though not quite free from an apprehension that it was the last time I should do so, I yet indulged a hope that he might visit me once more. This pleasure was, I doubt not, well and wisely denied to me: and though I am not conscious of disappointment, or serious regret, at his departure, I cannot be insensible to the vacancy it has occasioned in the friendships that are left to me. To himself, I have every assurance which religion or reason can minister, it was a blissful change. He had reached his seventy-fourth year, in happiness and usefulness, far beyond the ordinary lot of man; was subjected to few or none of the distressing sensations which are usually the precursors of mortality, and peacefully resigned his spirit into the hands of his God and Saviour. An euthanasia which we may devoutly covet.

Since my friend's decease, I have received, from the kindness of Miss Long, Mrs. Gardiner's daughter by a former marriage, a short account of his last moments, the substance of which I shall copy. "You express," she says, "a wish to receive some information respecting his last illness. The first intimation we had of his indisposition was on Thursday evening, the 17th ult., (December) when he expressed a wish to retire earlier than his accustomed hour. The family were assembled for the evening service of devotion, which he conducted with apparently more energy and fervour than usual; but towards the middle of the prayer, he brought it to a sudden termination, and ended with the benediction. On seating himself he, addressing Mamma, said, 'my dear, I am very poorly,' and soon left the room with her, for bed. He suffered from an attack of his old bilious complaint, during the night, and in the morning thought himself better. He walked into the breakfast room early, and lay upon the sofa the greater part of the day: he retired that night about ten o'clock, hoping to breakfast with us the following morning at eight. On my inquiring for him early on Saturday, he informed me that he had had no sleep, and had suffered excessive restlessness, which had kept Mamma awake, which he greatly regretted. He rose that morning, but finding himself very weak, returned to bed again, and requested me to send for a composing draught. About the middle of the day we perceived a great prostration of strength, and instantly sent for Doctor Briten, who pronounced him to be in a very precarions state, and Mamma determined on not leaving him that night. His mind continued, from the commencement, in 'perfect peace,' 'stayed on God.'

"About four o'clock on the Lord's day morning, he appeared to be slightly discomposed; feeling with his hands over the bed. Mamma, thinking he was searching for something, asked him what he wanted? His reply was, 'I want to find the gates of death, that I may enter into glory.' After a short silence, he said, this is death' again 'this is the Lord's day morning; they are shouting, they are singing.' After this he slept much, and was rather incoherent in his remarks.

He distinctly said many times, All is well: sin hath done this.' 'Thou art my comforter;' and repeated, with peculiar emphasis, the first verse of the beautiful hymn, 'Guide me O thou great Jehovah,' repeating frequently the last two lines. Many of his remarks were beautiful, praise dwelt upon his lips. Mr. Gribble (a near neighbour and friend) and I sat up with him the greater part of Sunday night. My dear Father talked much, though we could understand but little. Observing us weeping, he said loudly, 'Be at peace among yourselves.' A friend said to him about an hour before his departure, which took place at five on Monday afternoon, 'You are about to enter into rest.' 'Yes,' he replied, 'glorious rest.' A short time after she said 'you are longing to depart.' 'No,' he replied, I am not longing.' Are you patiently waiting? Yes; yes!' When the tempter tried to assail him, he said with a sweet smile, and the greatest composure, Satan, Satan, he was there before;' we could hear no more. Then, as if surveying the good and the right way by which he had been led from the commencement of his Christian course, he said with a clear and distinct voice, Praise him, praise him, praise him, for he has dealt bountifully with my soul.' He then sweetly, and without a sigh, fell asleep in Jesus.'

I have thus performed the last duty to my friend, as fully as the scanty means I possess, have enabled me to do it. I shall terminate the short narrative by remarking, that, though through the goodness of God to me, I have enjoyed many faithful and delightful friends, during my sojourn upon earth, I have known no one more upright, honourable, or disinterested; and, I think, no one so ready, on all occasions, by the sacrifice of every selfish consideration, to show kindness, and impart pleasure to all who came within the sphere of his intercourse, as the man of whom I write. The long and intimate association with him which I have enjoyed, gives me both the power and the right to say, that his many virtues were founded on the sincere faith in Christian truth, which he stedfastly exercised, and the lively hope he maintained of securing, through divine mercy, the life and immortality, which the blessed Redeemer pledges his power and faithfulness to bestow" on all those who love his appearing."

Mr. Gardiner's literary attainments were not very extensive, as he was a man rather of business than of severe study; yet his understanding was cultivated, and his judgment discriminating. He was distinguished by sound, practical, common sense; of enlarged acquaintance with men and their concerns, yet entirely free from the cynical asperity which much knowledge of the world often generates. His theological opinions were such as are generally, though not very correctly expressed, by the terms, Moderate Calvinism, but more properly Baxterianism. He was, however, in no degree, tainted by the presumptuous conception, that the opinions of others must be strictly in unison with his

own, before he could join in communion with them; it was sufficient for him to have probable evidence of men's being the partakers of genuine piety, to induce him to extend to them the right hand of fellowship. Utterly opposed to even the semblance of compulsion, in things pertaining to God and conscience, he sometimes expressed an apprehension, that not a few good men, extremely zealous in the assertion of their own opinions, would, if invested with the power, exert over their brethren, an authoritative sway, not very diverse from real persecution. His own conduct towards other Christians was ever in harmony with the kindness of his disposition, and the charity that was vital in his own bosom. His ministry was bland, simple, and persuasive, as his preaching put forth no pretensions to studied declamation, or artificial eloquence; it was plain, perspicuous, and Scriptural; rather of the didactic than the theoretic, or doctrinal class; preferring to instruct, rather than to dazzle, or amuse; but ever conversant with the truths which are able to make men "wise unto salvation." He was equally remote from haughtiness and pusillanimity; an entire stranger to boasting and censoriousness; and a determined foe to dissimulation, flattery, and detraction; and finally ever prepared to acknowledge, that by "the grace of God, he was what he was."*

Cui Pudor, et Justitiæ soror
Incorrupta Fides, nudaque Veritas

Quando ullum inveniet parem?
Multis ille bonis flebilis occidit."

