Page images
PDF
EPUB

Bible which you acknowledge to be true, and THE UNBAPTISED SCEPTIC.

to come from God; as, for instance, the ten A TRUE STORY.

commandments, and the precepts contained

in our Lord's sermon on the mount. EndeaBY A CLERGYMAN.

vour, then, to act up to these precepts; try to. The facts related in the following story oc do the will of God to the full extent of your curred during last year, in the parish of which present knowledge and belief; and pray him I have the charge. . They struck me at the to help and to teach you. Do this with hutime as being so remarkable, and so deeply || mility and sincerity; and you will find your interesting, that I kept a diary of them, put- || doubts gradually removed, and you will be ting down, after each visit, the substance of sled on to know more and more of the docwhat had passed between myself and the poor || trines of Scripture.” He thanked me for my man whom I was attending. I did this partly || advice, and promised to follow it. He said, for my own satisfaction, and partly with a l“ I do not wish to be an unbeliever; on the view of making them public, at some future contrary, I should be very glad if I could be. time, for the warning and instruction of others. || lieve; and I shall be most thankful to you if In the hope that they may be made profitable you can put me in the right way, for I am at to some misguided persons, who are wander present in a miserable state of mind. I feel ing, like this poor man, in the paths of infi- || that I am a dying man, and yet I have no delity and scepticism, and by God's blessing peace and no hope." I warned him that sucbe made the means of bringing them to “re- | cess altogether depended upon the spirit in pentance and the acknowledgment of the which he entered upon his search after divine truth,” I am now induced to publish them. I truth. If he was meek and humble, he inight The diary tells its own tale; and I think is | hope for God's guidance; but if he was proud more likely to make an impression in its pre | and self-confident, such a state of mind would sent shape than if it were worked up into a prove an effectual bar to his making any proregular story. I therefore send it forth just as gress whatsoever. I then marked some pasit is, almost word for word as I wrote it down sages of Scripture for him to read, and exfrom day to day.

horted him to pray earnestly to God; and left September 23, 1842.—Heard that a man of him, promising to return another day. the name of C. was ill, and called to see him. | Sept. 26.-Saw C. again. He told me that, Found him evidently in a consumption, but | according to my direction, he had been reada without any appearance of immediate danger. || ing the Bible, and had prayed earnestly to God He received me civilly, and seemed glad to I to teach him ; but that he was still in great see me; and yet there was something in his |doubt and perplexity. I told him that he manner which struck me as odd. I began | must have patience, and not expect that his with asking about his bodily health ; and doubts should be removed all at once. I then then, by degrees, went on to inquire about |took the opportunity of inquiring into his his spiritual condition. He answered with previous history; for he was quite a stranger considerable reserve and hesitation, as if it || to me, having only lately come to reside in was a disagreeable subject; and at last his | my parish. He told me that he had been answers were so unsatisfactory, that I was | bred up a dissenter, and that his parents were . induced to ask him whether he believed the || Baptists. His father was a great man Bible to be the word of God. He hesitated arguing about the Bible, and his mother for a moment, and then replied, “ There, sir, I was a very strict woman; but that he himyou press me very close. It is of no use my self had been a caviller and a sceptic all his telling you an untruth : I do not believe the life. I said, “If your parents were BanBible. Some parts of it approve themselves || tists, I suppose you were not baptised in into my mind as true; but there is a great deal fancy.” To which he replied, “I have never which I do not understand, and which I can been baptised at all. I look upon baptism as not at all receive." I was of course a good l only a form and ceremony, and not a thing of deal shocked at this announcement; and yet any real importance." I explained to him there was an earnestness and apparent sin that it was a sacrament instituted by Jesus cerity in the man's manner which led me to Christ, whereby men were admitted into the hope that if the matter was properly put be- || Church and made Christians; and that withfore him, he might be reclaimed from his out it he was no Christian, and could have

elief. I therefore determined not to enter || no hope of partaking of the blessings of into an argument with him, nor to attempt to Christ's salvation. This seemed to surprise satisfy his mind by adducing any external evi- || him not a little; and he expressed his doubts dence of the authenticity of the Scriptures ; very strongly : “What good can it do me,but I reminded him of our Lord's words, “ If he said, “to have a little water sprinkled any man will do his will, he shall know of the upon me? It is nothing but an outward doctrine, whether it be of God” (St. John vii. || form and ceremony." I told him of the case 17). I said, " There are some portions of the of Naaman the Syrian, who never would

