Lecture III
LECTURE IIl.
ON HOLY BAPTISM.
Romans vi. 3, 4.
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with Him by Baptism into death, that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Ler the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad, for those Ps. 96 who are to be sprinkled with hyssop; to be cleansed with !!the invisible hyssop, by His power, who at His passion received the hyssop and thereed.
Let the Heavenly Powers Tejoice, and let the souls now to be joined to their Invisible
Spouse, get ready.
For there is ¢he voice of one crying in the \s.40,3. wilderness, Make ready the way of the Lord.
For this is no light matter, no ordinary and chance union according to the flesh: but the All-searching Spirit's election that is of faith.
For the world's espousals and arrangements are not always 1 Cor. made with judgment; but wealth or beauty forthwith attracts!) 1% the bridegroom; here it is not beauty of person, but the soul's clear conscience, not the condemned mammon, but the soul rich in seriousness.
2, Yield then, O ye children of righteousness, to John's persuasion, exhorting you, and saying, Make straight the Jobn1, way of the Lord.
Remove all blocks and stumbling-stones, ** that ye may hold straight on unto life eternal.
Make ready the chambers of the soul, purifying them through faith unfeigned, for the reception of the Holy Ghost.
Begin to wash your robes through penitence, that when sammoned to the bride-chamber ye may be found clean.
For the Bridegroom invites indeed all without conditions, because His grace is lavish, and the voice of His loud-sounding Heralds brings
26 The Water of Baptism has in ita power of cleansing the soul.
Lect. together all; but ever afterwards He is separating between 411. those who have come in to the figurative marriage-feast.
O Mat 22,may none of those now enrolled hear those words, Friend, 3. how camest thou in hither, not having a wedding-garment ?
Mat.25, But may you all hear it said, Well done, good and faithful ch servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things; I will make thee ruler over many things ; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.
Hitherto thou hast stood without the gate; may oct 1,you all be able to say, The King huth brought me into Hts
Hy 61, chambers.
My soul shall be joyful in my God, for He hath 10.Sept. clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with ae 5, her jewels: so that all your souls may be found not having
37. spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.
I say not, before' you have received the gift; (if so, why should you be now called to the remission of sins?) but so that, on its being given, your conscience being found blameless, may keep pace with it.
(2.) 8. This is in truth a serious matter, brethren, and you must approach it solemnly.
You are, each of you, on the point of being presented to God, before innumerable hosts of Angels: the Holy Ghost is on the point of setting a seal on your souls: ye are coming for enlistment under the Great King.
Make ready therefore; prepare, not by wearing robes of shining whiteness, but arraying the soul with the devoutness of a clear conscience. Regard the Sacred Laver not as simple
. water; regard rather the spiritual grace given with the water.
For as the sacrifices at the altars, being by nature without meaning, by invocation of the idols become polluted, so contrariwise, plain water, after the invocation of the Holy
Ghost, and of Christ, and of the Father, gains a sanctifying power.
4. For whereas man's nature is twofold, soul and body, twofold also is his cleansing; the spiritual for the spiritual, the material for his body.
The water cleanses his body, the ae 10, Spirit seals his soul: that being by the Spirit sprinkled in heart, and washed in body with pure water, we may draw near to God.
Now then that thou art to descend into the waters, consider not the bare element; look for its saving power by the operation of the Holy Ghost; for without the
Symbolical use of water in the Old Testament.
two thou canst not be made perfect.
This is not my word, but the Lord Jesus Christ's, who has the power to do it; He saith, Except a man be born again, and he enlarges, of water Joh3,3. and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Neither he who is baptized with water, without the privilege of the Spirit, hath the gift entire; nor be he ever so virtuous in his deeds, shall he enter into the kingdom of heaven, except with the seal vouchsafed through water.
A bold word, but it is not mine; Jesus hath uttered it; and here is the proof of it from Holy Scripture.
Cornelius was a just man; he was Actsie. honoured with visions of Angels; he had raised his prayers and alms in the sight of God, as a goodly monument in the heavens.
Peter came, and the Spirit was poured on them that believed, and they spake with other tongues, and prophesied.
Yet after the gift of the Spirit, the Scripture saith, that Peter commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ: that the soul having been regenerated through their faith, the body also, by means of the water, might share the gift'.
5. And if any one is anxious to know, why the gift is given through water and not throngh some other element, let him take up Holy Scripture, and he shall learn.
For water is a noble thing, and, of the world's four visible elements, the most beautiful.
