BAPTISM 
 
 SIMPLY EXPLAINED, 
 
BAPTISM 
 
 SIMPLY EXPLAINED. 
 
 BY THE 
 
 EIGHT REV. ASHTON OXENDEN, D.D. 
 
 LATE BISHOP OF MONTREAL; 
 
 AUTHOR OF 
 'THK lord's SVVTIR SIMPLY rXPIAI>ED,' ETC. 
 
 ^hutuntl^ (T^oweanb* 
 
 LONDON: 
 IJATCIIARLS, PICCADILLY. 
 
 HAMILTON, ADAMF, & CO., 32 PATEEKOSTBR ROW. 
 
 1880. 
 
r^s^.^5 
 
TO TJTB 
 
 PARISHIONEKS OF BARIIAM, 
 
 AMONG WHOM THE AUTHOR WAS PERMITTED TO 
 
 MINISTER DURING SEVEN OF THE HAPPIEST 
 
 YEARS OF HIS LIFB| 
 
 f^is gooft 
 
 IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED, 
 
 WITH AN EARNEST PRAYER 
 
 THAT GOD WILL NOT ALLOW IT 
 
 TO GO FORTH WITHOUT 
 
 HIS BLESSING. 
 
P R E FA C E. 
 
 The Author has long felt the want of a Work 
 on Baptism, sufficiently plain to meet the wants 
 of the unlearned. He has, for this reason, pre- 
 pared the following little Volume. It has heen 
 his endeavour to avoid, as much as possible, 
 entering upon any disputed points. And if he 
 succeeds in conveying a clear and simple view of 
 this Holy Rite, his end will be gained. 
 
 This Volume is accompanied by another of 
 the same character and size, on the subject of 
 the Lord's Supper. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 OH A P. pj^QB 
 
 1. the appointment of baptism . , 11 
 
 2. the persons to be baptized , , 17 
 
 3. some of the benefits of baptism .. 30 
 
 4. serious advice to parents . , 49 
 
 6. a few plain hints for godfathers 
 
 and godmothers ... 60 
 fl. advice to the baptized, when old 
 
 enough to receive it . #68 
 
 7. prayers: 
 
 1. for parents, before the bap- 
 
 tism of a child ... 78 
 
 2. for parents, after the bap- 
 
 tism of a child ... 80 
 
 3. for a sponsor, before baptism 82 
 
 4. for a sponsor after baptism . 84 
 6. for a baptized person . . 86 
 
BAPTISM. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE APPOINTMENT OF BAPTISM. 
 
 We may be quite sure that notliing 
 is commanded in the gospel, which is 
 useless or tmmeaning. And yet it is 
 to be feared that many see no meaning 
 in Baptism ; but only look upon it as 
 an outward ceremony, which merely for 
 custom's sake ought to be kept up. 
 This arises from ignorance. Now, my 
 wish is to explain to you what Baptism 
 is ; and then, I think, you will agree 
 
1 2 APPOINTMENT OF BAPTISM. 
 
 with me that it is a very holy, and 
 also a very comforting, means of grace ; 
 and perhaps you will wonder, that 
 you could ever have thought so lightly 
 of it. 
 
 First of all, it is well to inquire 
 Who APPOINTED IT ? It w^s our Lord 
 Jesus Christ Himself 
 
 Even before His coming however it 
 was sometimes practised by the Jews. 
 For when any of the Gentiles, or 
 heathens, were converted from their 
 idolatry, the Jews used not only to cir- 
 cumcise them, but also to baptize them 
 with water. And when John the Bap- 
 tist''' came to * prepare the way of the 
 
 * He was so called on account of the multitude 
 of followers whom he baptized ; and also because 
 he baptized our Lord. 
 
 1 
 
APPOINTMENT OF BAPTISM. 13 
 
 Lord/ he also baptized those who were 
 converted by his preaching, and de- 
 sired to become his followers. This 
 was to show them, that as water 
 washes the body from its filth, so the 
 soul has need to be cleansed from its 
 guilt. Look at Matt. iii. 5, 6. 
 
 Among those whom John baptized 
 was one Person, far greater, and holier, 
 and better, than any one who had ever 
 before appeared on earth. This was 
 Jesus Himself. For though He had 
 nothing like a sin to be washed away, 
 yet, as He came on earth ' to fulfil all 
 righteousness,' and to set us a perfect 
 example. He commanded John to bap- 
 tize Him, before He entered upon His 
 glorious work. I refer you to Matt, 
 iii. 13-17. 
 
 And then, when Jesus began to ga- 
 
14 APPOINTMENT OF BAPTISM. 
 
 ther around Him a small, but faithful 
 band of followers, He marked them for 
 His own, and set them apart for His 
 service, by the rite of Baptism. This 
 you will see for yourself, by turning to 
 John, iii. 22-26 ; and iv. 1, 2. 
 
 After our Lord's departure into 
 heaven, Baptism became a most im- 
 portant and blessed Sacrament in the 
 Chiistia-n Church. For this was the 
 command, which He left with His dis- 
 ciples, *Go ye, and teach (or make 
 disciples of) all nations, baptizing them 
 in the name of the Father, and of the 
 Son, and of the Holy Ghost.' (Matt, 
 xxviii 19.) And this is the reason 
 why the ministers of Christ ever since, 
 in joyful obedience to the command of 
 their great Master, have baptized those 
 vho are brought to them, using the 
 
APPOIMTMEJNT OJb^ BAPTISM. 15 
 
 very ^vords which He desired, ' I bap- 
 tize thee in the name of the Father, 
 and of the Son, and of the Holy 
 Ghost/ 
 
 But some persons object to our man- 
 ner of performing the ceremony. They 
 say, we ought not to sprinkle, but to 
 dip, those whom we baptize. Now, if 
 you look in the Prayer-book, you will 
 see that the Ministers of our Church 
 are directed to dip the child in water, 
 if the parents certify that their child 
 can well bear it. But as we consider 
 that in this country there would be 
 danger in doing so, and as our Lord 
 gave no command as to the quantity of 
 water to be used, we do not hesitate to 
 sprinkle instead. Surely, the benefit 
 cannot depend upon the measure of 
 water which is used, but upon the 
 
16 APPOINTMENT OF BAl»TISM. 
 
 blessing of the Lord upon His own 
 ordinance. 
 
 A false notion something like this 
 seems to have been in St. Peter's mind, 
 when our Lord came to wash his feet : 
 for he immediately cried out, ' Lord, 
 not my feet only, but also my hands 
 and my head.' Jesus, however, showed 
 him that this feeling was wrong, as 
 you will see by turning to John, xiii. 
 8, 9, 10. 
 
 I shall now close this chapter by 
 once more reminding you that it is 
 Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who 
 commands Baptism to be administered. 
 We shall speak next of the Persons for 
 whom it was intended. 
 
PERSONS TO BE BAPTIZED. 17 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE PERSONS TO BE BAPTIZED. 
 
 Having seen that the holy Sac Tam exit 
 of Baptism was given to us by our 
 most gracious Lord, and is, therefore, 
 worthy of our very serious consider- 
 ation, we now come to the question, 
 
 WHO ARE THE PERSONS FOR WHOM IT 
 IS INTENDED? 
 
 1. Those Grown-up Persons who 
 were not baptized when they were 
 young, and who now desire to become 
 
 Tl 
 
18 PEBSONS TO BE BAPTIZED. 
 
 members of the Christian Church, q 
 You probably know that, in the i 
 Prayer-book, there is a separate ser- t 
 vice specially for ^ such as are of riper 
 years/ 
 
 In heathen countries, the Ministers 
 of our Church meet of course with 
 many such persons. And as soon as i 
 they begin to feel the blessings of the 
 gospel, and show a real and earnest 
 desire to become the followers of 
 Christ, we then receive them into His 
 Chm-ch by the ordinance of Baptism. 
 Such was the case in those countries 
 where the Apostles preached ; for the 
 religion of Jesus Christ was then quite 
 a new thing among them. This 
 is the reason why almost all those 
 baptisms which are mentioned in the 
 Acts of the AnoRtles are the ba.r)tisms 
 
PERSONS TO BE BAPTIZED. 19 
 
 of Adults, or grown-up persons. And 
 this is just what we should have ex- 
 pected. 
 
