sons who profess them, are not tized on a profession of their faith. called regenerate till they are And if it be asked, how is this baptized;-or, does it mean, that possible? we are told that it they are baptized as persons who takes place by a sort of LEGAL are in the judgment of charity reFICTION! We know that Blackgenerated before their baptism, stone speaks of legal fictions, only that the office had omitted and lawyers tell us how they are to call them so? If on examina- used; but Mr. Scott ought to tion it should prove, that the have shown that the Bible recogchurch considers the adult sub-nizes a legal fiction in the projects to be believers before bap-fession of faith, and in the admitism, yet not regenerate till they nistration of ordinances. have received baptism, Mr. Scott however, is not done. will find it very difficult to maintain his ground, and his appealed his own hypothesis as far as to this office will not answer his he thought necessary, our author purpose. compresses the substance of the whole in a few lines:-" Here, therefore, is the same system of charitable supposition, which we have seen pervade the office for This, Having explained and defend We are next presented with "the case of infants." p. 138, &c. Here Mr. S. asserts that the same Vows and engagements are required of the infant to be bap-adult baptism. The prayers are tized, as of the adult: and he asks," of whom are they required? NOT of others, as is often eroneously, supposed, but of HIM through the medium of those who act for him. Accordingly the questions run, Dost thou, IN THE NAME of this child, renounce, believe,' &c. Nay, Wilt THOU be baptized? Wilt THOU obediently keep God's holy will and commandments?' These questions are addressed as to the child himself: the answers considered as his answers. It is as if, by a sort of legal fiction, to which we are no strangers in the most important temporal transactions, the soul of the child were considered as transferred to his sponsor, and as speaking in him and by him." p. 139, 140. We are not surprized at the expression in the next page, referring to this statement and its continuation:-"Now all this is very remarkable?" We really think so. It is obvious according to Mr. Scott's statement, that infants are supposed to be hap supposed to have been sincerely offered; the promises made, it is: presumed, will be performed: and UPON THESE ASSUMP TIONS, the infant is spoken of as regenerated by God's Holy Spirit," &c. p. 144. So then, it seems, the infant is called regenerate at its baptism, because it will be regenerated afterwards, IF the sponsors are sincere, and IF the child, when it comes to age, keeps the vows made by the sponsors in its name! We neither wish to misunderstand, nor to caricature Mr. Scott's sentiments, but such appears to us to be the unavoidable inference from his words. Mr. Scott seems aware, that he is here treading on dangerous Iground; for he says, "If it be. thought that there has been some, more difficulty in making out this case, than that of adults; I beg to suggest, that it is nothing more than naturally results from the condition of infants, supposed to make vows, and on the faith. of those vows, pronounced rege nerate; which they can give no evidence, in their conduct, either of a regenerate or irregenerate state." p. 145. This is, indeed, a difficulty. How infants can make vows, or, how they can, in the present instance, be more bound by the promise of their sureties than they would have been without such a promise, is not explained. But Mr. Scott is so satisfied with what he calls the hypothetical principle, which is the assumption that what is professed is sincere, that he defends, on that ground, the Catechism, the offices for Confirma tion, for the Churching of Women, for the Burial of the Dead, and even the Absolution. while the New Testament directed ministers to baptize those who professed their faith, in the hope, that on such evidence as they had given they were regenerate, the church, departing from the original plan, but still using the old language, called those regenerate, who neither did believe, nor could believe; and for no other reason that we can see, but because they had been baptized. Our author endeavours to strengthen himself by authorities. He has brought many, and might have adduced more; and an equal number might be brought against him. He then states, that by Dr. Mant's concession,' every adult person "receiving baptism rightly," is regenerate before he is baptized. Chap. xi. After this, he discusses the consequence and tendency of the a spe He pleads that the same principle is adopted in scripture; and accounts for the language of the New Testament, from the situation of the primitive Chris-opinion in debate, and brings tians. "In such times it was forward his own conclusions connatural and reasonable to believe, cerning the effect of baptism. that professed Christians were Chap. xii. p. 213, &c. This is real Christians-and those who an important part of the work. were baptized' were, indeed, The author strongly points out regenerate by the Spirit of God." his sense of the danger