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of losing his own infants and all belonging to him. The following is a part of the edict. "Whoever, therefore, shall protect any one of the Jews, από γεραιου μεχρι νηπίου, μexci twv do pasiauwv, from the elder to the younger, to the "babes at the breast; he shall be punished with ignomi"nious torments, PANOIKI, with all his house:" (r) that is, the oldest and the youngest, even tender sucklings; according to a retaliation customary in those times, as already noticed in the history of Esther. (s)

The learned Editor of Calmet's Dictionary is confident in the opinion that panoiki designates a numerous family.(t) This appears to be the understanding of Eschines, who compares the Athenians, when offended, to a nest of wasps, who never cease their molestations, "until some one attack and destroy them, PANOIKI, with all their house."(u) Let it be remembered that one female wasp is the mother of ten thousand young, in a few weeks; and the Athenians had more than this number of infants in their panoiki. If the jailer had one for a thousand, some of them must have been infants, if he were young enough for his charge, and for the character and actions attributed to him in the inspired narrative. "If we investigate it, we shall find that he could not be an old man; but rather in the hey-day of life. His first intention after the earthquake-' he drew his sword, and would have killed himself'-is not the character of age, which usually takes events more coolly, and is much more deliberate in determination. The action is that of a fervid mind. In like manner, he called for lights, and sprang in: the original well expresses the strenuous action of a robust body;—of a man in the vigour of life: here is no decrepitude, no old age, with creeping steps, forcing an attempt to advance with some rapidity: it is the vehement burst of a man in full strength: yet this

(r) 3 Macc. iii. 18. Baptists Self-convicted, p. 46. where avoixia, but in Aldus, now before me, яavoixi.

(s) Esth. iii. 13. viii. 11.

(t) Second Ed. of Facts & Ev. Revised, p. 113, 114. (u) Baptists Self-convicted, p. 51.

man had a numerous family. He appears to have been a soldier ;-soldiers seldom marry very early in life: his numerous family, then, according to nature, must have contained young children."(v) With these he rejoiced, and with these he was baptized.

XI.

OIKODOMIA, OIKODOME, AND PASA OIKODOME. The first of these words is used to denote spiritual edification; (2) so also is the second, in a great measure:(x) yet even here, our doctrine is supported by analogy: for the house of the mind, whether good or bad, is built up, not only by mature thoughts, but by those which are new-born, or even not yet brought to light. James says, "When lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."(y) The Psalmist says, "Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.”(z)

In the use of the third phrase, Paul says, "In whom, "PASA OIKODOME, all the building, fitly framed toge"ther, groweth up unto an holy temple in the Lord.”(a) Dr. Gill believes that this house "grows by an accession "of new stones, or of souls called by grace;" and is destined at last to receive the whole " number of God's "elect." If, therefore, there are any elect infants; any infants saved by grace; then there must be an accession of infants to this building. Macknight, my Opponent's standard, considers this building as the gospel church. Their accession to it, then, must be by baptism.

(v) 2nd Ed. of Facts & Ev. Revised, p. 114.

(w) 1 Tim. i. 4.

(x) Rom. xiv. 19. xv. 2. 2 Cor. xii. 9. 1 Cor. xiv. 3. 5. 12. 26. x. 8. xiii. 10. Eph. iv. 29. 16. 1 Cor. iii. 9. Eph. iv. 12. Job xx. 28. 2 Cor. v. 1. (y) James i. 15. See Gill, who here quotes Kimchi on Ps. vii. 14. (z) Ps. vii. 14. See also Prov. xix. 27. Job xv. 35. Is. lix. 4. 13. Jer. xlix. 30. Rom. vii, 5.

(a) Eph. ii. 21.

XII.

OIKODOMEO.

The use of the verb, to build, may throw much light upon the present question. This word is used in relation to all the infants of "the Jewish nation, both as to church and state," as Dr. Gill thinks, in that passage, where God says, "That which I have built will I break ❝ down, and that which I have planted I will pluck up, " even this whole land."(b)

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Paul says, "Every house is builded by some one." Gill says, "This is true of houses properly taken, or "improperly, as nations, tribes, families, and kindred.” I would ask, How are nations, tribes, families and kindred built? All are willing to admit infants into such buildings. Paul says, moreover, "He that built all things is God."(c) Dr. Gill understands this "of Christ, and of his building the church :" but there must be no infants there. Let us, however, examine this word farther, under the following particulars; as it relates to

1. The Spiritual Building. It is in relation to spiritual things that Paul says, "If I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor."(d) "Knowledge puffeth up, but love buildeth up."(e) There are many similar instances, in which our Translators render this word by, edify, which is etymologically synonimous. "Edify one another." "All things do not edify."(f) They frequently render the Original by the word build, when spiritual things are ultimately intended, as Dr. Gill teaches. "For which of you intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?" "This man began to build, and was not able to finish.”(g)

(b) Jer. xlv. 4.
(e) 1 Cor. viii. 1.

