he church's increase_. The selection
of Abraham, with a view to make of his lineage, the banks, within whose
defensive influences grace should find helps in making its way in this
ungodly world, had reference, I believe, to that power of hereditary
family influence, which has not ceased, and will not cease, to the end
of time. It is beautiful and affecting to see that recognition of our
free agency, and that unwillingness ever to interfere with it, which
leads the Most High to fall in with the principles of our nature
established by himself, in placing his chief reliance on the natural
love of parents for their offspring to contribute, by far, the larger
part of those who shall be converted. In this arrangement and
expectation do we not find the deep roots of infant baptism? which thus
appears to be neither Jewish nor Gentile, but grows out of our nature
itself, which also requires, which demands, some rite, a symbolic sign
and seal. God made the children of Adam partakers with him of his curse;
so that the parental and filial relation was, from the beginning made a
stream to bear along the consequences of the first transgression. No
new thing, therefore, was instituted when God, in calling Abraham,
appointed the parental and filial relation to bear, on its deep and
mighty stream, the most powerful means of godliness in all coming
generations. How little do we think of this, Mr. Chairman, and brethren;
how apt we are to neglect this great arrangement of divine providence
and grace,--the perpetuation of the church, chiefly by means of the
parental and filial relation. But, if such be the divine appointment,
and the children of believers are therefore the most hopeful sources of
the church's increase, of course they may be said to belong to the
church, in a peculiar sense, but without being "_members_."

_Mr. A._ I think you are coming on very well toward my ground. I
certainly agree with you thus far.

_Mr. R._ If I am not taking up too much time, Mr. Chairman, I should
like to proceed a little further, in order to do full justice to my
views. If I am found to agree with Br. A., it will be just as pleasant
as though he agreed with me.

_Chairman._ Please to proceed. Two things which are equal to the same
thing, are equal to each other.

_Mr. R._ I will, then, say, once more:

_The children of believers are the subjects of preeminent privileges and
blessings._ Special promises are made to them from love to their
par