man that worked miracles, he might have. possessed some more peculiar advantage in proselyting the Jews to the said new religion, but John did no miracles, (John x. 14.) and even if he had, what could have made him so much more successful in his ministry than others, as to proselyte all the land of Judah and Jerusalem in about six months, whereas Christ with all his disciples made only about five hundred disciples in three years time!

Reason teaches us that John had nothing: to do as to establishing (as some suppose)the rite of water baptism, tradition had already given him the assent of the people in that part of his work.

It is frequently said of John, that he preached the baptism of repentance, but I do not recollect that it is once said of him, that he preached the baptism of water.

Such as contend that Mark had an allu sion to the baptism of water in the introduction of his history, ought to show us that water baptism is saving. But as water baptism is not saving, so it is no part of the gospel. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believe, (Rom. i. 16.) The gospel is everlasting, but there are few who dare ascribe any great salvation, power or duration to the baptism of water. And if we have made it to appear, (as I think we have,) that the gospel was preached to Abraham, and to the old world, then this account of Mark cannot be justly under

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stood, as some would have it, to mean the introduction of water baptism. Let us examine the subsequent matter in Mark's account. He proceeds to add, "as it is written in the prophets. Behold I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare the way before thee." This preparation of the way was the effect produced by the CRY, prepare ye the way of the Lord and make his paths straight." This account of Mark has no allusion to the notion that John prepared the people by water baptism, but like all the rest of the scriptures show that John preached the BAPTISM of REPENTANCE for the remission of sins. As Mark so particularly mentions the baptism of REPENTANCE, let us add to his saying, other similar testimonies."John" saith the apostle Paul, "verily baptized with the BAPTISM of REPENTANCE, Saying unto the people that they should believe on him who should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." Acts, xix. 4. And again. "He came into all the country round about Jordan, preaching the BAPTISM of REPENT ANCE for the remission of sins." Luke, iii. 3.

Dear Reader. If any will convince us that water baptism has any part or lot in the Gospel, and that those passages mean water baptism, the same will be able to shew us that water baptism is the remission of sins. But until then I must believe that John only practised water baptism in conformity to the law he was under, and preached this bap

tism of repentance as a thing represented by all outer kinds of purification. And if we examine the preaching of John it was not water baptism, but that baptism which did more towards preparing the people for the Lord, than water baptism could do. The baptism which John preached was just that water baptism was in the sign, namely, purification. Therefore his language was like that of the prophet. "Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes, cease to do evil, learn to do well; seek judgment; relieve the oppressed; judge the fatherless and plead for the widow." When John saw many of the pharisees come to his baptism merely because they of the circumcision were debtors to do the whole law, (see Gal. v. 31) he says to them "say not, within yourselves, we have Abraham to our father." Saith he, "O, generation of vipers! who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come, bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance." When John had told them that the axe was laid unto the root of the trees, and that every tree which brought not forth good fruit must be hewn down, said they unto him; what shall we do then? Saith John "he that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. To the Publicans, he says, "exact no more than that which is appointed you"-and to the soldiers, "Do violence to no man, neither

accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages." Such, dear reader, is gospel preaching, and by such preaching, the loftiness of men, like the hills are brought down, the vallies are filled, the crooked and rough ways and doings of men, are made smooth and straight. Thus the prediction of the angel Gabriel concerning John was fulfilled; which saith, "many of the hearts of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.And he shall go before him in the Spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.""

The baptism which John preached to the people, was to the soul (figuratively) what water washing is to the body. Water may cleanse the body from natural defilement, or from external pollutions, which without a removal, (according to the natural order of things) would prove contagious, both to ourselves and others. But though water may serve us a valuable purpose in this point of view: yet water purification cannot reach to our internal need, and cleanse us from the impurity of the stomach, nor from the various disorders which so frequently lurk within the natural system. These internal needs must be removed by an internal application, or the system must perish. So notwithstanding men may approach God with a baptizing sense of their sins, this is only outward wash

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ing. It does not give them victory over their fallen nature. This must be brought about by the baptism of Christ. Therefore, notwithstanding John had baptized the Jews according to the law: and notwithstanding he had preached to them the baptism of repentance, he taught them to look for the baptism which was yet to come, saying, "I indeed baptize you with water, UNTO repentance, but HE shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire." Thus John taught, that the Jews must look to Christ: beginning his ministry under the law by water, he ended with repentance, and so far as he preached repentance, he was a gospel minister. As John had two baptisms, so Christ had two.

As

John commenced with Moses and ended with repentance: so we find Christ first baptizes his disciples with repentance, and finishes that baptism of repentance with the baptism of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost being the only true, saving and christian baptism.

As there is a harmonizing analogy between Moses and John, and Joshua and Christ, I will here mention, that as Moses gave way for Joshua, so John gave way for Christ. No doubt that something was intended by the angel Gabriel in the name of John. The angel did not leave the parents of John to name their child what they pleased, but said to Zacharias, thou shalt call his name JOHN, which signifies the grace and mercy of God.