(d) Gal. ii. 18.

(c) Heb. iii. 4.
(f) 1 Thess. v. 11. 1 Cor. x. 23. See also
(g) Luke xiv. 28. 30.

1 Cor. xiv. 17. 4. Acts ix, 31.

A saint is likened to "a wise man, which built his house upon a rock." (h) Are no infants built on this rock?

The Apostle Peter says, "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house."(i) We have already had occasion to notice Gill's commentary on this passage; in which he represents all men as lying naturally in the same quarry: but some are graciously dug out," and made fit for the spiritual building." If any infants are dug out of nature's quarry, and made subjects of grace, then some infants "are built up a spiritual house." The law of Moses ordained that the man who refused to "build up his brother's house," (j) should have his foot bared like a slave. No one doubts that literal infants

are here meant. Dr. Gill says, "In the mystical sense of it, as Ainsworth observes, it spiritually signified, that such as would not beget children unto Christ, (or preach his gospel for that purpose,) it should be declared of them, that their feet are not shod with the preparation of the gospel of Christ." Thus, whether it be literally, or spiritually understood, babes are included.

2. The Ecclesiastical Building. This is intimately connected with the former, as are the church visible and invisible. Even when Peter says that Christians are built up a spiritual house, Gill says that they," in a 66 gospel church-state, become the house of God in a "spiritual sense." The church is said to be a spiritual society, not as opposed to a visible society, but as distinguished from a political body. Concerning church courts, our excellent standards say, "These assemblies "ought not to possess any civil jurisdiction, nor to in"flict any civil penalties. Their power is wholly "moral or spiritual, and that only ministerial and de"clarative."(k) Omitting many passages which might be quoted we shall refer to a very few, and those in Jeremiah only. He says, "Again I will build thee, and

(h) Matt. vii. 24. 25. Luke vi. 48. 49.
(i) 1 Pet. ii. 4. 5.
(k) Form of Goy. Chap. 8. Sect, 2.

(j) Deut. xxv. 9,

thou shall be built; O Virgin of Israel.” "And it "shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over 66 them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw "down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch

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over them to build, and to plant, saith the Lord."(l) "I will build you, and not pull you down."(m) "I will "build them as at the first:"(o) that is, with believers and their seed. As for the Gentiles, that is, the Christian church, "They shall be built in the midst of my people:"(n) that is, engrafted on the old stock, as Paul teaches us; and, as Dr. Gill says, "partaking of the "same privileges and ordinances as the people of God." The administration of the seal of initiation to infants, was once a highly valued privilege and ordinance of the people of God. Believers scripturally demand the same privilege and ordinance now.

Here we come to the

3. The Domestic Building. primary meaning of the law of Moses, which commands a survivor to build up his brother's house."(p) Solomon says, "Through wisdom is an house builded, and "by understanding, it is established,"(g) that is, says Gill, The prosperity of a man's family is continued "and secured by his prudent conduct." Again, "Every wise woman buildeth her house."(r) Gill says that this is done, in part, "by her fruitfulness, as Leah " and Rachel built up the house of Israel." Rachel desired thus to build up the house of Israel; and for that reason she said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else "I die."(s) Her reason for giving Bilhah to her husband, was "that I also may be built by her," as the Hebrew and our English Margin read: or "that I also may have children by her;"(t) as the Septuagint and the English Text read. From this passage, Dr. Gill refers to a former one, in which Leah, acting the same part, says, "It may be that I may be builded by her ;" according to the Margin: "It may be that I may obtain

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(1) Jer. xxxi. 4. 28. (0) Do. xxxiii. 7 Prov. xiv. 1.

(m) Do. xlii. 10.
(h) Deut. xxv. 9.
(3) Gen. xxx. 1.

(n) Do. xii. 16.
(9) Prov. xxiv. 3.
(t) Do. xxx. 3.

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