Before the coming of Augustin | rubrick of the church of England at the head of forty Benedictine respecting them. It was left for monks A. D. 596, there were after ages to discover that sprinkchristian churches in this country;ling was baptism, and that dipwhen he came he brought Mo- ping does not necessarily enter nachism with him, which he into the essence of it. In modern wished the British christians to practice the font generally readopt; but they refused, because mains, but a basin of water set in one of his requisitions was that it serves the purpose; which, on they should give baptism to their the supposition that infants are children. Ethelbert, king of the proper subjects of baptism, Kent, was the first convert of and that sprinkling is the scripAugustin. Being of a mild and tural mode of its administration, gentle temper, he had no idea of must be allowed to be an imdriving men into religion. He provement of the ancient pracwas baptized himself, but he did tice. Why should there be a not at first attempt to oblige his large font filled with water, if a subjects to follow his example. small basin, containing but a very It is however said, although he little, will do as well? or why was mild and gentle by nature, should a child be dipped all over that after his conversion he im- in it, to the great inconvenience bibed maxims of fraud and force of the nurse, if the sprinkling of from those who should have a few drops on the face, and the taught him the benevolence of marking it with the sign of the the gospel. This is a probable cross on the forehead, will answer case; for if men receive only a the same purpose? Had this been set of notions into their heads, discovered sooner, the early instead of the love of God into christians might have saved their hearts, they may easily be themselves the labour and extransformed into zealous bigots pense of building large baptisfor those notions; and though teries, and also of providing spaquiet and gentle before, yet af- cious fonts. But it is said that terwards they may become vio every generation grows wiser lent persecutors of real religion. than that which preceded it: we Augustin is accused of having may therefore expect greater caused the murder of twelve hun-wonders still. The minds of men, dred British christians, and of especially those of bishops and forcing on the pagans monachism, priests, have always been fruitful with which infant baptism was in devising means to accomplish connected. their own ends, and much carnal policy has been displayed where nothing but true simplicity and godly sincerity should have appeared. By their inventions they have corrupted the most sacred things; hence came Mystery, Babylon the great, the mother of harlots, and abominations, of the earth.

Foreign customs and laws were then imported into England, and every parish was ordered to provide a font for the baptism of children. But Rome herself did not in this instance attempt to obliterate the true idea of baptizing from the minds of her spiritual vassals. That the fonts were intended for the dipping of these children, is evidently proved by their size, and by the

In the time of Queen Elizabeth, the governors of the episcopal church in England, did in effect

prohibit sprinkling, by forbidding | shire; of the second are those

the use of basins in public baptisms. The churchwardens were to see that in every church there was a holy font, not a basin, wherein baptism was to be administered, which font was to be kept comely and clean. Sprinkling was not allowed, except as in the church of Rome, namely, in cases of necessity at home; when a child, born after one Sunday or festival, was not likely to live till the next.

of Hempstead and Ozleworth, in the same county. The next in antiquity are decorated with historical oremblematical bas-reliefs. At Everingham in Yorkshire there is a very antique font, ornamented with Saxou carving, and another at Alphiston in the county of Devon, bearing the figures of birds, beasts, and sportsmen. The last we shall mention are those ornamented with figures of the apostles. Such is that at Kiddington in Oxfordshire, which is said to have been removed from Islip in the same county, and to be the very identical font in which King Edward the Confessor was baptized. That in which the present royal family of England is baptized is made of silver, and is double gilt. The town of Plymouth made a present of a large silver font to King Charles the Second, which, as to value and magnificence, is equal to the former. The reason that fonts came into disuse, was the superstition of the people respecting the water contained in them. After the ceremony of baptism was over, they frequently took this water to the houses of the afflicted, with a view to per

Fonts were generally made of stone; the reason for which, according to the Romish writers, was, that as water issued out of a rock, as a type of baptism, so Christ, who is the fountain of living water, is also a rock, and the chief corner-stone. Instances, however, occur of their being made of lead; and in the church at St. Albans there is one of solid brass, the inscription on which informs us, that Sir Richard Lea, Knight, master of the pioneers, brought it from Scotland, among the spoils of that country, and presented it to that church. This we are told is the font in which the kings of Scotland were baptized. Fonts, in different parts of the kingdom, have attracted the notice of antiqua-form miraculous cures by its suprians, and a description of many of them has been given to the public. That in the upper church of Lewes in Sussex is barrelshaped the convex part is ornamented with fret-work, and other things highly expressive of its curious workmanship. The next in point of antiquity to this, and others of the same make, are those of a quadrangular or circular form, placed upon a single central shaft, encompassed with pillars, or having a small column at each angle. Of the first kind is that at Berkeley in Gloucester

