"Adam, who is the figure of Him that was to come." "The last Adam was made a quickening spirit." "We are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones." LONDON: BELL AND DALDY, 186, FLEET STREET. CAMBRIDGE: DEIGHTON, BELL & CO. OXFORD: J. H. & J. PARKER. PREFACE. THE object of this short treatise is to give, in as plain terms as possible, the Scripture testimony to the doctrine of the Initial Sacrament. To this end, the reader's attention is called to the position assigned to this rite by Christ and His Apostles. The more prominent places of Scripture which teach us any truth respecting it are examined, and their plain meaning vindicated from falsely spiritual interpretations. The analogy of the two Adams, as implying the transmission of the nature of each respectively, is considered with reference to its bearing on Sacramental grace. The terms used by the inspired writers in addressing the whole body of the Church, are also carefully examined, with the view of ascertaining in what state, whether of grace or otherwise, the persons they speak to are presumed to be. The writer has ventured to insert into the body of this tract, the substance (and in some instances the words) of two appendices to a Dialogue Tract he published a few years ago, entitled "The Sacrament of Responsibility; or, Testimony of Scripture to the Teaching of the Church in Holy Baptism;" and in one or two cases, the arguments of the present publication are an expansion of those of the former. As the limits he has prescribed to himself preclude his answering a number of minor objections to the doctrine contained in the following pages, he desires again to refer to the former tract, where the reader will find a multitude of misconceptions met and obviated. May God, of His infinite mercy, grant that this appeal to His word may be to His glory, the sanctification of His people, and the peace of His Church, through Jesus Christ! CONTENTS. PAGE THE Son of God set up a spiritual kingdom. Exalted place assigned by Him in this kingdom to Baptism, a rite 9 Calvin. Christ's glorified nature so constituted that it can be imparted This is effected by the power of the Holy Ghost And in order that the recovery may be analogous to the ruin For, if so, our Lord would not have connected it with water. Our Lord could not have used the word "water" figuratively, and The Apostles admit men by Baptism into the new kingdom But rather leads us to expect that in it they will receive an antidote Inference from our Lord's words, "Of such is the kingdom of God" 42 |