profession, and of the solemn engagements that we have entered into. It is worthy of observation that, when the sacred histo- rian says, " They were called Christians first at Antioch," he uses a word, which, with one only exception, always implies a divine appointment™: and in the passage that we except, it may very properly be so interpreted". Now, in this view of the subject, the divine appointment of the name Christian, to those who had before no right or title to it, is exactly equiva- lent to the change of Abram's and of Sarai's names : and in thus being brought to "name the name of Christ, we are taught to depart from all iniquity." We can never recollect to what society we belong, or hear ourselves addressed by our Christian name, but we have a striking memorial, that " we are not our own ; and that, having been bought with a price, we are bound to glorify God with our body and our spirit which are his0."]
3. An emblem of our duties —
[In our Catechism we are told that baptism is " an out- ward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace : " nor are we at any loss to declare what that grace is which it was intended to represent : the symbol is clear enough of itself; but it is explained by God himself ; who informs us, that it is " not the putting off of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience towards Godp." In this, of course, the cleansing of ourselves from outward pollutions is intended : but there is also much more implied, even a life of entire de- votedness to God : for thus it is said in another place; " We are buried with Christ by baptism into death ; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life0-." While our blessed Lord sojourned upon earth, he set us a perfect example of the divine life : but in his resurrection and ascension to heaven he left us, if I may so speak, a visible exhibition of our duty : he shewed us that it consists in " a death unto sin, and a new birth unto righteousness;" and in having "our conversation henceforth, as much as possible, in heaven."]
The instruction which we would further suggest as arising from this subject, is comprised in two things. We learn from it,
m It is used nine times in the New Testament ; Matt. ii. 12, 22. Lukeii. 26. Acts x. 22. and xi. 26. Heb. viii. 5. and xi. 7. and xii. 25. See also Rom. xi. 4.
n Rom. vii. 3. If it be considered that our Lord abolished the polygamy which obtained by divine connivance, and in some cases, as it should seem, by divine appointment, the excepted case will perhaps be thought no exception at all.
0 1 Cor. vi. 19, 20. P 1 Pet. iii. 21. <i Rom. vi. 4.