have been healed of his leprosy, if he had believing sceptic, he might at this moment not dipped seven times in Jordan, according have been full of peace and joy in believing? to the word of the prophet Elisha. I also | “But,” I said, “it is not for you to decide read to him several passages of Scripture, whether baptism is profitable or not. It is such as St. John iii. 5, St. Mark xvi. 16, an ordinance of God, and it is therefore your Acts ii. 38, &c. &c. He acknowledged that || duty to submit to it. It has been the practhe passages were very strong, and that there tice of the Church from the days of the Aposwas much more to be said for the importance tles to the present hour, to baptise all her of baptism than he had imagined ; but still || members; and it is very presumptuous and he could not at all understand it, or see why || dangerous for you to set up your opinion on it was necessary to salvation. However, he such a point as this against the practice of would take the subject into consideration, and the universal Church." He seemed struck give me an answer another day. I told him with this remark, and said, “ Yes, sir; I allow that repentance and faith were necessary pre that it does appear presumptuous in an ignorequisites for baptism; and that he must repent | rant man like me to disbelieve what so many truly of his past sins, and believe all the arti- || good and learned men (who were much more cles of the Christian faith, before I could bap competent than I am to form a right judgtise him; and that I could not therefore admit | ment) have always believed. I feel that I him to baptism in his present state, even if || am wrong, and I wish it were otherwise ; but he was ever so anxious for it, because by his || I cannot at all understand the subject, and own acknowledgment he was an unbeliever. therefore I cannot believe.” I reminded him I repeated my injunctions about the study of that there were many things which he could the Scriptures and prayer, and then left him. not understand, but which he nevertheless

Sept. 29.-Saw C. again. Lent him Bishop believed; as, for instance, the fact of his havPatrick's Parable of the Pilgrim, to correct ing both a body and soul, which together some erroneous notions about faith, which he made one man. I asked him if he underhad imbibed from the dissenters; for I should stood, or could explain, the commonest things observe, that he told me, in my former con in nature; and I remarked that if there were versation with him, that he had lately been mysteries here, the depth of which he could in the habit of going to an Independent meet- | not fathom, how much more miglit he expect ing-house, but that the doctrines which he || that there would be deep mysteries in reliheard there very inuch increased his per Il gion. He acknowledged that this was true. plexity, and rather served to confirm him in I then said that these difficulties were a stumhis unbelief. He said that the dissenters were bling-block in the way of the proud and selfalways talking about faith, and that it was the confident, but that every one of a humble favourite topic in all their sermons; but he mind would be enabled to overcome them; could not see that in practice they had any and I exhorted him to persevere in praying faith at all. He wished very much to know || for humility and a teachable spirit. what true faith really was ; for he was sure it | October 1. Found C. in a much more must be something very different from what || hopeful state of mind. He said he had been they commonly taught. I therefore lent him thinking a good deal upon the subject of our the Parable of the Pilgrim, thinking that the last conversation. It was altogether a new eleventh chapter would exactly suit him, as | subject to him; for no one had ever before indeed proved to be the case.—Resumed the I called his attention to the importance and conversation about baptism. He was still of necessity of baptism. In fact, he had always opinion that it was nothing but an outward been accustomed to look upon it as a nonceremony, and that it could not do him any | essential ceremony ; but now he began to see good. He said, “I know that I am an un that it was really necessary to salvation, and believer, and a very wicked man; but so he would therefore be much obliged to me if are many nthers who have been baptised. I would instruct him in those doctrines of the What good has their baptism done them ? || Christian faith which it would be necessary and in what respect are they better than || for him to believe before he could be baptised. me?" I answered, that it was perfectly true I took the Apostles' Creed, and went through that some who had been baptised were, as | each article separately. He said he believed he said, very wicked men, and even unbe- || in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven lievers; but that was no argument against and earth; but when I came to the second the benefit of baptism. It only shewed that article he stopped, and said that he did not they had so grieved God's Holy Spirit by understand that. I endeavoured to explain their wickedness, as to forfeit the blessings to him the doctrine of the incarnation, death, then given to them; and how could he tell resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ; but that in his own case his present miserable telling him why it was necessary that the Son condition was mainly attributable to the cir- of God should do and suffer all that he did, cumstance of his never having been baptised ? || and what were the benefits which we derived How did he know but that, instead of an un- I therefrom. He listened attentively, and said

