(2) "Circumcision was a sign and pledge to Abraham of the covenant betwixt himself and God.-Gen. xvii., 11; Rom. iv., 11.

(3) "The Miracles Moses was to perform before Pharaoh were signs and pledges of His divine mission.-Exodus iv., 1-9. (4) "The Fleece was a sign and pledge to Gideon that the Lord would give him victory in the battle against the Midianites.-Judges vi., 36-40.

(5) "The return of the shadow ten degrees on the sundial of Ahaz was a sign and pledge to Hezekiah that the Lord would have mercy upon him.-2 Kings xx., 8-11. "But God has condescended to use material things, not only as signs and pledges, but also as supernatural means of grace-e.g.:

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(a) "The Brazen Serpent in the Wilderness, which Moses placed on a pole, and it came to pass that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of bruss he lived.'-Num. xxi., 6, 9.

(b) "Naaman's washing in Jordan, and being cleansed of his leprosy.-2 Kings v., 14.

(c) "The anointing by our Lord of the eyes of the man born blind with clay, and restoring his sight.-St. John ix.,,1-7.

(d) "The healing of the man that was deaf and had an impediment in his speech by our Lord.-St. Mark vii., 33-35."-Maclear, p. 146, 147.

So "Christ, in His gracious condescension to us, has ordained sacramental signs :

(1) "To inform our understandings.-1 Cor. xi., 26. (2) "To refresh our memories.-St. Luke xxii., 19.

(3) "To excite our affections.-Zech. xii., 10."-Oxford Catechism, p. 37.

2. The Inward and Spiritual Grace.

"The grace of the Sacraments is the remission of our sins,
and all other benefits of Christ's Passion, who is made
unto us 'wisdom and righteousness, and sanctification
and redemption.'-1 Cor. i., 30.

"It is called inward and spiritual because it is applied
to the soul, by the Holy Spirit."--Arden, p. 110.
This inward grace is illustrated by our Lord (St. John iii., 8)
and is to be known by its effects.-St. John xiv., 15.
"The Sacraments were not ordained of Christ to be gazed
upon, or to be carried about, but that we should duly
use them. And in such only as worthily receive the
same they have a wholesome effect or operation. but
they that receive them unworthily purchase to them-
selves damnation, as Saint Paul saith."-Article XXV.

CHAPTER II.

THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM.

Question. What is the outward visible sign or form in Baptism? Answer. Water; wherein the person is baptized In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Question. What is the inward and spiritual grace?

Answer. A death unto sin, and a new birth unto righteousness: for being by nature born in sin, and the children of wrath, we are hereby made the children of grace.

Question. What is required of persons to be baptized?

Answer. Repentance, whereby they forsake sin; and Faith, whereby they steadfastly believe the promises of God made to them in that Sacrament.

Question. Why then are infants baptized, when by reason of their tender age they cannot perform them?

Answer. Because they promise them both by their Sureties; which promise, when they come to age, themselves are bound to perform.

L.-Definition of Baptism.

"Baptism is not only a sign of profession, and mark of difference, whereby Christian men are discerned from others that be not christened, but it is also a sign of regeneration or new birth, whereby, as by an instrument, they that receive Baptism rightly are grafted into the Church; the promises of forgiveness of sins, and of our adoption to be the sons of God by the Holy Ghost, are visibly signed and sealed; faith is confirmed and grace increased by virtue of prayer unto God."-Article XXVII.

The word "Baptism

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is derived from the verb to baptize," which means "to dip in, or wash with water, with a view to the mystical washing away of sin."

IL-Its Ordination.

It was ordained by our Lord after His resurrection from the dead, and just before His ascension—e.g.:

"Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." St. Matt. xxviii., 19.

III.-The Outward Sign in Baptism.

Water-wherein the person is baptized in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost-e.g. :

"Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?"_ Acts x., 47.

"Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."-St. Matt. xxviii., 19.

1. The use of Water.

Water has been used for ceremonial purifications among all nations from the earliest times.

Water is used ordinarily to wash away filth from the body, i.e., to purify the body.

It is, therefore, a very fitting "emblem of the refreshing
provisions of the Gospel, and of the purifying influences
of the Spirit."

It represents the washing away of sin by the blood of
Christ-e.g.:

"Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins."-Acts xxii., 16.

It is also an outward visible sign of our dying to sin and rising again to a new life-e.g.:

"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."— Romans vi., 4.

