Author: John Keble
Publisher: Theclassics.Us
Published: 2013-09
Total Pages: 80
ISBN-13: 9781230253350
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1869 edition. Excerpt: ... SERMON XXXIII. Ps. Ixxxiv. 7. "They will go from strength to strength, and unto the God of gods appeareth every one of them in Sion" If you look back to the commencement of the Holy Baptismal Service, you will find that it began with setting forth to us our natural condition; "All men are conceived and born in sin;" and this is declared to be the reason why the child is brought to be baptized. Our Saviour Christ saith, "None can enter into the Kingdom of God, except he be regenerate and born anew of water and of the Holy Ghost." "I beseech you, therefore, to call upon God the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ, that this child may be baptized with water and the Holy Ghost, and received into Christ's Holy Catholic Church, and be made a lively member of the same." Thereupon the prayers are offered, the covenant made, the child baptized and signed with the sign of the Cross, and thanks given to Almighty God. Is the child then left to itself, to work out its own salvation without any special help from above? Far from it. Baptism, great as it is, is but the beginning of an endless stream of mercy. The Good Shepherd is not contented to have found the lost sheep, but He layeth it also on His Shoulders rejoicing, and beareth it all the way home. And thus, as the Holy Service begins with declaring what we are by nature, and how we may, by God's mercy, be put into a better condition, so it ends with declaring what we are made by grace in Baptism, and how we may go on to improve the gift unto the end. For that is the meaning of the last words of the exhortation to the Godmothers and Godfathers, to which we are now come. "It is your parts and duties to see that this child be virtuously brought up, to lead a godly and a Christian life, remembering...
