waved-Or thus: Baptifm was made for MAN; and not MAN for Baptifm. If, therefore, through any change of national Custom, or of Climate, the form of Dipping in Baptifm fhould become odd and unbecoming (as the Love-Kifs would now be) hazardous to the Health, or troublesome to the Disciples, it might then innocently be waved; and a Form lefs burthenfome and difagreeable be fubftituted in it's Room.

AND here I beg leave to afk-Whether a strict Adherence to Dipping the baptized, would not, probably, be attended with as much Danger and Inconvenience to the Bodies of the Disciples now; as a strict obfervance of the fabbatical Reft would have been to the twelve Apostles, when going through the Field of Corn? In other Words-Whether it be not as much Mercy to excufe fome at least (viz. new-born Infants, weakly and unhealthful Perfons, and even all others throughout the Winter Season, in these northern and cold Climates) from being totally plunged in Baptifm; as it was to excufe the twelve from forbearing to pluck and rub the Corn on the Sabbath Day?

It enters into the nature of Things ritual and circumftantial, to be mutable, tranfient and liable to be changed. As they are often but an Adoption of fome national Custom (which is apparently the Cafe as to the Inftitution of Baptifm) or, an Accomodation of a common Ufage to fome Purpose in Religion; So, they are alterable in their Nature; and are themfelves in fome Measure to be accommodated to prevailing Customs and Taftes; to the feveral Countries, Climates, and Tempers of Mankind. This, I apprehend, is the only Reafoning on which it is poffible to justify our Difufe of the primitive, apoftolic Practice of faluting with a Kifs of Love, in our wor'fhipping Affemblies. The Cuftom of thofe antient Times rendered fuch Salutations neither odd nor ridi

culous: But fhould the practice be introduced into our prefent Churches, and Worship; it needs not be faid with how juft an offence!

Now, if, for NO OTHER REASON than a change of national Custom, we lay afide this undoubtedly antient, APOSTOLIC, religious Ceremony, the Kifs of Charity; Why fhould not a like change of national Custom, with regard to Bathing the whole Body, be allowed to justify it's Difufe in the Ceremony of Baptifm? For a Woman, in thin Apparel, before a multitude of Spectators, to go into the Water, and be taken into the Arms of him who officiates, and be laid under the Water, is, in the present Nation and Age, an equally indecent and difagreeable Sight, as for Men, at the conclufion of public Prayers, to falute one another with a Kifs of Charity or Peace.

To conclude-If, after all that hath been faid, any ftill think it their indifpenfible Duty to baptize by Immersion only; let them, by all means, thus baptize; But then, we befeech them to forbear all fevere Cenfures of those, who are not Dipt. Let them not reprefent us as perfons unbaptized withdraw from our Churches-refufe Communion with us, at the common Table of our LORD, upon fo trifling a difference. This, furely, were to dishonour our facred Religion; and too naturally brings not only chriftian Baptifm, but CHRISTIANITY it felf, into manifeft Contempt.

Let us therefore, according to the apoftolic Precept-receive one another, but not to doubtful Difputations. To maintain an Unity of Spirit, by mutual Forbearance, and to live together in perfect Charity, is a Matter of infinitely more Importance, than the Quantity of Water, or the Manner of it's Application, with which a Perfon is baptized. For the Kingdom of GOD is not Meat and Drink, but Righteousness, and Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghoft. And

the

the End of the Commandment is CHARITY; out of a pure Heart, and of a good Confcience, and of Faith unfeigned.

Now the GOD of Patience and Confolation grant us to be like minded one towards another, according to Chrift Jefus. That we may with one Mind, and one Mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift. Amen.

FINIS.

Published by the fame AUTHOR.

THE

BAPTISM

O F

INFANTS,

A

Reasonable Service;

Founded upon SCRIPTURE, and undoubted APOSTOLIC TRADITION:

In which

It's Moral Purposes and Use in Religion are shewn.

Printed for J. Waugh, at the Turk's-Head, Lombard-Street.

BAPTISM

O F

INFANTS,

A

REASONABLE SERVICE;

Founded upon SCRIPTURE, and undoubted APOSTOLIC TRADITION:

In which

Its MORAL PURPOSES and USE in RELIGION are fhewn.

Suffer the little Children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of fuch is the kingdom of GOD.

Mark x. 14.

The SECOND EDITION.

LONDON:

Printed and Sold by J. WAUGH, at the Turk's Head in Lombard-Street; and A. TOZER, in Exeter.

M DCC LIII.