Heaven is the abode of Angels, and the heavens are of the waters: earth is the place of men, and the earth is of the waters: and before all the six days fashioning of creation, the Spirit of God moved on the face of the waters. oa 1;
Water was the beginning of the world: the Jordan was the* beginning of the Gospel preaching.
Rescue from Pharaoh came to Israel through the sea: rescue from sins to the world through the Laver of water by the word of God. Where there E
Ep: 5, is a covenant with any, there also is water: after the flood, a covenant was made with Noe: a covenant with Israel from Mount Sina; but with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop. Heb: 9,
Elias is received up, but not without water: for first he!® crosses Jordan, then horses carry him to heaven.
The highpriest first bathes, and then burns incense: for Aaron first 9, Cyril considers that Cornelius August.
Serm. 269. n. 9. and Chrysost. and his friends were regenerated, as the in Act. Apost. Hom. 25. seem to do.
Apostles were, spart from Baptism; as
8 John, the greatest of Prophets, dispensed pardon through water.
Lecr. bathed, and then was made high-priest; for how might he Ill. intercede for the rest, who had not yet been cleansed by water?
Moreover the Laver, set apart within the Tabernacle, was an emblem of Baptism.
(3.) 6. Baptism is the end of the Old Testament, and the beginning of the New.
For John who began it, than whom was not one greater among those born of women, was the Mat.11,end of the Prophets; for all the Law and the Prophets were until John.
Moreover, he was the first-fruits of the Gospelwerk 1, state, for it is said, The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus
Ohrist, &c. and then, John was in the desert baptizing.
You may instance indeed Elias the Tishbite, who was taken to heaven, yet is not greater than John.
Enoch was translated, yet he is not greater than John.
Moses was the greatest lawgiver, and the Prophets are all wonderful men, yet not greater than John.
I do not venture to compare prophet with prophet: but their Master and ours, the Lord
Mat.11, Jesus hath declared ; Among those that are born of women, there hath not risen a greater than John.
Not '' among those born of virgins," but orn of women.
The comparison is between the chief servant, and his fellow-servants: for the Son's preeminence and grace over the household is beyond all comparison.
Seest thou how great a man God hath chosen to be the first minister of this grace? a man possession-less and solitary, yet not a misanthrope; eating locusts, and pluming his soul for heaven; feasting on honey, and speaking what is sweeter and more wholesome; clad in camel's hair, and shewing in himself what an ascetic's life should be: who also while yet borne in his mother's womb, was sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
Jeremiah was sanctified, but he prophesied not in the womb: only John, while yet unborn, leaped for joy: and though he saw not with the eyes of the flesh, knew his Master by the Spirit: for since great was the grace of Baptism, great must needs be its minister.
(4,3 7. He began to baptize in Jordan, and all Jerusalem went Matt. 3,0ut to Aim, enjoying the first-fruits of Baptism: for the prerogative in all good things was in Jerusalem.
But, men of Jerusalem, observe how they that went out were baptized of him: confessing their sins, saith he.
First they shewed: their wounds, then he applied the remedies, and gave to
Necessity of preparation for Baptism.
them that believed, redemption from eternal fire'.
And if thou wouldest be persuaded of this, that the Baptism of John is redemption from the peril of fire, hear thou him saying,
Ye generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from Mat. 8, the wrath to come? Be thou then no longer a viper, he" saith, but as thou hast been one of the brood, put off thy former sinful self.
And as the snake is wont to delve into some corner to cast away his age, and rubbing off his old slough, is henceforth young in body; so thou too, saith he, force thee through the narrow and strait gate: and roughly handling thee with fasting, strip thee of thy ruin; put off pyoy. the old man with his deeds, and say in the words of the 16 26
Canticles, I have put off my coat, how shall I put tt on?
Cant. 6, But perhaps there is some one among you, a hypocrite, a* man-pleaser, professing religion, but not believing from his heart: having the hypocrisy of Simon Magus, approaching not to partake of grace, but busily to pry into what is given.
Let this one also hear from John, And now also the axe 18 Mat. s, laid unto the root of the trees, therefore every tree which"®bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
'The Judge cannot be worked upon; so put away hypo4,4. crisy. abi 8. What then oughtest thou to do? and what are the fruits
(5.) of repentance?
He that hath two coats, let him impart to Luke 8, him that hath none.
Trustworthy was the teacher, as being the first to do what he taught; he had no shame in speaking, whose tongue was not checked by conscience.
