Let us hear what St. Paul says, with respect to traditions. 2 Thess. ii. 15. “Therefore, brethren, _stand fast, and hold the traditions_ which ye have been taught, whether _by word_, or our epistle.” And in the 3d chap. 6th verse, he says, “Now we _command_ you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the _tradition_ which he received of us.” So also in 1 Corin. 11th chap. 2d verse. “Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the _ordinances_ (the _traditions_, paradoseis) as I delivered them to you.” The apostle was here speaking of christian ordinances, which he calls _traditions_. The original word signifies _traditions_, and is so rendered by our translators in the other aforecited passages. Thus, sir, you see in what a solemn manner—_in the name of Christ_, the holy apostle charged the primitive christians, _to hold and keep the_ traditions—not merely such as had been written by the pen of inspiration, but also those which were delivered to them _by word_, or in an oral and verbal manner, and with particular reference to the rules and ordinances of the gospel. The traditions and commandments of mere men, which pretend to divine authority, are to be rejected. But those traditions are not to be treated with sneer and ridicule, which were delivered by the apostles to the primitive christians—recorded and authenticated by the ancient Fathers—and transmitted down to us, by the faithful historian. Origen has expressly informed us, that infant-baptism was practised in his time. With respect to this matter of fact, Origen was certainly a competent witness; and he had every opportunity, and advantage for knowing what had been the practice of his predecessors and even of the apostles. Many of the ancient Fathers were illiterate, and descended from heathen parents; and being the first of their family who embraced christianity, must have been baptized when adults. But Origen was one of the most learned men of the age. He was born and educated at Alexandria in Egypt, but travelled into Rome, and Greece, and Capadocia, and Arabia. He resided for some time in several of the most eminent churches, and spent the greatest part of his life in Syria and Palestine. His ancestors were christians. Eusebius tells us, that his forefathers had been christians, for several generations. His father was martyred, in the persecution under Severus.