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SERI.
VII.]
CHRISTIAN BAPTISM.
101
the
Father, for the cleansing us both from the guilt and
from
the principle
of
sin by
the
blood
of
Christ, and the
operation
of
his
Spirit
:
And
I take
this to
be
one reason
why
we
are baptized
in
the naine
of
the Father,
as
the
au-
thor of
these
blessings,
and
of
the
Son
and
Spirit,
as divine
.
mediums
to
procure and
convey them.
3.
The next
thing implied
in
christian baptism
is
a
"
humble acceptance
of
these
blessings in the
inethód
of
God's
own
appointment
;
that
is,
by
repentance
for
sin
in
the sight
of
God,
by
faith
in
Jesus
Christ
his Son,
and
by
seeking the influences
of the Holy Spirit, and
obeying
them."
When
we
come
under
this
ordinance,
we
do
as
it
were
by way
of action and
emblem
consent
to
accept
of
this
purification, both from the guilt and
principle
of
sin
;
we
repent
and are ashamed
of
our past
iniquities?
we
trust
in
Jesus Christ
and
his
atonement
for
pardon;
we
declare
our desire to become
new
and
holy
creatures,
by
the cleansing and purifying power
of
the Spirit
of God
in
the
gospel; and therefore
when
per-
sons professed
their belief
in
Christ, and
repentance
Of
their
sins,
they were baptized
;
and those
who
were
sin
-
cere
were inwardly cleansed from
their
defilements, and
received both these blessings.
See
1
Cor.
vi. 11.
when
the apostle had
been
reckoning
up many
vile
pollutions
of
the
inhabitants
of
Corinth
before
their
conversion,
"
and such were
some
of
you,
saith
he,
but
ye
are
washed
in
baptism as
a
token and
seal
that
you
are justified
in
the name
of
the
Lord Jesus, and sanctified
by
the Spi-
rit of our
God." Faith and repentance
were
the
great
things
required
of
those
who
were
admitted
to baptism
This
was
the
practice
of
John,
this
the
practice
of
the
apostles
in
the history
of their
ministry.
Did
John
the
forerunner of Christ preach
"
the baptism
of
repentance
for the remission
of
sins
?"
Mat.
iii. 2, 8. so.
St.
Peter,
Acts
ii.
38.
Repent
and
be
baptized
in
the name
of
Jesus Christ
for the
remission of your
sins."
Did
John
call them to
`°
believe
in
Jesus
who
should come
after
him
?"
Acts
xix. 4. So
Philip the evangelist
saith
to
the
eunuch,
If
thou believest
with all
thy
heart,
that
is,"
in
Jesus
as
the
Son
of God,
thou mayest
be
baptized
;
Acts
viii. 37.
He
answered,
I
believe
:
and Philip
baptized
him.
And here the
sacred names
of Father,
Son
and Spirit
H3