Low-Sunday — On the Sacrament of Baptism

Consider, first, that we are often put ia mind by the church, in the office of this time,, of our baptism; to the end we maj bp no rightly sensible of the dignity to which we have been raised by this sacrament, and of the obligations incumbent upon us in consequence of the same. Baptism is to our souls the gate of life, an introduction to all that is good. It is called by the apostle, Tit. iii, 5, the luver of regeneration and renovation in the Holy Ghost; inasmuch as we, who, by our natural birth from the old Adam, were born in sin, children of wrath, slaves of Satan, and liable to an eternal damnation, are cleansed from sin, and sanctified in this sacrament, by the lover of water in the world of lifcy Eph. v. 25, in virtue of the blood of Christ, here applied to our souls; and by virtue of the same we receive a new birth, by which we are regenerated and renetoed, being horn tigain of water and the Holy Ghost, St. John iii. 5, to a new and everlasting life; and are made children of the living God, and heirs of his eternal kingdom. See, my soul, and admire the riches of the bounty of thy God, poured out in thy favour in this sacrament. But O! take care never to forfeit these excellent treasures by sin, nor to degenerate from this heavenly birth, by an unworthy conversation.

Consider, secondly, that by baptism we are incorporated in Christ, and made living members of his mystical body, which is his church; we are made Christians, brethren of Christ, and temples of his holy Spirit: we, who before were not his people are now the people of God 1 Pet. ii. 10; a chosen generation a Icingly priesthood a holy nation a purchased people, called out of darkness into the admirable light of Christ, ver. 9. We are dedicated, sanctified and consecrated to God, by this sacrament, to be irrevocably his, eternally devoted to his divine love. O happy dedication! O my soul, how little hast thou hitherto reflected on these truths! How little hast thou considered the dignity conferred upon thee in baptism! O remember, that what is once dedicated to God, ought to remain always his, and that it is a sacrilege to profane or violate what is once consecrated to him. See, then, how pure and holy thy whole life ought to be, in consequence of thy being dedicated to God in baptism.

Consider, thirdly, that all we, who are baptized in Christ Jesus, are baptized in his death; for we arc buried together with him by baptism unto death; that as Christ is risen from the dead, by the glory of the Father, so we also may walk in neumess of life, Rom. vi. 3, 4. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin may he destroyed, and that we may serve sin no longer, ver. 6; so that henceforward, in consequence of our baptism, we must reckon ourselves dead to sin, but alive unto God, in Christ Jesus our Lord, ver. 11; and therefore we must not let sin reign in our mortal body, so as to obey the lusts thereof, ver 12; but as Christ, rising again from the dead, dieth now no more, a$ death shall no more have dominion over him, ver. 9, so we must now die no more by sin, sin must no more have dominion over us. JFhr as many of us a have been baptized in Christ have put on Christ, Gal. iii. 27, and ought to live so, as to show forth the life of Christ, in our mortal flesh; that we may be able to say with the apostle, I live, now not /, but Christ liveth m me. Gal. ii. 20. Christians, compare your lives with these divine lessons; see what they ought to be, by the obligation of your baptism, and see what they have hitherto been. And now, at least, labour in earnest to begin to live worthily of your calling, and of the glorious name and character of a Christian and of a child of God.

Conclude to bear always in mind both the dignity, to which you have been raised by your baptism, and the obligations of it; and ever to show forth in your lives, that you are Christians indeed, by a constant imitation both of the death and resurrection of the Son of God.