Thoughts on Baptism

John Charles Ryle the author, (1816 - 1900) was the first Anglican bishop of Liverpool. He was an eminent scholar having been educated at Eton and then Oxford. His original intention was to stand for parliament but took Holy Orders in 1841. He opens this book by saying that Baptism is one of the main things in the Church's teaching that polarises opinion. He has four main points to explain: what is Baptism?; how should it be administered?; who should be baptised?; what is the place of Baptism in religion?