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20 imparted by the. As before our Blessed had respect unto the contrary tendencies of our nature, the neglect, as well as the bare acquiescence in the outward ordinance; so here, also, the Apostle has been directed both to limit the imparting of the inward grace by the mention of the outward washing, and to raise our conceptions of the greatness of this second birth, by the addition of the spiritual grace.

Such, then, are the only passages of the Holy Scriptures, in which the first origin of regeneration (so to speak) is marked out, and the circumstances under which it takes place are at all hinted at. And surely this ought, to any careful Christian, to be of great moment; and, instead of longing, as the habit of some is, for more evidence, he will thank, that the evidence is so clear, that all Christians of old times confidently relied upon it, and transmitted it to us.

But though these passages alone speak of the means of regeneration, they do not alone speak of the effects of Baptism. And here, again, if men read Holy Scripture as the living word of God, they would read it with more fruit. For how can one reconcile the way in which some now allow themselves to speak of Baptism, with the stress which our Blessed lays upon it? "Go and teach all nations, baptizing them." "He that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved ." Does it consist with their reverence to their, to think or to speak disparagingly of that, which He enjoined, wherever He should be