power of the Holy Ghost. Therefore, the signs are not in vain or insignificant, so as to deceive us. For Jesus Christ is the true object presented by them, without whom they would be of no moment. Moreover, we are satisfied with the number of sacraments which Christ our Lord hath instituted, which are two only, namely, the sacrament of baptism, and the holy supper of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Sacrament of Baptism.

HYMN 52. C. M.-Cambridge.

1 THE sacraments are holy signs
And precious gospel seals ;
They exhibit what the Lord designs,
And what his word reveals.

2 But these are not themselves the grace,
Which signs and seals set forth;
The supper's not the sacrifice,
Nor water the new birth.

3 The sacraments were never meant
A substitute for grace ;

They're not the truths they represent,
Nor must they take their place.

4 Sinners may publicly profess,
And signs and seals receive,
Of what they never did possess,
Or what they don't believe.

5 Man may baptize, but 'tis the Lord Regenerates the heart ;

None but the Spirit, by his word,
That blessing can impart.

6 Preserve us, Lord, from self-deceit,
From resting on a sign;
Bestow what symbols indicate,
And give us life divine.

7 Let none who preach the gospel hide This solemn truth from men :

They may with water be baptiz'd,
Yet not be born again.

Inasmuch as Jesus Christ, who is the end of the law, hath made an end, by the shedding of his blood, of all other sheddings of blood, which men could or would make as a propitia. tion or satisfaction for sin: and that he, having abolished circumcision, which was done with blood, hath instituted the sacrament of baptism instead thereof; by which we are received into the church of God, and separated from all other people and strange religions, that we may wholly belong to him, whose ensign and banner we bear: and which serves as a testimony to us, that he will forever be our gracious God and Father. Therefore, he has commanded all those, who are his, to be baptized with pure water, “in the name of the Father,

and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost ;" thereby signifying to us, that as water washeth away the filth of the body, when poured upon it, and is seen on the body of the baptized, when sprinkled upon him; so doth the blood of Christ, by the power of the Holy Ghost, internally sprinkle the soul, cleanse it from its sins, and regenerate us from children of wrath, unto children of God. Not that this is effected by the external water, but by the sprinkling of the precious blood of the Son of God; who is our Red Sea, through which we must pass, to escape the tyranny of Pharaoh, that is, the devil, and to enter into the spiritual land of Canaan. Therefore, the ministers, on their part, administer the sacrament, and that which is visible, but our Lord giveth that which is signified by the sacrament, namely, the gifts and invisible grace; washing, cleansing and purging our souls of all filth and unrighteousness; renewing our hearts, and filling them with all comfort; giving unto us a true assurance of his fatherly goodness; putting on us the new man, and putting off the old man with all his deeds. Therefore, we believe, that every man who is earnestly studious of obtaining life eternal, ought to be but once baptized with this holy baptism, without ever

repeating the same: since we cannot be born twice. Neither doth this baptism only avail us, at the time when the water is poured upon us, and received by us, but also through the whole course of our life; therefore, we detest the error of the ana-baptists, who are not content with the one only baptism they have once received, and moreover condemn the baptism of the infants of believers, whom we believe ought to be baptized and sealed with the sign of the covenant, as the children in Israel formerly were circumcised, upon the same promises, which are made unto our children. And indeed Christ shed his blood no less for the washing of the children of the faithful, than for adult persons ; and therefore, they ought to receive the sign and sacrament of that, which Christ hath done for them, as the Lord commanded in the law, that they should be made partakers of the sacrament of Christ's suffering and death, shortly after they were born, by offering for them a lamb, which was a sacrament of Jesus Christ. Moreover, what circumcision was to the Jews, that baptism is to our children. And for this reason Paul calls baptism the circumcision of Christ.

་ ་ ་

Infant Baptism.

HYMN 53. C. M.-Brattle Street.

1 THUS saith the mercy of the Lord, "I'll be a God to thee ;

I'll bless thy num'rous race, and they Shall be a seed to me

2 Abra'm believ'd the promis'd grace, And gave his child to God; But water seals the blessing now That once was sealed with blood. 3 Jesus the ancient faith confirms, To our fore-fathers giv'n ;

He takes young children to his arms, And calls them heirs of heav'n.

4 Our God, how faithful are his ways! His love endures the same:

Nor from the promise of his grace Blots out his children's name.

5 With the same blessings grace en. dows

The Gentile and the Jew;

If pure and holy be the root,
Such are the branches too.

6 Then let the children of the saints Be dedicate to God;

Pour out thy Spirit on them, Lord!
And wash them in thy blood.

7 Thus to the parents and their seed Shall thy salvation come ;

And num'rous households meet at last In one eternal home.