2. Mode of using the Water.

There is no particular mode defined in the Bible. It may

be done

(1) By Immersion-i.e., by dipping the candidate in water. (2) By Affusion-ie., by pouring or sprinkling water on the body of the candidate.

In the early ages of the Church, and in the warm climates of the East, immersion was in all probability most practised; but, as Christianity spread to colder climates, sprinkling was considered sufficient.

Baptism by sprinkling is supposed to have been practised in "Apostolic times"-e.g.:

St. Paul, it is thought, must have baptized the
Philippian gaoler and his house, in prison, at mid-
night, in this way.-Acts xvi., 33.

Cornelius and his friends were baptized in the house.—
Acts x., 47.

The Church of England, regarding the matter of immersion
or affusion of little or no consequence, "leaves it to the
discretion of the parties concerned to take that course
which circumstances render expedient; laying the
stress not on the quantity of water which is used but
on the fact of using it to some extent or other, according
to Christ's positive institution."-(Grundy p. 110) eg.:
"The Minister shall pour water upon the child.”—Rubric
for the Office of Private Baptis n.

"If the Godfathers and Godmothers shall certify the Priest that the child may well endure it, he shall dip it

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in the water discreetly and warily, but if they certify that the child is weak, it shall suffice to pour water upon it."-Rubric for the Office of Public Baptism of Infants.

"The Priest shall dip each person in the water, or pour water upon him."-Rubric for the Baptism of such as are of Riper Years.

3. The Form of Words.

"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." These words were ordered by Christ himself, and must never be omitted. They imply—

1. "Profession of faith in the three Persons of the Godhead."

2. "Dedication to the joint service of each."

IV.—The Inward and Spiritual Grace of Baptism. 1. A Death unto Sin.

All men through Adam's transgression, are born in sin— e.y. :

"By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." Rom. v., 12.

"Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me."-Ps. li., 5.

"The carnal mind (of man) is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Rom. viii., 7.

"So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." Rom. viii., 8.

Hence it is that men are truly said not only to be "born
in sin" (Baptismal Service) but to be also "the children
of wrath" (Ephes. ii., 3), i.e., children exposed to God's
anger or displeasure, inasmuch as God is holy, and of
purer eyes than to behold iniquity, and hence a hater
of all evil.

In this natural condition we "" cannot see the kingdom of
God;" and, therefore, Christ declared that we must be
"born again "-"born of water and of the Spirit."
St. John iii., 3, 5.

According to St. Paul "so many of us as were baptized
into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death" (Rom.
vi., 3); and are thus "dead to sin."-Rom. vi., 2.
This death unto sin implies--

(1) Release from tho guilt of sin, by its entire remission-e.g.: Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."-Acts ii., 38.

(2) Release from the power of sin; that we no longer serve or have anything to do with sin; and that sin shall no longer have dominion over us. -Rom. vi., 14.

2. A new Birth unto Righteousness.

In our natural state we were dead in trespasses and sins; but, "being buried with Him in Baptism," we are now with Him raised, or "quickened" (Ephes. ii., 1) to a new life, a life of righteousness.

Therefore Baptism is called "the washing of regeneration," or "the new life"-e.g.:

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by his grace we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."-Titus iii., 5-7.

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water, and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."-St, John iii., 5.

This new life is a spiritual life received of the Holy Ghost, who is a spirit; "and if cherished and sustained it will enable us to 'walk after the Spirit' (Rom. viii., 1), and to bring forth 'the fruit of the Spirit' (Gal. v., 22), 'perfecting holiness in the fear of God' (2 Cor. vii., 1).”— Arden, page 113.

From being "children of wrath" we are hereby, that is by Baptism, made "children of grace," that is, children of God's favour and love; called to be "members of Christ, children of God, and inheritors of the kingdom of heaven" so that if we only "lead the rest of our lives according to this beginning, 'growing in grace' (2 Peter iii., 18), continually mortifying all our evil and corrupt affections, and daily proceeding in all virtue and godliness of living," our final salvation is ensured.

V.—The Requirements for Baptism.

Repentance and Faith.

1. Repentance-e.g.:

"Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations."-St. Luke xxiv., 46, 47.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins."-Acts ii., 38.

Repentance implies a complete change of life. It includes sorrow for sins past, and the forsaking of all sins in the future.