Learning nothing of his laws;
but he wants her to appear "all glorious within" and without; "bright as the sun, fair as the moon, and terrible as an army with banners."
I have been accused by some of never preaching a sermon without having something to say about baptism, as if discoursing on that subject might be criminal in their eyes. I can boldly say I do not like to close a sermon without saying something about it, because baptism in water, as the door to the visible church, has so much significance in it that I do not feel as if I had fully discharged my duty to the souls of men without it. But I am not altogether singular in this respect. I have some very good company. John the Baptist had baptism in two of his sermons. Peter the apostle had baptism, in two out of three of his sermons. Ananias had baptism in the sermon he preached to Saul, and that in a shape altogether too strong for many, as that Saul should wash away his sins in it. Philip had baptism in his sermon to the eunuch, and Paul had baptism in his joyful anticipations of heavenly glory, and calls it the washing of regeneration; and in fact he laid strong emphasis on it in his answer to the Philippian jailer's question, "What shall I do to be saved?" But the Lord's sermon to Nicodemus gives the crown to baptism as the visible birth into the visible church. He calls it "born of water,"—internally born of the Spirit, externally born of water. So you see, friends, I have plenty of company in this line of preaching, and good company too.
Baptism, as the visible ceremony of union of the penitent, believing, loving candidate with the church, and of the church with the Lord as his bride, holds the same rank in its relation to the Divine Law as the ceremony of marriage holds to human law. Both are simple in form, yet both are absolutely essential to order and an orderly life both in a religious and social sense. The ordinance of marriage and that of baptism compare remarkably in another point of view. Both cement a union to be dissolved only in death. Both have the stamp of the divine seal, impressed by the Lord's hand, engraven with the words: "What God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."
Now, friends, let me beg you to take the Lord's way. He invites you affectionately to come and take his yoke upon you. Learn to work in his vineyard. Your own heart is a vineyard which the Lord will own if you will but give it to him: and he will help you to keep it clean. He will give you richly to enjoy the first ripe grapes of a good life lived in his service. But remember: "He that is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his Father's glory, and the glory of the holy angels." Then why not come into the church? None are too poor to come. It costs no money or goods. Why not please your King by visibly becoming his subject? Why not honor your Lord by obeying his commands? Why not glorify your Husband by publicly taking to yourself his name and living henceforth a holy and virtuous life in his sight?
Tuesday, March 25. Aunt Mary Kline, Uncle Frederick Kline's widow, was buried to-day. Age, seventy-two years, eleven months and five days.
Wednesday, March 26. Attend the funeral of Giles Devier's little child. It was buried at our meetinghouse. Age, one year, five months and sixteen days. It is a pretty thought that angels may gather little children from the arms of their parents, as love plucks roses from their parent stems. "Of such is the kingdom of heaven."
Thursday, March 27. Perform the marriage ceremony of Robert Allison and Mary Kline, daughter of Joseph Kline.
Tuesday, April 1. William Smith took leave of us for his new home in Illinois.
Wednesday, April 9. Council meeting at the Brush meetinghouse. John Wine is elected speaker.