Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

them with the influences of his grace. The mighty concourfe of all ranks and degrees of people attending St. John at the river Jordan, rendered that the fittest place where he might firft fhew himfelf to the work. He who knew no fin, but was to take away the fins of all other men, prefented himself in the crowd of finners, as one of them, and folicited · the baptifm of repentance," not that water might fanctify him, but that he might "fanctify water to the myftical washing away of fin." : CONFOUNDED at the thought of the Mafter being baptized by the fervant, St. John at firft forbad him, faying, I have need to be baptized "of thee, and comeft thou to me? "And Jefus anfwering faid unto

66

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small]
[ocr errors]

"him, Suffer it to be fo now, for "thus it becometh us to fulfil all "righteoufnefs. Then he fuffered "him." Jefus Chrift, as condefcending to ftand charged with our fins, and, to that end, being "maclę. "under the law*," was to fulfil the "righteoufnefs" of the law, as it. confifted in an obedience to ceremo nial rites, as well as moral precepts.. In the character and capacity of our fubftitute, he underwent circumcifion, although he had no fin of his own to be cut off; and received baptifm, although he had no pollution of his own to be washed away.. What Chriftian can flight the ordinances of the church, when he fees the Re

* Gal, iv, 4.

deemer,

deemer, for his fake, fubmitting to obferve them all?

No fooner was Jefus baptized, but he "came up ftraightway" out of the river, like another Joshua, leading his people, through the waters of Jordan, to the land of promife. And as he was "praying," doubtlefs for fuccefs in the great work he had under

[ocr errors]

taken, Lo, the heavens were "opened, and the Spirit of God," encompaffed, we may prefume, with a blaze of glory, "defcended in a "bodily fhape like a dove," fpeaking better things than that of Noah. In this form, einblematical of innocence and purity, it "lighted," fettled, and abode upon him, the Father thus confecrating him to his office, by "anointing him with the "Holy

0 2

[ocr errors]

Holy Ghoft and with power*," as the legal minifters were anointed with oil. And that no doubt might remain, the appearance was farther explained by a voice from hea-, "ven," faying, "This is my beloved "Son, in whom I am well pleafed." Such are the bleffings which, in effect, do always attend the divine facraments, when duly adminiftered, with prayer. For then the heavens are opened, and the Spirit is given, to conform us to the image of a -meek and holy Saviour, and, through him, to make us acceptable in the -fight of God.

* A&ts x. 38.

SEC

[ocr errors][ocr errors]

SECTION VI.

Confiderations on the teftimony born by St. John, at different times, to the Mefhalfhip of Jefus.

WHEN a fervant of God, through

the power of divine grace,

hath made fome proficiency in holinefs, and feeth the world and the fleth under his feet, it is not uncommon for his third enemy, the devil, to fet upon him, and prevail over him, by puffing him up with a conceit of his own excellency, and fo rendering his very attainments an occafion of his falling. The hurt which a man receives, in fuch a cafe,

« VorigeDoorgaan »