167							157
                                                                      
                                                                               Introductory passage.
                                                                            Let us not therefore quarrel about the mere meaning
                                                                      of words.  There is war enough in the world without the
                                                                      more grievous calamity of war in the fold of Christ, and
                                                                       there are some questions even of Faith and principle,
                                                                      which I believe we might well for a time suffer to remain
                                                                      dormant. but if any of these disputes arise out of the
                                                                      mere acceptation of terms, and might be done away with in
                                                                      an instant, if men did but understand each other - sur[L]ely 
                                                                      it is one of our duties to make our Thoughts clear
                                                                      and our expressions simple?  Now the question of Baptismal
                                                                      Regeneration is itself one which I could be well pleased to
                                                                      see left entirely at rest,  The great question for ebery
                                                                      man whether he be now serving God or not, is one easily
                                                                      answered, and rarely asked.  If he be, ut matters little
                                                                      whether God converted him at his Baptism, or after it.
                                                                      If he be not, whatever the Grace given in Baptism may have
                                                                      been, he is now in need of more.  It is a questionless
                                                                      fact that the greater number of Baptized persons are
                                                                      serving the world and the Devil - it is of more importance
                                                                      to teach them what grace it is still in their power to
                                                                      receive than what grace they have hitherto received in vain
                                                                      I could wish then that this question were left at rest,
                                                                      but if it cannot be, at least let us take care that we
                                                                       do not duspite about the mere terms regeneration
                                                                      a term occurring only

[Version 0.05: May 2008]