ressions
of interest in him, began to reach after him, and respond to his pleased
looks; nor did he cease his efforts to go to him, till he felt the
minister's hand upon his forehead from behind, when he turned his large,
beautiful eyes into the face of the minister, with silent wonder at
being apparently spoken to with so unusual a manner and tone. A hush
went through the congregation.

The young couple next presented their little Alice, and gave place to
the widow's household. Was there a dry eye in the house? Signs of
weeping came from all sides. Mortimer was led by his arm in his mother's
hand, and was baptized. Sarah loosened her straw bonnet, and let it fall
back from her head, to receive the simple rite; when the widow lifted
the little boy, who had never known a father's love, and the pastor,
after waiting a moment to control his emotions sealed him in the name of
our redeeming God.

After an involuntary pause for a few moments, owing to the deep emotion
in the congregation, poor Josey was led forward. Minister and
congregation seemed to make but slight impression upon him; Henry
Ferguson was the charm throughout; he even turned his head, while the
minister's hand was on it, to smile at the child. The promise was not
only to those believing parents, all of them, and to their own children,
but to him that was afar off; his new parents having availed themselves
of the large covenant of grace, to invoke its promised blessings upon
him, on the ground of their faith. "May these parents," said the pastor
in his prayer, "remember, in all times of solicitude and trouble with
this dear dependent child, that the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, in whose
name he is baptized, can have access to his mind, 'making wise the
simple;' and may that blessed Spirit make him his care."

Part of the time, while the hymn following the baptism was read and
sung, I found myself pursuing some thoughts which the interesting scene
just witnessed had suggested.

Why, I asked myself, could not these parents have been satisfied with
dedicating these children at home, without this public and special act
of consecration?

I was at no loss for an answer. The same reason applies as when one
seeks admission to the church of Christ, by a public profession of
religion, either by appearing before a congregation and assenting to a
covenant, or to be confirmed, or to be immersed in water. Offering a
child in baptism is making a public profession of re