I HAVE chosen for this letter a subject that is more within your province than mine. Quis quis sua arte peritus. The 29th verse of the 15th chapter of the 1st Corinthians is deemed an obscure one. I understand it in a sense which satisfies me; but I find, that the few commentator's, whom I have consulted, understand it in other senses. I will subjoin the verse, and explain what I conceive to be the meaning of it, in a short paraphrase.

"TEXT. Else, what shall they do, who have been baptised for the dead, IF the dead rise not at all. Why are they then baptised for the dead?

"COMMENT. The apostle doubtless intended to include, in this verse, an argument to sup port the doctrine he was endeavoring to establish. That sense of it, therefore, is probably the true one, which gives the most strength and fitness to the argument. His meaning will perhaps be more perceptible, if

certain parts of the verse be transposed, as follows: Else, what shall they do, who, IF the dead rise not at all, have been baptised for the dead-Why are they then baptised for the dead?

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"As thus read, the converse of the proposition is plainly this: That they are not baptised for the dead, if the dead are to rise; but that they are baptised for the dead, if the dead are not to rise. So that the question, whether they are baptised for the dead or not, depends on the

answer to the question, whether they are to rise or not.

"PARAPHRASE. But Christ is risen and he will certainly raise our dead bodies from the grave. If it were not so, what are the believers to do, who in a confident hope and expectation of a resurrection, and as an assurance of it, have been baptised, and thus have become professed disciples of Christ? Baptism initiated them into his covenant and promise to revive, and re-unite their bodies with their souls after death; and to bless them with everlasting life in a future state. If there be no such revival, no such re-union, no such future state, their baptism, and faith, and hopes in the Gospel, are vain and nugatory. What are they to do? What can they do?

"They who were baptised into Christ, were baptised into his death. They were buried with him by baptism into death. They were planted together into the likeness of his death. And why? Certainly as an assurance, that they should be planted in the likeness of his resurrection. Divest baptism of a reference to a resurrection, and it will have no other remaining reference but the one to death and the dead.

“If the dead rise not at all, (as some among you say,) then, or on that supposition, all who have been baptised, are in fact baptised for the dead; i. e. for their own dead bodies, for their dust and ashes; for that is the only fu ture state, in which they will be and remain for ever, For what reason, or to what purpose, on that supposition are they baptised for their dead bodies?-dead, and

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never to rise again? What effect can baptism, or promises, or covenants operate on or for them, after they shall have passed into a state of utter and never-ending insensibility? Is it for such a future state that our bodies are baptised with water, and our souls with the Holy Ghost? "You know, that I preach and declare to the Jews and Gentiles, that Christ is risen, and that he will raise the dead? Unless I were sincere in this, should I persist in preaching it at the hourly risk, of my life? "If the dead are never to rise, what advantage or reward can I expect or receive for the persecutions and sufferings, which I willingly incur and endure, on account of my avowed and zeal ous adherence to Christ? Did I believe that this is the only world in which I am to exist, should I not endeavor to find and enjoy all the good and all the gratifica

tion which this world affords? It is natural for those who neither expect good nor evil beyond the grave, to say; Let us eat and drink for to-morrow we die. Nothing can be more manifest, than that, if in this world only we have hope in Christ, we, his persecuted apostles and followers, are of all men most miserable.

Be not deceived into doubts of a resurrection. You were not baptised for eternal sleep, but for endless life after death; and your baptism is a pledge to assure you of it. If you reject one of the assurances, or declarations, or promises of Christ, as fallacious, how are you to rely on the rest? Listen not to such teachers, lest their evil examples and communications should seduce you into opinions and practices repugnant to the principles and institutions, which are enjoined and established by the Gospel."

The following interesting account of a child, the son of Dr. Brodhead of NewYork, is taken from the Christian Monitor, and is particularly recommended to the attention of children.

CHARLES HOWARD BRODHEAD was a child of no common prom

ise. His temper was affectionate-his mind vigorous-his deportment sprightly and playful, but dutiful to his parents and respectful to all persons. His habits were strictly and éxemplarily moral, especially in his regard to truth. He was punc tiliously tenacious of his word, and noticed every departure from their word in others, how

ever slight and incidental. For the last two years of his life, he discovered a closeness of observation, a maturity of judgment and extent of understanding seldom found in the most promising children of his age. He thus excited in his parents and friends reasonable expectations that his manhood, if he should be spared, would be respectable and useful in a high degree. But it pleased God in his righteous and holy providence to cut him off from the land of the living in his eighth year. He died the 6th of March 1813, aged 7 years, 7 months, and 5 days.

