t, following his death for sin, and so
completing the idea of dying, is enough to have suggested the figure, I
think, of our being not only dead with Christ, but buried with him, by a
Christian profession; that is, we utterly cease from the world and sin,
professedly, as Christ not only died, but went into the tomb. But what
does "risen" refer to in that passage,--the water or death?--"from
whence also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of
God."

_Mr. M._ Why, how do you understand it?

_Mr. K._ I prefer, if you please, that you should answer. Many
understand it thus: "You are buried in water, to denote death to sin;
you are lifted up out of the water (as Christ was lifted up by the
Baptist), to live a new life." If this be so, what is "the operation of
God," which is spoken of there? Does it need any such "operation" for
an immersed person to rise out of the water? No, my dear sir, our
interpretation makes plain and thorough work of the whole passage. Our
idea of that controverted passage (your great proof-text) is this: You,
Christian professors, were, all of you, baptized, on profession of your
faith;--when you made a Christian profession, you signified by it your
dying unto sin, as Christ died for it, so that, I may say, you were dead
and buried to sin. But, as Christ came to life again, so you rose with
him, not to sin, but to live a new life. Hear Dr. Watts on the passage:

"Do we not know that solemn word,
That we are buried with the Lord,
Baptized into his death, and then
Put off the body of our sin?

"Our souls receive diviner breath,
Raised from corruption, guilt and death;
So from the grave did Christ arise,
And lives to God above the skies."

I do not believe that the mode of baptism is alluded to at all in this
text.

_Mr. K._ I cannot agree with you, sir. The contrary is perfectly clear
to my own mind.

"Mr. M.," said Mrs. Kelly, "do you think that you and Mr. K. would ever
think alike on this subject?"

"Never," said I. "People almost always end where they began, when they
discuss this topic; only they do not always leave off in such
good-nature as Mr. K. and I intend to do. I never knew a person to
change his views to either side, unless he began as an inquirer, and not
as an advocate."

"What is the reason," said Mrs. K., "that good people are left to differ
so about unessential things in religion, when they all hold to the same
way of