now be cast off forever. I can truly say this was a joyful season to my soul. I now saw signs of much spiritual rain, by the appearance of the increasing cloud. God saw fit at this time to send such labourers into his vineyard, as were active in the cause. Among the number was a female preacher named Olive Jalett, from Fairhaven. She exhorted the people, in the most pressing and affectionate manner, to repent and believe the gospel; and truly we might say as in ancient times, when the woman of Samaria went into the city, many were led to believe her testimony when she said, Come and see a man that has told me all that ever I did is not this the Christ ?"

She continued her spiritual labours with us a few months, to the conversion of many, and shortly after was called to leave this vale of tears, to enjoy a glorious paradise in heaven. The glorious work of reformation continued to increase, and when a goodly number saw fit to be baptized, we sent for Elder Benjamin Taylor, who then resided in New-Bedford, to come and administer the ordinance. We had many baptizing seasons, when parents and children followed Christ together, in this solemn institution. In searching the scriptures to know the duty of a believer in regard to this ordinance, I found it plainly revealed in the New Testament, that baptism was a command, and this command was to the believer, and the main evidence of the fitness of the candidate is, that he loves him who has said, If ye love me, keep my commandments; follow me and ye shall not walk in darkness. The reader may

ask what scriptural evidence I have that baptism by water is a command. Is it not written, Matth. xxvii. 10, 20, Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe whatsoever I have commanded you. In the first place our Saviour commands his servants to teach and baptize, and secondly to teach them to observe all or whatsoever he had commanded them. I now ask the reader how he shall observe this teaching, unless he submits to baptism. But, says the reader, there is nothing about water in this text mentioned to satisfy me. Come, then, candid reader, let us examine the practice of those ancient teachers who saw and understood their Master's calling. In the acts of the Apostles, we have an account of the practice of Philip, after preaching Christ to the people, they believed the things he taught them concerning the kingdom of God, and were baptized, both men and women. How and what way they were baptized, we will ascertain by following Philip a little farther, and see if we can find out how he baptized. After he taught the people, the angel of the Lord spake to him, saying, Arise and go towards the south, unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is a desert. And he arose and went. And behold a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasures, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, was returning and sittingin his chariot, reading Esaias the prophet. Then the

Spirit said unto Philip, Go near and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip to come and sit with him; and the place of the scripture which he read was this: He was led as a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so he opened not his mouth. In his humiliation his judgment was taken away, and who shall declare his generation, for his life is taken from the earth? And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee of whom spake the prophet this, of himself or some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth and began at the same scripture and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch said, See, here is water, what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still; and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, so that the eunuch saw him no more. And he went

on his way rejoicing.

We may plainly see by this scripture, that Philip was sent to teach, and did teach the eunuch; and he understood his teaching, and believing what Philip taught him was true, he

became a fit subject for baptism; and they both submitted to the command of the Saviour, when they went into the water. The happy effect was, the eunuch went on his way rejoicing, just as all believing Christians do when they do right. But perhaps it would be well to have another witness. Here is one Peter who was with Jesus. Peter how do you think Christ meant people should be baptized? Do you agree with your brother Philip about the command of water baptism? We will now hear Peter's testimony on the subject. Acts x, commencing at the 42d verse: And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the judge of quick and dead; to him give all the prophets witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins; while Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word, and they of the circumcision which believed, were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost, for they heardthem speak with other tongues and magnify God. Then answered Peter, can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Ghost as well as And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. We find in this chapter that Cornelius was warned by one of the heavenly host to send for Peter; and Peter received the message and went to meet Cornelius, who said to him we are all here before God, to hear all things that are commanded

we.

thee of God. Peter then instructs them concerning Christ as the way of salvation to all nations, and all that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted with him. So Peter makes the inquiry, can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized? He still goes further and commands them to attend to this righteous requirement. Peter.no doubt remembered his master's words when he set the example, and was baptized by John in Jordan. His language to John, Thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness, as in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word is to be established.

This must suffice on this part of the subject, that water baptism was submitted to by Christ, and practised by his Apostles as a commandment from him who was given as a leader and commander of his people. My mind being now established in the doctrine that water baptisin was a divine requisition, and enforced from scripture testimony, that the ancient mode was that of going down into the water, and being buried with him in baptism, as it is recorded by one of his Apostles. This appearing as a duty binding on me as a believer, I concluded to go forward in baptism. The day I was twenty years of age, a meeting was appointed at the Tammany Hall, on Taunton Green. The day was pleasant, and a very large concourse of people from different towns attended. Elder Foster from Vermont, preached a sermon. then arose and told my experience, and was received a candidate for baptism. Deep solemnity filled my soul when going to the water.

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