I. DEARLY BELOVED IN THE LORD, THE church, of which you are members, contains in it every ordinance and every institution necessary for salvation. It hath the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper, which are absolutely requisite. It hath also the primitive rite of Confirmation, which, though not a sacrament, is yet highly expedient, because closely connected with infant baptism.. In its wisdom and charity; in its agreement with the spirit of the law and the Gospel, our church retains the very ancient practice of infant baptism. By this institution, as the children of Jewish parents received the sign of entering into covenant with God, when they were but eight days old; so the children of Christian parents may receive the sign of entering into covenant with God, at the same or even more early age. And as the children of Jewish parents were initiated by circumcision, so the children of Christian parents may be initiated by baptism. You, who are now assembled for the purpose of being confirmed, were admitted into the Christian covenant, and became members of the Christian church, by being baptized and received when you were infants. Your godfathers and godmothers then promised in your name, that when you should be of proper age to answer for yourselves, you should take upon yourselves to discharge the duties incumbent on all Christians; and for yourselves engage, that, by the grace of God, you would resist sin, embrace the articles of Christian faith set forth in the Apostles' creed, and follow the moral commandments of God revealed in the law and the Gospel. The Jews, who had been circumcised when eight days old, undertook to observe the laws of Moses when they were thirteen years old. You, who were baptized in the days of your infancy, may undertake to observe the duties of Christianity in faith and practice, at an age not differing much from that of Jewish persons who promised obedience. You will accordingly, at this solemn meeting, in the presence of God and of this congregation, each of you for yourselves, in your own persons, and in your own names, undertake to do what your godfathers and godmothers promised you should do. You will confirm their promise, and declare it is your intention, by the grace of God, to resist sin, to embrace the articles of the Christian faith, and to follow God's commandments revealed in the law and the Gospel. Your several ministers have already explained to you the important nature of the sacred engagement which you are now about to make. Show the good effects of their repeated and salutary instruction. When you declare you ratify and confirm the promises of your godfathers and godmothers, not only declare it with a loud voice, but let the thoughts of your hearts accompany the words of your lips. In the prayers which will be offered join devoutly, and on your knees; for that is the posture in which it becomes man to address his Almighty Creator! When you come to the altar, and whilst humble supplication is made for that you, God may defend you, may give you grace to increase in goodness, and finally bless you with eternal happiness in a future state; let your behaviour be sedate, and grave, and serious. For the solemnity demands such behaviour. The concern manifested for the salvation of your souls by the very act of praying for you; the subjects of the prayer itself, and the unspeakable majesty of the great God, to whom the prayer is offered, are circumstances which should strike every considerate mind with sober reflection, and banish every mark of impertinence and folly. Do not leave the church till the service is concluded, and the blessing has been pronounced. If you depart before the service is thus completed, you will show very unbecoming impatience.. When you have properly concluded the service, then, as soon as may be convenient, return to your own homes. Whether you are inhabitants of this place, or proceed homewards at some distance, make it a matter of conscience to be quiet and orderly; for such quiet and orderly conduct will best suit the occasion of this day. Let the whole of the religious service now to be performed, sink deep into your minds. Renew the remembrance and impression of it, by often reading over the service of confirmation in private. And let it never be out of your recollection, that all of you alike, whether rich or poor, whether high or low, have one and the same work to accomplish. That work is, by the help of the Holy Spirit, for which you must daily pray, so to lead a sober, honest, virtuous, and holy life, that you may be blessed with the favour of Almighty God in a future state of immortal existence, through the merits and intercession of Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, our great Redeemer, mighty to save! |