 Again, in our own country, there are 
 sometimes cases of men and w^omen 
 who were not christened in their in- 
 fancy. Their parents neglected the 
 great privilege of bringing them to 
 Christ in His own appointed way ; and 
 thus they have remained for years se- 
 parated from His Church. Now, how 
 do we act with such persons ? If they 
 desire this blessing, and seem to be 
 really anxious to serve Christ and show 
 signs of having a truly penitent and 
 believing heart, then we are ready 
 to receive them. This was the man- 
 ner of the Apostles : for it is written 
 (Acts, ii. 38), ' Rejyent and be bap- 
 tized for the remission of sins, and 
 
20 PERSONS TO BE BAPTIZED. 
 
 ye shall receive the gift of the Holy 
 Ghost:' and again (Mark, xvi. 16), 
 'He that belle veth, and is baptized^ 
 «hall be saved/ 
 
 But in a Christ Ian country, there is 
 another class who enjoy the privilege 
 of Baptism. And these are the per- 
 sons who are usually brought into 
 our churches to be baptized. I 
 mean, — 
 
 2. The Ckildrcn cf Christian Pa- 
 rents — The blessings of Christ are not 
 only bestowed on Believers themselves, ' 
 but their Little Ones in some degree 
 become sharers also. It is true there 
 is no direct command in Scripture to 1 
 baptize infants. Our Saviour does not ] 
 plainly tell us so, in as many words. 
 And, on this account, some have 
 
rERSONS TO BE BAPTIZED. 21 
 
 doubted whether children ought ii) 
 any case to be baptized. 
 
 I shall, therefore, give you some of 
 the reasons ivliy our Church acts as it 
 does. For although all Christians, I 
 believe, excepting the Baptists and the 
 Quakers, have always held to Infant 
 Baptism ; and although you may feel 
 satisfied that your own Church would 
 appoint nothing contrary to Scripture, 
 or to the practice of the early Christ- 
 ians, yet it is well for you to have 
 some of the reasons placed before you. 
 
 First Reason, Because, in tlie days 
 of Abraham/'' God allowed Children to 
 
 * The covenant of grace, under which we are 
 now living, is, in fact, the same as that undiT 
 which Abraham lived, only it is now come to 
 perfection. 
 
22 PERSONS TO BE BAPTIZED. 
 
 be the sharers of His covenant ; as you 
 will see by turning to Genesis, xvii. 
 9-14. We find Moses also speaking 
 of Children as belonging to God^s co- 
 venant; * Ye stand this day, all of you, 
 before the Lord your God, your cap- 
 tains, your tribes, your elders, and your 
 ofiicers, with all the children of Israel, 
 your little ones, your wives, and the 
 stranger that is in thy camp; that thou 
 shouldest enter into covenant with the 
 Lord thy God* (Deuteronomy, xxix. 
 10-12). As an outward sign of this 
 blessing, God commanded men in 
 those days to circumcise their child- 
 ren at eight days old. This was the 
 way by which He chose that they 
 should be admitted, when as yet in- 
 fants, into His Chiu^ch. When our 
 Lord came He gave us something 
 
PERSONS TO BE BAPTIZED. 23 
 
 better — even Baptism, for which cir- 
 cumcision seemed to prepare the way. 
 What circumcision did for the Jews for- 
 merly, Baptism does for us Christians 
 Qow ; only it brings with it far more 
 precious blessings. Bead Colossians, 
 II. 11, 12. 
 
 If, then, little children were for- 
 merly received as members of the 
 Jewish Church, how much more shall 
 little children be admitted now into 
 the Christian Church I 
 
 We can fancy that a Jewish Mother, 
 if she loved her child, would feel very 
 happy that she could behold it thus, 
 in its earliest days, taken Into covenant 
 with God. But happier still should 
 the Christian Parent feel, that she is 
 allowed to claim for her helpless in- 
 fant a place in the covenant of grace, 
 
24 PERSONS TO BE BAPTIZED. 
 
 and a shelter within the bosom of 
 Christ's holy Church. 
 
 Second Reason. Because it was fore- 
 told concerning Christ that He would 
 show affection and mercy even to the 
 very lambs of His fold ; that is, to 
 the youngest and weakest members of 
 His Church. Isaiah says, ^He shall 
 gather the lambs with his arm, and 
 carry them in his bosom.' And surely 
 we all remember that beautiful in- 
 stance of His kindness, and of His 
 willingness to receive little children, 
 mentioned in Mark, x. 13, 14. His 
 disciples, we are told, 'rebuked those 
 that brought them.' No doubt they 
 meant well in making these objections. 
 Perhaps some such thoughts as these 
 came across them, — What good can 
 
PERSONS TO BE BAPTIZED. 25 
 
 such little children get ? If they were 
 old enough to understand His words, 
 then there would be some use in 
 bringing them. If they could have 
 faith, they might well come. But 
 surely it is only a mockery to bring 
 such helpless, senseless babes to Him. 
 And so say people now, who mean 
 well too. But just observe our Lord's 
 answer, — ' Suffer little children to 
 come unto me, and forbid them not.' 
 As if He had said, ' Have they not 
 souls to be saved ? Then let them 
 draw near. Do they not need a bless- 
 ing ; and am not I ready to give it i :> 
 them ? What ! shall they be called 
 on to resist sin ; and shall they have 
 no strength to resist it ? Suffer them 
 to come. I am their Saviour and their 
 Friend/ And so, we read, He actu- 
 
25 PERSONS TO BE BAPTIZED. 
 
 rlly ' took them up in His arms, put 
 His hands upon them, and blessed 
 them/ 
 
 Now, when we bring our infants to 
 be christened, we, in fact, bring them 
 to Christ. For we feel that although 
 He is now in heaven. He can still 
 ' receive them into the arms of Hig 
 mercy,' and give them His own rich 
 blessino;. 
 
 TJiird Reason. Because our Lord 
 does not, by any word He ever spoke, 
 shut children out from heaven. No; 
 on the contrary, when He speaks of 
 them, He says, ' Of such is the king- 
 dom of heaven.' If then children 
 may enter God's heavenly Kingdom, 
 sarely they may be admitted into His 
 Church on earth. 
 
PERSONS TO BE BAPTIZED. 27 
 
 Fourth Reason, Because we read in 
 Scripture, that the Apostles baptized 
 ivliole households or families. For in- 
 stance, we learn from Acts, xvi. 15, that 
 when Lydia's heart was opened by the 
 grace of God, ' she was baptized, and 
 her household,' Again, in the same 
 chapter, we read of another case ; it 
 was that of the Jailor at Philippi, whom 
 it pleased God to convince of the truth 
 of the gospel, whilst he was watching 
 over Paul and Silas in prison. We 
 are told in the 33rd verse, that 'he 
 (the Jailor) took them, the same hour 
 of the night, and washed their stripes, 
 and was baptized, he and all his 
 straightway.' Then, again, St. Paul 
 tells us, in 1 Corinthians, i. 16, that 
 Stephanas and his household were 
 baptized. 
 
28 PERSONS TO BE BAPTIZED. 
 
 Now, it is but natural to suppose 
 that there were some children in these 
 families. 
 
 Fifth Reason. Because we know, 
 that, for the first thousand years after 
 our Blessed Lord went up into heaven, 
 it was always the practice to baptize 
 the Children of Christian parents. 
 And is it Hkely that, during those 
 years, the whole Church can have 
 been altogether wrong on such an 
 important point ? 
 
 Since that time, an objection has 
 been made, as I have already told you, 
 by a certain sect of Christians, who 
 are called Baptists, and also by the 
 Quakers. These last, indeed, hold 
 that Baptism and the Lord's Supper 
 are neither of them necessaiy. 
 
PERSONS TO BE BAMlZED. 29 
 
 As I have much more to say, I shall 
 raake no remark on these five rea- 
 sons. I think they will speak for 
 themselves. 
 
 We believe, then, that the Children 
 of Christian Parents are proper sub- 
 jects for Baptism. And also such 
 cjrown-up persons as have neglected 
 it when young, and who now give 
 satisfactory proof that their hearts 
 are in a penitent and believing state. 
 And here we close our chapter. 
 
30 SOME or THE BENEFITS 
 
 CHAPTEK III. 
 
 SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF BAPTISM. 
 
