If baptism is so important as our ministers tell us it is, in their preaching and by their practice,--for you know how important they deem it, in times of religious attention, to have people baptized in our way,--I cannot see why it is not important to me.

If it is man's ordinance, and merely for an effect on others, very well; but if God has anything to do in it, I feel that I need it as much as though I were in health.

So my husband asked your minister to come and see me, and he did; and he is to baptize me and my children on Saturday afternoon, and administer the Lord's Supper to me after church the next day." I asked her what ground of objection her pastor had in her case.
_Mrs.P._ My minister tells me it is superstition to be baptized on a sick-bed, and that they are careful not to encourage such Romish practices.
"But, O," I said to him, "Mr.Dow, I am afraid it is because your form of baptism will not allow you to baptize the sick and dying, so you make a virtue of necessity." He colored a little, but said, pleasantly, though solemnly, "We see how important it is, Mrs.Peirce, to attend to the subject of religion in health, when we can confess Christ before men, and follow the Saviour, and be buried in baptism with him." That made me weep, though perhaps it was because I was weak; but I said, "God is more merciful than that, Mr.Dow.I know that I have neglected religion too long, but God has brought me to him, by affliction, and now I do not believe that the seals of his grace are of such a nature that they cannot be applied to people in my condition.

I feel the need of those seals, not as my profession to God, but as his professions of love to me.

I believe you are wrong, Mr.Dow.You seem to make baptism our act toward God, chiefly; now I take a different view of it.