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them which believe and know the truth: for every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God, and prayer d.

SECT. 5. With still higher praises ought we to celebrate the wonders of redeeming love.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ, that we should be to the praise of his glory who first trusted in Christ. Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which, according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead". Thanks be unto God, who always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might, through the thanksgiving of many, redound to the glory of God. Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him, who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. We give thanks to God, and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, for the hope that is laid up for you in heaven". As As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him; rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving'. Rejoice evermore; speaking to yourselves, teaching one another, in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord, and making melody; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ'. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, ye also, as

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lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ". By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name". In every thing give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you°.

SECT. 6.

Remarkable instances of divine goodness are to be thankfully remembered and acknowledged by his

servants.

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High; to show forth thy loving-kindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night. For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy work; I will triumph in the works of thy hands. Blessed be the Lord; for he hath showed me his marvellous loving-kindness in a strong city: for I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes; nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications, when I cried unto thee. When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord; and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple. I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever; with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.

And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast showed unto thy servant'. O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy. He saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty. power to be known. He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it was dried up so he led them through the depths as through the wilderness. And he saved them from the

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hand of him that hated them; and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy. Then sang Moses, and the children of Israel, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously; he is become my salvation. Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like unto thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation'. Fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you. And David said, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine'. And David the king came, and sat before the Lord, and said, Who am I, O Lord God; and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto"? Behold, for peace I have great bitterness (" said Hezekiah"); but thou hast, in love to my soul, delivered it from the pit of corruption; for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back. For the grave cannot praise thee, death cannot celebrate thee. The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth". The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell got hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. Then called I upon the name of the Lord: I was brought low, and he helped me. Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee: for thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me°? And at the end of the days, I Nebuchadnezzar lift up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me; and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever; whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to

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generation'.-And great multitudes came unto Jesus, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus feet; and he healed them: insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see; and they glorified the God of Israel'.-And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour; for he that is mighty hath done to me great things, and holy is his name'.-And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen'.-And Jesus said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger'. We had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead; who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver; in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us". Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort, who comforteth us in all our tribulation: for as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad'. Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? For thou only art holy".

ARTICLE III.

OF BAPTISM.

SECT. 1. Of the baptism of John.-2. Of baptism as an institution of our Lord Jesus.-3. The doctrine and instructions of the Apostles relating to this institution. The practice in dispensing this holy ordinance in the apostolic age.

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SECT. 1. Of the baptism of John.

SEE Part III. Art. II. Chap. V. Of the ministry of John as introducing that of our Lord.

SECT. 2. Of baptism as an institution of our Lord Jesus.

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; the same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God; for no man can do those miracles that thou dost, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water, and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them; and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

Then the Eleven went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Go ye unto all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

3

§ 2. John, iii. 1, 2, 3.
d Mat. xxviii. 16,18,19,20.

John, iii. 5.
Mark, xvi. 15, 16.

с

Mark, x. 13-16.

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