INTRODUCTION. GOD, who is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and live, has, in his providence, appointed means and ways to accomplish his wise purposes, in the redemption of fallen and sinful man. It is therefore the duty of all the members of his mystical body, the church, as branches of the true vine, to apply, according to their several abilities, those means and ways which are appointed to be used for the spread of the glorious Gospel, the extension of his kingdom, the diffusion of light and knowledge, and the promotion of his church. And, as our pious ancestors and brethren in the Lord, who, since the days of Christ and the Apostles, and at the time of the Reformation, maintained the doctrine, That the kingdom of Jesus Christ is to be a kingdom of peace, and his church to be composed of true believers and holy members, where all manner of wars, and shedding of blood, is to be abolished; where, according to an ancient prediction, They shall beat their swords into plow-shares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; where nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. Isa. 2: 4.-Moreover, e е house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. Acts 16: 31, 32, 33. That such believers only are fit subjects to receive the administration of Christian baptism; that little children or infants, not being capable of believing, and being freely saved from the transgression and sin of our first parents, by the atoning merit and blood of Jesus Christ, the immaculate Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world, have no need of baptism in their infancy, neither are they capable of receiving it, until they arrive to maturer years, and be capable of thinking for themselves, and of believing on the Son of God, с and by faith to behold that Saviour who bled and died on Calvary to redeem them from sin and death, and in whose name they are to be baptized: Also, that we have no commandment or intimation from Christ, or his Apostles, for infant baptism, but rather the reverse. For, when they brought young children to Jesus that he should touch them, and his disciples rebuked those that brought them, he showed great regard for them, and said to his disciples, to suffer the little children to come unto him and forbid them not for of such is the kingdom of God. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. Mark 10: 13, 14, 16. But neither did he baptize them him to speak it to them. Hence it is inferrad: that there were no rufants there. self, neither commanded he them to be baptize Hence it is believed that Jesus Christ, by t king those children which were brought to hi up in his arms, laying his hands upon them a blessing them, that thereby the whole infant race of the children of fallen Adam are bless saved, washed and cleansed, by his atoni blood, from the pollution of Adam's transgr sion, and thus made heirs of eternal glory, the inexpressible consolation and joy of all lieving parents. And, furthermore, That manner of oaths are prohibited, according to t commandment of Christ, to Swear not at a neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great Kin neither shalt thou swear by thy head; beca thou canst not make one hair white or bla But let your communication be, Yea, yea, N nay: for whatsoever is more than these, com of evil. Matth. 5: 34-37.-But above all thin my brethren, swear not; neither by heav neither by the earth, neither by any other oa but let your yea be yea; and your nay, na lest ye fall into condemnation. James 5: 12 The preceding doctrines and religious ter were believed, acknowledged, adhered to, tau and inculcated, both by precept and exam by many ancient believers and faithful witn es of the truth; many of whom sealed it v their blood, in those times of darkness, su stition, idolatry and persecution; when the li |