his sponsors, that he will live thus. God is always faithful to His part
of the baptismal covenant; we should always be faithful to ours. Our
duty is two-fold:--

1. THE OLD ADAM IN US IS TO BE DROWNED, DESTROYED BY DAILY SORROW AND
REPENTANCE, TOGETHER WITH ALL AND EVIL LUSTS. By the "old Adam in us" is
meant our old sinful self, as we are by nature. For we are born into the
world with a sinful heart and a natural inclination to evil. This evil
nature still clings to us even after we have been "born again" into
sonship with God. [Rom. 7:18-24] This old sinful self, together with the
sins and lusts to which it prompts us, must be suppressed, subdued, and
gradually destroyed. [Eph. 4:22+, Gal. 5:24+] We should gain the mastery
over it more and more every day. We shall do this, if we daily mourn
over our sinfulness, and ask God for Christ's sake to grant us
forgiveness and strength.

2. THE NEW MAN SHOULD DAILY COME FORTH AND RISE, THAT SHALL LIVE IN THE
PRESENCE OF GOD IN RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PURITY FOREVER. By the "new man" is
meant our new self,--what we have become by the work of the Holy Spirit
in us. For if we have been baptized and believe, there has been
implanted in us a new life. We have become new creatures, [II Cor. 5:17]
who by God's grace hate sin and desire from the heart to do God's will
alone. As the old man in us should daily become weaker and gradually
die, so the new man in us should daily grow stronger, [Eph. 4:23, 24+,
II Pet 3:18] and cause us to live in constantly increasing righteousness
and purity here on earth, [Phil. 3:12+] till at last we are received
into God's presence for Jesus' sake, and live before Him in perfect
righteousness and purity forever.

CONFIRMATION.