W

which God made to Abraham, although framed in language which appears to be so clear and simple; and, how cautious we must be, not to bring any isolated expressions, as arguments, to oppose those general deductions, which a comprehensive view of the whole scheme of Christianity, as drawn from the whole body of the Scriptures, compels us to form.

As the body of flesh, then, is a "body of sin;" and as man, before he can be clothed with a spiritual body, must put off his mortal body; as man, so far as regards his animal body, must die, in order that he may inherit eternal life; must die, temporarily, in order that he may live eternally; so, in the figurative language of scripture, when a man, to whom the scheme of the gospel is revealed, by faith accepts the free gift of justification through Christ, he is said to "put off" his Eph.iv22. old body, "the old man," and to "put on

the new

man,

* Gal.iii.27. Christ;" 19 X to "put on which, after GOD, is created in righteousness

у

Rom. xiii. 14.

y Eph.iv.24. and true holiness." ▾

And, having been,

* John iii. 3, thus, freed from the fatal effects due to

5,7.

Pet.i.23. the body, he is said to be "born again,' Titusiii. 5. to be, as it were, regenerate, begotten Eph.iv.23. again, to be renewed," to be "a new crea

b Col.iii.10.

a

C

c 2 Cor. v.

17. Gal. vi. 15.

ture." And, as, in whatever relates to things spiritual, not only is figurative language made use of, but figurative actions are, also, employed; so, a bodily act is enjoined, as an accompaniment to faith, on the part of him, who, through faith, thus becomes invested with the privileges of the gospel. That bodily act is Baptism, or immersion of the body in water. And what does that act typify? In the first place, as Christ is said to have "washed us from our sins," so does the Rev. i. 5. washing of the body of the Christian neophyte

d

with pure water, represent his being spiritually cleansed from sin. Secondly, the im 1 Johni.7. mersion of the body in water, is a figure, under which is represented, the burial of the original body in which he was born, the body of sin; so that he is said to be buried with

Col. ii. 12.

Christ by baptism into death. Thirdly, the Rom.vi. 4. rising out of the water, in which he has been thus "" 66 buried," represents his being invested with a new and purified body; represents his being, as it were, "born again, " his becoming "a new creature;" while it, also, prefigures the resurrection at "the last day," Johnxi.24. when he will, really, be clothed upon, anew, with "a spiritual body." Thus, Baptism represents, the cleansing from all impurities

h

1 Cor. xv. 54.

44, 52, 53,

k

of the spirit derived to it from the body; the Eph.iv.22. putting off, the burial, of the old, corrupt

42-54.

man; the resurrection from the dead; and the investiture with a new, and

k

pure, and And, as,

* 1 Cor. xv. spiritual, and incorruptible, body. in the language of Scripture, all salutary influences of a spiritual nature are attributed to the operation of the Spirit of God; and, as he that putteth on Christ is said to be re1 Eph.iv.23. newed in the Spirit of his mind,' to be “a new creature," to be "born again; Baptism is called "the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which" is "shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ m Tit. iii. 5, our Saviour; "m and the Neophyte, so washed, is said "to be baptized with the Holy Ghost," and to be "baptized into Christ." •

6.

" Acts i. 5.

xi. 16.

Gal.iii. 27. He is said to be "born again;

6, 8.

P John iii. 5. of water and of the Spirit; " of the Spirit." Thus, we read,

9 Mark xxi.

16.

So,

to be "born

0

to be "born that "he that

believeth and is baptized, shall be saved;"

66

q

except a man be born again, he cannot see

* John iii.3. the kingdom of GOD;" "except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot

S

5. enter into the kingdom of God; "s"whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born * 1 Johnv.1. of GOD; " t "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, "Acts xvi. and thou shalt be saved and thy house; " "

31.

"go ye, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.""

Thus, faith on the part of a Christian neophyte, qualifies him for the reception of the promises of the gospel, and these are confirmed to him by the rite of Baptism. Mere baptism, the mere act of immersing the body in water, without faith, is inoperative. It is faith, a living faith, on the part of the neophyte, which procures for him the free gift of justification, of imputed righteousness; of which gift, Baptism is, as it were, the seal and registration. So that, if a man want faith, his baptism is an empty ceremony, without purpose and without advantage. But, if he have faith, and if he wish to be enrolled among Christians, he is bound to undergo the rite of Baptism, because Christ has enjoined the rite.

Baptism, then, is an essential rite, one which he who embraces Christianity must observe. But, it is a rite, which must be preceded, and accompanied, by faith. The rite of Baptism was not, primarily, instituted by Christ. It was practised by that messenger from GOD," who came to " prepare the way of the Lord;" and who is, em

▾ Matthew xxviii. 19.

w John i. 6. x Mark 1. 2, 3, &c.

z Matt. iii.

11.

phatically, styled The Baptist, John the Baptist. He was sent, to announce to the Jewish

people the advent of the Messiah; and was Johni. 33. commissioned, to baptize with water unto repentance; he came, "preaching the bap*Luke iii. 3. tism of repentance for the remission of sins." a We read, that Jesus came "from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him; but John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and cometh thou to me? And Jesus, answering, said unto him, suffer (it to be so) now, for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered Him. And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water; and, lo! the heavens were opened unto him; and He saw the Spirit of GOD descending like a dove (wσe epiceρay), and lighting upon Him. And, lo! a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son in whom I am b Matt. iii. well pleased." After this, we find that the disciples of Jesus baptized, under His

13-17.

b

e John iv. directions.c And Christ, after His resurrec

1, 2,

tion, with his last words, enjoined His disciples to " go into all the world and preach Mark xvi. the gospel to every creature,' d "that re15. pentance and remission of sins should be

Lukexxiv. preached in His name among all nations." "

47.