66

so that it may now be considered as | pædobaptism does establish a privileged established, that pædobaptism does in-order of dying babes, Mr. Isaiah Birt volve the hypothesis of a relative reli- represented "the majority of pædogion, among its very vitals. This is baptists in general" as believing in bapmaking a grand step, because it brings tismal regeneration, a statement which the advocates of that system fairly on Dr. Wardlaw has so far forgotten himthis part of the controversial ground. self as to call "a rash and unfounded Let it be now proved that religion is not slander." Mr. John Birt, however, and cannot be relative, and, with these has triumphantly shewn that it is no patrons of it, and all who are like Islander," nor in any degree 66 unminded, the cause of pædobaptism falls. founded;" and Dr. Wardlaw has only Yet nothing is capable of more full and to reply, that when he wrote he was satisfactory proof. On all other occa- "not thinking" of "pædobaptists in sions, all evangelical pædobaptists are general,” but only of evangelical pædoamong the staunchest advocates of this baptist dissenters from the churches of truth, and Mr. John Birt has well ar- England and Scotland, who constitute a gued it in the production before us. mere fragment of the immense masses We wait, however, to hear more from concerned in the baptismal controversy. our brethren on this subject: for, as we It remains, therefore, both asserted and have said, it is only for a moment that proved, that the great majority of pædothey have as yet thrown off their re- baptists in general do believe in baptisserve; and the silence so carefully main- mal regeneration, and their system of tained upon it, in the review of Mr. John course does" establish a privileged Birt's pamphlet in the magazine in which order of dying babes, with an aspect this frankness appeared, is somewhat partial, gloomy, and awful." Nor is it ominous that this degree of incautious- at all unfair to form a judgment of the ness has been repented of and will not system itself, by a majority so vast and be repeated. overwhelming.

In the second place, Mr. Isaiah Birt referred pointedly to the subject of infant salvation, and asserted that pædobaptism, "with a partial, gloomy, and awful aspect, establishes a privileged order of dying babes." This in particular has excited the indignation of Dr. Wardlaw, who answers with some warmth, that he and many of his brethren are exactly of the same opinion as Mr. Birt and the baptists, and "esteem all children who die in infancy to be equally and certainly 'saved." This is doubtless very gratifying, and deserves to be specially noted. But as, on the one hand, it is no answer at all to Mr. Birt's assertion that pædobaptism, not pædobaptists, establishes a privileged order of dying babes; so, on the other, it is an acknowledgment that if pædobaptism has such a tendency, it affords a powerful objection to the system. This also is a point gained, and fairly entitles us to the use of the argument, if any can justly be drawn from this quarter.

In confirmation of his position that

But let the evangelical pædobaptist dissenters, strange as it is that they should be pædobaptists, let them have the privilege of choosing their own ground, and of departing from the original and almost universal principles of the system, in order to call in question and disprove if they can this very objectionable feature of it; and we will bring Dr. Wardlaw himself, an unexceptionable witness we presume, to shew that the attempt is utterly futile. He seems to triumph, indeed, on finding that, by the admission of infant salvation on general grounds, he can evade the charge of a distinction which is "partial, gloomy, and awful,” but in his elation he has forgotten, perhaps, how completely with his own hand he has established "a privileged order of dying babes." These are his words:

"Suppose now, in these circumstances, pædobaptists should fancy that, with respect to a particular class or description of children-those namely of the people of God-there are certain

equally and certainly saved ;”—a declaration which, after Mr. Isaiah Birt, we repeat, you cannot sincerely make and consistently hold, "without renouncing pædobaptism itself.”

