SERMON L1. 113 pardon and justification from the guilt of sin by the atonement whichChrist hath made, whereas it is the more peculiar office of baptism to represent our regeneration or sanctification by the Spirit of God or the cleansing our natures from the power and principle of sin, by pouring the Holy Spirit upon us under the emblem of water ; by which emblem in scripture the Spirit of God is often exhibited to us. However, in general it is to be acknowledged that christian baptism in the completeness of it, implies a belief ofboth these blessings, even these provisions of God 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 name of the Father, as the author of these blessings, and of the Son and Spirit, as divine mediums to procure and con. vey them. 3. The next thing implied in christian baptism is a " hum- ble acceptance of these blessings in the method of God's own appointment ; that is by repentance for sin inthe sight of God, by faith in Jesus Christhis Son, andby seeking the influences of theHoly Spirit andobeying them." When we cone under. this ordinancewe 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 ofour past iniquities : we trust in Jesus Christ and his atonement for pardon ; we declare our de- sire to become new and holy creatures by the cleansing and purifyingpower of the Spirit of God in the gospel; and therefore when persons professed their beliefin Christ and repentance of their sins they were baptized ; and those who were sincere were inwardlycleansed from theirdefilements, and received both these blessings. See 1 Cor.vi. 11. when the apostle had been reck- oning up many vile pollutions of the inhabitants of Corinth before their conversion, and such were some of you saith he, but ye arewashed in baptism as a token and seal that youare justified xn the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God. Faith and repentance were the great things re- quired of those who were admitted to baptism : This was the practice of John, this the practice of the apostles in the his- tory of their ministry. Did John the forerunner of Christ preach the baptism of ,repentance for the remission of sins? Mat. iii. 2 -9. so St. Peter, Acts ii. 38. " Repent and be bap- tized 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 hear , that is in Jesus as VoL. II. .1 H
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