Chapter I: PERSUADE myself you will receive with your wonted kindness a few words (3)

No: repentance and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ are indispensably
necessary in all cases previously to any _saving_ benefits being
derived from the use of this sacrament. Repentance and faith, however,
though previously necessary, are in nowise the _meritorious_ and
_procuring_ cause of these benefits; they form only a preparatory and
necessary meetness for a due reception of them.

9. But are not infants, although incapable of either repentance or faith, invariably regenerated, renewed, and sanctified in and by this sacrament?

All that are baptized are said to be regenerated, because the outward
ordinance is a sign or emblem of “spiritual regeneration.” And nothing
is more common, both in Scripture and in ancient writings, than the use
of a term which only denotes the _sign_ for the _thing signified_. And
in the judgment of Christian charity, in all cases when this sacrament
is rightly received, and the after conduct corresponds with the
professions therein made, we may conclude that they partake, as of the
sign, so also of the thing signified.

10. What do you understand by the sacrament being “rightly received”?

The sacrament is rightly received in infant baptism, when the parents
and sponsors have just scriptural views of its nature and design, and
present children to be baptized in obedience to the authority of God;
simply, humbly, and sincerely depending upon his unmerited grace and
favour in Christ Jesus; and are truly desirous that the child so
presented by them, may become “the faithful soldier and servant of the
Lord Jesus Christ;” and when the sponsors themselves exercise
repentance, whereby “they forsake sin, and faith, whereby they
stedfastly believe the promises of God made to them in that sacrament.”
In all such cases we have “a presumptive certainty” that spiritual
regeneration commences in the ordinance; for then it is “_rightly
received_.”

11. What is the best _after_ proof of this?

The best after proof which children can give of this is, the fulfilment
of those promises and engagements made for them by their sponsors in
their baptism.

12. And what were the promises and engagements?

“That they should renounce the devil and all his works, the pomps and
vanity of this wicked world, and all the sinful lusts of the flesh;
that they should believe all the articles of the Christian faith; and
that they should keep God’s holy will and commandments, and walk in
the same all the days of their life.”—_Ch. Cat._

13. But how do you show that children in after life are bound to fulfil those engagements made for them by others, at this unconscious period of their infancy?

They are bound to do so by the obligation which they themselves owe to
God, inasmuch as their parents or spiritual guardians entered into such
engagements only, on their behalf, as each individual is bound to
fulfil, whether such engagements had or had not been entered into by
others.

TEMPERANCE.

PUBLIC opinion is, through God’s mercy, effecting much among us. Much bitterness, indeed, still exists in some, as well as most determined opposition. But the work is of God, and I feel a blessed assurance that much good will eventually be done. I am beginning to perceive with much thankfulness that the Temperance Society is an important engine in aid of all my ministerial plans—a kind of stepping stone to the church and to piety; and I am careful to watch all its movements, and to follow up every indication for good.

* * * * *

THE following letter, addressed to the Rev. John Cooper, it is presumed may not unsuitably close the preceding Memoir. The writer, who so affectionately expresses his deep obligations to the late Mr. Mortimer, has been for many years the faithful minister of a large parish in Shropshire, very near the scene of Mr. M.’s former labours in that county.

W— Vicarage, June 18, 1845.

My dear Friend,