And he that hath meat, let him do likewise.
Wouldest thou enjoy the grace of the Holy Ghost, yet countest the poor unworthy of earthly meats?
Seekest thou great things, yet givest not of small?—Though thou be a publican, though a fornicator, yet hope for salvation; The publicans and the harlots go into Matai, the kingdom of God before you: and Paul witnesseth the?!. same, saying, Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor any of | Cor.6, this sort, shall inherit the kingdom of God; and such were ®. 1°. some of you; but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified.
He saith not, such are some of you, but such were some of you.
» That S. John's Baptism conveyed Aug. de Bapt. v. 11. Christian Hopton remission of sins, seems to bethe opinion having the further gift of the Holy also of Nyss. in'Laud. Bas. p. 914.
Ghost.
$0 Martyrs alone are saved without Baptism.
Lect. Sin in the state of ignorance is pardoned, but depravity which .
~_ continues is condemned.
(6.) 9 Thou hast, as the glory of Baptism, the Son of God Himself, the Only-begotten.
For why should I henceforth speak of man?
John was great, but what is he to the Lord?
Loud was that voice, but what is it to the Word?
Most glorious was the herald, but what to the King?
Glorious was he who baptized with water, but what to Him who baptiseth with the Holy Ghost and with fire?
With the Holy Ghost and with fire the Saviour baptized the Apostles, when Actu2,2. suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sttting ; and there appeared unto them cloven tongues as of Jire, and tt sate upon each of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost.
(7.) 10. Unless a man receive Baptism, he hath not salvation; except Martyrs alone, who even without the water, receive the kingdom.
For the Saviour who redeemed the world through the Cross, when His side was pierced, gave forth blood and water: that in times of peace men should be baptized with water, in times of persecution with their own blood.
For the Mark Saviour was minded to call martyrdom, Baptism, saying, Can 10, 88. ve drink of the cup which I drink of, and be buptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? Martyrs too make
1Cor. confession, being made a spectacle to the world, and to Angels, 4,9 and to men: and thou shalt make confession shortly: but it is not yet time for thee to hear concerning these matters.
(8.) 11. Jesus sanctified Baptism, being Himself baptized.
Since the Son of God was baptized, what religious man can despise Baptism?
He, however, was baptized, not to receive forgiveness of sins, for He was sinless: but being sinless, to grant divine grace and dignity to the baptized.
Since the ne 2, children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself vis ts. likewtse shared the same, that we, partaking of His bodily vis od presence, might partake also of His divine grace; and so vias sagain Jesus was baptized, that through this also, we by the mei: participation, might with salvation receive dignity.
The vet AG Dragon was in the waters, according to Job, he who re93.Engl. ceiveth Jordan in his mouth: whereas then He was to crush vers. the heads of the Dragon, He descended, and in the waters
Baptism a necessary introduction to preaching the Gospel. 8t bound the mighty one, that we might receive power to tread Ps. 74, upon serpents and scorpions. it was no common monster, * but a terrible one.
No ship of fishers could bear one scale of Job 40, his tatl: before him ran destruction, wasting those that enhd a countered him.
Life then encountered him, that henceforth the mouth of death might be closed, that we the saved might all say, O death, where ts thy sting? O grave, where is thy! |
Cor. victory? By Baptism, the sting of death is destroyed. ae 12. Thou descendest into the water bearing sins, but the (9.) invocation of grace having sealed thy soul, allows not that
eis thou shouldest henceforth be swallowed up by the fearful aearped Dragon.
Dead in sins thou wentest down, quickened inv. Vid. righteousness thou comest up: for tf thow wert planted a 'together in the likeness of the Saviour's death, thou shalt seh 6, be counted worthy of His resurrection also.
For as Jesus" took on Him the world's sins, and died, that having been the death of sin, He might raise thee up in righteousness, so thou also, by descending into the water, and in some sense being in the waters buried, as He was in the rock, are raised again, to walk in newness of life.
18. Afterwards, when thon hast been counted worthy of the gift, He gives to thee the faculty to wrestle against the powers that are against thee'.
For like as after His Baptism, He was tempted forty days, not because He could not overcome even before this, but because He would do all things regularly and in order, so thou also, though before Baptism afraid to wrestle with thine adversaries, yet when thou shalt have received the grace, being henceforth confident in — the armour of righteousness, do battle, and, if thou wilt, preach :
Cor.
8, the Gospel.
