New-York tribune., 1880-02-16
TEACHINGS OF CHRIsTs BAPTISM.


ThefEer. charles 70ang at ne Church Of the AcneDen
tEpiseopa)
The subject chosen for the sermon on the
first Sunday Lent at the Church OF the Atonement
was the baptism Of Christ. The text Matthew III.
l6: And Jesus. when He baptized, went up
sraghlway the water; and 10. the heavens were
opened Him, ana He the spiritof God descend
ing like a dove and lighting upon Him."
These words, said the ReY. c. &. Tiffany were written
OF the baptism OF Christ John the Baptist would have
forbidden Him. not knowing Him 70 be the Messiah. e
recognized Him only evidently holy and deyOut
man. lie accustomed TO discern the character Of
those who came to him for baptism; and detected
the Pharisees But when he Christ approach with
holy mien he could not understand why He should
desire baptism at his hands. We know nothing
Of Chrlsrs personal appearance. We are told
merely that mis- attractiveness not due
10 cOmeliness OF feature. Painters have often
tred TO portray an idee Christ; hut they
failed partly through attempting to give face
that was humanity too perfect We do know. however,
that there must have been something striking about
Him. at times Of holy excitement. that produced deep
impression on who beheld Him. And lie came
toward John with the sacred thought or His c0nsccra-
ton in His mind lie gave him snch look NAT John u-
snctyely felt hat TINS was one Of whom he might re-
ceve baptism, rather than one to whom he might ad-
The baptism as given by John in effect conse-
Grafton of the subject OF II 10 the upbudlng Of the XII
dom OF God on earth; nnd MS nrst demand OF
those who came was TO repent Christ, 700, came Tor
while He had need Of repentance. He did have need
OF A cOUseCratOu to the work. We cannot ascriDe TO
Jesus that consciousness OF wrong that was pos
sessed by the holest saints but lie did have human
weakness, and this consecration was help TO Han TO
ris all that weakness and present TO us the idea
OF the perfect Christ 10 meet also that He should
fun the Divine ordinance that placed Him In contact
with sinners. Ana 20 AT the very, peghnlhg ne
placed Himself with sinners by submitting 10 the same
ordinance as they and taking the same VOW II was at
that that the Spirit OF God came with new power
into His soul The significance Of the baptism OF man
wa. that Tie receive sllyaiiOnof that OF Christ
that He 20 bestOw salvation Clrst the snlcss
well the sinful took public cousCcratlOn TO HIS
work. And this WAS q necessary ordinalc for all
Chris;'s follower, upon whom. f YOu Will remember
Hts words and works. He made II binding.
Nicodemus. In his Interview with Jesus,
houed that he might become associatod
with Him. but be excused from doing publicly. He
thought that with his position he might become "a use
fu friend O. the young church among the Pharisoes and
other OF influence But ny ns sting on his hap
tIsm Christ destroyed AL his influence Knowing how
often Christ waived orms aud ceremonies, We would be
prepared find Him consent now but lie evidently
wished 10 Impress the dealtha entering the Kingdom Of
Heaven not matter To DC made hight OF.
We must learn from this the necessity OF con-
cepuDR what lie offers not merely compact between
man and his maker IL Is something that must mluge
with his whole lie. private ana public. and Influence IT,
order to obtain the benefits OF citizenship he must be
registered before he vote The outward confession
Of Christ Il like the Uniform OF nm ofcer IKE the inau-
gurailOu OF Presidents like any other outward ldent-
ncation OF an individual with a cause. Baptism Is
cOmmttal 10 earnest words and wOsk.
We myst remember Tor our encouragement, what FOL
lowed the baptism Of Christ. IL Nhcn lie had done
answered back and the Sprtfel upon Him To help lim
TO continue 10 go forth and WIN the world Tor Hls
secraon, but also To the same oenedicon You VIII not
be asked to what cannot perform but II you Will
come, that answering power VIII bc yours, ana WIN s
help you may 20 forth IN tho strength oi Cod TO con