The two first points have been already proven. I shall now proceed to call the attention of the reader to the subject of Baptism. Upon examining the Gospel, the reader will find that Baptism follows faith and repentance, and that Baptism is binding upon the believer to observe, in order to salvation. We can no where find in the Gospel, that Baptism is enjoined upon an unbeliever, or upon an impenitent character; of course then, it must follow faith and repentance-and as there are all sorts of believers in the world, I shall have to particularize. Among the number are such as do not believe that Baptism is a command of the New Testament-others are to be found who acknowledge that Baptism is a command, but not essential to salvation; and as it respects my faith, I do believe, that baptism is not only a command, but also essential to salvation. Our divine master declared unto Nicodemus, that "Except a man be born of the water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." John, iii. 5. And after his resurrection from the dead, and just before his ascension to heaven, he gave the following charge to his apostles: "Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Mat. xxviii. 19; Mark, xvi. 15, 16—“Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Who that has ever read these verses-who that has ever seriously meditated upon them, can say, in truth, that Baptism is no commandment? If Baptism be no commandment, the apostles misunderstood the Saviour, and of course, were ignorant of their commission-which is too absurd for a disciple of the New Testament to believe. The apostle Peter, at the day of Pentecost, charged those persons to be baptized who inquired the way of salvation

"Men and brethren, what must we do?

Then said

Peter unto them, repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Acts, ii. 37, 38.

The above is sufficient to convince the enquirer after the will of God; that Baptism is a commandment, which follows faith and repentance. As you have read, Christ charged his apostles first to preach the Gospel, and thereby teach the nations, and then baptize the bebeliever; and Peter preached that they should repent and be baptized. The professors of religion are generaily upon extremes; for instance, there are some to be found, who contend that no person can be considered a fit subject for Baptism, but such as do know the forgivegiveness of their sins, and have received the gift of the Holy Ghost. Now, this is requiring more than the apostles did, of such as were baptized in their day.

You have had already, an account of the order as preached by Peter, at the day of Pentecost-namely, that the remission of sins, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, follows, not precedes, Baptism; and in the Acts of the apostles, viii., we have an account of Philip preaching the word in the city of Samaria-" But when they believed Philip, preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women." If you examine the chapter closely, you will find that those persons whom Philip baptized, had not as yet received the Holy Ghost, but were merely baptized upon their profession of faith in Jesus Christ--for we read, that "When the apostles which were at Jerusalem, heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John, who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost; for as yet he

was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." Acts, viii. 14-16. And in this same chapter, we read of Philip baptizing a certain Eunuch; and previous to the administration of the institution, Philip informed the Eunuch, that if he believed with all his heart that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, he might be baptized.

Now, if it were true, as some assert, that the forgiveness of sins, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, must precede Baptism, then Peter, at the day of Pentecost, and Philip, in the city of Samaria and elsewhere, would have given the inquirers after salvation to understand, or would have told them that they must first obtain the pardon of their sins and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and then come and be baptized. But this was not the order to be observed in the church of Christ-therefore, the apostle placed Baptism before the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost; and if the reader will take into consideration the conversion of Saul, who was afterwards called Paul, he will find another testimony that the forgiveness of sins follows Baptism. When Saul was in great distress on account of his sins, Ananias said unto him, "Why tarriest thou? arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." Acts, xxii. 16.

Again-there are are persons to be found, who are so much opposed to Baptism, as to declare, that if a person has received the Holy Ghost, that there is no necessity for him to be baptized. Now I could, from my heart, believe such persons, if I could read what they say in the New Testament--but as nothing of the kind is to be found in the New Testament-but to the contrary, I can put no faith in such declarations; for if what such persons assert be true, Peter would not have commanded Cornelius and others to be baptized, for they received

the Holy Ghost prior to baptism. (See Acts, x.) This is the only place that we have in the New Testament, of the Holy Ghost being given before baptism—and I do believe that God had a particular reason in so doing -for Peter, like many of the Jews, was somewhat prejudiced against the Gentiles being admitted into the Christian Church; therefore, God, in order to convince Peter, and those of his brethren, the Jews, that the Gentiles had a right to the Christian Dispensation, was pleased to bestow the Holy Spirit upon Cornelius, and those who were assembled with him on that occasionfor when Peter saw that the Holy Ghost was poured out upon the Gentiles, he observed, "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? and he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." So then, from what I have stated, the serious reader can easily perceive in what state a person must be in order to Baptism-namely, that faith and repentance are what make a man, or a woman, a fit subject for this institution.

I say then, it is the duty of all those who sincerely believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God-such persons, though they cannot say that their sins are pardoned may come and be baptized; and those who are under the impression that they have received the Holy Spirit, must not think that they are exempted from Baptism. If that spirit which they have received, tells them that it is not necessary for them to be baptized, I contend that it is not the Holy Spirit which they have received-for the Holy Spirit never opposes the Gospel; but it is a spirit of error. It is the "Holy Spirit's office to lead the believer into all truth. John, xvi. 13. Therefore, let us be ware of those lying spirits; they are very busy in this our day, and if they could, they would deceive the very elect.

Their operations can be easily distinguished from those of the Holy Spirit; though I acknowledge that the enemy is so artful, that in some cases, the young believer may find himself at a loss which way to pursue; and the enemy has been very successful in producing so many different opinions concerning the order of the New Testament, that he has at his service a host of agents to carry on his hellish destruction. But let the believer always bear in mind, that the word of God is to be the man of his Faith, and not the different opinions of men; for if he will suffer himself to be tossed about by every wind of doctrine, he can never be established in the truth, as it is in Jesus Christ, which is his privilege. And let him take it for granted, that whenever he hears individuals speaking lightly of any of the commandments of the Lord Jesus Christ, that such persons are under strong delusion, though they may otherwise speak like an angel. Flee from them as you would from the face. of an adder, for they are no better-there is poison in their language.

The only way for you to help yourself is, to hold fast to the word of God, and not give an inch; for it is your duty to embrace the whole truth, and not merely a part of the Gospel. The Paschal Lamb, which the Israelites had to eat in the night of their departure out of Egypt, was typical of the word and doctrine of Jesus Christ. They were commanded to eat it entire that is, the whole Lamb-his head with his legs, and with the appurtenance thereof. (Ex. xii.) Just so, as it respects the doctrine of Jesus. We are to submit to, and obey the whole of it; not just such parts as we deem necessary. This liberty is no where granted in the New Testament, but may be found in the government of some churches. And what is poor ignorant man, that he should be preferred before the word of God! I am con