TO THE READER. FELLOW TRAVELLER TO ETERNITY, YOU and I are the offspring of God. The period of our return to him swiftly approaches. Then the motive I have had in writing, and which you shall have had in reading, will both be known. How, and how far, the following pages will affect my present and future life, is with the LORD. How far they fhall affect thine, is also with HIM. One thing is certain the truth of what I have written will be foon known. You are willing to know it now, provided you know the value of the gofpel, and poffefs an heart humbled by its doctrines. Reader, be not offended at what I have written, till you be fure it is falfe. Do thyfelf no harm. Read, confider, compare every part, and the whole with divine truth, in fuch a manner and fpirit, as fhall yield thee a pleasing reflection in the world to come. If the fubject, as here presented, be true, it is a serious truth. If an error, it is a serious It nearly concerns the kingdom of EM-. MANUEL, to whofe pleafure and mercy the whole is cheerfully refigned, By, Reader, Thy Servant, Sedgwick, Dec. 27, 1804. THE AUTHOR. THE MODE AND SUBJECTS.. OFF BAPTISM! SERMON I MATTHEW XVIII. 19, 20. Goye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft; teaching them to obferve all things whatsoever I have commanded you: And, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of ̈ ̈ the world. Amen.. IT the Father of to town T hath pleased the Father of Mercies to bestow on tained the scheme of grace, which brings life and immortality to light. It shows the way by which to ef cape the wrath to come, and to find the favour of God. . All scripture is given by his infpiration, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Till the human heart be humbled, in measure, man feels not his need of divine teaching; nor will he make the scriptures the man of his counfel. But, my brethren, and people, it is doubtless the cafe, that many of you poffefs a willingness to have your principles and practice fquared by the word and teftimony of Jefus Chrift. My text contains fome of the last words of our great High Priest. It is the general orders which he gave his first apoftles, and left for the inftruction, practice and comfort of all their fucceffors, to the end of the world. In the verfe which precedes my text, Christ informs us, that all power in heaven and in earth is given unto him. His words, therefore, are clothed with authority. May we hear, and fear, and, be obedient. Where the word of a king is, there is power; and who may fay unto the King of Zion, What doft thou? So far as we be Chriftians, all that is neceffary to enforce obedience is, to know what Chrift would have us to do. Perhaps not a paffage in all the oracles of truth contains more extensive instruction than do the words of my text.. The commands are exceedingly broad; the Baptismal Inftitution comprehends all obedient disciples; and the comforting promise is durable: as the world. In my text, Chrift Jefus, the head of the church and Lord of all, constituted his present and fucceeding difciples to be apostles unto all nations. It contains their commiffion, and general and particular orders. In it they are directed I. To go and difciple all nations. II. To baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft. III. He directs thefe newly conftituted apostles, and all their fucceffors, to teach their baptized difciples to obferve all things whatsoever he had given in command ment, Laftly |