rom
the mode of swearing would not be allowed, much less would he be
permitted to kneel, or to lie on his face, unless he were some devotee.
No; there is a prescribed form, and he must yield to it. It is also
said, that, if there were cases in the New Testament in which it were
doubtful, at least, whether immersion were not practised, we might argue
in favor of mixed modes. But immersion is baptism, in my view, because a
person who is immersed is sure to get affused; and, affusion with water
is all of the baptism which seems to me essential. Leaving those who
first departed from the apostolic mode of baptism by sprinkling, to
answer for themselves, no one, of course, will deny that those who
conscientiously think that they ought to be baptized by immersion, are
acceptable with God, as well as others who are of a contrary persuasion.
Paul speaks of "divers baptisms." There began to be such in his day. He
speaks also of the "doctrine of baptisms" (plural), showing the same
thing.

But I came near forgetting one thing, which I wished to say, which is,
that, in reading the Bible last evening, I found a new encouragement in
taking infants to the house of God.

_Mother._ I should like to hear anything new on that point. I thought
that everything had been exhausted which referred to that subject.

_Mr. M._ I mean that it was new to me. Luke says that the parents of
Jesus brought him to Jerusalem "to present him to the Lord," and that,
arriving there, they brought him into the temple to do for him after the
custom of the law. Now, I always carelessly thought that this meant
circumcision.

_Mother._ Of course it does; I always thought so.

_Mr. M._ No; for he had already been circumcised, when he was eight days
old. "And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the
child, they called his name Jesus." Then the next verse speaks of a
subsequent act: "When the days of her purification were accomplished
they brought him to Jerusalem." Mary could not have come to Jerusalem on
the eighth day; but, on the second occasion, she was present; for Simeon
addressed her. So that we have the example of the infant Saviour, in
bringing our infants into the temple; and, if we are scrupulous as to
following the Saviour in ordinances, we may as well begin by following
him into the temple, with our infants.

_Mother._ It is beautiful to think of Jesus, even in his infancy, as an
example, and that he was forerunner to the infa