 How often have we heard parents say, 
 * I will take my child to be named 
 next Sunday/ And how many a fa- 
 ther and mother have asked the cler- 
 gyman to christen their child, under 
 some such feelmg as this ; * We should 
 be sorry that our little one should die 
 ivithout a name,' Well, it is true that 
 we give a new name, a Christian name, 
 at Baptism. But it is great ignorance 
 to suppose that this is alL There is 
 Bomethiiig more in it than this ; some- 
 
OF BAPTISM. 31 
 
 thing more to be gained than just a 
 name. The fear is, not tliat our child- 
 ren should die without, a name ; but 
 lest they should die without being 
 brought to Christ, in the way which 
 He has chosen. 
 
 Is it not very sad to think that so 
 many parents desire their children to 
 be christened without knowing why? 
 And yet hundreds can give no better 
 reason than this ; ' Such is the cus- 
 tom ; and the same was done for us, 
 when we were young/ But surely, no 
 thoughtful person can suppose that 
 Baptism is nothing more than a cus- 
 tom; a mere empty, useless, unmeaning 
 ceremony. You were told, at the be- 
 ginning of this book, that it is a Sa- 
 crament And we have seen that the: 
 Loi'd Himself appointed it, and charged? 
 
82 SOME OF TPIE BENEFITS 
 
 His disciples and followers to continue 
 it. then, must it not, think you, 
 be something of great importance to 
 us, and something very solemn? 
 
 What, then, are the benefits 
 which Baptism brings with it ? There 
 are many; but I shall just mention 
 five. 
 
 1. We are admitted into a state of 
 grace, or favour. When a little infant 
 is baptized, he has no actual sins of 
 his oum to be forgiven. But then we 
 must bear in mind, that he comes into 
 the world as a fallen creature, and 
 with Adam's guilt upon him. Now, 
 this guilt, or condemnation, is merci- 
 fully put away when he is received by 
 Christ in Baptism. By birth he was 
 * a child of wrath ; ' but now the Lord 
 
OF BAPTISM. 
 
 33 
 
 throws open His gracious arms to 
 receive him. He takes him into His 
 favour, and welcomes him as a ' child 
 of grace.' His nature still remains 
 corrupt, and inclined to sin; but 
 God's anger is 'turned away' from 
 
 him. 
 
 Again, suppose that a grown-up 
 person comes to Baptism in a right 
 spirit (that is, in a penitent and be- 
 lieving state of mind), then his pardon 
 is sealed in this holy ordinance. And 
 tliis is what we mean when we sa^ 
 every Sunday, ' I believe in one Bap- 
 tism, for the remission of sins.' When 
 .3t. Paul repented, and believed in 
 Jesus Christ, it was necessary for him 
 to be baptized : so Ananias said to 
 him, 'Arise, and be baptized, and wash 
 away thy sins' (Acts, xxii. 16). And 
 
 c 
 
Si SOME or THE BENEFITS 
 
 when the people were * pricked in 
 their hearts/ after hearing St. Peter s 
 sermon, what did he say to them? 
 'Eepent, and be baptized, every one 
 01 you in the name of Jesus Christ, 
 for the remission of sins ; and ye shall 
 receive the gift of the Holy Ghost/ 
 (Acts, iL 38.) 
 
 Thus, baptism and forgiveness of 
 sins seem to go together. In the 
 Scriptures the Lord again and again 
 declares that He is a pardoning God, 
 and that * there is forgiveness with 
 Him' — that every true believer in 
 Christ is accepted — that 'in Him we 
 have redemption through His blood, 
 even the forgiveness of our sins.' But 
 in this ordinance of baptism He form- 
 ally and puhlicly pronounces His will 
 to forgive us individaally ; just as an 
 
OF BAPTISM. 35 
 
 offended parent, though he is always 
 willing to pardon his penitent child, 
 yet calls him up, and in the presence 
 of the other members of his family, 
 assures him that he is forgiven. In 
 fact, baptism is the seal, or pledge, of 
 our pardon. God gives a promise that 
 He will pardon sm for Christ's sake ; 
 and by baptism He puts His seal to it. 
 I will try to make this still more 
 plain to you. We will suppose that 
 some unhappy debtors are confined in 
 prison, without a hope of being able to 
 pay the debt themselves. A very kind 
 and rich friend pays the debt for them. 
 The king sends an order that they 
 may be set free. And, as the matter 
 is of great importance, he not only 
 signs the order, but p^lts his seal to it. 
 They feel very thankful for the offer 
 
36 SOME OF THE BENEFITS 
 
 of liberty ; and if they are disposed to 
 doubt whether it comes from the king, 
 they say to themselves, 'Here is the 
 king's own seal, which is a pledge to 
 assiu*e us that he intended it/ It is 
 hardly necessary to explain myself. 
 We are the poor hopeless debtors. 
 Sin is our debt. Christ is our kind 
 friend, who is rich in mercy, and who 
 with the price of His own blood, has 
 discharged our debt. The King of 
 heaven sends offers of mercy and for- 
 giveness. And Baptism is the seal, by 
 which God pledges Himself to fulfil 
 His promise. 
 
 2. We are made Christians , or mem» 
 bers of Christ's Church. I do not say 
 that we all become good Christians ; 
 for many baptized persons live quite as 
 
OF BAPTlfciM. 37 
 
 wickedly as heathens; nay, even mou 
 wickedly in the sight of God, because 
 they have been entered into His army, 
 and then have deserted Him. But 
 what I mean is, that in baptism Christ 
 marks us as His. We publicly give 
 ourselves to Him ; and we become His 
 property, and are no longer our own. 
 
 You know how it is, when a farmer 
 purchases a number of lambs. He 
 has them marked with his own name : 
 and then he places them among tlie 
 rest of the flock, and every one knows 
 them to be his. Now, it is by baptism 
 that we are received inl.o Christ's fold. 
 This is the mark by which He distin- 
 guishes His own from strangers ; and 
 we are then 'signed with the sign of 
 the cross.' Our Catechism tells us 
 that we are made ' members of Christ/ 
 
38 SOME OF THE BENEFITS 
 
 that is to say, members of His Church, 
 or Body. And we read in the 
 27th Article,^^ ^They that receive 
 baptism rightly are grafted into the 
 Church,' 
 
 When you see a vine, growing up 
 the side of a house, with its spreading 
 branches, some young and tender, and 
 some full-grown, then thmk of Christ 
 and His Church. For in the 15th of 
 John, our Lord says, ' 1 am the vine ; 
 ye are the branches.' We are grafted 
 into Him (the vine) by baptism. We 
 
 * At the end of your Prayer-book you will 
 find the ' Articles of Keligion.' There are 
 thirty-nine of them ; and these contain the chief 
 doctrines of our Church. I heartily wish that 
 these Articles were more carefully read and 
 examined. Then people would see how faith- 
 fully our Church follows the teaching of Holy 
 Scripture. 
 
OF BAPTISiM. 39 
 
 are received into His covenant But, 
 our Lord Himself tells us, there are 
 many branches in the vine, which are 
 barren and worthless. And therefore 
 whilst the good branches remain for 
 ever joined to the stem, and nourished 
 by it, the bad ones shall one day be 
 removed ; for it is written in that same 
 chapter, 'Every branch in me, that, 
 beareth not fruit, he taketh away/ 
 So, you see, we must not only be 
 grafted into Him, but we must abide 
 in Him, living on Him by faith, cling- 
 ing to Him, as our blessed and hourly 
 support ; for again He says, ' If a man 
 abide not in me, he is cast forth as a 
 branch, and is withered.' And this 
 clearly shows, that a man may by this 
 ordinance be grafted into Christ's 
 Church, or be made a Christian, and 
 
40 SOME OF THE BENEFITS 
 
 yet never be admitted into His blessed 
 Kingdom above ; for without holi- 
 ness 'no man shall see the Lord/ 
 It is only the faithful servant of Christ; 
 who shall dwell where He is. It is 
 only the man, whose heart is renewed 
 by the Holy Spirit, and who is united 
 to his Saviour by a living, active, 
 earnest faith. 
 
 3. We are received into God's family 
 on earth. We become, as our Cate- 
 chism states, the 'children of God.' 
 But here, again, let us remark, that, 
 although by this Sacrament we were 
 made children, we do not all prove to 
 be good, and faithful, and obedient 
 children. 
 
