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the appointed service of the church; and the humble Christian who joins with them in worship, does his duty, and has every reason to hope for all the benefits promised by our Saviour to his church. If the sermon be not always so edifying as it might be, let him charitably excuse the defects of his teachers, and never forget the respect that is due to their office. The sermon is not the most important part of the service, though it is much to be wished that it should always be such as might be most for the benefit of those who hear it. The most important part is joining in public prayer and thanksgiving to GOD, and hearing his word, in the place and the manner which our church directs, and under the authority of a minister who is lawfully qualified to administer the sacraments which CHRIST has ordained. If we leave the church, and are led by idle curiosity to listen to those who intrude into another man's fold, we know not into what errors we may be led. We cannot be certain that we shall hear the true doctrine of the church; we cannot be certain that we shall hear prayers in which we ought to join; and even if the preacher should be better qualified to instruct you than your own minister, still we are commanded to

listen to those who are appointed to rule over us, and shun those who make divisions in the church. All such divisions should be avoided. "There is one body," the church, "and one spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one LORD, one faith, one baptism, one GoD and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."*

I proceed now to consider those public duties of our church, which no Christian ought to neglect ; and the first which our religion requires is that which is mentioned in my text. We all become members of CHRIST's church by baptism. This sacrament has always been the distinguishing mark of Christians; and it is particularly ordained by our Saviour CHRIST himself; for in his last solemn charge to his apostles he says, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost "+ In obedience to this command, we find the apostles constantly exhorting all their hearers to repent and be baptized; and the practice of the church. hath been at all times the same. This sacrament is the appointed means to cleanse us from

* Ephes. iv. 4.

+ Mark xvi. 15.

the guilt of original sin, to make us again children of GOD, and heirs of the kingdom of heaven. In it we renounce the devil and all his works, we profess our belief in all the articles of the christian faith, and we promise to observe God's holy will and commandments all the days of our lives.

We who have the happiness to be born in a Christian country are baptized when we are too. young to know any thing of the nature and use of this sacred ordinance, and too many who are called Christians, pass their lives without ever seriously considering it. I earnestly recommend to every person to read with attention the Form of Baptism in our book of common prayer, and to consider the solemn promise which was made in his name. A christening is too often considered only as a feast, an occasion of mirth, and perhaps even of intemperance. It is, indeed a season of rejoicing, but we should rejoice like Christians. The parents, whom God has blest with a child, have reason to rejoice and to praise Him; their neighbours and friends should rejoice with them; but still they should remember the importance of that duty for which they are called together. To the parents GoD has committed

the care of a creature formed to live for ever in happiness or in misery; to them He has given the important charge of instructing that child in his duty, of setting him a good example, and gently leading him in the paths of religion and virtue. When they see that child dedicated to the service of GOD in baptism, let them seriously reflect on the importance of the task which they have to perform. To the godfathers and godmothers the minister gives a charge which they too often entirely neglect; but I wish them to consider that they must answer for that neglect at the day of judgment. In the presence of GOD they have made a solemn promise, which binds them to see that the child be taught his duty to God; and if the parents neglect this, the godfathers and godmothers are bound to perform it to the best of their abilities. On this account it is to be wished that those who answer for the child should be relations, neighbours, or friends of the parents; who may have it in their power pay some attention to the child, in case of the neglect or the death of those who ought to perform this duty. To all who may be present on this awful occasion, I beg leave to address myself as to Christians who are assembled, not merely to a

to

family meeting and a feast, but to dedicate a newborn infant to the GOD who made, and to the Saviour who redeemed it. If they consider this as it deserves, they will perceive that there is not a more interesting or affecting sight than baptism. *When we see a human being, with his eye just opening on the world, presented free from actual guilt before the GOD who created it, dedicated to the Saviour, without whose redeeming love it had better never have been born, receiving in so solemn a manner the privileges of the Christian covenant, and engaged to be a faithful servant of CHRIST; every person who is capable of reflection thinks, at the same time, of the difficulties which that harmless infant must meet with in its passage through this wicked world. When we follow a pious and virtuous friend to the grave, however we may feel our own loss, we ought to rejoice at the blessed change which he has experienced. Sin and misery have no more power over him; he can never more be exposed to temptation, or lose the favour of his GOD. His trial is past, and he is for ever happy. But when we look at the infant, who is just entering on this state of trial, in which he must meet with many tempta

*See Meditations of a Recluse.

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