Such is the present aspect of the controversy. Two objections are brought against pædobaptism: the one, that it denies the essential spirituality of true religion; the other, that it denies the

jections are admitted to be of considerable, if not of decisive consequence, and attempts have been made to repel them, but hitherto without success. It is not presumptuous then to conclude, that, at present, "the argument is ours :"" the popular feeling," doubtless, is still theirs; but the advocates of pædobaptism, we should suppose, will scarcely abandon so favourite a system in so forlorn a situation.

intimations and promises in the Bible, all children dying in infancy to be such as seem to afford some additional and more especial grounds of favourable persuasion on their behalf, than those for the salvation of all-is there any thing in this that deserves to be stigmatized as 'partial, gloomy, and awful?' If there is nothing on our part exclusive of a single soul from aught that can be shewn to be revealed; nothing that takes away or diminishes any degree of probability or of confidence afforded by general con-equal salvation of infants. These obsiderations- these still remaining the very same to us as to you; if the amount of what we do is, retaining the common reasons of hope for all, to add a specialty on behalf of some ; — where is the repulsive gloominess, where the merciless austerity, from which, with a selfcomplacent satisfaction in the superior liberality and kindliness of your own system, you affect such a loathing recoil?" (Reply pp. 25, 26.)-In the system which maintains baptismal regeneration, Dr. Wardlaw, which the vast majority of pædobaptists hold, though you do not; and after so much warmth, we shall be sure to remember that you do not, though no one ever thought that you did. But your sentence is obviously, and very singularly incomplete. You have asked "where is the repulsive gloominess, and where the merciless austerity?" but gloominess and austerity were not the only things you had to disprove. You should have gone on to ask, where is the "privileged order of dying babes ?" and these you will find in your own system, as described by your own pen. You "see certain intimations and promises in the Bible, such as seem to afford some additional and more special grounds of favourable persuasion on their part (the children of the people of God), than those for the salvation of all;"" the amount of what you do is, retaining the common reasons of hope for all, to add a specialty on behalf of some;" in other words, you establish a privileged order of dying babes." And this comes out in your very attempt to prove that this allegation is falsely brought against the system you defend, and in the face of your recent declaration that you" esteem

Practical and Internal Evidence against Catholicism; in Six Letters to the impartial Roman Catholics of Great Britain and Ireland. By the Rev. Joseph Blanco White, A. M. B. D. &c. London, Murray Albemarle Street. 8vo. pp. ix. 296. 9s. 6d.

WE have read this book with great interest, and are glad to introduce it to our readers at the present time. The writer was once himself a Catholic, a Priest, high in office, and thoroughly acquainted with the nature and bearings of the system of Popery. He does not draw the picture of ages long since passed away, or of a system known only by the records of history: he displays the Popery of the present day, with the awful tendency of which he was at one time painfully acquainted.

The account he gives of himself is very striking. His grandfather was an Irish gentleman, who retired with his family and property to Spain. His father, though born in Spain, was early sent to Ireland, that he might gain an attachment to the land of his ancestors; and the present writer was the fruit of his marriage with a Spanish lady. At an

the argument necessarily arising from his own doctrine, become an infidel.

early period he was devoted to the ser- | believing whatever the church teaches, vice of the church, studied closely, there is no choice; he must, if he follows gained distinction, was ordained and advanced while young; and as he owed his preferment to his theological knowledge, he wished to become acquainted with works that would increase and perfect it.

mind, is with little variation, that of a great portion of the Spanish Clergy!" (p. 8.) "I know but very few Spanish priests, whose talents and acquirements were above contempt, who had not secretly renounced their religion!" p. 60.

This, Mr. White assures us is not a mere theory;— he says, his knowledge of the most enlightened classes of Spain furnishes him with amultitude of sudden At this period, enjoying the honours transitions from sincere faith and piety of a situation which his merit had gained, to the most outrageous infidelity, (p.7.) with the prospects of higher and still What is worse, he adds, "though I am higher honours, and with the ardour of not at liberty to mention individual youthful talents urging him forward-cases, 1 do attest from the most certain he began to doubt! Devotion, however, knowledge that the history of my own at first, scattered these light clouds; but they arose with increased darkness again and again, and prayer would scarcely dispel them. He called the truth of the Gospel in question; he was haunted with the horror of sins against the faith fixed in his soul by early education; and he endeavoured to counteract the doubts that were daily acquiring irresistible strength, by calling to mind the arguments he had read in defence of the Christian Religion, and by reading works on the same subject. In the execution of his office he had to preach to the royal brigade of Carabineers, who came to worship the body of St. Ferdinand, preserved in the king's chapel, and he delivered a discourse on Infidelity, which was published at the expence of the brigade. But, so rapidly were his doubts increasing, that at the end of a year from the preaching of this sermon, he was bordering on atheism!

