He asked him whether the constant passage, in and out, of fishes from and beyond the ceded fifteen miles, allowed of any resemblance, in the migratory creatures, to the children of the church, who are born and remain in the limits of the church, and are designated, individually, by virtue of their parentage.
Mr.S.replied, that he did not mean to make a comparison to satisfy all the points of the case, and he hoped that the brethren would take it with due allowance.
Mr.T.said that he had thought of this illustration: "All the young male children of the Levites might be said to be members of the priesthood.

They certainly 'belonged' to the priesthood.

But no one of them could officiate till he had complied with certain conditions, nor if he was the subject of certain disabilities.

He believed that the children of God's people have, by the grace of God, as really a presumptive relation, by future membership, to the church of Christ, as an infant Levite boy had to sacred offices; prayer, with the child, as well as for it, and faithful training, with a spiritual use of God's appointed ordinances, constitute, he was persuaded, as good reason to hope that the child of a true believer will become a Christian, and that, too, early in life, as that the young son of Levi would minister in the levitical office." "O," said Mr.B., "how many cases there are which seem to disprove that.

You will be obliged to reflect severely on some good people as parents, if you take so strong ground." _Mr.T._ I do not despair of a child whose parents, or parent, has really covenanted with God for him, even though the child be long a wanderer from the fold.
But it is the same now with Abraham's spiritual seed as it was with his natural posterity,--neglect on the part of parents may work a forfeiture of the covenant promises; failure in family government, above all things, may frustrate every good influence which would otherwise have had a powerful effect in the conversion of the child.