satisfactorily seen. The apostle's allusion, therefore, is to that which is effected by the quickening operations of the Holy Spirit, and not to any mode.

It is also evident that he has no allusion to water baptism; for, he says nothing about being buried into water, but into death, and this death was effected by baptism, which could not have been the baptism of water, because all the water in the universe could not effect such a burial. He says, also, that they who have been thus baptized, walk in newness of life, which is not always true of those who have received water baptism. Neither do they rise out of the water, "through the faith of the operation of God;" but by the arms of him who administers the ordinance. Hence it is manifest that it is not the sign, but the thing signified of which the apostle speaks in this place, as also in Col. ii. 12, namely, the baptism of the Holy Spirit; which term is very comprehensive in its meaning. It includes the quickening influences of the Spirit, and those operations whereby He cleanses and unites us to Christ.

Now by the quickening influences of the Holy Spirit, the old man or body of sin is slain, put off, and buried. This burial is, therefore, predicated of the old man, which is said to be crucified," that the "body of sin might be destroyed." These things

a Col. ii. 12. b Rom. vi. 6.

e

are spoken of, in allusion to the manner and conse> quence of Christ's death, which he calls a baptism. "I have a baptism* to be baptized with," said he, "and how am I straitened till it be accomplished." First, the manner of Christ's death. Was he crucified? The converted sinner is crucified with him. Says the apostle, "I am crucified with Christ." Had he great sorrow and suffering on account of those sins he bore? So has the penitent sinner, when his sin baptizes him. Was Christ dead in his baptism? The believer is dead with him, and dies daily. Was Christ buried? The believer is buried with him into death. Thus, as the body of Christ was, in his great baptism, crucified, slain, put off, and buried, so also must our corruptions, metaphorically termed the old man," or the body of the sins of the flesh, be put off, or, to use the metaphor, the old man must, in this baptism, be crucified,m slain, put off and buried. But the living remains unburied, his sins shall find a watery grave;" but he shall be preserved "dry shod." Second: The

a Luke xii. 50. b Gal. ii. 20, c 1 Peter ii. 24. d Isaiah xxi. 4, see page 49. e Rom. vi. 8. g 1 Cor. xv. 31. h Eph. iv. 22. k Col. ii. 11. m Gal. v. 24. n Micah vii. 19.

* Mr. Hascal professes to give a correct translation of all those passages in which the word baptism is found. Yet I cannot find this in his pamphlet. I will, however, translate it according to his idea of correctness. "I have an immersion to be immersed with." Query--Did our Saviour's PASSION constitute an element around on the out side of his body?

consequence of Christ's death, namely, the destruc» tion of death,* and consequently his own and his people's deliverance from it. For, as he was quickened by the Spirit, and raised to die no more, so by the quickening operations of the Holy Spirit, or the baptism of Christ by the Spirit, the new man is quickened, raised and brought into life, and then the individual, in whom this work is done, will truly "walk in newness of life." Hence we are said, not only to be buried together with Christ by or in baptism, but also to be quickened and raised together with him in it.

And here I beg leave to offer a few observations upon Col. ii. 12. "Buried with him in baptism, wherein ye are also risen with him." This passage appears to be misinterpreted, even by some Pædobaptists. Mr. Prime* says that "The relative pronoun rendered wherein, evidently refers to Christ, and not to baptism; and therefore ought to have been rendered in whom. This not only comports best with the context, but shows that the word him, which is supplied by the translators, was needless. The passage will then read thus: Buried with him in whom also ye are risen (or quickened) together." Now, although he has adduced some high and respectable authority in support of his criticism, yet

a Hos. xiii. 14.-1 Cor. xv. 55:--Heb. ii. 14, 15. b 1 Peter iii, 18.-Eph. i. 20. c Rom. vi. 9.

* See his treatise on christian baptism, in a note, page 267.

I must confess that I cannot adopt it. If the learned reader will carefully and impartially examine the passage in the original, I do think that it will appear evident to him, that the pronoun aurw expressed after Zuvrapsvres must also be understood after the verb uvnyɛgns, in order to perfect the sense, which the apostle intended to express; this also appears from the very construction of the sentence. Besides the above criticism seems to obscure the sense of the passage. "In whom ye are risen together." Here we are left to enquire, "together" with whom? Is it said with each other? This surely the apostle did not design to say. For, no one rises from his spiritual death by virtue of another's resurrection. Or, is it said, " together" with Christ? This doubtless, is true. But then will not the above criticism put into the mouth of the apostle an awkward expression, if nota needless repetition? "In whom," that is, "in Christ ye are risen together with Christ."

I would, therefore, render the passage thus: "Buried with him in baptism, in which also ye are risen with him." For, it appears very evident that the apostle intended to teach the Collósians that they were risen with Christ in or by that same thing; in or by which they were buried with him. For, to the Romans he says, we are buried by (da) baptism into death. Hence, as Christ was quickened and raised from the dead by the spirit," so also are the

a 1 Peter iii. 18.

66

saints in this baptism, quickened and raised from their spiritual death, together with him by the same spirit." And this is according to an ancient promise, "Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise." And. in reference to this. baptism, it may be said in truth, what could not be said of those who are buried in the water for baptism, that they who are blessed with it, "do arise, through the faith of the operation of God," and that to a "newness of life." Thus it is as clear as the sun beam that the apostle has not the most distant allusion to water baptism in these passages. He is speaking of those things which are accomplished in the baptism of the spirit, and we have before seen how this baptism is said to be performed; and therefore, neither could the apostle have any allusion whatever to any mode in water baptism. And hence we find, that these passages, which the Baptists seize with such avidity, and with such an air of triumph, do utterly fail in giving any support to the system of immersion. Nay, if they support any system, it is that of sprinkling, inasmuch as spiritual baptism is said to be so performed.

However, if any Baptist brother will still adhere to his position, namely, that here is an allusion to the mode of water baptism, I beg leave to subjoin for his consideration, a few remarks in relation to

a Eph. i. 19, 20-ii. 5, 6.--Col. iii. 1. b Isaiah xxvi. 19.