14. Jesus Christ was the Son of God, yet before Baptism (10.) He preached not.
If the Master Himself entered upon His time in regular order, ought we the servants to venture out of order? Jesus began to preach from the time that the Holy
Ghost descended upon Him in a bodily shape, like a dove: not that Jesus might see Him as if for the first time ; (for He knew
Him even before He came in a bodily shape;) but that John who baptized Him, might behold Him.
For, as he says, oo 1, I knew Him not: but He who sent me to baptize with water, e j.e. in Confirmation. Cat. xvii. n. 36,37. Vid. Cat. xxi. n. 4
$2 Baptism cleanses from even the greatedt sins.
Lect. the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit it. descending, and remaining upon Him, the same is He. And if thou hast seriousness unfeigned, the Holy Ghost is coming down on thee likewise, and upon thee, the Father's voice shall sound from on high, not, " He is my son," but, " He hath now
John 1, become My son."
For "is" belongs to Him alone; since Jn qe the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
To Him belongs that word, " Is;" since at all times He is the Son of God; but to thee belongs, "Is now become;" since thou hast not the Sonship by nature, but receivest it by adoption: He is Son eternally; thou receivest this grace by advancement.
(11.) 15. Therefore, make ready the vessel of thy soul, that thou Rom. 8, mayest become a Son of God, an Hetr of God, and Joint17. heir with Christ ; if thou preparest thyself, that thou mayest also receive; if thou by faith drawest near, that thou mayest be made a faithful man; if thou of thine own set purpose put away the old man.
For every thing that thou hast committed shall be forgiven thee, even fornication, or adultery, or any other sort of licentiousness.
What is greater than crucifying Christ?
Yet even of this is Baptism a purification.
For thus spake Peter to the three thousand who came to him; and they the crucifiers of the Lord, when they asked and Acts 2, said, Men and brethren, what shall we do? for great is our
37. &. wound; thou hast tummed our thoughts, O Peter, to our fall, in saying, Ye have killed the Prince of life.
What salve is there for so great a wound? What cleansing for so great pollution?
What salvation for so great a death? to them, 1 say, Peter saith, Repent, and be baptized each of you in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord for the remission of sins, and (12.) ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
O unspeakable loving-kindness of God! they look not for salvation, and they are vouchsafed the Holy Ghost.
Behold the power of Baptism! If any of you hath by blasphemous words crucified Christ; if any of you hath through ignorance denied Him before men; if any of you, through wicked works, hath led to the doctrine's being evil spoken of, let him be of good hope in repenting, for the same grace is also present now. nays 16. Be of good courage, Jerusalem, the Lord will take
"opt i aay all thine intquities.
The Lord shall wash away the
The Water conveys one gift, the Spirit another.
Jilth of His sons and daughters, by the Spirit of yudgment and Exek. by the Spirit of burning: He shall sprinkle clean water upon othe you, and ye shall be cleansed from all your sin.
Angels in 'their choirs shall surround you, and shall say, Who ts this Cant. 8, that cometh up in white apparel, leaning on her near of kin? ied 0
For the soul that was before a servant, hath now professed her Master to be her kindred, and He, favourably allowing her sincere purpose, will cry out in response, Behold thou art Cant. 4, fair, my love; behold thou art fair; thy teeth are as flocks*** of shorn sheep, because of her true-hearted confession; and farther, AU of them bearing twins, because of the twofold gift, that, I mean, perfected by water and the Spirit4, or that announced in the Old and the New Testaments.
And may all of you, having finished the course of fasting, remembering what hath been said, bearing fruit in good works, standing blameless before the Invisible Bridegroom, obtain the remission of sins at God's hand: to Whom be glory with the Son and the Holy Ghost, for ever.
Amen. d The Fathers sometimes speak as if Baptism was primarily the Sacrament of remission of sins, and upon that came the gift of the Spirit, which apclepeeetpi| was but begun in Baptism and complet in Confirmation. Vid.Tertullian.de Bapt. of ing on the subject ;— Water, whic coneeye both Cig considered as a type of one especially,—con both remission of ae irecek Christ's blood and the grace of the Spirit, but is the fype of one, viz. the blood of Christ, as the Oil in Confirmation is of the other, And again, remission of sins ia a complete gift given at once, sanctification an increasing one, 7.8. supr.i.5fin. Hence, asin the text, Baptism may be said to be made up of two gifts, W ater which is Christ's blood, and the Spirit. There is no real difference between this and the ordinary way