ERRATA.

Page 402, line 26, for "it was those only," read "it was not those only."

Page 402, line 29, for" that apostle," read" the apostle."

Page 497, line 32, for "benefit to unbelievers," read "no benefit to unbelievers."

THE TRIAL.

MY LORD, AND GENTLEMEN OF THE JURY,

I feel myself highly honoured in being selected from among all my learned brethren to plead this great cause before you, which I may very properly, by way of preeminence, designate THE CAUSE, for it is without a parallel. Compared with this, all the causes that have heretofore been brought before a court of judicature sink into insignificance, and appear less than nothing and vanity. Notwithstanding, I do flatter myself that I shall be able to bring it to a successful issue; particularly as I see before me an enlightened and impartial judge, and an attentive and intelligent jury; who will, I am persuaded, do my clients strict justice.

This cause has agitated the world for nearly eighteen hundred years; and although the generality of christians have long been reconciled to the views which we take of it, there are still a few individuals, composing a small, illiterate, factious party, who by arrogating to themselves the right of private judgment, in opposition to the decision of the learned of all ages, continue the agitation, and have prevented its being wholly set at rest. For as often as my clients endeavour to show unto the world the errors of their opponents, so often one or other of them attempts to counteract their design, and sometimes in so specious a manner as to make our cause appear at least questionable. To bring, then, the controversy to a termination, to silence for ever the party, and to consign to oblivion them and their delusive

B

doctrines, is the object for which I present myself before

you.

This trial, Gentlemen, arises out of a difference of opinion entertained, as I have before stated, by two opposite parties, on the express meaning of two particular clauses in a Will or Testament, which conveys the richest gifts ever bequeathed to man. I believe it is the opinion of many of the defendants, and some even go so far as positively to assert, that unless the commission be executed according to the strict letter of the Will, or in that particular way in which they contend the great Testator designed that it should be observed, the party so neglecting, or refusing to comply, or substituting any other thing, does thereby forfeit all his right and interest in the said Will. And further, they affirm that the particular clauses in question are expressed in language so plain and familiar, and in terms so direct and positive, that none but such as are either wilfully blind or perversely obstinate can put thereon any other construction, than that which to them appears to be their plain, simple, and obvious meaning. But it will appear in the

course of this trial, from the evidence I shall be able to adduce, (supported by the greatest authorities in the land, and by men the most celebrated in every country in Christendom for learning, erudition, and deep research, who have flourished throughout the whole of the period that this cause has been the subject of discussion,) that the clauses in question do admit of a different construction, and may be differently interpreted.

The first of the clauses to which I allude, is thus expressed in the Will-"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you."* The second, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.”+ Now, Gentlemen of the Jury, before I proceed any further, it will be necessary to inform you of the manner in which my clients have proceeded to acquire a knowledge of the

general bearing of the Will, and of these intricate clauses in particular; which has been as follows. The greatest portion of them, under the special favour and protection of, and aided by, the state, have joined together, and spared neither expense nor labour to ascertain their true meaning. For this purpose, towns have been set apart, and sumptuous colleges have been erected and richly endowed, for the instruction of youth; to which the nobles and rich men of the land have sent, and still continue to send, their sons. To be well instructed in the nature and design of this Will has been thought a matter of such importance, that, to induce the youths to study it with diligence and attention, the highest offices of the state are proposed to them as rewards for their attainments therein; and the greatest honours that the king can bestow are conferred upon the most eminent, even the dignity of taking precedence of all the nobles of the land.

With such inducements to study, and such advantages as these, it is natural to conclude that they, and they only, are likely to attain a correct understanding of the clauses; and we accordingly find that, with few exceptions, they have been unanimous in declaring that the word “baptize,” in the said clauses, signifies no more than the sprinkling of a few drops of water upon the face of an infant, which they contend is the baptism therein commanded, and that in this manner it is effectually administered. And in order to make the second clause accord with the first, three persons, named sponsors, are appointed, who are denominated godfathers and godmothers; if the child be a boy, two of the former and one of the latter; if a girl, two of the latter and one of the former; and these, at the christening of the child, engage to believe for it, become its sureties, and promise in its name that it shall renounce the devil and all his works, and conduct itself in a manner becoming an heir of the great promise. Should the child be healthy, there is a clause limiting the term of this guarantee to the period when it shall become of age; but if it should be of a sickly constitution, this clause is then omitted; I presume, on the

supposition that the child is not expected to live. Now, Gentlemen, I appeal to you if any better scheme could possibly be devised by man? For all the children of parents of this persuasion are assured of their heirship; while, on the contrary, if left to themselves (as our opponents, I understand, mean to argue that they ought to be), perhaps not one of a thousand of those who are now considered as faithful observers of all the precepts of the Will would so much as conform to the very first of its requirements. This shows the necessity and utility of our plan; and the great advantage of it is, that when they die, they are reckoned a part of one great family, and their remains are interred with the following endearing declaration of the minister-"We commit the body of our DEAR BROTHER to the ground, ‘in sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life."" In daily witnessing this last ceremony, those present are led to see, that all so dying are in reality the true heirs appointed by the Will. What a consoling circumstance to all the by-standers, to know that, in their turn, the same thing will be said of each of themselves! Thus you see, Gentlemen, that my clients show the same christian charity to all their members; and this they are constrained to show, for it would be "a conceit which revelation warrants not, and which reason and experience disclaim," to have two kinds of services for baptized christians. They therefore in every instance "meekly beseech the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ to raise us from the death of sin unto the life of righteousness; that when we shall depart this life, we may rest in him, as OUR HOPE IS THIS OUR BROTHER (OR SISTER) DOTH." Could we, Gentlemen, have greater inducements than these, to be attached to our beloved church, and to uphold her to the utmost of our power?

All my clients, however, are not exactly of one opinion— they differ in trifling things; a portion of them, instead of sending their children to the public colleges, send them to private academies, which they think answers the same purpose; they sprinkle their infants, but with some of them sponsors are dispensed with; though I am informed, in such