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general history of the ancient forms and ceremonies of baptism, &c. &c. and intervening between that and the subject of which the author's next volume treats.

A minor inducement with me to adopt this arrangement has been, that I am thus enabled to keep the volumes more nearly to the number of pages, which I have engaged for in my prospectus, and more uniform with each other in their appearance. Should any subscriber to, or purchaser of the work disapprove however of this mode of introducing the two parts of the Scholastical History of Baptism by Laymen, nothing will be more easy than to direct his binder to separate them from the other portions of the respective volumes, to which they are now attached, and to bind them as a distinct treatise.

RICHARD BINGHAM,

New House,

Gosport,

17th June, 1825.

the Editor.

A

SCHOLASTICAL HISTORY

OF THE

PRACTICE OF THE CHURCH,

In reference to the Administration of

BAPTISM BY LAYMEN.

PART I.

WHEREIN

An Account is given of the Practice of the Primitive Church, the Practice of the modern Greek Church, and the Practice of the Churches of the

Reformation.

WITH

An Appendix, containing some Remarks on the Historical Part of Mr. Lawrence's Writings, touching the Invalidity of Lay-Baptism, his Preliminary Discourse of the various Opinions of the Fathers concerning Rebaptisation and Invalid Baptisms, and his Discourse of Sacerdotal Powers,

BY THE REV. JOSEPH BINGHAM, M.A. Reetor of Headbourn Worthy, and Havant, Hants, and sometime Fellow of UniversityCollege, in Oxford.

THE

AUTHOR'S DEDICATION.

ΤΟ

HIS MOST SACRED MAJESTY,

GEORGE,

BY THE GRACE OF GOD KING OF GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE, AND IRELAND, DEFENDER OF THE FAITH, &c.

MOST GRACIOUS SOVEREIGN,

I HUMBLY beg leave to lay at your Majesty's feet a part of a larger work, which was at first designed to promote those great and worthy ends, which your Majesty in your princely wisdom by your royal declarations has lately thought fit to recommend to your Universities and Clergy: that is, the promotion of Christian piety and knowledge, and such useful learning, as may instil good principles into the minds of younger students; upon which the prosperity of Church and State will in this and all succeeding ages so much depend. The practice of the primitive ages of the Church, when reduced into one view, seems to be one of the most proper means to effect these honourable designs; and with that

consideration I have hitherto proceeded in this laborious work, not without the countenance and approbation of many worthy men, and now hope to finish it under your Majesty's favour and protection: humbly beseeching Almighty God to bless your Majesty's great designs for the good of this Church and Nation, and the Protestant interest abroad: which is, and ever shall be, the hearty prayer of

Your Majesty's

most loyal

and obedient servant,

JOSEPH BINGHAM.

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