SERMON XX.

MATTHEW XXviii. 19.

GO YE, THEREFORE, AND TEACH ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY GHOST.

THE Christian religion possesses only two positive institutions, namely, Baptism, and the Lord's Supper. Our gracious Master, in this respect, has not laid on his disciples a burden which they are unable to bear. But it is incumbent on the members of his church, properly to understand and practise those which he has instituted. It is my intention to speak to you at present on the ordinance of Baptism.

It has been observed by an admirable commentator (Mr. Scott), that " vastly too much eagerness and acrimony have been employed in disputes on the subject of baptism; and vastly too little instruction suggested by the ordinance, and to the practical improvement which might be made to the administration of it, for the benefit of all concerned, both at the time and afterwards."

This is an important remark on the subject upon which we are entering. May we derive profit from it, and consider the ordinance of baptism in such a way as may tend to afford us instruction and edification. While we maintain our sentiments, let us take

care that they are scriptural; and as many wise and holy men differ, with reference to the circumstances of baptism, in a great variety of particulars, let us support and deliver our opinions on the ordinance with moderation and candour; and let us be anxious principally to obtain those lessons of improvement which the subject is calculated to afford.

My dear and respected brethren have deputed to me the task of addressing you on the nature, subjects, and mode of baptism;* to these divisions it will be useful to add its benefits and its obligations. As these are topics of great importance, on which Christians of different denominations, and even those of the same denomination hold conflicting opinions, I earnestly entreat, and anxiously hope, that my christian brethren of every communion, laying aside all prepossessions and prejudices, will listen to the preacher's views with attention and candour, and with an earnest desire to know and practise the truth, and the will of the Lord on this interesting and important ordinance of our holy religion. I beg to premise, that I shall say nothing on any part of my subject that I do not myself cordially believe to be consistent with scripture. In these lectures, it will be my object to present a full, though concise, outline of the subject; in order to which, I shall select, simplify, and arrange such facts, observations, and arguments, as may be necessary to elucidate it. Christian baptism, you will observe, is that with

These Sermons on Baptism were preached in the course of Monthly

Lectures.

which we are particularly concerned. It is an

ordinance which was instituted by Christ himself after his resurrection, and previously to his ascension. We are, therefore, to learn the nature of this ordinance principally from what he said respecting it, on the occasion to which our text refers, in connexion with the subsequent practice of the apostles of our Lord. Whatever information we may obtain on the general subject of baptism, from the history of John's baptizing, we should always bear in mind that his was not the baptism of christianity. The latter was not instituted till a short period before the ascension of Christ; and we find from the Acts of the Apostles, that some of those who were baptized with the baptism of John, were afterwards initiated into the church of Christ by christian baptism. This proves the distinct character of christian baptism.

It appears that our Lord instituted the ordinance of baptism when he met the five hundred disciples, who saw him at one time on a mountain in Galilee. The circumstances are partially and briefly noticed in the context. "Then the eleven went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost : teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I

ON BAPTISM.

have commanded you:

and lo, I am with you

always, even unto the end of the world.

In discoursing further on the subject, it will be necessary to consider

I. What is the nature of baptism.

II. Who are the proper subjects of the ordinance.
III. What is the mode of its administration.
IV. The benefits connected with baptism.
V. The obligations of the institution.

Let us consider, in the first place, the nature of baptism.

And here I shall observe, that it is the initiatory ordinance of christianity; that it is a symbol of man's impure and corrupt state by nature; and that it is an emblematic representation of many spiritual blessings.

1. Baptism is the initiatory ordinance of christianity.

By this sacrament its subjects are introduced into the visible church of Christ. As the rite of circumcision under the old dispensation, from Abraham to Christ, was the door of entrance into the visible church then existing, so baptism is the door of admission into the visible church of Christ now existing. No person can be considered a member of the christian church, till admitted into it; but there is no way of admittance except by baptism. This ordinance, therefore, may be considered as a badge of external profession, by which a christian or member of the visible church of Christ is distinguished, not only from all Jews,

Pagans, and Mahommedans, but likewise from all others, who, although living among christians, and in a certain sense calling themselves such, have, notwithstanding, never been admitted into the visible church. This ordinance, considered in its form and outward sign, consists in the application of water to the baptized person, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. This is stated without any reference to the manner in which the water may be administered, whether by sprinkling, pouring, or immersing. Water is the universal purifier of our persons, garments, houses, streets, and cities. It is essential to the beauty and fertility of the earth, and it is the original element from which every other liquor that quenches our thirst or exhilarates our spirits is derived. Hence it is an expressive scriptural emblem of the pure and satisfying blessings conveyed to us by the gospel; especially of the sanctifying, enlivening, fructifying, and consolatory influences of the Holy Spirit. The form of baptism in or into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, contains an unanswerable argument for the doctrine of the Trinity, and constitutes a perpetual profession of it. It implies also, that the baptized person is the avowed worshipper and servant. of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, who is the salvation and portion of all his people.

2. Baptism is a symbol of man's impure and corrupt state by nature.

It emphatically testifies the doctrine of original sin, and the necessity of regeneration; for it virtually de