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maintained on both fides, as to prove an unprofitable and hurtful difputation, concerning the proper mode and fubjects of Chriftian baptifm. But we address you, as having been, by this folemnity, devoted to the fervice of Chrift: and we call upon you to remember the obligations, which it has laid you under. By this facrament you are joined to the armies of the faithful, and are bound to fight manfully under the banner of Chrift against fin, the world, and the devil, and to continue Chrift's faithful foldier and fervant unto your life's end." The vows of the Lord, then, are upon you. And have you not perfidioufly violated thefe engagements? You fhould be reminded, that the external rite of baptifm, though ever so fcripturally administered, will avail you nothing, if you are not "washed from your filthiness," and have not now “the answer of a good confcience toward God †.”

We behold a peculiar honour put upon Jesus, at the conclufion of the ordinance. The folemnity was clofed, but he remained in prayer; and immediately, while he looked up, the heavens were opened over his head, and the Spirit vifibly defcended upon him, resembling a dove, perhaps in fhape, as well as in its hovering motion. This was like an inauguration of the Saviour, when he was about to enter on his public work, and an intimation, that, as "the anointed of God," he received the most extraordinary influences of the Holy Ghoft. Nor was this all: he obtained a ftill more glorious teftimony, for "Lo! a voice from heaven, faying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleafed."

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is was a memorable tranfaction indeed; wheconfider it as defigned for the encourageour Lord himself, then undertaking his arce, or for the conviction of others, that they did to regard him as the true Messiah,

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to reverence him as "the only begotten of the Father," and to rejoice in his mediation, as perfectly according with the divine will. The three perfons of the: Godhead were here exhibited, and their entire agreement in the plan of falvation was publicly declared.. The Son appeared in human flesh; the Spirit refted like a dove upon him; and the Father, though he affumed not any bodily fhape, spake with an audible voice, proclaiming his concurrence with the Redeemer, and approbation of his work of love.

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If we alfo be folicitous to obtain for ourselves a teftimony of the favour of Heaven, let us learn from our Lord to expect it in answer to fervent prayer. And we may be the more emboldened to prefent our fupplications in the name of Jefus, fince,, as we have feen, he is confecrated to and accepted in his mediatorial office. The refidue of the Spirit is with him for "he has received gifts for men.' We may rejoice and triumph, that the Father is wellpleafed in him, as our Surety, and our Advocate.. But are we likewife, as we ought to be, well-pleafed with him? Are we not backward even to credit his declarations, though confirmed by fuch a fulness of evidence, and unwilling to acquiefce in his gracious purposes, for our falvation? Why do we not feel the moft ardent affection towards him, and fay," This is my beloved, and this is my friend *" Can we confider the work of mercy, which he came to perform,. the rich benefits, which he beftows, the excellency and perfection of his perfon and character; and then: fay, "There is no beauty, that we should defire him +?" This contemptuous difregard and rejection of him would betray an extreme bafenefs of difpofition, which must be utterly inexcufable.

We follow Jefus from the banks of Jordan into the wildernefs, and there behold him fubmitting, for a

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much less oppreffed, and drawn up the more to high and heavenly things. Thefe ends could not be anfwered in our Lord; but we must be strangely ignorant of ourselves, not to allow, that in thefe refpects we have abundant caufe for humiliation and selfdenial. Yet why do we talk of fafting, fince moft men plead for, and demand, the full gratification of all their fenfual appetites? The very mention of mortification is laughed at, as the weakness of enthufiafm and the madnels of fuperftition; while profanenefs, intemperance, and riot, almost every where prevail and triumph. Few, therefore, can fincerely join with us in the collect of our church, and fay, "O Lord, who for our fake didft faft forty days and forty nights, give us grace to ufe fuch abftinence, that, our flesh being fubdued to the Spirit, we may ever obey thy godly motions in righteousness and true holiness, to thy honour and glory!"

