SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM CONSIDERED, WITH AN ESPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND. BY THE REV. T. H. KINGDON, B. D. K. PUBLISHED BY R. B. SEELEY AND W. BURNSIDE: MDCCCXXXIV. igical ts of THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM CONSIDERED. THE sacraments of Christ are solemn ordinances, which the Son of God, "the author and finisher of our faith," hath himself appointed, as signs and seals of our holy profession, as sacred pledges of those blessings which he hath purchased by his blood, which he dispenses by his power, and which he alone, as head over all things to the church, imparts to his faithful people. They are outward and visible signs which God in his wisdom hath thought right to appoint, to give us confidence in those exceeding great and precious promises which he has revealed in the word of life; and in the observance of which, we, as disciples of Christ, give an open profession of our high and heavenly calling. They are, at the B same time, a testimony of God's grace tod of our trust in him, and so are representee keys of the kingdom of God, by which the riches of grace, mercy, and love, are unlocked and opened to his faithful people. Like the word, the sacraments form an authentic pledge of God's covenant with men; they are a sure promise of his mercy and grace, for though his word may be despised, and his sacraments neglected, 66 nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his ;" and "wisdom is justified of all her children." The sacraments of Christ, when duly ministered, are not only outward and visible signs, of an inward and spiritual grace conveyed to the soul, but by this very grace they tend to strengthen, stablish, and settle our faith in Christ, so that his people may have more grace, or grace upon grace, and in the rightful use and observance of them-" grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." This is their healing virtue-this is their saving power, as it leads to a communion with him who had all power to save. Not that we are to suppose that there is some secret and |