interests of the church required. Even our Lord's caution has not entirely prevented the error of confounding these two together.

This suggests the reason why our Lord did not baptize the infants whom he took in his arms and blessed; and the probability that they received this symbol of adoption from his disciples, though that is not recorded. During the whole of his public ministry, he went about preaching the gospel, and teaching the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven; and without doubt, on many occasions, with great success, and with equal certainty, these converts were baptized by his disciples, yet in the whole period of these services this fact is only twice mentioned, and then only indirectly, because connected with other circumstances of his history.

Finally, it is declared of our Lord that he should baptize with fire. "He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire." t Fire, where it does not consume, is the most potent of all the means of purification; and though the Baptist might perhaps prophetically allude to the visible appearance of "cloven tongues like as of fire,"

* Mark x. 16.

↑ Acts ii. 3.

when the Holy

+ Matt. iii. 11.

1

Ghost was poured upon the disciples on the day of Pentecost; yet he more certainly referred to his sanctifying influence, on those circumstances of trouble, affliction, and persecution, with which the wisdom and providence of the great Head of the church has seen it good to visit her both generally and individually in all ages; by which he separates the wheat from the chaff, teaches his believers to put away all evil, and to renounce whatever defiles, exercises their graces of faith, love, patience, and hope, and refining them from all their dross, fits them as sterling gold for the treasury of heaven. This baptism is not a seal of the covenant to be administered by created beings, but a part of the providential management of the blessings of it, to apply which the Mediator alone is equal. As the flames of the furnace consumed the bonds of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and so prepared them to rise up and walk, and show forth the praises of God, so the trials and sorrows with which he exercises his disciples, only loosen the bands of those earthly attachments by which their soul cleaveth to the dust, and teach them to raise their affections from earth to heaven, where there is "no more curse," and consequently no more sorrow; but where that which

is weak through the infirmity of the flesh," shall be made perfect through the mighty power of him who has raised us from our death in trespasses and sins, that we may sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

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CHAPTER XX.

Of the Lord's Supper.

THIS Sacrament derives its name from the time and circumstances of its first institution.

By our Saviour's instruction the apostles had prepared the passover, and he had united with them in the celebration of it. The sacred repast was nearly finished, and the disciples were expecting the circulation of the cup of wine with which that festival concluded, when their Master expressed the earnest desire he had felt to eat this, the last passover, with them; admonishing them that this figurative institution was on the very eve of its fulfilment, and consequent abrogation. Having said this, he took the cup prepared for this purpose, blessed it, and gave it to his disciples to circulate it amongst them, and so terminated for ever the observation of the typical passover. "And he said, With desire have I desired to eat this

passover with you before I suffer. before I suffer. For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took the cup and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come."*

Having thus joined in the celebration of the paschal feast, and announced its abrogation, he proceeded to establish a new institution, better suited to the impending dispensation of the co

venant.

"And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, (gave thanks, Luke,) and brake it, and gave to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. (Saying, this is my body which is given for you, this do in remembrance of me: likewise also the cup after supper, Luke.) And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, (and they all drank of it, Mark,) saying, Drink ye all of it: for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many, for the remission of sins. (This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you, Luke.) But I say unto you, that I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I

*Luke xxii. 15-18.