THE

NATURE AND DESIGN

OF

JOHN'S BAPTISM,

ILLUSTRATED

IN TWO

SERMONS.

BY JOHN CRANE, D. D.

PASTOR OF THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN NORTHBRIDGE.

SERMON I.

ACTS, XVIII. 25.

KNOWING ONLY THE BAPTISM OF JOHN.

THIS was faid of the eloquent Apol

los, who was one of the greatest teachers in the fchool of John the Baptift. This mode of expreffion imports his imperfect acquaintance with the doctrines and inftitutions of the gofpel. It places him back, in a time when lefs perfect notions of christianity prevailed. He needed more inftruction, in order to be completely furnifhed for preaching the gospel. When, therefore, Aquila and Prifcilla perceived his ignorance, "they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly." Apollos then knew only the docrine and baptifm of John. Hence we conclude, that John's baptifm belonged to a difpenfation less perfect than the christian difpenfation.

The principal inquiry is, what was the defign of John's baptism? Are we to confider it a christian ordinance, or a Jewifh rite? Shall we place it under the gofpel, or the legal difpenfation? In order to take a proper view of the fubject, it must be obferved, that the difciples of Chrift, under his di

rection, administered baptifm. I now propofe to confider John's baptifm, and the baptifm used by the disciples of our Lord.

It will first be made to appear, that John's baptism, and that of the difciples under our Lord's direction, were defigned to answer the fame purpose. In doing this, let us pay particular attention to the character and preaching of John, and alfo to the preaching of the difciples, who were fent out to preach during our Lord's miniftry. The character given of John, in the prophets, is that of a forerunner of Chrift. It was foretold, that John fhould be sent to prepare the way of Chrift. Ifaiah, xl. 3, "The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the defert a high way for our God."

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When John came, the first words which he uttered, were, pent ye for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand." The principal defign of John's preaching was to give notice of the immediate approach of the Mesfiah; to inform the Jewish nation, that Chrift was at hand, and to prepare the people to receive him. Such was the great Redeemer, and fuch was his divine miffion, that a forerunner was neceffary to proclaim his immediate approach. This information was fuitable to prepare the people to receive him. Luke, i. 76, 77," And thou, child, (John) fhalt be called the prophet of the highest for thou fhalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; to give knowledge of falvation unto his people by the remiffion of their fins."

John's preaching was chiefly defigned to prepare the Jewish nation for the reception of Chrift. The twelve and the feventy difciples were fent forth upon a fimilar errand. The directions

which our Lord gave the twelve difciples are found in Matthew, x. 5, 6, 7, "Thefe twelve Jefus fent forth, and commanded them, faying, go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: but go rather to the lost fheep of the house of Ifrael, And as ye go, preach, faying, the kingdom of Heaven is at hand." The

commiffion, which our Lord gave to the feventy disciples is found in Luke, x. 1-11, "After thefe things the Lord appointed other feventy alfo, and fent them two and two before his face into every city and place whither he himself would come." And among other things, which he gave in charge to them, he directed them to fay, "The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.'

The particular directions which our Lord gave to the feventy difciples clearly discover the principal design of their miffion. They were fent, two and two, before the face of Chrift, into every city and place which he intended to vifit. They were required to go before the Saviour, and give notice of his coming, that all the people might be in readinefs to receive him. This was the object contemplated in John's preaching. The fame may be faid of the preaching of the twelve difciples. Chrift faid to them, Matthew, x. 23, "But when they perfecute you in this city, flee ye into another; for verily I fay unto you, ye fhall not have gone over the cities of Ifrael, till the Son of man be come.' The language of Chrift to his difciples, on this occafion, was this; when you preach in one city, and they begin to perfecute you, do not ftay to contend with them, but flee to another place; for your time is fhort to make me fufficiently known to the cities of Ifrael.

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