john nickerson record it sprinkled it rained and it poured

JOHN NICKERSON RECORD IT SPRINKLED IT RAINED AND IT POURED TRIAL

Page vin places appointed and prepared for that purpose, and was performed by immersion of the whole body *.' This was the primitive way of admission into the Christian church and of its go∣vernment our author says, 'The people were, undoubtedly, the first in authority for the apostles shewed by their example, that nothing of moment was to be carried on or determined without the consent of the assembly, Acts i. These were baptism and the holy supper which were not to be considered as mere ceremo∣nies, nor yet as symbolical representations only, but also as ordinances, accompanied with sanctifying influence upon the heart and affections of true Christians.' Of those who heard and believed the preaching of John the Baptist, he says, 'They were initiated into the kingdom of the Redeemer, by the ceremony of immersion or baptism.' And during the first century, he says, 'The sacrament of baptism was administered without the public assem∣blies, Says he, 'The rites instituted by Christ were only two in number, and these designed to continue to the end of the church here below, without any varia∣tion. And one of the greatest historians of our age gives us the following ac∣count of its primitive order and government. He requires them to remember all the way wherein he leads them, for this end.ĬHRISTIANITY, the only true religion, has its name from CHRIST, the foundation, lawgiver, and only head of his church.

JOHN NICKERSON RECORD IT SPRINKLED IT RAINED AND IT POURED TRIAL

All his deal∣ings are calculated in infinite wisdom, for their trial and humiliation to discover what is in their hearts, whether they will keep HIS commandments, or not. At differ∣ent times and places their circumstances vary ex∣ceedingly yet he orders or over-rules in all, so that a sparrow cannot fall to the ground, nor an hair from their head, without him.

That it is the Lord who leads his people through all the changing scenes of life, in this wilderness world. Three things deserve particular notice therein. HIS design in all his dispensations, in every age and every country, is undoubtedly the same in na∣ture with that declared to Israel, in the passage which adorns our title page.

Objects of worship, and forms of worship, even without number, have been in∣vented by mankind the folly whereof God has ex∣posed in all his dispensations: Yet self-conceit, self-seeking, and self-dependence, are still the ruining errors of the world. All na∣tions have been forced to appeal to him, to avenge injustice and perjury, in order to establish any go∣vernment among themselves: Yet how far have they been from a willingness to be governed entire∣ly by him! He made man upright but they have sought out many inventions. THAT he is the absolute proprietor, and the so∣vereign ruler of the worlds he has made, is a truth too evident for any but madmen to deny. And the best guard we can conceive of, is a clear fixed persuasion in the heart, that God is the only fountain of all good and that every desirable good is to be obtained and enjoyed in the way of obedience to his reveal∣ed will, and nowhere else. There∣fore as finite knowledge is limited, finite spirits would ever be liable to err, if they had not some sufficient guard against it. A desire of the knowledge and enjoyment of the best good, also appears essential to their nature. THE powers of thinking and choice are so essential to all rational spirits, that without them no idea can be formed of their existence. PROVIDENCE: Printed by JOHN CARTER, and sold by PHILIP FREEMAN, in Union-Street, Boston.

Thou shalt remember all the Way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty Years in the Wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine Heart, whether thou wouldest keep HIS Commandments, or no.

John nickerson record it sprinkled it rained and it poured