3. 1. III. 28 John,the greatest of Prophets,dispensed pardon through water. LECT. bathed, and then was made high-priest; for how might he 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. 11. (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 GospelMark 1, state, for it is said, The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, &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 born 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. 5. (4.) 7. He began to baptize in Jordan, and all Jerusalem went Mat. 3, out to him, 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. 29 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. 3, 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 Prov. the old man with his deeds, and say in the words of the Canticles, I have put off my coat, how shall I put it on? 16, 26. Sept. Cant. 5, 3. 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 is Mat. 3, 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 hypo- ádurácrisy. 10. πητός. 11. 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 3, 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 Mat. 21, the kingdom of God before you: and Paul witnesseth the 31. same, saying, Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor any of 1 Cor. 6, this sort, shall inherit the kingdom of God; and such were 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. b That S. John's Baptism conveyed remission of sins, seems to be the opinion also of Nyss. in Laud. Bas. p. 914." Aug. de Bapt. v. 11. Christian Baptism hav- 9. 10. 30 Martyrs alone are saved without Baptism. LECT. Sin in the state of ignorance is pardoned, but depravity which continues is condemned. III. (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 baptizeth with the Holy Ghost and with fire? With the Holy Ghost and with fire the Saviour baptized the Apostles, when Acts2,2.suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting; and there appeared unto them cloren tongues as of fire, and it sate upon each of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. レ (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 Saviour was minded to call martyrdom, Baptism, saying, Can ye drink of the cup which I drink of, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? Martyrs too make 1 Cor. confession, being made a spectacle to the world, and to Angels, and to men and thou shalt make confession shortly: but it is not yet time for thee to hear concerning these matters. Mark 10, 38. 4, 9. 14. (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 Heb. 2, children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise shared the same, that we, partaking of His bodily σάρκου presence, might partake also of His divine grace; and so gias - again Jesus was baptized, that through this also, we by the νωνοί. participation, might with salvation receive dignity. The Job 40, Dragon was in the waters, according to Job, he who re18. Sept.ceiveth Jordan in his mouth: whereas then He was to crush the heads of the Dragon, He descended, and in the waters παρου σίας και 23. L Baptism a necessary introduction to preaching the Gospel. 31 74, 14. bound the mighty one, that we might receive power to tread Ps. 73, upon serpents and scorpions. It was no common monster, but a terrible one. No ship of fishers could bear one scale of Job 40, 26.Sept. his tail: before him ran destruction, wasting those that encountered him. Life then encountered him, that henceforth the mouth of death might be closed, that we the saved might all say, O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy 1 Cor: victory? By Baptism, the sting of death is destroyed. 15, 55. ἐπίκλη above 12. Thou descendest into the water bearing sins, but the (9.) invocation of grace having sealed thy soul, allows not that rñs thou shouldest henceforth be swallowed up by the fearful χάριτος Dragon. Dead in sins thou wentest down, quickened in s. Vid. righteousness thou comest up: for if thou wert planted n. 3. together in the likeness of the Saviour's death, thou shalt Rom. 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. 2, 5. 13. Afterwards, when thou 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 2 Cor. 8, armour of righteousness, do battle, and, if thou wilt, preach 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, John 1, I knew Him not: but He who sent me to baptize with water, ci. e. in Confirmation. Cat. xvii. n. 36, 37. Vid. Cat. xxi. n. 4. 33. III.. 32 Baptism cleanses from even the greatest sins. LECT. the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit 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 In 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. 1. 17. (11.) 15. Therefore, make ready the vessel of thy soul, that thou Rom. 8, mayest become a Son of God, an Heir of God, and Jointheir 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 said, Men and brethren, what shall we do? for great is our wound; thou hast turned 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, I 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 Acts 2, 37, &c. Zeph. 3, 14, 15. 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. 16. Be of good courage, Jerusalem, the Lord will take Sept. away all thine iniquities. The Lord shall wash away the Is. 4, 4. |