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MISCELLANEOUS.

ON INFANT BAPTISM.

To the Editor of the Methodist Magazine.

REV. AND DEAR SIR,

I take the liberty of sending you, for insertion in your useful and widely-extended Magazine, an Extract on the subject of Infant Baptism, from the publication of a most benevolent, pious, and intelligent author, the Rev. E. S. Ely, late of New York, America. Having similar views on the subject of Baptism with this author, I have refused to baptize the children of such parents as I supposed did not make a credible profession of the religion of Christ, though children of these parents had been baptized by my predecessors. If the views of this subject given by this author, and entertained by myself, are incorrect, I should take it as a very great favour if yourself, Sir, or any of your numerous intelligent readers, would set me right. I am in danger of giving offence by my conduct in reference to this subject, but must continue to act in the same manner as long as I retain my present views.

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"In the square ward, I was requested to baptize an infant; but I declined. The mother expected it would die, and felt a very common but foolish apprehension, that if the babe died before baptism, it must perish. It was stated to her that baptism is a sign and seal of God's gracious covenant, which is designed to signify to all believers, and particularly to the assembled church, this truth, that by the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus, and the washing of regeneration, God's people shall be saved. The outward ordinance cannot save any one. If you were a member of any church, and your minister should request me to do it, or if you were now to make a credible profession of saving faith in Jesus Christ, I would baptize the child. You cannot give your child to God, without first giving yourself to him; and if you do not truly believe in the Lord Jesus, on your part a profession would be all mockery. But although I cannot baptize the child, yet, in the name of Jesus, I will bless it.

"The writer, therefore, prayed for the mother and infant to that Saviour who received little ones, put his hands on them, and blessed them; after which he solemnly pronounced this benediction: 'The Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of sinners, bless thee, sanctify thee, and keep thee: his blessing rest upon thee in life, in death, in time, and eternity. Amen.""

Though the writer of the work, from which the above is an extract, is Calvinistic in his sentiments, yet this, I presume, does not affect the correctness of his views on the subject of Infant Baptism. It appears to me that the following proposition is correct, and accords with the representations of Scripture; viz. That parents who have not given themselves to God, and who do not make a credible profession of saving faith in Christ, cannot acceptably dedicate their children to God.

Permit me to propose the following questions, which have a reference to this subject. Are any other persons than Christian believers entitled to bring their children to the ordinance of baptism, and to receive the sign of the new covenant? Can immoral persons, though professing Christians, perform the duties which are binding on those who present their children for Christian baptism? If not, ought ministers to permit them to make these engagements, by baptizing their children?

I have examined Mr. Wesley on Infant Baptism, Dr. Doddridge's Lectures on Baptism, Dr. Watts's Sermon, and an extract from Dr. Lightfoot, on the subject; but have not found these questions satisfactorily answered. Mr. Wesley observes, in his "Thoughts on Godfathers and Godmothers," that the Church of England orders that none but communicants are to be permitted to stand in that relation to children. Are parents, then, who are not communicants, to be permitted to represent their children at the ordinance of baptism, without any other sponsors but themselves?

An answer to these questions by yourself, Sir, or by any person who has thoroughly examined the subject, or even a reference to a work where they are fully answered, would greatly oblige, and would be gratefully received by,

A SINCERE INQUIRER.

THOUGHTS ON READING NOVELS. To the Editor of the Methodist Magazine. REV. AND DEAR SIR,

SHOULD you judge the following thoughts, on a very fruitful source of evil, likely to benefit any of your numerous readers, by giving them an early place in your valuable Miscellany, you will greatly oblige

Your's, very affectionately,

G. BIRLEY.

"But refuse profane and old wives' fables.”—PAUL.

The pen, whose worth has ne'er been told,

By Christian bards, nor Heathens old,

Has been employ'd in various ways,
In wisdom's school, and folly's maze :

The wrangling bar,-the filthy stage,—
The Novel and Romantic page,-
The libel black, and satire keen,
With slander's niore malicious spleen,
Have all unto the pen laid claim,
Yet is its real worth the same.

