6
an opinion and corresponding practice has been adopted by the great majority of Christians, completely opposed to these plain declarations of the word of God; and that opinion, too, entertained and defended by men of learning and piety, who, in every other matter regarding the will of Christ, have clear and scriptural views; but; who, in endeavouring to make the Scriptures suit their preconceived (but doubtless sincere) views on this subject, have obscured the meaning and perverted the design of an ordinance full of important instruction to the believer; nay, we will venture to assert, that the arguments used to establish their opinions, are subversive of a fundamental principle in the christian system. (See † page 8)
Our limits will not permit any lengthened examination of those arguments by which Such (we will say) an unscriptural practice is supported; we will nevertheless briefly notice some of them, and leave the reader to judge how far they agree with Scripture authority on the subject.
Though the advocates of infant-baptism generally acknowledge that there is neither "express precept" or "indisputable example" in the Word of God, in support of it, yet they think it may be established by analogy and inference. It certainly evinces a great poverty of argument where nothing better can be produced. It is no less than a reflection on the wisdom of the institutor. Has he appointed an ordinance to be observed by his followers, and does he leave them to the uncertain deduc-
