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PRINCETON, N. J.
Agnew Coll. on Baptism, No.
5CS
ESSAYS
ON THE
JOHN M. MASON, D. D.
.EDITED BY THE REV. EBENEZER MASON
NEW YORK:
PUBLISHED FOR THE EDITOR BY
PITTSBURG :— THOMAS CARTER.
Introduction
The following Essays originally appeared in a periodical, entitled the " Christian Magazine," edited by the late Dr. Mason, in the year 1808 — 10, and in 1832 were incorporated in an edition of his works. At their first publication they were much valued, and they have been ever since constantly demanded by the religious public. Their re -publication in their present form is in answer to repeated calls. The reasons, which rendered their preparation needful, exist in resuscitated freshness at the present moment ; and with some additional peculiarities. The community, for whose predecessors they were written, encounter the same obstacles, are annoyed by the same perplexities, and need the same direction and instruction, their fathers received. The present edition of the essays has been published at a low price in comparison with its style, that its circulation may be the more extensive.
It may not be improper to observe furthermore, that these Essays are not controversial. They seek rather the establishment of truth, than the refutation of error ; the confirmation of its friends, rather than the overthrow of its enemies; the lucid exhibition of divine institution, rather than the unwelcome labour of dispelling the mists of human inventions, and notions.
Their language may not be mistaken ; it is as plain as it is forcible, and the arguments as cogent as direct. The doctrine of the nature of the Church is presented in such a manner as to guard men from yielding themselves up to the dominion of certain exclusive opinions, now urged under high and somewhat imposing ecclesiastical sanctions ; — opinions, too, which if admitted would invest forms of religion, of whatever kind they may be, with a life inspiring vitality, and lead men into the delusions of superstition and desolation of ruin.
The doctrine of the Unity and Visibility of the Church is most strikingly presented. Overstepping all natural boundaries of space, and all artificial ones of human creation, preserving a strict analogy with the divine arrangements over men as social beings, it makes its direct and powerful appeal to every christian heart ; it identifies him with the people of God in all ages, and in all places ; concentrates their energies of prayer, and faith, and hope — they move not isolated — forsaken — or despairing ; but every uplifted hand nerves every other hand ; and every warm heart sends its purifying savour over every other heart, — the mutual pledges of sustained conflict, and certain success. The doctrine delivers from the dilemma of good and honest men, the contracting notion of an perfectly pure Church, elect and holy ; and the loose notion of a Church exposed to the " devouring of every ravening beast and the pollution of every unclean bird." The Church is suited to the nature of men, and is possessed of those inherent and essential properties of government, of protection, rewards and punishments, which every organized society requires.
Perhaps, the most important, and certainly the most interesting part of the Essays, is to be found in the demonstration of the Oneness of the Church under the Old and New Testament economies. In it, is discussed with the peculiar force and luminousness of the author, the whole question of the relation of the children of believers to the Church ; and their right
VI INTRODUCTION.
and title to its ordinances. This discussion is carried on upon very distinct grounds, and rises far above any technicality and unworthy concealment. Every point of objection to the conclusions to which he is led by his investigations is fairly met ; nor can those who may differ from him, advance a single syllable of complaint, as to the spirit of his observation, and it is not too much to say that the argument has never yet been overthrown, nor do we see how it can be set aside. Leaving, however, each one to his honest differences, it would not be to the disadvantage of those who agreeing theoretically and practically with the author upon the right and duties of children, to study the line of scriptural argument presented in these essays; and we shall confess ourselves disappointed, unless it prevents many a perplexing doubt, or removes it, if already existing; unless it imparts a propriety, a meaning, and a blessedness in the observance of the rite of infant baptism, now too often observed out of custom, and without due intelligence of its value and solemnity. Children also may learn that the transaction on their account was no idle ceremony, but was connected with their rights, which no parent might wilfully disregard, and is associated with obligations correspondent to the blessings connected with the recognition of those rights. In a word, this part of these Essays, extended to considerable length, may be considered as a storehouse of exceedingly precious truths illustrative of divine care and regard for the perpetuity of the Church through the medium of her own offspring. No one, we think, can rise from their perusal without a conviction that parents and children are alike included within Christ's visible Church, and under the sanction of the covenant of grace. We are persuaded that a study of these Essays will not only remove misty and uncertain views, but irradiate this relation with light, and make it shine forth in peculiar glory, and give to infant baptism a significancy, which shall deliver its observors from all approach to superstition on the one hand, or indifference or conformity to custom upon the other.
The latter part of these Essays is less full than the former ; it was evidently written under the pressure of existing engagements, and the desire of giving at least an outline of important subjects upon the pages of his periodical. It treats of the officers of the Church, their qualifications, their duties, and the relations between them and the Church, over whom they are set. Even at this day, many of the hints are capable of extended application, and the history of the Church since, has confirmed the soundness of the observations then made as with a prophet's ken. It may not be unprofitable even now to turn the eye upon the true position of the Church. Her ministry are not in possession of that moral power, which their numbers, acquirement, or diligence, would seem to justify, and occupy comparatively a lower position than their predecessors. The Churches themselves exhibit a deportment indicative of their consciousness of this difficiency, and which unhappily affects themselves in all the interlinkings of the social frame-work, and by their easy divisions, separations, and multiplications, have weakened their united power, withdrawn the hand of extended fellowship, contracted the sphere, depressed the position, impaired the moral power of her own ministry, and thus by a mutual re-action of the ministry and the people, evils unchecked advance with accelerated power.
In casting the eye over the Churches of our land, with noble exceptions indeed, we may easily discover principles of a political, sectional, social, and personal nature, determining points of ecclesiastical propriety. All cases, where the tendency to such a state is seen or felt, are to be regretted as evidences of neglect or perversion, tending to shame or ruin. We aro called to trace effects to causes, to avoid the scandal of the Church of God, copying even in appearance the principles of worldly politics, as though she was without precepts for her own government and protection ; or having tried them found them unsuitable, or was incapable of beneficially employing them herself She should avoid reversing the declaration of her
INTRODUCTION. VU
Head that she should be the "light of the world," for its guidance, and not that she should follow the deceptive gleams of plausible and interested expediency to the complete extinguishment of her own brightness.
The writer of these Essays forseeing certain evils, which the revolution of a few years have revealed, in a magnitude far beyond his anticipations, desired to forwarn, and thus provide an antidote. To meet this desire, to which every friend of the Church will respond, and which from various directions has been responded to, we send forth again these Essays. Their author, though removed, will again contribute to the maintenance of the true dignity and honour of the Church. It is an self-evident truth, that, with all the apparatus of efficient organization, and the promises of divine presence to official and private fidelity, the Church, by her unity, her institutions, and her ministry — with the favour of her Head — may come forth "clear as the sun, fair as the moon, and terrible as an army of banners," until all nations shall rejoice in the brightness of her glory.
EBENEZER MASON.
New York, 20th April, 1843.
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