READING is most certainly a very pleasing and a very profitable source of both mental gratification and intellectual improvement. Through an acquaintance with books, we are enabled to possess ourselves of (at least) some of the knowledge of the wise and learned of all ages; and then every succeeding generation may and ought to he wiser and better than that which preceded it, having an opportunity of profiting by the knowledge of the anterior age, in addition to the stores which were before possessed.

But alas! while we gratefully reflect on the superior advantages of the present enlightened era, the contemplative mind is deeply affected with the prevailing neglect or abuse of these; for, instead of the generality of our fellow-mortals being diligently engaged in cultivating an acquaintance with those writings which have a direct tendency to expand the mind, and store it with useful knowledge, we find multitudes of beings, who lay claim to rationality, wasting their precious time in poring over the "novel and romantic page." A glance over the labels on the shelves of many of our circulating libraries will sufficiently demonstrate the truth of the above assertion, and likewise discover unto us the lamentable vacancy and dissipation of many minds capable of knowing "the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent:" as also of cultivating an acquaintance with many topics which would produce both personal and social advantage.

To a thinking mind, various arguments present themselves in opposition to that course of reading pursued by the novelist; and some of these arguments we shall take the liberty of advancing, in order to exhibit such a pernicious course in its proper point of view, and then endeavour to lead its votaries to "consider their ways."

1. The incongruity of novels to the powers of the human intellect, is one very weighty consideration against such a course of reading as that just alluded to.

It is an unquestionable truth, that the mental capacities of men vary very widely; and it is equally true, that the possession of wealth, and dignity of station, yea, all the authority and grandeur of royalty, do not form the standard of intellectual capability for, sometimes, great minds emerge out of the depths of indigence and obscurity, and, breaking through the dark clouds with which, in cousequence of their low situation, they are enveloped, shine forth with amazing splendour, and enlighten a wondering world, and even become the means of conveying light and instruction to ages unborn; and no human being knows what he is capable of till he has made a trial of his power.

It may be true, that but few are capable of diving into the depths of philosophy, and thus become able to develope to wondering beholders the various powers, laws, and operations of nature; or of soaring into the sublime heights of astronomical learning; or of exploring the intricate mazes of mathematical science: yet, we venture to aver, that every human being, in a sane state, is capable of making some progress, if not in these, in some of the narrower eircles of mental acquirement.

And certain it is, that every sane man is capable of the most important and valuable of all acquisitions; viz. of knowing, loving, and serving his adorable Creator through our Mediator and Advocate, the Lord Jesus Christ; and this knowledge is absolutely essential to our present and eternal welfare: "For this is life eternal, to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent." Now, can the light and fantastic, not to say licentious and polluting, fictions of Fielding, Smollet, &c. furnish suitable employment for intellectual powers of the above description? Ask the man, who with a smiling but vacant countenance, rises from reading Tom Jones, Don

Quixote, &c. if his judgment is better informed; if his mind is more expanded; his stock of ideas increased; or if he is better prepared for performing the duties of his station? Unfettered common sense fixes a negative on the inquiry; and experience, perhaps with the hesitancy of shame, answers, No.

2. The dissipating influence of novels upon the mind of man, is another consideration worthy of serious attention.

If business calls the novelist from his infatuating fictions, his mind is engaged in reflecting on what he has been reading; and so closely are his thoughts wedded to the pernicious volume, that not seldom the most important duties are either totally neglected or hastily and carelessly performed; yea, sometimes, the licentious ideas of his pernicious author, acting upon the depraved materials of his heart, produce a strange ferment, which may not improperly be termed a mental intoxication; and, like a person in a state of inebriety, he is fit for, or prepared to engage in, any act of uncleanness which opportunity and the tempter of mankind may suggest; and if, unhappily, a mind naturally strong and active has been led into this course of reading, it is very often engaging in aerial pursuits, spining out fictions of its own, when it ought to be cultivating an acquaintance with some useful science, which would produce solid gratification and real advantage.

