| 213 and that 'death,' the 'wages of sin,' 'reigned over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression; that is to say, over infants." We grant this, that in consequence of the fall, that death has reigned over all, but not the second death; no; 'for as in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be made alive.' Thus has the atoning sacrifice of our glorious Redeemer removed the curse of original sin from all the posterity of Adam, and man only becomes accountable unto God for what, as a rational intelligence he can be hold responsible for. And we would remind the rev gentleman, that whether infants have undergone the ordinance of his church or not, which we repeat is a solemn mockery before God, that of such is the kingdom of heaven.-By the fall of Adam his whole race were brought under condemnation, but through the fall of man obtained a knowledge of good and evil.-The atonement of Jesus has been amply sufficient to remove from a fallen world this original condemnation, and leaving us in the possession of the knowledge we have obtained of good and evil, we now according to our condition stand or fall before him.
But to assert that infants, who are not responsible agents, required an ordinance of baptism to obtain remission, is to slight the atonement of Jesus and tacitly declare that it is not sufficiently efficacious to cancel the misfortune of being borne [born] of sinful parents. Were we to suppose for a moment that his absurd doctrine were true, then let us suppose again that one of his order was unable to arrive in time to administer this ordinance, and the little infant expires before the performance of this rite, what are the consequences according to his doctrine? The child is gone to hell, to never-ending punishment. We will quote his words and say, 'hear this ye parents! Your lovely babe, over whose dying throes you hung with such anxiety, according to the horrible doctrine of this divine, is lost forever, because it has not undergone the 'solemn mockery' of infant sprinkling!!!
"The heresies in doctrine and errors in practice into which these teachers would lead their deluded followers, are supported, however, by a claim to the possession of supernatural powers; to a very brief consideration of which pretence [pretense] I request your attention. The powers claimed are three-fold,-the gift of tongues and their interpretation; of prophecy, visions, and the like; for miracles: and all these pretences [pretenses] are borrowed from other sects, which, even within our own memory, have been permitted to try our steadfastness in the faith."
We can afford the rev. gentleman to speak slightingly of the gifts of the spirit of God, for we know that his reiterated opinions can never alter truth, and that they who have been raised from beds of sickness by the ordinances of God's house, will be no less grateful to the Lord for his mercies, because Archdeacon Mant is pleased to deny them,. The ear that has been closed for a quarter of a century, and that is now open to listen to the word of life, will not close again in silence, because the fact may be questioned, neither will the eyes that were once veiled in
"Such black night as saw not with the day
All round it,'
but which have since been opened by the power of God, cease to sparkle with a grateful lustre [luster[ as they drink in the radiant beams of heaven. Let the learned divine close his eyes to the word of God, or shut his ears to the testimony of the Saints of God, he cannot mar their bliss, he cannot make one joy the less. We have extended our remarks already too much, but we cannot close without another quotation from the sermon.
"In the next place: avoid all arguments with those who have embraced any of these strange notions. Be assured, the devil will be ready enough to make them seem plausible and fair to you, and you have no right to expect God will support you in a contest or argument into which you needlessly throw yourselves. Avoid these false teachers, and their disciples, and be satisfied to 'hold fast the form of sound words' delivered by the Church of Christ through the agency of rightly ordained ministers.
Lastly: beware of that curious disposition, that itchingness of the ears, which leads men in these days to run after preaching wherever it is to be found-which is still seeking some new thing; and that false liberality, or rather irregular freedom which leads men, for the sake of hearing this or that preacher, to run as indifferently to the dissenting meeting, or to the Methodist preaching house, or to any other denomination of sectaries, as they would go to church' to be edified by the prayers, instructed by the doctrine, and nourished by the sacraments administered there by the duly ordained ministers of Christ,"
We think our last extract needs no comment and will venture, notwithstanding the gentleman's counter advice, to conclude with the words of Paul, "Prove all things, and hold fast that which is good."
DREAM OF SISTER ROBINSON, OF THE ISLE OF MAN.
At the time this dream was given (May 10, 1842) there was a great religious excitement
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