But, it is by no means true, that the life, death, and burial of Christ are merely represented to us by baptism ; or that we are only to imitate Christ in these things by baptism ; although this being not the opinion of the Baptists only, but sundry other denominations. There is no emblem nor representation of Christ's death, nor burial mentioned. This is arbitrarily added by those who preach up types and shadows under the gospel dispensation. The text does not say that Christ's death is represented by baptism, but we are baptised into his death. The very design of the text indicates that we must really be connected with Christ, with his death and burial. Why so? Ans.: The apostle expressly requires of all the baptised, because they were baptised into Christ's death, &c. to walk in newness of life. ' Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death ; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life.' v.4. Here the apostle requires of those who were buried by baptism into his death, that they like as Christ rose from the dead, should walk in newness of life. He makes our burial with Christ in his death by baptism, the cause of our resurrection or new life. ' For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection,' v.5. Now, how could the apostle require the walk of a new life of those that were baptised, if they were not new ? A man must first be a new man, and possess a new life, before he can walk in a new life. Why would the apostle infer the spiritual resurrection of the baptised from their being planted with Christ into his death by baptism ? If they were only emblematically baptised into Christ, into his death and burial, then their walk in a new life would also only be emblematical. Now what man of good sense would contend that we should only have an emblematical holiness, or an emblematical new life ? Now the effect cannot be greater than the cause. Our being planted with Christ by baptism into his death, the apostle assigns as the cause of our newness of life. Newness of life is the effect of being planted with Christ in baptism ; now if to be planted is an emblem, then the newness of life also is an emblem ; for it is impossible that an emblem should produce any thing but an emblem. In this manner the base hypocrite may also be holy, for he can have an emblematical, but not a real holiness. Christian people ought to shudder at ever calling baptism an emblem ; for the conclusions are too ridiculous and blasphemous, which follow from such absurdities.

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