The individual must be laid down in the element, in the emblem of a death burial, and raised up out of that element in the emblem of a resurrection, then, and then only does a person observe the ordinance of baptism. Hence, the word Baptism, from Bapto, has in this ordinance no other meaning than immersion, or burial in water. The symbol is therefore right, and the word is right. Let no one be confused about baptism. Follow out your symbol, be buried, and all will be right. We will look at a few examples. Matt. 3: 5, 6, 16.

Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan.

And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him.

John 3: 25, And John also was baptizing in Ænon, near to Salim, because there was much water there; and they came, and were baptized.

Acts 8: 12, 13, 36, 37, 38, 39, But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Then Simon himself believed also; and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs.

And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

And Philip said, If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayst. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

And he commanded the chariot to stand still and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

The use of these symbols impart no virtue abstractly considered, and are no better than the heathen symbols.

but when we consider and use them as emblematical of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, they become at once interesting and profitable.

THE CHRISTIAN CREED.

As we have seen, the word of God is the great agent to enlighten, influence, and bring men to repentance, and is what they are to believe to become Christians, so the Scriptures are to be taken as a sufficient creed. If the word guides men into the religious way, it is to guide them when they are in it.

The creeds of the different denominations of professed Christians are only their opinions reduced to ecclesiastical law. And these opinions are founded upon inferences drawn from certain texts, upon tradition, and upon ecclesiastical enactment. Consequently to join one of the sectarian denominations, you must have something more to recommend you than the fact that you have become a Christian-that you have repented of your sins and reformed in your life-that you now believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. If you knock at the Presbyterian door, you must be found not only worthy and well qualified, according to their ideas of Christian character, but properly vouched for as a Presbyterian, i. e., that you adopt and believe their creed, before you can gain admittance. And so with every other denomination that does not adopt the Bible as their creed. Now this makes a great deal of trouble, and converts to Christ are often distressed to know at what door they had better knock-which way to go-to what denomination to apply for a home. In look ing over the catalogue of creeds, they become confused, and many of them disgusted, and either turn back and give up religion, or stand alone and independent, while others, from

the influence of friends, love of popularity, and prosperity in business, will consent to join, and maintain a creed, some parts of it at least they believe and know to be a lie.

But let me emphatically say to all persons who desire to be Christians, that it is not what others say you are to believe and take as your creed, but what the Bible says. You are to read, or hear it read and preached, and study it for yourself, and exercise your own judgment and reason that God has given you for this purpose; and believe just what you find it teaches in harmony, not with the opinions and creeds of men, but with itself. With the opinions of uninspired men, you have nothing to do. It is upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ being the chief corner-stone, that you are to build your temple of truth, and Christian doctrine and morality.

Christ is the door of His own sheep-fold. And to be a sheep of his fold, you are only to hear His voice and follow Him. And His voice is heard in the Scriptures.When you follow the teachings of the word, you hear the voice of Christ, and are following Him. But when you leave the Scriptures and follow the creeds and traditions of men, you are following the voice of strangers, and will be of the fold of Satan. Christ is our law-giver, and religious legislator and teacher. He has not delegated the power to legislate for his subjects, to any man, or company of men. He alone holds the reins of government, and is the Head of the Church, and the only proper authority to be obeyed. Christ and His disciples were cast out of the synagogues and excluded from every sect among the Jews; but what of that? Did that prove that Christ was not the Redeemer, and that his disciples were not right in believing and following Him, and that they were not good men? What if the Protestant sects reject a man who has reformed in his life and become a Christian, but will not acknowledge any authority over his faith but

Christ, or any creed but the Bible? Will that prove that he is not a Christian, and sound in the faith? Nay, verily.

Says Christ, I am the door. Very well, then, if we come to Him, and can get a permit to pass in through him, we shall be folded as his sheep, and no power can pluck us out of his hands. He is the way, the truth, and the life. Ye are my disciples, if ye do whatsoever I command you. The children of the kingdom are they that hear the Word of God, and keep it. He that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth some an hundred fold, some sixty, some thirty. Matt. 13: 23.

Was it not a good omen in the apostolic times to see a man come out independent of the Jewish sects, and take Christ as his leader, and the Scriptures as the rule and guide of his faith and practice? And is it less virtuous now? To see a person take such a stand, so far from lessening the evidence of his piety and moral worth, it is the very best evidence a man can give of the genuineness of his conversion to Christ. It shows a purpose, a decision of character, and honest integrity of heart, that is above price, and is an example worthy of imitation by every disciple of Christ.

But, says one, we must have some form of church government, some instrument as a platform of rule by which we can identify ourselves as an associated body and church. But how comes this necessity? When a person is converted to Christ, what hinders his obeying the gospel, or creed of Christ? And if another believes and turns to the Lord, are they not brethren, and united in the same faith, and do they not take Christ as their leader and head ?— And if tens, hundreds, and thousands are added to Christ, are they not all brethren? Do they wish to write it down that they will agree to fellowship each other, and associate together as a church of Christ? Is not this written in the

gospel, and upon their hearts, and will not their union to Christ and his truth be the bond of their union one to another?

It is not necessary to get together in a counsel and draw up an article of agreement, and a platform of faith. This is already done. If they are Christians, they have already submitted to the Head and proper authority, and are the children of one family, and have adopted the teachings of Christ and the Holy Scriptures as the platform of union and action.

Is it proper or necessary for the children under the government of their parental head, to have some written form or platform of associated action, in order the better to serve their parents? No one will pretend this. Well, then, if Christ is a perfect law-giver and teacher, if his counsels, precepts, directions, and example is sufficient, and all that is required, we have no need of any thing further. We cannot admit there is any defect in Christ's government. We believe the New Testament contains every duty we owe to God, to man, and to our brethren. Let us understand then, the truth of the matter. Christ organized His own church. We have nothing to do only to come into that organization, entering in through Him as the door, and be united to Him as the branch is to the vine, love and be united to all them that love Him. and are united like ourselves to him.

No one can pretend but what creeds produce sectarianism, and consequently divide and distract Christ's disciples, which is a great sin, and strictly forbidden by the Great Head of the Church. I have heard ministers say that it was a good thing to have these sects and parties, and that it was in God's providential arrangement. But all such ministers speak very unwisely, and are far from the truth. Divisions in the family of Christ, are contrary to His most ardent wishes and prayer. It is also