he would try to believe it, and he hoped by | Bible, therefore, and read to him such portions God's assistance that he should be enabled to of Scripture as I thought most suitable to his believe it; but that he had been so accus case. When I had finished, he said, “ 0, sir, tomed to cavil and to make objections to these || what would I give to believe that what you very doctrines, that he feared he should find || have read to me is true! I would give the it exceedingly difficult to bring his mind fully || world if I could believe, but my heart rebels, to receive them. I told him he must expect and I cannot receive what you say. I have to suffer for his past cavillings; but that never | been such a disputer and caviller, and have theless, if he persevered in earnest, I trusted || so often scoffed at the doctrines of Scripture, that he would be guided into the truth at that I fear my heart is quite hardened, and last. (I should observe, that by this time he | that God will not give me grace to underfully acknowledged the Bible to be the word || stand.” As he said this, he wrung his hands of God, which was not the case when first I || and wept bitterly. I said that his case was saw him; and altogether he appeared so much || certainly a bad one, but, I trusted, not desmore humble and teachable, that I was greatly l perate ; for the very fact of his having such in hopes that in the end all would be well.) an earnest desire to believe and to know the

Oct. 4.-Saw C. again. Lent him Bishop truth afforded ground for hoping that God Taylor's Credenda, with Scripture references, had not altogether cast him off. I told him to assist him in understanding the creed, also that that very desire came from God, which Addison's Help to Catechumens. Resumed || should be an encouragement to him to perthe conversation upon the articles of the Chris- severe in prayer and in the study of the Scriptian faith, and upon baptism; found him very || tures, in the hope that " unto him that hath much improved in every way, and full of || shall be given, and he shall have abundance." thankfulness for what had been done for him. || This seemed a little to comfort him; and he He had now fully made up his mind to be said, that he did and would strive to the utterbaptised, and that, too, publicly in the face || most to bring his mind to believe the docof the congregation. When first I mentioned || trines of the Gospel. At his request, I markthe subject to him, he shrunk from the ideaed the different passages which I had just read of a public baptism, and asked whether it to him, that he might read them over again could not be done privately; but now, he said, || by himself; I then prayed with him, and left he was prepared to put away all that feeling him. of false shame and fear, and was ready to come || Oct. 14. - Was greatly shocked to hear to the font as soon as he could understand || that C. was dead. He died quite suddenly the doctrines which he was required to be- || yesterday afternoon, very shortly after I left lieve, and I was satisfied as to his repentance || him. Called upon his widow as soon as I and faith.

received the intelligence, and had to perform · Oct. 8.-Found him still in an improved | the very painful duty of telling her, that I state of mind. He said he had been reading could not read the burial-service over her husthe Credenda, and that he began to under band, as he died without Christian baptism, stand much more about the doctrines of Chris- | She was greatly distressed at this ; but I told tianity than he did at first. He hoped that her that, grieved as I was for her, I could not he should be led on by degrees to know more | act otherwise. and more,—this was his sincere desire and | Thus abruptly ends my journal. When I prayer; altogether, he felt much more happy || began it, I thought that poor C.'s case was in his mind than he had ever done before, || likely to last me several months, for there and he believed that he really was in the way I were no signs of immediate death; and I into find the truth. I read some portions of || dulged the pleasing hope of baptising him Scripture to him, explanatory of different Il after a while, as a true penitent and a firm parts of the creed, and exhorted him to per- || believer in his God and Saviour. But God severe.

in his wisdom ordained otherwise. C. died Oct. 11.- Called to see C., but did not || as he had lived-unbaptised and unbelieving. have much conversation with him, because | Whether or no his cry for mercy, and the there were other persons present. As far as || tears which he shed in the anguish of his I could judge, he appeared to be still making soul, were of any avail in the sight of God, progress.

it is impossible to say; and it were no less Oct. 13.-Found C. much worse, and com presumptuous than vain to offer any opinion plaining of great weakness. Asked him how upon the subject. All that we have to do is, he was getting on. He said, he was still to endeavour to profit by his sad history, and in great doubt and perplexity, for that he | to derive from it that lesson of solemn warncould not at all understand how Jesus Christ | ing which it is so well calculated to teach. was the Son of God, or how he was the Re || It does indeed convey a solemn warning to deemer of mankind. I found that I must go || all scoffers and cavillers against Scripture all over the ground again with him, and begin || truth. Poor C. little thought what he was again from the very beginning, I opened the ll bringing upon himself, when he first entered

