Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub
[ocr errors]

bled, at least in ordinary circumstances, to feel the glory and excellence of forgiving, redeeming, and sanctifying love, in a degree, and with a benefit, which no words can accomplish. What is true of an adult, in these circumstances, is true, probably in a still more affecting and profitable manner, of parents, dedicating their children to God in this solemn ordinance. Perhaps there is not in the world a sight more interesting, than that of an infant, offered up by believing parents to God in Baptism. The helpless circumstances of the child; the peculiar tenderness of the relation, existing between it and the parents; the strong expression of their faith in God, in giving up their beloved offspring to him, devoting it to his service, and engaging to train it up for his glory; the exhibition of their reliance on the blood of Christ, and the agency of the Spirit of Truth, to cleanse it from its original pollution; the affecting manifestation of the divine mercy and goodness in permitting us thus to offer up our children to God; united with the solemnities of the day, the place, and the occasion; form a combination of facts, and doctrines, and duties, scarcely paralleled in the present world. On the minds of the parents, particularly, the impressions, made, cannot fail, unless through very gross stupidity, or gross wickedness, of powerfully persuading them to the duties, involved in this dedication. Of the same nature are the impressions, which will very naturally be made on those, who are present at the administration. Persons, heretofore dedicated to God in Baptism, will naturally feel anew their own baptismal obligations: while those, who have dedicated them, will realize, also, the privileges, to which they and their offspring have been admitted; the engagements, which they have made; and the duties, which in a peculiar manner they are required to perform.

In all these points of view, the ordinance of Baptism is of high importance to the Christian Church; and fitted to impress the great truths of the Gospel upon the mind in the happiest manner. It is here to be remembered, that, as religious education is constituted in the Christian Church a primary mean of salvation, so the ordinance of Baptism is invested with a peculiar importance, from the intimate, and acknowledged, connection between the act of devoting a child to God in this manner, and the

duty of educating him for the service of his Maker, and the attainment of eternal life. No two religious employments are, in this country at least, and probably in most others throughout Christendom, more universally understood to be inseparably connected, than the act of giving up a child to God, and the duty of educating him for his service. The most solemn sense of the obligations, which we are under to train up our children for God, is probably derived from the administration of this ordi

nance.

2. When children die in infancy, and are scripturally dedicated to God in Baptism; there is much, and very consoling, reason, furnished, to believe, that they are accepted beyond the grave.

We are taught in the Scriptures, that praise is perfected out of the mouths of babes and sucklings. It is, perhaps, improper to say, that praise is perfected on this side of Heaven. When little children were brought to our Saviour; He said, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven. This seems to be a plain declaration, that children are admitted to this kingdom, and constitute not a small part of the persons, of whom it is composed. The promise, said St. Peter to the Jews, is to you, and to your children. If this promise is extended, in any sense, to those, who die in infancy, and conveys to them any blessings; they must be found beyond the grave.

There is, I think, reason to hope well concerning other children, dying in infancy. But there is certainly peculiar reason for Christian Parents to entertain strong consolation with respect to their offspring; whom God has not only permitted, but required, them to offer up to him in this ordinance, pointing so extensively, and so significantly, to their purification.

3. Those, who are baptized in infancy, are placed under the guardianship, and discipline, of the Christian Church.

The manner, in which this discipline is to be conducted, will be the subject of a future discussion. It will be sufficient to observe at the present time, that children, to whom this ordinance has been dispensed, are by these means doubly assured of the certain, and inestimable, benefits of religious education; and VOL. V.

36

are entitled, in a peculiar manner, to the counsel, the reproof, the conversation, the example, and the prayers, of Christians.

The importance of these blessings, every Christian will understand. Nor can those, who believe the declaration, that he, who walketh with wise men, shall be wise, fail to acknowledge them as blessings of inestimable value.