 How was it with the circumcised 
 Jew ? We are told ip the Bible, that 
 
OF BAPTISM. 41 
 
 God reckoned all tlie Jews as His 
 peculiar family. * To them belonged 
 the adoption.' Though many of them 
 were wicked and rebellious children, 
 yet they were God s children still. So 
 it is with us Christians. We now 
 belong to God's family. We are per- 
 mitted not only to look upon Him as 
 our Master, but as our Father. He 
 watches over us with a Father s eye ; 
 protects us with a Father s care ; 
 guides us with a Father's hand ; and 
 gives us a Father s blessing, God will 
 withhold nothing from us, if we are 
 faithful to Him. 
 
 And is not this a vast privilege ? 
 It is well if we are living up to it. 
 The great question is. Are we now 
 living and acting as God s children ? 
 Are we desiring ^^ Ihe taught, and 
 
12 SOME OF THE BENEFITS 
 
 guided, and led, by His Spirit? 
 Otherwise we are only deceiving our- 
 selves. We are false, and not true, 
 children ; as our Lord said to the Jews, 
 ' If ye were Abraham's children, ye 
 would do the works of Abraham/ 
 And again, it is written, ' As many as 
 are led by the Spirit of God, they are 
 the sons of God/ 
 
 4. Heaven becomes our Land of Pro- 
 mise, We are made 'inheritors (or 
 heirs) of the kingdom of heaven/ All 
 Cnristian blessings, as I said before, 
 are placed within our reach, even 
 heaven itself. It is our proper Home, 
 our * Father s house.' And ther« 
 Christ has prepared a place for those 
 whom He graciously calls His Bre- 
 thren. But the actual enjoyment^ and 
 
Oh' BAnisM. 43 
 
 possession, of heaven will only be se- 
 cured to those among us who are 
 walking in the one appointed way, 
 and are earnestly seeking to enter in 
 by the strait gate of faith and holiness. 
 
 5. In Baptism we are said to be re- 
 generated.^ This seems, at first sight, 
 to be a strong expression. But what 
 does it mean ? It does not mean that 
 each one's heai^t and nature is changed 
 by this ordinance : but that our state 
 is so altered, that it is like a new birth 
 to us. 
 
 By nature, we are born ^ the children 
 of wrath :' in baptism, we are made 
 
 * Strictly speaking, I should not have called 
 this a distinct blessing, for it includes all the 
 others. But I feel it to be important to speak of 
 it under a separate head. 
 
44 SOME OJ' THE BENEFITS 
 
 ' the children of grace.' By birth th^ 
 child inherits a curse : by baptism he 
 receives a blessing. Instead of be- 
 longing only to Ada a, he now belongs 
 to Christ. He is no longer ' afar off/ 
 but ^ brought nigh ' to God ; and may 
 enjoy all the privileges of His Church. 
 He has new blessings, new duties, new 
 aopes, and neiu prospects, before him. 
 He receives the promise of the Holy 
 Spu-it, to strengthen him in his war- 
 fare. He has the blessed and ever- 
 bright assurance, that God is his Fa- 
 ther and his Friend. And is not this 
 a cliange indeed ? Is not this worthy 
 to be called ^reo-eneration?'^^ 
 
 o 
 
 * The word * regenerate ' means * re-born,' or 
 ' born again.' Some persons object to tliis word 
 being used in onr service for Baptism. This is, 
 I think, owing to i^s meaning being misunder- 
 
OF BAPTISM. 45 
 
 I trust I have now said enouofh to 
 show you, what a privilege it is to bo 
 a baptized member of Christ's Church 
 on earth. But there is a wide dif- 
 ference, in the sight of God, between 
 the greatest privileges, and the inward 
 renewing of the heart unto holiness. 
 Privileges are not salvation. It is not 
 
 stood. The word seems to have a twofold mean- 
 ing. 1st. It signifies the admission into a neic 
 state and new privileges^ although the heart and 
 character may remain unaltered. This, probably, 
 is the sense in which the word was originally 
 used. And this, I believe, is the * regeneration ' 
 which takes place at baptism. Clement, who 
 lived about 1650 vears ago, speaking of Christ 
 being baptized, calls iv His being * regenerated.' 
 Surely we cannot for one moment suppose, that 
 His heart and character could ever have needed 
 any change. 
 
 But, 2ndly, the word is used sometimes in a 
 fuller and higher sense, signifying that inward 
 
46 SOME OF THE BENEFITS 
 
 enougli to have been made *a mem- 
 ber of Christ/ But it is further ne- 
 cessary to come to Him by faith, and 
 to close with Him as our righteous- 
 ness, that so we may be ' rooted and 
 grounded in Him/ Faith is the 
 golden tliread, which binds the be- 
 liever to his Saviour. We must be 
 savingly united to Christ : and this 
 
 change of the heart and character, when the 
 soul is renewed by Divine grace, and when the 
 affections, and desires, and feelings, are all given 
 to God. Now, we know from experience, that 
 every baptized person is not thus changed. 
 
 Our Collect for Christmas Day will serve, 
 perhaps, to throw light upon this double mean- 
 ing. We there pray, * Grant that we, being 
 regenerate^' (tliat is, already regenerate by bap- 
 tism), * and made Thy children by adoption and 
 grace may daily he renewed'' (that is, may be- 
 come regenerate in the highest and fullest sense 
 of the word). 
 
OF BAPTISM. 47 
 
 can only be, hy helievimj in Ilim ivith 
 the heart 
 
 You see then that many and great 
 blessings have been made over to us. 
 But how often are they trampled un- 
 der foot, and made of none effect ! 
 Possibly, dear Reader, you may have 
 done this. If so, I trust that God 
 may have stopped you in your course, 
 and brought you to your senses, by 
 His converting grace ! Happy is it 
 for you, if you have been led by His 
 Spirit to feel deep repentance and 
 contrition of heart ; so that you now 
 earnestly exclaim, ' I will arise, and 
 go to my Father, and will say unto 
 Him, Father, I have sinned, and am 
 no more worthy to be called Thy son ! ' 
 Happy is it, if you have been brought 
 truly to feel your sins, and to mourn 
 
48 SOME OF THE BENEFITS, ETC. 
 
 over them ! And happy for yon, if 
 you can now see the preciousness oi 
 Christ's atonement, and your great 
 need to be washed from your sins in 
 His blood, and to be daily renewed 
 by His Holy Spirit 1 
 
4'J 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 SERIOUS ADVICE TO PATIENTS. 
 
 The following advice is affectionately 
 offered to every Father and Mother of 
 a new-born child. 
 
 The situation you are now placed in 
 is a very blessed one. You may look 
 upon the gift of a child, as a token of 
 God's favour to you ; for it is written, 
 'Lo, children are an heritage of the 
 Lord, and the fruit of the womb is His 
 reward/ You have now a solemn 
 duty to discharge; and, blessed be 
 
 D 
 
50 SERIOUS ADVICE 
 
 God, you have many a precious pro- 
 mise to encourage you. 
 
 It would be most unnatural if you 
 were not to feel concerned about your 
 child's bodily health. Those must in- 
 deed be hard-hearted Parents, who do 
 not count it a pleasure, as well as a 
 duty, to do their best for the clothing 
 and feeding of their Little Ones. But 
 is there not a further duty, a duty still 
 more solemn and important? Your 
 Child is born with a body, that must 
 die ; but also with A soul, that will 
 
 LIVE THROUGH ALL ETERNITY ! It haS 
 A SOUL, THAT WILL EITHER BE SAVED, 
 OB LOST FOR EVER ! ! 
 
 Indeed this is enough to make you 
 very anxious ; and how much, under 
 God, will depend upon yo^i! From 
 the moment of your child's birth, you 
 
TO PARENTS. 51 
 
 .should determine that nothing shall be 
 wanting on your part to bring him up 
 as a servant of God. But remember, 
 you yourself are very weak. Pray then 
 to God, that He may teach and direct 
 you how to perform your duty. Re- 
 member too, your little one, like 
 every child of fallen Adam, has a cor- 
 rupt heart, and is ready to ' go astray 
 as soon as he is born.' Beseech the 
 Lord then to bestow upon him the 
 gift of His almighty grace. And oh ! 
 are you not thankful, that there is a 
 means appointed by the Saviour Him- 
 <eJf by which you may at once place 
 y^our child in His hands, for this very 
 purpose ? That kind heavenly Friend 
 has said, * Suffer little children to come 
 unto me.' And this is the way foj' 
 you to bring them — by baptism. 
 
