lue.

_Mr. M._ True, sir, but it has its importance, and stress is to be laid
upon the due observance of it.

_Dr. D._ I mean that where I find the conditions of valid baptism
complied with, I try to turn away the thoughts from any superstitious or
ceremonial dependence upon the sacramental act. You remember the answer
in the catechism to the question, "How do the sacraments become
effectual means of salvation?"

_Mr. M._ How I used to say that, at my mother's knee, with my hands
folded behind me, to keep them still: "The sacraments become effectual
means of salvation, not from any virtue in them, or in him that doth
administer them, but only by the blessing of Christ, and the working of
his spirit in them that by faith receive them."

_Dr. D._ I was thinking, the other day, and not for the first time, by
any means, what a noble man was Paul. He was unwilling that people
should call themselves after him, as their leader, and therefore he was
glad to leave the act of baptizing to his associates. Some, however,
infer from this that he disparages baptism. "Christ sent me not to
baptize, but to preach the gospel." Baptism, in its place, has its
importance, and so has preaching; but whether he should be the baptizer,
or delegate the administration to Silas, or Mark, was not of so much
consequence as that he should preach. How he put things in their right
places, according to their proportions, exalting the great, vital
things, sinking others to their subordinate, though useful, spheres, and
becoming all things to all men to save them. With his contempt of
formalism, I hardly know of a greater trial of patience than he must
have had in consenting to circumcise Timothy. He there shut the
window-shutters, and lighted an exhausted lamp, for a time, though he
knew the sun was up, to gratify some who had not opened their eyes to
the morning. How far from a contentious, ambitious spirit, was he, even
with his intense convictions. There are many good people, in all
communions, who are longing for the time when all the old walls of
separation between true Christians will have as many gates in them, at
least, as heaven has,--on the east three gates, on the north three
gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. But I
rejoice even in our liberty, if we choose to exercise it, of separation,
without molestation, though we lose much good to ourselves, and much
influence, and, in times of general religious interest, i