1st. God's name is in baptism ; it can therefore be no human work, as little as God's name can be a human invention. Could the Evangelist say that Christ baptised, when his disciples did it at his command, and in his name ? John 4, 1, 2. It may now, with equal propriety and truth, be said that God baptises us, when his ministers do it at his command and in his name. Christ said to his disciples, ' He that heareth you, heareth me.' Luke 10, 16. Hence, when we hear his ministers pronounce his name in baptism, we hear Christ himself, according to this his own declaration. Why should it not be so ? when he said; ' Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.' This proves that we are baptised by the Lord himself, though through instruments. Now since baptism is no human work, it must be the grace of God. If it be a means to save the sinner, he is saved by pure unmerited grace and mercy ; he has nothing to boast of ; and unto God he must ascribe all the glory, and with the Apostle say, ' Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but, according to his mercy, he saved us by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost,' &c. Tit. 3, 5.

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