Mr. White assures us that in his case, (and his intimate acquaintance with many others in similar circumstances, he informs us, enables him to affirm the same thing respecting them,) immorality and levity were not the causes of his infidelity; but in countries where Popery reigns, it is so identified with Christianity, that whenever a man begins to doubt, there is but a step between him and infidelity. A plain relation is often the severest satire. Mr. White says, "I believe whatever the holy mother church believes,' is the compendious creed of every member of the Roman communion!" So that unless a man has the happy facility of be

We cannot wonder at the anxiety which Mr. White felt in this situation. He says, an ardent wish seized him to fly from a country where the law left him "no-choice between death and hypocrisy ;" but affection to his parents retarded him. At length the approach of Bonaparte's army to Seville, enabled him to escape without betraying his real motive. He came to England; by the good providence of God he was gradually led to see that men who were not Roman Catholics might believe the truth of Christianity, and feel its powerful influence; and by slow degrees he was led to receive that Gospel as his hope, which he had before rejected as an imposition.

The picture drawn of the morals of many of the Spanish Clergy is truly awful, and the view given of nunneries is painful in the extreme. These abodes of papal tyranny often contain those who are worthy a far better fate; but they are too often defiled by iniquities which shew the wickedness that frequently reigns within the retirements of the Holy Catholic Church.

We should transgress all reasonable bounds if we were to bring forward a full detail of Mr. White's account of the opinions and maxims of the Romish Church. Judging from what he says, popery is still the same it ever

was;-it is not altered in its real na- | is much that we approve.

ture, and indeed it is incapable of improvement. He affirms that there are two sorts of writers, whose books issue from the Roman Catholic press: one who still adhere to the Roman Catholic system, as it is professed in Catholic countries; the other who write for the Protestant public, and for those Catholics who cannot well digest the real unsophisticated system of their Roman head;

But we

would rather refer our readers to the work itself, which is worthy the attentive perusal of every Protestant, who will find amusement as well as instruction, by the accounts of numerous miracles, of which, probably, many of them, have been altogether ignorant.

The Amulet; or, Christian and Literary Remembrancer. Baynes and Son. 12s.

that the plausible writing of these men should be read by Protestants pp. 396. with jealousy ;-that the Book of the Roman Catholic Church by Charles But- WB cannot but regard with unqualiler, Esq. is an artful picture--a strange fied detestation the conduct of those instance of the power of prejudice, and persons who attempt to enrich themgives an incorrect view of the most es- selves by supplying our youth with the sential duties of Catholics. The ques- elements of demoralization in the form tions put to some foreign universities of prints and pamphlets, whose pestifemany years ago, during Mr. Pitt's ad-rous influence has too frequently overministration, Mr. White calls "irrele- powered every precaution of pious eduvant,” and says they gave ample scope cation, and upright example. We to the versatile casuistry of those socie- could easily point to stations, in some of ties. He asserts, that in the court of the leading thoroughfares of the metroRome the maxim is still in force, that|polis, occupied by these daring venders oaths in favour of heresy and heretics, of moral poison, whose labelled abomiare NOT binding; and that on a change | nations invite the dissolute, ensnare the of circumstances they could be absolved; he more than insinuates that the best informed Catholics know this to be the case :- that the old doctrine, that faith is not to be kept with heretics, where the Church can safely break it, even though sanctioned by oaths, is still the genuine doctrine of the Church of Rome! -that the translation of Pope Pius' creed, given by Mr. Butler is garbled, and that the Roman Catholic is bound by his oath and vow, to procure "that all under him, by virtue of his office, shall hold, teach and preach the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church." To Mr. White it appears "an indubitable fact, that sincere Roman Catholics cannot conscientiously be tolerant;" and cannot conscientiously do their duty in a British Parliament without moral guilt! Such is his view of Catholic emancipation.

We should be glad to add his sentiments on the unity of the Catholic Church, and on the nature of the Church of Christ; in which, though we might not subscribe to every thing, yet there

thoughtless, and disgust the virtuous. Such pest-houses, there is too much reason to conclude, have often become direct avenues to brothels, dungeons, and public executions.

