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I ther unconnected with our present subject \ —that during the interval he has seen no reason to alter his opinion relative to TertuUtan , Mr . R . and Mr , £ > ., nor been sufficiently at leisure to add one to the little stock of his ideas
on the subject of baptism . Perhaps , indeed , 'by suffering his thoughts to move in a different direction , he may have lost son > e of his original ideas , instead of adding to them : he is , however , now endeavouring to rally them , and to proceed , as nearly as he can , in the line of his former letter .
Enough , then , of one poor word , norint ; still it remains to shew , with respect to grossly misrepresenting and mistranslating Tertullian on the subject of baptism , with which your
Correspondent charged Mr . Robinson , that if the latter gentleman made a slip , he has himself made a fall , indeed many falls , and , in my humble opinion , of greater consequence on the subject of baptism .
The primary and generally-received rule for translation , is , to express the true idea , where that is possible , of the original ; and our practice , where conformity is required , is to be tried by the same rule . Now , without
inquiring at present whether the word baptism , in its different modes , according to the practices of different Christians , by sprinkling , affusion and immersion , can express the original idea affixed to it in the New Testament ,
1 beg leave to remind your readers , that with respect to Tertullian s that may be correctly ascertained : many passages in continuation , translated , both on the subject and mode of
baptism , having been give , n in a former Number of your Repository , and the more amply , that all readers might , in the proper place , have a rule for judging , vvhether Mr . R . or Mr . B . had delivered the true ideas of
Tertullian on the subject ; and to those passages the attention of your readers is now recalled . They shall be supposed then to have turned to surh passages : wild your Correspondent ., it is . hoped , will point out any rwisstjileirient or mistranslation on the subject of baptism , if any occur to him .
The subject of baptism ( your Correspondent ' s phrase ) embraces two ideas , the mode of baptism , and the person to be baptized . According to Mr . R . \ s representation of Tertullian ,,
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the mode was immersion , the person , one capable of being taught and of believing . According to Mr . B . the mode ought to have been sprinkling , and the subject a new-born babe . Now which of these best agrees with Tertiillian ' s description ? It is not
meant to say here that Mr . B . insinuates Tertullian approved his notion 5 on the contrary , lie maintains that the father disapproves Infant Baptism . He uniformly connectsTertullian with Infant Baptism ; arid in one place ( in his u Plea for Infant Baptism" ) he says , " that it is agreed on all hands , that Tertullian is the
first ecclesiastical writer by whom the baptism of infants is expressly mentioned ; " and then in a note , " it is very true , " &c . of which more in the proper places . Now , here , if your learned Correspondent is not guilty of a misrepresentation , he is , I apprehend , of a mistake . For even
his great friend Dr . Wall shall speak for the Paedobaptists , who , while explaining after his manner a passage in Hernias , * asserts the contrary , " This being to the same effect ( Dr . Waifs words } as our Saviour ' s embracing * infants , and saying , of such is
the kingdom of God . this is one of the reasons used ( hj Helenas ) to prove that they are fit to be admitted into the covenant of God ' s- grace and love by Baptism $ and whereas the Anti-Poeclo baptists expound our Saviour ' s words ,- not of children themselves , but of men that are of an innocent
temper , like children ; not only that is affirmed here , ( in Hermas , ) but it is 9 moreover , said of the infants themselves * that they are greatly valued and esteemed of God . "—Nay , farther , notwithstanding this learned pleader ' s
large way of talking concerning its being on all hands agreed concerning-Tertullian and Infant Baptism , with all due deference to his authorities , I venture to affirm , that Tcrtujlian , in rhe Treatise de Saptisrnoy never once speaks of Infant Baptism . Your
* Hernias , Pastor . Lib . iii . Simil . ix . C 29 . It matters not that Dr . Wall lms either misrepresented or mistaken the meaning qf Hermas , ( which indeed he lias , ) he says enough to prove what credit is to be given to Mr . B . about its being on all hands agreed ^ &c . See WalPs Hist , of Infant Baptism , 1 . 41 . Edit . 1819 .
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On Mr . Robinsons "History of Baptism" 60 Q
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1819, page 609, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1777/page/21/
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