AS many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ.—Gal. iii. 27. By Baptism we are gathered together into the fellowship of the people of God. Whereupon, of some it is called the first sign or entry into Christianity. . . . Baptism, therefore, is a visible sign and testimony of our ingrafting into the "body of Christ." Paul saith, "All ye that are baptized, have put on Christ.” (Gal. iii. 27.) But to put on Christ is to be made one with Him, and, as it were, to be joined and incorporated with Him, that He may live in us, and we in Him. For He only, by the Spirit, regenerateth and reneweth us, and most liberally enricheth us with all manner of good gifts.-Bullinger. Our mother, the Church, in Baptism, doth lend us, when we are infants, other men's feet to walk by, other men's mouths to speak, yea, and other men's hearts to believe; but when we are come to age, we must use our own, and that, not for others only, but also for ourselves.-Bp. Luke. You would be much interested had I opportunity to relate the various questions and answers of the poor Sandh (David Ysingh), respecting the truths and the power of the Gospel of Christ. He was willing to believe (and much in prayer with Amud, the Brahmin convert, on the subject), that it was the power of God unto salvation. In a severe sickness which he endured, the alarm of his mind was indescribable, lest he should die; and not having been baptized, should have no interest in the blood of Jesus Christ. On his recovery, he came with Amud to Meerut, and was with me some time. Last Christmas he was baptized, by the name of David Ysingh, publicly in the church. . . . The service was very affecting, from the extreme animation of feeling manifested by the old man, and the earnest manner in which he lifted up his hands over his breast, and called aloud on Jesus, the Son of God, to save his soul and body. As I poured the water over his reverend-looking brow, his countenance seemed to beam with heavenly joy, and many of the spectators were ready to weep with him.-Rev. J. Fisher. THE HEART. THE flesh lusteth against the Spirit.-Gal. v. 17. 15 THERE is a ... warfare between Christ and Satan, which all feel in their hearts when they try to serve God in earnest. Christ says, "Love the ways of religion." Satan whispers to us, “Religion is a very melancholy thing." Christ says, "Keep my sayings in your heart;" but the devil comes, and tries to snatch them away. Christ teaches how to pray; but Satan tries to hinder us from prayer. Now, which of these two shall prevail in your heart-Christ or the devil? If you will choose Christ, you will find Him the best master. . . . Let Him dwell in your hearts by faith. Where Christ reigns, Satan may try to be master, but never can he succeed. . . . "Christ will bruise the head of Satan." He will set His foot upon him, and crush him.-W. Jowett. 66 Myself, then, I must sacrifice; And so I will, mine heart: the only thing Thou dost above all other prize As Thine own part-the best I have to bring. F. Quarles. A negro woman once came to me (when at Regents', Freetown); she was much distressed, and wept, and said that she had two hearts, which troubled her so much, that she did not know what to do. One was the "new heart," that told all things that she had ever been doing. The same heart told her that she must go to Jesus Christ, and tell Him all her sins, as she had heard at church; but her "old heart" told her, "Never mind! God no save black man, but white man. How know He died for black man ?" Her new heart" said, "Go, cry to Him, and ask." "Old heart tell me, do my work first; fetch water, make fire, wash, and then go pray. When work done, then me forget to pray. I don't know what to do!" I read to her the 7th chapter of Romans, and showed her that the Apostle Paul felt the same things, and spoke of two principles in man. When I came to the verse, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death ?" she said, "Ah, massa, that me-me no know what to do!" I added the words of St. Paul, "I thank God, through Jesus Christ," and explained to her the love of Christ-how He died for sinners like her. She burst into tears; and she has continued ever since, so far as I can know, to follow her Saviour.-Rev. W. Johnson. AS many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ.-Gal. iii. 27. By Baptism we are gathered together into the fellowship of the people of God. Whereupon, of some it is called the first sign or entry into Christianity. . . Baptism, therefore, is a visible sign and testimony of our ingrafting into the "body of Christ." Paul saith, "All ye that are baptized, have put on Christ." (Gal. iii. 27.) But to put on Christ is to be made one with Him, and, as it were, to be joined and incorporated with Him, that He may live in us, and we in Him. For He only, by the Spirit, regenerateth and reneweth us, and most liberally enricheth us with all manner of good gifts.