istian
names. They christen their children to give them a name; and often with
them this holy sacrament is as empty as the name. Their baptism, in their
view, is but the sealing and confirming the name they had before chosen for
the child; and when this is done they have no more thought of the baptism.
With them the baptism of their children is the ordinance of name-giving.
Before it takes place they are busied about getting a name from the most
approved, and fashionable novels of the day. This takes the place of
dedication. Their prior thoughts are all absorbed in getting a strange,
new-fangled name,--such an one as will carry you away by association to
some love-sick tale, or remind you of the burning of Rome, or some other
deed which has disgraced humanity. And then as soon as this is done, they
fix upon some auspicious occasion when either in the church or in the
presence of a select company at home, (for children cry now-a-days too much
to bring them to church) they have their pastor to baptize them.

Perhaps a great feast is prepared; godfathers and godmothers (if they have
the warrant of some valuable presents) are chosen; and then in all the
glare and parade of fashion, they have the ordinance administered. And what
then is the first joyful cry of the fond parents, after the solemn ceremony
is ended? Why "now, dear, you have your name!" And this is the end,--yes,
the finale of the vows there made before God,--the end of all until God
shall call them to account!

It requires but very little discrimination to see that in all this the
nature, design, and obligations of Christian baptism are left totally out
of view. They do not here appreciate this ordinance as a channel for the
communication of God's grace to their children. When baptized they do not
regard them as having been received into gracious relation to God, as
plants in the Lord's vineyard, as having put on Christ, and as having their
ingrafting into Him not only signified but sealed. Thus being undervalued,
it is, as a consequence, abused and neglected.

The great neglect of Christian baptism is doubtless owing to the low,
unscriptural views of its nature and practical importance; for if they
realized its relations to the plan of salvation, and its office in the
appropriation of that salvation to their children, they would not permit
them to grow up unbaptized, neither would they be recreant to the solemn
duties which are binding upon the parent after i