BY THE LATE REV. ARCHIBALD COOK, DAVIOT.
(TAKEN DOWN BY A HEARER.)
(Continued from page 92.)
WEDNESDAY, 6TH JANUARY, 1850.—Question 92. What is a Sacrament? A. A Sacrament is an holy ordinance instituted by Christ, wherein, by sensible signs, Christ and the benefits of the new covenant are represented, sealed, and applied to believers.
The head of the family examined.—Q. From whom do the strength and the happiness of the creature come? A. From the Creator. Mr. C. How? Is it not because there are three Persons in the Godhead? An old wealthy woman asked a poor minister, which of the parishioners glorified God most? He said it was a poor dumb boy. She asked, “How?” He said, “Come and see him.” They went. He offered the boy a penny, then two pence, but he frowned and refused them, but when he offered him three, he grasped them at once. When death comes, no fewer than three Persons will do you. Q. Was it necessary that Christ should suffer, and why? A. Because sinners could not be saved without the shedding of His blood. Mr. C. If it had not been that man fell, we do not know if the mystery of the Three Persons in the Godhead would have been opened to us. Poor creature, that feels your ignorance, and that you cannot come to the knowledge of God by your own understanding and your own diligence, be seeking that the Spirit may apply “the blood” to your soul.
The wife examined.—Mr. C. Every day you rise you ought to remember that you were baptised in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and so renew your vows. Q. Who ordered baptism? A. The Creator. Q. Does outward baptism communicate grace to the soul? A. No. Mr. C. There are two sorts or ways of ingrafting into Christ—sensible or visible, and spiritual. The one is only an emblem of the other. Simon Magus was baptised, and many in the visible Church who are as destitute of grace as he was, yet the Lord may communicate grace in His own ordinance, and He often does it. Q. Is it not a sin to omit it? A. Yes. Mr. C. But, O creature, be thine eye higher than the ordinance. You have many promises that you can plead—”I will be a God unto thee and unto thy seed after thee,” etc., etc. Q. Is it not good to have promises to plead? Are there not many things to take a person’s feet from them? A. O yes, many things. Mr. C. When the creature is awakened about his state, all the powers in hell will also be awakened to overcome him.
Mr. C. Does baptism save or condemn any creature? It is likely that those who believe will be saved though not baptised. Christ said, “Go ye and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost”; “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Also, “Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of heaven.” A child in the womb may be united to Christ by the Spirit, and shine yet like the stars and sing the praise of free grace as well as grown-up persons. O! parent, consider that baptism will not save your child or bring it near to God, more than the Turks, until there be a new creation wrought in the soul. Do you know yet that you have a soul? God will be good to your bodies so long as His name is upon you, but it will be taken off you at the day of judgment, and you will not get a drop of water through eternity. Oh, would I not be a devil if I would not tell you these things? You would be cursing my bones through all eternity. If we had grace we would feel ashamed, when we would think upon ourselves, that we were ever baptised in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost—the seal of the covenant of grace.
Why were the vessels of the temple called holy? Was it not because they were set apart to a holy use? So is the soul of a creature. It is no better of outward baptism; only it is set apart to a holy use by that ordinance. If your eyes were opened, you would wonder you are not beyond the reach of mercy, and if you get grace, you will be praising the Lord through eternity that you were baptised. In baptism a creature takes God as his Lord and Saviour, and to walk by His Word as a rule of life. The parent becomes bound to perform all commanded duties for his child. I remember myself a man telling his children about the principles of religion, and the tears would be running down his cheeks, and when done he would retire to the barn and pray. Was it any
wonder that the word would have effect, and religion be commended and transmitted from one generation to another? And is it a wonder that the Lord is now raising up a seed out of dark families, when professors do not their duty? Christ will own this ordinance at the day of judgment where it is faithfully observed.
Another person.—Q. Are you satisfied with the service of Satan? A. No. Mr. C. Be you praying that you get that in your heart. Q. In what way shall a person leave the service of Satan? No answer. Mr. C. By removing the heart off earthly things, as the setting the heart on the world is serving Satan. Should you not set your heart on your Creator? If you set it on other things you are only a robber. O, drunkard, you are a dirty slave to the devil! Q. Is it a shame for a creature to be thinking on the soul and God? A. No. Mr. C. Though the world may hate you, yet say you, “I am baptised.” And are you ashamed you were baptised? This is a thought to many a poor creature—”I was baptised, and so I am afraid I will be a reproach to the cause, though I am sure I did not get grace.” Has not Christ two families—the baptised, who are the visible Church, and the invisible? O, be seeking that He will not cast you off, that you may be His in the day that He makes up His jewels.
It is the Lord that puts a drop of fear in the soul. Can any save the soul but the Trinity? Well, creature, if there come a drop of belief in you that you have an immortal soul and are going to eternity, you will be offering yourself to the Lord. “Noah, being moved with fear, prepared an ark.” It will be an awful thing to see those who were dedicated to the Lord in baptism on the left hand among heathen.
Q. When a person becomes concerned about his soul, do not fears awaken in his breast and thoughts in his soul about eternity? What is it that awakens concerns or fears that he will not get mercy? A. Oh, it is the Lord that puts these fears in the soul. Q. But is there not some ground that the creature has for fear? Is it not sin? Will there be any little sins then? A. Oh, no. Q. Those who feel that they are sinners, will they not be often at the footstool of the throne of mercy? Will you yourself be afraid that the Lord will not have mercy on you? A. Sometimes. Mr. C. Oh, just so; there are none in hell but were sometimes afraid they would not get mercy. Those that are unconcerned about their state will have to bend to the sovereignty of God. Christ did this while He wept over Jerusalem when its day of grace was over. Though the Lord pardons His children, He still keeps a frown to them, to keep their sins in mind; and so the evil of sin is revealed to the soul. And you, that do not feel mournful days on this account, will have them through eternity. If you have the nature of children in you, you will be creeping in about the feet of the other children, envying them. Others, who have only a natural conscience, will go away from God, as Cain went away from the means of grace.
(To be Continued.)