SER"M. vIi.] CHRISTIAN BAPTISM. 99 or his apostles, I may reasonably presume are contained also in the outward form, and in the spiritual signification of christian baptism. Let us consider now, " What doth this baptism, this washing with water, mean and imply in a spiritual sense." And under most of the following particulars, I shall en- deavour to shew what is the use of the sacred names of Father, Son, and Spirit in this ordinance. I. " Christian baptism implies a humble acknowledg- ment of some defilement ; otherwise there would be no need of washing." Sin is often represented in scripture as a matter of uncleanness, which pollutes the soul, and this it doth two ways. First, The principle of sin within us defaces the image ofGod, which was stamped on man in his first creation, and thereby it renders us unfit for the presence of God, and communion with him as he is a God of spotless holiness : And, secondly, The guilt of our actual sins exposes us to his punishing justice on ac- count of the breach of his law, for every sin is a trans- gression of the law of God, and deserves death. Who- soever therefore is baptized, doth profess and declare that he is a defiled creature, a sinner; that he is guilty in the sight of God, and lies exposed to his anger, that he is unfit to converse with him, or to stand before him. So the Jews who attended on the ministry of John; Mat.. iii. 6. cd werebaptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins," and therefore they came to the water seeking to be purified, The foundation of our hope and salvation is laid in the acknowledgment of our misery. This ac- knowledgment is eminently made to God the Father, as sustaining the character of supreme Governor of the world, whom we have offended by sin. II. " Baptism implies a belief of the blessed provision which God bath made in his gospel for the purification of our souls from sin, and all its defileménts." 1. " He provided for the removal of the guilt ofsin ;" for he sent his own Son Jesus Christ to take flesh and blood upon him, that he might die to make atonement for the sins of men, and that God, withoutdishonour,to his governing justice, might pardon repenting sinners. This is sometimés .called in scripture, " washing away our sins by the blood of Christ ;" 1 John i. 7 Rev. i. 5. And for this reason the blood of Christ is called the 11M
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