.: TO THE READER. FELLOW TRAVELLER TO ETERNITY, YOU and I are the offspring of God. The period of our return to him swiftly approaches. Then the motive I have had in writing, and which you shall have had in reading, will both be known. How, and how far, the following pages will affect my present and future life, is with the LORD. How far they shall affect thine, is also with HIM. One thing is certain: the truth of what I have written will be foon known. You are willing to know it now, provided you know the value of the gospel, and pofssess an heart humbled by its doctrines. Reader, be not offended at what I have written, till you be sure it is false. Do thyself no harm. Read, confider, compare every part, and the whole with divine truth, in such a manner and spirit, as shall yield thee a pleasing reflection in the world to come. If the subject, as here presented, be true, it is a serious truth. If an error, it is a serious one. It nearly concerns the kingdom of ЕмMANUEL, to whose pleasure and mercy the whole is cheerfully resigned, By, Reader, Thy Servant, THE AUTHOR. Sedgwick, Dec. 27, 1804. THE MODE AND SUBJECTS. OF BAPTISM. SERMON I. MATTHEW XVIII. 19, 20. Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to obferve all things whatsoever I have commanded you : And, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.. T hath pleased the Father of Mercies to bestow on: fallen man a revelation from heaven. In it is con tained the scheme of grace, which brings life and immortality to light. It shows the way by which to efcape the wrath to come, and to find the favour of God.. All scripture is given by his inspiration, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction: in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works... Till the human heart be humbled, in measure, man feels not his need of divine teaching; nor will he make the scriptures the man of his counsel. But, my brethren, and people, it is doubtless the cafe, that many of you poffefs a willingness to have your principles and practice squared by the word and testimony of Jefus Christ. My text contains some of the last words of our great High Priest. It is the general orders which he gave his first apostles, and left for the instruction, practice and comfort of all their successors, to the end of the world. In the verse which precedes my text, Christ informs us, that all power in heaven and in earth is given unto him. His words, therefore, are clothed with authority. May we hear, and fear, and, be obedient. Where the word of a king is, there is power; and who may say unto the King of Zion, What dost thou ? So far as we be Christians, all that is necessary to enforce obedience is, to know what Christ would have us to do. Perhaps not a paffage in all the oracles of truth contains more extensive instruction than do the words of my text. The commands are exceedingly broad; the Baptismal Institution comprehends all obedient disciples; and the comforting promise is durable: as the world. In my text, Christ Jesus, the head of the church and Lord of all, constituted his present and succeeding difci. ples to be apostles unto all nations. It contains their commiffion, and general and particular orders. In it they are directed I. To go and difciple all nations. II. To baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. III., He directs these newly constituted apostles, and all their successors, to teach their baptized disciples tox obferve all things whatsoever he had given in command ment. L'aftly |