Excerpt from Baptism: Its Nature, Obligation, Mode, Subjects, and Benefits Compassionate Author, and designed to unite mankind in the bonds of peace on earth, preparatory to com munion in heaven, why should we regard, with scrupu lous tenacity, mere difference in external rites and ceremonies as an insurmountable barrier to unity and fellowship on earth? Can we not be in spirit on earth what we shall be in heaven? Are not those principles which are sufficient to secure eternal salvation in heaven, sufficient to secure a catholic spirit and com munion of saints on earth? If we believe they are not, then let us never offer up a prayer again on the principle contained in the admirable form Of prayer prescribed by our Saviour - Thy will be done on earth, as it is done in heaven. Are not the same principles which were able to preserve the church in the bonds of peace and the unity of the Spirit, in the days of Christ and his apostles, sufficient to preserve the church in the same unity and communion, in all ages of time? What other means to protect, or what other chart to guide, do we need, in addition to those which the apostolic church possessed? Do not union, prosperity, and stability depend upon the same great fundamental principles and necessary things now, as then were required? We say necessary - from which man can no more take any part, and to which he can no more add any thing, than he can affect the necessary being of God himself. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.