upon that fearful path. He told me that he || Spirit upon their first entrance into life. meant no harm by it, but he thought it rather | Next she provides for them a “ form of sound a clever thing to find out difficulties in the words” in the Catechism, which contains "all Bible, and to make objections to its doctrines. || that a Christian ought to know and believe But the consequence of this was, that when || to his soul's health. When they are of a at last he saw his error, and wished to retrace || sufficient age, she brings them to the bishop his steps, he could not do so. Like Esau, ll to be confirmed, that they may renew in their “he found no place of repentance, though he own persons their baptismal vow, and receive sought it carefully with tears." I wish that l grace by the laying on of hands, that "they every unbeliever who is not yet utterly hard- || may continue God's children for ever, and ened, could have witnessed his anguish of daily increase in his Holy Spirit more and spirit, and heard his bitter self-upbraidings, | more, until they come to his everlasting and earnest cries for mercy. It would have kingdom.” Then she admits them to the full shewn him what a fearful thing it is to trifle | privileges of a Christian, and administers to with God's holy word, and how impossible it is them the communion of their Saviour's body to do so with impunity. C.'s is by no means and blood for the strengthening and refresha solitary case. There are many, like him, || ing of their souls, and their great and endless with some degree of natural cleverness, and comfort. Such is the provision which the a little smattering of learning, who consider || Church inakes for the training of her memthemselves perfectly qualified to decide upon || bers, that they may be brought up from the the truth of this or that doctrine of Scripture, first in the nurture and admonition of the and who think it a fine thing to find out diffi Lord.” We know, alas, that numbers of the culties and to make objections. C. told me, professed members of the Church do not prothat there were many of his own class among fit much by all this care; for that many of the printers who were that way inclined. But them, if not actual sceptics like poor C., are let these persons be assured, that they are thus || worldly and ungodly men. But why, is this? offering a direct insult to God, which he will I believe it will be found in most instances, certainly resent; and they are making it that this may be traced up to the neglect of exceedingly difficult, perhaps impossible, for || their parents, who have not really followed the themselves to repent and believe at some fu- || directions of the Cirurch. They have brought ture time, when, perchance, in the prospect || their children to baptism, as a mere form, of death and judgment, they would gladly do without one serious thought, or prayer, or so. For just as a habit of lowly obedience to without really believing in the efficacy of that God's will, and a “ readiness of mind to re- || sacrament. They have taken no pains to ceive his word,” is the best preparation for ground them in their faith and duty, or to the attainment of a right knowledge and make them understand their privileges as belief (St. John vii. 17; Acts xvii. 11, 12), || Christians. They have taught them to reso, on the other hand, a spirit of insubordi gard confirmation, like baptism, as a mere nation and scepticism, which delights in find form; and, lastly, they have not come theming difficulties, and will not receive any thing I selves, nor brought their children with them, which it cannot fully understand, is an abso- | to the table of the Lord. How, then, can lute bar to any progress in spiritual know- || they be surprised if they turn out ill? “ Acledge. Such conduct grieves and offends the || cording to their faith, so has it been done Holy Spirit, and provokes God to give the || unto them.” It is of the utmost importance sceptic over to judicial blindness and hardness in these days, when “evil men and seducers of heart, so that, “ by hearing he shall hear, || are waxing worse and worse, deceiving and and shall not understand ; and seeing, he shall || being deceived,” that children should be well see, and shall not perceive." This sad history | grounded in the faith ; and I firmly believe holds out a warning likewise to Christian | that if parents would follow the directions of parents with regard to the education of their the Church in this particular, their children children. Co's parents were reputed to be || would grow in grace as they grow in years; pious people amongst the Baptists; but they and evil inen and seducers would labour in allowed their son to grow up to man's estate vain to draw them aside from the right path. without baptism, and without any definite But if they leave their children as C.'s parents instruction in the doctrines of the Christian || left him—without baptism and uninstructed, to religion. How, then, can we be surprised find out the truth for themselves and to make that he fell into habits of scepticism, and their own way, or having caused them to be became an unbeliever? It seems to be the baptised, yet educate them as though they natural consequence of their neglect. How were unbaptised, I do not see how they can different from this is the system of the expect, without some special interposition of Church! She directs all her members to | Providence, that they should ever get into bring their children to Christ in infancy, that the right path, or withstand the temptations he may embrace them with the arms of his | and seducements of a wicked world, mercy, and regenerate them with his Holy !! Before I end this story, I must just mention one more circumstance connected with it, to