From these caterers to the worst passions of our corrupted nature, we gratefully turn to those venerated patrons of early piety, who, in providing mental aliment, which may at once strengthen the understanding and fortify the heart, have successfully combined solid instruction with interesting narration and poetic beauty; heightened by chaste graphical illustrations. We are happy to say, that the AMULET is eminently a publication of this description, from whose pages, would our confined limits allow, we would gladly transcribe. We hope this elegant little volume will meet with liberal encouragement. Whoever may wish, at this season of the year, to present their youthful friends with an acceptable token of their regard, will find this work admirably adapted to their purpose.

condition on this very account, and have sought to make their escape from it, in the which they felt nothing but aversion and dishope of getting quit of a subject towards like. With this view, such persons have been known successively to withdraw themselves from situations where they could not avoid having the unwelcome topic frequently had been graciously arrested in their infabrought under their notice; and some who tuated attempt thus to make their escape from the compassion and mercy which pursued them, have been heard to acknowledge, that when, after placing themselves in circumstances where they hoped to have been set at liberty from their former bondage, they found that they were still in contact with some who could not remain indifferent to their spiritual interests, they felt as if they had been doomed to a most painful persecution, and longed for a condition where they of their souls' concerns, as for a state of pershould be altogether let alone on the subject manent and undisturbed repose. These are matters of fact, and that they are of no rare occurrence is, I fear, but too evident, when we bear in mind, that many, whose spiritual advantages in early life have been greatest, nent in guilt, even among their guiltiest asare found at a future period to be pre-emi

Sermons by the Rev. Robert Gordon, D.D. | often happened also, that they who have been Minister of Hope Park Chapel, St. Cuth-so situated, have been dissatisfied with their bert's, Edinburgh. pp. 477. We do not recollect, at any time, to have perused a volume of Sermons better adapted to detect and improve the moral and spiritual condition of the reader than that which we now introduce. Our estimate of their value will be easily ascertained, when we remark, that were it necessary to institute a comparison, we could be at no loss to give names whose brilliant, ingenious, and pathetic discourses might even more than parallel any thing of this description to be found in the Work before us; though had it been the primary design of the author to have shone in these qualities, he has afforded no equivocal evidence of his competency to have attained his object. But if a faithful representation of man's alienation of heart from his Maker, if a humbling development of the wretched and ineffectual expedients he adopts to obtain reconciliation, if a copious and impressive utterance of the method of redeeming love, if the most salutary directions as to the way in which this re-sociates. lief is to be sought, so as to secure the most enlarged enjoyment of its sublime advantages and most successfully accomplish the intentions of its infinitely beneficent author, if appeals on these unspeakably important subjects, presented in perspicuous language, strengthened by forcible illustration and urged by affectionate admonition, entitle pub-thing deeply alarming in that very success? lished discourses to distinguished consideration, then, we conclude that these by Dr. Gordon must rank high in public approbation, and we sincerely hope they will be made extensively useful.

As an inducement to our readers to possess themselves of these valuable discourses we proceed to lay before them the following extracts; only premising that Dr. G.'s, continuous method makes this part of our duty somewhat difficult. "It has often happened, for example, that individuals have, by the providence of God, been placed in a condition the most favourable for becoming acquainted with divine truth, where it was frequently brought before them as the most interesting and important of all subjects, and urged upon their attention by every consideration that could render it impressive and affecting; but it has

When such, therefore, as are seeking to make their escape from all thoughts of God and of spiritual things, are permitted to succeed, when their worldly the circumstances in which they longed to schemes do so prosper, as to place them in be placed; and when they find themselves not only removed from all that can remind them of divine truth, but surrounded with every thing that tends to strengthen them in their hostility against it; is there not someIs it not like an intimation from providence, that God is about to withdraw himself from them, because they have sought to withdraw themselves from him? And does not the contemplation of such a state of spiritnal admonition of the prophet, Seek ye the desertion give unspeakable solemnity to the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon bim while he is near' ?” p. 148.

Most earnestly would we press upon the attention, especially of our young readers, what we have thus transcribed. Our narrow limits, and the claims of others, will not, at present, allow us to advance further. We hope, however, this work will obtain a circulation that will fully entitle us to anticipate that, at no distant period, it will become our duty to renew our attention to Dr.Gordon.