feffion of Christianity, unless we are Chrift's faithful fervants, will not entitle us to Heaven ; for "even the Devils believe, " and tremble."

Chrift died for all mankind; nor will any be deprived of the benefits of his death, but through their own faults; for although it is written that there is no name under Heaven by which men can be saved but that of Christ Jefus, yet we are also told by St. Paul, (Rom. ch. ii. ver. 14.) "that " those which have not the law, and do by "nature the things contained in the law, "are a law unto themfelves ;" and to fuch will the benefits of Chrift's death undoubtedly be imparted. This doctrine is fo fully confirmed, in the seventh chapter of the Revelation by St. John, and offers fo delightful a fubject of contemplation to the charitable mind, that I fhall make no apology for inferting it at length. "After "this I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all

66

66

nations, and kindreds, and people, and

tongues, ftood before the Throne, and

"before

"before the Lamb, clothed with white

66

robes; and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, faying, Salvation "to our God which fitteth upon the " Throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the "angels ftood round about the Throne and about the elders and the four beasts, " and fell before the Throne on their faces, " and worshipped God, faying, Amen : Bleffing and glory, and wisdom and "thanksgiving, and honor and

power, and 'might, be unto our God, for ever and

ever. Amen. And one of the elders "answered, faying unto me, What are "these which are arrayed in white robes? "and whence came they? And I faid

66

unto him, Sir, thou knoweft. And he "faid unto me, Thefe are they which 66 came out of great tribulation, and have

"washed their robes and made them white "in the blood of the Lamb; therefore "are they before the Throne of God, and "serve him day and night in his Temple ; and he that fitteth on the Throne fhall among them they shall hunger

dwell

"no

66

no more, neither thirst any more; neither "fhall the fun light on them, or any heat. "For the Lamb which is in the midst of "the Throne fhall feed them, and shall "lead them unto living fountains of water, " and God fhall wipe away all tears from "their eyes."

Nothing could have been made use of as a fitter emblem of purification, than water: the foul stained with guilt requires to be cleanfed; and as this pure element, when applied to the body, removes all impurities; fo does it, by grace, from the foul: not as poffeffing this virtue in itself, but as "the outward and visible fign of "an inward and fpiritual grace, given unto

us, ordained by Chrift himself, as a "means whereby we receive the fame, and a pledge to affure us thereof.”

Senfible objects are neceffary in this our mortal frame, to make any strong impreffion upon our minds, and therefore God has been graciously pleased to appoint them as the channels of fpiritual bleffings, which he has promifed fhould

flow

flow from them, if we with true faith rely upon him in his facraments.

An objection has been brought against infant baptism, that children cannot commit actual fin till they are of an age to diftinguish right from wrong, and confequently can ftand in need of no regeneration. But in whatever difficulties the doctrine of original fin may engage us, we muft all feel that "we are by nature born " in fin, and the children of wrath." There can certainly therefore be no impropriety in this holy institution, as the fymbol of our being made “the children of grace.”

How neceffary is it for parents and guardians to inftruct and imprefs the tender minds of young people with a due fense of the folemn engagement they are about to take on themselves when they go to confirmation; an institution established by the Church for the purpose of publicly renewing in our own persons, when arrived at years of judgment, the vows made for us by our god-fathers and god-mothers

R

when

when our tender years would not admit of our making them for ourselves, and admirably calculated to make a lively and lafting impreffion where the mind has been properly prepared to receive it. How melancholy then is the reflection, that fuch numbers of young people are fuffered to go to this folemn ceremony without any previous idea of the nature of it? Is there not reason to fear that it will form a heavy charge against those to whom the Almighty has given them in trust, either by relationship or other ties, that, through their neglect, their wards are deprived of the greater benefits of this inftitution?

Our bleffed Lord, by taking our nature upon himself, has restored it to his original, nay more than its original, brightness, giving us a title to become the fons of God thro' his inheritance: let us take care not to lofe fo glorious a privilege, by refufing our compliance to the conditions on which fo ineftimable an advantage was granted us, and which every Christian may find

fully