3. On this subject, the mind very naturally glances at the waste of precious time,as another powerful argument against the novelist. Time, that precious boon of heaven, was given to man for the great purposes of eternity; and every hour mis-spent, or misapplied, is an hour lost to its original design. The language of the Supreme Being to man, on the subject of time, is of a commanding nature, and ought to have almost, if not altogether, an equal influence upon our minds with "Thou shalt do no murder." The Divine mandate is, "Redeeming the time, because the days are evil." As reading novels has no reference, either directly or indirectly, to that important end of time which heaven has ordained, such a course is, to say the least, a very injurious method of "killing the moments as they fly."

It may be well to add the following affecting calculation:-Two hours a day spent in this, or any other way equally useless, (calca lating by what is called the labourer's day,) amount to a loss of two months in each year; and this, in fifty years, makes an awful total of eight years and four months of precious time! In what manner will the novelist, or time killer" of any description, estimate these murdered years when the "king of terrors" shall look him in the face, and summon him into eternity? We anticipate the horror of his already affrighted soul, when (if we may use the, expression) the ghosts of these departed years shall pass in awful review before his eyes; and then, perhaps he will vainly wish that these abused and mis-spent hours could but be recalled, and lived over again.

4. Finally, the incompatibility of novels with the heavenly precepts of Christianity, furnishes an argument which ought to have considerable influence in what is commonly called "a Christian country." The language of that Sacred Volume, to the important contents of which the inhabitants of this highly favoured nation profess to give their assent, is directly opposed to novelism, as the following specimens

sufficiently prove:-"Be ye perfect, as your Father which is in heaven is perfect," (Matt. v. 48.) "Ye are not your own, but are bought with a price, therefore glorify God with your bodies and spirits which are God's," (1 Cor. vi. 20.) "Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God," (1 Cor. x. 31.) "Let no corrupt communications proceed out of your mouths," &c. (Eph. iv. 29.) "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation," (1 Pet. i. 15.) Multitudes of preceptive passages, equally strong and binding, might very easily be selected from the writings of the New Testament. But in order to shew the inconsistency of novels with these Divine precepts, it will be quite sufficient to ask, How can any man sit down, and read such productions" to the glory of God?"

It is candidly hoped that no one who shall peruse these thoughts, will continue a course of novelism, until he has (in a manner satisfactory to his own conscience,) answered the above arguments. Cardiff, Dec. 7, 1818.

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G. B.

Amongst the many excellent institutions and means so frequently brought before, and pressed upon public attention, as calculated to do good and disseminate truth, knowledge, and wisdom, the writer of this does not recollect to have seen the subject of this letter named, viz. Religious Libraries. If, Sir, the following hasty thoughts should by you be thought worthy a place in your most valuable publication, the writer would feel himself gratified by their insertion in your Magazine. Your's, &c.

J. D.

South Shields, March, 1819. Respecting the spread of the work of God through the instrumentality of the Methodists, one blessed consequence, which is admitted even by those who do not particularly favour Methodism, is, that it has in general been accompanied by a proportional diffusion of useful knowledge; and in the manufacturing and coal districts of this country, our opposers in sentiments have witnessed and acknowledged the improvement of morals and manners amongst a valuable and numerous class of the community.

The Methodists in general may be considered as a reading people, and their desire for knowledge has been extended and gratified, by the judicious assortment of publications which are sent out by our Book Room. But at the same time it must be observed, that many who are desirous of instruction, not having the means to procure those books, are yet deprived of the gratification of their desires. This hindrance, however, has, in many places, been removed by the considerate attention of many of the friends of the rising generation, in establishing Religious Libraries, in which at the small acknowledgment of one penny per week, the youth of both sexes have an opportunity of gratifying their taste for reading, without danger to their morals.

VOL. XLII. August, 1819.

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