renewal and sanctification of his heart; nay, it is the visible entry of the unseen Divinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to the human

soul.

So is it exhibited to the eye and ear of gazing and listening multitudes, that God, the high and lofty one that inhabitetheternity, will dwell with man, and cheer his heart with forgiveness and holiness. So is it shown forth, that all may know how God is waiting to be gracious, and how every heart should open to receive his visitations. So that, from the day of Pentecost until now, the baptism of believers is the visible and audible message of heaven's grace and mercy to surrounding unbelievers.

But this is not all. The command, as well as the promise, we suppose, is to believers and their children. So the believer, when

he has received God's merciful visitation to his own bosom, and in token of it has received baptism; he, as Abraham did the earlier ordinance, applies it to his household. So he expresses his confidence in those high and holy promises which God makes. So he pledges himself that he will command his

household after him; that they may keep the way of the Lord, and do justice and judgement. So he receives his heavenly Father's pledge that he will bless his efforts, and bring upon him that which he hath promisedthat in like manner as he hath visited his own soul, so will he visit those children whom he hath graciously given him, and receive them also as his sons and daughters.

See the believing parents in this holy faith, coming forward with their little family, that they may receive the baptism of water. See the gathered throng looking upon this Christian scene. Behold the ambassador of Christ shedding the baptismal water, in the blessed name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Every eye is fixed, and every ear is open, while this holy symbol brings down to earth this heavenly mercy; while it brings down to the door of this family, now separated to God, and even to the little infant, a nursling in its pious mother's arms, heaven's mercy to sinners. In what glory does it now appear, that the promise is to the children with their parents; the promise of the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost! And what

sacred lessons do the parents thus convey to the generation following. The ordinance of baptism is so made a lesson, even to those who were its infant subjects. That scene which passed before an infant eye which heeded it not, is reflected back from a faithful parent's heart; and those holy words which fell upon its unheeding ear, are echoed back by a faithful parent's lips; while it is taught the gracious work in its behalf, of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. As soon as reason dawns, the vision is recalled, and the holy lessons are repeated; that he may learn all that was signified by that early rite, in which he was given up to the service, and committed to the gracious and eternal keeping of Father, Son, and Spirit.

Nor is this all. Again and again the scene is presented, as believing parents bring, from time to time, their infant children to the holy ordinance. From the baptismal scene in which a believer's children have been presented to the mercy and for the service of the Lord, the children who have been before baptized in their ignorance, go home to ask their parents the meaning of this service, to hear

that they too have been baptized in that holy name, and been given up to the service, and committed to the gracious and eternal keeping of Father, Son, and Spirit.

Blessed ordinance! How simple; how full of holy meaning; how impressive to the old and to the young! How does it even oblige one generation to praise God's works to another, and to declare his mighty acts! How does it speak to every generation, that in every age the children which are born might know the wonderful works of the Lord, and set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his eommandments!

THE LORD'S SUPPER.

1 CORINTHIANS, xi. 26.

For as often as ye cat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come.

THE Lord's supper is the most affecting of all religious scenes. The Saviour first spread it out before his twelve disciples on the same night in which he was betrayed; with his heart full of the self-denying purpose, to make his soul an offering for sin before the morrow's sun should set.

Such thoughts never stirred in human heart before such amazing purpose never moved the lips and limbs of man before such depth of misery in prospect, such intense suffering never before weighed down the spirits of a man, as the Son of man suffered: such love never honoured our nature before, as moved VOL. III.

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