chap. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, v. And when Jehovah Himself hath set us the example to enter into solemn engagements for good unto the infant, before it shall have knowledge to cry, " My father, and my mother;" and takes to Himself faithful witnesses to record it! See Isaiah, 8 chap. 1, 2, 3, v.

Here let me plainly state what Baptism really is according to Scripture-It is, then, that Sacrament which is not only the symbol and seal, but the channel and organ of that inward and spiritual grace, of which it is in a strict sense the outward and visible sign; and it is considered as the commencement of a new period, as an æra of the religious life, from whence the Christian dates a new state of existence, carrying with it new privileges, capacities of action, and expectations; or in other words, a state of salvation. Well, therefore, doth our church teach her infant-disciples to repeat, as soon as possible, each of them, And I heartily thank our Heavenly Father, that He hath called me to this state of salvation, through Jesus Christ our Lord. And I pray unto God to give me His grace, that I may continue in the same unto my life's end.

Oh! then, let us revere the blessed sacrament of Infant Baptism; and let us with confidence and joy engraft our little ones on the olive tree, that they may grow" like the olive branches round about our table. Lo! thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord." Then if any of them should by an inscrutable providence be appointed to die eternally, (but we have no such fear,) they would at least wither and die on the parent-stock, and not as the Gentiles or wild olive-branches ; and their souls would not be required at our hands: nay, we could comfort ourselves with this reflection,

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"What could have been done more than I have not done?" My household, and all nine have been baptized and taught to obey the Saviour, according to the Apostolical discipline." Every branch in Him that beareth not fruit, the Father taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. St. John, 15 chap. 2 v.

CHAPTER 4.

OF THE DUTIES ARISING FROM INFANT BAPTISM.

I hope that what I have advanced in the three foregoing Chapters will convince you that there is but one baptism among professing Christians, viz. Infant baptism: and that Adult baptism (saving in planting the gospel in Heathen countries,) is unscriptural, as well as Re-baptization. So that those, who follow either of the two last custom, must follow them out of opposition to what is good and established, more than for any reasonable cause. Their separation from their national church is, therefore, condemnable, whose peace and unity they are guilty of disturbing. They cause the name of God and His doctrine to be blasphemed by the enquiring Gentiles, among whom we sojourn, who are often heard exclaiming, Behold, these good Christians cannot agree among themselves, they split, and no one can explain why, or wherefore; and they think to make proselytes of us. But for them, "the word of the Lord would have free course, and be the more glorified."

Before I begin to speak of your duty as regards your own Baptism, let me first show you more fully the difference between Baptism and Conver sion, or Regeneration and the New Birth.

Now St. Paul's comparison of Christ and the Church to a husband and his wife most clearly illustrates the peculiar and all-important doctrine of regeneration. He tells us how Christ loved the Church as His spouse, and gave Himself for it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water (baptism,) by the word; that He might present it to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." Eph. 5 chap. So that God has consecrated the state of matrimony to such an excellent mystery, that in it is signified and represented the spiritual marriage and unity betwixt Christ and His Church "whose people shall be willing in the day of His power, in the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning." And as St. Peter saith, so ought we, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope" through Jesus Christ our Lord. Hence you see that as generation precedes the natural life, so regeneration precedes the spiritual life. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." And as

the wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." John, 3 chap. 6, 7, 8, v. For to be the people of God (saith the pious Baxter,) without regeneration is as impossible as to be the children of men without generation. Now the waters of Baptism regenerate, by transplanting us out of the state of nature into the state of grace, by placing us in a capacity of working out our salvation, and giving the first impulse to the divine and spiritual life; which,

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when it is fully developed, becomes the New Birth. Regeneration is the embryo state of the children of God; and “ the children may come to the birth, and there may not be strength to bring forth." Is. 37 chap. 3. v. Wherefore, let every one, that is baptized, and “nameth the name of Christ, depart from iniquity;" let him repent and be converted, by dying unto sin and living again unto righteousness: or else, be it unto them according to the prophet, "let every one of them pass away, like the untimely birth of a woman : Ps. 58,8, v. or as Job said regarding himself, "be as an hidden untimely birth; as infants which never saw light." 3 chap. 16, v. It is thus, that all impenitent and unconverted Christians die of themselves, and resemble only so many abortions in the church, that are doomed to destruction. who "have indeed a name that they live, but are dead." Rev. 3 chap. 1, v. "For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: neither because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called." Rom. 9 chap. 6, 7, v.

1. What, then, is the duty of Adults as regards their own Baptism?

Ye, who were baptized in your infancy, and are now come to years of discretion, must know that you are still supposed by Scripture to be in a state of regeneration, or embryos only, until you have experienced conversion, or a death unto sin and a new birth unto righteousness, or such renewing of the Holy Ghost, as makes you new creatures, by effectually turning you from sin unto holiness, which chiefly is brought to pass through the ministry of the word. Even as St. Paul told the Galatians, "My little children, of whom I travail in birth again, until Christ be formed in you." It is.

thus only that our blessed Lord, through the instrumentality of the stewards of His mysteries, "shall see His. seed-shall see of the truvail of His soul, and shall be satisfied." "Who hath heard such a thing? Who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children." 1s. 53 and 66 chap.

As, therefore, you are already regenerated by baptism, it is your bounden duty to do the whole gospel. to act up to its precepts, as children of the light and of the promise, and to go on unto per. fection, by a daily renewing of the inner man and by new obedience, until Christ be formed in you, and the same mind be in you which was in Him: remembering always that Baptism representeth unto us our profession; which is, to follow the example of our Saviour Christ, and to be made like unto him; that as He died, and rose again for us; so should we, who are baptized, die from sin, and rise again unto righteousness, continually mortifying all our evil and corrupt affections, and daily proceeding in all virtue and godliness of living." And such of you, as have been thus happily converted, and have obeyed from the heart that form (or mould,) of doctrine, into which ye were delivered or cast at your Baptism, ought to thank God for it, and give Him all the glory. Rom. 6 chap. 17, v.

For remember, "the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And let every one, that nameth the name of Christ, depart from iniquity. But in a great house, (like Christ's visible Church,) there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and of earth, and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself