Art. 13. A new Office of Baptifm, formed by the Canon of the New Teftament. 8vo. 1s. Henderson. This new Office of Baptifm was first compofed (as we are told in the preface) for the Author's particular ufe, in the discharge of his pattoral Duty; and now appears in print, as an Effay toward a better Administration and Ufe of an Inftitution of the Chriftian Religion. The Author takes it for granted, that adults are the only fubjects of Chriftian Baptifm; and immerfion the only mode of it.——On this plan the office is formed; and begins with a few fentences of Scripture, and an introductory Prayer, of the length of Jeven octavo pages. It is then divided [after referring to certain proper Pfalms and Leffons] into the following thirteen fections, viz. 1. Exhortation to the Perfon to be baptized. -2. The Ground, and Authority, of Christ's Inflitution of Bjt fin.-3. What the Scriptures in general Teach us to understand by Baptifin into the Name of a Perfon. -4. What we are to understand by Baptifm into the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft.-5. The moral Ufe and Influence of Baptifm. -6. Qualifications demanded in Scripture of all Perfons to whom Chrif tian Baptifm may be lawfully, and ought in justice to be adminiftered 7. The Juflification of the Minister of Bupt fm.-8. The Vow of the Perfon to be baptized. [This fection is conftructed in the following manner.] N. N. Standing, or on his knees, anfwers in the affirma 6 tive the following interrog ‹taries' Minifter. Will you declare, in the Church and prefence of God, who cannot be deceived, and will not be mocked, 1hat you believe with all your heart, that Jefus Chrift is the Son of God? N. N. I believe with all my heart that Jesus Christ is the Son ' of God. Minifter. Is it your affectionate reverence for the authority and institution of Jefus Chrift that induces you, at this time, to offer yourself to be baptized into the profetion of his Holy Name and • Religion? N. N. Yes. Minifter. Are you refolved to renounce every known and prefumptuous fin; to obey the precepts, and follow the example of your Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift, and, in humble dependance on God, to adorn the profeffion of Chriftianity you this day put on, by maintaining, to the end of your life, "a converfation be"coming the Gofpel?" N. N. Yes. Minifter. In confequence of this voluntary, public, and folemn profeffion of your Christian Faith, penitence, and holy refolutions, "it is become my duty to put your Body under Water, and to raise it * Mr. Richard Harrison, of Taunton, + If the Author thinks his own Office better than thofe made use of in the established Church, we are apt to imagine that many will be of a contrary opinion; efpecially fuch as look upon the Service in the Liturgy as rather too long, at prefent. What then will their opinion be, of an Office of Baptifm only, fpun out to the endrmous length of fixty four pages, befides Pfalms and Leftons? Kr again, again, in token of your declared "Faith in the Burial and Refur rection of Jefus Christ, and of your duty and determination, as "his profeffed Difciple, to die unto fin, and to walk in newness of "life." § 9. Hynm before the Adminiftration of Baptifm. $10. The Prayer before Baptifin.-[In length, ten pages:] § 11. The Aminiftration. N. B. The Minifer, together with the Perfon to be bap tized, being about to go down into the Water, the following recollection may be fitly used. Minifter. Do you perfift in your good and pious refolution of being buried in Water, in token of your firm belief in the Burial ⚫ and Refurrection of Jefus Chrift; and of your duty and full purpose of heart, as his Diiciple, to die unto fin, and to walk in newness ⚫ of life? · N. N. Yes. Minifter. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft, I baptize thee.' § 12. The Thanksgiving Hymn after Baptifm. $13. The Prayer after Bapt fm.-[In length, eleven pages.] The following paragraphs, extracted from the conclufion of this laft prayer, may ferve as a fpecimen of Mr. Harrison's abilities as a devotional writer. O God, the author of Grace and Glory, and the giver of Life and Happiness to thy Creatures, from whofe original Influence proceedeth every good and perfect Gift; favourably regard our ⚫ humble and fervent Interceffions in behalf of thy Servant, who, has this day voluntarily taken upon himself the holy profeffion of the Chriftian Religion. Never may thy Servant repent of this folemn Vow, by which he has now bound himfelf to deny ungod linefs, and all thofe worldly lufts that would debafe and ruin his 3 precious Soul; nor let him account any of thy Commandments grievous, which are conducive to his higheft improvement and happinefs, and in keeping of which he will find conftant peace and fatisfaction, with an exceeding great and eternal reward. As a ⚫ dear and dutiful Son of God, may he imitate more and more the moral perfections and example of his heavenly Father, keeping in habitual remembrance the most beneficent and amiable pattern of the Author and Finifher of his Faith, to direct his steps in every flation, and to every intance of his Chriftian Duty.' The Covenant of the Lord his God, into which thy Servant has this day voluntary entered, may he henceforth stedfatly and religiously perform, looking with affurance for thy favour and acceptance, through Jefus Christ our Lord, and reaping all thofe improvements and benefits which are fo gracioufly annexed in the promises of the Gofpel, to the due obfervance of the divine ordinances.' Without giving our own fentiments upon the fubject of this Eflay, (which would fwell the article too much) we are obliged, as public Reviewers, to remark, that the file of it, in general, is not the most pleafing many paffages are ftiff:-and the whole appears to be greatly laboured Faults of this fort are the more apparent, and more liable to cenfure, as the fubject is of the devotional kind, in which the language ought to be peculiarly eafy and flowing. 5 INDEX. INDE X. N. B. To find any particular Book, or PAMPHLET, see CTIONS, contingent, not AGE, its effects poetically de fcribed, 180. B. ABYLON, the oracle of, a B tale, 247 BARBADOES, defcription of its BEEF-Tea, or infufion of beef, BEN Johnfon his character, 28. BILLS of Mortality, their firft Bois le duc, fome account of the BRASS fufceptible of magnetifm, BROTHERLY Love, motives to CHILLINGWORTH, his character, 32. CHINESE, a colony of Egypti- ans, 520. 17. 188. Reflections on, 190. CRITICISM destructive to learn- EVANGELISTS, reason of their ing, 385. CUSTOM, its influence on moral fentiments, 14. D IET, vegetable, Dr. Che- ney's recommendation of 409. difagreement in chronology, ILL, Aaron, his character, H546. His birth, 547. De- JEWS, caufes of the difference in AD Dog, bite of, fuccefsful fentence denounced again't, M method of curing, 379- them, wherein it confifts, 225. MAGNA Charta, its origin traced, MAN- |