. "He was meek and lowly in heart." The Word made flesh, the Way
and the Truth and the Life did not appear on earth to be gazed at as a
thing of mere curiosity, nor examined and handled as an article of
merchandise.

Men have their opinions; and especially at this day is there a decided
tendency with many to make a show of their denominational strength and
numerical importance; but, really, it appears to me that the Son of
God shunned observation, and apparently shrank from the echo of his
fame. More than once did he kindly request those with him to say
nothing about some sublime manifestation of divine power and love
which he had just given.

Whatever else baptism may signify, to my mind it is plain that it is
the visible door to the visible kingdom of heaven on earth. Christ the
Lord is King of that kingdom; and as such it behooved him to enter it
by the same door through which he has commanded that all his future
subjects shall enter; and that door is water baptism. "He that
entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the
porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice." The fold is the
kingdom; the shepherd is the Lord; and the porter is John the Baptist.

How fitting that the divine recognition be given at the _door_ of the
kingdom in which the Lord is to be crowned "King of kings." A few
honest-hearted witnesses were all the Father wished, before whom to
make known this glorious disclosure of love for his Son.

Baptism is not the putting away of the filth of the flesh. This is not
its legitimate result. Its effect is the answer of a good conscience
toward God. When one submits to this ordinance in the right spirit,
and it is properly administered, it never fails of being followed by
this happy experience. It gives the heart peace and rest in Christ.
"The eunuch went on his way rejoicing." "The jailer rejoiced,
believing in God with all his house." These rejoicings followed
baptism in each case. The Psalmist says: "The testimony of the Lord
is sure, enlightening the eyes: the statutes of the Lord are pure,
rejoicing the heart. More are they to be desired than gold; yea, than
much fine gold; for in the keeping of them there is great reward."

Baptism is both a testimony and a statute. It is a testimony because
it bears witness to the truth by the joy it imparts; and it is a
statute because it is a written command of God which it is the duty of
every believer to obey; and in the keeping of it there