52 SERIOUS ADVICE 
 
 It is now the custom, in many of 
 our churches, to administer the sacra- 
 ment of baptism, in the presence of the 
 whole congregation. And for this 
 parents should feel thankful. For is 
 it not a comfort to you to believe, that 
 other hearts are lifted up to God, 
 beside your own ; and that your 
 child has the prayers of many of 
 God's people in its behalf? 
 
 And here it may be well to say a 
 word about ^Private Baptism/ In 
 case your child should be seized by 
 iUness, and be likely to die, before you 
 can have an opportunity of taking it 
 to God's house, our Church allows it 
 to be privately baptized. 
 
 Now, some persons call this being 
 ' AaZ/*- baptized' But this is a very 
 
TO PARENTS. 53 
 
 foolish and imrDeaning name to give 
 it. We might as well say of those 
 who receive the Lord's Supper pri- 
 vately, that they only half receive it. 
 The fact is, when the holy ordinance 
 is thus administered, the child is fully 
 and perfectly baptized. Then after- 
 wards, if its life is spared, it is brought 
 to the church, not to be baptized over 
 again, but to be publicly admitted 
 into the congregation of Christ's flock. 
 Let us then, in future, speak of * pri- 
 vately baptizing,' and not ' half-h?c^' 
 tizing,' our children. 
 
 The next point I would urge upon 
 you is to be very careful and anxious 
 to choose those persons for Godfathers 
 and Godmothers, who show by their 
 lives that they are true and faithful 
 
54 SERIOUS ADVICE 
 
 servants of Jesus Christ. You should 
 try and find such persons as are most 
 likely, in case you die, to care for your 
 child's sold; and who would see that 
 he is trained up as a Christian, so 
 that you may have a good hope that 
 he may one day join you in heaven. 
 
 Having done this, when the appointed 
 Sunday draws near, ask God to prepare 
 your minds, so that you may go to 
 church with holy and devout feelings. 
 Then take your child to God's minister 
 with full assurance of faith ; seeking 
 for, and expecting, a rich and lasting 
 blessing on your beloved infant. * Be 
 not faithless, but believing.' * Ask, 
 and it shall be given you/ * The 
 promise is u.nto you, and to your 
 children.' But this is not all. When 
 the service is over, and your child bap- 
 
TO PABENTS. 65 
 
 tized, think not that your duty is over 
 too. Do you recollect what was said in 
 the third chapter, about the Farmer's 
 custom, when any fresh lambs were 
 brought, and added to his flock? 
 We said that he would have them 
 marked with his name, and placed 
 within the fold. But would he be con- 
 tent, do you think, to leave them there ? 
 Would he not Avisli to have them 
 watched and looked after? Would 
 not his shepherd provide for them a 
 wholesome pasture, in which there are 
 no poisonous plants to hurt them? 
 Would he not be very careful to keep 
 them away from any dangerous pits 
 and holes, into which they might other- 
 wise fall? And would he not use 
 every caution, to prevent them from 
 going astray? We know that he 
 
56 SERIOUS ADVICE 
 
 would. Then should not we take the 
 same care for the souls of our child^^en ? 
 Christ has said, 'Feed my lambs/ 
 He seems to say, 'They are mine; 
 called by my name ; marked with the 
 sign of my cross, in token that they 
 should be my followers. Now then, 
 bring them up for me, as if you really 
 believed them to be heirs of my 
 kingdom.' 
 
 You may read, in the second chap- 
 ter of Exodus, of Pharaoh s daughter 
 finding the infant Moses in some bul- 
 rushes by the river s side. When she 
 had discovered him she immediately 
 felt pity for him, and sent for a woman 
 to take care of him. This woman after- 
 wards proved to be his own mother. 
 And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her, 
 * Take this child, and nurse it for me^ 
 
TO PARENTS. 67 
 
 and I will give thee thy wages/ And 
 so Jesus, when your child is brought 
 to Him, seems as it were to give him 
 back to you, to take and rear him in 
 His name. It is your duty, and your 
 comfort, to bring up your child for 
 Christ Your determination should 
 be the same as pious Hannah's, ' As 
 long as he liveth, he shall be lent 
 unto the Lord! 
 
 Happy will be your task if it is un- 
 dertaken with these feehngs ! Treat 
 your child as one that has been given 
 to God, an heir of His heavenly king- 
 dom. Tell him, as soon as he can un- 
 derstand you, that he was born in sin, 
 but that Christ has redeemed his soul. 
 Tell him that he has been offered to 
 Jesus, to be His servant. Tell him 
 that Heaven is the bright prize held 
 
58 SERIOUS ADVICE 
 
 out to liim. Tell him that his Saviour 
 loves him. Teach him that even the 
 smallest sin will make him unhappy, 
 and shut out God from his heart. 
 Show him that the best, and most 
 precious, of all knowledge is to know 
 Christ ; and this the Spirit of God 
 alone can really teach him. 
 
 Bear in mind that your example is 
 of more consequence even than your 
 words. It is wonderful how the 
 youngest child will watch, and notice, 
 and imitate the conduct of its parent. 
 It is of very little use for a father to 
 tell his boy 'to live soberly, righteously, 
 and godly,' in the world ; and then foi' 
 the lad, as he grows up, to see his 
 father spending his earnings at the 
 ale-house, using bad words, or doing 
 acts of dishonesty. And it is of little 
 
£0 PARENTS. 59 
 
 use for a mother to take pains in send- 
 ing her child to school, and telling her 
 to behave well, if, when the girl is at 
 home, she sees her mother flying out 
 in bursts of passion, unkind to her 
 neighbours, and rash with her tongue. 
 For, after all, which will have the most 
 weight with these children, the parent's 
 ivords, or the parent's example? Oh 
 then, how cautious you should be! 
 One short word, one single act of 
 yours, may make an impression, which 
 days and years will not wipe out. 
 
 Above all, pray for your child. 
 Never let a day pass without com- 
 mending him to God. Pray that his 
 heart may be touched, and filled with 
 the grace of the Holy Spirit; and 
 that, as he grows in years, he may 
 grow in likeness to Christ. 
 
(io Hl^rs Kon godfathers 
 
 CHAPTEK V. 
 
 A FEW PLAIN HINTS FOU GODFATHERS 
 AND GODMOTHERS. 
 
 Scripture says nothing about Spon- 
 sors. I mean by ' Sponsors/ what 
 are commonly called Godfathers and 
 Godmothers. We are not told, whe- 
 ther there was any such office in 
 the days of the Apostles. It is very 
 certain, however, that the Christian 
 Church in early times fovmd it neces- 
 sary; and it has been kept up ever 
 since. Certainly such was the custom 
 
AND GODMOTHERS. 61 
 
 in the Church fourteen hundred years 
 ago, and perhaps even before that 
 time. 
 
 Do you ask, What is the use of 
 having Sponsors ? I will try to tell 
 you. It is that we may be doubly sure 
 that each child will be taken care of, 
 and brought up as a Christian. As for 
 the Parents of the child, we of course 
 consider the7n as already bound, by 
 the ties both of nature and religion, 
 to attend to its spiritual welfare. But 
 the advantage of having God-parents 
 also is that, in case the natural pa- 
 rents should be neglectful, or should 
 die during the infancy of the child, 
 there may be others authorised by the 
 Church to discharge this Christian 
 Duty. 
 
 But what IS the particular duty of 
 
62 HINTS FOR UODF^VlHJiHS 
 
 Sponsors? Not to declare that the 
 child will for certain lead a godly life ; 
 for this they cannot know. Not to 
 become answerable for its sins. God 
 forbid ^ When you stand for a child, 
 I will tell you what you do. You de- 
 clare, in the child^s name, what it 
 would declare for itself, if it was old 
 enough to make a promise. You be- 
 come a surety also for its Christian 
 conduct. You pledge yourself to use 
 yoiu' influence, that it shall be brought 
 up according to the laws of Christ s 
 Church ; and so live the life of a true 
 Christian. 
 