For about three months before his death he was observed to be more attentive to serious things, than he had ever been before. In January last, he was attacked with the measles, which left him in a weak state. During the first stages of his convalescence he told his mother he wished to have a little HymnBook in which there was a hymn beginning with these lines:

"Tell me mamma if I must die One day, as little baby died?" His mother asked him where he had seen the book? He replied in school. Whether he knew the title? But he did not. He recollected nothing save these lines. The book after inquiry was found to be Hymns for Infant Minds, by the author of Original Poems for Infant Minds &c. and published in Boston, by S. T. Armstrong. The hymn which had arrested his attention was the 21st. Of this little volume he was very fond, and while his health would permit, read in it every day. His mind now appeared to be more than usually affected with religious impressions. One Sabbath morning his mother read for him, Hervey's Meditations among the tombs. He wept profusely at the description of the child's tomb, and was thoughtful for some time after. That he was attentive to family worship was evident, for he would sometimes make remarks to his mother about the chapter which was read or about something which he had noticed in prayer: and at other times ask the meaning of passages which he did not understand.

During the whole of his last

sickness which was a painful one, he manifested the greatest resignation to the divine will. Though he would sometimes talk of "getting well," yet he never expressed a desire to recover. On the contrary when asked if he was willing to die? answered uniformly, "Yes, to go to Jesus"-If he was willing to leave his dear parents to go to Jesus? "Yes," with the greatest composure. He was exceed ingly averse to medicine, and discovered great peevishness when he was urged to take it, until the third day of his illness. Then his temper in this respect evidently underwent a great change; for he received whatever was given him afterwards without any hesitation or difficulty. He submitted to repeated bleedings and the process of cupping without a murmur, nay, with cheerfulness. Whilst his body was suffering from these painful operations, his mind was active, for he observed many little things, which escaped the notice of others in the room and made them the subject afterwards of appropriate and pleasant re

marks.

To the servant man, who expressed his willingness to die, if he thought he was as good as he, the boy answered, "Well, be good and believe in the Lord Jesus and you need not fear." When his mother came up stairs afterwards, the servant being gone, he said, "I believe Ris a Christian." Being asked why he thought so? he answered he had been talking with him, and added, "I believe he is a Chriştian."

On the Friday morning of the week, when he was taken down

with his last illness, he read the 23d Psalm, requesting his moth. er to mark it. Perceiving that she was affected, he said to her "Don't weep for me." In the afternoon he wished her to read it to him. She asked him if he knew who the rod and the staff was, that he might lean upon; he answered, "the Lord Jesus Christ." She read for him also the 41st, hymn in the little volume already noticed, entitled, 'A Child's Prayer in Sickness.' He stopped her twice to ask the meaning of some words, and, when she had finished, he said, "That just suits me."

That afternoon he gave his Hymn Book as a bequest to a cousin with this address: "Here E-, remember me by this book; read the hymns; remember what you read; they have been useful to me." To a young person residing in the family, he gave Janeway's token with his advice to use it right. He spoke to others of the family in a pertinent and pointed manner, recommending to all, attention to the one thing needful.

Being asked if he thought he was a sinner? he said "Yes." Whether he thought the blood of Christ could cleanse him? "Oh yes."

On another occasion when asked what kind of a place heaven was? he answered a place of glo

ry.

What were the employments of the saints? singing Hallelujahs. If he would like to be there, singing Hallelujahs? "Yes, but if I should go to hell". and stopped without completing the sentence. This was the only instance in which he discovered any thing like a doubt with respect to his happy death. To VOL. IX.

a lady who asked him, if he was in great pain, he answered, "Yes, but the blood of Christ cleanseth from all pain.”

was

The following account furnished by one of those young ladies who kindly and affectionately aided the parents and friends, in administering to the wants of this afflicted, but comforted child. She had long been intimate in the family and therefore the child knew her well and was familiar with her. She embraced the opportunity which a night spent in watching by his bed-side gave her of conversing with him. "My dear Howard," said she, "you appear to suffer a great deal; and if I could, I would willingly bear a part: but your Heavenly Father will not put more upon you than you are able to bear. No I know he will not. You ought to feel thankful that God has given you such a Savior, who can and will alleviate your pain and soothe your dying pillow." 'Yes I do.' "You love that Savior?' 'Oh yes: don't you Miss? Yes I know you do.' 'Where dear boy do you rest your hopes?' 'On the Lord Jesus Christ. 'Are you not afraid to die?' With a smile he replied, "Oh no.' 'Has death no terrors to you?' 'No, Jesus Christ can support me.' 'When you think of dying, do you not: feel any regret at leaving your parents and friends?' 'No.' A pause. None.' Then you expect to find a better friend in heaven than any you have here?' 'Yes in the merits of Christ."Who has told you dear boy that there is a better world?' ''God tells us so every day in his Bible.' 'You love to pray?' 'Yes;

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