arising p. 171. He adds, "And this from a diffusion of Dr. Mant's affords a most easy account of sentiments. It is true the Dr. the means by which the strong combined cautions and restriclanguage that has been so long tions with his general statements; in use, was brought into the but says Mr. Scott, church." p. 172. Doubtless Mr. Scott is satisfied with the above representation. But if there be no scriptural authority for infant baptism, an unavoidable consequence follows, which is, that this " easy account" shows us how the sign was afterwards put for the thing signified, and the language formerly applied to those who were believed on reasonable grounds to be real Christians; was applied to those who, it is confessed," can give no evidence in their conduct either of a regenerate or unregenerate state." For VOL. IX. culative man may try to persuade himself, that Dr. Mant's restrictions of this kind render his doctrine harmless; but the great practical question is, How will it impress the mass of the community,' among whom it is to be disseminated? For a time, his cautions and limitations may seem to bear some tolerable proportion to his broad positions of a contrary nature; because the former fall in with all that we have been used to, and with the suggestions of that conscience, which God has implanted in the breast of man; translated from the curse of Adam to the grace of Christ; the original guilt which they brought into the world is mystically washed away; and they receive forgiveness of the actual sins, which they themselves have committed,” &c. p. 221. This paragraph appears to Mr. Scott incorrect and highly dangerous. We think so too: especially when we look at its close. After the Bishop had used many strong expressions respecting baptism as the regeneration spoken of in the New Testament, and had quoted a number of texts, he says, they while we hesitate at the latter as novel and almost incredible and conclude, that they are to be received in a qualified sense, even where it is not expressed. There may have been health enough infused into the constitution from other sources, to enable it to resist the poison for a time. But in the lapse of a few years, if such sentiments become common, the case will be altered. The cautions and limitations will gradually fall into oblivion, while the broad assertions, and obvious but dangerous inferences from them, may fix themselves in the memory, be-"all relate to a single act once come principles in the heart, and govern the life.” p. 220, 221. from works already before the public, without venturing to pronounce any very confident opinion on the point to which they relate. performed upon every individual -an act essential to the chaApply this passage to the racter of a Christian, and of such general subject before us: how importance, that it is declared to strongly it points out the ten- be instrumental to our salvation." dency of the broad assertions' p. 222. Yet, after all, our auused in the Liturgy! If the thor admits more of the Bishop's 'cautions and limitations' be as sentiment than could be expected numerous as Mr. Scott and his from the tone of his opposition. friends imagine them to be, yet At the close of chap. xii. he says, what has been their effect "on" I add the following remarks the mass of the community?" Has it not been manifest ever since the Reformation, that if they existed, they rapidly fall into oblivion, while the "broad assertions and obvious but dangerous inferences from them," have fixed themselves in the memory, and become principles in the heart. Surely none will deny, that when churchmen learn Mr. Scott's doctrine of regeneration, they generally have an opposite one to unlearn; and in so doing, they acquire a method of paraphrasing the baptismal service, which they never thought of before. "A large proportion of the clergy, called Evangelical, DO suppose, that some special gracious effect attends the due administration of infant baptism, beyond the mere admission of the child to the privileges of church membership. "This is certainly our own sentiment: We find no difficulty whatever, in considering the baptismal rite as an assurance and pledge on the part of God, that Mr. Scott quotes a passage the person hereby admitted into from the Bishop of Lincoln's Re-personal covenant with him futation of Calvinism, in which through the second Adam, shall his lordship says, "those who not perish through the fault of are baptized are immediately the first." p. 234, 235. though when they preach the gospel unfettered by the language of a fixed liturgy, they state, that there is another and higher regeneration needful; a regeneration not necessarily attendant Every expression in this quotation deserves attention. Our author may say, that he has carefully avoided pronouncing " any very confident opinion" upon any of them. But had he thought them opponent either to his sys-on baptism, and, without which, tem or to truth, he would not a man cannot enter the kingdom have brought them forward. The of God. first part, principally in the words of a venerable relative, states the sentiments of a large proportion of the clergy