Ethiopian eunuch, Lydia and her household, many of the Corinthians, and
others, are instances; of spiritual blessings in all their extent this
is a sign and seal. This the apostle Peter adverted to, when he said,
"Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ,
for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy
Ghost."[694] And this truth, no less emphatically these words
declare,--"Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For
as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is
neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye
be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the
promise."[695] And finally, of Covenant duties, would it thus appear too
the sign and seal. "The like figure whereunto, even baptism, doth also
now save us, (not the putting away the filth of the flesh, but the
answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus
Christ."[696] Baptism is a sign of the outpouring of the Spirit of
Christ. His effusion on the day of Pentecost was in fulfilment of the
prophecy,--"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my
Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And
also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour
out my Spirit."[697] And his influences by another prophet are thus
promised,--"I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon
thine offspring." And if, of such benefits as these, baptism is an
appointed token and security, can it be less a sign and seal of these
their glorious effects,--"They shall spring up as among the grass, as
willows by the water-courses. One shall say, I am the Lord's; and
another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall
subscribe with his hand unto the Lord, and surname himself by the name
of Israel"?[698] But after circumcision, was appointed as a sign,
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