TREATISE ON CHRISTIAN BAPTISM, IN FOUR PARTS; RELATING TO THE MODE OF BAPTISM; TO THE SUBJECTS; BAPTISM; AND TO CLOSE COMMUNION. P6 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1833, by PEIRCE AND PARKER, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. PREFACE. Several years ago, the author of the following pages published "A Treatise on the Mode and Subjects of Baptism, in two Parts," in reply to a Sermon by Mr. Judson, on the same subject. This Treatise was extensively circulated, and I am not aware that any answer to it has appeared. It has been my intention, for some time past, to revise this work; throw out of it every thing directly and personally controversial; strengthen the positions assumed in it by new facts and arguments, such as have occurred in subsequent reading and reflection; extend the discussion to other connected topics; and put the whole into a shape to be more permanently useful. To the accomplishment of this design I have been frequently urged by respected brethren, ministers and others; but have not been able to attend to it until now. I shall be disappointed and grieved, if the tendency of what I have here written shall be to excite feelings of asperity and promote dissensions between Orthodox Baptists and Pedobaptists. These denominations of Christians, especially in New England, are united in most points of doctrine and discipline, and are so nearly allied, in many ways, as to render alienation and bitterness altogether inexcusable. As to the principles |