40. The Patient remembers his Baptismal Covenant

EXHORTATION

"Baptism is not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God."—1 Peter iii. 21.

If there is consolation in a name, it is in the name of the father, and if there is a great glory, it is to be a child of God. This glory of the children of God, is attained in Holy Baptism, when a covenant is made with the triune God. 1. This covenant is a source of comfort and of gladness, but it also enjoins upon us the duty of resigning all things that befall us to the guardian hand of our heavenly father, not to murmur against the father, but to rest assured that God will approve himself a faithful father. 2. Those who in their days of health have angered their heavenly Father, and lived like the children of the world, on falling sick, must humbly ask God's forgiveness, and resolve to become altered men, firmly believing that God will have pity on his stricken child. Lord God Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! behold, I, thy child, am in such a condition, that help in this world for me there is none; I look about me, and ask for aid, but no one has mercy

HIS BAPTISMAL COVENANT.

upon me; yet I will not repine, but will go to my heavenly Father, and pour out my heart to him. As in the hour of need the lamb seeks its shepherd, the child its father, the subject his king, so, my King, my Father, and my Shepherd, I come to thee. O thou triune God! remember that I am thy child; that in holy baptism I made my covenant with thee. Lo, here cometh a hapless child, my friends and those I love cannot help me; therefore, O heavenly father, do thou receive me. If the nobleman wept for his son who was sick unto death, O my Father, do thou look in pity upon me, and help me to rise. If the father whose daughter was at the point of death, came to Jesus, saying, "My daughter is even now dead; but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live;" so will I come to thee, my God and Father, saying, "It it be thy will, restore me to health, and give me life." I know that thou art an almighty, wise, gracious, and loving Father; whither shall a child flee in trouble but to its father? Lord God Father in heaven, have mercy upon me! Lord God Son, the Saviour of the world, have mercy upon me! Lord God Holy Ghost, have mercy upon me! As a father pitieth his children, so doth the Lord pity them th t fear him; O pity me also. If I have been a disobedient child, I most sincerely repent it; and although I THE PATIENT REMEMBERS have swerved from thee, yet I return. If the father helped his prodigal son, so do thou also be gracious unto me, for I come in penitence and faith, saying, have mercy, have mercy. If thou wilt make men accountable for sin, who, Lord, will stand before thee? In this reliance, O my father, I await thy coming; I have long understood that to be a child of God, and yet to be sick and weak, and visited with manifold afflictions, is entirely compatible; therefore, Satan shall not disturb my childlike confidence. But let me also soon perceive thy father's heart; let me know that thou hast not forgotten me; let me feel thy paternal hand. Afflicted heart, be patient, though a thousand troubles beset thee; the heaven which thy Jesus promised, shall be thy portion still; though distress and sickness assail thee, God will be thy father none the less. Amen. 1. I am baptized! I am united

And have a covenant with God;

And thus, in gladness and in sorrow,

And though I sink beneath the sod,

I have what I can never lack,

The joy that of the Lord doth smack.

HIS EAPTISMAL COVENANT.

2. I am baptized! I have the garment

That of me makes a wedding guest,

Wherein I may appear in glory

Among the legions of the blest;

For Jesus' blood and righteousness

My beauty is, my gorgeous dress.

3. I am baptized! to me was given

The blessing of the Holy Ghost;

To cleanse my life and conversation,

And that I never may be lost.

O gift beyond all thanks and praise

That gives me everlasting days!

4. I am baptized! My name was written

Into the Lamb's own book of life;

My father evermore will love me,

And guard me well in every strife.

God knows my name, and whispers it,

For in his book of life 'tis writ.

5. I am baptized! And though I perish,

O grave, where is thy victory!

My patrimony is in heaven,

And it shall never fall from me.

When death arrives, I shall receive

Far purer joys than those I leave.

THE PENITENT RELIES UPON THE