TRACTS FOR THE TIMES.
SCRIPTURAL VIEWS OF HOLY BAPTISM.
CONTINUED.
when I view my sins, mine eyes remove
More backward still, and to that water fly.
Which is above the heavens, whose spring and vent
Is in my dear Redeemer's pierced side.
O blessed streams! either ye do prevent
And stop our sins from growing thick and wide,
Or else give tears to drown them as they grow.
Hitherto, we have dwelt on the greatness of the privileges of Baptism: there is yet another, and a very awful view given in Holy Scripture, the danger of losing them. Though "not every deadly sin, willingly committed after Baptism, is sin against the Holy Ghost, and unpardonable; and therefore the grant of repentance is not to be denied to such as fall into sin after Baptism," (Art. 16), still it appears that every deadly sin after Baptism is not only a step towards final impenitence, but weakens Baptismal grace, and tends to deprive the individual of the ordinary means of restoration. The solemn warning of St. Paul to the Hebrews, (who on account of their fiery trials were especially exposed to the danger of falling away) is by the universal voice of Christian antiquity applied to this case. "It is impossible," he says, (vi. 1. sqq.) as his ground for not "laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith towards God, of the doctrine of Baptisms and of laying on of hands;" "it is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and been made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of
