Now, did it creep in; or did the apostles practise it?
_Dr.D._ If infant baptism crept into the church, and if it be an unauthorized innovation, one thing seems very strange, that, in this Protestant age, when we are all so jealous of Romish and all human inventions in matters of religion, the ablest and soundest men of all Christian denominations but one, are firmly persuaded of its scriptural authority, and are increasingly attached to it.

In the great reformations which have arisen from time to time, this practice would have been swept away, had it been an error.

It is more than we can believe that Protestant denominations should all, with one exception, adhere to an unscriptural practice, at the present day especially.
_Mr.M._ Well, sir, leaving the scripturalness of the ordinance out of question, what support does the practice get from church history?
How far back to the times of the apostles can we trace it?
Did any practise it who could have received it from the apostles, or have known those who did?
_Dr.D._ You must come with me into my study, and we will examine the authorities.
I will not burden your attention and memory with many citations.

Two or three indisputable witnesses are better than a host.

I rely chiefly on the testimony of ORIGEN for proof that the practice of infant baptism was derived from the apostles, though I will show you that his testimony is confirmed by other witnesses.
ORIGEN was born in Alexandria, Egypt, A.D.185, that is, about eighty-five years after the death of the apostle John.