nounces the distinction upon which it is founded, has, in fact, so far renounced the most characteristic attribute of the faith into which he was baptized. At present I speak merely of the distinction of persons or of operation which is implied in these words; what is more particularly meant by our being baptized in the name of these three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, will afterwards be pointed out.

MEANING OF THE CEREMONY.

The ceremony itself, then, is one of great sim. plicity, but of much natural and important significancy. It is apparently but the sprinkling of the person of a child with the element of water,accompanied by the authorized and appropriate form of words, "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,"—and it is, evidently, significant even to the rudest understandings, and in a manner which cannot but be felt to be peculiarly beautiful, of that purity of the heart and mind,-of that parting with all sinful stains, and becoming adorned with all pure and

lovely graces, which it is the great object of Christianity, as a practical institution, to promote among mankind.

Here, again, a most important consideration is presented to our thoughts. It is true, that no sect of Christians has ever disputed the moral tendency of the Gospel,-or even in their most zealous and it may be extravagant contentions for what they have imagined to be its doctrines, have ever ventured to deny, that all its doctrines were intended to lead,—and are only valuable to man in so far as they have a tendency to lead,―to the cultivation of his sentiments and feelings,—and to the consequent fulfilment, with all fidelity and love to men, of every duty which can be supposed to come within the sphere of his exercise.

All this is universally granted,-yet while the truth of a proposition may be admitted in the most unqualified sense, its importance or relative value, as an influential consideration, may be greatly depreciated, by the place or rank which we assign to it, in reference to the other truths, or system of truths, with which it is associated ;-and it is hence that the consideration presented to us by the ceremony now under review seems to be

of such essential moment.

The initiatory cere

mony of the Christian institution is one which, in the most obvious and beautiful of all senses, signifies purity of heart and life;-and surely it can never be too seriously reflected on, or be regarded as a consideration to which too much importance can be attached,-that Christ, by selecting this ceremony as the symbol of the introduction of men" into his kingdom," undoubtedly meant to announce to them, that the end and value of all their professions,—and, consequently, the importance of all the other doctrines or services in which they might interest themselves,were to be referred to the ultimate attainment of a spirit and course of conduct in all things conformable to the purity of the Divine commandments; that this consideration ought, therefore, to be uppermost in the minds of all those who have had the name of Christ pronounced over them, and who have been "sprinkled with the water of baptism" as his disciples;-and also, that the teachers of his religion should never permit themselves to forget, amidst the heats and contentions of dogmatical warfare, that the grand purpose of all their preaching and of all their zeal,

is the more effectual and extensive promotion, among men, of those virtues of the heart and life, which, if universally adopted, would, indeed, beautify the face of this world with something of the radiance of a higher sphere,—and would make earth, under the reign of Messiah the Prince, an emblem and earnest of the "kingdom of heaven."

In one word, sprinkling with water, the most natural and significant of all emblems,—is the rite appointed by Christ himself, as the initiatory ceremony of his institution,-and this most important fact ought never to be lost sight of as an evidence, that the grand and ultimate purpose of this Divine dispensation is, to promote among men the assiduous, and universal,—and affectionate cultivation of "whatever things are true, just, pure, humble, lovely, and of good report,”—that thus human nature may be beautified in its sentiments and actions, and that the "will of God may be done on earth as it is done in heaven."

The whole of our Saviour's discourses, and all the exhortations of his Apostles, will be found to coincide with these views,-and though, therefore, we ought undoubtedly to contend zealously for

the faith once delivered for the building up of the Saints, we ought, above all things, to enforce upon our own minds as private Christians, and to press upon the consideration of others, if we are Ministers of the Word,-that, having been baptized into the faith of Christ, we must bring forth fruits meet for repentance ;-" for every tree that beareth not good fruit shall be cut down,”—and he who is the great Master of the harvest, which is now begun to be gathered from among men, "will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner, but will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

DISPUTES RESPECTING THE CEREMONY.

Two questions have been agitated respecting the mode of administering this ceremony,—and have at times occasioned considerable tumult in the Christian church ;-and as with respect to both of these an appeal is made to the authority of Scripture, and to the Accounts we have of the earliest baptisms, it may be proper, with the view of