SERMON VIII.

THE NEW BIRTH.

[Continued.]

THE literal rendering of this passage seems to be, except a man be born above. The word above being substituted for again, more forcibly demonstrates the correctness of my views in the two former discourses.

Many charge the Universalists with denying the necessity of a new birth, or regeneration. But take from me my faith and hope in that glorious truth, and I must at that moment resign the salvation of every human being. Convince me that not another child will be born into this world, and you will, at once, convince me that this world will shortly be destitute of every solitary inhabitant. Convince me that a man will not be born again, and you will not only convince me that no one will ever enter the kingdom of God, but that the many souls, that have already passed from the stage of mortal being, and those that shall hereafter follow, will alike be consigned to eternal silence! Endless misery is out of the question. That could have had no existence, even had there been no resurrection in HIM who is the LIFE of the world; but death would have terminated the ex

istence of all. Such a punishment is not threatened in all the writings of Moses and the prophets. And we cannot reasonably suppose, if such were a principal truth in revelation, that God would suffer four thousand years to elapse without warning his creatures of such an awful doom. Upon our first parents, for transgressing the law, he pronounced all the miseries of life, and uttered the closing sentence, "Dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return.", Here the doctrine of endless misery (if that be the sentence of the violated law) ought to have been clearly stated to the "covenant head" of our race, so that the same sentence might pass upon all that have sinned, unless they complied with the conditions set before them.

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But we leave this point, and will notice the 5th verse, which may, perhaps, be considered as an objection to my views, and urged as proof that the new birth is wholly confined to this life. "Except a man be born of water, and of the spirit," &c. What is here meant by water ? Ans. Baptism by immersion. This, instead of being an objection to my views, strengthens them. Baptism in water is nothing more than a figure of our death and resurrection, by which we manifest our faith in the resurrection of the dead, by which faith our hearts are baptized into the spirit and truth of the gospel of Christ.

Paul says, 1 Cor. xv. 29, "Else what shall they do, which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?" Baptism being a figure of our death and resurrection, is perhaps, in a gospel sense, of as much consequence to Christians in the present as in former days.

Christ went to John and was baptized of him in Jordan. His being put under water signified his death, when the condemning power of the law under the first dispensation should lose its force, —and his being raised out of the water signified his resurrection from the cold Jordan of death to immortal life in the kingdom of God, where the victory shall be sung over death and sin; and over the law, which is the strength of sin." Having passed in figure through his own death and resurrection, and having manifested to man that he was baptized by the Holy Spirit into the faith and powers of the world to come," he perfectly lived up to his obligation, by never committing one sin. He went through life free from transgression, as though he were already in eternity. When his crucifixion hour approached, he said, [Luke xii. 50,] "I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how am I straitened" [Greek, -pained] "till it be accomplished." Here he had reference to his being buried in death, and

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rising again from it, which would be the reality of which his baptism in Jordan was but a figure.

To be put under water signifies our death, and to be raised out again signifies our resurrection. A person who is baptized ought therefore to endeavour, as much as in him lies, to live as though he were already in his resurrection state. Enjoying in faith the baptism of the "Holy Spirit and of fire," he ought to consider himself as dead to the world and alive to God, walking in newness of life.

"Know ye

Let us introduce Rom. vi. 3, 4. not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead, by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." Here we perceive they were baptized into his death, and were rejoicing in hope of the resurrection, having their hearts purified by faith in the reality. Acts xxii. 16; " And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins," &c. Now, it is not only a Scripture doctrine, but all denominations acknowledge, that baptism in water is an emblem of the washing away of our sins. We then ask; are our sins to be washed in a stream of water? No. Where then? The objector says, our sins are taken away in this life, by the

baptism of the "Holy Spirit, and with fire." This cannot be; because Paul told the believers, that if there were no resurrection, their faith was vain, and they were yet in their sins. [See 1 Cor. xv. 17.] This proves, that believers receive the forgiveness of their sins in this life by faith only, not in reality.

The question returns, are our sins washed away in a stream of water? No. Where then! Ans. Through death and the resurrection, for that is the real baptism. And it is certain, that the reality must embrace all that the figure in water teaches. We then solemnly ask the reader, if baptism in water is a figure of our death and resurrection, and if that water baptism signifies the washing away of our sins, will not then our sins be washed away through death and the resurrection? Yes; otherwise the figure in water has no meaning.

Thus we perceive, that being born of the water is no objection to our views of the new birth, but affords them an unshaken support. If any one contend, that the sins of our race are not to be taken away through death, we would then ask, where will the Christian's sins be washed away ? The Scriptures declare, that "there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good and sinneth not, and if there is no change through death, then there will not be a just man beyond the grave,