SERMON Lt Christian Baptism. Mar. xxviii. 1tt.=Gúye thereforeand teach all nations; baptiáing then in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and ofthe Holy Ghost. IN all the religions which Godhadprescribed tomankind, there have ever been some outward rites or ceremonies appointed for man to perform, whereby God would represent the blessing's of his own grace, and whereby men might profess their humble acceptance of those blessings and their own correspondent obli- gations to duty. 'These are a sort of seals of the covenant of grace between God and man : Such were sacrifices which we have good reason to believe were appointed to Adam just after his fall, when the Lord God made them coats of the skins of beasts which were sacrificed : Such was the rite of circítmcision given to Abraham and his children : Such were the numerous trains of ceremonies or ordinances which were prescribed to the Jews by the hand of Moses, wherein by many offerings made by fire, by washings and sprinklings of water and of blood, the blessings of the covenant of grace were described in a sort of em- blem or typical language ; and the people gave up themselves to the Lord in a way of covenant according to the several appointed rules of duty. In the religion or gospel of Christ there are but two ordin- ances of this kind instituted for Christians to observe, that is baptism which is performed by water ; and the Lord's-supper which is celebrated by bread and wine. The institution of bap- tism is contained in the words of my text, " Go ye and teach all nations, or make disciples of them as it is in theGreek, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, andof the Holy Ghost : and I am with you to authorise this practice and to bless you therein, even to the end of the world." The Lord's-supper is represented in 1 Cor. xi. 26. As often as ye eat this bread, awl drink this cup, ye sheer ro .forth the Lord's death till he come. Thus it appears that both of them are to continue till the Redeemer comes the second time, and puts an end to this world. Baptism is my present subject, and in order to give you a brief sketch of it, I shall set the most important parts thereof
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=