that our Saviour's First Advent in great humility is passed, and that his next Advent will be in power and great glory. We are there taught what is required of us, both in faith and practice, in order that "at Christ's second coming to judge the world we may be found an acceptable people in his sight." In short, in the Bible, the Word of God-the Sword of the Spirit, we may learn how to prepare ourselves, in every point of duty, for the great day of final account; that when, in the fulness of time, it arrives, we may escape the fearful situation of those whose Lord "will come in a day when they look not for him, and at an hour when they are not aware, and will cut them in sunder, and will appoint them their portion with the unbelievers."*

"To the law, then, and to the testimony," my brethren, let us go with unfeigned thanksgiving, and with humble

* Luke xii. 46.

† Isaiah viii. 20.

and teachable spirits; to the reading and preaching of God's word let us give diligent heed; and lest the blessings vouchsafed to us in the revelation of the Bible, prove to us, by our neglect of them as a means of grace, "a savour of death unto death instead of life unto life;"*-let us strive to be "doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving our own selves;” -let us not resemble the man beholding his natural face in a glass, who beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was; but rather let us be of the number of those who look into the perfect law of liberty, and continue therein, and are blessed in their deed."† And now, “Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning ; grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of

* 2 Corinthians ii. 16.

James i. 22-25.

Thy holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which Thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ." Amen.

133

SERMON VII.

THE HOLY SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM.

MATTHEW Xxviii. 19.

"Go YE THEREFORE AND TEACH ALL NATIONS, BAPTISING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, and OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY GHOST."

In the writings of one of the Fathers of our Church, we find this passage: " Our Lord Jesus Christ hath subjected us to his gentle yoke, and light burden; whence with Sacraments most few in number, most easy for observance, most excellent in signification, he bound together the society of new people. The mercy of God," he adds, "would have religion free by the celebration of most few and most clear Sacraments." * Whatever number

* St. Austin, Ep. 118, 119.

of Sacraments the Saviour had ordained in his Church, would have been received by his faithful followers as equally holy and important; but as his design was not to engage our care and attention in matters of mere ceremonial observance, but rather to employ us in the exercise of those important duties which, by the blessing of the Almighty, may tend to the perfection of human nature, and be productive of glory and honour to God;-he hath only instituted and ordained two holy Sacraments "as generally necessary to salvation, that is to say, Baptism and the Supper of the Lord." The mercy of God is yet further apparent in his rendering these sacred ordinances of our religion so intelligible to the imperfection of human understanding: because things which are outward and visible, and therefore easily apprehended by our faculties, make a deeper impression, and exercise a greater influence on our minds-it pleased the Almighry to employ the use of sensible