Page:Tracts for the Times Vol 1.djvu/441

Rh which was above explained; the principle of being content with a little light, where we cannot obtain sunshine. If it is probably pleasing to Christ, let us maintain it. Now take a parallel case: e. g. the practice of infant baptism; where is this enjoined in Scripture? No where. Why do we observe it? Because the primitive Church observed it, and because the Apostles in Scripture appear to have sanctioned it, though this is not altogether certain from Scripture. In a difficult case we do as well as we can, and carefully study what is most agreeable to our Lord and Saviour. This is how our Church expresses it in the xxviith Article: "The baptism of young children is in any wise to be retained in the Church, as most agreeable with the institution of Christ." This is true wariness and Christian caution; very different jfrom that spurious caution which ultra-Protestantism exercises. Let a man only be consistent, and apply the same judgment in the case of Episcopacy: let him consider whether the duty of keeping to Bishops, be not "most agreeable with the institution of Christ." If, indeed, he denies this altogether, these remarks do not apply; but they are addressed to waverers, and falsely moderate men, who cannot deny, that the evidence of Scripture is in favour of Churchmen, but say it is not strong enough. They say, that if Almighty God had intended an uniformity in Church Government among Christians, he would have spoken more clearly.

Now if they carried on this line of argument consistently, they would not baptize their children: happily they are inconsistent. It would be more happy still, were they consistent on the other side; and, as they baptize their children, because it is safer to observe than to omit the sacrament, did they also keep to the Church, as the safer side. The received practice, then, of infant baptism seems a final answer to all who quarrel with the Scripture evidence for Episcopacy.

3. But further still, infant baptism, like Episcopacy, is but a case of discipline. What shall we say, when we consider that a case of doctrine, necessary doctrine, doctrine the very highest and most sacred, may be produced, where the argument lies as little on the surface of Scripture,—where the proof, though most conclusive, is as indirect and circuitous as that for Episcopacy;