The Baptism of Sylvia Corinne Booth

Today, as a minister of the Gospel of Christ, I will have the great joy of baptizing my granddaughter, Sylvia Corinne Booth, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God has made promises to believers and their children that their children have an interest in the covenant as well as the right to the seal of it. Moreover, this includes all the outward privileges of the Church, under the Gospel, no less so than for the children of Abraham in the time of the Old Testament; since the Covenant of Grace is essentially the same for both; and the grace of God, and the consolation of believers is more plentiful than before.


Aaron and Amy will bring Sylvie to Christ, as they have their other four children. God will give her His triune name in baptism and hand her back to her parents who, believing in the His promises, will take her and raise her to His glory; praying for her, instructing her, loving her, and nurturing her in the context of the community of God's people.

The promises of God are real and true to all the children of His people. This is expressed most beautifully in these words, which I will addresses to Sylvie as she is baptized today:

Little child, for you Jesus Christ has come, 

He has fought, He has suffered. 

For you He entered into the shadows of Gethsemane 

and the terror of Calvary; 

For you He uttered the cry "it is finished." 

For you He rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, 

and there for you He intercedes. 

For you, even though you do not know it, little child, 

but in this way the Word of the Gospel is made true, 

"We love Him because He first loved us." Amen.