Still Waters Revival Books - Baptism - Puritan
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The substance of the following discourses was delivered in two sermons, in
the church in Freehold, Monmouth county, New Jersey, on the 29th of September
1834. A desire for their publication having been expressed by some who heard
them, I have thought it proper to revise and enlarge the whole, and present it
in the present form. The subject is one which has given rise to much warm
discussion, and it would seem, at first view, to be a work of supererogation,
if not still more unfavourable character, to trouble the Christian community
with another treatise upon it. But our Antipædobaptist brethren appear to be
resolved that it shall never cease to be agitated; and as, indeed, the constant
stirring of this controversy seems to furnish no small share of the very
ailment on which they depend for subsistence as a denomination, they cannot be expected
to let it rest. The great importance of the subject, in my estimation, and the
hope that this little volume may reach and benefit some, who are in danger of
being drawn into the toils of error and have no opportunity of perusing larger
works, have induced me to undergo the labour of preparing it for the press.
My object is not to write for the learned, but to present the subject in
that brief, plain, popular manner which is adapted to the case of those who
read but little. I have, therefore, designedly avoided the introduction of much
more which properly belongs to the subject, and which is to be found in larger
treatises; and have especially refrained from entering further into the field
of philological discussion, than was absolutely necessary for the
accomplishment of my plan.
If I know my own heart, my purpose is not to wound the feelings of a human
being; not to stir up strife; but to provide a little manual, better adapted
than any of this class that I have seen,
for the use of those Presbyterians who are continually assaulted, and sometimes
perplexed, by their Baptist neighbours. May the divine benediction rest upon
the humble offering!
Samuel Miller
Princeton, July 1834
Copyright ©1997 by Kevin Reed