condescended to brood over the shapeless mass of waters, and thence to produce order and life—that water was the means appointed for saving Noah and his sons—that Moses and Israel descended into the water of the Red Sea as into a tomb, and thence arose again, and were delivered—that water cleansed Naaman from leprosy, and the children of Israel from pollution,—we might the more readily believe that water should be consecrated by God "for the mystical washing away of sin," and connect the admonitions of His previous dispensations with the greatness of our present privilege.
And whoever thinks lightly of Water-Baptism, if he compare his mind with that of St. Peter, will surely find himself reproved, in that the Apostle held the flood, which covered the face of the whole earth, and the tops of the highest mountains, and prevailed upwards, to be but a shadow and type[1] of the baptismal stream, which each of our little ones enters as a child of wrath, and arises "a child of God, a member of Christ, an heir of Heaven." And when men, guided perhaps by these scriptural types, or by tradition, saw in the blood and water which issued from their Saviour's side a pledge of the expiating and sanctifying character
- ↑ "Baptism is a greater deluge than that described by Moses, since more are baptized than were drowned by the deluge."—Luther, Serm. de Baptismo, ap. Gerhard, loci de S. Bapt. § 9. The types of Baptism in the Old Testament, and several passages of the Fathers relating to them, are given, l.c. § 11. 14. There is a striking saying of St. Cyprian, Ep. 63. ad Cæcilium: "As often as water is mentioned alone in Holy Scripture, so often is Baptism extolled." Moderns may think lightly (i.e. as it is, in truth, unphilosophically and superficially) of this system of interpretation, but which reverence most the Sacrament of their Lord?
men as that the Divine works appear in act so simple, while the effect promised is so magnificent; so that here also, (in Baptism,) because with such simplicity, without pomp, or any new array, and lastly without cost, a man let down into the water and washed, while a few words are uttered, arises again not much, or not at all the cleaner, it appears incredible that he should thereby have obtained immortality. On the contrary the rites of the idols obtain trust and authority by apparatus and expense. Miserable unbelief, which denies to God His properties. Simplicity and Power—The first waters were ordered to bring forth living creatures, lest it should seem strange that in Baptism waters should give life."—De Bapt. Init.