Our Lord underwent a far more fevere trial in the wildernes, as a neceffary preparation for his mediatorial office. This will appear in confidering

III. is temptation. It may juftly fill us with amazement, to behold the Son of God affaulted, Vexed, and haraffed by the prince of darkness. But this very circumftance exhibits his power and grace. He came to vanquish the Devil; and, as there can be no victory without a conflict, he entered the lifts. with his adverfary, and gave him every advantage for the attack, on purpofe that he might utterly confound him, and thereby encourage all his own faithful followers to expect the fame conqueft, which their Lord Mafter has obtained.

onfet was made upon Jefus foon after his bapnd the effufion of the Spirit upon him. And eral, we fhall feel the effects of Satan's malice, ur attendance on religious ordinances, in which e favoured with divine confolations. “My fon, u come to ferve the Lord, prepare thy foul for temptation."

temptation *." It occurred alfo, juft before he entered on his public work. The Devil directs his envenomed darts in an especial manner against those, who are going forth to fubvert and deftroy his kingdom. Yet even these persons stand in need of temptation, and will derive peculiar benefits from it. They will improve,, by that painful difcipline, in humility and tenderness of spirit, and learn to administer proper counsel and encouragement to those, who are brought into fimilar circumftances of diftrefs.

We may also remark the place in which our Lord endured the conflict: it was "the wilderness." No fituation, indeed, will fecure us from the affaults of our malicious adverfary. In vain fhould we fly to deferts or to cells: we fhould be ftill expofed. Even though we be employed in meditation and prayer, as Jefus was, we are liable to an attack. Nay, retirement itself, in fome views, may give an additional. force to temptation. Perhaps the wilderness was therefore chofen for this fingular engagement, in which the Fiend was allowed to exert his utmoft rage; for the very horrors of the fcene favoured his vile purpose. Jefus was led up of the Spirit," by the peculiar impulfe of the Holy Ghoft, with which he was then filled, " to be tempted of the Devil.” Confident of his own fuperior ftrength, he dreaded not the combat: nor have we any real caufe to fear,, when called out to the fame warfare, if we depend on his mighty arm for protection and fupport. But let us beware of prefumption. Remembering our own weakness and the power of our enemy, let us pray continually, "Lead us not into temptation.'

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What could be Satan's expectation in making fo extraordinary an attack? Perhaps from the conqueft he had obtained over the first Adam, he might derive a hope, that the fecond Adam alfo would be baffled

* Ecclus. ii. Ia

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and overcome. He determined, at least, to make the defperate trial. His envious and malicious rage would not fuffer him to fubmit, without attempting an oppofition: and he refolved to vex, if he could not deftroy, his antagonist. Such likewife is his conduct toward all thofe, who fight against him under the banner of the crofs. Their ftate is fafe; and probably he may know it; but for the prefent they fhall all feel the effects of his malevolence.

We shall remark the artfulness and subtilty of this fpiritual adverfary. It fhould feem, that he has fomeway of learning our inward tempers and difpofitions, as well as external circumftances, fince he generally propofes that object or plan of action, which appears molt defirable and convenient to us. How great,. then, is the neceffity of circumfpection and prayer!— Three temptations were offered to our Lord; exactly adapted to his fituation; and they afford a specimen. of Satan's general devices.

1. Jefus was urged to distrust the divine care. After his long abftinence, he felt the importunate demands of hunger, and yet poffeffed no natural means of fupport. Then came this apoftate fpirit (concealing his real character), perhaps in human form, or as an Angel of light, and fuggefted to him, that he had within himself the power of immediately fupplying his wants, "If thou be the Son of God," faid he, "command that thefe ftones be made bread." We fee the cunning addrefs of Satan. His aim was, to induce the Saviour to call in queftion his high dignity, and peculiar relation to God, or elfe by a miraculous agency to relieve himfelf, as if he were forfaken of his Father. He takes a fimilar method now. He perfuades the difciples of Jefus to doubt, whether they be the children of God or no, intimating that their trials and diftreffes are an unfavourable mark; and not unfrequently puts them upon ufing imprudent and forbidden means of procuring deliverance, through

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