CHAPTER Second.
THE GRANDFATHER'S LETTER.
THE NATURE, GROUNDS, AND INFLUENCE, OF INFANT BAPTISM.
If temporal estates may be conveyed By cov'nants, on condition, To men, and to their heirs; be not affraid, My soule, to rest upon The covenant of grace by mercy made.
GEORGE HERBERT,--"_The Font._" -- No finite mind can fully comprehend the mysteries into which his baptism is the initiation .-- COLERIDGE,--"_Aids_," &c.
Christian faith is the perfection of human reason .-- IBID.
MY DEAR DAUGHTER BERTHA:--I am glad that you think of taking your little namesake to the house of God for baptism.

You wish to know my views about it in full.

My new colleague having relieved me of many cares and labors, I shall hope to write more frequently; but not often so long a letter as I fear this will be; for I wish to tell you of some conversations which I have had on the subject in question.

This will show you the common difficulties, in which, perhaps, you share, and my way of removing them; and also set before you the privileges and blessings connected with the baptism of your child.
A man and his wife--sensible, plain people--came to our house one evening last July, when the "vines with the tender grape gave a goodly smell," through that trellis which you and Percival have such pleasant reason to remember.

We were all sitting there in the moonlight, when this Mr.Benson and his wife came up the door-way, and were welcomed into our little group.