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abode in that person. In the Greek
church of Russia it 10 still the practice
thus always to exercise before baptism
there is relic Of the practice in German
Professionalism, when the one baptized or
the sponsors for that one are Instructed
to say before the ceremony, II renounce
the devil and all his works; :" and even
In English Professionalism the practice
of exorcism was retained for some time
after the Reformation. The thought
that evil spirits are waiting around to
possess folks, and may do 80 even with
out their being conscious of it, seems to
US ridiculous and superstitious, yet it is
a witness to the idea that baptism with
water was essentially a ceremony signif-
icsnt of personal publication, and has al
ness to the fact that when people did
hold that superstitious notion of the
presence of evil spirits, they thought it
essential to get rid of them before they
would think of baptizing.
The baptism with water, then, is a
baptism unto cleansing from evil. 1t
means these things: Gods promise of
forgiveness Of sins, mans promise of
struggle against sin, and the promise of
the Church to be the aid and minister to
those who are thus struggling. 1t
means through and through, so far as
lies in US, conservation of ourselves, or
Of those whom we thus bring before
God; conservation to righteousness of
character. 1t is the baptism Of repent
ance for the remission of sins.
But even he who first gave this bap-
tism with water, even John the Baptist,
saw that there was to be different bap-
tism when the Messiah should come, and
prophesied that he should baptize with
the Holy Ghost and with fire. There is
whole class of New Testament texts
that speak Of baptism, where most ev-
identity the baptism with water is not
considered. They point out this second
conservation, the coming upon men, not
only of cleansing grace, but also Of
spiritual power. You will remember
how, when those in Samaria had been bap-
tised with water, the Apostles sent some
of their number down to them especial
II that this further baptism might be
given to them. That the Apostles them
selves received it was abundantly man
Tested on lPentecost, and, indeed, not
then alone, but many times. The SYM
Dol Of this second baptism was burn
ing fire; the effect Of it was,always some
increase of zeal and effectiveness ain the
divine service. It was often intimately
connected with the gift Of eloquence in
proclaiming the Word, also with the
gift Of great enthusiasm for the cause
OF the Lords kingdom, and always with
the gift Of heroic conservation. It made
the early Christians preachers, mission
aries, it sometimes made them miracle
workers, it sometimes made them speak
with tongues, it always made them
ready to live or
TO DIE FOR THE NAME OF THE LORD
JESUS.
How evidently, thus, it was baptism
of spiritual power AS water gave sign
OF the purity of the Christian life, SO
fire gave sign Of the zeal Of God which
should come upon the true Christian.
There ihave been long periods in the
history Of the Church when in meas.
ure the symbol Of the fire baptism was
retained in connection with that of the
water baptism; it has been often the
custom In past centuries for the admin
istrate OF baptism not only to pour
water on the head but also to blow the
hot breath upon the head, so retaining
even in symbol the thought that not
only water Of cleansing but the
breath inspiring was besought Of
God In that ceremony. There
was no harm, either, In the cere-
mony, except always the danger (which
has not been absent, for that matter,
from tho form Of baptism with water
that the foolish and ignorant OF super
stitious should come to think that the
of man was the potent
thing, and 10 forget to look for and de-
sire the real inbreathing or onbreathing
Of the Spirh Of God.
But most Important Is It, whether we
ever symbolic It or not, that we have
this second and greater baptism Of the
Spirit. pray God your life and mine
may not only be spiritually clean,
cleansed BY the forgiveness and the
grace Of God abiding with us. Receive
from God, not only gift Of pardon, but
also gift OF power; claim your right and
take your portion, not only Of purified
life, but also Of an upiifted spirit. Fire
baptism, the coming into your heart OF
enthusiasm and burning zeal and warm
Affection and fervent devotion and OUT
going energy that Il part Of your Chris
tian heritage. Not only God receiving
you, pardoning you, also God continual
" present with you. ministering to you,
snthusing you, and working through
you. Pray God Tor the baptism Of the
5pirit. It II worth while waiting at
pour Jerusalem, your place Of thought
u place u prayer, until the power d
The Lord shAll como upon yOu. II you