are not altogether without apprehension, that by something approaching
to a profound silence in certain quarters, or it may be by something
even more beneath the dignity of Christian criticism, the powerful,
though eminently temperate, appeals of these luminous pages may obtain a
perusal far less extensive than is consistent either with the interests
of truth, or the merits of its advocates.

Deprecating such a result of these distinguished efforts, we enter upon
a more particular notice of the first of these publications. The author
designates himself "a member of the Church of England;" and his design
is "to prove that it is inconsistent with the principles of the New
Testament" to baptize unconscious infants. The work is divided into ten
sections, prefaced by a most respectful but spirit-stirring letter "to
the Editor of the Christian Observer." From this admirable appeal we
extract as follows:--

"This work is the result of many reflections, excited at
different times, through a long series of years, by the reading
of many articles and discussions in the Christian Observer. The
practice of admitting infants to the sacrament of baptism, I
apprehend, must appear to almost all reflecting persons, at
some times, to be of a very dubious character; and if it shall
appear that the fair tendency of those parts of your work which
I refer to, is to render it still more so, then I am persuaded
that you will allow that the publication is, without
impropriety, thus offered to your notice."

He adds:--

"The question respecting the propriety of admitting infants to
the sacrament of baptism must, I conceive, before long, become
a subject of grave discussion _within_ the church. Then the
real importance of the question will become manifest, and it
will be found necessary that it should be more comprehensively
considered in all its bearings, than it has hitherto been. With
regard to the question, as it stands between the church and the
Antipaedobaptist party, excepting the question--whether it is
the duty of Christian governors to promote Christianity--this,
respecting infant baptism, is of more real importance than _all
others_ in dispute between the church and _orthodox_
dissenters.

"The reading of the papers in an early volume of your work, on
Dr. Taylor's Key to the Apostolical Writings, first excited