StitMOÑ LI. 119 considerable difficulties attending it, persons of anhonest and sincere soul in searching out the truth, may happen to run into different opinions : And the things wherein we agree art so im- portant, as should not suffer us to quarrel about the lesser things wherein we differ. Our brethren who reject infant baptism, as well as we who practise it, all agree in a belief of the sacred in- stitution of this ordinance, and in our reverence for it : We all agree that the children should be devoted to God, and should be partakers of all the utmostprivileges into which scripture admits them, and that they should grow up under all possible obligations to duty : and since each . of us desires to find out the will of Christ, and practise it accordingly, it is a most unreasonable thing, that we should be angry with each other, because some citi us are devoted to God andChrist by this ceremony a little sooner or a little later than others ; or becausesome devote their children to God in baptism as a claim of 'privileges and an obligation to duties, before they can do this for, themselves ; whereas others det this claim and obligation alone, till children themselves are capable of acting therein : Orbecause some of us think this ordi- nance requires much water, arid that the whole body be immersed in it, others suppose a little is sufficient, and that he who hath the face or head washed in this solemnity, has as true a signifi- cancy of gospel benefits and obligations, as he who has his whole body put under water, nee our Saviour thought so when he washed Peter'sfeet; Jon xiii. 10. In short, where faith in Christ and love to God, and obedience to the sanctifying opera- tions of the Spirit are made necessary to salvation and agreed upon by usall, it is pity that these lesser things should raise such unhappy and scandalous coiitentions among the disdiples of the blessed Jesus, who is the Prince of Peace. Havinggiven you some account of the subjects of this ordi- nance, and the manner of performance, I cannot finish this head without adding, that since every thing under the New Testa- ment is sanctified by the word and prayer, it is generally most Proper to administer this ordinance, with a word of exhortation or instruction to men, and a prayer lifted up to God in the naine of Christ, that the blessings of grace may accompany this ordi- nance, that it may not be a vain or empty sign, but may be attended with special and divine graces. I come now to the last thing which I proposed, and that is to mention a few practical exhortations relating to the point inhand. Exhortation I. " Adore the wisdom of God, and give thanks to his goodness, who hath appointed such sensible helps to our faith, such sensible memorials of his grace and our duty." True religion is in a great measure an inward and spiritual thing; but it is of vast importance towards the preservation of
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