-Bullinger. Our mother, the Church, in Baptism, doth lend us, when we are infants, other men's feet to walk by, other men's mouths to speak, yea, and other men's hearts to believe; but when we are come to age, we must use our own, and that, not for others only, but also for ourselves.-Bp. Luke. You would be much interested had I opportunity to relate the various questions and answers of the poor Sandh (David Ysingh), respecting the truths and the power of the Gospel of Christ. He was willing to believe (and much in prayer with Amud, the Brahmin convert, on the subject), that it was the power of God unto salvation. In a severe sickness which he endured, the alarm of his mind was indescribable, lest he should die; and not having been baptized, should have no interest in the blood of Jesus Christ. On his recovery, he came with Amud to Meerut, and was with me some time. Last Christmas he was baptized, by the name of David Ysingh, publicly in the church. . . . The service was very affecting, from the extreme animation of feeling manifested by the old man, and the earnest manner in which he lifted up his hands over his breast, and called aloud on Jesus, the Son of God, to save his soul and body. As I poured the water over his reverend-looking brow, his countenance seemed to beam with heavenly joy, and many of the spectators were ready to weep with him.-Rev. J. Fisher. FAITH, if it hath not works, is dead.—James ii. 17. FAITH is, not an opinion and knowledge only, but a vehement, earnest, and certain persuasion of God's promises in Christ; and out of this faith springeth all godliness and virtuous works; and whatsoever springeth not hereof is sin.-Bishop Hooper. To know, and believe perfectly, the whole story of Christ's Resurrection, what were it if we did not practise this resurrection of our own? God will not reckon with thee how much thou knowest, but how well thou hast lived. * * To have "risen" as Christ hath done, so to have digested the Resurrection of Christ, as that we have made it our own, this is rightly to understand the doctrine.-John Hales. May faith, deep-rooted in the soul, Shall fill our souls with holiness.-Chandler. ¶ O good Lord! make me resolved to live a life of faith and holiness, according to Thy blessed word and will. And let me not only think and purpose to live godly in Christ Jesus, but bring my purposes into actions, my actions into habits, and my habits into uniform perseverance, so enduring to the end, that I may be saved! -Jenks. We wish our missionaries to be "living preachers." We would have them speak feelingly and convincingly to all around them, by their mutual forbearance and love-by their disinterestedness and self-denial-by their deadness to the world-by their tender and affectionate regard to the present and eternal interests of all with whom they may have intercourse-and by their unwearied zeal in exhibiting to all the love and grace of their crucified Lord.(Instructions to the Rev. E. Bickersteth, before departing on a mission to Western Africa, December 26, 1815.)—Rev. J. Pratt. 16 THE WORD OF GOD. ALL Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect.-2 Tim. iii. 16, 17. IF whatsoever is not of faith is sin, as the Apostle saith, and faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God, then whatsoever is not found in holy Scripture, being not of faith, must needs be sin.-S. Basil, Hom. xxix. Out of God's written Word all knowledge of His things may be discerned. But if anything remain which holy Scripture doth not determine, let us not hearken to any other scripture. For in this present world God would not that we should know all things.Origen in Levit., Hom. iv. Still on Thy holy Word We'll feed, and live, and grow; Go on to know our Lord, And practise what we know. I humbly beg of Almighty God, that He will not suffer the seed of His doctrine to perish in my heart, as sown in a dry and barren soil; but that He will, with the Divine dew of His heavenly grace, so water and make fruitful the dryness and barrenness of my heart, that I may bring forth plentiful fruits of godliness, to be gathered and laid up in the barn and garner of the kingdom of heaven. Amen.-Dean Nowell. Abraham was a desperate character, and two years before had been immured in prison for two years, as found guilty of manslaughter. In gaol he was visited by missionaries and catechists, heard and embraced the truth, and, being a man of great energy of character, made great progress in Christian knowledge. Some time after the expiration of his confinement, he was admitted to baptism. I asked a Pundit what were the feelings of the Heathen upon this baptism. The reply was, that they all rejoiced at it, because now that he had become a Christian, he would not act as formerly, and they should cease to fear him. What an attestation is this to the power of the Gospel! Even Heathens rejoice at the baptism of a desperate thief and cruel character.-Rev. J. T. Johnson, Nellore. |