 Let us give an example of this in 
 worldly matters. About seventy or 
 eighty years ago, it so happened that 
 the laws of the French nation were 
 altered. The people were one day 
 
AND GODMOTHERS. 63 
 
 assembled in great numbers, and the 
 King appeared before them, and so- 
 lemnly took an oath, that he would 
 henceforward rule the country ac- 
 cording to this new system of laws. 
 The Queen was there also, and the 
 young Prince. And she held him up 
 to the people, and declared in his 
 name, that he too, if he should ever 
 live to be king, would be faithful to 
 this new government. He was too 
 young to speak for himself; so you see 
 she acted in this case as his Surety, or 
 Sponsor, And what did she mean by 
 this ? She could not know the little 
 child's feeling. But she meant, that 
 she would see that he was brought up, 
 and educated, according to the prin- 
 ciples which the people required. 
 Now it is your duty to see that 
 
G4 HINTS FOR GODFATHERS 
 
 your Godchild is brought up, according 
 to the principles which God requires. 
 It is your duty to give his Parents 
 advice, if needful ; and the child also, 
 when he is old enough to receive it. 
 It is your duty to pray for him. 
 You should feel that he is in some 
 measure under your care, till he is old 
 enough to declare with his own mouth 
 at Confirmation that he will faithfully 
 follow Christ. Then the Bishop will 
 lay his hands upon him, and bless him 
 in God s name ; and he will be re- 
 ceived as a confirmed and full member 
 of the Church. 
 
 Think then how solemn your duty 
 is, when you attend your Godchild at 
 its baptism ! 
 
 Firsty you promise that he will 
 renounce, or give up, the service of 
 
AND GODMOTHEllS. 65 
 
 the devil, the pomps and vanity of 
 the world into which he is entering, 
 and all the sinfnl lusts and inclina- 
 tions of the flesh. See then that you 
 have from your heart given up these 
 things, and have devoted yourself to 
 God. 
 
 Secondly, you promise that he shall 
 be a Believer in Christ's Gospel. Ex- 
 amine yourself, whether you are rest- 
 ing with simple and humble faith on 
 that Saviour, whom the Gospel oifera 
 
 to you. 
 
 Thirdly, you promise that he shall 
 keep God's commandments. And here 
 let me beg you to search and try your 
 ways; and see whether you yourself 
 are living in sincere and faithful obe- 
 dience to the will of your heavenly 
 Father. 
 
 E 
 
66 HINTS FOR GODFATHERS 
 
 It is indeed enough to make one 
 shudder to see those, whom we know 
 to be ungodly persons, coming to the 
 font as godfathers and godmothers. 
 They are bold enough to promise for 
 others, what their own consciences tell 
 them they have no desire themselves 
 to perform. We tremble too for Pa- 
 rents, who choose such Guardians for 
 their children. 
 
 Nothing has been said, it is hoped, 
 to keep back serious and thoughtful 
 persons from undertaking this duty. 
 The office is solemn ; but the Lord's 
 grace is sufficient to enable you to 
 discharge it faithfully. It is youi 
 duty, if you really love the Lord 
 Jesus, not to shrink from it. On 
 the contrary, you should feel glad to 
 
AND GODMOTHERS. 67 
 
 lend a hand, as it were, in building 
 up His spiritual Church. Look upon 
 it rather as ' a work of faith, ' and ' a ' 
 labour of love;' for, as our Prayer- • 
 book says, it is * a charitable work/ 
 

 CHAPTER Vr. 
 
 ADVICE TO THE BAPTIZED, WHEN OLD 
 ENOUGH TO RECEIVE IT. 
 
 It ought to make you very thankful 
 to think that you have long been 
 placed within the shelter of Christ's 
 fold. You have been welcomed into 
 the family and Church of God, by the 
 Holy Sacrament of Baptism. It is 
 your privilege now to look upon God 
 as yom' God ; upon Jesus as your Sa- 
 viour ; upon the Holy Spirit as your 
 Guide and Sanctifier ; upon Heaven 
 as the bright and happy Home, where 
 you may dwell for ever. 
 
^^VlCE TO THE BAPTIZED. 69 
 
 This, I say, should make you feel 
 thankful. But it should make you 
 very thoughtful too. For can it be 
 a light thing to belong to Christ ; to 
 engage yourself as His servant ; to 
 be publicly enlisted into His army ; 
 to be one of His members ? All this 
 took place when yovi were very young. 
 You could then promise nothing for 
 yourself But your kind Friends, 
 who knew what was best for you, pro- 
 mised for you, that you would become 
 the servant and follower of JecHis 
 Christ. They became bound for you ; 
 pledging themselves that nothing 
 should be wanting on their part to 
 lead you into His blessed service. 
 
 And now let me solemnly ask you, 
 whether you are keeping these pro- 
 raises, or breaking them ? 
 
70 ADVICE TO THE BAPTIZED. 
 
 Two paths are before you. 
 
 One path is very easy to find, and 
 it is very easy to continue in it. The 
 Bible says of it, 'Wide is the gate, 
 and broad is the way ; and many there 
 be that go in thereat.' The road is 
 for the most part downhill. Little or 
 no toil is necessary for those who 
 walk in it. There are many gay 
 flowers, and delicious-looking fruits, 
 to entice you by the way. But then 
 some of these only last for a moment ! 
 and others, which taste sweet at first, 
 soon turn into gall. It is true, there 
 are crowds of fellow-travellers to be 
 met with ; and yet, in one sense, you 
 must journey on alone, I mean, you 
 will be without Christ. And every 
 step you take you will be getting 
 farther from Him. But now comes 
 
ADVICE TO THE BAPTIZED. 71 
 
 the great question, Whither will this 
 road lead us ? To Destbuction ! 
 
 The other path is very different. 
 We cannot even find it of ourselves. 
 The Spirit of God must enlighten us 
 to see the way ; and He alone can 
 give us a desire to walk in it. It is 
 written concerning this road, 'Strait 
 is the gate, and narrow is the way, 
 and few there be that find it.' It is 
 uphill at times. There are here and 
 there rugged and steep places, where 
 we need the arm of Some One stronger 
 than oiu-selves to lean upon. And 
 yet it is a safe road ; a way too of 
 pleasantness, and a path full of peace. 
 Every pilgrim is expected to give up 
 his own will, to resist his own incli- 
 nations, and to struggle manfully a- 
 gainst his enemies ; and these enemies 
 
72 ADVICE TO THE BAPTIZED. 
 
 are many, and they try all they can 
 do to turn us from our course. 
 
 But there is a Friend always near 
 to help us, to cheer us on, to give us 
 counsel, and to clear the way for us. 
 He can support us when we are weak, 
 and comfort us when we are cast down. 
 He soems to be for ever whispering in 
 our ears, * This is the way ; walk ye 
 in it, when ye turn to the right hand, 
 and when ye turn to the left.' 
 
 Oh, there is joy and blessedness to 
 be found in this path, which the other 
 promises, but never gives. And it 
 becomes brighter and brighter as we 
 journey on ; for ^ the path of the just 
 is as the shining light, which shineth 
 more and more unto the perfect day.' 
 And whither will it lead us ? — To 
 Eternal Life! 
 
ADVICE TO THE BAPTIZED. 73 
 
 Now, my dear Reader, if your friends 
 who took you to be christened, had 
 pledged themselves that you would 
 follow the first of these paths, would 
 they have acted a kind part towards 
 you ? No ; certainly not. And there- 
 fore they promised in your name, that 
 you would be a traveller on the other 
 road, which leads to heaven. 
 
 And is it not truly a happy thing to 
 be a Follower of Christ ? Is it not a 
 great honour to belong to Him, and 
 to be a member of His Church and 
 Family? 'Behold, what manner of 
 love the Father hath bestowed upon 
 us, that we should be called the sons 
 
 of God!' 
 
 How careful then, and how watch- 
 ful, you should be, lest you disgrace 
 that holy Name by which you are 
 
74 ADVICE TO THE BAPTIZED. 
 
 called! How anxiously you should 
 look into your own heart, to see 
 whether Christ, and Christ alone, is 
 ruling there ! To have received the 
 blessing of Baptism, and yet not to be 
 serving Christ, is to be in a most 
 awful condition. This is making our 
 very Baptism a witness against us. I 
 fear there are many baptized persons 
 who have 'lifted up their eyes, being 
 in torments.' 
 
 Think not, then, that you are truly 
 Christ's, unless your life and conversa- 
 tion show that you are His; for 'if 
 any man have not the Spirit of Christ, 
 he is none of His.' 
 
