“If it were, it would, indeed, be a lamentable fact; for how many children there are who are born and die, without the possibility of being baptized. This often happens at sea, for instance; and sometimes, especially in the country, where the distances are great, it is not unusual for an infant to die before there is time to obtain any minister of religion to administer the ordinance. How very imperfect would be the salvation which God has provided for us, if our reception of it was made at all to depend upon circumstances that we could not always control! Think for a moment, again, of the comparison I was using just now. Supposing, when I sent out my invitation for the people to come and dine at my house, I should say, ‘Though you may come, I cannot admit you inside the house, unless you bring a card of admission with you.’ I should mention where these cards could be procured; but when applying for it, you might find that the person, whose business it was to provide them, was ill, or not at home, or something might prevent his attending to you till it was too late; and, consequently, you must lose the benefit of my dinner. You would say, and justly, ‘Why, she is deceiving us in professing to provide for our wants.’ It is of no use the dinner being there, if there are obstacles which we cannot remove in the way of getting at it. And God would have deceived us, too, in saying—‘The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from _all_ sin,’ if there were still something left for us to do. And Christ hath deceived us in saying on the cross—‘It is _finished_,’ when all the time He knew, that if we were not baptized by an ordained minister of religion, all that He had done and suffered for us would be worth nothing. There are few errors at which I feel so indignant as this. It is so dishonouring to our heavenly Father, and it is such a reflection both upon the wisdom and justice of Him whose work is perfect.” “Then, ma’am, isn’t it any consequence whether children are baptized or not?” “I am glad you asked me that question; for I should have been sorry for you to have gone away with the idea that it was of no consequence. Do any of you know what circumcision means?” No one knew; it was simply a _word_ in their minds, unconnected with any ideas. At last, one woman said she thought it was something that the Jews did.