Section V.

THE ARGUMENT.

In baptism Christ is put on, &c. By it we are saved, like Noah was in the flood, &c. This is founded on Gal. 3, 27 ; 1 Pet. 3, 20, 21. This argument is a continuation of the preceding one.

By holy baptism Christ is put on ; " for as many of you as have been baptised into Christ, have put on Christ," Gal. 3, 27. St. Paul probably, in these words, has an allusion to a certain custom which was in vogue among the ancient Romans. It was when a servant, who being bound to his master, received his freedom, was then arrayed with a new peculiar garment. The Jewish converts to the Christian Religion were also bound or shut up under the law, before they received their freedom. " But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our school-master, to bring us unto Christ that we should be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." Gal. 4, 23 25. Now when they were released from the bondage of the law, they by baptism put on Christ, the new, unspotted garment of salvation, and robe of righteousness, Isa. 61, 10. If baptism is the means whereby we put on Christ, we thereby must be clothed with all his merits ; his wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption are imparted unto us ; 1 Cor. 1, 30. We by nature are defiled with sin, so that in this state we cannot be owned as God's children ; but when we have put on and received Christ by faith, the garment of our salvation, our sins are covered ; we are accounted righteous and holy for the sake of this garment ; clad in it, the heavenly father finds no fault in us ; for how can he be displeased with his only son, who merited perfect righteousness for us, and who is the brightness of the father's glory, and the express image of his person ? Heb. 1, 3. St. Paul also saith, ' that Christ gave himself for his church ; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word. That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle,' &c. Eph. 5, 25 27. The apostle here alludes to baptism, which is a washing of water by the word, and ascribes thereunto the sanctification of the church ; for Christ, who is put on in baptism, sanctifies his bride ; so that baptism is not only the means of the pardon of our sins, but it is also the means of our sanctification. St. Paul's sins were not only pardoned, but he should also be baptised, that they might be washed away. ' And now, why tarriest thou ? arise, and be baptised, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord," Acts 22, 16. Now if baptism is not only the means of our pardon, but also of our sanctification, then it must indeed, in the fullest sense of the word, be the means of regeneration.

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