f grace, I am happy to say, we have
no such custom, neither the churches of God.

_Mr. S._ Nor shall we probably ever see young people disciplined by the
churches, for not repenting and believing the Gospel. It is insisted on
as theoretically proper, but they have never ventured to carry it out in
practice.

Mr. C., the chairman, said, "Brethren, there is strong authority in
favor of the sermon. Since you have been talking, I have been looking
over Dr. Hopkins's works, to find this passage, which, if you please, I
will read. Dr. Hopkins says:

"Though under the milder dispensation of the Gospel, no one is to be put
to death for rejecting Christ and the Gospel, even though he were before
this a member of the visible church, yet he is to be cut off, and cast
out of the visible kingdom of Christ. And every child in the church, who
grows up in disobedience to Christ, and, in this most important concern,
will not obey his parents, is thus to be rejected and cut off, after all
proper means are used by his parents, and the church, to reclaim him,
and bring him to his duty. Such an event will be viewed by Christian
parents as worse than death, and is suited to be a constant, strong
motive to concern, prayer, and fidelity, respecting their children, and
their education; and it tends to have an equally desirable effect upon
children, and must greatly impress the hearts of those who are in any
degree considerate and serious."

Again: "When the children arrive at an age in which they are capable of
acting for themselves in matters of religion, and making a profession of
their adherence to the Christian faith, and practice, and coming to the
Lord's Supper, if they neglect and refuse to do this, and act contrary
to the commands of Christ in any other respect, all proper means are to
be used, and methods taken, to bring them to repentance, and to do their
duty as Christians, and, if they cannot be reclaimed, but continue
impenitent and unreformed, they are to be rejected and cast out of the
church, as other adult members are who persist in disobedience to
Christ."[8]

[Footnote 8: Hopkins's Works (1852), vol. ii., pp. 158, 176.]

"Such words, from such a source," said Mr. C., "are entitled to great
consideration."

"But," said Mr. S., "here is a passage from his own theological
instructor, President Edwards:

"It is asked,' he says, 'why these children, that were born in the
covenant, are not cast out when, in adult age, the