9$ CHRfSTIAN BAPTISM. ISERM,-YII., words of my text, " Go ye and teach all "nations, or Make disciples of them, as it is in the Greek; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost : and I;amwith you, to authorize this practice and to bless you therein, even to the end of the world." The Lord's-supper is represented in 1 Cor. xi. M6. " As often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye shew forth the Lord's death till he come." Thus it appears that both of them are to continue till the Re- deemer comes the second time, and puts an end to this world. Baptism is my present subject, and in order to give you a briefsketch of it, I shall set the most important parts thereof before you in this plain easy method, as I think they may be derived from scripture. I. I shall consider what this ordinance of baptism is, and what it Both imply or signify. II. Who are the persons to whom it. is .to be admmi- stered. III. In what manner this ceremony is to be performed. IV. What practical inferences or exhortations may be drawn from this subject. First, " What is baptism, and what is implied in it, or intended by it?" the ordinance itself, that is, chris- tian baptism, is the washing d person with water, in the name of the Father,. and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. When it was introduced by John the baptist, it was but imperfect, and therefore it was repeated in the name of Christ to the Ephesians, who had received the baptism of John before ; Acts xix. 3 -5. And even as our Lord himself practised it in the days of.his personal ministry, it did not seem to be drawn out into its complete form John baptized his disciples, pointing their faith to Jesus, who should come after him : Jesus might possibly baptize into his own name as a great prophet,, but not under the character of the Messiah,' since he kept that point very much concealed from his common followers or disciples in his life time. However, all that was done both'under the ministry of Christ; and of John the bap- tist, seem to be continued and included in this most per- fect form of baptism, which Our Lord appointed to his apostles after his resurrection from the dead, and just before his ascent to heaven. Whatsoever I find there- fore in the baptism of John. as well as of Christ himself,
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