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To the fecond part of the plea refpecting the baptifm of CHRIST in the river Jordan, confidered as establishing a precedent for the practice of a fimilar form of admiffion into the Christian church, we have the following anfwer to make; though the fubject itself is almost too ridiculous to be entitled to ferious difcuffion.

Our SAVIOUR, we read, was baptized by JOHN in the river Jordan. But the conclufion drawn from thence, refpecting the form of administering Christian baptifm, does not appear by any means warranted by the premises.

The baptifm of JOHN was a peculiar ministration, preparatory to the establishment of CHRIST's church; but did not actually admit into it, or convey the privileges of it. For which reafon, we find ST. PAUL baptizing fome difciples of JOHN, whom he found at Ephefus, a fecond time, in the name of the LORD JESUS: Acts xix. The baptifm of JOHN, then, and the baptifm appointed by JESUS CHRIST, being two different ordinances, in ufe at different times, and for different purposes; it does not appear that the one, as to the exact form of its adminiftration, should neceffarily conftitute a precedent for the other.

The difciples of CHRIST and JOHN lived under a different œconomy, and were fubjected to different rules; a circumftance which occafionally gave offence to those who understood not the nature of our SAVIOUR'S miffion. In this temper of mind, the dif ciples of JOHN came to JESUS to know the reason, "why the difciples of JOHN and of the Phar fees fasted oft, whilst his difciples fafted not." But what was a rule in the one cafe, did not become obligatory in the other; the parties to whom it was applied being differently circumstanced.

CHRIST, it must be considered then, baptized men to be his own difciples, not to be the difciples of JOHN: and his baptifm was the baptifm of admiffion into the Christian church; whilft that of JOHN was only a baptifm of discipleship into his own peculiar ministry. Allowing, therefore, that all JOHN's difciples were baptized in a river, (which is more than can be proved, and from the nature of JOHN'S ministry, as the preacher of the wilderness, it is probable that he made use of water in any place where it was convenient for his purpose;) it does not follow from this circumstance, that the difciples of CHRIST fhould be baptized in a river alfo; CHRIST having no where ordained that they should be: and reafon

forbids us to conclude, that the quantity of water made use of in this facrament, any more than the quantity of bread and wine confumed in that of the LORD's Supper, can be effential to the validity of the inftitution.

When PETER, ignorant of the fpiritual nature of CHRIST'S washing, required him not only to wash his feet, but also his hands and his head, judging that a partial washing could not effect a general cleansing, our SAVIOUR's anfwer was calculated to rebuke his carnal application of the act, by telling him, that "he that is washed, needeth not fave to wash his feet, but is clean every whit." JOHN xiii. 10. PETER therefore was given to understand, that the effect produced in this cafe, was not by the outward application of the element of water, because parts were faid to be cleansed which the water had not touched; but by the operation of the spirit on the foul, producing that inward purity, of which an idea was conveyed to the mind by this familiar application to the body. Thus, in like manner, the effect of washing in baptifm is not produced by the water applied to the body, either in whole or in part; but by the spirit of GoD accompanying an ordinance of his own institution, and producing that effect upon

the foul of the party, of which the water is defigned to be the type or emblem.

But it is to be further obferved, that the circum. stance now reckoned by fome few individuals fo effential to baptifm, from the confideration of CHRIST'S having been baptized in a river, was, in the primitive church, either not regarded at all, or at least deemed a matter of indifference. For though the form of plunging the whole body was in general obferved, as most fignificant of the idea meant to be conveyed on the occafion; nevertheless this was done, not in a river, but in a baptiftry, or building adjoining to their churches; where every thing was prepared for the decent adminiftration of this fervice.

It is moreover well known not to have been an uncommon thing among the early Christians, to defer their baptifm till they were fuppofed to be on their death-beds; upon the idea of guarding thereby against the probability of falling away from grace; in which cafes, the form of plunging the party either in a river or elsewhere muft, it is prefumed, have been difpenfed with. And in the cafe of the gaoler's family who were baptized in the prison, there is reafon to think that the Apostle made use of still more difcretionary latitude in the performance of this office;

from the confideration that there could be no river to be made ufe of on this occafion; together with the improbability that the gaoler's houfe fhould be provided with conveniences for the immersion of the whole body. For, according to the account given of this tranfaction, we find that it was a business of immediate dispatch; no time being given for prepa ration on the fubject. Immediately upon the difcovery of the fituation of his prifoners, the gaoler (we read)" took them the fame hour of the night, and wafhed their ftripes, and was baptized, he and all his, ftraitway." Acts xvi. 33.

And allowing, what might have been the cafe, that the gaoler's house was provided with a fountain, in which he and his family might have been baptized by immersion; yet this fountain not being a river, a deviation from the fuppofed established practice of baptifm in one point, as circumftances then required, renders the imitation of our SAVIOUR'S example, as to the letter, not effential to this service.

From these premises, we feel ourselves warranted in concluding, that the baptifm of JOHN in the river Jordan conftitutes no precedent for the baptifm of Christians; and from the circumstance, that baptizing in a river, confidered as the neceffary form of admiffion

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