called Evangelical; and the last is quoted from a work (the Christian Observer) which is generally considered to exhibit the opinion of the same body. Here we conceive that Dr. Mant, and even the Bishop of Lincoln, nearly approximate to Mr. Scott's statement. That special gracious effect before mentioned, they would call regeneration; they consider it as a seed which needs to be watered and properly cultivated that it may be fruitful; Mr. Scott and his friends allow the effect, but they either will not allow that it is regeneration, or contend that the New Testament uses the term in a higher sense; while they all agree to thank God that the baptized infant is REGENERATE WITH the HOLY SPIRIT. It is granted, that children are admitted to the privileges of church membership by baptism; and it is supposed, that SOME SPECIAL GRACIOUS EFFECT attends the due administration of baptism BEYOND this. Will Mr. Scott, or any one of the "large proportion" of the evangelical clergy who adopt this sup- Respecting the consequences position, have the goodness to of Adam's sin, the difference is inform us, what that special gra- still less. Mr. Scott disapproves cious effect is;-wherein it differs of the Bishop of Lincoln's reprefrom regeneration, or how far it sentation-" that those who are falls short of it? Believing them baptized are immediately transto be men of integrity and piety, lated from the curse of Adam to we respectfully ask, Whether it the grace of Christ; the original is not this supposed gracious guilt which they brought into the effect, which they keep in view, world is mystically washed away,' when they thank God that it hath | &c. The evangelical part of the pleased him to regenerate (the establishment say, in Mr. Scott's baptized infant) with his Holy quotation from the Christian ObSpirit, and to receive him for his server, "We find no difficulty own child by adoption? (See the whatever in considering the bapOffice for the Baptism of Infants.) tismal rite as an assurance and If they reply, No: they do not pledge on the part of God, that mean this; we would then ask, the person hereby admitted into What do they mean when they personal covenant with him use such expressions? If they through the second Adam, shall say, they do refer to this special not perish through the fault of gracious effect, when they read the first." Both suppose injury the baptismal office; they then done to the human race by Adam; actually call this supposed gra- both suppose the injury in some cious effect, Regeneration; al- degree repaired when a child is baptized. The Bishop supposes, "Let these and other arguments be fairly met and canvassed, and, I say again, I am satisfied; I will regard the man who thus combats me, not as an adversary, but as my coadjutor in the investigation of truth." p. 270. This is noble. We differ from Mr. Scott on many points;-but we part from him with sentiments of respect. THE MAMMON OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. "Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness, that when ye fail they may receive you into everlasting habitations." Luke, xvi. 9. The venerable parent of the author whose work is now before us, was, we think, very near the truth when he said, "Indeed the fathers, as they are called, (that is, the teachers of the Christian church during some years after the death of the apostles,) soon began to speak on this subject (Regeneration) in unscriptural language; and our pious Reformers, from an undue regard to them and to the circumstances of the times, have retained a few expressions in the Liturgy, which are not only INCONSISTENT with their other doctrine, but also tend to PERPLEX men's minds, and MISLEAD their judgment on this important subject."nishes a hint for our improveScott's Essays, Essay xii. p. 201. 5th edit. THIS exhortation is the practical improvement of the parable of the unjust steward. This man made to himself friends, by means of the mammon of unrighteousness, who received him into their houses, when he was turned out of his office. So Christians, by the same means, are admonished to secure friends, who shall receive them into everlasting habitations. But while the conduct of this man fur ment, it by no means affords an example for our imitation. The We cannot conclude without character of the unjust steward adding, that Mr. Scott's two last is to be held in detestation, bepages gave us great pleasure. cause of its injustice. And when They contain principles, which it is said that the lord, or his emwe shall always be glad to see ployer, commended him, it impractically recognized. They are plies no approbation of his conmanly, and much to his honour. duct. It was impossible that he He asks for nothing but fairness should approve of the man who in an opponent. He clearly and had so wantonly abused his forcibly states the chicanery trust, and embezzled his prowhich is often displayed in con-perty, The commendation aptroversy. He brings to view what plies only to his worldly wisdom he conceives to be the bearing irrespective of the morality of his points of the debate, and says, conduct. He made the best use |