CONCLUSION.

A FORM OF BAPTISMAL SELF-DEDICATION TO GOD.

O LORD God Almighty, I accept with humble gratitude, as a sinner who has deserved eternal death, and who cannot cease to deserve it, the rich, free, and eternal salvation, which thou in thy goodness hast provided for me.

I look to thee, O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to save me from the punishment of sin and its power; from the curse which thy law has justly pronounced upon me, from my own faults, from all temptation, and to bring me to a life of holy bliss in heaven, because thou hast promised all this to those who come to thee, as I now do, through Christ. In dependence upon the merit of thy Son, Jesus Christ, upon the aid of thy Spirit, and on thy truth, I look to thee for the eternal salvation of my body and of my soul, and I humbly accept thee as my chief good to all eternity.

O God the Son, my Redeemer, who didst expiate my sins by thy death, thou wast made sin for

me, that I might be made the righteousness of God in thee; thou hast redeemed me from the curse of the law, being made a curse for me; and having rescued me from eternal death by thy death, thou dost now live to bring me to eternal life. Believing in thy power and love, I trust to thy merit and intercession to secure for me the favour of God, to impart to me thy Holy Spirit, to enrich me with all the blessings of the new covenant, and to prepare me for heaven. Thus I accept thee as my only and all-sufficient Saviour.

Through Christ I likewise thankfully receive thee, O God the Spirit, to be my Sanctifier. For his sake thou dost dwell with those who believe on him, and believing on him, I look to thee to teach me all needful truth, to incline my heart to what is just and right, to set my affections on God and on spiritual things, to direct and control my will, to form my character, to sanctify me wholly, to preserve me through all temptations, and to bring me into the presence of my Redeemer in glory.

Thus I heartily accept thee, O God the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, as "my shield and my exceeding great reward." And I humbly trust, according to thy promises, to be made happy by thee for both worlds.

On the other hand, being so blessed and favoured, I, as a redeemed and pardoned transgressor, desire to make a public profession of faith in thee, and publicly to dedicate myself to thy service, according to Christ's appointment, by immersion. Before which

public act, I do now, therefore, first dedicate myself to thee in secret.

First, I renounce all sin for ever. By my sins I have displeased and dishonoured thee. They have checked my efforts to improve my character, they have hindered me from doing good, they have injured my peace and usefulness; they have been my disgrace, and but for thy mercy they would have been my ruin. I have been unreasonable, corrupt, and ungrateful in disobeying thee; and am brought by nature and by practice to such a condition, that nothing but the blood of Jesus Christ can blot out my guilt. Thou hast so hated sin, that thou hast sentenced sinners to eternal death; and unless Jesus Christ had suffered for it they could not have been saved. It is unnatural, depraved, and rebellious, exposing them to thy just wrath and curse. It has occasioned the death of Christ; it has made the world hate him; it opposes his dominion; he came to rescue us from its power; and he feels an irreconcilable hatred to it. It is contrary to the nature and the influence of the Holy Spirit; by whom it is progressively destroyed in each believer, and by whom it must ultimately be destroyed throughout the world. It is worse in thy children than in others, because they must sin against clearer light, and repeated promises, after experiencing the aids of grace, and after tasting the pleasure of obedience. I, therefore, desire to forsake it for ever; and henceforth to do, say, and think nothing which is contrary to thy will. As Christ died for my sins, and was

buried in the grave, so shall I be buried in the water in token that I die with him to the sins which caused his death, that I may never again serve sin.

At the same time, I mean by thy help to lead a new life. As Christ rose from the grave, so shall I rise from the water to a nobler and better life than before. Thou didst not give my faculties to be wasted in aimless inactivity; but rescued from active corruption to be employed in all that is useful and ennobling. Henceforth my opinions and judgment of things being formed by a supreme regard to thy will, I desire to cherish every right principle; to pursue every honourable and useful end; to do what is just and true, what is humane and benevolent; to set my affections on all that is the most worthy to engage them; to love all that are good; to seek holiness and heaven; to live for eternity and for thee; to be directed in all things by thy word; to be conformed to the example of Christ; and to aim at being perfect, as my Father in heaven is perfect. As Christ my Redeemer is in heaven, I will set my affections there; as he is holy, just, and good there, I will endeavour to be so here; as he glorifies thee there, I will seek to glorify thee here; as he loves believers, I will love them; and as he is head over all things to the Church, I will live to serve the Church. Thus, by thy help, I will rise with Christ to a new life.

Further, as I am about to be baptized unto the name of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, that is, to profess by immersion that I am thy worshipper

and servant, I now consecrate myself to thy service for ever.

I give myself unreservedly to thee, O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, relying on thy mercy to accept me through Christ, and on the aid of thy Spirit to enable me to adhere to my resolution. Thy will, O God, shall be mine. I mean to please thee in all things. I count thy enemies my enemies, thy friends my friends. Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? Only make me know thy will; and by thy help I will do it. Thou art my owner, and to please and serve thee shall be my highest end.

I give myself also unreservedly to thee, my gracious and loving Saviour, who art one in nature, design, and feeling with thy Father. As thou hast lived and died for me, I wish to live for thee; and as thou wilt give me glory in heaven, I desire to give thee glory on earth. Before long I hope to see thee in thy kingdom; meanwhile may I love, serve, trust, and delight in thee as my ever-present Redeemer. To obey thy commands, to copy thy example, to promote thy cause, to help thy servants, to honour thee in the use of all my faculties, possessions, and time,

all this is my fixed intention, by the aid of thy Spirit. Thou hast bought me by thy blood: I am thine.

Further, I give myself to thee, O Holy Spirit of God. It is my desire and purpose to be led by thy teaching, and to be conformed to thy will. May thy holy influence surround me wherever I may be.