LT7KE m. 21'-dS.
21 Now when dl the pedple were baptized, it eame to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heayen was opened,
22 And the Holy Ghoet descended in a bodily shape like a doye upon him, and a yoice came from heayen, which said. Thou art my beloyed Son ; in thee I am well pleased.
23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,
24 Which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Leyi, which was the ton of Melchi, which was the son of Janna, which was the eon of Joseph,
25 Which was the eon of Mattathi- as, which was the eon of Amos, which was the son of Naum, which was the son of Esli, which was the son of Nagge.
26 Which was the son of Maath, which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Semei, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Juda,
27 Which was the son of Joanna, which was the son of Bhesa, whieh was the son of Zorobabelj which was the son of Salathiel, which was the son of Neri,
28 Which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Addi, which was the son of Cosam, which was the son of Elmodam, wMch was the son of Er,
29 Which was the son of Jose, which was the son of Eliezer, which was the son of Jorim, which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Leyi,
30 Which was the son of Simeon,
which was ihe son of Juda, wfaioh was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Jonan, whioi was the son of Eliakim,
31 Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan^ which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of Bayid,
32 Which was the son of Jesse, which was the son of Obed, which was the son of Booz, which was tite son of Salmon, which was the son of Naason,
33 Which was the son of Amina- dab, whieh was the son of Aram, which was the son of Esrom, which was the son of Pbares, which was the son of Juda,
34 Which was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac, which was the son of Abraham, which was the son of Than, which was the son of Nachor,
35 Which was the son of Samch, which was the son of Ba^u, which was the son of Phalec, which was the son of Heber, which was the son of Sala,
36 Which was the son of Cainan, which was the son of Arphaxad, which was the son of Sem, whieh was the son ot Noe, whieh was the son of Lamech,
37 Which was the son of Mathusala, which was the son of Enoch, whieh was the son of Jared, which was tfte son of Maleleel, whieh was the son of Cainan,
38 Which was ^ son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.
We see in the passage before ns, the high honour the Lord Jesus has put on baptism. We find that among others who came to John the Baptist, the Savionr of the world came, and was " baptized/'
An ordinance which the Son of God was pleased to use, and afterwards to appoint for the use of ISis whole
LUKE, CHAP. ni. YEB. 21-— 38. 101
Ghurcli, ought always to be held in peculiar lererence by His people. Baptism cannot be a thing of slight im- portanoe, if Christ Himself was baptized. The use of baptism would never have been enjoined on the Church of Christ, if it had been a mere outward form, incapable of conveying any blessing.
It is hardly necessary to say that errors of every sort and description abound on the subject of baptism. Some make an idol of it, and exalt it far above the place assigned to it in the Bible. Some degrade it and dis- honour it, and seem almost to forget ,that it was ordained by Christ Himself. Some limit the use of it so narrowly that they will baptize none unless they are grown up, and can give full proof of their conversion. Some invest the baptismal water with such magic power, Ihat they would like missionaries to go into heathen lands and baptize all persons, dd and young indiscriminately, and believe that however ignorant the heathen may be, bap- tim most do them good. On no subject, perhaps, in religion, have Christians more need to pray for a right judgment and a sound mind.
Let it suffice us to hold firmly the general principle, that baptism was graciously intended by our Lord to be a help to His Church, and ^^a means of grace," and that when rightly and worthily used, we may confidently lo(^ iq>on it for a blessing. But let us never forget tibat the grace of God is not tied to any sacrament, and that we may be baptized with water, without being baptized with the Holy Ghost.
We see, secondly^ in this passage, the close cannectum thai ought to exkt between the administration of baptism