 I feel it necessary to give this warn- 
 ing. But I hope that my dear Reader 
 is not merely bearing the name of 
 Christ, and wearing His livery ; but is 
 
ADVICE TO THE BAPTIZED. 75 
 
 also living the life of a Christian. 
 Then it is well with you. Go on in 
 your blessed course. You are called 
 to pass through a dangerous world. 
 But fear not. Only keep your eyes 
 steadily fixed on your Lord. He is 
 very near you, though you see Him 
 not. In all your weakness cling to 
 Him ; for He has said, ' My grace is 
 sufficient for you ; for my strength is 
 made perfect in weakness;' *I will 
 never leave you.' 
 
 When sin entices you (and this it 
 most assuredly will do), think to your- 
 self, ^ I am God's child ; how then can 
 I do this great wickedness, and sin 
 against my heavenly Father ? ' When 
 Satan troubles you, fly to your Saviour 
 for support. And, when the world 
 offers you a bribe, think of that better 
 
76 ADVICE TO THE BArXIZED. 
 
 world, your own true home, to which 
 you are hastening. Tell those who 
 would lead you astray, that you are 
 already ^9ZecZ(/6cZ to Christ; that you 
 find His yoke easy, and His burden 
 light ; that you have been signed with 
 the sign of His cross, in token that 
 you should be faithful to Him. Tell 
 them, that He gives you a comfort and 
 a peace even now, which the world 
 cannot give ; and that you are looking 
 forward to your promised rest in hea- 
 ven, where you hope to be received, 
 being washed from all your guilt in 
 the blood of the Lamb, and clothed 
 with His righteousness. 
 
 And now, dear Reader, I take my 
 leave of you. If there has been any 
 truth in these pages, if thex*e has been 
 
ADVICE TO THE BAPTIZED. 77 
 
 anything said to do you good, then 
 think of these things. Most heartily 
 do I commend you to God. May you 
 become a true and faithful member of 
 His Church; so that, having been 
 admitted into His kingdom here, you 
 may hereafter be welcomed to a higher 
 and better inheritance above I And 
 may your ear be one day gladdened 
 by that heavenly voice, which shall 
 say to you, * Come, ye blessed of my 
 Father, inherit the kingdom prepared 
 for you from the foundation of the 
 world 1* 
 
73 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 PRAYEllS. 
 
 1. For Parents before the Baptism of 
 
 a Child. 
 
 Almighty Father, we thank Thee 
 for Thy great goodness in having given 
 us this dear child. Make us to feel a 
 deep concern for the well-being of his* 
 soul. Oh, how great is Thy mercy, in 
 sending Thy Son from heaven to die 
 for us ! Grant that by His precious 
 blood both we and our children may 
 be cleansed from our sins. 
 
 * '■ UJfl * may be changed for * her,' &c. 
 
PRAYERS. 79 
 
 Thou hast promised to give Thy 
 Holy Spirit to them that ask Thee; 
 and Thou hast 'promised to pour that 
 Spirit upon our offspring. Lord, ful- 
 fil Thy promise at this time. May all 
 who are dear to us be dear to Thee. 
 Especially we pray for this our Infant, 
 whom we now desire to bring to Thy 
 holy Baptism. We know that he was 
 born in sin ; but we ask Thee, gracious 
 Lord, to bestow Thy pardon on him, 
 for Christ's sake. Wash him from 
 his guilt, and sanctify him by Thy 
 Holy Spirit. 
 
 Thou great and Good Shepherd, 
 we bring this Lamb to Thee. Receive 
 him into the arms of Thy mercy, and 
 carry him in Thy bosom. Sow the seed 
 of eternal life in his heart, and make 
 him Thine for ever. Guard him by 
 
80 PRAYERS. 
 
 Thy power. Guide him by Thy wis- 
 dom. Keep him by Thy grace 
 Strengthen him by Thy help. And 
 as he grows m years, make him to 
 grow in grace, and in likeness to Thee 
 his Saviour; to whom, with the Fa- 
 ther, and the Holy Ghost, be all hon- 
 our and glory for ever. Amen. 
 
 2. For Parents, after the Baptism 
 
 of a Child. 
 
 MOST holy and gracious God, we 
 come to Thee in the name of Thy dear 
 Son. Hear us for His sake. Both 
 for ourselves, and also for our dear 
 Child, we offer Thee our hearty 
 thanks. 
 
PRAYERS* 81 
 
 We have solemnly given him up to 
 Thee in Baptism ; and Thou hast gra- 
 ciously received him into the number 
 of Thy flock. give us grateful hearts 
 to praise Thee for these Thy mercies. 
 Enable us to feel, that our child is no 
 longer our own, but Thine. Our de- 
 sire now is, that Thou wilt enable us 
 to bring him up for Thee. Lord, give 
 us much wisdom ; and show us how to 
 act concerning him. Do Thou merci- 
 fully teach us, so that we may teach 
 him. May ov ' words and our exam- 
 ple be such as to leau him in the right 
 path. 
 
 Thou blessed Spirit, dwell within 
 him. Open his eyes, that he may 
 early see the hatefulness of sin. 
 Create in him a new heart ; and may 
 that heart be given to Thee. Fill 
 
 F 
 
82 PRAYERS. 
 
 him with love towards his Saviour. 
 Make him a blessing and comfort 
 to his parents, useful to those around 
 him, and faithful to his heavenly 
 Master. 
 
 be Thou with him in every stage 
 of his life. And after Thou hast safely 
 carried him over the troublesome 
 waves of this world, receive him into 
 everlasting rest, through the merits of 
 Jesus Christ, our blessed and only 
 Saviour. Amen. 
 
 3. For a Sponso7\ before Baptism, 
 
 God, Thcu delightest in showing 
 mercy to Thy people ; and Thou 
 
PRAYERS. 83 
 
 teachest us to be kind toward our 
 brethren. Make us to feel more and 
 more that ' we are members one of 
 another/ Give me grace now to dis- 
 charge rightly the solemn office which 
 I have undertaken. When I go pre- 
 sently to Thy house, give me a serious 
 and praying heart. Take away all 
 my coldness and unbelief ; and grant 
 me gracv heartily to believe Thy pro- 
 mises. 
 
 Thou hast taught us, heavenly 
 Father, to pray for one another. Re- 
 ceive then the prayers which I offer 
 for him, whom we are about to present 
 to Thee. Do Thou graciously receive 
 him. Wash him in the blood of Thy 
 dear Son. Let Thy Holy Spirit rest 
 upon him, and dwell within him. 
 Make him not only a Christian in iiame^ 
 
84 PRAYERS. 
 
 but a Christian also in heart and in 
 life. Lord, direct his parents ; and 
 give him Thy heavenly blessing, both 
 now and ever, for Jesus Christ's sake. 
 Amen. 
 
 4. For a Sponsor, after Baptism. 
 
 Lord Jesus Christ, Thou didst 
 suffer little children to come unto 
 Thee when Thou wast upon earth; 
 and Thou hast graciously appointed a 
 way for bringing them to Thee now. 
 I heartily thank Thee, that Thou hast 
 permitted us to approach Thee, in the 
 holy Sacrament of Baptism. 
 
 Blessed be Thy name, that this 
 Child hath been received into the 
 
PRAYERS. 85 
 
 Christian Fold. Grant that, 'being 
 buried with Christ in Baptism/ he 
 may live the life of Christ. Make 
 him to walk in the path of holiness. 
 Make him happy. Give him a spiri- 
 tual mind ; and may he earnestly set 
 his affections on things above. 
 
 heavenly Father, Thou knowest 
 the temptations to which he is exposed ; 
 shelter him under Thy wings, and 
 keep him Thine for evermore. 
 - Give me grace to do my duty in this 
 solemn office. May I be faithful to 
 my trust, feeling that Thine eye is 
 upon me. Lord, I know my exceed- 
 ing weakness. Do Thou help me in 
 my endeavours, and then pardon all 
 my failings. And now hear me, 
 my God, in these my imperfect 
 prayers ; and do for me, and for this 
 
86 PRAYERS. 
 
 dear child, more than I can ask or 
 think, for the sake of Jesus Christ, 
 our ever-blessed Redeemer. Amen. 
 
