ES.H 1839.

REGENERATION AND BAPTISM

CONSIDERED,

BY

FRANCIS RUSSEL HALL, B.D.

RECTOR OF FULBOURN ST. VIGOR'S, CAMBRIDGESHIRE,

AND

LATE FELLOW OF ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE.

τὴν μὲν παλαίον ἀπεκδιδύσκεται ἄνθρωπον, ἀνακαι
νίζεται δὲ, ὡς ἄνωθεν γεννηθεὶς τῇ του Πνεύματος χάριτι.
ATHANASIUS.

"Now this Sacrament of Baptism is a thing of great weight;
for it ascertaineth and assureth us, that like as the water washeth
the body and cleanseth it, so the Blood of Christ our Saviour
cleanseth and washeth the soul from all filth of sins. And so it
appeareth, that we may not seek Christ in the glistering of this
world; for what is so common as water? Yet He promiseth to be
found there, when He is sought with a faithful heart."

LATIMER.

"We stick in the surface and shell of God's Ordinances; that
makes them unbeautiful to us; and that use of them turns into an
empty custom."
LEIGHTON.

PRINTED FOR C. G. AND F. RIVINGTON,

LONDON;

AND T. STEVENSON, CAMBRIDGE.

MDCCCXXXX

100.

BIBLI

PREFACE.

The two doctrinal subjects, examined in the following pages, have at all times deeply engaged the attention of the Church-a fact very easily accounted for by the manner in which they are mentioned by the writers of both Testaments, and by Christ himself. Regeneration, indeed, is mentioned in such terms, as to preclude all doubt, that no doctrine of the Bible has a greater influence on the conduct, and the comfort, and the destiny of man, than it has. And if Baptism is not classed with Regeneration, yet its * institution by the Saviour, and that with so remarkable an emphasis, with so encouraging a promise, and at such a time; its rank among the prin

* Mat, xxviii. 19. + Ibid. xxviii. 20.

Heb. vi. 1, 2.