Baptism is often abused by the unfaithfulness of children to its
privileges, influences and blessings. Many children fight against these,
prevent parents from performing their duties, and repel all the overtures
of the Christian home, all the offers of the Spirit's baptism, abandoning
the means of grace, refusing to assume the baptismal engagement taken for
them by their parents; and thus, so far as they are concerned, undo and
neutralize what their parents did for them. Oh, ye baptized children,--ye
to whom the holy ministry of home has been faithfully applied,--know ye
not that the frowns of abused heaven are upon you, and that the memory of
your rebellion against the prerogatives of the family, will constitute an
ingredient in your cup of woe? The privilege of baptism lays you under
solemn requisition. If unfaithful to it, it will be your condemnation, and
add new fuel to the flame of a burning conscience.
Parents and children! be faithful to this holy ordinance of God. It is a
solemn service. You should approach the baptismal font with a trembling
step and a consecrated heart. And what a solemn moment it is, when you take
your child away from that altar! There you gave it up to God,--dedicated it
to His service; and there in turn He commits it to you in trust, saying to
you as Pharaoh's daughter said to the mother of Moses, "Take this child and
nurse it for me, and I will pay thee thy wages," and you bore it away, as
did that faithful mother, to bring it up for God.
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