Israel, and knowest not these things?" Nicodemus might have well replied, ' Yes, I am a master in Israel, and yet know not these things : for how should I know them ? Where are they revealed ? What is there in the writings of Moses or the prophets that should have taught me to expect so much from bap- tism ? God required the circumcision of the flesh, as you do baptism : but he required the circumcision of the heart also : and, if there be a spiritual change of a similar nature required of us under your dispen- sation, and that be the thing which you call a new birth, then I confess I ought to have had clearer views of these things, since they were evidently inculcated in the Jewish Scriptures, and were repre- sented also as particularly characterizing the Messiah's reign.'
It were much to be wished, that those who will have baptism to be the new birth would take this passage, and try what sense they can make of it according to their interpretation. Prejudice doubt- less is so strong as to be convinced by nothing ; but I should marvel if a person possessed of a simple and unsophisticated mind, could withstand the evidence that would arise from this one passage alone.
But as some distinguished characters are very strong and positive upon this point, we think it not improper to enter somewhat more fully into it.
That we may not be misunderstood either in rela- tion to what we conceive to be their sentiments, or what we would maintain in opposition to them, we will state precisely what it is in their views which we disapprove, and which we conceive it is of great im- portance to correct.
If by the term regeneration they meant an intro- duction into a new state, in which the baptized persons have a right and title to all the blessings of salvation, we should have no controversy with them.
If they meant that all adults, who in the exercise of penitence and faith are baptized into Christ, have in that ordinance the remission of their sins sealed