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ZUINGLI—SACRAMENTS OF BAPTISM BY MAN NOT BY GOD.

vented their repenting without being baptized? Baptism then was only a ceremony, whereby they attested publicly that they were of the number of penitents." The ministers he regards not as instruments in God's hand, but as independent agents, and so performing a mere outward work. "Christ," he says[1], "manifestly distinguishes (Acts i. 5.) between that outward Baptism of water, and that whereby the faithful are baptized by the Holy Spirit. John is declared only to have baptized with the water and the preaching of the outward word: and as many as now baptize do no other. For what else should men here do, than teach with the outward word, or sprinkle with water, or dip the baptized into it[2]? Our controversy then about infant Baptism is only about the outward Baptism of water, and the teaching of the outward word." "So also Peter, Paul, James, and others after them, only baptized with water and the outward word or teaching; but to baptize with the Spirit is the office not of men but of God, who alone, according to the counsel of His wisdom, hath been wont to baptize with the Holy Spirit whomsoever and whensoever He wills." The words of consecration again, appointed by Christ, since spoken through man's mouth, became to him outward also, man's words and not God's. Quoting the language of St. Augustine, "The word is joined to " the element, and it becomes a Sacrament," he answers[3]—"The authority and power of no outward word which proceeds out of the mouth of man, can be greater than the authority and power of the water itself. For no one, save God only, can take and wash away sin." If then occasionally the strong language of Scripture escapes into the pages of Zuingli, so that one might think that some high spiritual benefit was imparted through Baptism, this is presently corrected. Thus, commenting on Rom. vi. he says[4], "Who, examining these things more diligently, would not perceive that Baptism is an initial sign, which engraffs us into Christ, consecrates us wholly to Him, to this end, that we should be made new men, and live a new life in Him;" and again[5], "Baptism is an

  1. Ibid f. 60. v. 61. 68.
  2. Calvin borrows this language, Instit iv. 15. 8.
  3. Ibid. f. 70. v.
  4. Ibid. f. 69.
  5. Ibid. f. 66. and v.