4. Baptism is, also, the public Sign, by which the disciples of Christ are known to each other, and to the world.

All societies need indispensably some mark of distinction; some mode, in which the respective members shall be known to each other; so that each individual shall feel, that he himself is required, and that he is invested with a plain right to require others, to perform the several duties, incumbent on him, and them, as members of the Fraternity. This Sign ought always to be publicly known; definite; unequivocal; solemn; significant; safe from being counterfeited; always the same; acknowledged by all the members of the body; and, therefore, established by authority, which cannot be disputed. The power of such a sign to unite the members of such a body in affection to each other, in a common interest, and in corresponding pursuits, is incalculably great. A mere Name often forms a party in politics, and in religion; and engages those, who often have very imperfect conceptions, if they conceive at all, of the party purposes, for which they are embarked, in a harmony with cach other, and in a course of zeal and violence against their fellow-men, wonderful both in degree and continuance, and productive of effects, usually great, and often dreadful. Here the Sign is the Seal of God; set by his own authority upon those, who in this world are visibly his children. It has all the properties, mentioned above: and is possessed of more efficacy, than can be easily comprehended, and incomparably more than is usually mistrusted, to keep Christians united, alive, and active, in the great duties of religion, and in the great interests of the Church of God.

5. Baptism, as a symbol, holds out in a very forcible manner to those, who have been instructed in the Christian religion, a great part of those doctrines, and duties, which are purely Christian ; or which belong to Christians, as such.

Of this number, particularly, are the doctrines of Regeneration; Justification by the righteousness of Christ; Adoption; Sanctification; the Gratitude, Complacency, and Obedience to God; the Faith in Christ; the Hope of salvation by him; and that love to the Brethren, by which all are known to be his disciples; which together form so great a part of Christian doctrines, and the Christian character. The doctrine of Adoption, particularly, is presented to us in this ordinance with peculiar clearness, and force. Concerning this subject, however, I have had occasion, heretofore, to make all the observations which 1 thought necessary.

With all these doctrines is intimately connected that of the Depravity of our nature. A serious observer is, perhaps, hardly ever a witness of the administration of this ordinance, without strongly realizing the existence of that moral pollution, which is symbolically washed away by Baptism. The Baptism of infants, particularly, exhibits this subject in the strongest light. Here we see, that our race, in the view of their Creator, indispensably need the cleansing, which is accomplished by the blood of Christ, and the renewing power of the Holy Ghost, antecedently to their possible commission of sin by voluntary acts. Their original corruption is, therefore, taught by this ordinance in language, which cannot be misconstrued; and is impressed upon us with singular force by its solemn and significant symbols.

Many other doctrines, duties, and blessings are evidently, and impressively, presented to us in the administration of Baptism. But to expatiate upon these, and even to point them out, is the business of a treatise, and not of a single sermon.

6. The ordinance *of Baptism, as a memorial of the death of Christ, exhibits powerful and immoveable evidence of that great fact to the Christian Church, throughout all the successive periods of its existence.

As I shall have occasion to resume this subject, when I come to discourse upon the Lord's Supper, I shall defer my observations upon it for the present; and shall conclude this discourse with two

REMARKS.

1. It is not a little to be regretted, that this ordinance is so rarely made a theme of discussion in the Desk.

It is not unusual for a minister of the Gospel to devote twenty-four sermons annually to the consideration of the Lord's Sup-/ per; twelve delivered at what, in this country is commonly styled the Sacramental lecture, and twelve more on the several Sabbaths, consecrated to the administration of this sacrament. On Baptism, at the same time, ministers rarely preach. Perhaps it is no unreasonable supposition, that the subjects of this discourse are now, for the first time, brought out in the desk to the consideration of a great part of this audience. Why such a difference is made between two Institutions of Christ, invested with the same authority, solemnity, and influence, I am unable to determine. But, whatever may be the ground of this distinction, I am satisfied, that it cannot be a good one. There is but too much reason to believe, that not only the persons, particularly the children, who have been baptized, but the Parents, also, are, in many instances, lamentably ignorant of the nature of this Institution, the truths which it declares, the dutles which it involves, and the privileges which it confers. Were these things made more frequently subjects of preaching; were they clearly illustrated, and solemnly enforced; there is the best reason to believe, that it would become a far richer, and more extensive blessing to mankind:

2. Persons, baptized in their infancy, are here solemnly reminded of their own peculiar duties; and severely reproved for their negligence in performing them.

How many persons are now in this house, who have been dedicated to God by Baptism in their infancy, and who yet never thought of a single privilege, realized a single obligation, nor performed a single duty, created by this ordinance! It is perhaps questionable, whether some of them are not now ignorant, whether they have been baptized, or not. How melancholy are these facts! How full are they of shame, and sin! How productive ought they to be of remorse, contrition, and amendment! God has called you, my young friends, into his

« EdellinenJatka »