2dly, A further scripture-proof of the institution of Christian Baptism is from the Evangelist Mark xvi.--15, 16 compared with our text. He is giving us an account of the very same Commission as the Evangelist Matthew, but is not so full and particular. _And he said unto them, go ye, into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every Creature,_ every person who will hear you wherever you may, under divine direction, travel. _He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned._ This Commission is certainly to the following effect.--"I ordain and send you my chosen disciples and Ministers to spread the Gospel, by your preaching, far and wide the world over, without any distinction of Jew and Gentile, and to dispense the Sacrament of baptism, as a standing ordinance in my kingdom, and as highly necessary, as you have hitherto practised it, under my direction and by my order, while I exercised my personal Ministry; he that believeth on me and receiveth baptism shall be saved." I argue thus, baptism is of high importance, and a divinely instituted ordinance, or it would not have been mentioned in this order or connexion, _he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved._ Why baptized, if not needed, or a divine ordinance? Was our Lord ignorant of what he said; or did he use words which cannot be understood; or did he mean to deceive us? of one or the other he was guilty, if he intended his followers, to the END of the world, should not be BAPTIZED with water. For baptism here must mean the application of the element of water to the subject, and not the sanctifying, regenerating, or miraculous power of the holy Ghost, because it is put after believing. But none, all must admit, do believe to the saving of the soul, but regenerated and sanctified ones. And that water-baptism is not in Christ's religion as necessary as faith, is plain from the last clause of the verse, _but he that believeth not shall be damned._ It is not said _he that believeth not_ and is NOT BAPTIZED shall be damned. For many may believe, and have no opportunity, however desirous, to receive baptism. And such as are not in Providence allowed to have opportunity to receive it, in a Gospel-way, are not therefore shut out of the kingdom of glory.--Besides, it is a circumstance on this subject of no small weight, and merits a particular remembrance, that Christ invested his eleven disciples or Apostles with this commission to carry the glad tidings of peace and Salvation, and in them, his true ministers, round the world, and to dispense the ordinance of baptism to all meet subjects, just before his Ascension into heaven. It was one of his very last acts in our world. And they could not possibly help understanding him to mean water-baptism, in their Commission, for during the whole term of his personal Ministry, they had practised administering it, as an ordinance, to all who professed to be convinced that Christ was the promised Messiah and who followed him.--