And they that gladly received the word were baptized accordingly. Again, the history states that "when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John; who when they were come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost. For as yet he was fallen upon none of them; only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost."

In the case of Cornelius the centurion, when Peter, by divine direction, came to his house and found many gathered together; after instructing them concerning the mission and office of Christ: his benevolent labours, his sufferings, death, and resurrection; his directions to his apostles, &c., the historian says, "while Peter yet spake, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word." Pe

ter then says, "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?" "And he commanded them to be baptized"-not in the name of three persons, but of one-the name of the Lord, even Jesus, whom, as he says in another place, "God hath made both Lord and Christ."

A remarkable instance is recorded in the 19th of Acts. "Paul came to Ephesus, and finding certain disciples, he said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance; saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him; that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this they were baptized in the

name of the Lord Jesus." No intimation is given that they ought to be baptized in a trinity of names; which if that had been the divinely appointed mode, St. Paul would have known it, and would doubtless have so directed. But they were baptized in the one name of the Lord Jesus.

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In St. Paul's language to the contentious Corinthians, contained in the first chapter of his first Epistle to them, there is, I think, an implied argument which strongly corroborates the opinion that the only proper name to be employed in Christian baptism, is that of our Saviour Jesus Christ. He reproves them for their contentions, and their forming themselves into parties under different leaders. "Now this I say (says he) that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ." He then asks, not indeed to obtain information as to the several interrogatories, for he knew a decided negative must be given to each; but to impress deeply the minds of the Corinthians with a sense of the impropriety of their divisions and contentions. "Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?" Upon this last interrogation, the commentator Dr. Adam Clark, remarks, that "to be baptized in, or into the name of one, implied that the baptized was to be the disciple of him into whose name, religion, &c. he was baptized." This, it appears to me, furnishes a rational argument for administering Christian baptism (if the external ordinance be still necessary or expedient) only in the name of Christ, who is the founder of the Christian religion, and the great High Priest of our profession, and whose disciples it is our duty, and our highest honour to be.

It seems most agreeable to the nature and design of outward baptism, that it should be administered

in public; and also that it be accompanied by some other appropriate religious services; as well for the satisfaction of the person or persons to be baptized, as for the edification of the people who may be in attendance on the occasion. It is not necessary that such services should always be precisely the same: they may be varied according to time, place, and circumstances, at the discretion of the officiating minister.

The following form and manner of proceeding, are, with much diffidence, respectfully suggested. If on the Sabbath, and in the church, the baptism may take place, either directly before, or immediately after the sermon.

A proposed Form and Manner of Administering the Ordinance of Baptism.

Water having been provided and conveniently placed, the minister may request the persons to be baptized to present themselves before the altar. Then leaving the pulpit and going within the altar, he may begin the baptismal service by offering some short observations upon the nature and design of baptism; which may be, in substance, as follows:

BELOVED BRETHREN: Baptism appears to have been originally designed as an initiatory ordinance into some divinely appointed system of faith and practice, by which persons to whom it was administered, were publicly recognised as having embraced such system. The founder or chief minister of the system or institution was distinguished as leader, master, or teacher, and his followers and adherents as his disciples. Accordingly, the Israelites are said to have been baptized unto Moses: and they valued themselves on being his disciples. Thus in the case of the blind man to whom sight was miraculously given by our Saviour; when the Pharisees

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inquired of him how he had been made to see, he told them that a man called Jesus had done it; and in what way. Not being satisfied, they inquired again what Jesus had done to him, and how he had opened his eyes. He replied, "I have told you already, and ye did not hear; wherefore would ye hear it again? Will ye also be his disciples?" Then they reviled him, and said, "Thou art his disciple, but we are Moses' disciples. We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not whence he is."

John the Baptist, the forerunner of our Saviour, and whose ministry and teachings were to prepare the way for the ministry of Christ, baptized with the baptism of repentance. And those who were baptized by him, and who followed his teachings, were called the disciples of John. And although our Saviour did not himself baptize with water, yet his chosen messengers did it in his name: and those thus baptized into the name and the faith of Christ, were called his disciples. So that baptism was an outward and visible badge and token of their Christian profession.

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That these persons may be publicly enrolled under the banner of Christ, the great Captain of our salvation," they have here presented themselves to be baptized in his name, that they may be recognised and received as his disciples: steadfastly purposing, as we trust and believe, to endeavour to "learn of him," and to govern themselves in their desires, and in all their doings by the dictates of his holy religion, and his blessed example; and earnestly desiring to receive and enjoy the blessings of his grace, and the benefits of his heavenly washing, which cleanseth from all sin and impurity.

Such being, as we charitably believe, the good motives and intentions of those persons, in presenting

themselves to receive baptism; let us devoutly give thanks to God, and make our prayers unto him in their behalf, that they may persevere, in this their Christian and godly purpose, unto their lives' end.

The following short thanksgiving and prayer, or such like, may then be offered:

ALMIGHTY God, and heavenly Father, we give thee humble thanks that thou hast been pleased to call us to the knowledge of thy grace and faith in thee, and in thy Son Jesus Christ our Redeemer. We pray thee to increase this knowledge, and to confirm this faith in us evermore. Especially we pray for thy blessing upon these thy servants, who now publicly profess their faith and hope in thy mercy and goodness, as declared in the gospel of thy Son, the new and everlasting covenant of thy grace. And as in ancient time, Noah and his family were preserved on the flood of waters by the ark, which was a type of the true ark of safety revealed in the gospel; and as of old, also, thy people, the children of Israel, were led through the Red sea, and were baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; which was also a figure of the great salvation set forth in the Christian covenant, into the faith of which these persons come now to be baptized with the element of water; so, we beseech thee to extend thy constant protection, and thy bounteous mercy to these thy servants, and to have them in thy holy keeping. Shower down upon them thy blessed influences of that grace and truth which came by Jesus Christ. Endue them plenteously, O Lord, with might in the inner man; that they may be enabled to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered unto the saints; be safely carried through all temptations and dangers, steadfast in the truth, joyful through