 5. For a Baptized Person. 
 
 Almighty Father, I thank Thee 
 that I am allowed to draw near to 
 Thee as Thy cliild, and to call Thee 
 my Father. I was once a poor out- 
 cast, a child of wrath, but Thou didst 
 mercifully receive me into Thy family. 
 - I confess. Lord, that I have not lived 
 up to my high calling. Though I am 
 a Christian in name, I have not always 
 been a Christian in conduct. Father, I 
 have sinned. I have dishonoured Thee, 
 and have not been a faithful follower 
 
PRAYERS. 8 7 
 
 of my Saviour. My own heart con- 
 demns me. Oh, forgive, for Christ's 
 sake, all my weakness, my ignorance, 
 and my sins. And make me more obe- 
 dient, more watchful, and more holy. 
 Give me more of the mind of Christ. 
 Form me, and shape me, according to 
 His blessed image. May I be Christ's 
 and may Christ be mine. May I live 
 by faith on the Son of God. 
 
 Blessed Saviour, I have been marked 
 with Thy cross.. Oh, let me never be 
 ashamed of Thee. Enable me to fight 
 the good fight, and be faithful tmto 
 death. As I have been buried with 
 Thee in baptism, may I now be truly 
 risen with Thee ; and may I seek those 
 things which are above. Send down 
 Thy Holy Spirit, to be my daily Guide 
 and Teacher. 
 
88 PBAYERS. 
 
 my God, never leave me to my- 
 self whilst I am here. And at length 
 take me to Thyself, to dwell with Thee 
 for ever. Grant this, I beseech Thee, 
 for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. 
 
 L N T) O N 
 Printed by SraisoawAxs & Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge Circiis, W.O. 
 
WORKS BY 
 
 The Right Rev. ASHTON OXENDEN, d.d. 
 
 Late Bishop of Montreal. 
 
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BARHAM TRACTS. 
 
 25 Jor 1«. 4d. assorted^ or the 49 numhem in x>acket, Ss. 
 No. . . 
 
 1. The Bible 
 
 2. Prayer 
 
 8. Public Prayer 
 
 4. Family Prayer 
 
 5. Cottage Family Prayers 
 
 Ditto, in cover 
 
 6. The Sinner and the Saviour 
 
 7. Are you Happy ? 
 
 8. Are you Ready ? -. 
 
 9. Passion Week . 
 
 10. Baptism ; or, W'lat is the good of beinp Christened ? 
 
 11. The Lord's Supper ; or, Who are the Welcome Guests ? . . 
 
 12. My Duty to my ChUd 
 
 13. How shall I spend Sunday ? 
 
 14. The Season of Sickness 
 
 15. The Oreat Journey 
 
 16. How shall I spend Christmas ? 
 
 17. I am Deaf, and therefore do not go to Church 
 
 18. The Prayer which many use, and but fpw iinderstand . , 
 
 19. Old John ; or, the Bible with a large Print 
 
 20. Is my State a Safe One ? 
 
 21. Poor Sarah ! 
 
 22. The Holy Spirit 
 
 23. A Happy New Year 
 
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 26. How shall I spend Whitsuntide ? 
 
 86. Private Prayers for Cottagers 
 
 Ditto, in cover 
 
 27. How shall I spend To-day ? 
 
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 29. The Fatal Railway Accident 
 
 80. A Word or two for Serirants 
 
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 83. I have had my Child Registered 
 
 84. What can I do for my Church and my Parish ? 
 
 85. Thoughts for the Sick and Sorrowful 
 
 86. The Pathway through the Cornfield 
 
 87. Simple Truth for the Unlearned 
 
 88. Do you believe the Bible ? 
 
 89. True and False Repentance 
 
 40. David Jones ; or, the Old Welsh Churchman 
 
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 48. The Joyful Resiurectlon 
 
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 49. .The Saved Sinner in Heavon 
 
PLUCKLEY TRACTS. 
 
 FIRST SERIES. 
 
 25/4;^ Is. 4/. assorted^ or the 33 nuvtbers inpackei^ Is. 
 
 No. '_ 
 
 1. Adam; or, the Forfeited Inheritance 
 
 2. Cain and Abel ; or, the Infidel and the True Believer 
 
 3. Enoch ; or, a Close Walk with God 
 
 4. Methuselah ; or, Life's Pilgrimage 
 
 5. Noah ; or, the Preaching Life 
 
 6. Abraham ; or, Faith and Works 
 
 7. Lot; or, the Unhappy Choice 
 
 8. Isaac; or, the Child of Promise 
 
 9. Jacob ; or, the Wrestler with God 
 
 10. Joseph ; or, the Secret of True Prosperity 
 
 11. Job ; or, the Blessing of Affliction 
 
 12. Moses ; or, the Faithful Leader 
 
 13. Pharaoh ; or, the Gradual Hardening of the Heart 
 
 14. Balaam ; or, the Empty Wish 
 
 15. Joshua ; or, the Pious Officer 
 
 16. Samson ; or, Man's Weakness and God's Strength 
 
 17. Ruth ; or, the Mourner Comforted 
 
 18. Eli ; or, Mistaken Kindness 
 
 19. Samuel ; or, the Son of many Prayers 
 
 20. Saul ; or, Misery in the midst of Greatness 
 
 21. David ; or, the Man after God's own Heart 
 
 22. Solomon ; or, Grace is Better than Wisdom 
 
 23. Elijah ; or, the Fearless Man of God 
 
 24. Elisha ; or, the Lowly Exalted 
 
 25. Hezekiah ; or, the Good King 
 26! Manasseh ; or, the Royal Penitent.. 
 
 27. Josiah ; or, the Right-minded King 
 
 28. Daniel ; or, the Safety of those who Trust Cod 
 
 29. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego ; 
 
 or. Deliverance in the Midst of Danger 
 
 30. Jonah ; or, the Withered Gourd . . 
 
 31. Belshazzar ; or, the Hand-writing on the Wall 
 
 32. Nehemiah ; or, Prayer the Secret of Succe<:s 
 
 33. Haman ; or, the Favourite Disgraced . . 
 
PLUCKLEY TRACTS. 
 
 SECOND SERIES. 
 
 25/or Is. \d. assorted, or the 3t numbers in jacket, 2s. 
 No 
 
 34. St. John the Baptist ; or, the Voice in the Wilderness . . 
 
 35. Simeon ; or, the Aj;ed Heliever 
 
 36. Andrew ; or, the True-hearted Brother 
 
 37. St. Peter; or, Strength and Weakness. Part I. 
 
 38. St. Peter ; or, the Zealous and Faithful Minister. Part II. 
 
 39. St. Matthew ; or, Leaving all for Christ 
 
 40. Lazarus and his Sisters ; or, the Family whom Jesus Lovetl 
 4L Zaccheus ; or, the Seeker Rewarded 
 
 42. Mary ; or, the Honoured Mother 
 
 43. Judas Lscariot ; or, a Traitor among the Twelve 
 
 44. Saul ; or, the Pharisee Converted 
 
 45. St. Paul ; or, the Soldier of Christ 
 
 46. Nicodemus ; or, the Weak Believer made Strong 
 
 47. Pilate ; or, the Unrighteous Judge 
 
 48. The Dying Thief; or. Salvation to the Uttermost 
 
 49. St. Stephen ; or, the Fearless Martyr 
 
 50. The Woman who was a Sinner ; 
 
 or, the Penitent's Love to Christ 
 
 51. Mary Magdalene ; or, the Faithful Mourner at the Cross 
 
 52. Cornelius ; or, the First-fruits from among the Gentiles 
 
 53. Onesimus ; or, the Converted Slave 
 
 5i. St. John ; or, the Disciple whom Jesus Loved . . 
 
 55. The Woman of Canaan ; or. Prayer Heard and Answered 
 
 56. St. Thomas ; or. Encouragement to the Weak Believer 
 
 57. Philip ; or, the Heaven-sent Guide 
 
 58. Timothy; or. In the Morning Sow thy Seed 
 
 59. Gallio; or, the Spirit of Careless Indifference .. 
 
 60. Lydia ; or, the Woman whose Heart the Lord opened 
 
 61. The Heathen Jailor ; or, What shall I do to be Saved ? 
 
 62. The Man Born Blind ; 
 
 or, Christ near to us in the Hour of Need . . 
 
 63. Ananias and Sapphira ; 
 
 or, the Hidden Falsehood brought to Light 
 
 64. Simon the Sorcerer ; or, the False Convert 
 
 65. Aquila and Priscilla ; or, the Christian Helpers. . 
 
 GQ. The Cripple of Bethesda ; or, Wilt thou be made Whole ? 
 67. Joseph of Arimathea ; or, a Hidden One of Christ's Flock