people," but that led them rightly into one fold, under the one great Shepherd and Bishop of souls. It was the holy prayer of our Lord and Saviour, that believers should be one, as He and his Father are one not that "misled so many well-meaning people," but that led them rightly to unite upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ being the chief corner-stone, under "the faith once delivered to the saints." It was the divine mandate of the Holy Spirit, speaking through Paul, with all the authority of the eternal throne, beseeching them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ all to speak the same thing, to be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the saine judgment, and that there be no divisions among them not that "misled so many wellmeaning people," but that led them rightly to unite upon the law of God, under the name which the Lord gave his people, discarding all human laws and names. This righteous appeal, from these premises, not only reached

the well-meaning, but the good-those who love God and his people-and was a mighty means, under God, in leading them to discard the ridiculous and unlearned disputes of the clergy, and unite under Christ; and this holy sentiment and requirement of the Spirit of God and the prayer of Jesus, is what Dr. Rice not only resists, but teaches men to resist, and fights against with every power of his soul. The Disciples are laboring and praying for this union, and he is opposing it. All heaven and all the good on earth are in favour of union, while all the powers of darkness are opposed to it.

3. The Doctor's third reason for this remarkable success is, that "many were drawn into this movement by the extremely easy and simple way of becoming a Christian, proposed by Mr. Campbell." The Doctor is partly right here, but only right in part. The way of becoming a Christian proposed by Mr. Campbell, or the way in which persons became Christians under the teaching of the apostles, was extremely simple and easy; and what was in its favour more than any system ever approved by Dr. Rice was, that it never failed to make a Christian, and made something else with another name. The prophet, looking down through more than seven centuries at this system, said, the "way shall be so plain that the wayfaring men, though fools, need not err therein." The Lord said of it: "They who seek shall find." In divine encouragement, he said to those whom he would invite: 'My yoke is easy, and my burden is light and, at the close of the holy volume, he says: ever will, let him come.' entirely of grace, of mercy, is, of course, free. So simple is the way, so easy to find, and admission so accessible, that on the day the Lord was seated upon the throne, and sent forth the Spirit to guide the apostles into all truth, on hearing the first announcement of the gospel from the infallible utterance, three thousand inquired the way, and, without a single exception, found it. Not one of them went from the place seeking, or was put off till another day. This never would have been the case without clearer instructions than Dr. R. ever gave seekers. Not a single case is mentioned upon the sacred record of persons seeking the way to the

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Redeemer, or the way to pardon, who did not find it on the first interview with the minister of Christ, and on the same day on which they came in contact. All the tedious processions, such as that called confirmation, that at the anxious seat, or mourner's bench, which result in keeping people seeking, mourning, agonizing and grieving for weeks and years, in the midst of doubts, sometimes driven into despair or insanity, are as unscriptural as Romish penance, and as unreasonable as unevangelical or unscriptural. Who could have believed that the holy, the plain, the easy and infallible way of the Lord should be spoken against, on account of the very fact that ought to commend it to our respect, viz: that it is adapted to the whole people and made accesible to them, and not like some of those blind systems that keep men groping in the dark!

But simple and easy as the way of the Lord is, it made Christians anciently, and does the same now, and nothing else. It never made a Presbyterian since the world was made, nor was one ever heard of till many long centuries of the Christian era had passed away. But Dr. R. is one of the last men who should ridicule any system about an easy way. The easiest way yet heard of is, to sprinkle a few drops of water upon the face of an unconscious infant, in the name of the Trinity, without any faith, any change of heart, experience, spiritual influence, holy impulse, or feeling, to initiate it into Christ, or into his church! Yes, this is the easy way, not to make Christians, for no one was ever made a Christian in this way but to deceive people into the belief that they are in the church of Christ, when they are not-to introduce them into the Presbyterian church-to deceive them when they come to years of responsibility, making them believe that that has been done for them, which none but themselves can do-to "yield themselves" to be servants of God. This is the easy way, not to make Christians, but to get them into the Presbyterian church without being Christians, without regeneration, the new birth, conversion, or any knowledge of what it is. This "

easy way" has involved more people in difficulty, in doubts, dissatisfaction, and perplexity, and hindered them from making an intelligent and

personal profession of the Christian religion, than all the other errors in doctrine in the world combined. Still Dr. Rice is for it, and doing his utmost to "draw" as many, not "well-meaning people," but unconscious infants, before they mean anything, or know what those mean who have this unmeaning ceremony performed upon them, into it as possible. How can any man who thus "draws" unconscious infants into a church, before they know there is a church, a Holy Spirit, a Redeemer, or even a Deity, have the assurance to speak of men drawing well-meaning persons into a movement, when they make their appeal openly, and to the intelligence of those who have attained to years of accountability? Those operating through a mother, already in the church, as deeply prejudiced and misguided as the preacher, to "draw" infants into the church before they know anything, are the persons who "draw," not well-meaning," but infants without meaning, into the church, and who have the easy way. The honor no man taketh to himself more than Dr. N. L. Rice.

