ope of salvation upon anything short
of a saving faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. If our Father in heaven
has provided another way, as some would say, "by fire," I know not
that way.

History says that

"Kings are men to glory known
Who wade through fire to a throne;"

but a seared and blistered body is a great price to pay for an earthly
crown. So I think that "by fire," even if such a thing were possible,
would be a very undesirable way of getting into heaven, especially if
the fire means "hell fire." Martyrs, it is true, have gone to glory
through fire; but not the fire that burns and sears the soul. It was
only that elementary fire kindled by wicked hands around the stake. It
could kill the body, but after that there was no more that it could
do; and the purified and ransomed soul of the sainted being who thus
had suffered could look down from heights of glory upon the ashes of
his martyrdom and sing: "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where
is thy victory?"

But to return to the text. We here note this remarkable language, that
"baptism doth also now save us." I suppose Peter uses the word
"baptism" here in its authorized acceptation, which is the immersion
of the body of a believer in water in the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, by a properly authorized administrator
of the ordinance. But in what sense can baptism be said to save us? My
first answer is, It saves us just as the sevenfold washing in Jordan
on the part of Naaman saved that leprous nobleman from being consumed
by the leprosy.

I will extend my remarks somewhat concerning Naaman the Syrian. He
came to the Prophet Elisha to get cured of his leprosy. He was well
supplied with valuable presents for the man of God, to be given to him
in the event of his being healed by him. The prophet of God told him
to go and wash or bathe seven times in the Jordan. This appeared too
insignificant for such a great man as he was to submit to. Besides he
regarded the waters of Damascus as superior in virtue to the waters of
the Jordan, and he started off in a rage from disappointment. But as
he was leaving his servants said to him: "If the prophet had bid thee
do some great thing wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather
then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? Then went he down and
dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the
man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little