:

posed efficacy. On the abolishing of the liturgy in the time of Cromwell, and the substituting of the directory in its stead, an order was issued by the parliament for the removal of fonts out of the churches, and for the substitution of basins in their stead. Many of them were then sold for horsetroughs, and other ordinary uses; but at the restoration of royalty to this kingdom, many were repurchased, and again set up in their respective churches. At the present time fonts are almost useless, and seem to stand only

to show what was the practice of who had been dismissed from the Sardinian service for base and

former ages. When men lost sight of the na-ungentlemanly conduct. He had ture and importance of believers' engaged in two or three duels, baptism by immersion, they in- and dissipated his resources in a dulged in various conjectures career of vice and extravagance. and fancies about it; an institu- This desperate youth waited one tion the most plain and simple in day on his eldest uncle, General its nature, the spirituality of de Gons, and presenting a loaded which is declared in the scrip- pistol, threatened to shoot him, tures, was made to answer the unless he would immediately adpurposes of designing and un-vance him 500 crowns. The godly men. The church was in General, though a brave man, corporated with the state; na- well knew what a desperado he tional establishments were form- bad to deal with, and gave a draft ed: and thus the man of sin for the money, at the same time rapidly advanced to maturity. expostulating freely with him for In this deplorable condition the his conduct. The young madReformers found things when man rode off triumphantly with they, by the grace of God, awoke | his ill gotten acquisition. In the to sound the alarm of danger, evening, passing the door of his and to blow the trumpet of the younger uncle, Mr. Fletcher, he gospel in the ears of mankind determined to call on him, and These men did many things wor- began with informing him what thy of their character; religion, General de Gons had done, and by their means, was delivered as a proof, exhibited the draft from a heavy load of ceremonies; under de Gons's own hand. Mr. but the principles of religious li- | Fletcher took the draft from his berty, and the true nature of nephew, and looked at it with christian ordinances, could not astonishment. Then, after some be expected to be understood all remarks, putting it into his pocket, at once. Therefore persecution | said, “ It strikes me, young man, for conscience'-sake did not im- that you have possessed yourself mediately cease; and infant of this note by some indirect sprinkling was incorporated in method, and in honesty I caunot the creeds, canons, and rituals, of return it but with my brother's reformed churches, where it re- knowledge and approbation." mains to the present day, and | The nephew's pistol was immeprobably will remain until the diately at his breast. “ My life," whole economy of national es- replied Mr. Fletcher, with pertablishments be swept from the fect calmness," is sccure in the christian church.—Rees's Ency-protection of an Almighty power, clopedia. Robinson's History of nor will he suffer it to be the forBaptism. Mosheim's Ecclesias-feit of my integrity and your tical History. Picture of rashness." This firmness drew

London.

GREEN.

Vicar of Madely and the Duellist.

MR. Fletcher had a very profligate nephew, a military man,

66

from the nephew the observation that his uncle de Gons, though an old soldier, was more afraid of death than his brother:— "Afraid of death!" rejoined Mr. Fletcher, “do you think I have been twenty-five years the

Obituary and Recent Deaths.

going to see my dear Saviour." Heligious liberty. On her truly excerso richly enjoyed the presence of | lent mother's side, she was descend his Divine Master, and such clear manifestations of the mercy of God through Him, that he always rejoiced in hope of the glory of God.

His son adds, “ My father departed this life after a short, and I had almost said pleasant illness. He had little bodily pain, sickness, or oppression; and mentally none." | His last words, addressed to his son, expressive of his soul's satis- | faction in Christ in those awful and interesting moments, were "IsaacI want notany other-righteous | ness." He calmly breathed, and calmly ceased to breathe; while his countenance bore and preserved the smile of triumph and anticipation of glory.

"Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like bis!"

Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

R. P.

MRS. FRANCES BEDFORD.

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ed from a family of the name of Fuller, who resided at the village of Harwell in Berks, and one of whom, her maternal grandfather, was, for a short period, probably about the commencement of the last century, a very pious dissenting minister; but was cut down in the morning of life, and amidst encouraging prospects of usefulness, by sudden and violent illness. *

By what particular methods the subject of this memoir was brought under the influence of that evangelical and heart-felt piety, of which she was afterwards so edifying an instance, cannot now with certainty be ascertained. It is probable that the power of divine grace accompanying the religious instruction and example of her honoured parents, and other means with which she was favoured, gradually led her to the knowledge and love of her Saviour in very early life. The writer of this article has often heard her speak in terms of strong esteem and affection of the late Doctor Samuel Stennett, the excellent author of the "Sermons on Personal

MRS. Frances Bedford was one of the daughters of the late Mr. Jo- Religion," and other works, whose seph Hurt, formerly an optician in alluded to, as well as that of his ministry she attended at the period the metropolis, but who, during a amiable cotemporary, the late long period of his life, had retired from business, and resided with his Doctor Thomas Gibbons. From the society of these, and other christian family in one of the midland counties. Of this aged relative it might friends, she was, however, after the with much propriety be said, that lapse of a few years, called by the "the hoary head was a crown of removal of her parents into Worcestershire. After residing with glory," for after a long and exem- them for several years, in a small plary walk" in the paths of righte-market-town situated in a pleasant ousness," he came to his grave as a

On the side of this ve

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Benjamin Bedford, whose affectionate companion she was during more than thirty years of matrimonial life, spent in a rural retreat in the same neighbourhood.†

"shock of corn in his season," ripe part of the Vale of Evesham, an for the harvest of immortality. His union took place between the subdeath took place in 1804, when he | ject of this memoir and her now had very nearly completed his nine-aged and bereaved partner, Mr. tieth year. nerable parent, the deceased could number some pious ancestors among those nonconformists, who, during the latter part of Queen Anne's reign, bore their testimony against the encroachments of popish principles and arbitrary power, and who were exposed to much danger and insult on account of their couseientious adherence to the cause of re

*He would, in all probability, have become the pastor of the then Baptist Church at Reading, had not his premature death prevented.

+ The late Dr. John Ash, the author