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in whose presence the flaming cherubim and seraphim fall prostrate?

Remember the time is rolling on with immense rapidity, when you would give ten thousand worlds had you them at your disposal, for the approbation of the great King in the immense realms of Jehovah.

He now stands with extended hands to receive you. He now offers you an inheritance in the unfading heavens, in the eternal city. You are now in health, and while all things are ready and the Spirit and the bride say come; while every good spirit both in heaven and on earth invites; you resolve in your heart with full purpose of spirit to yield yourself up in sweet and humble submission to the God that gave you life and being.

Societies are to a great extent monopolizing the time and money of many of the members of the Christian church. Masons, Odd Fellows and fifty other societies, are not only claiming but receiving the time and money of many of our members. They seem not to remember that they are only stewards, and that all their time and money belong to the church that Christ bought with his heart's blood. We cannot serve God and Mammon at the same

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CHAPTER IX.

BAPTISM.

Mark xvi: 16. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved."

SOME

OME professors say we talk too much on this subject, but it is usually the professor, who feels apprehensive and is troubled with doubts in regard to his having complied with the law; he is like the criminal to whom the judge said "Are you guilty or not guilty of stealing the horse?" who replied "Judge, there has been too much said on that subject already.”

But

But some one will say "Why do you not talk more about faith?" I answer that faith is not in dispute; all Christians admit its importance, that without it, it is impossible to see God. strange to say there are persons claiming to be Christians, who seem to think baptism unimportant, and that too after our Lord placed it in the commission. Just before he left the world, he gave the terms upon which he would pardon the world. This is the only time he ever gave the terms of pardon. It is called "the great commission."

It is recorded in the sixteenth verse of the sixteenth chapter of the gospel as recorded by St. Mark and reads: "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." Did the primitive Christians consider baptism important? Read Acts of Apostles and see. It appears that in every case given, the convert was baptized before he was pardoned. Acts xxii: 16. Ananias said to Saul "Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins."

Peter i 21, "The like figure whereunto baptism doth also now save us;" and our Lord said you must be born of water and of the Spirit or you cannot enter into kingdom of God. His words are: "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." This includes all men and all times. Did your baptism represent a birth? If not, it was not the baptism Christ referred to. Baptism was of so much importance that Jesus went from Nazareth to the Jordan to be baptized, and set us the example.

John Wesley says: "Jesus had no sins to wash away and yet he was baptized, and God owned his ordinance, so as to make it the season of pouring

forth the Holy Spirit upon him. And where can we expect this sacred effusion but in an humble attendance upon divine appointments." And yet some persons will defy God and say baptism is not essential, while Christ and the apostles make it essential.

2nd. Another class a little more modest say "baptism is essential but the mode is not" i. e. you must obey Christ but the form is not material. It is improper to say the mode of baptism, for baptism or baptize is a specific word and of itself specifies the mode. In the Greek there are three specific words, Rantizo, signifying to rain, or sprinkle; and no one would apply mode to sprinkle, and ask if it is performed by scattering on, or as Webster has it,by washing. Every tyro knows that sprinkle does not refer to washing, but only to scattering. A second specific word is Cheo and means to pour and means nothing else. And fifty times Baptizo or its equivalent, is found in the Testament, and the word which means to sprinkle, Rantizo, nor the word meaning to pour, Cheo are never used; but every time the only word that means immerse, Baptizo, or its equivalent bapto is used.

I presume there never was a Testament, in

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