I will extend my remarks somewhat concerning Naaman the Syrian. He came to the Prophet Elisha to get cured of his leprosy. He was well supplied with valuable presents for the man of God, to be given to him in the event of his being healed by him. The prophet of God told him to go and wash or bathe seven times in the Jordan. This appeared too insignificant for such a great man as he was to submit to. Besides he regarded the waters of Damascus as superior in virtue to the waters of the Jordan, and he started off in a rage from disappointment. But as he was leaving his servants said to him: "If the prophet had bid thee do some great thing wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? Then went he down and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean." Now, in my view, baptism saves us as this sevenfold dipping in Jordan saved Naaman. Not the water, but the spirit of obedience, is what saves. It saves us as going through the door into the ark saved Noah and his family. It saves us as passing through the Red Sea saved Israel from the host of Egyptians that were in pursuit. This passage of Israel through the sea is called a baptism.

And what shall I say more? For it looks as if this ought to be enough. But I would like to send my voice around the globe laden with the truth that "faith without works is dead," and that baptism is the very first outward work of obedience the believer is required to do. This, with the other ordinances of God's house, in connection with a good life ornamented with the fruits of love and good will toward men, gives life to faith and proves that it is a living reality in the soul.

Saul of Tarsus was a believing convict;

"Borne down beneath a load of sin;

By Satan sorely pressed—"

for three days and nights, in which he did neither eat nor drink. Ananias came to him with instructions direct from the Lord, saying: "Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." Can we suppose that Saul would have become the happy convert that he was, had he refused to obey?

Some think that baptism is nothing, or so nearly nothing that it is hardly worth taking into the account of Christian life. May it not as truthfully be said that faith is nothing, and that repentance is nothing, and that obedience is nothing? Where is the difference?

In all love, with my heart moved in good will toward every one in this house, I do here say that for the life of me I cannot see how any one can hope for salvation while living in open disobedience to the only Savior, Jesus Christ. Can any plead ignorance? From this hour forth you shall not bring that in as a plea for neglect of duty, for I now repeat in your ears the words that fell from the lips of Jesus himself: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." Have I a right to say that you will be saved without baptism? I claim no such right. You may say the penitent thief on the cross was saved without baptism. So he was; all things are possible with God; and notwithstanding all that God has said in his Word about baptism and its blessed followings, I boldly say to you that if you die knowing as little about it as the thief on the cross did, with no better chance to have it administered upon you and to you than he had, God will never require it at your hands. But from this day on, if not before this day, you are lifted out of the darkness that encompassed his mind, and can nevermore plead ignorance. Besides, your hands and feet are not nailed to a cross as his were. You are not reduced to the extremity of calling for mercy with the last gasp of expiring life. "How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?"

Again: Hear what was said to the convicted multitude on the day of Pentecost: "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Have I a right, has any one a right, to say that these promises would have been fulfilled without baptism? But they were fulfilled, for the same day there were added to the brethren then present, about three thousand souls. Would such addition have been made without a compliance with the terms of admission? But those who speak and think lightly of baptism, whilst they may not see it so, do virtually dishonor the blessed Jesus by their implied belief that he demands something of his people which is of little or no account. They insult him by substantially saying they understand his business better than he does himself. Are any ashamed to be baptized? If there be one such here to-day, I warningly repeat in his or her ear this saying of Jesus: "Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in his own glory, and the glory of the Father, and of the holy angels."

I have a clear conscience that I am attaching to this subject no more importance than it justly claims in the scale of salvation. When I lay me down to die, above all things I desire to feel assured that "I have not shunned to declare the whole counsel of God." I submit these remarks to your consideration, with a prayer for the divine blessing upon us all to his glory. Amen!