I am, my dear Sir, very truly yours,

Uxbridge Common.

W. WALFORD.

* "The remains of this esteemed minister were conveyed to their silent restingplace on Tuesday, attended by a large number of friends, including members of all the religious sects. The corpse was carried into the new Independent Meeting House, in Cross-street, (the gallery, pulpit, and desk, being hung with black drapery,) and rested in the aisle. The Rev. R. May, after reading the 90th Psalm, offered up prayer. The Rev. B. Kent then delivered an address; and the Rev. B. Carvosso (Wesleyan) concluded with prayer. The cortège then proceeded to the buryingground, in Myrtle-place, and the grave closed over the mortal remains of one of the best and most highly-respected men that this borough (Barnstaple) could boast of.— North Devon Journal.

A CRITICAL INQUIRY INTO THE MODE OF
CHRISTIAN BAPTISM.

Ir is not at all times easy to distinguish between the ideas which are directly produced by any object we behold, and those which, owing to the previous state of the mind, are associated with them. We may seem to have an immediate perception of the distance, and magnitude of a mountain, yet it is certain that we can never directly see either; but that the conclusions of former experience are so united with present sensations, as to occasion what appears to be a simple perception. Many other illustrations might be given of the curious and important fact, that what a man thinks he sees depends as much on the state of his mind and eye, as on the nature of the objects which are brought before his view. But, if in regard to things sensible, we are apt to confound what is in the mind, with what is without it; this is much more the case with intellectual subjects. There are not many causes of false perception in the eye, but there are innumerable causes of false apprehension in the mind. It is rare to meet with persons whose visual organs are so diseased, that they mistake the fancies which float there, for external realities. But nothing is more common than to find persons, who see mentally what others cannot see; not because they have a keener sight, but because they unconsciously transfer their own opinions to the subject of their study; and so think they perceive in the books they read, and in the facts they consider, that which exists only as a prejudice in their own understandings. We all read the same Bible, but every one can see there in reference to some subject, what is not really to be found, because instead of simply receiving the copy of that truth which is ever one and the same, he reflects on to the Scriptures the opinions he brings to them, and so sees associated with the truth of God, the copy of his own mind. We must dismiss prejudice when we open the Bible, if we would discern truth; and we must search for instruction rather than for confirmations of our creed, if we would be set right where we may have been wrong, and be led onward in the noblest and best of studies.

In examining the several passages now to be adduced, it should be remembered, that while it is of great consequence to ascertain the nature of the fact referred to when persons are said to be baptized, this will not alone decide the meaning of the word. If the fact have not any supposed nature the word which represents it cannot have that meaning; but it may have such a nature and yet this may not be the meaning of the word. Thus, if any persons said to be baptized were not drowned, then drowning could not be the signification of the word in its application to them. But if they were drowned, as unquestionably they were

in many places where the word is used, it does not follow that this is its meaning; it may denote something connected with drowning, and not drowning itself. What is not in the object cannot be in the sign, but there may be much in the object which the sign does not express. If, then, it is certain or probable that any baptized persons were not immersed, then is it certain or probable that in reference to them, to baptize is not to immerse. But if they were immersed, we cannot from this infer that to baptize means to immerse, other proof is requisite. In like manner, if any baptized persons were not purified, then to purify, cannot be the meaning of the word in its application to them. But if they were purified, this will not suffice to show that to baptize means to purify, other proof is necessary. The frequent neglect of these principles must be received as an apology for the repetition of what may appear to some, too obvious to require any notice. We now proceed to our inquiry. We are not to see if any given signification possibly may belong to the word in these passages, but if from the evidence afforded in each, it probably does belong. If the sacred Scriptures show that to baptize means to dip, or that baptism was thus performed, then let dipping be regarded as a Christian ordinance; but if they do not teach this, and teach the contrary, then to dip and to be dipped, is not to follow the precepts and example of Christ, but it is to follow the traditions and superstitious practices of men.

I. The first passage in the Bible in which Barrio occurs, is 2 Kings, v. 14. "And Naaman went down and baptized himself at the Jordan seven times, according to the bidding of Elisha, and his skin became again as the skin of a little child, and he was healed."*

What were the circumstances of this case? A Syrian officer of high rank, had long suffered from leprosy, and hearing that there was a prophet in Israel by whom he might be healed, he came to seek his help. His disorder was confined to one part of his person, for he thought that the cure would be effected by the prophets calling on the

* Καὶ κατέβη Ναιμὰν καὶ ἐβαπτίσατο ἐν τῷ Ἰορδάνῃ ἑπτάκις.

The writer has given his own translation of the passages quoted from the Septuagint and the New Testament, as it seemed absurd in reasoning on a subject which must be determined by the Greek text, to adopt the translation of those who, undoubtedly, favoured dipping. Besides, where any errors have been associated with a certain phraseology, it is vain to seek to remove them, except by the use of terms which, though of equivalent meaning, are free from such associations. The use of a peculiar set of words on this, and on many religious subjects, has greatly tended to give permanence to error. The common sense which would at once discern the truth or detect the fallacy of statements made in ordinary language, is soon hopelessly bewildered where technicalities are employed. It has been sought to present as simple and as faithful a translation as possible-and the deviations from the authorized version are supported where this appeared necessary. It will, however, be found, that most of the remarks made will apply as well to the authorized translation as to that of the writer.