SIR WALTER MANNY. shew how mercifully God brings good out of evil; and makes that which is “to some a || Most of our readers have probably collected savour of death unto death, to others a savour || their notions of the days of chivalry from the of life unto life.” Poor C. had a brother also |fictitious romances of Guy Earl of Warresident in my parish. He was not, as he wick, and of King Arthur and the Knights himself has since acknowledged, a religious | of the Round Table; or from the pages, still man; but as far as the world is concerned, he |less authentic, though exquisitely beautiful, was a very decent and respectable person. I of Sir Walter Scott. A rapid sketch of the When I discovered that C. was unbaptised, I | life of one of the knights in the English army, called upon his brother to know if that was during the brilliant reign of Edward III., his case also. He seemed as if he wished to || will shew that even the pages of romance evade the subject; and said that he could not || scarcely exaggerate the character and adventell, but that he would make inquiry, and | tures of the days of chivalry. let me know at another time. I explained to I SIR WALTER MANNY was the son of a him how very important it was that he should || knight of Hainault, and accompanied Queen ascertain this without delay; and I urged him || Philippa into England at her marriage with to lose no time in making the necessary in- || the young king, Edward III. He distinquiries. I saw no more of him for several guished himself before Berwick, and won his weeks, at the end of which time he came to | spurs at the battle of Halidon Hill, in which me, and said that he had ascertained beyond a || the Scots were defeated with great loss; and doubt that he never had been baptised; and he from that time forward he is ever in the first wished, therefore, that I should baptise him. || rank of brave and honoured chivalry. Before He said, that his brother's sad end had made Edward's first expedition into France, he had a great impression upon him, and had led him made a vow, in the presence of many of the to think much more seriously about religion lords and ladies of the court, that he would than he had ever done before. He had fully || be the first to enter France, and take some made up his mind to be baptised; but he |strong castle, and perform some gallant deed wished, if possible, that it should be done pri- || of arms. When, therefore, Edward's chalvately, so that no one might know it. I told || lenge had been sent to Philip king of France, him, that it was not a thing to be ashamed Sir Walter chose forty lances; and riding of; on the contrary, that he ought to esteem | through Brabant day and night, apprised it a great privilege to be permitted to make them of his purpose when he was within a a public profession of faith as a Christian. || day's ride of Montaigne, which he was deHe said, that it was not shame or fear that || termined to surprise. His companions joykept him back, but a nervous feeling. How- || fully entered into his scheme; and girthing ever, if I thought it right, he would try to get their horses and bracing their arinour, rode at the better of this feeling, and to come to church || one stretch to Montaigne, whither they arrived at the proper time. In a word (to make short || at day break; and finding the wicket open, Sir my story), having satisfied myself by previous | Walter placed a guard there, and with his penexamination, that "he was sufficiently in- || non marched down the street before the castlestructed in the principles of the Christian || tower. The watch heard him, and alarmed religion," and that he truly repented of his || the fort; and Sir Walter was obliged to retire, past sins, and was desirous of leading a new || having set fire to full fifty houses. Thence hé life, I baptised him on St. Stephen's day, I proceeded to Bouchain, the gates of which in the presence of the congregation. On the || were opened to him; and in the strong fort Sunday following (there being no confirma- || of Thin l'Evêque, he surprised the governor tion near at hand), I admitted him to the and his wife, and made them prisoners. He holy communion ; and since that time he has | left his brother, Sir Giles Manny, as governor been regular in his attendance at church, | of the fort, and returned to the king at Mechas well “in breaking of bread, as in prayers,” || lin. and conducting himself in every respect in a In the bloody naval engagement with the Christian manner. In fact, it seems now to Norman fleet off Sluys, Sir Walter, with be his real desire to walk in all the com-|| many companions, sliewed himself a gallant mandments and ordinances of the Lord blame- | knight, and worthy to be classed with Edless,” and “to adorn the doctrine of God his ward himself for his prowess. The contest Saviour in all things.” Thus, as I before ob- || between the contending dukes of Bretagne served, did God inercifully vouchsafe to bring next found occupation for his arms. The good out of evil, by making poor C.'s sad end Countess of Montfort was shut up in Hennethe means of awakening his brother. May || bon, against which a tremendous catapult He in like manner vouchsafe to bless the was playing, which had done more damage reading of this story, and make it the means || than all the rest of the engines of the beof awakening some misguided persons into | siegers. The city was on the point of sur. whose hands it may fall!

T.rendering, when Sir Walter's fleet was seen

« PreviousContinue »