QUESTIONS.--1. How are the spiritual blessings spoken of in the Creed and asked for in the Lord's Prayer brought to us? 2. What are the Means of Grace? 3. Why are they so called? 4. What is the chief means of grace? 5. Why does the Word of God possess saving power? 6. What is a Sacrament? 7. How many Sacraments are there? 8. What are the three essentials of a sacrament? 9. What is the purpose of the sacraments? 10. Does every one who receives the sacraments derive a benefit from them? SCULPTURE READING.--The Man Born Blind, John 9:1-7. PART IV. CHAPTER XXXIV. THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY BAPTISM I. _What is Baptism?_ Baptism is not simply water, but it is the water comprehended in God's command, and connected with God's Word. _What is that Word of God?_ It is that which our Lord Jesus Christ spoke, as it is recorded in the last chapter of Matthew, verse 19: "Go ye, and teach (make disciples of) all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost." * * * * * WHAT BAPTISM IS. Baptism consists in applying water to a person "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost," as Christ has commanded. [Matt. 28:19] BAPTISM IS NOT SIMPLY WATER. In one sense, indeed, the water used in baptism is simply ordinary water from well, cistern, or stream; [Acts 8:36] but when used in baptism it ceases to be simply water, and possesses special value and power, because IT IS THE WATER COMPREHENDED IN GOD'S COMMAND. The water of baptism is a water which God has commanded us to use,--His command being, "Go ye and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them," etc. AND CONNECTED WITH GOD'S WORD. In baptism, water is applied "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost"; and thus it is used in connection, with the very words of Christ Himself. The water and the Word together make the sacrament. ITS NECESSITY. Baptism is necessary for all, because Christ has commanded that all should be baptized, and has connected the blessing of salvation with this sacrament. [Matt. 16:16] Those who despise it and refuse to be baptized, cannot be saved. But if any person should desire baptism and be unable to obtain it, he would not on that account be lost. It is not the lack of baptism, but the despising of baptism that condemns. Baptism is to be administered by the pastor. But if there should be extreme peril of death before a minister could possibly arrive, any member of the Church may baptize. Such lay-baptism, however, should afterwards be announced in church, and be declared valid. WHO ARE TO BE BAPTIZED. The command of Christ to "make disciples" includes "all nations." All those persons, therefore, who are willing to become disciples are to be baptized; namely, adults who have received the proper religious instruction and profess faith in Christ, and children whom competent sponsors present for baptism.