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4. The Doctor's fourth reason is, that "the popularity of this reformation was greatly increased amongst a large class of men by the zeal with which Mr. C. assailed the clergy and denounced all the benevolent enterprises of the age. The clergy of all the denominations he represented as corrupt men, influenced wholly by ambition and the love of money.' That Mr. C. handled the clergy without gloyes, no one is disposed to deny. Indeed, his lash must have cut keen and left an abiding sting which Dr. R. feels sensibly to this day, seeming only to increase in intensity in the place of abating, though the main work was done almost as long ago as the birth-day of Dr. R. The Doctor, like young Saul, being exceedingly mad against the Disciples, seems destined to signalize himself in defence of the traditions handed down, and being so constituted that he can learn nothing, and feel the power of no reason till public sentiment forces him, he receives many severe cuts that a little prudence would have relieved him from. Whether Mr. C. applied the rod too severely is a question of but little consequence now

but, if Dr. R. is anything like a fair exponent of the clergy, and his temper,

spirit and general bearing represents theirs it is exceedingly doubtful whether they ever received one stripe amiss. As to the representation, that the move for reformation gained numbers by appeals to avarice, it is confronted, whether success has attended the effort, by the numerous houses for worship built, the institutions of learning erected, the preachers supported, the contributions to the Bible Union, and to other good works. Who were they that left other religious bodies and united upon the law of God? Were they the most penurious, the miserly, the narrow hearted? or were they not as noble, free, liberal and whole-hearted as any they had? Have they not built more meeting-houses in several States in the last twenty years, than the Presbyterians have since the settling of the country? Dr. R. knows they have, and more in the very country where he has fought them most than any place else.

5. The Doctor says: "This reformation gained popularity, too, because it made every immersed person, however ignorant, a preacher, and every little church wholly independent of all others." The reason amounts to nothing. The Disciples stand upon the primitive practice, and will maintain it though it should give a rapid increase. They are willing to throw all the restrictions found in the New Testament around preachers and preaching, but no others. But the truth is, the Doctor is under a grand mistake about it being so easy to become a preacher among the Disciples. He has not tried preaching yet where he was opposed by all parties, and had to learn to ward off blows from every direction-from the Atheist, Infidel, Universalist, and through all the ranks of sectarian partizans. He has not tried preaching yet where he had to increase the numerical strength of his church by solid appeals to the intelligence of thinking men and women, exhorting them to repent of their sins, turn to God, and personally seek the salvation of their souls. He has never tried this yet; but if he does, he will find it a different work from persuading mothers, who belong to his church, and are already under his influence, to bring their infants to be sprinkled, and that it will require a different kind of talent. Many men with a little litera

ture, whether regenerated or not, can read sermons, say prayers, hear an organ and sprinkle infants, who never could convert a soul to Christ, or build up a saint in the most holy faith. Such men are the last who should open their lips about it being easy to enter a ministry where the entire increase of the membership depends upon the efforts of the ministry, appealing to the judgments and to the hearts of those capable of thinking and acting for themselves, inducing them to believe, repent, and turn to God, in person, and yield themselves to the obedience of faith. The easy ministry is that which operates upon infants, drawing them in before they can think or know anything about it. Such are the Doctor's five reasons for the remarkable success of this movement.

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6. The Doctor now approaches a little more closely to "examine the prineiples that lie at the foundation.” He says: "The Campbellite sect was organized, if it can be said to have an organization, upon the two following principles: 1st. The rejection of creeds and union upon the Bible alone. 2nd. Asking but one question of candidates for baptism, whether they believe Jesus Christ to be the Messiah." Dr. R. appears to be so averse to what is rightso determinedly, perpetually and inevitably disposed to do wrong, that if there is any wrong way in his reach to state a thing, he is certain to find it. Both the points here stated, as laying at the bottom of the Campbellite body," which he appears to think himself called and sent to tear up root and branch, are about as awkwardly stated as they could be in the same number of words. He, as a matter of course, places the point which naturally and scripturally comes first, last. He has so long been in the habit of preaching church polity to men of the world to convert them, or so addicted to presenting and preaching his creed, that they may give their assent to it and be converted to it, that he can conceive of no other mode of procedure for us than preaching union upon the Bible alone" first, and then preaching the confession of Christ next. Never, in any pamphlet, were there clearer evidences of confusion of mind, or the absence of a clear appreciation of the structure of Christianity, than in this.

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